I would like to wish each and everyone who reads this blog and all others a wonderful, blessed Christmas.
I pray that Yahweh will bless you immensely. I pray that all lost souls that want to find forgiveness through our Lord and Savior, Jesus, will do so.
Thank God for each of you. Keep your faith.
Strive to be more and more like Jesus each day.
With the Love of the Savior, take care!
Friday, December 25, 2015
Wednesday, December 16, 2015
Faith Part V
Greetings All!
It's been a while since my last post...
I've been laboring over what to write and whether or not to post that which you are about to read. I've asked God for guidance in these matters, and finally I feel compelled to put forth that which I have been holding back for some time. Bare with me, this is going to be a lengthy one.
A few years back, I began to do business at a local convenience store which had some of the best prices in town for gas. The owner was Arabic, and had moved to the United States to pursue the American Dream of owning his own business. He and I became acquainted over time because I would talk to him about the convenience store business, having "grown up," working in our family service station that was, in no way to be considered a convenience store. Yet I understood enough about the business to have a respectable conversation with the man. We became as much acquaintances as we could given the small amount of time I could afford to spend talking with him. Nonetheless, when I would go in to pay for my gas, he'd be ready to visit with me for a few minutes, while I was there.
In one of our conversations, I mentioned that I thought that the United States had gone overboard with the reaction to 9/11. Not that retribution due those truly responsible should be sought, mind you. Rather, that maybe in an effort to gain measures of safety we had given up some of our freedoms. I told him that the best way to defeat terrorism is to not be afraid and accept the consequences as they came. He asked me to clarify what I meant. I simply explained to him that as a believer and follower of Jesus Christ, one who worshiped and prayed to God regularly, that I did not fear death. My reward would come after death. hence, no terrorist could cause me to fear their actions. This being said, I further stated that if every one would convert to Christianity and take the same attitude that I did, then the terrorist's actions would be negated. Terrorism is only successful if it strikes fear into the intended victims.
He stood back for a few seconds with his mouth open and was seemingly taken by surprise by my comments. When he recovered, he said, " my friend, what you have said is true. You, the God fearing follower of Jesus Christ, who is not afraid of death, are what Islamic terrorists should fear most!"
So, I continue with the discussion about faith for this writing and perhaps one final, yet to be considered before I move on to other subject matter.
Was it a test of faith for Jonah to be swallowed by the whale? Was Noah's faith tested when he was told to build the Ark? What about Jesus, himself? Remember how he prayed, asking God to let the cup pass from his hand if it was indeed the will of the Father?
Faith is an immeasurable concept. I was told recently to not attribute too much credit of good things that happen to me to the actions of God. This was stated by a fellow human who professes to be a Christian. But let me ask, If I pray to God concerning a particular situation, and the situation gets remedied in such a way which I could never have made it happen on my own, wouldn't I be ignoring my faith in God to help me through just exactly such situations? Wouldn't I be guilty of not giving credit where credit is due?
I will write more from time to time concerning faith. My next blog entries will most likely be at the start of the coming year with a weekly entry entitled: "The Bible in a Year." If you follow with me, we will cover the entire Bible in one calendar year. If we have extra time, we may consider covering the apocrypha as well. For the mean time, let me leave you with this. Heading into this Christmas season, please take my advice. Keep your faith. Above all else, Keep your faith. Even if you are the last christian left in this world and the entire world stands against you, stand your ground and keep your faith,
May the Lord bless you and keep you now and forever. AMEN!
It's been a while since my last post...
I've been laboring over what to write and whether or not to post that which you are about to read. I've asked God for guidance in these matters, and finally I feel compelled to put forth that which I have been holding back for some time. Bare with me, this is going to be a lengthy one.
A few years back, I began to do business at a local convenience store which had some of the best prices in town for gas. The owner was Arabic, and had moved to the United States to pursue the American Dream of owning his own business. He and I became acquainted over time because I would talk to him about the convenience store business, having "grown up," working in our family service station that was, in no way to be considered a convenience store. Yet I understood enough about the business to have a respectable conversation with the man. We became as much acquaintances as we could given the small amount of time I could afford to spend talking with him. Nonetheless, when I would go in to pay for my gas, he'd be ready to visit with me for a few minutes, while I was there.
In one of our conversations, I mentioned that I thought that the United States had gone overboard with the reaction to 9/11. Not that retribution due those truly responsible should be sought, mind you. Rather, that maybe in an effort to gain measures of safety we had given up some of our freedoms. I told him that the best way to defeat terrorism is to not be afraid and accept the consequences as they came. He asked me to clarify what I meant. I simply explained to him that as a believer and follower of Jesus Christ, one who worshiped and prayed to God regularly, that I did not fear death. My reward would come after death. hence, no terrorist could cause me to fear their actions. This being said, I further stated that if every one would convert to Christianity and take the same attitude that I did, then the terrorist's actions would be negated. Terrorism is only successful if it strikes fear into the intended victims.
He stood back for a few seconds with his mouth open and was seemingly taken by surprise by my comments. When he recovered, he said, " my friend, what you have said is true. You, the God fearing follower of Jesus Christ, who is not afraid of death, are what Islamic terrorists should fear most!"
So, I continue with the discussion about faith for this writing and perhaps one final, yet to be considered before I move on to other subject matter.
Was it a test of faith for Jonah to be swallowed by the whale? Was Noah's faith tested when he was told to build the Ark? What about Jesus, himself? Remember how he prayed, asking God to let the cup pass from his hand if it was indeed the will of the Father?
Faith is an immeasurable concept. I was told recently to not attribute too much credit of good things that happen to me to the actions of God. This was stated by a fellow human who professes to be a Christian. But let me ask, If I pray to God concerning a particular situation, and the situation gets remedied in such a way which I could never have made it happen on my own, wouldn't I be ignoring my faith in God to help me through just exactly such situations? Wouldn't I be guilty of not giving credit where credit is due?
I will write more from time to time concerning faith. My next blog entries will most likely be at the start of the coming year with a weekly entry entitled: "The Bible in a Year." If you follow with me, we will cover the entire Bible in one calendar year. If we have extra time, we may consider covering the apocrypha as well. For the mean time, let me leave you with this. Heading into this Christmas season, please take my advice. Keep your faith. Above all else, Keep your faith. Even if you are the last christian left in this world and the entire world stands against you, stand your ground and keep your faith,
May the Lord bless you and keep you now and forever. AMEN!
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