Luke 11:33
“No one, when he has lit a lamp, puts it in a secret place or under a basket, but on a lamp stand, that those who come in may see the light.”
I have read the verses preceding this one numerous times, but never really given a lot of thought to it. A cursory reading of it looks like Jesus was talking about various things, but upon closer examination, I believe each example He uses is related to the next. I think He is actually expounding on one thought.
Continue reading“Because the sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.”–Ecclesiastes 8:11
Do you think this is what we see in our society today? The Bible is never wrong in describing the human condition. Because it was written by the inspiration of God, it contains the mind of the God who created all men and who knows their frame and everything else about them.
Continue readingJesus is the exact representation or image of the nature and character of God.
The book of Hebrews begins by stating that in the past, God spoke to people in many different ways through the prophets, but now He speaks to us through His Son, who has been appointed heir of all things and through Whom all things were made. Hebrews 1:1-2. Hebrews 1:3 goes on to say…
Continue reading“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” Ephesians 6:10-12.
Continue readingRomans 4:18-21 “Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as he had been told, “So shall your offspring be.” Without weakening in his faith, he acknowledged the decrepitness of his body (since he was about a hundred years old) and the lifelessness of Sarah’s womb. Yet he did not waver through disbelief in the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God was able to do what He had promised.” Berean Study Bible
Continue reading2 Chronicles 16:9 “For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him…”
The context of this verse is this….a seer came to a king of Judah to chastise him for relying on the help of another king instead of on God alone. The seer gives the king an example of a previous battle when the Lord had delivered the enemy into his hand and then goes on to make this statement about the eyes of the Lord. This statement is a true statement that all of us as God’s children can embrace as a promise for our own lives.
Continue readingFor He has not put the world to come…in subjection to angels. Hebrews 2:5
“Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life?- 1 Corinthians 6:2-3
Continue readingWhat does that word mean to you? Does it conjure up images of kneeling with a rosary and repeating pre-written words, such as my own experience as a young Catholic girl? Or does it remind you of being with a group, with everyone totally silent and nothing spoken out loud? Or does it conjure up an image of a group holding hands and standing in a circle with someone speaking out loud as others agree and nod their heads in agreement? Or are you reminded of a group speaking loudly and boldly, even all at once sometimes, boisterous, with strange words mixed with English that provide an atmosphere of liveliness and strangeness all at that same time? I have experienced all of these with different groups of Christians. Whatever your image is, I submit that we all have a somewhat different viewpoint and definition of what “prayer” actually is.
Continue readingThis scripture has been much on my mind the past few weeks…
“The gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it.” Hebrews 4:2
This scripture refers to the first generation of the Israelites who Moses led out of the land of Egypt. God set them free from their oppressors. They had been in Egypt 400 years. After Joseph’s death, over time, a Pharaoh arose who did not know Joseph and it was under him that the Israelites became slaves in Egypt, forced to do the hardest of labor.
Continue readingFor the past few years in Illinois, a satanist group has put a display with their “baby” Baphomet (it looks like a demon) in a manger in the capital building in Springfield during the Christmas season. Baphomet is a goat-like Satanic deity, and the display was set up next to a traditional Christian Nativity display. News media reported that members of the Satanic Temple of Illinois stood around proclaiming “Hail, Satan!” and giving explanation of their peaceful, loving intent. A few steps away, Christian protesters from the American Society for the Defense of Tradition, Family and Property were kneeling and praying near the Christian nativity scene. They displayed signs with slogans such as “Satan Has No Rights” and “Begone, Satan! Mary Crushes the Serpent.”
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Dogtags and Pearls...the plain and the precious 