Blessing of Heaven - Blog

It is Vacation Bible School Time!!

7/6/2020

It’s summertime, and that means Vacation Bible Schools are in full swing! Attending Vacation Bible School is a wonderful way to learn about God’s Word in addition to attending Sunday worship services and Wednesday night bible studies. Children are the main focus at Vacation Bible Schools, and all children who attend VBS classes report that they had fun and learned many things about the Bible that they will remember for years to come! Children of all ages enjoy Vacation Bible School, and bringing your children to these events only strengthens their love for the Lord, which will help them grow up to be faithful Christians in adulthood. “And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord”(Ephesians 6:4). Vacation Bible School is also beneficial for adults, who can learn more about the Bible through the adult bible classes given there.
Please make plans for you and your family to attend Vacation Bible School with us at the Campaign church of Christ in Campaign, Tennessee! There will be classes for all ages! Please see the flyer below for more information regarding VBS times and location!

“I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD” (Psalms 122:1)

Blessed Are the Peacemakers

6/12/2020

In today’s world where so many people are willing to voice their opinions through use of physical force and violence, it is important for us to remember what Jesus says in Matthew 5:9 “Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.” Peace is something that is needed so much in the world today.
What does it mean to be a peacemaker? The word “peacemaker” comes from the Greek word, εἰρηνοποιός, which means “loving, peace, pacific.” The dictionary defines “peacemaker” as “a person, group, or nation that tries to make peace, especially by reconciling parties who disagree, quarrel, or fight.” Those who are peacemakers are those who want to avoid a conflict rather than go around looking for a fight.
The Bible speaks about the importance of being a peaceful person Romans 12:18 says “If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.” Those who use protesting as a way to inflict violence upon others are definitely not living peaceably with all men and are abusing the right to peacefully protest. We should try to get along with everyone, and make attempts to be friendly with others. “A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.” (Proverbs 18:24). We are to treat others like we want to be treated, “Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.” (Matthew 7:12).
If we are peaceful with men, we are being like God. “Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,” (Hebrews 13:20). We are to be like Christ, who is the Prince of Peace! “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6).
Being peacemakers does not only apply to our relationship with others, but it applies to our relationship with God, also! The most peaceful life that can be enjoyed here on Earth is the life of a faithful Christian! Of course, that does not mean that the life of a faithful Christian has no challenges to overcome. Faithful Christians can face many challenges in life, and they can be faced with many temptations to commit sin, just like everyone else. The advantage that true Christians have over others in the world is that we know that this world is not our home, and that our sole purpose in this life is to fear God and keep His Commandments (Ecclesiastes 12:13).
Christians who have their focus on God rather than the world do not worry about the chaos that is going on around them. They do not focus only on the negative things that are going on in the world, bur rather focus on staying on the strait and narrow path that will lead them to Heaven! “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” (Matthew 7:13-14). It is only through the faithful Christian life that we can find the peace that passes all understanding. “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:7).

Why Teens Should Say "No" to the Prom

6/1/2020

Since the Prom is coming up soon, I thought I would dedicate this article to what the Bible says about such events as this and other social dances. I know that the Prom is a very popular event to attend for high school seniors, however, a Christian teen and any other young Christian must first think about what is most important to God, rather than what is important to the world.
I am glad to say that I did not attend the Prom or any other social dance growing up, even though I had opportunity to do so. I was asked twice by a young man who was also a senior in high school,to attend the Prom with him, but I declined the invitation both times. I did not want to hurt my influence in front of others by causing them to think that I danced at an event such as this. I am also glad that my husband did not attend the Prom as well. We can teach our children from our example about not attending the Prom, and we do not intend on allowing our children to attend these events.
The main issue with the Prom and other social dances is just that, dancing. Dancing in and of itself is not wrong, as long as it is done in the privacy of your own home between those who are married. The issue of dancing in public, especially dancing between members of the opposite sex, however, is that activities such as this may tempt a person to lust. Dancing usually involves either making sensuous movements or touching of some sort between males and females, and these actions could cause lustful thoughts. I John 2:16 speaks against lust by saying: “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.” Even dancing on your own in front of others can cause others to have lustful thoughts toward you. Even though we cannot control what others do or think, we, as Christians, should never be a stumbling block to others, and we must show ourselves to be in the world but not of the world in front of others. This is shown in Galatians 5:16-21; "This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God." "Lasciviousness" involves indecent physical movements and unchaste handling of males and females. Clearly, the prom fits under the definition of the word lasciviousness. Knowing the meaning of lasciviousness and knowing for a fact that such occurs at the prom, I am very thankful that there are congregations and families that determine to have prom-alternative trips.
We should never participate in activities that can cause ourselves or others to sin. I know that there are many at the prom who dance without the intent of inciting lust in themselves or others, but there is always a risk that this may happen.
Another issue with the Prom and other social dances is immodesty. Usually on the night of the Prom, I see many pictures on Facebook of teens in their prom attire. Many of the dresses that the ladies wear are either too low or too short. What is modest is exemplified by how God clothed Adam and Eve after they realized they were naked. Genesis 3:21 says, “Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.” He clothed them in coats of skins that covered them from their shoulders to their knees, according to the Hebrew word for “coat” as used here, which means “tunic.” A tunic in the Bible was a garment that reached from the shoulders to at least the knees. Since this is the ONLY example given in the Bible of how God wants us to dress, then wearing anything less today would be immodest. The Bible speaks against exposing our chest, loins, and thighs, and showing any of these body parts is considered “naked” in the Bible. We would be considered naked if we exposed any of these parts while either standing or sitting. Since the Prom promotes lustful actions such as dancing, it is no wonder that there is such a prevalence of young ladies who are also dressing in a lustful manner. It all seems to tie together.
What about younger Christians who are too young for the Prom? Should they be able to attend school formals, and dances in middle school and high school? Would these events teach them that it is acceptable to dance in public and dress immodestly? Do these events teach young Christians that it is acceptable to attend the Prom? A dance in middle school or high school is the same as a Prom. Anywhere that dancing is taking place can cause a Christian young person to place a stumbling block before themselves or before others. Therefore it is best that parents teach their children that being a good influence to others is more important than following the crowd. I John 2:15 says, “Love not the world, neither the things [that are] in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”
What if a Christian attends a social dance but doesn’t dress immodestly or dance? It is good that a Christian young person chooses to dress modestly and chooses not to dance at such an event. However, attending an event that involves dancing can harm a Christian’s influence in front of others. We must always guard our influence in front of others, because it is our job as Christians to lead others to Christ. I Timothy 4:12 says, “Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.” How can we lead others to Christ if we do not show ourselves to be Christ-like? Would Jesus go to the Prom or any other social dance? If He did, He would speak against the activities taking place. It would be acceptable if a Christian youth went to the Prom or any other social dance to teach against these activities, but how many young Christians do this?
Our goal should be achieving the gift of Heaven, and not being pleasing to men. Matthew 5:13 says, “Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.”

Blessed Are the Pure In Heart

5/15/2020

In Matthew 5:8, Jesus said; “Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.” Since all of us should want to see and dwell with God for all eternity some day, we should want to be “pure in heart” like the passage says. But what does it mean to actually be pure in one’s heart?
First of all, what does it mean to be “pure in heart”? The Greek word for “pure” is katharos, which means “clean” and “free from contamination.” For us to be considered spiritually “pure” we must not have any sin unrepented of in our lives, and devote ourselves to living righteously each and every day of our lives. “Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” (II Timothy 2:22). Of course, we must begin the process of purifying ourselves by being baptized into Christ (Acts 2:38, I Peter 3:21). After baptism we must continue to keep a clean and pure heart and soul, free from sin. We are not incapable of committing sin after baptism, but we can be cleansed of those sins through repentance.
How can we practice keeping a pure heart each day? First of all, we should study God’s Word every day so that we will know what He wants of us in order to live a faithful Christian life. “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (II Timothy 2:15). Also, we should pray every day, many times in a day for help from God while living the faithful Christian life. “Pray without ceasing.” (I Thessalonians 5:17).
We should also monitor outside influences that can tempt us to have impure thoughts and actions. We should prohibit listening to music and watching movies or television shows that have foul language or sexually explicit content in them. We should also avoid socializing with people who use foul language or have other behaviors that are sinful, unless we are going to be around them to teach them. We have to do this in order to not be influenced to sin, and to not be an influence to sin for others. “In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.” (Titus 2:7-8).
We are to be more like Christ and not like the world. We cannot have one foot in the world and the other foot in Christ at the same time. We either are following the influence of the world, or the influence of Christ, we cannot do both. “No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” (Luke 16:13). In our effort to be pure in heart, we should always focus on what God wants rather than what the world thinks is acceptable.
When we strive to be pure in heart, we also have to guard our own influence, so that we do not influence others to commit sin. For example, if we are listening to music or watching movies and T.V. or Netflix shows that have foul language and/or sexually explicit content then we can be an influence to others to do that same thing (Philippians 4:8). Likewise, if we are in certain places where sinful activities are taking place, we hurt our influence by merely being there. To be pure in heart, we cannot cast a stumbling block before ourselves or others. “But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak.” (I Corinthians 8:9).
We should always strive to be more like Christ and less like the world each day that we live our Christian lives. Everyone is tempted in different ways, and we all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). Being pure in heart means having to deny yourself of things that the world is doing that may look like fun, but in the end, it will cause you to become spiritually lost. In Luke 9:23, Christ says, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.” Enjoying sin for a short time is not worth losing your soul for all eternity. Heaven is far too great a reward to ever risk losing, no matter how important the temporary things of this world may seem in the moment. The temporary world will end, but eternity is forever. “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.” (Matthew 24:35).

You Are Here For A Reason

4/25/2020

While I was in the hospital, waiting on the arrival of my youngest child, my father got into a conversation in front of me with the nurse that was assigned to help me during the birthing process. He told the nurse that he “never imagined” that he would be a grandfather of 5 healthy babies due to the fact that I was “born so early” and “struggled so much the first 3 months” of my life. The nurse, who was probably in her late 50s, asked me how early I was born and what my age was. I told her (with confirmation from my mother) that I was born at 23 or 24 weeks gestation at Vanderbilt University Hospital. I also told her my age, and her response to me was that she started working in the Labor and Delivery unit at Vanderbilt a few months before I was born. She said it was “almost unheard of” that a baby born before 26 weeks survived during the time that I was born. “We told mothers of babies who were born before 26 weeks to just hold their babies because they usually didn’t survive,” she went on to say. Then, in the midst of the conversation, she looked at me and uttered these words, “That is amazing! You have no idea how blessed you are to be here. You are definitely here for a reason!”
I remembered that nurse’s words because what she said is true. I am here for a reason, and so are you! God chose for all of us to come into this world for a reason, even before we were conceived. “Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; . . .”(Jeremiah 1:5). You were chosen by God to be someone’s daughter, someone’s sister, someone’s mother, grandmother, etc. God has a Plan for all of us, and He only wants what is best for us. “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” (Jeremiah 29:11). As Christians, God’s ultimate Plan for us is to reach Heaven and to take as many souls with us as we can. He employs His angels to help us in this life in unknown ways as well. “But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool? Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?” (Hebrews 1:13-14).
In order to make sure that we are living our lives according to God’s Plan, we must be sure to live as faithful Christians. Although God gave us our life to be here on the earth to live out His will, we still have free will, and can choose whether or not we want to follow Him. “And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” (Joshua 24:15).
No matter what we are facing in this life, we can take comfort in the thought that we have a purpose in this life, which is to fear God and keep His Commandments (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14). God chose us to do the works that He wants us to do. He has created us as unique individuals, giving us talents and abilities to use. We are all unique and special, made in the Image of our Creator. We were made for the Glory of God. “Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him.” (Isaiah 43:7). We should be thankful always to God for everything He has given us, especially our very lives. “I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.” (Psalm 139:14) We are so important that Christ came to die for us. (Matthew 26-28). Best of all, He has given us the hope of Heaven, which makes everything we have to face in this life all worth it! May be all live up to our best potential in this life, because we are all definitely here for a reason!

Blessed Are the Merciful

4/18/2020

In Matthew 5:7, Jesus says, “Blessed be the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.” The word “merciful” comes from the Greek word “eleēmōn” which means “compassionate.” Another definition for the word “compassionate” which would also apply to the term “merciful” is “sympathetic consciousness of others' distress together with a desire to alleviate it,” according to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary. In today’s society, many people do not want to show sympathy toward others who are in less favorable circumstances than they are. Many people prefer to be self-centered and unmerciful toward others. Is this how we are supposed to be as Christians?
As Christians, we are to work to be so much like Christ that others will see more of Christ in us than they see ourselves. Christ tells us in Matthew 5:7 that we are to show mercy towards others so that we will obtain mercy from God the Father. Luke also speaks about the need to show mercy when he says in Chapter 6 and verse 36; “Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.” The apostle Paul speaks against those who do not show mercy in Romans 1:28-32: “And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.”
What are some examples of how we can be merciful, or show sympathy and compassion towards others? One way is to help widows and orphans, which the Bible commands us to do; “If any man or woman that believeth have widows, let them relieve them, and let not the church be charged; that it may relieve them that are widows indeed.”(I Timothy 5:16). This verse is referring to the need for men and women to take care of their widowed parents, and/or grandparents, and to not leave them to the church to provide for because widowed men and women who have children or grandchildren to help them are not widows indeed. Widows indeed as mentioned in I Timothy 5:16 are those who do not have any children or grandchildren to provide financial and physical support for them. Another verse that stresses the importance of caring for widows and orphans is the following; “Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.” (James 1:27).
Other ways that we can be merciful towards others is to forgive those who have wronged us and who have asked for our forgiveness. “Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him” (Luke 17:3). We can also help those who are in need of food, clothing, and shelter. “Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away” (Matthew 5:42). “Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” (Matthew 25:37-40). Other ways we can be merciful is to take people who do not have a means of transportation to worship services, Bible studies, or simply to run errands. There are many ways that we can show mercy towards others. We should do as many acts of mercy as we can, so that we are abounding in good works as we are commanded to do in II Peter 1:5-8: “And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
This world needs more mercy in it. We need to be sure to show mercy towards others in this life so that God will show mercy to us when we die and when the day of Judgment comes. No one can earn the reward of Heaven, no matter how many good works they do in this life. It is only through the Grace and Mercy of God that we can have a hope of Heaven if we are faithful. Let us be like our Father. We are told of Him, “But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.” (Ephesians 2:4-7). May we work every day to show mercy in all aspects of our life, just as God shows mercy toward us!

Blessed Are They that Hunger and Thirst After Righteousness.

4/4/2020

Do you love being a Christian? I can’t imagine any Christian saying otherwise, however the actions of many Christians show a lack of desire to worship and serve the Lord properly. In Matthew 5:6, Jesus says, “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.” Do you hunger and thirst after righteousness?
When you are hungry or thirsty, the main focus that you have in your mind is to obtain that food or drink that will help fill you up. Some things that you may have to do will take a backseat to obtaining the food or drink you crave until you have fulfilled your goal of satisfying your hunger or thirst. When it comes to serving God, everything else must take a backseat to fulfilling His Word. We should desire to learn God’s Word, and serve God so much, that it is our main focus in life! We should meditate on God’s Word every day. We should have the attitude that King David did in Psalm 1:2, “But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.” Christians cannot hunger and thirst after righteousness if they are not attending worship services regularly, not reading God’s Word daily, and not praying often. Basically, Christians cannot hunger and thirst after righteousness if these disciples of Christ are not living the Christian Life. If we are not desiring to follow God, then we will not enter Heaven!
We should not let the temporary things of this world distract us from seeking God and putting Him First in all things! I want to conclude with the words of II Corinthians 4:18, “While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.”
If we hunger and thirst after righteousness, we will be blessed in many ways in this life and in the next life as well. In this life, we will be blessed with the best life one can possibly have, which is the that of a faithful child of God. Following God’s Plan for us will help us conduct our lives in such a way that our lives will be much better than those who are living their lives in sin. “Good understanding giveth favour: but the way of transgressors is hard. (Proverbs 13:15), We have many blessings in this life, so many that we cannot name them all. God sent His Son to the earth so that we could have an abundant spiritual life here and in the next life as well. “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they may have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (John 10:10).
In the next life, those who hunger and thirst after righteousness will have the blessing of Heaven! “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:” (Ephesians 1:3). Let us all be sure to focus on what the real purpose of this life is, which is to fear God and keep His Commandments! “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.” (Ecclesiastes 12:13).

How Christians Faced Persecution in Acts Chapter 8

3/27/2020

May we all be like the Christians in Acts Chapter 8, who went everywhere “preaching the word” and starting new congregations of the church of Christ even after being scattered out of Jerusalem amid persecution. They did not hide in their houses, but rather shined their Christian lights for all to see. The apostles who stayed in Jerusalem during the persecution assembled together and worshipped God as a congregation of the church of Christ in Jerusalem. Also, they supported the other disciples who were starting new congregations in other parts of the world. The church did not hide out of fear, but grew. May we shine forth the Light of the Gospel as they did!
“And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, EXCEPT THE APOSTLES. And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him. As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison. Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word” (Acts 8:1-4).

Blessed Are the Meek

3/15/2020

In Matthew Chapter 5, verse 5, Jesus says, “Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.” The personality trait of meekness is very important for every Christian to have. However, what does it mean to be meek, and how are those who exemplify meekness viewed by the world?
First of all, what does it mean to be meek? The word “meek” that is used in this verse comes from the Greek word prays which means “mildness of disposition” or “gentleness of spirit.” The word “meek” can also mean “mild” and “humble.” One who shows meekness would not act in any way that would be considered arrogant or attention-seeking.
There are various places in the Bible that encourage us to show meekness. The apostle Paul admonishes us to show meekness in Colossians 3:12 when he says, “Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;”. He encourages Timothy to do the same in I Timothy 6:11, “But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.” We are encouraged to conduct ourselves before others in a meek manner, even when we are trying to help them see their mistakes. “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted” (Galatians 6:1). Finally, we are to be like Christ, and Christ described Himself as One who is meek, “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls” (Matthew 11:29).
A person who shows meekness has much spiritual strength, however, that same person may be seen as weak and a “pushover” by the world’s view. Many in the world today believe that in order to be considered strong, one must adopt an arrogant, loud, and self-centered personality. This cannot be further from the truth. People who conduct themselves in this manner are focused on the here-and-now and temporary things of this world. Those who behave in ways that are not meek cannot enter into Heaven. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law” (Galatians 5:22-23).
Another good description of meekness is “strength under control.” A person does not have to be big, loud, and boisterous in order to be strong. There are those who are spiritually strong who exemplify the Christian attitude of meekness. In today’s world which exalts those who loudly speak their mind, striving for the last word, we should work to be different from the world and maintain a manner of meekness and humility, always keeping our focus on our Home in Heaven! “While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.”(II Corinthians 4:18)

Blessed Are They That Mourn

3/5/2020

This life has many challenges. With the aftermath of the tornado that claimed 25 lives at last report in several counties in Tennessee earlier this week, there is much sadness and devastation in the lives of so many. Whether you knew those who lost their lives or not, it is a time to remember to be thankful for your loved ones and all that God has blessed you with in this life. In last week’s article, I discussed the first Beatitude that Christ gave to the multitude on the mountain. Today, I will talk about the second Beatitude that He gave, which is, “Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted” (Matthew 5:4).
Mourning, or the act of grieving, is something that everyone experiences at some point in their lives. We are encouraged to comfort those who are in mourning, “Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep” (Romans 12:15). Family and friends are a wonderful comfort to those who are suffering a loss, but God is the God of all Comfort for God says through Paul in II Corinthians 1:3, “Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;” (II Corinthians 1:3). Only God can give us peace during times that we are suffering loss and sadness.
During challenging times such as those that took place earlier this week, it is important to remember that everything that happens in this life is temporary, and there is a better place waiting for us if we are faithful to God. “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.” (II Corinthians 4:17-18). We must keep our focus on God, no matter what challenges we face in this life. We will be richly rewarded in eternity if we do, and we will have the hope that will carry us on to glory! “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not” (Galatians 6:9).

Blessed Are the Poor In Spirit

3/1/2020

In Matthew Chapter 5, Jesus gives what is known as the Beatitudes. This list of spiritual qualities is important, because all Christians should be able to find these traits in themselves, if they wish to go to Heaven one day. In this article, I will be taking a brief look at the first trait listed in the Beatitudes, “poor in spirit.”
Matthew 5:3 says “Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” When we look at the term, “poor in spirit,” we see that the word “poor” comes from the Greek word “ptōchos” (πτωχός) which means “lowly.” To be lowly in spirit would mean that you would have to not esteem yourself better than another, and to keep a humble mindset.
So many people in the world today think themselves better than others. Some may think that they have certain physical or personality traits, or intellectual capabilities that set them apart and above others. Others may consider themselves better than their peers because of some worldly possessions they have. No matter why one person may consider himself or herself as “better” than another, these thoughts come from a lack of humility, and as Jesus says in Matthew 5:3, the humble and lowly will have the kingdom of heaven. Those who are not humble, are prideful, and Jesus speaks against pride as one of the three types of sins that exist in the world. “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.” (I John 2:16).
A lack of humility is a problem that many face today, even Christians. If those who have an issue with pride do not change, they will not see the kingdom of heaven as Matthew 5:3 states. We, as Christians, should always keep ourselves in check, so that we do not have prideful thoughts or actions that can keep us out of Heaven. “Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;” (II Corinthians 10:5). We are to let others praise us, rather than we praising ourselves. “Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips.” (Proverbs 27:2). Finally, we should always remember that we are not worthy of Heaven, and we are only saved by the grace of God, which we partake of through faith and obedience.

The 4 Greek Words for "Love' Used In The New Testament

2/14/2020

Koine Greek, a language that I studied for 33 weeks at Tennessee Bible College, is very different from English. The word "Koine" means "common." It was the common language at the time of Jesus’ Birth and His Life here on the earth, and it became a dead language about three hundred years after Jesus’ Death. It is the language that the New Testament was written in, and no other language would have suited the job better! Koine Greek is much more specific than English, which is something that was needed in writing the New Testament, because readers can know exactly what God is talking about in each verse. An example of this specificity is the Koine Greek words to describe the word “love.”
In English, the word “love” can be applied to various situations. The word “love” can be applied to your feelings toward your spouse, your parents, siblings, strangers, or even a cup of coffee. Koine Greek, however, designates a specific word for each version of love that we feel in different situations. Here are the Greek words that were used during Christ’s time to convey the meaning of the word “Love.”

Eros (ἔρως): Refers to romantic love felt towards one’s spouse. This Greek term is where the word “erotic” is derived from. The word "Eros" is not actually used in either the Old or New Testaments.
Phillia (φιλία): Refers to feelings one has towards close friends “brotherly love” This word was used in the New Testament to describe Jesus’ love for his disciples (John 20:2) and for Lazarus (John 11:3).
Agape (ἀγάπη): This is the kind of love that we should have for all men, and also for our enemies. It is a selfless kind of love that Christians must have in regard to acting in the best interest for all human beings.” But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;” (Matthew 5:44).
Storge (στοργ): This Greek word refers to love we have for our parents, siblings, our children and other members of our family. Peter used this word in the negative in Romans 1:31 when he described the pagans the hat he was in contact with being without “natural affection.”

As you can see, Koine Greek was a very descriptive and specific language, which helps readers fully understand God’s Word. As Christians, we should love everybody, just as God loves us!

“A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” (John 13:34-35)

How Our Own Family Histories Show God's Providence

2/13/2020

I love studying the genealogy of my family as well as the families of others who have asked me to do some research for them. It is so interesting to me to find out the names of my ancestors and the countries from which they came. Likewise, I also enjoy reading the genealogies of the Bible, especially the genealogy of Jesus Christ, which can be found in the books of Matthew and Luke.
If you have an interest in studying your own family history, as many of us do, you will begin to see how many people were involved in you being here on the earth. Of course, God created us, and placed us on the earth, but our immediate and extended family members played a role as well. We all have 2 parents, 4 grandparents, 8 great grandparents,16 great-great grandparents, etc. If one of those relatives did not exist, did not choose the spouse he or she did, or just decided not to have children, you would not be here today. Through God’s providential love and care, we are here. I believe that God’s providence has been at work many times in my own family tree.
When we look at Jesus’ earthly family history, we can see God’s Providence fulfilled for Him to be here on the earth as the true Messiah which the prophets had foretold about in the Old Testament. While Christ’s Birth was a miraculous or “above nature” event that is very open and visible, while not being “behind the scenes,” there are many examples of providence throughout His earthly family tree.
God’s Providence refers to His special operation in the lives of the faithful according to His purpose in which He works “behind the scenes” doing things to the laws of nature to bring about His will. Providence is not “above nature” and “very visible” like miracles. The miraculous having given and fulfilled God’s Word has ceased until Judgment Day with the completion of God’s revelation in the Holy Bible in the First Century A. D., for the Holy Scriptures are complete and thoroughly equip us for every good work containing within them all things pertain unto life and godliness (Mark 16:20, Hebrews 2:3-4, I Corinthians 13:8-10, II Peter 1:3, II Timothy 3:16-17). Romans 8:28 speaks of God’s Providence in the lives of the faithful, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”
Acts 17:24-25 says, “God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;”. We owe our everything to God. If it were not for him, we would not be here. Thanks to God, He brought each one of our ancestors into existence, and thanks to Him all things have come about for us to have been born into this world.
We are all here for a reason today, just as our ancestors were here to serve a purpose as well. All of our genealogies begin with Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:20). God knows the future for all of us, and He only wants to best for us and our descendants. In Jeremiah chapter 29, God is speaking through Jeremiah to the people, telling them about how they will be placed in Babylonian captivity and how that the captivity will last for 70 years. In verse 11, God says: “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” Within this verse, we see a principle about God and His Nature toward His children, as God always works things out for our benefit if we are faithful unto Him. Even if some of our relatives were not faithful to God, they still helped us to be here, so that we can serve the Lord, and take as many people with us to Heaven. Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 says, “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.” Our reason for being here on the earth is to fear God and keep His Commandments. May we then remember that God is in control of everything in our lives, and if He wants something to happen, it will.
It is amazing to see how God is involved in our lives every day. Looking at our family histories can make us more mindful of how God’s Will is always done. We should always put our faith and trust in the Lord to take care of us, and to help us on our journey to a home in Heaven!

Having the Faith of A Little Child

2/3/2020

“Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:3).
I learn so much from my children. They teach me a lot about patience, forgiveness, and how to have fun. They (for the most part) are willing to wait for things, they forgive one another easily and quickly, and they always try to have a good time, even if one of them is not feeling the best. I learned another lesson from my two-year-old little girl the other night that I would like to share with you.
One night, when it was already dark outside, my little two-year-old daughter wanted me to get a toy that she had left in our bedroom. Our bedroom is at the end of a long hallway, so she was standing at one end of the hallway, pointing her little finger and asking me to get her toy that was in our bedroom which was completely dark inside. I looked at her and said that she could go and get the toy herself, and I would turn the light on for her. She looked up at me with those big blue eyes, and in her sweet little voice, these words came out, “No, Mommy, I scared.”
Seeing that she did not want to go alone into what she considered the scary space that was our bedroom, I told my daughter that I would hold her hand, and we would go together into the dark bedroom. I told her that I would show her that everything would be okay, and she could get her toy. She happily grabbed my hand and was willing to go into the bedroom unafraid. She fully trusted that I would protect her from whatever it was that made her afraid to go into the bedroom to get her toy.
As I was walking with my two-year-old down the hallway, hand in hand, I suddenly realized that her readiness to trust me to take care of her and her faith that I would do what is best for her during her time of uncertainty and fear is how we, as Christians, should feel about how our Heavenly Father takes care of us. How many of us, when faced with some challenge, look to our Heavenly Father as a child would look to his or her parent, and put our complete trust in Him to take care of us? How many of us have the amount of faith in our Creator to believe that He will always do what is best for us, so long as we are obedient to Him (James 2:20)? Just as my little girl asked me to help her in her time of need, and then fully trusted that I would give her what she needed and take care of her while doing so, we should feel the same way about God! God loves us and cares for us! (I Peter 5:7). It is through prayer that we can ask God for His Help with whatever we need, and He hears and answers the prayers of His faithful children (I Thessalonians 5:17: James 5:16).
Just as my little girl had peace after she knew that I was helping her along the way, it is only through complete faith in God and obedience to His Word that we can have total peace. “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7). I hope the story that I shared will help to be a reminder of how we have to totally trust in the Lord in order to be the faithful children that He wants us to be! If we are faithful unto the end of our lives here on Earth, He will reward us with eternal life in Heaven! “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14).

The Foolish Woman vs. the Virtuous Woman in the Book of Proverbs

1/28/2020

When King Solomon, who was known for his great wisdom that God had bestowed upon him (I Kings 3:9-13), wrote the book of Proverbs, he wrote it in such a way that anyone can learn valuable life lessons from its teachings. Solomon dedicated much of the book of Proverbs to teaching women how they should act according to God’s Will. He is very specific about the personality traits and actions that can make a woman either foolish or wise. Let’s look at some of the ways that women can be considered either foolish or wise in God’s Eyes!

Foolish Women:
1. According to Proverbs chapter 9:13, a foolish woman is considered “clamorous” which means to be loud, and “knows nothing” (Proverbs 9:13)
2. A foolish woman begs for attention, is not humble (Proverbs 9:14)
3. Can be a seducer of men, as in the example set in Proverbs chapter 9:15-17
4. Does not use good judgment “without discretion” (Proverbs chapter 11:22)
5. Foolish wives are “contentious” or have a habit of constant nagging (Proverbs chapter 21:19)
6. Foolish wives are “quarrelsome” or are argumentative (Proverbs 27:15),
7. Foolish women are adulterers, or commit fornication (Proverbs chapter 30:20)
8. Foolish women act in rude ways, and do not practice good manners (Proverbs 30:20)
9. A foolish woman makes her husband ashamed, and is “rottenness to his bones” (Proverbs 12:4)
Virtuous Woman (Proverbs chapter 31 v. 10-31)
1. Is Priceless
2. Works with her husband, not against him
3. Works for the betterment of her family
4. Provides for her husband and children in ways that only she can
5. Gets up early and feeds her family
6. Wants only the best for her family
7. Her husband is well-respected also
8. She fears the Lord and deserves much praise
9. Her husband and her children praise her

Unfortunately, many women today act like the foolish women do in the book of Proverbs. They seek attention, and behave in ungodly ways. Foolish women are often held up on pedestals in today’s society because they exemplify the world’s so-called “values.” As Christian women, we have much work to be like the virtuous woman that Solomon speaks about in Proverbs 31. It is only by following her example and the example of others like her that we can reach a home in Heaven one day.

I Know the Lord Will (Always) Find A Way For Me

1/21/2020

A song that is often sung at many worship services of the church of Christ is one entitled, “I Know the Lord Will Find A Way.” This song is considered an American Folk melody which was arranged by Palmer E. Wheeler,[1] This song talks about how God always provides and takes care of those who are faithful to Him, I always enjoy singing this song during worship services and even when I am performing daily tasks around the house. It is very uplifting and it has a wonderful message to trust in God.
It is important to remember that God will take always take care of us in our time of need, as long as we are faithful Christians. I remember a wise Christian lady saying once that she had never seen a faithful Christian begging for bread. There is much truth in this statement. How many times have you seen faithful Christians who attend worship services of the church of Christ regularly and who follow God’s Word in all things needing food, clothing, and shelter? I cannot think of any faithful Christians who are lacking in the basic necessities of life. Of course, there are times when Christians struggle financially, but God will always provide for His people in some way so that they will not be deprived of food, clothing, and shelter, for themselves and their families. It may mean that they cannot buy that new outfit at the mall or eat out as much as they once did, but God will always find a way to take care of His children,
Jesus tells us this in Matthew 6:25-34: “Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.”
Not only does God provide our physical needs, but He will also provide comfort and help with the many challenges that we face in this life. Faithful Christians suffer many challenges in life, many of which are thrown at us by Satan, such as being tempted to sin, and being persecuted by others for being faithful. God provides a way for us to overcome temptation so that we do not sin should we choose to take the way out of committing the sin, and He also helps us overcome persecution from others. “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it” (I Corinthians 10:13) “Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:10).
God also helps faithful Christians with the many other challenges that we face in this life. Whether it be the loss of a loved one, relationship issues, or whatever we may be facing, God will always find a way for us to come out of these troubles and be victorious. "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28).
Whatever we may be facing in this life, we should always remember to trust in the Lord to provide for us at all times, and to have faith in Him always. Pray many times every day, read God’s Word every day, and be faithful in all things, and God will take care of you and find a way for you to overcome all of the challenges of this life. We should also remember that God has already found a way for us to have salvation and reach Heaven! The way that God has given us to reach Heaven is through Chris! God gave His Son to die for us on the Cross so that we would have a way to Heaven! In order to reach Heaven, we much follow the Plan of Salvation which is to hear Hear the Word (Romans 10:17, Believe (Mark 16:16), Repent (Acts 2:38), Confess (Matthew 10:32), Be Baptized (Acts 22:16; I Peter 3:17-22), and Remain Faithful Until Death (Revelation 2:10). When the day of Judgment comes and all of the faithful are in Heaven, we will look back on this life and realize how short it was and how insignificant the challenges we faced in our earthly lives really were. Life is short, but eternity is long. Let’s all strive to focus less on the temporary things of this life and more on the real reason we are all here which is to fear God and keep His commandments (Ecclesiastes 12:13)!

[1] Wheeler, Palmer. “I Know the Lord Will Find A Way.” Praise for the Lord.

Be Content

1/15/2020

The apostle Paul, wrote these words in his letter to the Philippians, “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.” (Philippians 4:11). Paul was in prison at the time that he wrote these words, for merely preaching the Word of God, a situation that many would despair over today.
We, as human beings, have a tendency to look for something “better” or “different” than the circumstances in which we currently find ourselves. Whether we are dissatisfied with our jobs, financial status, relationships, appearances, or whatever it is that we are not pleased with, many of us seek something else to fill the void that we may be feeling due to not being where we want to be in life. This feeling of discontentment can lead us to commit sin, which is something for which we must watch out.
How can not being content with our current circumstances cause us to sin? There are various ways in which sin can enter our lives due to our discontentment. A person could not be happy with being a certain age, and go out and drink alcohol and do other reckless things like that in order to deal with the fact that he or she is getting older. Another person could not be satisfied with his or her job, and treat his or her boss or co-workers poorly. A more subtle way that discontentment can cause us to sin is that by not being happy with how things are for us now, we can be tempted to worry. The Bible speaks against worry, because worry shows a lack of faith that God will take care of us in our times of need (Philippians 4:6-7; Matthew 6:25; I Peter 5:7; Matthew 6:34).
So, how can we learn to be content with what we have now, rather than focusing on what we feel that we could and should have in our lives? The first step is to look for the positive in any situation in which we find ourselves. We may not like everything about our job, but there are one or two co-workers that we enjoy talking to every day. We might not have as much money that we want, but we have enough to put food on the table and a roof over our heads. Thoughts like this will hopefully help us feel better about ourselves and our lives, so that we can focus more on setting goals and reaching those goals. Sitting around and worrying about everything that we find to be negative about our lives drains our energy, and distracts us from that task that we need to perform in order to make our lives better.
More importantly, we should always focus on God and His Word every day, and we will be less focused on the temporary things of this life. When we set our eyes on the goal of Heaven, the luxuries and events that occur here on the earth will seem much less important than they once did. “But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Matthew 6:20-21). Ways you can keep yourself focused toward Heaven is to study your Bible every day, pray many times a day, and attend the worship services of the Lord’s church regularly.
Also, making a habit of writing down positive things about your day can also help, such as keeping a “Gratitude Journal.” In a Gratitude Journal, you write several things that happened during your day that were good and positive. It can be as simple as waking up in the morning. You can list as many positive things as you choose each day, so long as you write as least one positive thing per day. Looking back on the positive events that you write in your journal can help you keep a happier outlook on life and to also appreciate the people and things in your life more.
As Christians we should always be grateful for all of the things that God has given us in this life. We do not have to have the ‘best of the best” in order to be happy, we can be happy in any situation we find ourselves in, just as Paul was. Our lives will be much more enjoyable that way. Count your blessings!

Resolution Idea for the New Year 2020: Read the Entire Bible in One Year

12/30/2019

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” II Timothy 2:15 states that we are to study the Bible and Psalm 1:2 encourages us to meditate on the Word “day and night.” As long as we read and study some part of the Bible every day, it does not matter how much of the Bible we read in one day. You might for example use the same amount of time studying a certain section of Scripture as someone who uses the same amount of time to study a larger portion of Scripture. Something that would be good for everyone to do during some point or points in their lifetimes is to read the entire Bible from cover to cover. This achievement can be accomplished within a year, which would make the act of studying and reading the entire Bible in one year a great New Years’ resolution for the upcoming year of 2020.
There are various plans available, which include the standard reading of 4 chapters a day beginning with Genesis chapter 1 and ending with Revelation chapter 22. By reading four chapters a day, you can completely read the Bible in around eleven months. This plan works best for some who are not able to read four entire chapters every day, but rather, can only read one or two chapters on some days if you are trying to read the entire Bible in the length of one year.
There are other plans available online, which you can find by typing “Read Entire Bible in One Year” into Google. Reading plans can include, reading the books of the Bible in chronological order according to when they were written, reading what the Bible says about different topics at different times, reading different parts of the Bible each day, and so on. A wonderful thing about making reading the Bible in one year a New Year’s resolution is that it can be an accomplishment that you can achieve over and over. You can never read the Bible too much! I know of an elderly man who has read the Bible from cover to cover over 40 times! This goal can help everyone learn more about what God expects of us in order to reach Heaven. Reading the Bible every day will also draw us closer to God! I hope that everyone has a safe and Happy New Year, and may 2020 find us all working toward that same goal of reaching a home in Heaven one day!

"They Need to Talk About God"

11/25/2019

My oldest daughter who is 5 years old, enjoys watching old episodes of Barney and Friends. One day, while she was watching an episode, she looked up at my husband and said “Daddy, the people on this show don’t know about God.” My husband asked my daughter why she thought that the people on the show did not know God, and her reply was “because they don’t talk about God. They need to talk about God.” She went on to say that "We know God." My husband responded to her by saying, "Yes, we know God!"
My husband and I talk about God and read God’s Word on our own, to each other, and to our children every day. Do you talk about God every day? Do you read His Word every day? If not, then how will others know that you know God? How will you be able to teach others about God’s Word if you do not read His Word and talk about Him each day? II Timothy 2:15 tells us to study God’s Word everyday; “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” We are to always put our focus on God. We should always have our minds on His Word. “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success (Joshua I:8).
Through the innocent words of a 5 year old little girl, we can learn much about where our heart should be. God should always come first in our lives. We all spend our time discussing topics that we consider important. If God is where He should be in our lives, which is First and Foremost, then we should show this through our words and actions. “ Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:” (Matthew 6:19-20).

How Can the Church Take in Money to Carry Out Church Works?

11/20/2019

Imagine you are out of town on a Wednesday night, and you and your family want to find a sound congregation of the church of Christ with which to attend Bible study. You do some research and you find a local congregation that looks suitable. Bible study begins at 7 PM, and you drive your car into the parking lot at 6:45 PM. As you pull into a parking spot, you notice that there is a large line in front of the entrance to the church building. As you make your way toward the group standing outside, and take your place behind the next person in line, you notice that there are two men on either side of the building’s entrance. You ask the person in front of you who those two men are, and you are told that they are two of the elders of that particular congregation. As you draw closer, you see that the two elders are asking each person in line to give $5 in order to be able to enter the building and attend the Bible study hour and the Bible classes that will be taking place. You see that a large group has already paid their way into the building, and a large group is still waiting to pay outside.
Do you think that these elders were acting in accordance with the Scriptures? To answer this question, I would like for you to consider the following explanations regarding these matters. First of all, I would like to discuss Bible authority.
What is Bible authority? How is something authorized by the Bible? An act or event is considered authorized by the Bible when the Bible teaches that such act or event is accepted by God. If the Bible speaks about something as good, then that thing, act, or event is acceptable by God. Likewise, if the Bible speaks about a thing, act, or event as something negative and to be avoided, then we know that it is not acceptable by God. How do we know this? Because the Bible is the way that God reveals unto mankind His will today, in which He shows us how to be faithful unto Him. “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. ” (II Timothy 3:16-17).
No matter what we do in this life, we must do it according to God’s Will. Colossians 3:17 states “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.” The Bible is very self-explanatory and specific about how God wants us to handle certain situations. It is not our job to try to find “loop holes” within the Bible in an attempt to justify doing something that the Bible does not say we can do. Everything we say and do is to be condoned by the Bible, and when making a decision about how to handle a something, we should be searching the Scriptures about what they say regarding the situation. What we should not do, however, is to use our fallible and very limited minds to try and “fill in the blanks” of what is not said in order to fit our agendas. Of course, when looking at Bible teachings, it is important to remember that we are no longer under the Old Law as it is nailed to the cross (Colossians 2:14). We are now under the New Law (Galatians 6:2).
Also, even if the Bible does not speak about something directly as being acceptable or not acceptable, this does not mean that we are to do it anyway. This is true for the various aspects of our lives, including as it relates to how the government, home, and church functions. We must follow God’s authority in the area of the acts of worship, for example. Even if God does not say to do this or that in a worship service, this does not mean that we have free reign to do whatever we want in our worship to God. This would be “adding to” God’s Word, and we are not to “add to” what’s already written, nor should we “take away” from what is written in the Holy Scriptures. We are to live our life and conduct ourselves and how we worship solely according to what the Bible says. “For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.” (Revelation 22:18-19). We cannot present another Gospel (Galatians 1:6-10). We are to conduct every aspect of our lives according to what is authorized by God as found in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
So, back to the scenario I gave at the beginning of this article. Was the eldership at that congregation authorized by the Bible to charge people money to attend a Bible study class ? To answer that question, let’s look at what forms of giving that are authorized by the Bible for the church.
The Bible speaks about giving and how we are to give of our means to support church works. We are to give of our monetary means on the first day of the week (I Corinthians 16:2). We are also to give cheerfully of our own free will, and not begrudge the money that we give. “Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.” (II Corinthians 9:7). Also we are to not give because we have to, which is what the word “necessity” means in this verse.
If we are to give according to how we have prospered to promote church works, then what is considered an actual work of the church? Any spiritual work that is overseen by the elders or men of a congregation in the absence of Elders is considered a church work. This would include Gospel Meetings, Bible Classes, Lectureships, worship services, and the like. Since we are to engage in “free-will” offerings on each first day of the week, this means that there is not Biblical authority for the elders or men overseeing a congregation in the absence of Elders to use anything, BUT free will offerings to fund church works. Whether it be a Gospel Meeting, Lectureship, Bible Class, or some other church work, only free will offerings can be used to fund these things.
Why can only free will offerings be used? Because that is the only way in which the church has been authorized through which to take in funds. By saying that an Eldership can collect money through any way foreign to Scripture is without Scriptural precedent. For example, we do not change the singing by adding mechanical instruments of music to this singing. Why is this? We are not authorized to do so in Scripture. There is no authorization for us to do this in the New Law. God did not tell us to do it, therefore we cannot do it. He told us to sing (Ephesians 5:19). Now, as it relates to another act of worship, giving, we, likewise, cannot say that the church can take in money through any way other than free will offerings. Why is this? God did not tell us that we could, therefore we must respect his judgment as should every eldership. Therefore overseeing elders or men of a congregation who are requiring a certain amount of money to be paid as a necessity of being able to participate in a church work are not acting in accordance to II Corinthians 9:7 and certainly not by the authority of the Scriptures! Doing something that goes against Bible authority is a sin, and this sin rests upon the elders or men of the congregation who are taking in the money, not those who are paying to hear the Gospel.
Some have made the comment that it is not unscriptural for an eldership to require those who wish to participate in a worship service, bible class, etc, to pay a certain amount of money in order to be admitted so that the elders could pay for the venue and costs attributed to the event. Those in support of this state that the eldership is not making a profit from charging those who are participating at the event, and they are not charging people to attend services on Sundays, and the people are coming to the spiritual event of their own free will.
Let’s put this argument into perspective. What if the eldership of a congregation decide to have a yard sale in the parking lot of the church building. Each item would be sold, and the money collected would be earmarked to help a specific person in need, or a specific work. The elders would not gain any profit from the yard sale, and no one would be required to come and buy anything from the yard sale. Likewise, let’s say that the elders of a congregation decide to have a fellowship meal at the church building. The fellowship meal is for members of that particular congregation as well as members of other congregations of the churches of Christ. These same elders decide to charge each person $5 in order to be able to eat at the fellowship meal. The elders would gain no profit from the money acquired at the fellowship meal, and no one would be required to attend. Instead, all of the proceeds would go to a specific person in need or a specific work. The money acquired would also help in paying for the food at the fellowship meal.
Under these circumstances, would it be acceptable for the eldership of a congregation to have a yard sale or charge money at a fellowship meal in order to help others or cover the costs of the event? No! There is no example in the Bible of churches in the first centuries having church yard sales, and there is no example of them charging for fellowship meals or “love feasts” in the first century. The two scenarios I have just given are no different than when elders choose to charge willing participants a required amount of money in order to participate in a spiritual activity. The only difference may be as to whether or not the event takes place in or around a church building or at another location.
Does the Bible specifically speak against the practice of elders requiring people to pay a certain amount of money to be allowed admittance into a Bible Class, Lectureship, worship service, Gospel Meeting, etc? No, it does not, but that does not make it ok. Many people in denominations use the argument that the Bible does not specifically speak against using mechanical instruments of music in the worship service, but that does not make it ok to use musical instruments in this way. Once again, it all goes back to the need for Christians to only speak where the Bible speaks, and to be silent where the Bible is silent.
What about Christian universities, Bible Colleges, Bible Camps, and the like that do charge a certain amount to learn about the Bible? All church of Christ affiliated universities, and Bible Colleges of which I am aware of are overseen by a Board that is separate from the eldership of any particular congregation of the church of Christ, and thus, is not considered a work of the church, because it is not under the oversight of elders of a particular congregation. Many Bible Camps also operate under the oversight of Boards, such as many of those nearby to us. You see, in the founding of these, they determined that they could not function as a work of the church under the oversight of Elders and still charge tuition. They rather operated these separate from the work of a particular congregation. Any university, Bible College, Bible Camp or the like that might be overseen by an Eldership, who charges admission into their program do not have Biblical authority to do so.
What if a Bible Class, worship service, Gospel Meeting, Lectureship, etc is being held at a different venue than a church building, and there will be many people attending this event? There is still no example in the Bible that says that elders of a church can charge people an admission fee to attend a church work, no matter the venue, and no matter what the cost it is to have the event. The ONLY example stated in the Bible of the type of income that a congregation can accept in order to perform the works of the church is free will donations that are either given during the Sunday worship service, or at some other time.
So, if an eldership of a particular congregation wants to have a large-scale Lectureship, Bible Class, Gospel Meeting, worship service, or some other church work that will have the ability to teach a large group of people, how can they cover the huge expenses associated with such events in a way that is authorized by Scripture? One way they can do this is to make admission to the Lectureship, Bible Class, Gospel Meeting, worship service, etc free to everyone and ask those who attend to make a donation of money to help with the costs, if they would like to do so. They could also ask other congregations of the churches of Christ to donate money from their church treasuries to help with the cost. Various communities in our country have enjoyed area-wide Gospel Meetings or seminars held in large facilities, that were rented for such usage, yet congregations banded together to fund the renting of such a facility, sending funds to the host congregation’s elders. When Christians work together, the things that can be accomplished are great! Lastly, the eldership could look into either lower-cost venues, or having smaller scale events that are affordable without charging people a certain amount of money to be able to participate in the church work. Even though the event will be smaller in scale, many people could still be reached if the event is streamed online via social media and other internet outlets such as YouTube for free. Attempting to do a good work, but going about it in the wrong way hurts the purpose of doing the good work altogether.
We must always have Bible authority in determining what we should and should not do in this life. Bible authority is especially needed when it comes to works of the church, and members of the churches of Christ should always make sure that all aspects of an event that is considered a church work is authorized by God. We can do this by looking only at what the Scriptures say, not at how many people are attending or at how popular the event is. We should always be more focused on following God, and less focused on following the crowd, because the crowd may not always understand fully God’s Will in every situation.

Do Ghosts Really Exist?

10/23/2019

  Halloween is the time of year where people often like to talk about ghosts, haunted houses, and other topics that they consider “spooky.” Most people have stories about things that have happened to them which cannot be easily explained away. Many people blame these unexplained situations on the existence of ghosts, or spirits of the dead which they believe still interact with the living in various ways. Ghost stories have been around for many years, and according to a very recent survey, 45% of Americans believe in the existence of ghosts. However, do ghosts really exist? Let’s consider what the Bible says on this subject.
First of all, what happens to us after we die? We are made up of both soul and spirit. Our soul is eternal, and is either rewarded with Paradise or punished with Torment right after death until the Day of Judgment comes, when our souls will be sent to Heaven or Hell. Our spirits, or our “life force,” goes back to God. The soul and spirit of a person are very similar, but the Word of God separates the two. An example of this can be read in Hebrews 4:12; “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”
In Ecclesiastes 9:5, King Solomon, through the inspiration of God said, “For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.” This verse does not mean that a person who has died has no knowledge of anything, but that they have no knowledge of what is happening here on the Earth. The dead are very aware of their surroundings after death, just as the rich man was in Luke chapter 16. “And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom (v.23). They have recognition as well as a memory of events and people here. Also, we have the ability to recognize people who we have not met while on the earth in eternity.
It is also important to note in the story of the rich man and Lazarus, the rich man was not permitted to cross the “gulf” that was between the realm of torment and the realm of Paradise, nor was he allowed to go back to the earth due to this gulf. “And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence” (Matthew 16:23-26). No one from the dead were permitted to go back to the Earth and warn the rich man’s brothers (verses 27-31). If the rich man was told that no one could pass from Torment to Paradise and vice versa due to a “great gulf,” and that no one from the realm of the dead would be allowed to go to Earth and warn the living, then why would souls of the dead be allowed to cross that gulf and enter back into the realm of the living today?
The answer is, they simply cannot do this. The Bible is very clear that the dead no longer interact with the living in this life. If we are able to go to Paradise upon our death, we will see and interact with our faithful loved ones again, who have passed away, as well as those who have gone on before us that we did not know. Upon the Day of Judgment, those in the graves will be resurrected.   On this day, we will either see these people in a joyous reunion in Heaven on the Day of Judgment or meet in a place of pain and agony in Hell. "Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.” (John 5:28-29).
So how can I explain the strange occurrences that many people have witnessed during their lifetimes, or the things that go “bump in the night?” I can only say that there are indeed things that happen in our lives that we cannot explain, and that we are not meant to know in this life. If we were meant to know these things, God, would have told us about them. We do know however, that angels are spirits who are involved in our lives in ways that are not totally known by us, but this is in the providential realm. They do not appear to people today as the age of the miraculous has ceased, since we have all things that we need to know in this life in order to go to Heaven was completely given in the Holy Scriptures in the First Century (I Corinthians 13:8-10, II Peter 1:3, II Timothy 3:16-17). Miracles then fulfilled their purpose of giving the Word of God and of confirming it to be from God (Hebrews 2:3-4, Mark 16:20).
What do angels do when they become involved in the lives of the faithful today? We do not know exactly! We do know that they have an interest in the lives of Christians today (I Corinthian 11:10, I Timothy 5:21). We do know that they are involved in our lives in some way from the verses given. All of what is entailed in the ministering to Christians by the angels is not revealed in Scripture, but is within God’s Providential work. Unaccountable children also have angels that help them in various unknown ways, “Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 18:10). This is another verse to meditate upon when thinking of the possible work role of angels. “But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool? Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?”(Hebrews 1:13-14).
So whenever you hear a chilling ghost story, please remember what the Bible says about how souls of the dead can no longer interact with, nor have any knowledge of what is going on in anything done under the sun. If you, yourself, have had unusual things happen in your life that you might be tempted to blame on the existence of ghosts, please remember what the Bible has said on this subject. We cannot fall into the devil’s trap of believing that we will have another chance on this earth after our death. Some who believe in ghosts think that the souls of the dead remain on the earth to take care of “unfinished business.” This is the same as saying that a person will be given a second chance at doing the right thing before facing God’s Judgment. This, friends, is simply not true. “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:” (Hebrews 9:27). I hope I have helped you understand how the belief in the souls of the dead roaming the earth as “ghosts” is a false one.

Why We Should Attend Gospel Meetings

10/20/2019

Since our Gospel Meeting is coming up at Campaign church of Christ this Sunday (October 26th), I wanted to talk about the importance of supporting and attending Gospel Meetings. These meetings are designed to help “revive” our love of God’s Word and to make us even more excited about worshipping Him. It is also a great way to meet other church members and to hear new speakers. I have always loved attending Gospel Meetings! I remember telling my husband when we would attend these meetings together while we were dating, that going to Gospel Meetings was “like a field trip.” The only difference to me between a Gospel Meeting and a field trip, however, is that a field trip is only temporary fun, but a Gospel Meeting helps me feel happy here and helps me find Eternal Happiness through God’s Word.
It is important to attend Gospel Meetings for several reasons. Two big reasons are to edify ourselves and others. By attending a Gospel Meeting, Christians can “recharge their batteries” through listening to God’s Word during the week. A typical week can become overwhelming at times, so getting a chance to hear a good sermon is an effective stress reliever! It allows the mind to focus on our Eternal Reward rather than the small issues we have here on Earth. It is easy to become discouraged when we face challenges in life. Attending a Gospel Meeting helps us remember that the real reason we are here is to serve the Lord, rather than focus on day to day problems that really do not matter at all. One does not have to wonder why they are here or the “meaning of life.” The meaning of life is to glorify God and to keep his commandments. Leviticus 22:31 states; “Therefore shall ye keep my commandments, and do them: I am the LORD.” A Gospel Meeting is a wonderful reminder of this fact! “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not” (Galatians 6:9).
Not only can we edify ourselves, but we can also edify others. Just as others can be a source of comfort for us during trying times, we can be a source of comfort for them as well. Gospel Meetings typically draw a large attendance, and a person can see many people they usually do not see on a regular basis. Since we do not always have the ability to know what is going on in another person’s life, we should always make a point to be cheerful and friendly to others when attending a Gospel Meeting. This is especially true for women, who are usually seated while some of the men are standing at the entrance to the church building as visitors come in. Women should greet both men and women, but make a point to focus on making visiting women feel welcome. Women enjoy talking to other women, and I know that I always feel even more welcome when women from a congregation I am visiting talk to me. When a person walks into a Gospel Meeting, he or she may be facing many challenges in life, and have come to find comfort. We, as women, are nurturers by nature, so we should be willing to show ourselves to be friendly. Who knows, but ours may be the only smile a visitor sees that day! “Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do” (1 Thessalonians 5:11).
Being hospitable to others not only means being pleasant and friendly but also attending to their physical needs as well. A visiting preacher always enjoys good fellowship and a good meal so he can feel energized and able to keep preaching the Word. Many congregations either have fellowship meals at the church building each night of the Gospel meeting, or individual members help feed the visiting preacher. This shows the Gospel preacher that he is welcome and appreciated by the congregation. When I was a child, my grandparents would let a visiting preacher and his wife stay at their house the entire week of the Gospel Meeting. The visiting preacher and his wife would eat breakfast and lunch at my grandparents’ house, and on each night of the Gospel Meeting, the church would hold a fellowship meal. This is the way visiting preachers were often treated years ago, and some congregations and its members still hold to this tradition. I think it’s a great way to show the visiting preacher the love that Christians should have for one another. “As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith” (Galatians 6:10).
Another reason to attend Gospel Meetings is to teach others. The Gospel preacher holding the Meeting teaches us about the Bible and helps us keep our mind focused on God. We, too, can teach others how to be better Christians through our examples. We should invite as many as we can to the Gospel Meeting! Phone calls, cards, and handing out flyers are great ways of doing this! If we invite others to attend a Gospel Meeting, we are showing them that living the Christian life is very important to us. If we do invite others to the Meeting, we must be sure to attend ourselves. I have seen cases where visitors will come to a Gospel Meeting and say that a certain person invited them, but that person was not there. This does not leave a good impression on those who are either not baptized or just babes in Christ. By attending regularly scheduled church services, supporting your home congregation’s Gospel Meeting, and Meetings held at other congregations, we are showing our love for God and for each other
Let’s all help ourselves and each other by attending Gospel Meetings! We do not have to attend every meeting held at every church of Christ, but we should want to at least support our home congregation! In doing so, we are helping ourselves and each other reach our reward in Heaven!
Everyone is invited to Campaign church of Christ's 2019 Gospel Meeting being held beginning next Sunday, Oct 27th! and lasts through Wednesday Oct 30th. Please see flyer below for more details. Hope to see you all there!

New Book Announcement!!

10/14/2019

I have been blessed by God to have my third book published, and I give Him all of the Glory for this! It is entitled, A Quiver Full of Arrows: Accepting the Blessing of Children. This book discusses how children are viewed as blessings by God, rather than how they are viewed by some in society today, which often is negative. In this book, I use the Bible to discuss how children are gifts from God, as well as how to raise children up in the Lord. This book was published by Cobb Publishing, which is a church of Christ affiliated publishing company. It can be purchased through the publisher's website, www.cobbpublishing.com, or from Amazon. Amazon also offers a Kindle ebook edition of this book.

The "Fruits" of Repentance

9/9/2019

The act of repentance is a wonderful avenue of forgiveness that Christians are given by God. For those who have sinned after they have been baptized, they must repent. However, is praying for forgiveness or having someone else pray for your forgiveness the only thing necessary to do in order to be truly repentant?
The act of repentance must first take place prior to baptism. All who wish to be baptized for remission of sins must do so by following the Plan of Salvation. The Plan of Salvation involves 5 steps which include: hearing the Word (Romans 10:17), believing the Word (Mark 16:16), repenting of past sins (Acts 2:38), confessing that Jesus is the Son of the Living God (Matthew 10:32), and being baptized for the remission of sins (Acts 22:16; I Peter 3:17-22). These are the steps to become a Christian and to be added to the church of Christ by the Lord Himself (Acts 2:38, 47). Then, upon becoming a Christian, a person must remain faithful unto death (Revelation 2:10). Once you complete all of these steps and become a Christian, you have many blessings and benefits that non-Christians do not have.
One benefit is that you have an ability to speak to God through the avenue of prayer. We are commanded to pray to God every day, and for any need that we have. “Pray without ceasing” (I Thessalonians 5:17). We should send prayers unto God many times a day, thanking Him, praising Him, and asking for His Help in times of need. If we are faithful, then He will answer our prayers. “Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them" (Mark 11:24). We should also give thanks through prayer before we eat our meals (I Timothy 4:4). All prayers must be uttered in Jesus’ Name, because He and the Holy Spirit intercede for us in our prayers to God (Romans 8:16, 34).
It is through the avenue of prayer that we, as Christians, receive forgiveness from God for our sins when we repent of those sins and confess those sins through what is known as the “second law of pardon” (Acts 8:22, I John 1:9). If we have committed a sin that is only known to us, we can pray a private prayer unto God for forgiveness. If we commit a sin that is public and therefore known to others, then we must ask for the prayers of the church for forgiveness so that others know that we are remorseful for the wrong we have done and are turning back to God, thereby making a change.
However, once we have repented and have prayed ourselves or had others pray for our forgiveness, our duty to God doesn’t stop there. Once we have received forgiveness of sins through repentance, we must bring forth the “fruits meet for repentance” (Matthew 3:8). This means that, although we have prayed for God to forgive us of our sins, we are not truly sorry or repentant of those sins if we do not make efforts to change and show others that we have changed. For example, if we have done someone in particular wrongfully, we must repent and go to that person and apologize. If we have stolen something from someone, we must repent and return that thing which we have stolen. If someone has committed murder, then that person should repent and go to the victim’s family to apologize and to offer help in any way. If a person chooses to get an unscriptural divorce from his or her spouse, then that person must repent and make attempts to reconcile with that spouse. If the spouse agrees to reconcile, then the couple should remarry. If the spouse refuses to reconcile, then both spouses in the unscriptural divorce would have to remain single for the rest of their lives, since in God’s eyes they are still married. Showing others that you have changed is vitally important. This step cannot be ignored!
It is essential for Christians to realize that true repentance is not just going up to the front pew during worship service and asking prayers for forgiveness. It is not just having someone pray for your forgiveness of sins, and then you’re done. No! True repentance is showing change! It is showing that you are taking the steps necessary to make reparations for whatever wrong you have done. So, true repentance is more than a one-step process. True repentance involves showing God and others that you have changed, and making every effort possible to make all of the wrongs you have done right again with others! “But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance” (Acts 26:20).

"Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham." Luke 3:8

How to Sleep Well At Night

8/17/2019

Nighttime is usually a designated time for sleep and the recharging of our bodies and minds after a long day of work and other activities. Many people, however, have issues with sleep, and these issues are sometimes caused by thoughts of fear and worry. We have probably all heard of someone who often wakes up in the middle of the night worrying about something that is troubling him or her, and those who lose valuable sleep over these worries. Likewise, many have had trouble sleeping for fear of someone breaking into their home, or some other negative event taking place during the night. If you or someone you know has issues with fear or worry during the night, there is a solution to this problem. The solution is prayer!
I make it a priority to pray at various times during the day, and the time before bed is no exception. After all of the children have gone to sleep, and before I lay my very tired head down, I pray to God for protection for myself and my family as we sleep. No matter what happens during the night, I know that God is always there to help us, and has the best for us in mind. This prayer, like all prayers, gives me comfort and a feeling of peacefulness, which helps me in going to sleep because I know my Heavenly Father is watching over us always. These prayers help me from being afraid, which is like what King Solomon said in Proverbs 3:24-26, “When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet. Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh. For the LORD shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.” Also, in Psalm 4:8, King David wrote, “I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety.”
Prayer can also help us during the night when it is a temptation to wake up and worry about various problems that we are facing or are anticipating in our lives. Worry is a symptom of a lack of faith in God’s ability to take care of us, therefore, we should not worry at any time. Instead, we should lift our burdens up to God in prayer, even in the middle of the night. The Psalmist says in Psalm 119:62, “At midnight I will rise to give thanks unto thee because of thy righteous judgments.” When we lift our prayers to God, and lay our problems at His feet, we can go back to sleep having that sense of peace and relief that only faithful Christians can have, knowing that our God will take care of things in ways that are best for us. “I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the LORD sustained me” (Psalm 3:5). “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28).
So, instead of spending the night covered in worry and fear, take a little time to say a prayer or two to God for help, and He will help you! Of course, you have to do your part and trust in Him to take care of you. Saying a prayer for help, but not trusting that God will help you will not get your prayers answered. God always hears the prayers of obedient Christians, and He always gives an answer in the way He sees best. “And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him” (I John 5:14-15).
Even if you just have trouble sleeping for other reasons that do not include being fearful or worrying, pray to God for help with that issue, too! We should pray for everything of which we feel that we need help, no matter how little or big the situation is! Our Father always wants to hear from His Children! Sweet dreams to everyone, and may God bless you all richly as you serve Him! Good night!