October 2017 - GraceAndWorks

What If?

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What if life was like it was 30, 40, or 50 years ago? Where family values were still present. Gather around the “Supper” table and eat a meal as a family. Actually have a conversation with each other and the kids. Where we got up on Sunday morning, dressed in our best clothes and headed to Church, then home for Sunday dinner, napped or watched a football game on TV, and back to Church for the evening services. Whatever happened to that?

What if we didn’t have cell phones for texting and actually got to talk to someone to converse? I remember the times. We had rotary dial phones, phone booths with pay phones, and we got along fine. We didn’t have to stare into a phone all day long and wait for someone to make a comment, call us, text us, or message us. And yet we survived the times.

What if there was no computers or internet? We wouldn’t have to search for hours to find garbage to spew out on the different medias. It wouldn’t be near as easy to spread gossip, tell lies, show our hate to others, and spread our opinions like butter on bread.

What if we would spent as much time reading the Bible as we spent searching for garbage, looking at a phone, spreading hate and discontent, or watching TV? What would the world be like? I would think much better!! Does not God tell us in 2nd Timothy 2:15 and following, to study to show ourselves approved? That verse used to mean something. It still does, but to fewer people.

What if we had stop lights or stop signs, for our life, pop up to let us know it is time to look around before we proceed? Or yield signs to let us know to let something just go on by and then continue on? Caution signs to let us know we may be coming into danger and be careful?

What if…….

SMILE God loves YOU!! Have a good week all.

Deuteronomy 15:7-11

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“If there is a poor man with you, one of your brothers, in any of your towns in your land which the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart, nor close your hand from your poor brother; but you shall freely open your hand to him, and shall generously lend him sufficient for his need in whatever he lacks. “Beware that there is no base thought in your heart, saying, ‘The seventh year, the year of remission, is near,’ and your eye is hostile toward your poor brother, and you give him nothing; then he may cry to the LORD against you, and it will be a sin in you. read more.
“You shall generously give to him, and your heart shall not be grieved when you give to him, because for this thing the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in all your undertakings. “For the poor will never cease to be in the land; therefore I command you, saying, ‘You shall freely open your hand to your brother, to your needy and poor in your land.

Where’s The Love?

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Red and yellow black and white, they are precious in His sight, . . . . . Family, I have been thinking the past several weeks, months or perhaps longer. I have a question: When will we as Christians wake up and smell the roses! It seems as if we have lost our minds and our purpose, our sense of direction, our focus! We have allowed the media to get our compass all out of whack! Everyday insults are hurled at each other, our posts are angry, It is I am right and you are wrong! My hurt feelings are more important than your hurt feelings! If you don’t agree with me, you are a racist, a sexist, and the list goes on and on and on and on. . . . . after all, I have to prove my point!(sad to say, I myself have fallen into this trap),
Where is this going to end? How are we going to learn to love each other if we are insulting each other? How are we going to love each other when we bring up history to prove how hurt one is and wrong the other person is! Please tell me how that is love? Why are we posting posts that say if you don’t agree with me , you are a racist? Is that love?
We as Christians are allowing the media, (and I don’t care if it is fox news, cnn, msnbc, etc,) to have too much influence on our lives. They all distort the truth, they bury it, they distort information and report what they want so as to enrage people so they can make money! The media craves power! The media does not care what is right or wrong. The media does not care if what they are reporting tears America apart as long as they make money. And we Christians are playing right into their hands. IT IS A TRAP!
Jesus must be shaking his head up in heaven, saying “Children, children, have you forgotten so soon what I did for you? Have you forgotten so soon who I Am? Have you forgotten that old Rugged Cross?” Jesus said “Love one another as I have loved you. By this others will know Me by how you love, John 13. Would Jesus be smiling when you post on Facebook?
Sadly, I think not. Please tell me how one can carry on an intelligent conversation on Facebook dealing with sensitive issues? I mean it, Intelligent issues being kind and sensitive to all who will be reading our posts. That is correct, ONE CANNOT! One can only soothe themselves when by posting, then feeling “Guess I told them, I am right!” And Jesus shakes His head in sorrow, blood dripping off His brow.
Family, there is only one, ONE thing that can bring this broken, sick, falling apart world together. Have you forgotten what that is? Our posting suggests we have. Why are we posting divisive, angry, hurtful posts that are doing nothing but causing hurt feelings? Because we love?
If we truly want to bring peace, we must be peace. As I recall, Jesus said Blessed are the Peacemakers, And there is only one thing that brings true peace, the GOSPEL OF CHRIST.
We have been so busy pointing out our differences, we have forgotten what brings us together. Satan is using the media to divide and conquer. When we are fighting against each other, we don’t have time to focus on saving souls, we will never heal the wounds of hate and malice. Forget bandaids and stitches, they won’t stay on long enough to heal because another post will just open up more wounds, and the war of words and pictures will go on like old reruns. And Satan is laughing all the way to hell! And the blood of Jesus still drips off His brow, Looking to His Father saying, “Father, forgive them, they know not what they are doing……… Have they forgotten so soon?”
Let’s put a stop to this! Now.
When we post, stop and think, will this be seen in love? Will this be hurtful or kind. Will this be beneficial or am I posting this out of pride, see I am right. Let us be civil and loving on Facebook and stop looking like the rest of this uncivilized world.
Christians, let’s stop fighting these petty battles and remember our battle is not against people and each other, but against satan. He is our real enemy. Red, yellow, black, or white, Please explain to me how our souls are different ?
If we can look past the grievances of the past, and again turn our face to Jesus, perhaps we can learn to love again. And if we learn to love again, forgiveness and humility will follow love’s lead. We can’t change the past, but we can change the future one soul at a time. If we refuse to face the real battle that Jesus would have us fight, How in the world will the world tell us apart from the world? If we are no different than the world, if we are to continue to act like the world, what is the point? And all the while we continue to sing, This World is not my home. . . .. REALLY? LET’S BE CHRISTIANS, LET’S ACT AND WRITE LIKE CHRISTIANS, ON FACEBOOK AND EVERYTHING ELSE.
Steven Prine