Be patient, therefore, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. Behold, the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient over it until it receives the early and the late rain. You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. Do not grumble, brethren, against one another, that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the doors. As an example of suffering and patience, brethren, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. Behold, we call those happy who were steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful. But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath, but let your yes be yes and your no be no, that you may not fall under condemnation.
Richard Craig, Author at GraceAndWorks - Page 55 of 60
Blessed is the man who endures trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life which God has promised to those who love Him. Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted with evil and He Himself tempts no one; but each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin; and sin when it is full grown brings forth death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren.
Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you shall eat or what you shall drink, nor about your body, what you shall put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your Heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add one cubit to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O men of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious saying, What shall we eat? or What shall we drink? or What shall we wear? For the Gentiles seek all these things; and your Heavenly Father knows that you need them all. BUT SEEK FIRST HIS KINGDOM AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND ALL THESE THINGS SHALL BE YOURS AS WELL. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious about itself. Let the day’s own trouble be sufficient for the day.
Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that in due time He may exalt you. CAST ALL YOUR ANXIETIES ON HIM, FOR HE CARES ABOUT YOU. Be sober, be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking some one to devour. Resist him, firm in your FAITH, knowing that the same experience of suffering required of your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself restore, establish, and strengthen you. To Him be the dominion for ever and ever. AMEN
African Americans, Native Americans, Mexican Americans, Chinese Americans, etc. etc. Today’s blog has more to do with questions I want you to ponder than an actual story. I have a hard time understanding why we have to profile individuals into different groups. It seems to me, that, if we are all born in American, then we should all be called Americans. Why do we have to make distinctions? If we did away with profiling, would we still have the prejudices and racism that goes on in this world? I look at our younger generation and I see that when we have a handful of kids that want to cause trouble, we profile all the kids and say they are bad. Because there are a few kids in a gang, does that make the whole race bad? I think not. If we have a handful of Policemen/women that want to be profilers, prejudice, or racist, does that make all of the police bad? I think not. Profiling. prejudice and racism is going on everyday in America by every “Group” that we can name. It is time to stop all this nonsense!! I was teaching our adult class at Church yesterday from the book of Titus and we got into a discussion on what Paul has to say in chapter 3. Paul tells Titus to: Remind them (The people of Crete) to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for honest work, TO SPEAK EVIL OF NO ONE, TO AVOID QUARRELING, to be gentle, to show perfect courtesy toward ALL men. How can we do this if we profile, have prejudices, and practice racism? WE CAN’T!! Can’t we all just be Americans and forget about race, color or creed?
When it comes to the Government, we have Republicans, Democrats, Independents, etc. I understand that it has always been set up this way. However, what if there were no divisions, groups, or profiling? How would things work? It seems that the way it is now we take our group and go to a corner and come out fighting. Why can’t we just be Americans and elect the best person? Whether it be President, Congress, senate, governors, etc. It seems so simple to me. If we could do away with the “Groups”, wouldn’t things work smoother? Wouldn’t it come down to “What is best for America” instead of “What is best for Me”? I don’t know either, but I would sure like to try.
What about Religion? We have 100’s of different denominations. Why? God established His Church on the day of Pentecost and set up the way it is supposed to work. We have let man’s opinion enter in and now we have God’s word being distorted. Through every letter that Paul wrote, he warns about distortions and false teaching. Isn’t it time to go back to the Bible and see what God says instead of believing what men say? I think so!! If we would do what God says, there wouldn’t be religious strife in this world today. Ephesians 4:4-6 says “There is ONE body, ONE Spirit, just as you were called to the ONE hope that belongs to your call, ONE Lord, ONE Faith, ONE Baptism, ONE God and father of us all, who is above all and through all and in all.” Let’s do what God says.
Can we all get on the same page whether it be politics, religion or Americans? Probably not, but it sure would be a better world if we could.
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let all men know your forbearance. The Lord is at hand. HAVE NO ANXIETY ABOUT ANYTHING, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, do; and the God of peace will be with you.
“Let not your hearts be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. In my Fathers house are many rooms; if it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And when I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be there also. And you know the way where I am going.”
Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going; how can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by me. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also; henceforth you know Him and have seen Him.”
Rejoice always, pray constantly, GIVE THANKS IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Look to yourself, lest you too be tempted. BEAR ONE ANOTHER’S BURDENS, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. For each man will have to bear his own load.
But I call upon God; and the Lord will save me. Evening and morning and at noon I utter my complaint and moan, and he will hear my voice. He will deliver my soul in safety from the battle that I wage, for many are arrayed against me. God will give ear, and humble them, he who is enthroned from of old; because they keep no law, and do not fear God.
My companion stretched out his hand against his friends, he violated his covenant. His speech was smoother than butter, yet war was in his heart; his words were softer that oil, yet they were drawn swords. CAST YOUR BURDENS ON THE LORD, AND HE WILL SUSTAIN YOU; He will never permit the righteous to be moved. But thou, O God, will cast them down into the lowest pit; men of blood and treachery shall not live out half their days, BUT I WILL TRUST IN THEE.
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