RiverAngel42

Thought for the Day: Let Your Yes Be Yes

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There are many times when talking with another person we tell them, “Yes we will do…” and times when we say “No, we will not do…”. However, how many times do you find yourself reneging on your word? Sometimes we do it unintentionally yet other times we make it point to do exactly the opposite of what we have agreed. We try to justify it by saying well this person told me x,y and z and did the opposite so I am getting them back. That might be well and good but you should also be aware that not only are you telling a lie but that you are also going against God’s word.

The Bible states in James 5:12 12Above all, my brothers, do not swear—not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. Let your “Yes” be yes, and your “No,” no, or you will be condemned. When you enter into an agreement with a person you are not only entering into an agreement with them but God. So if in your heart you have no intention of honoring the agreements with which you have entered, you would be better off not to enter them at all. There is no out for “well I never promised” or “we didn’t have a written contract” as the world would have you think. The agreement is simply the yes or no that you speak.

It is true that there are times when the other party might make you really want to break your word however God judges us each by our own words, hearts and actions. At the end of the day this is what I strive for…May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer. Psalm 19:14

Humbly Submitted,
RiverAngel42

A Boy, A Blanket and A Gift

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By RiverAngel42
This story is about a little boy named Nigel.  Nigel lives in a small town with his Parents, Grandparents and other siblings. He is the youngest of his siblings and is often said to be “high spirited”. While he has a good heart and knows right from wrong sometimes he gets a little excited and finds himself in a tad bit of trouble (of course you wouldn’t know what that was like).
One Christmas, as Nigel and his family were opening their presents, he noticed a package wrapped in brown paper stuffed way behind the tree.  The present had his name on it, however he did not know who the present was from.  So Nigel gave the package a shake, no sound.  He gave the package a squeeze, it was lumpy. Now he was totally confused as he had already received all the toys and clothes he could dream of.  The only thing that gave him a clue was a note that read, “Take me with you at all times, and I will be your comfort.” Love G.
Being curious Nigel ripped open the bag and there he found a green fleece blanket.  “A Blanket” Nigel thought, “I’m a big boy, why on earth would I carry around a blanket.”  However there was something about this blanket and as the day progressed he found that not only was he following the instructions on the blanket but that he really never wanted to go anywhere without it. So as time went on he began to carry the blanket with him every where he went.  To the market, the blanket; the Doctor’s office, the Blanket;  school, the blanket. When he was happy he had the blanket and when he was sad he had the blanket.
Nigel was very good at soccer and it seemed that he always had a game.  So his family took turns going  to the games so there was always someone there to show their support.  Well one day it was his mother’s turn to show at his game.  This was Nigel’s best game ever. He scored goal after goal and after every goal he would look to the stands to see if his mother was there but she was not.  After the game ended she still was not there.  Nigel disappointed and scared wrapped himself up in his blanket and waited.  The coach watched from a distance and continued packing up until she arrived.  When she got there she apologized and explained to him that she had a flat tire.  She asked if he was ok and he replied “Yes Mommy, G was with me.”  She asked him, “Who is G?” He told her with a big grin, “my blanket”, as he hopped off the bench and ran to the car.
As time went on Nigel left his town and his family to go off and be a grown up. He left behind his parents, grandparents, siblings and blanket. He used to call all the time but the longer he was away the less he called, it was like he forgot about them and the blanket.  They all missed him and wondered where he was and how he was doing.
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I had only heard of Nigel through stories in my town, everyone called him the boy with the blanket.  They told of stories of how they could see danger around the little boy and how it seemed as though the blanket always kept him safe.  Well one day as I was on  my way to drop somethings off at the Salvation Army, I saw a homeless man standing on the street.  It was Christmas time and he looked so sad and alone, not to mention cold.   I pulled over and said to him, “I don’t have much but what I was going to give to the Salvation Army, I would love to give to you instead.”  He came over and I handed him a pile of things. On the top of the pile was a green fleece blanket, the man looked at the blanket and then looked at me as if he didn’t know what to say.  I was thinking boy he must really be cold.  So I took the blanket wrapped it around him and said “I know it’s not much but perhaps if you take this blanket with you at all times it will give you some comfort” He wept. I said to him, “No need to cry, it’s Christmas time everyone should get something, it’s not that big of a deal.” I asked him what his name was and he replied, “Nigel. Thank you for this gift. While it’s nothing to you it gave me the comfort and strength I needed to go home.”
As Nigel walked away from me he had memories of when he was a child. Happy memories of him and G being close. How he always felt safe and protected when G was with him.  When he left home, he thought he left G behind but somehow he found him and he was sure glad he did.  As a child he thought that the blanket had magical powers as an adult he knew that the blanket wasn’t his strength at all but that his trusted friend was God and he was happy and willing to accept Him back into his life. As he walked and cried God whispered to him, “I was right here with you waiting to comfort you all along, now let’s go home.”
Merry Christmas and may we all share and receive the best gift we can this holiday season, the gift of God’s love.
Hebrews 13:5 “…God has said, “I will never leave you or forsake you.”

Question of the Day: Are You Supposed To Pray For People After They Are Deceased?

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Once a person leaves this earth are we to continue to pray for them? If so, then for what? Do we pray that they reach heaven, that they were able to ask for forgiveness? Or do we pray for their forgiveness?
I don’t know the answer so if you have one please leave it for me. In addition if you know where I can find scripture to support your position of either we should or we shouldn’t please leave that as well.
For some reason it seems like my old catholic school religion classes might have said something about purgatory and levels of death and praying for the souls of those who have gone on. However if it did, that was a many moons ago and it is really fuzzy. If so, would you mind refreshing my memory? In addition is that scriptural or just something the Catholic church adopted (if it is correct)?
Looking forward to reading your responses!
Be Blessed
Riverangel42

Question of the Day- Does Size Matter?

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In today’s society with new churches springing up like Daffodils in March, does the size of the congregation really matter? I have met several pastors who are just beginning their ministries and part of their conversation always comes to “Well we just started so we only have 15 members”. At times I want to reply you see that church over there with the three services, they only have 15 MEMBERS/Workers as well.
However, how do you feel. When you go to church on Sunday do you look around and judge how good service was based on how many people are there? Does it seem like the spirit didn’t show if the congregation was too crowded? If a church had sound doctrine and good leadership but not enough members for all the boards (Mother, Deacon, Usher etc) Would you still attend? DO you feel more comfortable lost in a sea of anonymity at a large congregation where the pastor might or might not know you. Or do you prefer a smaller congregation where every one and their mother knows you and what is going on with you at all times? At the end of the Sunday does size really matter? Oh and one final question, at the end of the day can you find any scripture to support your your preference?
As always, I can’t wait to hear from you.
Be Blessed,
RiverAngel42

Where Is It Wednesday Answer: John 1

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Well done family! The correct answer was given! Here is John 1 where the well known verse “In the beginning was the word, and the word was God” can be found. Hopefully there was no peaking:)
Be Blessed
RiverAngel42
The Word Became Flesh
1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was with God in the beginning.
3Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4In him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understooda it.
6There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John. 7He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe. 8He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. 9The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.b
10He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13children born not of natural descent,c nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.
14The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only,d who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
15John testifies concerning him. He cries out, saying, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’” 16From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. 17For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only,e,f who is at the Father’s side, has made him known.
John the Baptist Denies Being the Christ
19Now this was John’s testimony when the Jews of Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was. 20He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, “I am not the Christ.g”
21They asked him, “Then who are you? Are you Elijah?”
He said, “I am not.”
“Are you the Prophet?”
He answered, “No.”
22Finally they said, “Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?”
23John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, “I am the voice of one calling in the desert, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.’”h
24Now some Pharisees who had been sent 25questioned him, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?”
26“I baptize withi water,” John replied, “but among you stands one you do not know. 27He is the one who comes after me, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.”
28This all happened at Bethany on the other side of the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
Jesus the Lamb of God
29The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30This is the one I meant when I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’ 31I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel.”
32Then John gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. 33I would not have known him, except that the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is he who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ 34I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of God.”
Jesus’ First Disciples
35The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. 36When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!”
37When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. 38Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, “What do you want?”
They said, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are you staying?”
39“Come,” he replied, “and you will see.”
So they went and saw where he was staying, and spent that day with him. It was about the tenth hour.
40Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. 41The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ). 42And he brought him to Jesus.
Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which, when translated, is Peterj).
Jesus Calls Philip and Nathanael
43The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, “Follow me.”
44Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from the town of Bethsaida. 45Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”
46“Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Nathanael asked.
“Come and see,” said Philip.
47When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, “Here is a true Israelite, in whom there is nothing false.”
48“How do you know me?” Nathanael asked.
Jesus answered, “I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you.”
49Then Nathanael declared, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel.”
50Jesus said, “You believek because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You shall see greater things than that.” 51He then added, “I tell youl the truth, youm shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”

Question Of The Day: Don't You Wish You Had A Pray Button? Romans 8:26

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Times are hard and many of us are stressed well beyond our normal limits. During times like this don’t you wish you had a “Pray Button”? A button that not only sends up a prayer, but a specific prayer that uttered the words that your mouth can not, the feelings that your mind can’t even begin to process.
Well in essence we all do, it’s called the Holy Spirit. Romans 8:26 states:
In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.
So many of us think that the Holy Spirit is something that comes to us during a time of worship. That it is something that has one way travel in that it descends upon us only. However keep in mind as you go through your day to day headaches, heartaches and strife that you do have a prayer button, who speaks to the Father on your behalf. In a language that you don’t know. From your heart where you don’t have to worry about causing confusion by not knowing the right words. The Holy Spirit is there and speaks to God just for you. So when you are frustrated and can’t get it out and wish you had that button. Know that it is there and you can press it at anytime. Pushing mine now! How many times a day do you think you would push your button?
Be Blessed
RiverAngel42

Question Of The Day – Love, With Spite or In Spite of Fault?

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WWJD? Was a popular term a few years back. There were T-shirts and bracelets and all kinds of paraphernalia that adorned the popular slogan. However many of us wore them on our chest and arms without adding them to our minds, hearts and spirit.
So my question of the day is were you a letter wearer or did you actually subscribe to living a life full of choices that had what Jesus would do in mind? For example, when it comes to those you love, do you love them in spite or their flaws? Do you take the insults, bumps, bruises, heartache and disappointment that love will bring, erase them and move on? Do you say you still love them and harbor resentment, love them at a distance or just never forgive them?
What happens to you when you love someone with spite? How does it affect your spirit and others that are influenced by the relationship in which you hold discontent? How did Jesus forgive those who hurt him? Really what would Jesus do? What happens when the willingness to forgive is there but the steps to forgiveness, trust are hard to take? How do you convince yourself to trust again when the fault might reoccur again?
There is a popular song that says “He looked beyond my faults and saw my needs”. How do we love one another like that? Despite the faults and flaws, even what logic may tell us, and love in a way that we can see beyond all of that to another person’s needs? Most of us know, if we are honest, when we see a person’s faults and they negatively impact us the last thing we are typically concerned with is their needs. However WWJD?
So think of the people you love, your spouse, family, children, friends and parents (the list goes on) and answer the question. How do you love them: With Spite or In Spite? If it is with spite is it really love? If it is in spite of, have they ever really hurt you? If so how did you get passed it to a place of open and honest love.
Be Blessed and have a great weekend. Looking forward to your responses.
RiverAngel42

Thought For The Day Mosie Burks – What A Debt I Owe (Song and Lyrics)

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Many of us go into a mini-debt each Easter buying clothes, shoes and getting our hair done. Perhaps we should listen to this song and reflect on the debt we really owe, maybe then wearing old clothes or polishing our shoes won’t be such a problem. After all the debt we owe new shoes, clothes and hair could never repay. Just something to think about.
Be blessed,
RiverAngel42
What A Debt I Owe (Lyrics)
Can you see Him
hanging on the cross
look at Jesus
how He paid the cost
nails in His hands
nails in His feet
He could have come down
but He stayed there for me
what a debt I owe
what a debt I owe
what a debt I owe
I can never repay
Father forgive them
thats what He said
it is finished
and my Jesus was dead
the ransom was paid
yes it was high
though Jesus now lives
for me
He still had to die
what a debt I owe
what a debt I owe
I can never repay
what a debt I owe
what a debt I owe
what a debt I owe
I can never repay
so I’ll thank Him
and I’ll praise Him
I will bless Him
oooo I will worship Him
(Choir)
so I’ll thank Him
and ill praise Him
I will bless Him
Yes i will worship Him
so ill thank Him
and ill praise Him
I will bless Him
Yes i will worship Him
Thank Him
praise Him
bless Him
worship Him
Thank Him
praise Him
bless Him
worship Him
Thank Him
Thank Him
Thank Him
Thank Him
Thank Him
Thank Him
Thank Him
Thank Him
Thank Him

Question of the Day: Is It Possible To Write In Tongues

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I have often heard and witnessed people speaking in tongues.  However as I scour the internet and other blogs I often see where people have written in tongues.  Is this possible?  Where in scripture does it indicate that tongues can be written and read by us?

If you have any thoughts or answers please let me know.  I have never seen where anyone has been able to write and read in tongues.  Was English even a language in Biblical days?  If not then how can we transcribe this Spiritual gift into everyday letters, sounds and words?  There is scripture in Acts that says that when they spoke in tongues all in each language represented there all understood in their own language.  There is also passage in Corinthians where Paul speaks of the gifts of the Spirit but each time that I have seen it mentioned in the Bible it has been spoken not written.  thoughts?

Looking forward to getting your responses.

Be Blessed,

RiverAngel42

Acts 2:1-13

1When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. 2And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. 4All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability. 5Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. 6And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. 7Amazed and astonished, they asked, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? 9Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, 11Cretans and Arabs–in our own languages we hear them speaking about God’s deeds of power.” 12All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” 13But others sneered and said, “They are filled with new wine.”

1 Corinthians 12:6-11

6and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone. 7To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 8To one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, 9to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the discernment of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11All these are activated by one and the same Spirit, who allots to each one individually just as the Spirit chooses.

1 Corinthians 14:2-5

2For those who speak in a tongue do not speak to other people but to God; for nobody understands them, since they are speaking mysteries in the Spirit. 3On the other hand, those who prophesy speak to other people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation. 4Those who speak in a tongue build up themselves, but those who prophesy build up the church. 5Now I would like all of you to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy. One who prophesies is greater than one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be built up.

Thought For The Day: Bishop Eddie Long??? Are We Missing the Point?

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Believers,
Are we focusing too much energy on the who’s and what’s and missing the main point?

The main point for me is that regardless of Bishop Long’s guilt or innocence there is a larger problem that needs to be addressed. Perhaps this is not about did or didn’t do, but a movement of God. Perhaps the accusations are all a part of God’s plan to say that Christian’s are not handling sexual misconduct in the proper way.

It seems like as long as the perpetrators were catholic, we have been able to turn a blind eye to a problem we all know exists. But now, he is someone with whom a good deal of us can relate. He’s not a distant person that we have never heard of we have watched him on TV in our homes.We might have even gone to his church. Now it is too close to ignore.

Ponder this, what if this is just a wake up call for us as a the Body of Christ? Perhaps we needed it to be someone with whom we are familiar so that we would become more action oriented in establishing an environment where sins of sexual misconduct are dealt with and handled in a Christ Like manner. In Christ’s house.

If you have college women in your church, a recent study showed that one in four college aged women have or will be raped. How many of those women might be sitting in the same pew as you? Broken and hurt, crying on the inside because she feels there will be shame or rebuke if she tells you about her burden? Or that she will not be supported. All the while knowing you were once the same girl.

For those who have a Children’s ministry. How many children indicate that there is something wrong? What do you do about it? Oh that’s right, give them a crayon and a picture of Jesus and send them on their way.

In your Men’s Ministry, can a man who was molested, and now molests, come to you as a broken and scared child and confess to you what happened in his childhood and how it affects him now? Where he can confess his sins and ask for help? Or does he have to be macho, a strong man of God all the time?
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The truth of the matter is, I don’t know why God made sex so powerful that people would abuse it in such awful ways. However it is so prevalent that the norm is you know someone who has been abused and rare if you don’t.

I understand that dealing with this issue and opening up these ugly wounds is hard work. It might mean crying and running our mascara, or getting our freshly dry cleaned suits wrinkled or dirty. Yet and still the family of Christ is not going to be healed if we don’t. We will have a conference about keeping the family together and being strong women and men in a heart beat. But at the end of the day, if we don’t learn how to effectively resolve this issue, families are destined to fail.

Why? This is why. How do I learn to be a good father, if the father who provided for me also abused me? In my mind as a child, how am I supposed to know this was wrong? How do I not equate this with fatherhood?How can I serve God effectively when his messenger is asking me to perform sexual acts that cities were destroyed for in Biblical times. How can I be a good wife to my husband when my first love violated my trust and now I have intimacy issues.

I get that we all like to come to church and hear a message that makes us feel good. But that is not doing Christ’s work. Only wanting to feel “Good” is like going to a job, not wanting to do any work and get a check. No we have to roll up our sleeves and stop these atrocities from happening.

See the bigger picture isn’t the guilt or innocence of one man, God has that. The bigger issue is how are we failing one another and what can we do to fix it. This might have been the wake up call we needed. So will you get up or hit snooze? When we are doing God’s work we should be healing these wounds not making people feel like they have to handle them on their own or outside the Body. They should be running to the church not running away from us.

What ya’ thinking?
As always, be Blessed!
RiverAngel42