God is stronger than…
Your fear.
Your doubt.
Your weakness.
Your sin.
He is stronger than death itself.
He is stronger than all.
Because He is.
Death
The Importance of reading the entire Bible.
Often times as Christians we get confused. We are uncertain on an issue so we go to a Pastor or watch a video or read an article to figure out the answer to questions.
Sometimes though the Pastor’s view differs from the article you just read. Both the Pastor and the author of the article quoted scripture, so who is right? This can led to more confusion, frustration and even anger. Sometimes people even fall away from the Church or God because they don’t know what to believe anymore.
It’s very easy for someone to manipulate scripture to fit their idea. Many times its unintentional, they saw a verse and ran with it. But God doesn’t work that way.
You have to read the full Bible not just one verse. It can seem overwhelming but don’t let that effect you. Call out to the Lord for help with your reading.
When I first set out to read the entire Bible, I was overwhelmed. Then I read about Solomon who when told he could have anything, he asked for wisdom rather than fortune or anything lavish. Because of this, God granted him everything he could have asked for on top of wisdom.
Seeing this I prayed for wisdom also. After that I was calmed down and understood things much better.
Read the Bible, pray to understand it and ask God questions. Trust Him to give you the answers.
If the Bible seems to big, think about series of books you the may have read. Take the seven Harry Potter books for instance, think about stacking them on top of one another and compare that to one Bible. The Bible means much more to me than Harry Potter’s Wizard Adventures. I read all of those books multiple times, so there was no excuse for me.
You have to remember when it comes to certain things in the Bible it is not always so clear cut. Our society forces us to make decisions and stick to that side. You’re either a Republican or Democrat, you support immigration or you’re anti-immigration, you support capitalism or your a communist. I can go on and on. There’s no middle ground. You either support one thing or you don’t.
But God doesn’t work that way all the time. He is much bigger than that.
If you find two verses that seem to contradict each other, they don’t. The answer is more complicated than one or the other. God does not lie. If Jesus said to the man on the cross he will go with him to paradise today he meant it. If Jesus said there is a ressurection of the dead, he meant that too. You don’t have to chose between souls in Heaven or Ressurection. The Bible mentions both.
We aren’t designed to know everything. If you don’t know the answer and God isn’t giving it to you. Thats where faith comes in. You will understand some day but until then trust God over everyone else, whether they be a pastor, an author or a blogger.
Read your Bibles, live in the Word.
God Bless
-Chris.
Scripture to read
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Chronicles+1&version=NIV
http://biblehub.com/luke/23-43.htm
https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Resurrection,-Of-The-Dead
Anger
Today I am writing about anger. This is hard to talk about because one of my biggest struggles is my anger. Out of nowhere something occurs, could be major or could be small and I lash out. I shout, I bang the table, throw something, kick something. Then comes the shame. Whether a short outburst or a long one, the shame comes. My wife and I were watching the new Thor movie and there is a scene right after the Hulk has an angry moment. He calms down and is pouty, looking like a child ashamed of himself. My wife looked right at me and motioned to the screen, I could tell what she meant. We both laughed as it reminded us of me.
While that moment was funny often times when I’m in the middle of my anger I get angry at God. I’ll question him, wonder why the thing I’m upset about is happening. Or I’ll be wondering why he won’t just take this anger from me?
The harsh truth is because I won’t let him. When I feel angry or let little things get to me that will lead to a sudden explosion later, I don’t take any steps or call out to God to help put a stop to it. I do that sometimes, maybe even often but not enough to truly overcome my anger. God can do it. I even have an example of him doing it.
It happened during a very rough time in my and my wife’s lives. My Dad had died the previous year, now her Dad had just died. We were living with her father to take care of him and now that he passed we didn’t know what to do next. Neither one of us worked full time so we couldn’t afford a place to live. On top of that the stress was making us get at each others throats. After we had a heated argument I decided to yell some more but this time at God. After a tirade I told God if he truly loved me he could take all this anger away.
You know what happened?
In an instant the anger was gone. I have never had my anger go away so fast.
Less than a month later my wife had a full time job and everything turned out fine. Just like the Lord said it will. We have to let God take control, of our anger, our worry, our lives.
God Bless.
Here is some links I hope help those that may also struggle with their anger.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/anger-management/art-20045434
https://www.biblestudytools.com/topical-verses/anger-bible-verses/
Would Jesus be for the Death Penalty?
I got into a discussion on Facebook. A few women were arguing with me that a man should face the death penalty for his crimes. I was arguing if found guilty he should be put in jail for the rest of his life. That we should pray for his soul and hope he finds redemption. I was told I was being “Holier than thou” and that my views were just an interpretation of the Bible. I completely disagree with this.
The Bible is clear, Jesus wouldn’t want this man to be killed.
For anyone who thinks Jesus would be for Capital Punishment, you must remember these things from the Bible.
First, Jesus stopped a public execution of a woman, making it known that anyone without sin can stone her but no one could.
John 8:4-9
4 “Teacher,” they said to Jesus, “this woman was caught in the act of adultery. 5 The law of Moses says to stone her. What do you say?”
6 They were trying to trap him into saying something they could use against him, but Jesus stooped down and wrote in the dust with his finger. 7 They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, “All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!”8 Then he stooped down again and wrote in the dust.
9 When the accusers heard this, they slipped away one by one, beginning with the oldest, until only Jesus was left in the middle of the crowd with the woman.”
Jesus talked about an eye for eye, tooth for a tooth but said we should not follow that path, he says we should love our enemies. So a murder for a murder would not be Jesus’ message.
Matthew 5: 38-47
“38You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye and tooth for tooth.’h 39But I tell you not to resist an evil person. If someone slaps you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also; 40if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well; 41and if someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two. 42Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.
43You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’i 44But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,j 45that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Do not even tax collectors do the same? 47And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even Gentiles do the same?”
Remember Jesus actually made a murderer of Jewish Messianic believers a leader in the Christian movement. Saul, who became Paul was the man Jesus chose for this path, he believed in Paul.
Jesus said we must forgive in order to be forgiven, Paul wrote we are murderers if we hate others. How can we continue to have such hatred in our heart?
Matthew 6:15″But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive yours.“
“1 John 3: 15″Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that eternal life does not reside in a murderer.”
If the man doesn’t repent and is redeemed, his suffering will be far worse than anything he did to the person he killed or anything that can be done to him on this Earth.
Most importantly we must remember Jesus suffered Capital Punishment, he received the death penalty in exchange for Barabbas…A Murderer.
I believe in Jesus and trust his word over everything.
Be Blessed
-Chris
My Dad’s Death
We are coming up on the anniversary of my Dad’s passing. He died last year, September 18th 2015. He was battling cancer, it was terminal but his prognosis was that he had a few years left. He came and visited me from St. Louis a week before he started his chemo-therapy. He looked so well and we had a great time, he was the same with me as he had been before he got sick. We both said our goodbyes and that we look forward to seeing each other again.
It was the last time I ever saw him.
It wasn’t the cancer that ended his life on Earth but a heart attack. It was shocking and extremely painful for all of us, his new wife who he had married just a few years prior. My Uncle and Aunt were very close to their brother. It didn’t make any sense, God is the ultimate healer, we prayed for a miracle and he abruptly dies before we were all ready?
I was angry with God, I lashed out on him. I didn’t understand how this could happen, so sudden.
But we must remember God is in control of the big picture, he did however give us free will to live our lives. Tragedy will occur but God will be with you in your highest highs and your lowest lows. Call on him to help you deal with your pain. Time on earth is a blink of an eye compared to eternity.
After my anger subsided I asked for forgiveness and prayed for wisdom to understand.
Then I remembered we didn’t just pray for a miracle but for my Dad to no longer suffer. God granted that wish. You see my Dad was struggling very much with the chemo, he was in horrible pain and the doctors were at a loss on how to help him. Then one day he was in the dining room, eating dinner with his dog next to his side, when it happened. He had a heart attack and a couple days later went with the Lord. No more pain, no more suffering.
God gave me that last visit with my Dad, he was exactly how he had always been when it was just us. I realized that it was all part of God’s perfect plan.
I stand by what I said, I still look forward to seeing my Dad again and I will see him, along with the Father and his Son.
Have a blessed Week
-Chris
The Good Word 