Die By Law Live By Grace (Marriage,Divorce,Marriage)
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Posted:Oct 15, 2011 7:57 pm
Last Updated:Oct 18, 2011 2:12 am 3389 Views
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The law of the Lord has revealed to us why we have trouble in this life. In so many ways we have behaved in violation of these laws. Since the laws can not change, is there nothing we can do to help ourselves?
The grace of the Lord gives us a pass. We are not free from suffering but we are free from judgment. If we have missed the mark in marriage or divorced, we will suffer the consequences. Who has gone through a divorce and not suffered? Who is in a bad marriage and is not suffering? A current marriage can bring just as much suffering as divorce and perhaps more.
The grace of the Lord means we do not have to face Him in the future, and be judged guilty for divorce and marrying again, among the many other ways we all break His laws. We have a pass for the future, and also I believe for the present. We can start over here and learn. Is this not what repentance is all about?
Regarding marriage Paul wrote:
"But if the unbeliever leaves, let him do so. A believing man or woman is not bound in such circumstances; God has called us to live in peace." 1Cor.7:15.
What does it mean we are not bound, and God has called us to live in peace? In my opinion it means for one thing, He wants us to have now peaceful relationships in marriage. The grace, or favor of God, given to us without earning it, means we are not judged and can start over. We can live and learn. We can repent and have forgiveness. There is no future penalty for a failure to observe the law, but mercy now is available.
To pass judgment on people who do not keep the laws of the Lord is to nullify the work of Jesus on the cross, the privilege of repentance He purchased for us, and the forgiveness He obtained for us. To judge people by the law is to judge Jesus. It is to render Jesus null and void. Jesus said He did not come to this world to judge it but to save. It is the same as saying Jesus never came and died for the sins of the world.
Not even God judges people yet. But, He sure seems to have a lot of helpers who are eager to help Him get ready His cases. It is not necessary to burden the divorce with anymore guilt than then already have. People who have divorced and want and need to start over in the name of Jesus are free to do so by His grace. Everyone knows there has been a failure somewhere. But some people don't seem to get it that there is freedom to start over. According to scripture everyone has many failures to keep His laws. Also, according to scripture everyone has more forgiveness and freedom than the failures so they can begin anew. This is how vast and wonderful and awesome is the work of Jesus on the cross. Even if our heart condemns us, Paul says, the grace of God is greater. The point is that we can not out sin God's grace. No matter how bad we are, God's grace or favor is greater.Even, if like Paul, we have murdered hundreds of Christians, we can still find more than enough grace to give us freedom to start over again.
Jesus is all about starting over. A new life is available in Him. Our respect of what He did for us on the cross is needed now. We need to move on from sin and death to starting anew and living again better and better. We have the freedom and power now to do this. Let us stop putting people back in time. Let us encourage people to confess, accept God's mercy and in the name of Jesus move on from the past into the freedom and glorious light of of a new life.
People who have not accepted His grace, freedom, mercy, and a new start, are the ones still laying guilt trips on those who have been born again and found favor once more in their life. Those who have started again in their new life are the ones who are so happy to share and encourage others to find mercy at the cross to begin for themselves a new life and enter a new world of walking in the light.
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A Sunny Weekend
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Posted:Oct 13, 2011 1:34 pm
Last Updated:Oct 15, 2011 11:00 am 2675 Views
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It was nice and relaxing this past weekend at the beach.
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Steve Jobs On Connecting The Dots
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Posted:Oct 11, 2011 12:35 am
Last Updated:Oct 12, 2011 4:05 pm 2877 Views
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Why is it that we so often get to know people after their passing? Mr. Jobs would probably laugh at this as his point was connecting the events in our life is only in our past life events, not our future ones. His life now of only 56 years would be a prime example of this. Now that he is gone, we can connect our life events to his.
I really liked his commencement address at Stanford University graduation a few years ago. He talked about connecting the dots of his life, his view on death, and how important it is to follow our heart and intuition.
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Can We Not Take Romney's Word For It?
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Posted:Oct 10, 2011 6:15 pm
Last Updated:Oct 12, 2011 4:08 pm 2676 Views
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You ask Mitt Romney if he is a Christian, he will most certainly say that yes, he is a Christian. Can't we take his word for it? Let someone show why he is not.
Baptist say they are Christian Baptists. Methodists say they are Christian Methodists. Presbyterians say they are Christian Presbyterians. Mormons say they are Christian Mormons. We take everyone's word for it until they show by their words and deeds why they are not. After agreement on the one thing of Jesus being of God, Lord, our only Savior, there is a lot of room for different additional beliefs none of which disqualifies someone from being a Christian. For example, some worship on Saturday, some on Sunday, some everyday of the week. The Apostle Paul said we are to leave people alone on opinions like this, and respect each person's conscience. We are not to argue and break down fellowship over matters of opinion.
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The Lord's Owners Manual
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Posted:Oct 7, 2011 10:31 pm
Last Updated:Oct 10, 2011 11:58 pm 3008 Views
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With all the gadgets and gismos we have available, there is almost always an owners manual to help the new buyer to quickly learn the intracies of the new product, and have a happy and better experience than otherwise without it. Is not life in the body like this? Since the Lord created all this, and because of its complexity, we sure need an owners manual from Him.
He made us creatures of free will. We have a choice according to His manual for our use of this body life. We also are given a lifetime warranty that whatever happens in our experience in this body life, that we brought it on ourself by how we chose to use this product, and it is a learning lesson for us to transform from darkness to light, no more no less.
His owner's manual informs us what is good and what is bad for us. For example, how we use electricity is up to us. It can cool us or kill us. How we use gravity is up to us. It can give us mobility or kill us also. How we use words can heal us or destroy us. How we relate to others in their body life can give us mental health or mental illness. These are laws of the Lord revealed by scripture and personal experience. WE can not blame anyone but ourself for the consequences or rewards from how we respect His laws.
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Should We Live By Priorities?
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Posted:Oct 6, 2011 12:28 am
Last Updated:Oct 7, 2011 2:40 pm 2523 Views
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Do you really want a President to put God first before Country?
How about a President who puts his family first before Country?
Do you want a President who puts his Church first before Country?
Do you want a husband / wife who puts Country ahead of you like in the military for example?
Do you want husband / wife who puts their business before your marriage?
The Cadet Honor Code at West Point is, "a cadet will not lie, cheat, steal, or tolerate those who do." Is this the kind of President, husband/wife, boss, or family, or business, or church you want?
These are thought questions. WE are entering soon a political year and major protests all over the country that is puzzling some people, very clear to others, and living in a world that is almost dumbfounded at the daily dizzying news. I ask these thought questions of myself and wonder how our light of the world is suppose to shine?
Christianity is a matter of personal faith. I do not think anyone has the right answer on any of these questions, but only what is right for them at the moment.
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Arab Spring Phenomenon Hits USA Now
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Posted:Oct 5, 2011 12:40 am
Last Updated:Oct 7, 2011 1:24 am 2450 Views
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No house, no job, no money, no caring of rich people, no longer quiet is now. Enough is enough. Suffering in quiet is gone. People all across the USA from East coast to West coast are rising up and will not sit down. Hundreds have been arrested and many more will be. The government is responding with arrests instead of bullets because this is America.
The issue here is no bread. This is the issue in Arab countries and now has reached the shores of America. The imbalance between the rich and the poor will be addressed even if it costs blood. People will die for money if they don't have any. They have in arab countries and they will here in USA.
Are the people right to protest Wall Street? This is an election year and it will be a super charged election unlike few in recent history. Its not about lack of social give out programs. People want jobs. People want to earn a living and be paid a living. Social media is helping to change this imbalance.
This revolution in American will not be stopped now. It is more than started, and it is catching fire rapidly everywhere. It will be one of the biggest showdowns ever, and one of the most important elections ever. Our part as Christians is to at least pray and promote fairness and dialog. WE can do better in the USA than shoot citizens. WE can talk and listen and vote.
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People With Mental Problems
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Posted:Oct 4, 2011 12:54 am
Last Updated:Oct 5, 2011 12:17 am 2760 Views
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This is my response to [post 176261]
I marvel sometimes at the word smith skills of women in general. You made me smile with your word pictures. Anyway, one of the most important principles of the Lord is "no coercion". This means no domination, or force applied to someone to make them choose against their will.
The problem of these mental problem people is they are disconnected from others, the reverse of which is also their solution. Thanks for such an interesting post. I think narcissism is our country's biggest problem right now. Maybe it has always been the worlds biggest problem. From connect to disconnect to connect is a long road, but we must make the journey if we are ever going to be whole again.
My belief is that disconnect from people leads to a weakness in the shield of our mental world which in turn allows some evil spiritual invasion to occur. We can not be spiritually strong being disconnected from people. Jesus increased in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and people, according to scripture. Christianity starts us on the journey toward a new connection with The Lord and people.
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