Jesus Our Hope, 1 Timothy 1:1

Jesus Our Hope

1 Timothy 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope.

Hope, it can be described as a claimed certainty or as a wish. When seen in Scripture, we interpret it as something we count on. Jesus is the one we count on. We count on him for salvation, for strength and courage, for our future, for the resurrection, and for our eternity. And so much more!

K and A, Jesus is your hope for today and your tomorrows. He cares for you and intercedes before his father for you. Trust in him in your journey through life. He has overcome the world and you can too.

~Dad

Please remember that if you ever feel you have no hope, come. I am always here for you.

God Our Savior, 1Timothy 1:1

God Our savior

1 Timothy 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope.

 Did you know that God the Father is our Savior. There is a  lot of talk about Jesus being our Savior and rightly so. He gave up his life so we could be reconciled to his father. We put our trust, our faith in Christ's sacrifice on the cross. But remember it is the Father that accepted his sacrifice. It was his standard that had to be met. He is the one who forgives our debt. We need to honor him for it!

K and A, I don't get too involved in arguments that discuss the role each member of the Trinity has. Maybe that because I am not an in depth studier or that I consider other areas of Biblical truths more important to the everyday walk of a believer. I took exception here because I do believe the Bible does show differences in their roles. I also believe we cannot fully understand what they are. When I pray I use the names God and Father the most, except at the end, remembering that he is the one who sits on the throne and Christ on his right. Jesus says that he didn't make some of the most important decisions, rather his father did.... who would sit on the throne with him in his glory, when the end time is.

But don't get stuck there. The most important thing is that you can be thankful and praise the father that he provided a way for you to be saved from sin and that you know that Jesus is the way. Now you can live free from sin.... if you live by the power of the Spirit. (now what roles does he play?)

~Dad

Sent By God, 1 Timothy 1:1

Sent By God

1 Timothy 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Savior and Christ Jesus  our hope.

Who directs your life? Why do you do the things you do? We are to be lead by the Spirit of God and to do as he desires, the will of God.

Even though there is a general command to Go into all the world, God through his Word and through his Spirit, directs each of us in a personal way: speak to that person, help that one, or smile, they need a friend. 

K and A, as a believer, God will direct you throughout your life. But, until fill your heart and life with his Spirit, until you co-exist with him, will you not sense his hand of guidance. As you go about your daily tasks, pend your days communing with him. He will lead you in the paths you are to take and you will GO to the place he has for you. And, like Paul, you will know you have been sent by God himself.

~Dad

Daughters, there is a confidence that empowers you when you know God has sent you. I have found that when I do not have the confidence to do something, it is either not God's will, or it is that I am not close enough to God to know.

An Apostle Of Christ Jesus, 1 Timothy 1:1

An Apostle Of Christ Jesus

1 Timothy 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope.

The word apostle comes from the Greek to mean sent one, like an ambassador. Growing up I remember that a true apostle had to be with Jesus and had to have done miracles. I could not find the first part while writing this, but in Corinthians, Paul says the signs of a true apostle are wonders.

The questions for you, A & K, are who sent you and to whom are you sent? The world has a strong influence on most peoples lives. But you, you claim to belong to the Lord. He is the one you have been with, He is the one who directs your footsteps, and He is the one who sends you. He says come follow me and go into all the world.

Follow the Lord and walk in his way. Reach out to the ones to whom he sends you to. It may be close by, or it may be far away. Either way, go as an apostle of Christ Jesus!

~Dad

Get Up, Proverbs 6:9-10

Get Up!

Proverbs 6:9-10 How long will you lie there you sluggard? When will you get up from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber. a little folding of the hands to rest - and poverty will come on you like a bandit and scarcity like an armed man.

Well, sometimes that is me, and sometimes it is you two as well, I am sure. so we need to be careful. Notice the word in there, "little". It happens little by little and it build secretly to overtake you, and you never saw it coming.

I will be starting again the daily writings. This is actually last weeks post. If I fail to keep up it will become difficult to catch up.... a little folding of the hands to rest.

A, this is your last year in college. Work hard, Do well, Excel - I know you never heard that before, but as you know, if you fail to do so, little by little it catches up to you.

A nd K, remember that the opposite is true as well. Scripture says, precept upon precept, line upon line, here a little there a little. The good will add up as well and it too will benefit you in the end. So, read your Bible every day. Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. Then, you be able to help those around you, teaching them the principles of God and his ways. Arise and be diligent in all you do and he will bring to you the fruits from your labor. You will eat of it and will taste that the Lord is good!

~Dad

Holiness, The Only Way To See The Lord, Hebrews 12:14

Holiness, The Only Way To See God

Hebrews 12:14 Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness, no one will see the Lord.

Holiness, the term is different to different folks. But, you better determine the Biblical definition for it. Some people have an excuse for what they do... I don't have the same conviction you do, so I can _________. You fill in the blank for you. But, remember A & K, it doesn't matter what you have convinced yourself of. It only matters what God thinks of it. My generation scoffed at the old ways, and then we made our own rules. Sad thing, it got carried into the church and now anyone can do anything like and feel good about it. They killed their consciences and then taught their children to do whatever feels good to them. If it was wrong the spirit would tell me. That would be true if they were connected to the Spirit in truth!

Daughters, here is a good reliable thought; if the world around you is having fun doing it, question it hard and long. And, do not pray for God to tell you it's wrong, instead pray to hear God tell you it is right. Don't go ahead and do it until you hear him tell you it. Otherwise you will end up convincing yourself it's all good.

Why does it matter... because only those fully devoted to the Lord, separated from the world and clinging to him - holiness - will enter the kingdom and see the Lord. To some extent both of you have a heritage that promotes holiness. I have never been so moved by the Spirit as much as I have when attending the conservative holiness meetings. Thanks for attending there A. I linked to two songs below. In the first, second verse it tells the truth of this scripture verse. I pray you do not want to forsake your heritage for the pleasures of the world. The second song... it get laborious and if you watch it, maybe even a little silly to you, but this song had me praying and holding up my hands as I felt the presence of the Lord while writing this. I confessed sins against him and against others and asked forgiveness and to make things right with those people. I know he heard my prayer! May he move in your heart too.

~Dad


Heritage of Holiness
I Know He Heard My Prayer

Sexual Purity, Hebrews 12:16a

Sexual Purity

Hebrews 12:16a See that no one is sexually immoral...

Sexual immorality is more than sex before marriage, it covers a multitude of areas. Although this verse is specific to fornicators, two unmarried couples having sex, we can use it to refer to sexual promiscuity between anyone. I am not trying to parse the scripture here and so do an exegesis on this word, rather I am trying to keep you from polluting yourself from sexual sins by staying far from them.

K and A, you are in different stages in life, but each of you must stay sexually pure, if you want to enter the kingdom (Eph 5:5 and many others). There are other reasons not to be involved in sexual sins; anger, distrust, hatred, guilt, disease, hopelessness, suicide, regret, children, abortion, and on and on... The temporary pleasure is not worth the heartache. Often the other person uses you. They speak all kind of promises and then ignores you like you never existed, unless they need something you have. You are left heartbroken and empty. Remember, this can easily happen to the best of people when not alert, whether married or unmarried.

I saved a Facebook post once that was entitled something like, I Kept My Virginity but Lost My Purity. Just because you do not fornicate or become an adulterer, doesn't mean you kept your purity in tact. Some of the "silly" rules of the past; keeping distance between couples, not holding hands or kissing, not hugging the opposite sex, keeping the door open when meeting with the opposite sex, certain parts of the body are private until marriage... all these were precautions to help retain control. Some of the most God-fearing, devoted people have succumbed to unwanted sexual pressures and fallen into remorse and even worse, left the walk of Faith and serve God no longer!

Daughters, beware of the tricks of the Devil and stay sexually pure.

~Dad