How Time Flies….

How time flies!

As we approach October of 2019 I am shocked to be celebrating our 6th anniversary here at TSP Blog. What first started out as a photography sales website (a colossal mistake on my part but lesson learned) morphed into this blog where we had hoped to encourage the body of Christ and engage in dialogs about The Bible, Jesus, The Faith Walk and more.

As time has gone by there have been lapses of silence here but no lack of inspiration.

So, here we go! Autumn of 2019. Summer is over. Kids are back in school. The leaves are turning and pies are baking! I am committed to put down on paper (figuratively obviously) all these thoughts that bounce around in my head. Some of which have come from wonderful sermons I have heard and books that I have read or revelations that have come to me. As always I have not and will not attempt to act as an authority on these subjects. The Word of God thoroughly and seriously read is the ultimate authority. I simply seek to set the stage for discussion, shine a light on a subject or at the very least cause some self examination and reflection.

Subjects will include

• Knowing God by His Names
• Jesus Revealed by His Names
• What must I do to be saved
• Salvation? Who, How and Why?
• Being a Christian – Christ’s example of how we ought to live
• What is Faith?
• God’s Will for you
• Hell! It can’t be real!?
• Getting Back to Basics – A Fundamentalist’s approach.

Just to name a few

This blog is intended to Encourage, Inspire and Challenge the body of Christ

All content published here represents our interpretation and beliefs. We take The Word of God at face value. We believe it to be the unadulterated and infallible voice of Almighty God to the World. Unchanging and able to cut into the heart of the reader, It is God’s sword.

If you are not a believer in Jesus Christ or you do not believe in or read The Bible, you will probably not enjoy the content found here but please understand that we do not wish to offend or attack the beliefs/ideals of others.

I would like to say that’s to those that followed our posts and would hope that others will stop by, read and speak up.

Be Blessed, A&B

 

What Do you Say When ………?

Have you ever been in the position of being face to face with someone who is going, or just has gone, threw a terrible ordeal? Maybe it was the death of a family member, or a miscarriage or some other great and unexplainable event?

When faced with such a circumstance I am afraid some of us, myself included, want to console or encourage the hurt heart that is before us. Too often we can fall back on cliche sentiments that fall short. Or, worse, we throw out a bewildering – “It must be Gods’ will” or “time heals all wounds.” But what do you say when in such a situation?

First, lets look at why we feel we have to say anything. Are we so ego-driven that we think we can actually solve this persons problem in the few short moments we are with them?  Is it that we have a Hero complex and feel we have to swoop in and save the day? Maybe it’s as simple as wanting to do for them as we would hope to have someone do for us if we were hurting. Whatever the reason might be, I thinks it important to examine ones motives before beginning to speak.

Secondly, Who is the persons that is hurting? How well do you know them? How well do they know you? I heard it said that “No one cares how much you know until they know how much you care.” Consider your relationship and if you have the credentials to advise, console or encourage.

Lastly, What do you say? What can be said? Unless you are certain you can solve the problem or give the most perfect (previously unspoken) answer it might be best to say nothing other then “I will pray for you.” And then start praying. Either silently in the Spirit or out loud in their presence. Because the only thing that I am certain of – in a situation such as these the only One Who can help is The Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

After all, we are all called to lead them to Jesus

That’s all we can effectively do for anyone we meet

  when I sit in darkness, the Lord shall be a light unto me.

Micah 7:8b KJV

Myth Busters!

God works in mysterious ways. Well, I don’t know. It must have been God’s will. The Lord gives and the Lord takes away.

These three commonly used myths sadden me because they are used at a time when people need to be comforted, but they do not comfort. When tragedy strikes and people have experienced a loss, the last thing they need to hear is how helpless they are. Telling someone that they are at the mercy of an unpredictable deity who does whatever he wants without any rhyme or reason does not bring comfort.

Does God work in mysterious ways? Is it possible to know how God works? In the Old Testament we read that God told Adam what he could and could not do. No mystery there – all this is yours just do not eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil.  Later, when the sin of Sodom and Gomorrah caused Gods’ judgement to fall upon it, God appeared to Abraham and told him His plans. God reveled Himself to Moses and told Moses of His plan to save His people.   Let’s look at Jesus – He said that He does not do what He wants but instead does only what He (God the Father) tells Him to do (John 9:4a).  Jesus said that he that has seen Me has seen the Father (John 14: 9d).  So it’s fair to say that Jesus personified God thus erasing any mystery as to how He works.  Finally, the Apostles tell us that God is Love (1John 4: 8, 16) and that Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres (1 Cor 13: 4-7 NIV)

So much for the “mysteriousness” of our God. But, what about His will for us? The famously quoted verse of the Bible – John 3:16 tells us that – For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.  We also see how much love He has for us in 2 Peter 3:9 – The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. Gods’ will for us is to trust Him and love Him and take Him at His Word. When you read the Bible you will see Him clearly – a loving Father Who is Faithful to love us and care for us even when we aren’t aware that He is there.

But, wait! What about that verse in the Bible that says the Lord gives and the Lord takes away? True, these words are recorded in Job 1: 20 – “Naked I came from my mother’s womb,and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.” Job said these words while mourning the loss of his children. He was upset, to say the least. Even though these words are recorded in the Bible it doesn’t mean that they are true concerning the character of God. NOW, before you go thinking I am discrediting the Bible or changing the Word of God, consider what I said. The Word of God is true and infallible for sure, but not everything that everyone said about God is true about God. Satan told Eve that God lied to her – And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. Gen 3:4-5  Satan once said –  I will ascend to the heavens; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly,on the utmost heights of Mount Zaphon. I will ascend above the tops of the clouds;  I will make myself like the Most High (Isa 14:13-14), But he did not (vs 15).  Solomon said that there is no purpose to life – that it’s all vanity! (see Ecclesiastes). This is not in keeping with what the Word teaches about how precious life is and how we are to live each day to the glory of God (1 Cor 10:31). But, Solomon said these things after he allowed his many wives and concubines to lead him far from God. Peter even told Jesus that he would keep Jesus from suffering when they got to Jerusalem and the Lord rebuked him (Matt 16:23; Luke 4:8; Mark 8:33).

I am not trying to rewrite the Word of God but rather provoke YOU to open the Word and see for yourself just what it does and more importantly what it does not say. I believe that if you take the time to do this God Himself will meet you there and you will see Him clearly. Terrible things happen everyday to people and when they search for answers we believers should be able to encourage them with the truth of Gods love and not bewilder them with misguided platitudes.

Jesus left us with this encouraging word found in John 16: 33 – “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

PS –

Basic Bible study rules tell us that at the mouth of two or three witnesses let every word be established (2 Cor 13:1). So if anyone can find three verses, in context, that support any of these myths I would be happy to discuss this further. I have tried to present a number of verses to support my opposition to these upsetting and misleading concepts. I hope I have done a good job of it.