Read this great Thanksgiving post by my friend Mrs.Holliman, and be blessed !!

Blessings in Christ, bruce

https://godscourage.wordpress.com/2020/11/26/happy-thanksgiving-2020/

“Our Daily Bread”     http://odb.org

The Daily Devotions of Greg Laurie    http://www.harvest.org/devotional

Written by my friend Bill Sweeney, stricken with ALS 24 years ago.  He now writes by use of an eye-tracking computer, with only his eye movements.  Bill’s “Unshakable Hope” should give us all a reason to count our blessings !!  (bruce)

Read all about Bill @  https://unshakablehope.wordpress.com/about/

Original post @ https://unshakablehope.com/2020/11/23/isolation/

Isolation

NOV 23

Posted by Bill Sweeney

Due to the pandemic, many in America and other parts of the world are living in isolation. As someone who has been living as a hermit due to ALS for more than twenty years, it didn’t take this pandemic for me to discover that living like a fugitive in a hideout isn’t good for you emotionally or spiritually. Living in isolation isn’t good for us physically, either. From what I’ve read, people are abusing food, alcohol, and drugs more often.

The Bible also tells us that isolation is not God’s plan for mankind. The first observation that God made after creating man was, “It is not good for the man to be alone…” (Genesis 2:18). He told Adam and Eve to be “fruitful and multiply.” God made us for fellowship with Himself and with others who are living for Him.

It didn’t take long for Adam and Eve to mess up God’s original plan. The very next chapter records the “fall of man.” Their disobedience introduced mankind to shame, fear, pain, sickness, blaming God and others for our wrongs, deception, spiritual and physical death, and hiding from God–the worst kind of isolation there is.

With a few exceptions, things went downhill from there. But then Jesus, “the second Adam,” came to show us how we can get everything back that the first Adam lost. He paired up His disciples and gave them the “Great Commission”:

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20).

Jesus never sent one of His followers out alone, not even on a simple errand. The only instance I can find of a disciple going out alone is when Judas went to betray Jesus. The night Jesus was arrested, Peter was encircled by an angry mob and didn’t have another disciple with him. When pressed three times, he denied being a follower of Jesus. When a lion hunts, it tries to isolate a weak member of a herd. I wonder if Peter was thinking about that night as he wrote this:

“Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8).

I didn’t attend church for three months after making a commitment to follow Christ in 1983. I still believed the “most Christians are hypocrites” lie. I was afraid that if I went to church, their hypocrisy might rub off on me. I set an all-time speed record for going from unworthy sinner to self-righteous hypocrite. Meeting in my small apartment, the Church of Me, Myself, and I wasn’t working out very well, and the pastor was not very good, either.

“Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire; he breaks out against all sound judgment.” (Proverbs 18:1).

“Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor. For if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up…And if one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart.” (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12).

The grandmother of a friend invited me to church and lunch after at their home. I agreed to go. Living in Texas, eleven hundred miles from my mother’s cooking in Illinois, the offer of a home-cooked meal was too good to pass up. I kept going back to that church and made many good friends, including my best friend, who I married thirty-five years ago this month.

There are hypocrites attending church, of course, but, from what I’ve observed, most of the people I used to classify as hypocrites are just churchgoers or sincere believers saying or doing something un-Christian. Regardless, the Great Commission is not merely for us to attend church, but for us to become disciples of Christ and to disciple others.

Because ALS has rendered me homebound, I haven’t been able to attend church in years. I miss going to church. Sadly, many of you now know what it’s like to be without your church family. With the death, economic destruction, political division, and the closing of churches and relief organizations, COVID-19 looks as if it was stirred together in a cauldron by demons over the flames of hell.

Where is God in all of this?

He is still on His throne. He is still assisting Christ’s disciples in fulfilling the Great Commission. And He is also working through them to meet the needs of the poor and suffering.

“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” (Hebrews 10:23-25).

I know it must sound crazy to those who are not followers of Christ, but many of us believe that we are living in the last days. As the above passage tells us, it’s vital for disciples of Christ to gather together and strengthen one another’s faith. The passage ends by telling us that this is even more important as we “see the Day drawing near.” You don’t have to be a theologian to figure out that “the Day” is Judgment Day.

It’s great to attend church, but, as we now know, this option can be taken away. In these difficult days, be intentional to surround yourself with strong disciples. With COVID, we might have to get creative and meet over Facetime, Skype, or Zoom. You don’t need a large group; two or three will do.

“For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst.” (Matthew 18:20).

(Friends, I have been AWOL from the blogging world the last month or so. I have missed interacting with you. I have been dealing with breathing and exhaustion issues. As most of you know, I type with an eye-tracking computer. I’ve discovered that I have to keep my eyelids open for the computer to work :-)).

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P.S. (from bruce) When there is no other place to turn…turn to God !!  If you’re not a “born again” Christian, is the Holy Spirit urging you to open this link ??  Here is the truth for this most important days writing, about how God’s grace is received to become a Christian in God’s eyes; through understanding and obeying the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ…   https://godsmanforever.com

To my brothers and sisters in Christ, please feel free to share this message of the cross with those in need…

Picture credit: https://www.google.com/search?rlz=1C1SQJL_enUS832US832&sxsrf=ALeKk03oDHnesX5uWOWc7QltKMO_2ue4Mw:1586011032404&q=image+unshakable+Hope+in+God&tbm=isch&source=univ&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjB0sjB_87oAhUwj3IEHewRBDwQsAR6BAgJEAE&biw=1245&bih=693#imgrc=1k_WJBCpm_WKNM

“Our Daily Bread”     http://odb.org

The Daily Devotions of Greg Laurie    http://www.harvest.org/devotional

Written by Beth Andrews for “Deeper Roots”  @  https://dbethandrews.wordpress.com

Original post @ https://dbethandrews.wordpress.com/2020/11/20/but-i-like-my-sin/

But I Like My Sin

POSTED ON NOVEMBER 20, 2020 BY BETH ANDREWS

“I know the Bible says this desire is wrong, but why do I have to give it up?  Doesn’t God want me to be happy?”  Yes. And no. Happy in God’s vocabulary isn’t the same as our 21^st-century “it’s all about me” understanding. In the Bible, the word “happy” is interchangeable with the word “blessed.” Happiness is a blessing from God. It is not something you can attain from circumstances, pleasures, or emotions. And especially not from sin.

In the last half-century, the church has flung the doors wide open and said, “You don’t have to give up anything – just come sing a few songs and sip some coffee and God will make you happy.” That is nothing less than an outright lie. Before you throw your Bible at me – yes, God accepts us as we are, but His purpose in accepting us is to conform us into the image of His Son (Rom. 8:29).  One who has no love for sin. A more conservative answer is, “You don’t have to give up your sinful desire, just don’t act on it.” It is an attempt to live in the tension between the holiness of God and your flesh. Two things will happen:  you will withhold the most important part of yourself – your heart – from God, and you will eventually give up the pretense.

Here’s the deal, God isn’t after your cooperation, He’s after the desire of your heart.  I Chronicles 28:9 says, “The Lord searches every heart and understands every desire and every thought.”  He knows when your outward obedience masks a heart that still yearns for sin. Friend, the reason you and I fall back into sin over and over again is that we hold on to those fleshly, sinful, evil urges and don’t make Him the complete desire of our heart  That’s what the Bible calls “cherishing sin” (Psalm 66:18).  It’s also called a divided heart.  And you can’t survive with less than a whole heart – physically or spiritually. Believe me when I tell you God is stomping all over my toes right now.

Beloved, you may think the sin you desire so much will make you happy, but that’s a lie. When God is your heart’s greatest desire sin cannot compare. When your heart delights in Him He will bless you. That’s true happiness.

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P.S. (from bruce) When there is no other place to turn…turn to God !!  If you’re not a “born again” Christian, is the Holy Spirit urging you to open this link ??  Here is the truth for this most important days writing, about how God’s grace is received to become a Christian in God’s eyes; through understanding and obeying the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ…   https://godsmanforever.com

To my brothers and sisters in Christ, please feel free to share this message of the cross with those in need…

“Our Daily Bread”     http://odb.org

The Daily Devotions of Greg Laurie    http://www.harvest.org/devotional

Written by Pastor Randy Burbank  for “Kingdom Pastor”  @  https://kingdompastor.wordpress.com

Original post @ https://kingdompastor.wordpress.com/2020/11/05/the-maturity-crisis/

THE MATURITY CRISIS

NOVEMBER 5, 2020PASTOR RANDY

crisis [ krahy-sis ]; noun: a condition of instability or danger, as in social, economic, political, or international affairs, leading to a decisive change.

dictionary.com

Much has been said and written about the current election cycle. But this morning I am choosing a different topic: Maturity. I’m not talking about age, but something that appears to be an endangered species: Wisdom. Some say wisdom comes with age, but I can cite you many examples that this isn’t true. Wisdom does not happen automatically, and wisdom doesn’t just show up. Wisdom is the result of a dedicated pursuit for wisdom. It takes years of pursuit for a person to model wisdom. And wisdom will never be found in the Ivory Towers of academia–though the Ivory Tower folks think they are full of wisdom. Many are full of it–but “it” isn’t wisdom.

However, there is a common thought the kids possess the wisdom to make many important choices in their lives. Psychologists, sociologists and parents believe that kids have the necessary tools to make important decisions in their lives–among which is gender and sexuality. They believe that kids today are born with the skill sets and wisdom to choose their own path without interference from any adult.

Turning kids, adolescents, and teenagers loose to make important decisions is another form of child abuse. They lack the skill sets, experiences, and wisdom to make adult decisions. Heck, I know adults who are not equipped to make adult decisions. So why would anyone think kids can make adult level decisions. We had a bishop who thought that teens and twenty somethings held the key to church growth and that all of us over 40 were the problem.

The current crisis, I’m not talking about the election, has been fueled by those who claim kids are capable of making adult decisions. I’m not blaming the kids–I’m blaming the adults who have allowed, even encouraged kids that they are free to make any and all decisions on their own. To all parents and teachers out there, I challenge you to stop this carnage. Can’t you see you are hurting those kids?

It is unfair to our kids when we allow, even expect them to make adult level choices in their lives. As adults, our role is to give them the tools of wisdom BEFORE they made decisions and draw conclusions that will impact them for the rest of their lives. But we adults can’t give the kids what we do not have. So, to all you adults out there, I have something to say to you:

• Education is not enough. I know many highly educated idiots.

• Parents, your job is not to be your kid’s friend. Truth Time: If you haven’t made your kids mad at you, you haven’t done your job!

• Educators, don’t fill their heads with your beliefs, but create an environment that nurtures deep thoughts and even wrestling with the answers. You’re not a god with all the answers. Not sorry if I hurt your feelings.

• Let kids fail at something. Then let them know that failure at some task is not final.

• Teach kids that all decisions and actions have consequences, and sometimes those consequences are not pleasant at all.

• And a final word to adults: Seek and pursue after wisdom for yourself. Kids won’t find wisdom until and unless they see it in you. Don’t forget there is a difference between knowledge and wisdom. By the way, the best source of wisdom comes from God. Wait, scratch that! The ONLY source of wisdom is God.

The crisis we are facing is the lack of wisdom. The ways people are thinking has created and is fueling our crisis. Speaking of wisdom, a man noted for his wisdom once wrote:

There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death.

Proverbs 14:12 (NLT)

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P.S. (from bruce) When there is no other place to turn…turn to God !!  If you’re not a “born again” Christian, is the Holy Spirit urging you to open this link ??  Here is the truth for this most important days writing, about how God’s grace is received to become a Christian in God’s eyes; through understanding and obeying the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ…   https://godsmanforever.com

To my brothers and sisters in Christ, please feel free to share this message of the cross with those in need…

“Our Daily Bread”     http://odb.org 

The Daily Devotions of Greg Laurie    http://www.harvest.org/devotional

Written by Pastor Jim Lee for “The Domain for Truth” @  https://veritasdomain.wordpress.com  

Original post @ https://veritasdomain.wordpress.com/2020/11/20/thoughts-on-biblical-command-for-church-attendance/

Thoughts on Biblical Command for Church Attendance

November 20, 2020 by SLIMJIM

Here’s a comment/question that a brother asked that others have recently asked me something similar so I thought I write a post so it help others too:

I realized I didn’t have a good understanding of this, but the physical act of church attendance isn’t exactly commanded but more so a manifestation/fruit of a believer, is that correct?  I’m referencing to Acts 2:42

The brother made a good observation.  Some further thoughts:

1. I think it is imperative believers should go to church.

2. Some might wonder if there is any direct command to go to church.  I think the closest is Hebrews 10:24-25: “and let’s consider how to encourage one another in love and good deeds, 25 not abandoning our own meeting together, as is the habit of some people, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.”  Note I said close since technically Hebrews 10:24 the verb “let’s consider” is a subjunctive and not an imperative.  Still the subjunctive mood is encouraging believers to do what is right.  Note in verse 25 it says “not abandoning our own meeting together.”  In the Greek it is a participle and I take it is stating the manner in which we are to encourage other believers involves not not meeting together (I realize its a double negative).

3. Still it is not just Hebrews 10:24-25 as the case of the importance of the local church on Sunday.

4. Remember Scripture has many other commandments for believers that involves how we treat others.  Some of those involves how we relate to other believers.  At the core of those commandments from God is to love one another.  This is commanded by Jesus to His followers in John 13:34, John 15:12, John 15:17. Jesus assume there is interactions and relations among believers for he said “By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:35).  Here Jesus is talking about disciples are to love one another and it become so evident even to the lost and dying world.  This means at minimum believers are gathering and deeds done among believers public enough to the point that the unbelieves know about it, and know who are Jesus’ disciples.

5. Yet what does that love of one another looks like?  The New Testament has many imperatives “one another” that assume believers will be at church with other believers to carry out these commands:

   1. Greet one another (Romans 16:16)

   2. Show hospitality to one another (1 Peter 4:9)

   3. Serve one another (Galatians 5:13)

   4. Admonish one another (Romans 15:14; Colossians 3:16)

   5. Care for one another (1 Corinthians 12:25)

   6. Bear one another’s burdens (Galatians 6:2)

   7. Forgive one another (Ephesians 4:2, 32; Colossians 3:13)

   8. Be patient with one another (Ephesians 4:2; Colossians 3:13)

   9. Comfort one another (1 Thessalonians 4:18)

   10. Encourage one another (1 Thessalonians 5:11)

   11. Exhort one another (Hebrews 3:13)

6. Again from point 5 these commands are hard to live out if believers aren’t meeting.  Also to carry out these commandments to the maximum amount of believers would be when the maximum amount of believers gathering, which would be at Church on Sunday.

7. Some of these New Testament “one another” commands are quite prominently practiced on church on Sundays:

   1. Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs (Ephesians 5:19)

   2. Pray for one another (James 5:16)

   3. Confess your sins to one another (James 5:16)

8. Another argument for believers going and being participants in local churches is from the Bible’s teaching about spiritual gifts.

   1. 1 Peter 4:10 tells us to use our spiritual gifts that God has given us for the benefit of one another: “As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the multifaceted grace of God.“

   2. 1 Corinthians 14:12 states specifically spiritual gifts are suppose to be for the church’s edification: “So you too, since you are eager to possess spiritual gifts, strive to excel for the edification of the church.”  Note the word “church.”

   3. 1 Corinthians 12 also teaches us that every believer has a spiritual gift.

   4. If every believer has a spiritual gift and spiritual gift is for the edification of the church then to not be involved with the assembly of the church to exercise one’s spiritual gift would be to neglect one’s gift from God and also disobedience to the Lord’s commandments.

9. Still another line of argument is also noticing what sins are committed when some people leave the church in an unbiblical manner.  Sometime people leave churches for reasons that actually goes against the “one another” that involve prohibitions of how we are not to related to one another, but notice it assumes the assembly and membership of believers to other believers:

   1. Don’t pass judgment on one another (Romans 14:13) I

   2. Don’t grumble against one other (James 5:9)

   3. Don’t bite one another (Galatians 5:15)

   4. Don’t  provoking and envying each other (Galatians 5:26)

   5. Don’t slander one another (James 4:11)

10. Of course added to our case is the many examples found in Scripture of believers meeting such as in the book of Acts and the Epistles.

11. Also there’s also the teachings of what is the Church in the New Testament that should compel believers to be part of a church, after all its relevant for believers to know doctrines of the church since they are members of the church.  One can’t study the Bible and learn about the nature of the church, with its spiritual origin, how its an answered “mystery” of how God brought Jews and Gentiles together (see Ephesians), its basis in the union with Christ, the ordinances, purpose and offices and spiritual gifts of the church without seeing that these truths are for us to BE the church and gather in its local manifestation near us.

12. I think all the points make the argument that believers should be going to church and if a believer is saved and read the Word that would see the importance of attending and being a member of a church.  Yet I know some would still ask why aren’t there more verses on the importance of church in the New Testament: Maybe they wish it was stated a certain way, perhaps more direct, perhaps with a certain phrase such as “Go to church.”  But remember God is the one who dictate how He tells us to go to church.  Let’s say hypothetically there isn’t a lot of passages about going to church (which I think the points above already challenge); still, that’s not a good excuse to not say church is not important for a counterpoint would be the reason why the New Testament might not talk as much about the need to meet up with the church is that the believers who are reading the New Testament are already gathering to read the Word, since back then the Word of God was a church property rather than every individual having their own Bibles, a luxury we have today.  So if there’s supposedly few passages about going to church hypothetically speaking, it might because to have a lot of direct verses and commands to go to church is rather redundant, since its “preaching to the choir” of those already going to church.

13. I realize some who read this are in difficult situations where there’s not a solid Christian church near you.  Nothing I’m saying here is targeting you.  I am praying for your situation; this is addressing those who don’t want to go to a sound BIble church even as its there near them.

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P.S. (from bruce) When there is no other place to turn…turn to God !!  If you’re not a “born again” Christian, is the Holy Spirit urging you to open this link ??  Here is the truth for this most important days writing, about how God’s grace is received to become a Christian in God’s eyes; through understanding and obeying the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ…   https://godsmanforever.com

To my brothers and sisters in Christ, please feel free to share this message of the cross with those in need…

Picture credit:  https://www.google.com/search?rlz=1C1SQJL_enUS832US832&sxsrf=ALeKk03gWnEiQ6SDIVs6nITp8E_HbaOp8A:1605877351130&source=univ&tbm=isch&q=image+the+importance+of+Church&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiJgcSol5HtAhXOo1kKHVr2AnkQjJkEegQIBRAB&biw=1243&bih=899#imgrc=nXQkRLqxZktkyM