Shalom, welcome to June 11^th


><//>--------------------Thought for the Day

We born-again believers have to believe in God's who is infinitely greater than ourselves. Yes, we have to believe in God. Not to believe in Messiah, the Christ – not to believe in His Power drives us toward atheism. Atheism, as it has been said before, is blind faith in the strange proposition that this universe originated out of chaos and aimlessly rushes nowhere. That's practically impossible to believe. So we believers turn to that Divine Person in the universe that we call God, through Messiah, the Christ, our Lord.

Have I stopped trying to run my own life?


><//>--------------------Meditation for the Day

My Mark

This Peace is one that only I can give in the midst of a restless world and surrounded by trouble and difficulty. To know that Peace is to have received the stamp of the Kingdom – the mark of the Yeshua HaMeshiach, Jesus Christ. My Mark.

   When you have learned that Peace you are fit to judge of true values, the values of the Kingdom, and the values of all the world has to offer.

   That Peace is loving faith at rest.


><//>--------------------Prayer for the Day

Father, we pray that today we may have inner peace. We pray that we may be at peace with soul. Amen. 


A Disciple's Reflections:  Be Holy, as Your Father in Heaven Is Holy

"Do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived! Fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, male prostitutes, sodomites, thieves, the greedy, drunkards, revilers, robbers – none of these will inherit the kingdom of God. And this is what some of you used to be. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God. "All things are lawful for me," but not all things are beneficial. "All things are lawful for me," but I will not be dominated by anything. "Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food," and God will destroy both one and the other. The body is meant not for fornication but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. And God raised the Lord and will also raise us by his power."  Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ (the Messiah)?

Should I therefore take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never! Do you not know that whoever is united to a prostitute becomes one body with her?

For it is said, "The two shall be one flesh." But anyone united to the Lord becomes one spirit with him. Shun fornication! Every sin that a person commits is outside the body; but the fornicator sins against the body itself. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you were bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body."
1 Corinthians 6:9-20

Beloved, I realize that this is a long passage but I wanted to quote the whole thing in order to really get what Paul is telling the Corinthians... and us. Our bodies are not just matter; our bodies [do] matter.  Let us take a look at these offences that we may be enriched and strengthened in our spirit to seek His Mercy and forgiveness where needed and to do what is right and pleasing before God.

Paul begins with a characteristic list of vices. These are vices, because each one creates victims. Fornicators are those who turn God's good gift of sexuality into a means for using another person's body for one's own selfish purpose. We have come to learn that sex can be one of the most addictive behaviors in which we mortals can engage.  Idolaters chase false gods and take others down with them.

Adulterers destroy the closest of human covenants and crushes the very soul of children. The word translated "male prostitutes" refers to young boys who were taken in by older men who played the role of mentor in their development. This often included using the boys sexually. Adultery is never a solution to marital problem, it is always a destroyer of persons.

Sodomites refer to the men who so abused boys in these relationships. Sometimes prostitutes preyed on the insecurities of their customers – in Paul's day, that meant the religious insecurities as many prostitutes were connected to fertility cults and idolatry... not all that different from today.

Thieves, the greedy, drunkards, revilers, robbers are all linked by the failure to properly exercise good stewardship over God's good gifts. They either took what belonged to others or they mistook material acquisitions as sources of security, prestige and power. Always someone is victimized by such poor stewardship.

Paul talks about both food and sex as means for people to harm themselves and others. Both of these are natural needs that fulfill important functions in human personhood, but like so much else, when taken to extremes or used inappropriately lead only to disease,  death, and even destruction.

What is Paul saying in all of this? He is recognizing some of the myriad of ways that people transcend the boundaries of their creatureliness and try to play God. The many ways that we humans are destructive to ourselves and others. These, says Paul, will not inherit the kingdom of God. These, says Paul, are that which defile us, render us unclean.

What does a believer do who find themselves in bondage to any one or more of these offenses?  First of all, FEAR NOT!!

I share with you as one who has had to battle more than one of these in my own personal experience.  I follow the process of the 12 Steps.  It is best that we all admit that we are personally powerless to free ourselves from many dangerous behaviors.  We then open our hearts to the reality that all things are possible with God, and turn to Him to take that much more of our life and our lives and help us receive freedom from these entanglements.  We then make a list of resentments toward God, institutions, and others in our life.  Let us understand their source and renounce them completely, make amends for wrongs done, and spend more time in prayer and meditation than before.  Then let us make ourselves available for God and the good of others to help to those who suffer from where we have been set free.

Those who follow these steps in Messiah, the Christ shall surely inherit the Kingdom of God.

It isn't simply breaking human or divine laws that troubles God in this carefully chosen list of vices. What bothers Paul are their effects on the body - and this time, Paul is referring both to us as individuals and as members of the born-again body of believers, the Bride of Messiah.

Once again we ask ourselves the questions we looked at earlier in 1 Corinthians, "How often do we really consider how our personal actions will effect the believers communities of which we are a part?"

The behaviors in this list of vices are devastating to us as individuals, leaving us feeling violated and used. And more than that, they are devastating to the wider communities of which we are a part, particularly the church and most definitely our families.

We must strive with all that we are to preserve and protect our holy conscience where God has written His word in our hearts that we may "...walk according to the spirit" in glory to Him who is so worthy.

Let us pray: Heavenly Father, we know that just because we can doesn't mean that we really ought to, but it is hard for us to tell the difference sometimes. It is hard for us to always know when our instincts, appetites, and hungers take us beyond the line separating healthy and sick, holy and profane. Guide our steps, that we might use our freedom wisely. Help us to preserve and protect our conscience where Your Word resides in us that it may protect us and bring you glory forever, In Jesus' name alone and no other. Amen.


God Elects Governments

"Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men." – Titus 3:1-2 (NKJV)

In today's bipartisan society, it is difficult for many to willingly submit to the governing authorities. In fact, most of us have failed to follow the law of the land more than a time or two. For example, everyone that drives has driven faster than the speed limit or after having too much to drink. And the polls tell us that a large percentage of people have "cheated" on their taxes at some time during their lives. Many other similar examples could be cited. Add to that criminal activities and you have a lot of disobedience going on everywhere.

Much of the disregard for governing bodies comes from a lack of respect for individual leaders or oppressive governmental systems. We all need to be reminded that the leaders of all governments of all nations are appointed by God. That's right, no matter how corrupt, or dishonest, or oppressive, or destructive, or unethical, or unfair, God has allowed ALL leaders and governments to exist. And you and I can make a difference by obeying and praying for our governments and our leaders. And we must strive to do good works with humility in the midst chaos and corruption that surrounds the world leaders today. It is times like now that we should unite and refrain from speaking evil of others and be peaceable, kind and gentle. Please pray for your leadership today because good, bad, or indifferent the appointment is from God.

"Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God." – Romans 3:1 (NKJV)


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Please have a blessed day, be hopeful, be encouraged, and know that you are not alone.

God’s Calling compiled by A. J. Russell.
"Twenty-Four Hours A Day" - Hazelton (adapted).
Greg Candelaria writes I Am.
Barry Gray writes A Disciple’s Reflections.