Monday, January 27, 2014

Building up You, Family, and Country



Building up Yourself, Your Family, and Your Country
Barbara Henderson

Has anyone reading this noticed that civilization in general seems to be headed toward political totalitarianism, economic depression, and social injustice for all?
There isn’t a way that this trend can be reversed by any collective means.  It is up to the individual.  I don’t know what the earthly results will be, but the eternal results will be good.  There will probably be many earthly benefits as well.

First - Psalm 33:12 tells us, ‘Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.’

Psalm 127:1 says, ‘Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.’

So obviously the way to blessed as a nation is to have a nation made up of people that chose to worship the God of the Bible in their hearts.  This will show up in their actions.  It has to begin in the hearts of individuals.   

To bring this about Christian Evangelism is the highest calling and of the utmost importance.  Do you want a life that counts for eternity?  Evangelize!  Tell the world that Jesus saves.  Jesus Christ alone can be the mediator between God and man.  Today you must be very clear regarding exactly who Jesus is.  Define the Jesus you worship.  He is the triune God of the Bible.  He isn’t a prophet.  He isn’t just a man.  He is the Word – who was with God – and who is God. 

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
The same was in the beginning with God.
All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
John 1:1-3

He doesn’t make mistakes.  He doesn’t have to continually revise His plans because of failure.  He is God who spoke the world into place.  He has power over life and death.  He is the only way into heaven.  He is fully able to save to the uttermost by His power.  By grace are ye saved through faith and that not of yourselves – it is  gift of God.   (Ephesians 2:8)

Second – It is the individuals who make the difference.  Become an individualist.  That means you think for yourself.  Right thinking begins with a Biblical World View.  Everything should be considered within the framework of what the Bible has to say about it.  There is no other way that leads to any successful outcome in any direction. 

America’s beginning was definitely with people who were individualist Christians.  These Pilgrim Christians viewed the world through the Bible.  They crossed an ocean in a tiny ship, suffered 50% casualties in their first year, and still kept their mind on building a place where they could worship God according to the instructions in the Bible.

Today society places a lot of pressure on people to do certain things in a certain way and to accept what is not acceptable to God.  As a Christian do not let burdens be placed on your back that God Himself has not put there.  Your boundaries are set by God.  The Bible allows and dis-allows certain things.  It is your Christian duty to live within the boundaries set by God alone.  You are also to obey the laws of the land that do not conflict with the laws of God.  Other than these boundaries, you are free to make choices based on personal preference and circumstances.  Let me repeat this – you are free to make choices based on personal preferences and circumstances that do not conflict with how your Christian faith requires you to behave.  Don’t surrender your true freedom of choice regarding how you live and spend your life to the temporary goodwill of current social and political whims.  The boundaries set by God for proper behavior are enough. Speaking in Matthew 11:28-30 Jesus says, ‘

‘Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.’

 Third – The ‘get the job done’ mentality is necessary.

Ecclesiastes 9:10a tells us, ‘Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might;’

 No matter where you work or what you do, there is absolutely no question that you will come across many who are so afraid of doing more than someone else that they don’t actually do anything.  Forget them.  They are chaff to the wheat.  Take precautions not to be snared by their lazy good for nothing attitudes.  They are the millstones that drag people, families, and nations down.  Your job is to get the job God places in front of you done!  It isn’t to pay attention to others.  This doesn’t mean to set aside the Bible instructions to be kind to others and treat others the way you want to be treated.  It simply means stay focused on getting the job done.

 Remember that working with lazy people doesn’t give a Christian an excuse to join the ranks of the lazy.  Dealing with an adult who has the mindset of a kindergarten student is definitely not easy.  Just do the best you can do every day considering the circumstances. 

Fourth – Be prepared.  You don’t know what the future holds, so it is your duty to be as prepared as possible in every situation.  This means that you do not want to be ignorant of everything outside your chosen profession.   Take the time to learn.  Learn everything.  When an uncommon situation arises consider how to best handle it, and then let your ‘get the job done’ mentality take over.  Honestly, in many instances you will need help.  However there will always be a lot you can get done on your own.  How do you think the pioneers crossed the American planes and the mountain ranges in a wagon or on horseback?  Every single day something unexpected arose.  They did not let these events distract them from reaching their destination or achieving their goals.  Their goal was always to get the job done.  That should be our goal as well.

Recap:

Evangelize – Tell the world that Jesus saves.  God is a loving Father.  He will provide for His own.

Individualize – Be the person God made you to be – not a copy/clone of what the world wants you to be.

Get the job done mentality – Whatever the task in front of you may be – do it with all your might.

Be prepared – learn to do everything!  Be aware of what is going on around you.  Prepare for any and all possibilities.

 To all this add ‘Enjoy life’.  There is joy in a life lived to please God.

 Isaiah 65:14 says, ‘Behold, my servants shall sing for joy of heart, but ye shall cry for sorrow of heart, and shall howl for vexation of spirit.’ 

 Matthew 25:23 says, ‘His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.’

 Barbara Henderson



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The 'Soul Wars Trilogy'
     Malachi and Ann Jones were raised without any religious training.  Their father believed in nothing, and their mother believed that if you are good enough you get into heaven,  Mal becomes a Christian and marries a Christian woman. Ann connects to a familiar spirit through a Ouiji game board and allows the evil spirit to become her guide in life.  Trouble follows!

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'Oh Worship the King'

A manuscript dating from the time of Christ is found on at an archeological site in Iraq by Elizabeth Newton.  Elizabeth translates the manuscript which was written by four people who lived at the time of Christ and saw Him living and preaching, crucified, buried, and risen again.  Part one is free at this link    http://tobarbara.blogspot.com/p/blog-page.html


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Thank you all very much  - Barbara