Abortion

Did the baby choose to be conceived? NO... Did the baby choose to die? NO Did the baby choose his/her parents? NO

Not much of a choice really is it? Especially since the mother had a choice to say NO (except in the case of rape)! to having sex and conceiving a child.

Does the baby have the same DNA as his/her parents? NO Does the baby have the same blood group as their parents? NOT NECESSARILY Does the baby have its own unique set of finger prints? YES Can the baby be conceived outside of a woman's body? YES Can the baby be transplanted into another woman's body? YES

Amazing fact - Everything that makes a baby (all of the genetic information) is there at conception - nothing is added during development and nothing is taken away - that is so phenomenal!

Looks like the baby is a separate person to their mother and it's not their mother's body  after all

I   L❤VE   LIFE for the innocent!

Why should the innocent die (ie babies in the womb) and the guilty live (ie murderers, rapists etc)? It's a travesty of moral and social justice!

This is something I wrote on a post on social media (some of the above content is included in the post):

Abortion isn't murder? A baby is only a mass of cells? It's only a human organism?

A baby starts to develop at conception - 2 LIVING cells - a sperm and egg, both living - and from that joining of the 2 ALL the information needed to create a separate human being is there - the baby's gender, eye colour, skin colour, finger prints, DNA, blood type, height, brain, lungs, heart, kidneys, liver, spleen, gall bladder, bladder, colon, diaphragm, bones, marrow, tendons, ligaments, finger nails, veins, arteries, capillaries, central nervous system: brain, spinal chord, nerves etc.

It's a woman's choice to do with her body what she wishes! Really?

1. the baby which is developing is actually 23 chromosomes from the woman and 23 from the man (there are exceptions to the amount of chromosomes e.g. with Down Syndrome - but they are still human babies) so the little baby developing isn't the mother's body

2. the woman had a choice (except in the case of rape) whether to have sex or not

3. by not taking responsibility for an action doesn't make it right to get rid of an innocent baby which was not conceived because of THEIR choice, but because of a wrong action by the mother and father - grow up and TAKE RESPONSIBILITY for your actions!

Did the baby choose to be conceived? NO... Did the baby choose to die? NO Did the baby choose his/her parents? NO

Not much of a choice really is it? Especially since the mother had a choice (except in the case of rape) to say NO! to having sex and conceiving a child.

Does the baby have the same DNA as his/her parents? NO Does the baby have the same blood group as their parents? NOT NECESSARILY Does the baby have its own unique set of finger prints? YES Can the baby be conceived outside of a woman's body? YES Can the baby be transplanted into another woman's body? YES

Amazing fact - Everything that makes a baby (all of the genetic information) is there at conception - nothing is added during development and nothing is taken away - that is so phenomenal!

Looks like the baby is a separate person to their mother and it's not their mother's body after all.

A baby is just a mass of cells - so our cells disappear when we're born do they? We too, are a mass of cells and if we didn't have them our bodies couldn't function!

Godly Relationships Part 1: Courtship and Marriage

Marriage and Courtship

It is such a vast subject that I can't cover it all so these topics just skim the surface of a vast ocean of godly living for couples.

Please remember, dear brothers and sisters, that:

 2 Timothy 3:16-17
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.  

We also have to remember that because God is truth and He cannot lie, then His word is absolute truth too.

Marriage is so important to God, it was the first institution to be set up by Him. 

Genesis 2:18-25 And the LORD God said, "It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him." Out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the air, and brought them to Adam to see what he would call them. And whatever Adam called each living creature, that was its name. So Adam gave names to all cattle, to the birds of the air, and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper comparable to him.
And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place. Then the rib which the LORD God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man.
And Adam said:


"This is now bone of my bones
And flesh of my flesh;
She shall be called Woman,
Because she was taken out of Man."


Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.
And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.

He instituted it for long term companionship, security, procreation and because we are uniquely created in His image and different from the animals.

It is a picture of God's covenant with His people, the Israelites and was not to be broken

Malachi 2:11 Judah has dealt treacherously,
And an abomination has been committed in Israel and in Jerusalem,
For Judah has profaned
The LORD's holy institution which He loves:
He has married the daughter of a foreign god.

People who fall away from this covenant had to be delivered

Proverbs 2:16-17 To deliver you from the immoral woman,
From the seductress who flatters with her words,
Who forsakes the companion of her youth,
And forgets the covenant of her God. 

Marriage is also a picture of Christ's relationship with His church

Ephesians 5:23-27 For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything.
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.

Revelation 21:9 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues came to me and talked with me, saying, "Come, I will show you the bride, the Lamb's wife." 

At the heart of marriage there is to be intimacy and oneness

Genesis 2:18
And the LORD God said, "It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him."

Genesis 2:24
Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.

God only intended marriage to be between a man and a woman - we see this clearly in all of these verses. Also sexual union must only take place after marriage:

Hebrews 13:4
Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge. 

I would go further and say that 2 people should not start courting unless they have marriage in mind! God takes His covenant seriously, and so should we!!

Sexual union is the ultimate binding together of the lifetime covenant between a man and woman - it is the sealing of their marriage vows. In effect they are both saying that they belong to each other and no other human! To have a relationship involving any sexual activity before marriage is going against God's eternal plan, not just for Christians but for the whole of humanity. It is also committing fornication - something Scripture condemns!

http://www.biblegateway.com/cgi-bin/bible?SearchType=AND&language=english&version=NKJV&searchpage=0&search=fornication

Far too many Christians take courtship and marriage too lightly - before entering into any relationship time should be spent on both sides praying and seeking the Lord's divine wisdom and counsel! You ask permission to marry a person from your earthly father, how much more we should consult with our Heavenly Father on these things!! God sees marriage as being very important. Contrary to modern thinking - marriage and the family are still the backbone of society! Why do you think Satan is using all his power to attack this very institution that is at the centre of God's heart?

Who should I marry then? The Bible is very clear on this issue:

2 Corinthians 6:14-18 Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said:


"I will dwell in them
And walk among them.
I will be their God,
And they shall be My people."

Therefore

"Come out from among them
And be separate, says the Lord.
Do not touch what is unclean,
And I will receive you."
"I will be a Father to you,
And you shall be My sons and daughters,
Says the LORD Almighty."

Amos 3:3
Can two walk together, unless they are agreed? 

God tells us in His word that we are not to be conformed to this world (Romans 12:2). We have to be seperated from all worldliness - how can we be seperate if we marry someone who is of this world and has no love for Christ in their hearts? Christ would never allow an unbeliever to be part of His bride!

Mixed marriages lead to sin:

Exodus 34:16
and you take of his daughters for your sons, and his daughters play the harlot with their gods and make your sons play the harlot with their gods. 

Also read in 1 Kings 11, how Solomon turned to the gods of his heathen wives!!

In Nehemiah 13:23-27 - judgement fell upon those who were deliberately marrying heathens!

We need to stand firm in the faith and not do as the world does - the world waters down the word and makes it ineffective for witnessing! How can God bless us and send His Holy Spirit down to revive the church if we are going against His will and word? If we honour Him, He will honour us (1 Samuel 2:30b).

NB: If you are already married to a non-believer - don't go rushing out to get a divorce! PART 2 - Divorce and remarriage

May He bless you all richly with all the abundence of His providencial graces,

In Him

Carolyn xxxx

Godly Relationships part 2: Divorce and Remarriage

Divorce and Re-marriage 

 As marriage is an institution set up by God and it should last until 'death do us part', divorce should never be taken lightly. Of course, we live in a world which is groaning under the weight of sin! This topic is not being posted by me to be judgemental - it is how I see Scripture as God views divorce in the light of His covenant with His people!

 I wish to remind you that marriage was the first institution set up by God way back in Genesis 2:21-25

 Genesis 2:21-25

 And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place. Then the rib which the LORD God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man.

 And Adam said:

 "This is now bone of my bones
And flesh of my flesh;
She shall be called Woman,
Because she was taken out of Man."

 Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.
And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.

 It is a picture of God's covenant with Israel and in the new covenant a picture of Christ (as the Bridegroom) and His church (the Bride).

The first allowance of divorce was back in Moses' day - Deuteronomy 24

 Law Concerning Divorce
Laws Concerning the Family

 Deuteronomy 24:1-4

 "When a man takes a wife and marries her, and it happens that she finds no favor in his eyes because he has found some uncleanness in her, and he writes her a certificate of divorce, puts it in her hand, and sends her out of his house, when she has departed from his house, and goes and becomes another man's wife, if the latter husband detests her and writes her a certificate of divorce, puts it in her hand, and sends her out of his house, or if the latter husband dies who took her as his wife, then her former husband who divorced her must not take her back to be his wife after she has been defiled; for that is an abomination before the LORD, and you shall not bring sin on the land which the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance.

 Christ also mentions this fact in Matthew 19:8

 Matthew 19:8

 He said to them, "Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, permitted you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so."

 

 The only grounds in Scripture for divorce is because of adultery.

 Matthew 5:32

But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason except sexual immorality causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery.

 If someone divorces their spouse and re-marries then they are committing adultery

 Mark 10:12

 And if a woman divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.

 Luke 16:18

"Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced from her husband commits adultery."

 Keep Your Marriage Vows

 1 Corinthians 7:10-11

 Now to the married I command, yet not I but the Lord: A wife is not to depart from her husband. But even if she does depart, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband. And a husband is not to divorce his wife.

 Those above passages imply that anyone who is divorced must not remarry! I do know of Christians who have been divorced (through no fault of their own - the divorce has been filed against them!) so should they have remarried? One person was not a believer when he got divorced but has remarried after becoming a believer! This is such a tricky area to cover. I have discussed this with a friend and she believes that people can remarry - so long as they were the innocent party (ie - the divorce was filed against them and not vice versa!).

What if I have an unbelieving spouse? I am going to stick my head above the parapet here and say (from Scripture) that if you were a Christian before you married your unbelieving spouse, then you have gone against Scripture (as discussed in the previous topic), but

 1 John 1:9

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

 You must not however rush out and seek a divorce!

 1 Corinthians 7:12-13

 But to the rest I, not the Lord, say: If any brother has a wife who does not believe, and she is willing to live with him, let him not divorce her. And a woman who has a husband who does not believe, if he is willing to live with her, let her not divorce him.

 Although it is Paul who says this and not the Lord, he was an apostle, personally chosen by the Lord Jesus Christ and he had an immense grasp of scriptural truth!

If an unbelieving spouse is not happy, then they are permitted to leave

 1 Corinthians 7:15

But if the unbeliever departs, let him depart; a brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases. But God has called us to peace.

 If you are married to an unbeliever then you must act in a godly way and be a witness to them

 Submission to Husbands

 Serving and Suffering for God's Glory

 1 Peter 3:1-2

 Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives, when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear.

 These days we hear of people getting divorced for such trivial and ridiculous reasons - the spouse became too fat, had too many wrinkles, burnt the toast etc etc. Divorce is serious!! Marriage is also serious - it has to be worked out - just as our salvation is worked out! OK it is tough and there will be times when your spouse will wind you up and drive you crazy, but remember, marriage is a picture of Christ's relationship with His church - one which is from eternity and will go into eternity, so with this in mind, let us all seek to have godly marriages, striving to serve and honour the Lord within this God-given institution and not looking for a way out when things get tough - seek the Lord in ALL things!

 Another thing to remember - Satan is the enemy of God and he is always out to destroy anything that God has put in place - marriage and proper relationships in general seem to be under such heavy attacks in these days! Stand firm, put on the armour of God and resist the devil, then he will flee from you (even within a troubled marriage!!)

 Sanctification can come through our marriages!

 May the Lord bless you richly within your homes and marriages, beloved brothers and sisters in the Lord.

 

Woman made out of Adam's rib - Matthew Henry

“The woman was made of a rib out of the side of Adam; not made out of his head to rule over him, nor out of his feet to be trampled upon by him, but out of his side to be equal with him, under his arm to be protected, and near his heart to be beloved.” 

Matthew Henry

1 Corinthians 13: 4-8 - LOVE is... Love is not...

^v4 

Love suffers long [is patient]

 is kind;

love does not envy;

love does not parade itself, is not puffed up;  

^v5

does not behave rudely, 

does not seek its own, 

is not provoked, 

thinks no evil;

^v6

does not rejoice in iniquity, 

but rejoices in the truth; 

^v7

bears all things, 

believes all things,

hopes all things,  

endures all things.

^v8

Love never fails. 

Why we cannot lose our salvation

If we could lose our salvation:

1. God would have to de-adopt us – we could no longer call Him ‘Abba, Father’ - Romans 8:15; Galatians 4:6

2. God would have to take back the GIFT of grace through faith He has given us - Ephesians 2:8-10; Romans 11:6

3. Christ would have to divorce members of His Bride - Ephesians 5:22ff; Revelation 21:2,9

4. We would have to work to keep our salvation, but salvation is based on Christ's work, not our own  -  Romans 9:11; Galatians 2:16; Philippians 2:13

5. God would be saying - Christ's work wasn't good enough for you after all

6. We never would have been good enough to be saved anyway - see Romans 3:12,23; Isaiah 64:6; Jeremiah 17:9

7. Why would Christ bother preparing a place if anyone was going to lose their salvation? - John 14:3

8. Every Christian has been bought with a price - so if we could lose our salvation, that would mean that God would have to sell us back to the world after paying such a high price? I think not!  - 1 Corinthians 6:20; 7:23

9. God would have to take away the Holy Spirit - the Comforter, our Helper - John 14:16; John 15:26

10. God would be breaking His promises never to leave nor forsake His people and also the promise - none shall snatch them from My hand - Joshua 1:5c/Hebrews 13:5; John 10:28,29

11. God would have to spiritually murder/kill those He had saved (brought to life) - Romans 8:11; 1 Corinthians 15:22; Ephesians 2:1,5; Colossians 2:13

12. God would have to bind us up again - Romans 6 (various verses)

13. He hasn't saved us to the uttermost and has stopped making intercession for us - Hebrews 7:25 (Hebrews is a fabulous book to see Christ in all His glorious work)

14. The glorious work begun in us wouldn't be seen to completion - Philippians 1:6

15. God would no longer be faithful nor unchanging - Hebrews 10:23; Malachi 3:6a

Is the God of Christianity that harsh to His children? To say that our salvation can be lost is a blasphemy against God's all loving grace and mercy towards a redeemed church.

For us to lose our salvation, which has been gloriously bought by the blood of Christ, would mean that God would be a liar and untrustworthy, but as He is holy and righteous and cannot look upon sin, the verses above show that indeed our salvation cannot be lost. 

I have commented HERE on the claim by some that if we are always saved then we can do what we want - that is called antinomianism and is unbibilical! 

Ten String Instrument

An elderly saint at a prayer meeting was heard to pray,

“O Lord, we will praise You;

we will praise You with an instrument of ten strings!”

 (People wondered what he meant).

“We will praise You with our eyes by looking only unto You.

We will exalt You with our ears by listening only to Your voice.

We will extol You with our two hands by working in Your service.

We will honour You with our own two feet by walking in the way of Your statutes.

We will magnify You with our tongue by bearing testimony to Your loving kindness.

We will worship You with our heart by loving only You.

We thank You for this instrument, Lord; keep it in tune.

Play upon it as You will and ring out the melodies of Your grace!

May its harmonies always express Your glory!”

AUTHOR UNKNOWN

Sitting on the edge of the pit of despair...

So there I was sitting on the edge of the pit of despair, just dangling my legs into it, when a voice inside me said - "Hey you! What are you doing there looking so glum? What have you got to be glum about?" So it got me thinking! Yes, why be so glum, the weather may be naff outside but:

• I have a loving family - many people in this world have no family and are lonely
• I have a husband who doesn't beat me or put me down or abuse our children - many many families are broken and bruised in this country alone - many more globally
• I have friends - many people in this world have no friends either and are lonely
• I have a house - millions upon millions of people in this world have no place to call home
• I have a car - millions of people in this world can hardly afford basics things
• I have clothes - millions of people in this world only have the clothes on their back
• I have money in my bank account - some people don't even have bank accounts!
• I have a job - millions in this country alone are unemployed! How many are without a job globally? Or how many are in work but the pay and conditions are naff?
• I have clean water flowing from my taps - there are many drought ridden countries desperate for the rain we are getting!
• I'm not being tortured for being a Christian - many millions of Christians are being persecuted, tortured, are alienated by their families, are beaten by those who claim to love them, have lost everything for the sake of the gospel
• I have a great and awesome God who sent His Son to die for me at Calvary and who has promised a future hope in glory which far and above surpasses ALL that this world could offer!

So as I sat there pondering these things, I felt the gloomy cloud which had settled above my head lift - I thought about those people who have nothing, I thought about those Christians (my brothers and sisters in Christ) who are being persecuted for what they believe and yet they still rejoice in the Lord because He is more to them than anything else in this sin-ridden world! They know that one day they are going to a better place!

1 Corinthians 4: 10 We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are distinguished, but we are dishonored! 11 To the present hour we both hunger and thirst, and we are poorly clothed, and beaten, and homeless. 12 And we labor, working with our own hands. Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure; 13 being defamed, we entreat. We have been made as the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things until now.

Romans 5:Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

Romans 8:¹⁸ For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. ¹⁹ For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. ²⁰ For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; ²¹ because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. ²² For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. ²³ Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. ²⁴ For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? ²⁵ But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.²⁶ Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. ²⁷ Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

Psalm 42:5 Why are you cast down, O my soul?
And why are you disquieted within me?
Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him
For the help of His countenance.

Blind Bartimaeus

Summary notes from a sermon preached at Carmarthen Evangelical Church Sunday 24th June 2012 by Ian Jones.

Bartimaeus was a good example of why Jesus needed to go to the cross; naturally we are blind in our sins.

Bartimaeus:

His Condition;
Pitiful - blind from birth, poor, completely dependent on others - there was no Welfare State. He had to beg
He would have been well known by the regular travellers to Jerico. He would have been there every day - no time off, this was his only means of survival!
It is likely he inherited his condition from his father, Timaeus (which is Aramaic for impure, unclean). We are all in far worse condition than this man because we have all been born spiritually blind - our hearts are not in tune with God's! We are all born without any desire for God (Jehovah).

His Persistance;
When Bartimaeus heard that Jesus was coming, he really wanted to be healed. He called out to Jesus - he recognised who Jesus was - the Messiah! He must have heard about Jesus from passers by, the more he heard about him, the more and more his faith grew! Despite people telling him to be quiet, he remained persistent - he knew he had to be healed.

His Response;
Jesus didn't turn away from him - He wanted to help Bartimaeus. He responded to an ordinary man - a man who wasn't eloquent, wasn't rich, wasn't dressed in fine clothes (but a beggar's garment). After he was healed Bartimaeus followed Jesus - would have followed Him into Jerusalem, seen Him on the cross, seen Him atfter He was resurrected and seen Him ascend into heaven. 

Updated Version of Imagine

Imagine there's no Yahweh

Imagine if you can;

There'd be no earth or planets

No animals or man

Come on, imagine people, there'd be nothing here

Imagine there's no Jesus

If that's what ya wanna do;

Then what are our years for,

Christmas, Easter too?

Come on, imagine people, you would not celebrate

You

You may say I'm a dreamer,

But I'm not the only one

Cos millions of people

Believe in God's own Son

Imagine there's no religion

Life still wouldn't be fair

War would still rage around us

People wouldn't care!

Come on, imagine people, you have to have belief

You

You may say I'm a dreamer,

But I'm not the only one

Cos millions of people

Believe in God's own Son

©Carolyn Davison 2011 (17th June 2011)

Imagine...

Imagine there's no Yahweh
Imagine if you can;
There'd be no earth or planets
No animals or man

Imagine there's no Jesus
If that's what you want to do;
Then what are our years for,
Christmas, Easter too?

Imagine there's no religion
Life still wouldn't be fair
War would still rage around us
People wouldn't care!


Written by me this morning (17th June 2011)

Progressions in Christ's miracles

In the Boat:

1st time - Jesus is in the boat with Peter
2nd time - the Lord is asleep in the boat
3rd time - Jesus not in the boat during the storm - ended with Peter walking on water

Took more faith each time!

Death:

1st - Jairus' daughter newly dead
2nd - widow's son - put on cart
3rd - Lazarus decomposing in the grave

Death gives way to Christ! Christ is 'Death of death and Hell's Destruction'

Christ repeats the same miracles time and again!

Greatest repeat is Christ:

He is Adam repeated - Man as man should be. Christians are joined to the perfect, ideal man. Are found sinless IN Him.

In Adam - Death
In Christ - Life, knowing God.

In Adam - Banishment
In Christ - Nearness to God

In Adam - Condemnation
In Christ - Vindication

In Adam - Curse
In Christ - Blessing

In Adam - Judgement
In Christ - Deliverance

In Adam - Shame
In Christ - Glory

In Adam - Poverty
In Christ - Riches of grace

In Adam - Defeat
In Christ - Victory

In Adam - Sorrow
In Christ - Joy

In Adam - Weakness
In Christ - His Strength

In Adam - Enmity
In Christ - Friendship

In Adam - Bondage
In Christ - Liberty

Suppose your Child was Dying

Suppose your child was dying

(James Smith, "Our Father and Comforter")

Surely, if parents realized the value of their children's souls; if they had a vivid sight of the danger to which they are exposed; if they felt that they must be saved by the Lord Jesus--or perish for ever--then they would act very differently toward them!

Could a parent, if he believed the Scriptural representation of hell, as a place of torment; and saw that his child hung over that ever-burning lake as by a thread--and might, at any moment, by some accident, be plunged into the bottomless abyss; I say, if he saw and believed this--could he let his child go on, day after day, and month after month, without the tender expostulation, the affectionate appeal, and the heart-felt prayer with him? I think not!

Alas! alas! We do not half believe . . .
in the horrors of hell,
in the danger of our children, and
in the absolute necessity of faith in Christ, in order to for them to be saved--or we could never live as we do!

What anxiety is manifested about their health and their education; and what indifference about their never-dying souls! One feels at times ready to conclude that many professing Christian parents must be half infidels, or wholly insane--to act as they do!

Reader, suppose your child was dying. His pulses are faint and few. He breathes short and hard. You approach his bedside. You take his hand in yours. He asks, "Father, did you believe I was a sinner? Did you know that it was possible I might die young? Were you aware that, without faith in Christ--I must perish forever? Did you, father?"

"I did, my child."

"Then how could you be so cruel, so hard-hearted, as to treat me in the way you have? You never took me aside to talk to me seriously. You never endeavored to impress upon my mind the importance of spiritual things. You never earnestly warned me to flee from the wrath to come. You never lovingly invited me to the Lord Jesus Christ. You never prayed with me as if you believed I was in danger of going to hell, and could only be saved by the grace of God. You were very earnest about temporal things--but indifferent about spiritual realities. You knew that I was going to hell--and you did not try to prevent it. Now I am lost! Lost for ever--and you are the cause of it! Or, at least, you are accessory to my everlasting damnation!"

Or, suppose you were before the Great White Throne, and the Judge seated thereon, and you meet your children there. One of them points to you, and says, "There is my mother! She showed great concern about my body--but she never showed anxiety about my soul. She never knelt by my side in prayer. I never heard her plead with God for my soul, nor did she ever, in downright earnest, plead with me. I charge her, before the Judge of all--with cruelty to my soul; and throughout eternity I shall curse the day that ever I had such a parent! No name will excite my enmity, or draw forth my bitter reproaches, like the name of my mother! I am lost, lost forever--and my mother never heartily tried to prevent it!"

Parents, how could you bear this? Parents, parents! By all the tender ties that unite you to your children, I beseech you to seek, first, principally, and most earnestly--the conversion of your children!

Feast on This

A Church goer wrote a letter to the editor of a newspaper and complained that it made no sense to go to church every Sunday. "I've gone for 30 years now," he wrote, "and in that time I have heard something like 3,000 sermons. But for the life of me, I can't remember a single one of them. So, I think I'm wasting my time and the pastors are wasting theirs by giving sermons at all."

This started a real controversy in the "Letters to the Editor" column, much to the delight of the editor. It went on for weeks until someone wrote this clincher:

"I've been married for 30 years now. In that time my wife has cooked some 32,000 meals. But, for the life of me, I cannot recall the entire menu for a single one of those meals. But I do know this... They all nourished me and gave me the strength I needed to do my work. If my wife had not given me these meals, I would be physically dead today.
Likewise, if I had not gone to church for nourishment, I would be spiritually dead today!" When you are DOWN to nothing.... God is UP to something! Faith sees the invisible, believes the incredible and receives the impossible! Thank God for our physical AND our spiritual nourishment!


--
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"The best way to cheer yourself up:
Cheer everybody else up."
- Mark Twain

Helps from the Bible

For all the negative things we have to say to ourselves, God has positive answers:

You say: "It's impossible."
God says: All things are possible. (Luke 18:27)

You say: "I'm too tired."
God says: I will give you rest. (Matt 11:28-30)

You say: "Nobody really loves me."
God says: I love you. (John 3:16 & 13:34)

You say: "I can't go on."
God says: My grace is sufficient. (II Cor 12:9 & Psalm 91:15)

You say: "I can't figure things out."
God says: I will direct your steps. (Prov 3:5-6)

You say: "I can't do it."
God says: You can do all things. (Phil 4:13)

You say: "I'm not able."
God says: I am able. (II Cor 9:8)

You say: "It's not worth it."
God says: It will be worth it. (Rom 8:28)

You say: "I can't forgive myself."
God says: I FORGIVE YOU. (I John 1:9 & Rom 8:1)

You say: "I can't manage."
God says: I will supply all your needs. (Phil 4:19)

You say: "I'm afraid."
God says: I have not given you a spirit of fear. (2 Tim 1:7)

You say: "I'm always worried and frustrated."
God says: Cast all your cares on ME. (I Peter 5:7)

You say: "I don't have enough faith."
God says: I've given everyone a measure of faith. (Rom 12:3)

You say: "I'm not smart enough."
God says: I give you wisdom. (I Cor 1:30)

You say: "I feel all alone."
God says: I will never leave you or forsake you. (Heb 13:5)