Tag Archives: forgiveness

Clarification~Correction (and why we should listen to the Holy Spirit)

This is for clarification and correction of errors I made in yesterday’s blog post.   In the middle of my writing I was disturbed (and distracted) by unexpected visitors.  After they left, I decided to proceed and finish the post, but the “still small gentle voice of the Holy Spirit” moved me to save it and finish at another time.  I actually sat here at my PC and said out loud “But I want to get this done and post it”.   And so I did!  

I omitted some very important Biblical truth which the Lord pointed out to me this morning after re-reading the post.  I am thankful to our Gracious Heavenly Father that during my quiet time this morning He chastened me!  I repented for ignoring His voice.  He has forgiven me… now I am asking you, my readers to please to the same.

I know that every blood bought forgiven follower of the Lord Jesus Christ is able to discern the Word of God, but only when in honest, heartfelt prayer we ask our Heavenly Father to use the indwelling Holy Spirit to discern– kinda like decode it for us.   So before we begin reading, it is imperative for us to pray and ask the Author of the Word to join us as we read.  Since I’ve found the best way to read and study the Bible is in coordination with the Holy Spirit, I believe we must get into the habit of praying and asking God to open our hearts and minds to the full impact of His words.  Asking our Heavenly Father to stir the Holy Spirit before we begin to read the Bible is more than a spiritual formality. It’s essential to fully appreciate Scripture.  Since the Bible was written by God through man, I believe that it’s best read by man through God.  Without the Holy Spirit’s discernment, it’s impossible to comprehend the Bible.  There is where I made my error… I didn’t listen to the only One able to discern.

I know, too, that it’s impossible for a non-Christian to read and understand God’s Word; because when he does it’s like swimming through murky, deep waters.  When I didn’t listen to the Holy Spirit’s urging yesterday I was in the middle of John 1:12…  Some if not all my comments written after that is where I erred from Truth— I was attempting to do it “on my own”.  I went swimming in mucky, deep waters.  If I could, I would pull that post and put a big X over my comments from that point on and write “To be continued…” 

I’d like to offer a few more pieces of honest wisdom. ” Read the Bible every day, try your best to read it first thing in the morning and final thing before you go to bed.  Opening and closing each of your days by spending quality time with God will improve your relationship with the Lord Jesus and our Heavenly Father.  And, when our relationship with Him is right… so will all our other relationships be. “ 

Luke 11:13 “If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?”

In Luke 24:25 when Jesus, after His bodily resurrection sat and ate with His disciples Luke wrote “Then opened He their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,” 

Psalm 5:3 “My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.

Psalm 55:17 ” Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray , and cry aloud : and he shall hear my voice.”

Ephesians 1:13 ” In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed , ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise”

I will study verses 12-14 of John again, with the Holy Spirit’s guidance, and resolve the problems of  Our Journey Through the Gospel of John 2 at a later time.  Thank you for reading and following my blog.  My earnest desire is that some who do not know our Lord Jesus Christ as Savior will accept God’s gift of eternal life and for fellow brothers and sisters in Christ I pray, something the Lord prompts me to write will help you in your walk with Him. ♥ Streim

Weeping…

Overwhelming physical pain… lack of sleep… emotional weakness… mental exhaustion… sadness and despair everywhere.
Weeping for the children crying, hungry, sick and daily dying.
Fathers and mothers discouraged from trying.
Hatred filled people killing; warring nations!
Hearts and spirits losing sanity; forlorn.
Who can help them, when all from them is torn?
Rigid people who expound the name of Christ,
Too busy wasting time on matters of the world.
When the lost and weak need the love of Christ shown and told.
Too many church goers wearing blinders on their hearts
Too many Christians waiting for a leader to help the broken
Too many Christians living lives; nothing more than a token
A token, sadly speaking, for the hatred rages on
Waging protests and challenging others; “they don’t think my way”
My prayer is that the Creator of the Universe; the Father to us all
Would singe the conscience of ones who are disobedient…
After all, the Savior Jesus was sent for one purpose
To bring peace; release from sin’s penalty.
Jesus wasn’t crucified to change the government of the day
He died, He shed His blood so anyone could call upon His name
Repent and be reborn; becoming more like Him and less like the self
But I see too much putting the “commands” and example of Christ on the shelf.
Oh bitter tears; broken hearts and wounded souls…
Overwhelming physical pain… lack of sleep… emotional weakness… mental exhaustion… sadness and despair everywhere! ©Streim
My youngest brother, Tygen Lee Coad, passed away Thursday morning from congestive heart failure and acute renal failure.  He was only 57 years old.  He was one of those I describe above. 
During his last hours of lucidity, he spoke to my oldest brother on the phone and said he asked Jesus to forgive him of his sins.   Finally, we knew he was ready…
Tygen was a big guy, I used to tease him about looking like Jessie Ventura (the wrestler), however he had a uniquely gentle heart.  He loved cats and Christmas!  He had one beautiful blue eye and one light brown eye.  He was known by the name Ty to most his friends and clients.  Tygen was adventurous in his work.  After being diagnosed with severe sleep apnea, he started his own business in San Antonio creating elaborate “cat towers”.  Quite often the towers were made-to-order for professional basketball players, football players and media people.  
He will be missed much by his only son Tygen Lee Coad, Jr., two grandchildren, my other two younger brothers Bob and Skyler, myself and numerous nieces and nephews.   Rest baby brother… and I will never forget your laugh!
 

Ecclesiastes 3:4  “…A time to weep, And a time to laugh; A time to mourn, And a time to dance;”







			

	
	


				
					


	

					

							

							
A Whole Lot of Hatin’ Goin’ On

			


		

				
After being away from my blog site for several days, I returned today to find some wonderful posts.  I also found some that I must comment on, and if there are those of you who disagree with me… then say so.  There seems to be a “whole lot of hatin’ goin’ on” in our society today.  The saddest part, is there is a lot coming from those who claim the name of Christ!  How are we are able to show the lost and dying the reality of redemption through Jesus Christ if we’re busy hating, trying to change the laws of the land, jumping on anti-everything band wagons?  It’s not going to happen! 




Some Christian leaders are using the Word of God  to bring on the hate; which makes me sad and angry!  Is that the purpose of the Word–is that what God intended when He inspired the writers?  It’s hearing the Word, then allowing the Holy Spirit to work that people come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ! 


 Romans 10:12-17 “For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.  For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved .  How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed ? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard ? and how shall they hear without a preacher ?  And how shall they preach , except they be sent ? as it is written , How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!  But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith , Lord, who hath believed our report?  So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”


What is the Gospel?  Isn’t it good news to the lost sinners of the world?  Whom, by the way Jesus Christ died for?  How did you learn the Gospel message?  Did someone come up to you one day and start attacking, hatefully your sinful life and character?  I pray not.


 When Jesus met the woman at the well found in John 4:7-42 , this disgusting lady had to retrieve her daily water supply in the afternoon because none of the other women in the village wouldn’t allow her to go with them in the morning, after all she was filth to them.  Did Jesus start criticizing her as being an unholy, fornicating harlot?  NO!!!   Read it for yourself…. 


Gentle, compassion for the lost is what we need to reach the world (our own little world-where God has placed us) with the Good News of salvation.  Hating, pointing fingers, telling people they’re going to hell if they don’t change their ways is doing nothing more than pushing them away from God.  These things I just mentioned do not come as “fruit of the Spirit”, but rather from the ‘vanity of self–anchored with the flesh and fed by the enemy himself’!  If we are to carry out the commandment of our Lord Jesus… we MUST spend time daily in the Word, with the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit as our discerner (John 14:26).  The more we understand and know our Savior, personally, the greater our passion will be to share the Gospel in love not hate— in deed not just words.


Igniting your faith requires time, energy and the firm commitment to be obedient unto the One who loved us, before we loved Him!  Are you willing to go the full mile, or just trot along the hoping you’ll stay on the right path?


It is my sincere prayer that every member of the Body of Christ grow, effectively into the person God is calling us to be.  In Ephesians 6 we read “put on the whole armor of God…” the final thing Paul tells us after explaining the pieces if the armor, is in verse 18.


“Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;”


A. W. Tozer said “I want deliberately to encourage this mighty longing after God. The lack of it has brought us to our present low estate. The stiff and wooden quality about our religious lives is a result of our lack of holy desire. Complacency is a deadly foe of all spiritual growth. Acute desire must be present or there will be no manifestation of Christ to His people. He waits to be wanted. Too bad that with many of us He waits so long, so very long, in vain.”