Tag: family

Posted in Living in Today's World, Praise and Worship, The Joy of His Love

Friday’s Message in Music (and words too)

Posted on by Streim

The fourth Thursday of November is designated a special day to give thanks for God’s provision.  The original concept of the native people and pilgrims having a meal together of turkey, pumpkin pie and cranberries is false.  Actually, it was a celebration by the pilgrims of having their first good harvest of vegetables and a bounty of good hunting.  It lasted three days and they kept the tradition for several years.  They didn’t eat turkey–it was venison (because the natives gave them four deer), Indian corn, squash and other vegetables.  It wasn’t until 1863 that Abraham Lincoln set this special day (after 40 years of requesting it by the woman who wrote “Mary Had a Little Lamb”.) as Thanksgiving Day. 

So you’re probably asking yourself “why” am I posting this.  Because, if we truly would use thanksgiving day to thank God for His provision–that would be beautiful.  The greatest provision given to us by God is NOT “a turkey with all the fixin’s” meal. I believe the greatest provision promised to all people thousands of years ago, and fulfilled when He sent His only Son to do for us what we couldn’t do for ourselves, REDEMPTION!

Galatians 8:8-14 The Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “ALL THE NATIONS WILL BE BLESSED IN YOU.” So then those who are of faith are blessed with Abraham, the believer. For as many as are of the works of the Law are under a curse; for it is written, “CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO DOES NOT ABIDE BY ALL THINGS WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF THE LAW, TO PERFORM”. Now that no one is justified by the Law before God is evident; for, “THE RIGHTEOUS MAN SHALL LIVE BY FAITH.”  However, the Law is not of faith; on the contrary, “HE WHO PRACTICES THEM SHALL LIVE BY THEM.” Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us-for it is written, “CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO HANGS ON A TREE “- in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we would receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.  NASB

Enjoy the music.  And yes, I had a wonderful day with family, food and fun.  Thankful and blessed.   ♥ Streim

Posted in Praise and Worship, The Grace of God, The Joy of His Love

Glory Divine in a manger came…

Posted on by Streim

“Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.”
  Matthew 1:23

It really is an amazing thing to think about the mystery of the Incarnation—that mysterious moment when God became a man. 

Jesus Christ—God the Son—was born in a manger. He went from the throne of heaven to a feeding trough. He went from the presence of angels to a cave filled with animals. He who is larger than the universe became an embryo. He who sustains the world with a word chose to be dependent upon the nourishment of a young virgin.

Some people have a hard time believing in the Virgin Birth. If you believe the Bible, you need to believe in the Virgin Birth. The Bible teaches that God Almighty was supernaturally conceived in the womb of a virgin (see Matthew 1:23).

This makes sense if you think about it. If God had chosen to, He could have sent Jesus to this earth as a fully grown, yet sinless human being. A shaft of light could have come out from heaven with Jesus descending to the ground as an adult man.

But if Jesus came to us in that way, who could have related to Him as a person, as a part of the human race? God also could have had Jesus come into the world through two ordinary human beings—but still with a divine nature. But then most of us would have doubted His divinity. That’s why the Incarnation makes sense.

The event of the Incarnation is the reason for the Christmas season. Christmas is the opportunity to worship God, to bow down and pay homage to Him for humbling Himself and appearing in human form. (Philippians 2:6–9)

That stands as the true mystery of the Incarnation—and the reason we celebrate Christmas.

nativity

May you rejoice in the true meaning of the Christmas season… Our Savior’s birth!  “and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins…”  (Matthew 1:21)  ♥ Streim  ( I am not the author of the above message nor the photo.   I pray it touches your heart as it does mine)

Posted in Everyday News, Living in Today's World

the TRUTH be known: introduction

Posted on by Streim
A reader of my most recent blog post “What Do Cheerios and 21st Century Christianity Have In Common?”  left this comment:
Phillip Brande wrote “This post had a great start, could you unpack some of the things you mentioned in the first paragraph? What are the different flavors of the gospel? In your words… based on the scriptures you have given.”
 

First I want to thank Phillip for this comment/question.  I must answer his question for the clarity of my readers.  But more importantly, I know millions of Christians in today’s world are following leaders/pastors/teachers/authors who believe post-modern Christianity needs new flavors/varieties of the Gospel to bring the world (people) to God!  Nothing could be farther from the Truth.  The Christian who follows the ‘newly flavored gospel’ may think, feel and even believe they’re walking towards the straight and narrow gate with the Lord Jesus Christ.  According to Scripture–the Word of God to man, they are trudging along the broad path which leads to destruction. ( Matthew 7:13-14)

I rarely study the words of men, but I have done some (minimal) reading of early church reformers ( Spurgeon, etc). I with all boldness proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ because of the new life He’s so mercifully given to me.  The joy of growing in the truth and sharing His love is vital to me.  If you read my “about” pages, you’ll see I was a horribly, sinful, self-willed and arrogant woman.  What a wondrous day it was when I, like the prodigal son, sorrowfully repented of my sins and ran into my Father’s loving arms.  It was only by repentance of my disgrace and  acceptance of His GRACE that I am ‘alwayzHIS’

God’s Word precisely directs man to Himself through sound doctrines.  These doctrines are being compromised in many ministries today throughout the world.  One small compromise= complete deadly doctrine.  That’s why Jude wrote

Jude 1:3-4 “Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints. For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.”

For clarification, each of the doctrinal points listed will be a post in itself.  First, the sound doctrine according to God’s Word.  Then, I will prove (and you can see for yourself) false doctrines today that come from negating or minimizing the pure truth. 
We must always remember our LORD God, Creator of all, is perfectly holy.  His Word (the Holy Bible) is infallible in its original writings.  BEING PERFECT AS HE IS…if a person/group/authority figure should change one word to manipulate the Gospel message into anything other than what it is… they are deceivers and liars.

My heart aches; weeps for people in this world who are unwittingly deceived by false teachers. 

As the LORD God’s adopted, blood bought reborn children we need to stand up for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and speak the Truth in love.

Outline of Doctrines in This Study

1.  Sinfulness of man  (total depravity of man)

2.  What does sin to our relationship with God?  (separation)

3.  What are the results of sin?  (wages of sin–eternal death)

4. What and why did God Himself do to make a way for us to commune with Him?  We are never good enough!  Grace-Gift of His Only Son

4a. Gift of God– Jesus Christ– Deity (God incarnate)

4b.  Perfect blood sacrifice needed for atonement  ( pay the debt for sin)

4c.  Jesus death, burial and resurrection: He was the atoning sacrifice and defeated death!

5.  The Need for Repentance!!!

6.  A New Creation— a new heart after being filled with the Holy Spirit  (born-again)

7.  Living according to the Word; following the commandments of our Lord Jesus Christ and bearing fruit.

8.  Watching and waiting for the Lord Jesus to return

If we need to look at other doctrines we will.  Please be patient with me as I prayerfully seek the will of God in preparing these posts and also the physical ability to do so.  Thank you!

It’s not about me~it’s about HIM and making the Truth known. ♥Streim