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December, 2010
Sickness and Hope
The Holy Bible deals very lightly with the subject of sickness, except that Christ and the Apostles were given the power to cure illnesses, but not necessarily their own. It strikes me that sickness and disease are earthly things, not something that God imposes on people. The Apostle Paul was sick for much of his ministry and the other Apostles suffered in many ways. So the human search for fairness in life really isn’t a spiritual question. Sickness is another earthly way of showing how we must lean on God, over and above ourselves. Suffering can be a spiritual awakening, while keeping faith during suffering evidences strength of spiritual commitment. The “why’s” we ask when sickness or death arise, are normal human questions, but the answers lie only in the overarching human experience.
The curing of illnesses initially by Jesus, then later by His Apostles were both signs of mercy and demonstrations of divine power. God did (or does) intercede on occasions of His choosing, so prayer is never wasted, but God’s Will remains a colossal mystery to us in this life (read Isaiah 55:9). At any given moment, much of this world suffers. When the body is healthy, the mind may be afflicted, when the body is diseased, the human mind suffers along with it, but the spirit can be the light of grace in an otherwise gloomy darkness. Jesus suffered on earth for us, willingly. For us to one day share His heavenly kingdom without first suffering, would be nice but really isn’t practical (read Romans 5:3-4).
We are either suffering ourselves or know others who are. Compassion evidences human character and spiritual awareness, it is also a sign of love. As difficult as it may be to endure pain and suffering, it is more bearable knowing that God loves us and has offered us the opportunity for an eternal life, free of all suffering, through the sacrifices of Jesus. If you view your life only from an earthly perspective, you will surely be disappointed, but if you embrace God and His kingdom, life offers hope and hope is a powerful weapon against suffering (read Romans 5:5).
JC CALKINS with COMMON SENSE 4 UNCOMMON PEOPLE
The Miracle of Choice
God knows each person who will follow His path and all of those who will follow their own. God gave each of us our freedom to choose, to live an earthly or a spiritual life. He also gives most of us an opportunity to amend our ways. Vision is a gift. Spiritual vision is a rare gift. Spiritual vision, supported by faith and sacrifice is a miracle. The miracle of choice!
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I’ve read the thoughts of many authors who would hail as conquerer’s, if they could convince many that faith and prayer are fancy crutches for weak minds and a murky will. They’ve misused their intellect to rationalize how independence, self righteousness and self reliance are the missing essential character strengths, that make us pawns in the religious games played by so many religious leaders and the world’s populace. These writers also use misguided logic and erroneous philosophy to support their “superior” but universally flawed ideologies.
One Secret Worth Knowing
The well known but over simplified “Just Believe” entry code to his kingdom, which so many rely entirely on, is only the first step of the human journey. Continuously striving to better understand God is equally critical. This is the “secret” behind Christ’s parables, that everyone needs to know and pursue. God’s grace is greater than any other, when we genuinely seek and love Him, His Will influences ours and that’s the most critical path of our journey home. The apostles knew what they’d been given and they served out of love and admiration, we still have much to learn.
Christmas Love
So, just before you raise a glass this Christmas day to toast something else, bow your head and thank God for Christmas and His gift of life to each of us. This is the gift that makes all other gifts possible. As you experience feelings and memories this Christmas Holiday Season, renew your faith and refresh the hope, which comes from only one giver. Thank God with all your heart and all your soul. I’m absolutely sure that He’d love to hear from you on Christmas Day. Merry Christmas to all and to all a full “life”.
Answering His Call
God calls out to His children, and in our answer we eagerly tackle the works that He’s prepared for us. If He calls out our names and we choose not to answer, our sleep should not be peaceful and our consciousness should be troubled. Those who do respond, will find comfort in His tender care knowing that they are fulfilling the purpose the Father intended and securing their new birth right as His Children.
This Holiday Season
All these wonderful character traits, He displayed without; compromise, greed, drunkenness, selfishness, coveting, without sin of any sort. He did this His entire life. The life that we recognize and celebrate this season, was a life gifted to us, for our benefit and salvation. The giving of the gifts of life and hope and has no equal. In this holiday season, try not to confuse the celebration of God, with the often conflicting nature of human pleasures. Joy comes from the Spirit, not the spirits.
It’s Not Too Late
In this story, God tells us about both heaven and hell. He tells us of the consequences or blessings that await us. We are told that death is often unexpected. We are told of the immediacy of these two outcomes. We are told of body and of the soul. We are told these truths, because we are deeply loved and our Lord wants us to learn them before it’s too late.
Blinding Pride
Everything in and beyond the universe belongs to God, not to us. Whatever He lends to us, He can take away. 2) God holds the one key to life. Once life is gone, nothing else matters. Accepting God, is a display of extraordinary wisdom, that even kings don’t possess or command.
Christianity or Not?
To be forgiven is Christianity, to be unrepentant is not. Here, we (believers) are God’s imperfect representatives while still totally His creations. In heaven, at a date and time of His choosing, God will accept those of His creations who’s names are written in the book of life and resurrect their spirits unto Him, to be His children, in His eternal family (Luke 20:36, Romans 8:14-16).
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