I hope each of you had a great New Year’s. Today’s post is not so much
about a new year, but more about becoming a new person.

I should begin this post by letting those of you who are new here
know, that when I have strong opinions on something, I share them with
passion. The strongest beliefs I hold are on today’s subject. I am not
exactly a world renowned expert, but I have gone to lengths to get it
correct. It is as important as it gets. I speak of the Holy Bible and
what it means to us.

I can see people clicking to another blog now.

For those of you who are not believers, today’s subject may seem a
little odd. That’s okay, because everyone has to start somewhere. I
should know, I’ve been where you are.  I identify with you.

Of course, you have a right to not believe, and you also have a right
to believe, but to still take issue with what I say. I can only tell
you what I know, and leave the rest to the good Lord and you.

Posts like this are not about showing anyone how much I know. You
could fill the oceans with what I don’t know. It is about sharing what
little I do know.

Sometimes my passion for my beliefs means I come on a little bit
strong. I know that can turn some people off, but still, I persist.

The concept for today’s post is simple. I chose a few Bible verses to
share, and I added some explanations. Taking the Bible’s messages out
of context with the verses and books that surround it, and especially
out of context with the entirety of the Bible, is a big mistake and
it‘s made often. I attempt to make sure that the meanings I share with
you, are in keeping with the Book they came from, even when they are
random verses.

Most everything I write in this blog about Biblical teachings, comes
directly from a (non-rewritten, non re-interpreted) version of the
King James Bible.  If I do use another Bible because it makes
understanding easier, then the verses I use have been compared to that
same old version of the King James. I rely on study Bible definitions
of verses only when I fully trust the honesty and accuracy of that
study Bible.

I make every effort to use the Bible as it was written and intended to
be understood (not of course in the Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek
languages, but in English), without mistakes or intentional
reinterpretations.  I of course, am not perfect.

None of what I have said makes me “holier than thou”.  Hardly!!

I cannot undo the life I have led or the fact that I led it. When my
times comes, I will leave this earth very much “street wise”. (I know
all the words, and all the actions). Those facts make me sympathetic
with those who struggle with sin.

Many if not most of the best Biblical teachers, were flawed in many ways.

Many churches today, teach a humanized, superficial, symbolic version
of God’s Word. In many cases those pastors were taught in secular
colleges, or have “recreated” the Bible to say what they think it
ought to say. Neither they nor I, are smart enough or good enough to
change God’s Word or its meaning.

There are many other “Christian” religious books. Some are good and
some are bad. The Bible was written by individuals who were chosen by
God, with direct guidance from The Holy Spirit.

If the Bible is God’s Word, and that is up to each of us to decide,
then God knows the truth, and how He wants us to learn and obey it.

None of the verses I selected today, are meant to cover a theme. This
is not  sermon, but rather a random selection of Bible verses.

Genesis 1:1
In the beginning God created the Heaven(s) and the Earth. (The
beginning, refers to creation, at least as it concerns this universe.
God, had no beginning and has no end. He always was, and always will
be).

Genesis 1:2
And the Earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the
face of the deep.  (God creates everything full and with form. This
verse might suggest, the Earth as we know this planet, was once lush
and complete and then robbed of light, form and substance in
accordance with His Godliness. Then God replenished it just before he
created man.  One answer could be that Satan, also known as the god of
this world, was given this planet for his own after his ouster from
Heaven. These are only possibilities that I am suggesting)  And the
Spirit of God (the Holy Spirit) moved upon the face of the waters.
(the beginning of life here).

Psalms 100:3
Know you that the Lord, He is God: it is He who has made us, and not
we ourselves; we are His people, and the sheep of His pastures. ( We
are a product of His hand, not a product of senseless evolution.  He
can save us, we cannot save ourselves.)

Mathew 10:24 The disciple is not above his master (as they persecuted
Christ, they will persecute His followers, including you and me), nor
the servant above his lord.

John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, My Peace I give unto you (here
Jesus speaks not of the peace we have with God, but the Peace of God.
That which He imparts to us), not as the world gives, I unto you ( the
peace of the world is superficial, but with Christ it is deep). Let
not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid .

John 15:18  If the world hate you,  you must know it hated Me before
it hated you. ( you will be hated by many if not most, if you follow
and proclaim Christ as Lord)

Romans 12:2  And not be conformed to this world (and its ways), but be
you transformed by the renewing of your mind (through faith in the
Sacrifice on the Cross and not by works), that you may prove what is
the good and acceptable and the Perfect Will of God. Which is your
reasonable service. ( When what happened on the Cross is our object of
faith, the Holy Spirit will provide for our needs).

Revelations (to John)

John to the seven churches, which represents all churches into and
through the church age. We are clearly nearing the end of the church
age.

Revelations

4  Grace be unto you, and peace from Him which is, which was, and
which is still to come, and from the seven spirits which are before
His Throne.

5  And from Jesus Christ, Who is the faithful  Witness ( he was
sinless and perfect in His worldly life as a man), and the first
begotten of the dead (First His Resurrection, then we will follow),
and the prince of kings of the earth.  Unto Him Who loved us, and
washed us from our sins with His Own Blood.

—————————————————————————————————–

Today is unique for me as I most often use verse from the New
Testament, as they are easier to relate directly to Salvation and what
it means to us. I have used some Old Testament verses today because
they are the arrows that point to the New Testament. I have decided to
end this section of this post with some very telling and important Old
Testament words. They are all from the Old Testament book of Psalms,
and from the 23rd chapter.

Psalms 23:1-6

1 The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want.

2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside still waters.

3 He restores my soul.  He leads me in the paths of Righteousness for
His Name’s sake.

4 Yes, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will
fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff they
comfort me.

5 You prepare a table for me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint
my head with oil; my cup runs over.

6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life;
and I will dwell in the House of the Lord.

The 23rd psalm is letting us know that nothing, including a church, a
denomination, or any religious hierarchy is our savior. No worldly
person or religion. Only the Lord Jesus Christ is our Savior and we
have to choose whom to follow. We cannot put our faith in both God and
the world.

Always remember that the Holy Spirit (or if you prefer the Holy
Ghost), is one part of the Trinity (from one God) and He will open the
meaning of this book for you when the time is right. The Holy Spirit
is your educator, your spiritual guide, and He will convict you of
sin. All are for your benefit. The conviction of sin, is in fact your
conscience.  It is a gift from God, just as much as is your
edification of the meaning of the Bible. When convicted, if you
sincerely confess that sin to God, and ask for forgiveness, the
horrible weight of it, will be removed. You will be free again.

A prayer for you, and a prayer for me.
This next paragraph is by no means meant to diminish the importance of
group prayer. Group prayer in good churches is in fact Biblical and
Godly.  Also a family that prays together is acknowledging God’s good
Grace, and starting a wonderful lifetime practice. There is however,
nothing like a personal relationship with God. You do not need an
intermediary. Reciting previously written lines, selected by another,
in tandem with a group, is not the same as praying personally to the
one and only God, and doing so with your own words.

I truly have not words that are strong enough to say just how
important I believe prayer is. As I said, it makes it personal just as
I believe God wants. The levels of your daily happiness, will increase
exponentially with prayer. He does answer our prayers. We just need to
look at what is really best for us, not what we as carnal beings want.
We often, want the worst.  He will accept our burden upon His
shoulders. You only need to hand to Him, those burdens and troubles,
and do so in good faith.

No matter what you think of me, no matter if you like or dislike me,
you can trust me on this, life does get better with prayer. You may
not realize it at first, but actual miracles happen through prayer.
Sometimes small ones, and often times enormous ones.  I will impart to
you, there are miracles both small and large, that have come to me,
some only in recent weeks, in reply to my prayers.

I am a born (cynical) skeptic. I am always ready to denounce
falsehoods. I have laughed at all things supernatural. Yet I share
this good news with you unashamedly.

I am certainly no pastor or even a preacher. I am just a one time
miserable sinner, who still  fails and sins, but who was saved from
myself and from my justified punishment of eternal death, by accepting
the shed blood of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Only God has the
shoulders big enough to do what He did for me.

We live our lives with the free-will that God has given us. How we use
it, has eternal implications. He will not force you to believe.  Allow
Him to hear your troubles today.

It is your decision and no one else’s!
—————————————————————————————————-

From my perspective of who I am, what I’ve learned, and what I
believe, it has been far, far too long since I have shared my thoughts
in an article such as today’s.

I wish each of you a great journey.

God Bless,
Wayne