fabiochiu/medium-articles huggingface dataset:
YOU DON’T RECOGNIZE ME
By: Anina Evans
Tags: Angels, Kabbalah, Bible, Christianity, Spirituality

Angels of Judgement

You do not recognize me?

I was there when you made your deal.

I am here to make sure it stays sealed

To ensure you serve your contract.

After your time bound, God will judge.

I am here to ensure you account for you sins.

When you look upon me you will spill.

One whisper in your ear and you will tell it.

You do not recognize me.

I work for the Most High,

serve your time well.

Soon it will be showtime.

There will be no turning back.

Once I am drawn to you, you are on the block.

God will sift you like wheat on the floor.

The doors of heaven will not open.

I know what you did, what you said.

I have your contract and some of you,

are in breech.

WE came and opened your path to top.

Now you have no respect in your mouth.

You do not recognize me; I’m that angel.

I was there when you said, I am done with God.

When you bowed down before the hooves.

I witnessed your fall onto your knees to Baphomet.

I came to make sure you serve your contract.

I guard the gate, and no one is getting through.

You signed the contract now own up.

I am here to make sure you do.
According to the Bible, what was the responsibility of the Knights Templar?
By: Tony, Antonakis Maritis
Tags: Bible, Christianity, Tony Maritis, Faith, Spirituality

The Knights Templar, also known as the Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon, were an order of Christian knights that was formed in approximately 1119 A.D., following the First Crusade. The stated responsibility of the Knights Templar was to protect Christian pilgrims who were traveling to Jerusalem. The Knights Templar were given the Temple Mount in Jerusalem as their headquarters, and there are many legends of the Templars excavating the many tunnels beneath the Temple Mount in search of biblical treasures and artifacts.

Primarily due to a financial dispute with King Philip IV of France, the Knights Templar were ordered to be disbanded by Pope Clement V. Many of the Knights Templar were arrested, tortured until they confessed to unimaginable crimes, and then burned at the stake as heretics. Some of the Knights Templar escaped the persecution and went into hiding. There are various traditions as to what happened to the surviving Knights Templar, with the most likely legend being that they eventually formed what is now known as the Freemasons.

The recent books, Holy Blood, Holy Grail and The Da Vinci Code include the Knights Templar in their conspiracy theories. The legend says that the Knights Templar found evidence that Jesus was married to Mary Magdalene, and they blackmailed the Roman Catholic Church, leading to the legendary wealth of the Knights Templar. Eventually, though, the Roman Catholic Church was able to orchestrate the heresy charges against the Knights Templar, leading to their disbanding and deaths. Similar to the other conspiracy theories in Holy Blood, Holy Grail and The Da Vinci Code, these theories are completely lacking in historical merit.
Why did Saul want to kill David when David did not do anything against him?
By: Tony, Antonakis Maritis
Tags: Bible, Christianity, Tony Maritis, Faith, Spirituality

Saul’s final years were profoundly tragic as he endured periods of deep manic depression. However, it was a young man brought into the king’s court named David who became the soothing influence on the troubled king by playing music that temporarily restored the king’s sanity. The king embraced David as one of his own, but all of this changed as David became a fine military leader in his own right. In fact, a popular song of the day was “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands” (1 Samuel 18:7). When Saul realized that God was with David, the king sought to kill David at every opportunity. David succeeded in evading the countless attempts on his life with the help of the king’s son, Jonathan, and the king’s daughter, Michal.

The final years of King Saul’s life brought a general decline in his service to the nation and in his personal fortunes. He spent much time, energy, and expense trying to kill David rather than consolidating the gains of his earlier victories, and because of this the Philistines sensed an opening for a major victory over Israel. After Samuel’s death, the Philistine army gathered against Israel. Saul was terrified and tried to inquire of the Lord, but received no answer through the Urim or the prophets. Though he had banished mediums and spiritists from the land, Saul disguised himself and inquired of a medium in Endor. He asked her to contact Samuel. The Philistines routed Israel and kiled Saul’s sons, including Jonathan. Saul was critically wounded and asked his armor-bearer to kill him so that the Philistines would not torture him. In fear, Saul’s armor-bearer refused, so Saul fell on his own sword, followed by his armor-bearer who did the same.
7 Things I Learned About True Love From My Time in a Cult
By: Ryan Dejonghe
Tags: Relationships, Love, Bible, Self, Acceptance

“You were in a cult? How does a guy like you end up in a cult?” are questions I get asked a lot.

While I was in the military and deployed overseas, the standard phraseology was that we would find one of three things while separated from friends and family. We would, either:

Find alcohol,

Find the gym, or

Find God.

I was an amateur, feeling out of place, in both the drinking and lifting worlds. I had some experience of going to church, so I chose to try and find God.

It turns out, many things look and sound, and even smell like God, but God proved to be elusive. It’s a lot like love. But I’m getting to that.

So, how does a reasonably level-headed, former honor roll student end up in a cult? The formula is quite simple:

Cults use the strategy of love bombing to influence you to join and eventually believe their cause.

Here are some examples of their love-bombing:

They smiled and used my first name (military folks called me by my rank and last name).

They invited me to their house and cooked dinner for me.

They made me feel like I belonged and that they needed me.

They told me that I was special.

Bit-by-bit, they indoctrinated me and programmed me to believe everything they said. I buried the red flags in my head and ignored the warnings from my own family. I was convinced these people loved me.

It was all a game, a ruse, a show.

Do you know what, though? They did one thing that ended up as their demise: they encouraged me to read the Bible.

I read through that thing six times in three years, taking copious notes. A LOT of what they taught didn’t match their source material.

The final straw that broke this camel’s back was their teachings about giving to the poor. They didn’t. So I left. But that’s another story. This story is about true love.

Here’s what the Bible says about true love, taken from “the love chapter” of 1 Corinthians 13.
Day 439 — Does the kindness stop?
By: Stephen Leslie France
Tags: Bible, Christianity, Christian

Day 439 — Does the kindness stop?The one issue I have with Christmas is that in some strange way, it indirectly implies that for a season we show love and kindness, and for the rest of the year, we return to a standard. Kindness should be year round.



WHAT DO YOU THINK? COMMENT BELOW. I’D LOVE TO DISCUSS!
GOSPEL REFLECTIONS TODAY: “Our Gift to Jesus”
By: Marga Mary
Tags: Catholicism, Roman Catholicism, Bible, Catholic, Catholic Church

GOSPEL REFLECTIONS TODAY: “Our Gift to Jesus”

December 25, 2020. Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord.

To view the readings for the day, go here: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/122520-day.cfm

Reflections:

Merry Christmas to all of us! We looked forward to this day - the commemoration of the nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ in the world. He became a human being like us while being the true God, the Son of the Father. He is the Light of the world that can never be defeated. We have experienced many hardships and blows in life this year. No one knows when the pandemic will end. But what matters is that we keep Jesus in the manger of our hearts. Let us keep Him here in our will, soul, heart and life. No matter how difficult it may be, He will be our guide and light.

We have already fallen into sin from our first parents. Death was our destiny. Death not only of the body but also of the soul. But because of Jesus, who chose to be human and live with us, who died on the Cross, was buried and became alive again, we gained eternal life. It is a promise which we will receive if we will it, and if we will work for it. God needs our "yes" and cooperation. It is a relationship consisting of two parties and not just God. This Christmas, what gift can you give to Jesus?

We always receive or give gifts to other people. What about to Jesus, the One who celebrates His birth, what can we give Him? Even if we cannot give anything beautiful and only our miseries are left, even that can be given to God. Everything can be offered to Him. He will replace our miseries with blessing and compassion. He will make things beautiful in His time. God's love for us will not fade and will not change. Man goes to doom not because of God but of his man’s own choice and hardness of heart. God was able to become human like us. He was the “Word” who became flesh who became the bread in the Eucharist for us to eat for our salvation. What else could He not do for us? Trust in God and everything is possible with Him to a man and woman who has enough faith. Amen. +

May we reflect on this. Amen. +

God bless you!

Reflections by Frances Mary Margaret D.J.
Psalms 27:7
By: Kjv Bible Quotes, Mvcquotes
Tags: Bible, Mvcquotes

--Combining my love for art and Scripture­-- Remember to always read Scripture Verses in its context as nothing can replace real time spent in God's Word ❤
THE ‘What If’ Christmas
By: Balpolam Idi
Tags: Bible, Questions, Seasons, Christmas

Photo from Getty Images

As a good Christian kid, raised in the church and taught of the Word, I learnt all the hymns and songs alongside the myths and churchiness all jumbled up in one big jar of Word-Shake. I drank it day-in day-out, every year.

As my personal relationship with God grew, however, I learnt to detangle and lose the knots. This is what led me to the what-ifs.

I know we love our Christmas hymns and carols and many may hang me for this but I’ll say it anyway. So this hymn called “Silent night?”

What if it wasn’t a silent night? How could it have been though? Considering the influx of a large number of people in Bethlehem that night. Imagine how our various cities are populated during the festivities, a census or an election. It definitely must have been hard to find a quiet place. And the manger may be silent at night if the animals are alone and resting but with a young virgin maiden in labour, and no one as midwife save novice Sir Joseph, I don’t think silence was really a thing at that point. Side note, it is possible that the picture of only Mary, Joseph and Baby Jesus with animals you see around is inaccurate(check Luke 2:18). I don’t want to ruin your Christmas but I’ve never heard silent labour. I asked my friend’s mom about how Mary and Joseph were able to pull off child birth as first time parents, and she told me it was common place for each family to have had a flock of sheep or goats and as such, they might have assisted one of the ewes or nanny goats at delivery. Still yet, child birth is risky business and I wonder how much it required of a virgin. In a strange room(barn-like) with nothing familiar or comforting.

What if the shepherds were not sited on the ground? The birth of the king must have stirred all of creation and imagine if the sheep had an inkling. Imagine if they were all rowdy and excited, the shepherds tired and weary from the day’s work and the attempts to calm their flock. What if it was at this point the angel showed up? The angel showed up and God’s glory shone around them they were terrified, we know how it goes from here. The famous “do not be afraid” line, but here is my wonder - Many more angels sang that night. How can the joyous songs of angels be silent except if the world below was noisy and even then, that is stretching it isn’t it? Or did it happen in another realm? I have a lot of questions, and I thought I’d pen them down.

Just what if it was not a silent night? — See Luke 2:1–20 (emphasis on 8–15) I wish you a merry Christmas.

Love, Ballie 💖
Good News — God Is Who You Expect!
By: Done With Religion
Tags: Christian Living, Christianity, Bible, Acceptance

by Mike Edwards

It is said the good news about God is that Jesus came to earth to save us from going to hell. Without the Bible I doubt few would think a loving God would create such a place as hell. It is claimed all you have to do is confess certain beliefs to get a pass to heaven. Jesus’ agenda in the Bible actually appears not to push certain beliefs but convey that God loves you and seeks to help you be a more loving person. What is God saving us from? See here.

The bad news about God may not be true.

God is claimed to be a hellish sadist, but the traditional understanding of Hell doesn’t exist in the Bible. God is claimed to be a homophobe, but a loving God couldn’t possibly condemn gays when they can no more choose who they are attracted to than straights can? God is claimed to be a sexist, but God wouldn’t put men in leadership position over women which has encouraged dominance on the man’s part leading to atrocities women face at the hands of men. For additional possible lies about God see here.

But don’t you believe the Bible?

Biblical scholars who respect the authority of the Bible actually don’t agree on their interpretations. Some defend the above positions; others defend to the contrary. For example see here. We are forced to choose between plausible interpretations. Which interpretation is best to choose? Choose understandings of God with the fewest negative human consequences. Err on the side that doesn’t contradict your intuitive sense of a loving God. You are free to choose the most loving way.

The good news is God surely loves in ways God’s creations sense they ought to love others.

Only a perfectly good or loving God is worth believing in. Such a statement is nonsensical if we are clueless about perfect love. The Bible implies we can understand God’s love because perfect human love and God’s love are the same: “Be perfect, therefore as your heavenly Parent is perfect” (Mt. 5:48). Do you wish to be shown mercy, be given second chances, to be forgiven for your regrets no matter how many times you fail, to be encouraged to be the person you deep down desire to be? Do you think you should show the same behaviors to others? Good news — God is a better lover than we are!
Day 437 — Merry Christmas!!!
By: Stephen Leslie France
Tags: Bible, Christianity, Christian

Day 437 — Merry Christmas!!!It’s often said that joy/happiness is a choice. This is slightly inaccurate. Joy/happiness is an emotion. Sure it can be used as a choice, but making such a decision may manifest as a mask, a pretence, fake, and overall, disingenuous. The real choice to see joy/happiness manifest is gratitude — whether to be thankful or not. If we’re alive, there’s always something to be grateful for no matter how small. Joy/happiness will follow as an emotional by-product of appreciating life. Merry Christmas!



WHAT DO YOU THINK? COMMENT BELOW. I’D LOVE TO DISCUSS!
God Loves the Poorly Educated
By: John Defelici
Tags: Literature, Christmas, Bible, Neurology, Christianity

We don’t have to look back thousands of years to witness God’s preferential love of the poorly educated. A famous case occurred on May 13th, 1917 when an apparition appeared to three shepherd children in Fatima, Portugal. All children were illiterate.

The children reported seeing a woman who was “brighter than the sun, shedding rays of light clearer and stronger than a crystal goblet filled with the most sparkling water and pierced by the burning rays of the sun.”

Due to the apparition’s appearance and how it admonished them to pray the Hail Mary, the children assumed the vision was of the Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus. Jesus’ mother was a minor character in the gospels. In the Gospel of Mark, which scholars of early Christianity agree was the first gospel written (approx. 65 AD), Jesus’ mother is mentioned only once. As readers of the New Testament, we encounter Mary in the Gospel of Mark when she and Jesus’ brothers try to hold an intervention for him.

²⁰Then Jesus entered a house, and again a crowd gathered, so that he and his disciples were not even able to eat. ²¹When his family[b] heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, “He is out of his mind.”

- Mark 3:20–21

Jesus’ first recorded encounter with his mother was less than reverent. Rather than welcoming her, he disavowed her publicly.

³¹Then Jesus’ mother and brothers arrived. Standing outside, they sent someone in to call him. ³²A crowd was sitting around him, and they told him, “Your mother and brothers are outside looking for you.”

³³”Who are my mother and my brothers?” he asked.

³⁴Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! ³⁵Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.”

- Mark 3:31–35

How had Mary come to be regarded by the 20th Century Catholic Church as a powerful goddess when it is clear, by reading the gospels written in the 1st Century, she was a passive side character who Jesus himself did not respect?

(Note: For the purpose of this discussion, let’s ignore how praying to anything other than God the Father breaks the 1st Commandment. We will overlook how every Christian who has ever said a Hail Mary has broken the 1st Commandment every time; and since it is doubtful a Christian has gone into a confessional and confessed to saying a Hail Mary as if confessing a sin (many priests even give a certain number of Hail Marys as penance), most Christians have given false confessions, which is a mortal sin. In Catholic teaching, mortal sins are a fast track to Hell unless repentance is performed before death.)

There is a man who developed a theory that explains how the character of Mary underwent such a transformation. His name was Leonard Shlain.
“Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of…
By: Josh Sorensen
Tags: Anxiety, Christmas, Bible, Trials, Church

“Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah.” Jeremiah 33:14

Our God is a promise keeper. There was a certain gentleman named Everett R. Storms, a schoolteacher in Canada, who made a detailed study of Bible promises. According to Time Magazine, he reckoned the figure of 30,000 to be too high (since it is roughly the number of verses making up the Bible 31,173). During his twenty-seventh reading of the Bible, a task which took him a year and a half, Storms came up with a grand total of 8,810 promises (7,487 of them being promises made by God to humankind).

While we may never know the exact number of promises in the Bible, we can know with certainty that God is faithful to keep every single one of them. “Praise be to the Lord…Not one word has failed of all the good promises He gave through His servant Moses” (1 Kings 8:56).

The prophet Jeremiah was in the terrible final siege of the Babylonians against Jerusalem. He was imprisoned and lamenting all that was happening around him. Hope seemed all but gone for the people of Israel. While he sat there in the dark, damp cell, the word of the Lord came to him, in what was one of the most difficult seasons in the nation’s history.

God made a promise to them that “…the days are coming…when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah” (Jeremiah 33:14). A promise that was fulfilled years later when Jesus, the Son of God, the Messiah to His people, was born in a little town of Bethlehem to save His people from their sin. In the midst of such darkness, a promise of great hope broke through.

2020 has been a most difficult year. Churches have shut down, many people have lost jobs, and sadly many loved ones have been taken from their families during this pandemic. For most of us this year, it has been a dark season.

But today we stand on the other side of the promise given to Israel. Jesus has come, He is with us, we are not alone, and every single promise made to us are “yes and amen” in Him (2 Cor. 1:20).

For the child of God, He promises to be “an ever present help in time of need” (Psalm 46:1).You are not alone today. Hope has a Name! And just as He was to the people of Israel in their darkest moment, He is going to come through on every one of the promises He has made to you.

Do you know His promises? Do you believe them today? Hang on, dear friend, because He is working in the waiting. He will show up any hour now, but never a minute too late. “Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep His promises” (Hebrews 10:23 NLT).
Who Am I That Christ Should Love Me?
By: Damon J. Gray
Tags: Christmas, Love, Bible, Elisabeth, Mary

© 2020 Dan Kiefer. All Rights Reserved. Unsplash. Used by permission

“It’s the most wonderful time of the year,” or so says Andy Williams in his 1963 hit from The Andy Williams Christmas Album. This year desperately needs a “wonderful time.”

I have witnessed a broad spectrum of reactions to the holiday season in 2020. Some are working harder than usual to enjoy Christmas this year. Others find it depressing to have to navigate (or violate) governmental restrictions. Still others are finding a deeper meaning to the season specifically because of the restrictions. Just last week, I tweeted how badly I want to attend a Christmas cantata. I miss that.

And why am I so honored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? — Luke 1:43, BSB

Young Mary had traveled to see her cousin Elisabeth.

— Elisabeth, the wife of Zachariah the priest.

— Elisabeth, the elderly barren woman.

— Elisabeth, bearing the stigma of childlessness.

There are those among you who know the pain of a barren womb. Elisabeth knew the added burden of the whispers behind her back as the community tried to uncover what hidden sin kept her from bearing children.

After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she kept herself hidden, saying, “Thus the Lord has done for me in the days when he looked on me, to take away my reproach among people.” — Luke 1:24–25, ESV

It was six months into Elizabeth’s pregnancy that Mary visited her. Rather than react with jealousy or bitterness, Elisabeth gushed with blessing for her young cousin.

And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!” — Luke 1:14–12, ESV

Only then, only after pronouncing the blessing over Mary did Elisabeth ask the question, “Why is it granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me?”

Even in a year as bizarre as 2020, with lock-downs and restrictions, the Christ-child comes. And every one of us can echo Elisabeth’s question, “Who am I that the Christ-child should come for me?” The answer is, “You are the beloved of Yahweh.” Rest in that truth.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. — John 3:26–17, ESV

Blessings upon you my friends.

Victoriously in Christ!

– damon

DamonJGray.org

Twitter — @DamonJGray

Medium.com

Facebook Author Page

YouTube Channel
What the meaning of “the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets”?
By: Tony, Antonakis Maritis
Tags: Bible, Christianity, Tony Maritis, Faith, Spirituality

In this passage, Paul is speaking about how the gifts of the Spirit should operate. In short, he is saying that the Holy Spirit does not take control of a person, that the gifts are subject to the person who is operating in the gift. This is to say that the Holy Spirit will not violate your will, He will prompt you but you decide if you will respond to the prompting. Many people who are given the gift of prophesy as with other gifts, get ahead of the Holy Spirit.

“How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying. If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret. But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God. Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge. If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace. For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted. And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.” 1 Corinthians 14:26–34
Psalms 27:8
By: Kjv Bible Quotes, Mvcquotes
Tags: Bible, Mvcquotes

--Combining my love for art and Scripture­-- Remember to always read Scripture Verses in its context as nothing can replace real time spent in God's Word ❤
Come and See What God Has Done!
By: Jon Stallings
Tags: Merry Christmas, Bible, YouTube, Bible Study, Faith

Come and See What God has Done!

It is incredible to think that God himself, the creator of heaven and earth, stepped away from his throne and clothed himself with human flesh. He would grow within his mother’s womb for nine months. He would not be born in a palace but a feeding trough for livestock. He would be helpless as his mother would feed him and change him just like any other baby. However, he would grow to become the savior for the world.

Come and See What God has Done!

On that first Christmas shepherds out in the field were greeted by a host of angles telling them of Jesus’ birth. Shepherds who were considered the outcasts of society. They were not clean enough to enter the temple in Jerusalem. Yet the angels came to them. Calling them to come and see what God has done. Your savior has stepped out of heaven to bring light to the dark world.

Come and See What God has Done!

The shepherds left behind their flock and made their way to Bethlehem. Unable to enter the Temple they were welcomed to enter the humble barn. Amid the smell of hay and manure they looked upon the face of their savior. There they bowed down and worshiped.

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told. Luke 2:15–20 (NIV)

Come and See what God has Done!

I hope that amid the busyness that often comes with Christmas you will find time to reflect on a God who is so madly, passionately in love with you he sent his son to walk this earth, die and rise again for your behalf. Take time today to remember his birth.

… the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.” — John 4:16 (NIV)

I hope that you and your family will have wonderful and blessed Christmas. And I pray throughout the coming year of 2017 you will all be engulfed by the grace and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. May you receive the spirit of God’s wisdom and revelation so that you and your family might know him better. — In Jesus holy name, Amen

Thumbnail Photo by Greyson Joralemon on Unsplash

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I need to go back and take a better look at that parable.
By: Rice
Tags: WFH, Bible, Life Lessons

I need to go back and take a better look at that parable. There’s definitely much to be said about coming together and shouldering the burden which has been placed upon us.

Thanks for writing this!
Day 435 — Using people…
By: Stephen Leslie France
Tags: Bible, Christianity, Christian

Day 435 — Using people…In western society’s human attempt at being the most free, liberal, expressionist, ‘anything-goes,’ ‘live-for-yourself,’ ‘do-you,’ independent, kind, generous, loving world, it’s interesting that we’ve ‘ventilated’ ourselves in more places than just the foot…



WHAT DO YOU THINK? COMMENT BELOW. I’D LOVE TO DISCUSS!
In Light of God
By: Mary Harwell Sayler
Tags: Christmas, Bible, Christ, Light, Hanukkah

Christmas and Hanukah bring Holy Days of Light to Christians and Jews, but depression and desperation often come this time of year to lonely people who do not know God. As God’s people who do know God and the Word of God given to us through the Holy Scriptures and the Holy Spirit, God gives us light to bear and light to share.

As Isaiah 49:6 promises: “You will do more than restore the people of Israel to Me. I (God) will make you a Light to the nations to bring My salvation to all the peoples of the earth.”

Sometimes the word “salvation” is used so often it seems dull, but in God’s Light we see light. To re-view what the Bible shows:

Salvation offers a way of escape from bad habits and attitudes that seize and entrap.

Salvation rescues people from mistakes hanging over their heads like dead mistletoe.

Salvation delivers people from the presence of evil, bad will, and unforgiveness.

Salvation recovers who and what was lost.

Salvation brings salve and healing, wrapping us in love and offering our writing as a gift in the present as a present from God.

Only God can save. Only God is Light and gives Light to all who want to step away from dark corners or dark thoughts lurking around, threatening to overshadow. But, as people of God, we have brightness!

We are Christmas lights and Hanukah candles.

Our poems, manuscripts, sermons, Bible teachings, and other forms of communication can bring what God gives us to give to others — giving and giving yet having more and more to hold onto and keep.

Let’s pray to remember that reflecting the Light requires reflection.

Let’s pray to remember that part of the Light is being light, and our part may be to have and to hold a light touch, levity, and humor.

Let’s pray for joy. Pray for daily reflection on the Light of Christ and the Joy of Salvation as we reflect our loving Heavenly Father — the Almighty LORD God to the world.

May God bless you and your New Year in the Lord!

©2020, Mary Harwell Sayler, poet-writer, Bible Reviewer, and pray-er of God’s Word

…
The Lord always gets me through
By: Small Voice Today
Tags: Protection, Evil, Bible, Designed2encourage, Devotional

The Lord will keep you from evil. He will watch over your soul and watch over your coming and going, both now and forever. — Psalm 121:7–8

Do you ever face evil? Every day!

God doesn’t make our life easy and perfect. He doesn’t eliminate every hard thing or painful situation. We live in a fallen world with sinful people, even as we ourselves are sinful. Sometimes we even bring hard circumstances upon ourselves with our own wrongdoings or bad choices. God doesn’t keep these things away from us, but He promises to bring us THROUGH these things.

God isn’t just watching, He is watching over us. He protects us in our comings and goings, our day to day living. But more than that, He protects our soul. He keeps us as one of His children. No matter what may happen to us, calamities or sickness or any evil thing, our eternal life with Him is protected. He helps us through everything that may happen to us now, and always. The Lord covers us, guards us, keeps us safe. He always gets us through.
Psalms 27:9
By: Kjv Bible Quotes, Mvcquotes
Tags: Bible, Mvcquotes

--Combining my love for art and Scripture­-- Remember to always read Scripture Verses in its context as nothing can replace real time spent in God's Word ❤
Comparison Games
By: Simon J Lennox
Tags: Self Esteem, Body Image, Bible, Exercise, Fitness

Comparison Games

In the pursuit of health and fitness we often compare ourselves with at least one of the following:

a version of our former self,

a vision of our future self, and/or

a filtered image of someone else.

It just takes an old photograph, the mirror after a shower, the workout video of an insta influencer, the appearance of another person, or even careless comments from friends to trigger a comparison with real or fanciful images of ourselves and others; and most of the time, we lose.

For example…

My wife, Amy, recently shared a picture of me relaxing on Coronado Beach in San Diego when I was 32-years old. I am as white as the Californian sand, but compared to what I see in the mirror today I’d love to be in that shape again. However, in that blissful moment on the beach I distinctly remember feeling dissatisfied with my physique, wishing I had my 24-year-old body after completing P90X three times. Yet back then in my home gym, despite being fitter and stronger than ever before (and since), I remember feeling frustrated at not looking and performing like Tony Horton and his posse on the fitness videos. Sooner or later my enthusiasm plateaued, causing my fitness level to slide, until enough time had passed before self-discontent, comments from others, and/or new inspiration from social media recharged my will-power to re-enter the comparison game again!

Comparison with others is natural human behavior in most areas of life such as work, fashion, travel, sport, etc. We are, after all, designed for relationship and community; with a purposeful interdependence to multiply, cultivate, learn, evolve, and thrive on the wonder of planet earth. That means there is always someone better, smarter, and fitter to learn from; and the competitive and approval-seeking human spirit arising from this can be harnessed to help achieve our goals.

But when it comes to mainstream fitness culture (which I nonetheless enjoy!), comparison with others is a game no one seems to be winning. For it is bent entirely around the insatiable pursuit of a culture-defined “perfect” body; even those who look like they have it, secretly aren’t experiencing the lasting happiness and satisfaction they thought it would bring. (Despite their instagram portraying the opposite)

This means that as much as exercise and healthy eating benefits mental health by releasing endorphins, managing stress, reducing anxiety, boosting self-esteem, and so on; the “chasing after the wind” of an unsustainable body type, requiring unrealistic sacrifice, fueled by cyclical comparison games, is ironically breeding negativity, low self-esteem, depression, or worse — especially when our bodies fail us due to injury, aging, or illness.

So… is there a way to manage this paradox that both inspires physical training yet stops our looking to the body for something it wasn’t designed to give?

I believe there is! It requires spiritual fitness; which means taking a few mins each day (even before, during, or after exercise) to remember two things: who made you and what He thinks of you.
What’s in the Name of Jesus?
By: The Jesus People
Tags: Bible, Jesus, Christianity, Faith, The Jesus People

Why the Name of Jesus is so important? Because, the Bible says:

The Name of Jesus is the Name above all Names (Philippians 2:9)

At the Name of Jesus every knee shall bow and all tongue shall confess (Philippians 2:9–10)

Jesus is the only Name and under heaven given for our salvation. No other Name except Jesus (Acts 4:12)

Everyone who calls on Jesus’ Name shall be saved (Romans 10:13)

Remission of sins is in the Name of Jesus (Acts 10:43)

The Name of Jesus was revealed to Mary by God’s angel as the Name of the Savior (Matthew 1:21)

In the Name of Jesus shall all Gentiles trust (Matthew 12:21)

The Name of Jesus is holy (Luke 1:49)

Repentance and remission of sins shall be preached in Jesus’ Name (Luke 24:47)

God gives the right and power to be called His children those who believe in the Name of Jesus (John 1:12)

The Name of Jesus is the Father’s Name by which He came (John 5:43)

Believing in the Name of Jesus gives life (John 20:31)

Faith in the Name of Jesus produces divine healing (Acts 3:16)

Only at the Name of Jesus we can have joy in sufferings (Acts 5:41)

God takes a people for His Name, and calls them by His Name (Acts 15:14, 17)

God’s grace and calling to man comes through Jesus’ Name (Romans 1:5)

The acknowledgement of God’s mercy comes in the Name of Jesus (Romans 15:9)

The Lord knows who belongs to Him because they are Named after the Name of Jesus (2 Timothy 2:19)

We offer God continually the sacrifice of praise through the Name of Jesus (Hebrews 13;15)

For the sake of Jesus’ Name, our sins were forgiven (1 John 2:12)

It is God’s commandment to believe in the Name of Jesus (1 John 3:23)

The Name of Jesus is also the Word of God (Revelation 19:13)

The Name of Jesus is also the Name of King of kings and Lord of lords (Revelation 19:16)

The Name of Jesus shall be written in our foreheads at the very end of time (Revelation 22:4)

The Holy Spirit shall come in the Name of Jesus (John 14:26)

Miracles come in the Name of Jesus (Mark 9:39; John 2:23)

The Name of Jesus is the Name to be spoken during baptisms (Acts 2:38, 8:16, 10:48, 19:5)

Washing away of sins comes in the Name of Jesus (Acts 22:16)

Signs and wonders comes in the Name of Jesus (Acts 4:30)

Evangelist Philip and all apostles preached the Name of Jesus (Acts 8:12)

Paul preached boldly the Name of Jesus (Acts 9:27, 29)

All the men of God hazarded their lives for the Name of Jesus (Acts 15:26)

Paul cast out evil spirits in the Name of Jesus (Acts 16:18)

The Name of Jesus is worth dying for (Acts 21:13)

Together with the power of God’s Spirit, we are washed, sanctified, and justified through the Name of Jesus (1 Corinthians 6:11)

Everything that we should do, in word or in deed must be done in the Name of Jesus (Colossians 3;17)

The Name of Jesus, which means “Jehovah has become my salvation” was the Name of the prophesied Messiah of Israel (Isaiah 12:2)

Blessed is the one who comes in the Name of the Lord Jesus (John 12:13)

It is truly both an honor and privilege for The Jesus People to be identified only with the name of Jesus!
Priority Placed Prominently and Purposefully on Prayer
Tags: Bible, Brotherscampfire

Hello, Benjamin from Brother’s Campfire here.



I cannot tell you how much I enjoyed the Campfire Tale of Steve from https://stevescountry.com/. I would like to see him on a regular here. He is an amazing Storyteller and photographer. It has been an honor and a privilege.



Today, I have a different type of post with a lot of self reflection.



In many ways, the world looks upside down to me. (No offense meant to the other hemisphere of course.)



And lately, I have been left wondering if there is something wrong with what I have been doing with my life. A Lot…



With the political scene, Covid, and all the changes in law enforcement related fields in the United States,



I needed to find a benchmark to see if my mindset and actions reflect who I want to be as a person.



I would love to divulge the ins and outs of these concerns, but there are a lot of things I cannot talk about online due to my job description and not wanting to be overtly offensive.



About mindset, when I have concerns brought to me by my staff or inmates, I try to see what is motivating them and what specific priorities an individual has set to determine courses of action.



For instance, I spoke to an inmate at one point who wanted to be released to the streets to utilize chemical substances upon release.



I went through a wide range of angles in discussion with this offender, and even if given a house, sports car, and Betty Crocker herself to bake cookies every day, he would never give up these substances.
There’s no doubt about my faith
By: Small Voice Today
Tags: Bible, Faith, Doubt, Designed2encourage, Devotional

But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. — James 1:6

Faith can be delicate. It just doesn’t make “sense” sometimes and we can’t always “prove” it. Like a wave it goes up and down, to and fro. We go back and forth between belief and doubts.

Believe it or not, theologians and philosophers have spent lifetimes trying to figure out what “proving something” means. But the faith that God asks us to have is not about proving or not proving. It is about trusting Him because we have a loving relationship.

We don’t have to prove to anyone if we love someone, we just do and we know it. We may show it through our actions and kinds deeds, but it’s not like we can prove to anyone else how we feel. We know how we feel, but think about what that really means! We can never prove it to anyone else, but we know.

This is why we go up and down, and to and fro like those waves. We can tell ourselves our faith is in the all-powerful creator of the universe and we don’t have to worry. But perhaps the next moment we wobble a bit because that is a normal part of our emotions.

As we get to know Jesus better, these kind of doubts will get smaller and smaller. We love Him and experience His love, and our trust will grow. Jesus will keep showing us we can rely on him and our faith will get bigger and stronger!
Christmas Bible Trivia
Tags: Christmas, Bible, Youth Min, Holidays, Church

In my first year of Bible college, I failed my first “quiz”… on Christmas. I thought I had aced it because I had been in Christmas pageants and knew every Christmas carol. Unfortunately, people have created Christmas cards, carols, children’s plays, artwork, and other items that make assumptions about the Christmas story. While most of these assumptions are harmless (like how many wise men there were), it is essential to know what the Bible says about Jesus’ birth. Other Christmas myths are fictional (I’m sure Jesus cried, no matter what Away In the Manger says) and can affect our theology about Christ’s humanity. Some differences seem a little nit-picky (like the angels speaking to the shepherds and not singing), while other mistakes are glaring (like who is following the star in O Little Town of Bethlehem). Christmas Bible Trivia is a fun and appropriate game to play during Christmas, especially when all of your family members are present. Make this game a part of your family tradition, and see who has been keeping up on their Bible studies throughout the year

Take this Christmas Quiz to see if you can determine what is recorded in the Bible and what is not.

You can take the online quiz here :- https://bit.ly/3h95zcs

You can also play similar game like this :-

2. https://bit.ly/3mCLuwC

3. https://bit.ly/3mGI4Zw

4. https://bit.ly/34x6xds
The Coronavirus touched all of our lives in one way or the other.
Tags: Motivation, Bible, God, Motivational, Church Leadership

The Coronavirus touched all of our lives in one way or the other. Here is some encouragement to hold on and not give up hope.

https://youtu.be/95JdQHRONo0
CHILD POSE
By: Penny Oliver
Tags: Health, Christmas, Bible, Yoga, God

It’s the Christmas season, the most wonderful time of year — and the most stressful! But don’t worry, I’ve got you covered. Join me in this month’s “Yoga with Penny” and I will show you how to slow down to Christmas tree speed and still shine bright. That way, all will be calm with you and you can bask in the warm glow of being all there in the moments you get to share with family and friends.

I present to you the gift of the basic, most essential Child Pose. It’s the reassuring hug you been waiting for, and the gift that keeps on giving. Although it’s a warm-up or resting pose in a yoga class, it’s the perfect remedy to unwrap tension and stress anytime and a great antidote for a restful night’s sleep. To enhance the healthy yoga goodness from Child Pose focus on your inhales and exhales. Then let the soothing sanctuary of your Child Pose envelope you in a cocoon of warmth, comfort, safety, and ease.

You may fold up a towel to place between your heels and your sitting bones for comfort and support. You may also rest your head on a pillow for ease.

To begin, come to all fours and gently fold forward over your legs. Spreading your legs apart will provide a deeper stretch. Gently resting your forehead on your mat or pillow begin inhaling and exhaling slowly and deeply. Remember, it’s your time to relax and unwind so try to linger here for a few moments. One minute would be great, but longer would be better. The best scenario would be to stay as long as you need, not worrying about minutes or time simply enjoying the present peaceful moment.

Besides relieving stress, practicing Child Pose on a regular basis stretches our lower backs, opens our hips, stretches our shoulders, ankles and ligaments. Therapeutic for digestion, it enhances circulation, calms our minds and fights insomnia.

Thanks for joining me!

May God fill you with peace and love this Christmas as we celebrate the most special child of all time — the Lord Jesus Christ!

Merry Christmas everyBODY!
13 Most Popular Bible Verses That Everyone Knows and Loves
By: Sacora George
Tags: Knowledge, Bible, Bible Study, Jesus, God

If you’re someone who actively studies the Bible, then it might seem like second nature to always be searching for and reading the verses you haven’t read before. It can feel like a welcome, enlightening challenge to find and focus on the verses (or chapters) that are less frequently taught, or that most people are unfamiliar with. That said, it’s never a bad idea to have the most popular Bible verses top of mind when talking to someone who is less familiar with the Bible or someone who is just beginning their journey in their faith.

Even if you memorized them all as a kid in Sunday school, it’s easy to ignore (and therefore forget about) the most popular Bible verses — even if you think you know them all by heart. So whether you’re new to the Bible or you’re just looking to brush up on the most popular and frequently quoted verses that exist, here are 13 of people’s favorite Bible verses.

J ohn 3:16

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have eternal life.”

Romans 3:23

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…”

Psalm 23

“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters..”

Jeremiah 29:11

“‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Philipians 4:13

“I can do everything through him who gives me strength.”

Romans 8:28

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

Proverbs 3:5

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.”

Genesis 1:1

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the Earth.”

John 14:16

“Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’’’

Romans 6:23

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Philipians 4:6

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”

Romans 12:2

“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is — his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

Acts 18:10

“For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city.”

Original Post: https://www.womansday.com/life/g30768153/popular-bible-verses/?slide=13