Inspiration

 Sixty five years ago I was twenty years old and was fighting cancer. God opened my eyes and I was aware of him personally.  I was witnessing to everyone in the hospital that God is real and  that he was here for them.  Later on, I was to be baptized as an outward witness  of my Christian faith, My entire family; father, mother and two brothers were baptized along with me. An elderly woman in the church said that she had never seen an entire family baptized together. It was a time of inspiration and hope for our entire family.

The dictionary defines inspiration as the process of being mentally stimulated to do or feel something, especially to do something creative. I believe that to do something new and worthwhile that you need the help of God, the creator.

A Biblical definition of inspiration is  "God breathed".  

Gen 2:7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

God makes living creatures and he gave a soul to human-beings. The Bible say that we were created in the image of God, with a soul and spirit.

The Bible is inspired by God and is truth.

2Ti 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

2Ti 3:17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

God is the author of his word and he spoke his word into men who were given inspiration to write the Bible.

2Pe 1:20 Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture comes from one's own interpretation.

2Pe 1:21 For no such prophecy was ever brought forth by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

It is a great comfort to me to trust in the truth of God, the Holy Bible. Jesus spoke to us to learn of him and  that the truth shall set you free.

John 8:31 So He said to the Jews who had believed Him, "If you continue in My word, you are truly My disciples.

John 8:32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

Heb 4:12 For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it pierces even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It judges the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

Heb 4:13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight; everything is uncovered and exposed before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.

 I pray for you that you will come to God through Jesus Christ. Through him he will give you inspiration and direction to chose what is good and right. He loves you and he will receive you and give to you more love than you have ever known. He wants you to come to him. Lord God I ask that you give me opportunities to serve you by bringing others to you. Amen

Our Liberty

  1Pe 2:12  Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation. 

1Pe 2:13  Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme;
1Pe 2:14  Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.
1Pe 2:15  For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:
1Pe 2:16  As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.

My first thought was this verse:

Mat 22:21  .... Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's.

Christians are a peace loving people. We obey the laws if they do not conflict with God's will for us. In Christ we are free and this liberty has spilled over to the nation from the beginning. 

The first two amendments of the constitution are being threatened in our time. This is from the Bill of Rights.

Amendment I (1): Freedom of religion, speech, and the press; rights of assembly and petition
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Amendment II (2): Right to bear arms
A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

It is difficult to be in agreement with a government that does not uphold it's own constitution and laws. Follow the Spirit of God in the peace of God and you will do right. A godless people will never be free, we are only free by fearing God and obeying him. In Christ we are truly free.

John 8:36  If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. 

Remembering wars

It is Memorial day morning, the rain is falling. For the past month our city band his been practicing patriotic music to play at a gathering at the cemetery to honor our veterans. I was thinking about how many in our military have suffered for our freedom. At Arlington cemetery an honor guard stands in rain, in severe storms in honor of our men who have given their lives in war. Brave soldiers endure searing heat in Afghanistan, some without God and without hope have taken their own lives. Life is not worth much when God is taken away, and yet this is happening in the land of the free and the home of the brave. We are to keep God in our hearts for, We are a Christian nation with the motto  In God We Trust and Jesus gave his life to bring us eternal life and freedom.

John 15:13  Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

Many have given their lives to secure our freedom's. I had an uncle who died in the Bataan death march in WW 2. We can trace our family history and find other's who fought in wars, foreign and domestic. My son was a Marine in the Gulf war. My oldest brother was in the navy in WW2 and my other brother served in the army in combat in Korea. A young man who came to faith in Jesus through our Internet ministry gave his life in Iraq, to secure their freedom. Some wonder if we are losing our freedom today from within our own nation. We must be diligent to preserve our freedom. A people at ease may become slaves. The devil is sneaky and subtle and he often appears to be something he is not. We are to discern words and actions and to trust our God. The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom. Our nation is losing discernment as the love of God is replaced by social programs. If we give up the love of God we have lost the war.

Psa 55:21  The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart: his words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn swords.
Psa 55:22  Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.

Remember Jesus who said:

John 8:36  If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

Freedom begins in a heart that has received forgiveness and new life through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. We are then in the Lord's army. He is righteous and loyal to God. He is God the Son, the very Living Word of God. and we follow him in victory.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyIFw0NWu7g  (Veteran's Walk of Honor)