NCarolinian

You know that saying - "Nobody is happy when mama is NOT happy"?  I believe we can take that one to another level, the highest level.  Things are just not right and there is no happiness or joy around when your relationship with God is either not in existence or going through some "bumps" or challenges.  If you have a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ His Son and you are reading His Word on a daily basis, speaking to the Holy Spirit everyday (including Him in on everything) and allowing Him to lead, guide, and direct you...then it is very possible you have experienced The Joy of the Lord.  When believers are in God's will, when we are in sync with His plan for our lives - His joy can be a physically manifested experience (I know, I've been there).  To me it is the kind of happiness and joyful emotion that comes when my own earthly Father or Mother tells me - "I'm proud of you son.  You are doing really well.  However, we will alw...

Scripture References:  James 1:2-4 and 1 Samuel 17 (especially vv.34-36) . Pastor Richard Dial, my pastor, of Cary Church of God, has been teaching a series on Faith .  It has been awesome!  The following is what I received from the Holy Spirit and him as he taught on Sunday, August 29, 2011. The James 1:2-4 verses tells us to "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds..." .  There is more to that verse but we will get to that in a moment.  First, I noticed when Pastor Dial spoke this verse (from another translation other than the NIV) in the service, the second half came first - "whenever you face trials..." .  That was a quick lesson unto itself for me.  You will face trials.  Just because anyone chooses to follow Christ does NOT exempt them from the trials and tribulations of life.  In fact, you are promised persecution because Jesus too was persecuted.   "In fact, everyone who wants to live a...

     My title says it all, but too elaborate - many, if not all, universities to some degree, have become Farm League Universities for athletes.  Academics?  What is that?  Learning a base or core set of topics to better prepare you for life, who would ever offer and take such classes?  And student athletes who actually do the studying of a specific area of skill/trade in order to fall back on should the Pro venture not pan out - who would consider that?  It makes too much sense.  Ah yes, they have put all their eggs in one basket - the athletic "ticket"/"ride".  Well, they are at the right place here at The University of Farm League Athletes. Now, I know not every athlete falls in this category but this type of university has money to make and an image to uphold.  So, learn your sport, but please keep the team, school, and NCAA violations hush-hush.  Do not use the media or social media outlets to expose your pers...

We have been given a "measure of faith" (Romans 12:3).  All of us are at different levels of faith or levels of maturity in our faith (Romans 1:12).  The Bible tells us who we should have faith in, Jesus (John 14:12; Acts 20:21, 24:24).  The Word of God defines "faith" for us in Hebrews 11:1.  Scripture tells us how faith comes - " from listening to this message of good news -- the Good News about Christ" (Romans 10:17) and even states that it is impossible to please God without faith in Him (Hebrews 11:6). As you can glean from above Faith is the key element in many phrases of Scripture.  One might also see the following phrases - "your faith has healed you" (Matthew 9:22), "your faith has saved you" (Luke 7:50), "justified through faith " (Romans 5:1), "the righteous will live by faith (Romans 1:17), "put their faith in him" (John 2:11), "O, you of little faith " (Matthew 6:30), "if you ...

You've seen bumper stickers that read - "Proud Parents of....." - you fill in the rest of that phrase.  I have seen many variations of proud parents.  However, I am a Proud Son of My Parents .  I don't know too many children, kids, or even adults that have their parents still alive that are saying this now-a-days.  I am extremely blessed that God gave me my parents.  Dad - Tim and Mom - Paula.  I was also incredibly honored and blessed to have my father's mother live with us also - Pansy. When I look around at my friends and family that have children right now I notice the absolute sacrifice that it demands - the life of the mom and dad.  They basically lay their lives down when they have a child.  There's not one moment in this life, on this planet, where those parents stop being parents and the children the children.  A great helper and teacher of life, that is what a parent should be and that is what I have in my parents.  And that ...

John 21:25 says, "Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written."  I imagine some of the things that would be written down about Jesus would be concerning the time frame Scripture is mostly silent about.  This period of time is between His twelfth year of life and His thirtieth year of life.  According to Scripture the twelfth year of Jesus' life sees Him at the Temple with His parents observing the Passover (Luke 2:41-52).  According to scholars and their calculations, Jesus was about 30 years old when He started His ministry.  Again, it is the in between years that we have not heard much about, but that I would like to address here with the limited knowledge we all have in Scripture. Just take a look at the adult life of Jesus and you will see a reflection of His upbringing and youth.  Joseph and Mary did their part to "he...

Joel 2:28-31 says, "And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people.  Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions.  Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days.  I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and billows of smoke.  The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD." I have heard many a pastor, preacher, teacher, scholar and understudy describe their belief on the timing of when God is going to pour out His Spirit on all people.  Now it is time for my observation(s) to be included for consideration. Right off the bat in this verse you have the words "And afterward" followed by the key words "I will pour out my Spirit on all people".  Then later in this verse you have "before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD".  So,...