NCarolinian

1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, 3 he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. 4 Even 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 before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever. - Psalm 23 "The LORD is my shepherd" To me this means Believers in Christ Jesus are His sheep.  In addition, The LORD is called the Believer's "great shepherd" in Hebrews 13:20  probably in reference to this Psalm. "I shall not be in want" This condition is because if you have a relationship with the "Great Shepherd" you have everything.  However, within...

Wives and Husbands 1 Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, 2 when they see the purity and reverence of your lives. 3 Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. 4 Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight. 5 For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to make themselves beautiful. They were submissive to their own husbands, 6 like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her master. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear. 7 Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing wil...

Here is the main reference Scripture (1 Peter 3:1-7) again. Wives and Husbands 1 Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, 2 when they see the purity and reverence of your lives. 3 Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. 4 Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight. 5 For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to make themselves beautiful. They were submissive to their own husbands, 6 like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her master. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear. 7 Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heir...

Marriage - many people have had a lot to say on this topic throughout time.  More specifically requirements or at least strong suggestions on what each party, the husband and the wife, should bring to the table have been discussed ad nauseam.  One of those contributors, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, that I would like to highlight in this blog is Peter.  There are many places in Scripture one could go to study the topic of marriage, the husband's responsibilities, and the wife's responsibilities but for this examination I would like us to consider 1 Peter 3:1-7 . 1 Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, 2 when they see the purity and reverence of your lives. 3 Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. 4 Instead, it should be that of your inner self, t...

The Church of Jesus Christ in America (or any nation) Humility +  Prayer +  Seeking God's Face +  Turning From Their Wicked Ways  = God's Response                                                           1.  I will hear from heaven                                                           2.  I will forgive their sin                                                           3.  I will heal their land 2 Chronicles 7:14

I respectfully challenge all churches everywhere, including my own, to observe Communion next time with a heightened awareness toward being in right relationship with "the body and the blood of the Lord" ( 1 Corinthians 11:27 ). To me. being in right relationship with "the body" of the Lord means that the Believer believes correctly about Jesus' physical existence and is right with all the members of The Church, also known as the body of Christ on earth since His ascension. In being in right relationship with "the blood of the Lord" I refer to another Scripture for support - Matthew 6:14-15 - "For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins."   The blood of Christ shed for our sins on The Cross dealt with forgiveness - "In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without t...

"For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it." - 1 Timothy 6:7 The context of this verse was the reliance on money.  Paul was about to be martyred when he penned 1 and 2 Timothy and Titus.  Paul was writing a letter of instructions to aid Timothy in running an effective church body for the Lord.  On the list was the love of money .  Paul mentions in verse 9 that people who have a desire to "get rich" are already primed for "the temptation" , "the trap" , and finally "ruin and destruction" .  It reads - "People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction."  Verse 10 and 11 elaborate nicely -   "For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.  Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs."   Instead of this love of money Paul instructs ...

The encouragement in this teaching is to live a life led by the Holy Spirit.  A life being lived with just The Word of God (Bible) at your side and being read every day is a great foundation and a wonderful practice to keep all the days of one's life.  However, there is so much more that can be drawn from each reading with The Word and there is so much more that we as Believers can do by being empowered with the Holy Spirit and living the Spirit-led life. A great Biblical life exemplifying the above condition is Peter.  He had The Word of God, Jesus, with him for three years wherever he traveled.  Peter heard the teachings and saw the miracles of Jesus.  Peter was even the one to hail Jesus as the Son of the Living God, the Messiah.  But then Peter turns right around and is used by our spiritual enemy in an attempt to thwart God's plan of salvation by saying,  "Never, Lord!  This shall never happen to you!"  ( Matthew 16:13-23 )  Then...