NCarolinian

I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. "Be on your guard against men; - Matthew 10:16-17 Jesus said it, I believe it, that settles it.  However, the Holy Spirit inspired Luke (in the Book of Acts), Paul (in the Book of 1 Corinthians and second letter to Timothy), and Peter (in his second letter) to encourage others to - " Be on your guard " also.  I encourage the Christian community and myself to take our spiritual awareness to the next level.  At least pay some attention to developing this part of our spiritual walk.  Some like the word discerning , some like the word distinguishing , but this is how 1 John 4:1-3 (NIV) says it - "Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God , because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in...

I like the music of the Zac Brown Band.  However, there is a line in one of his songs that has spurred this blog.  The album is You Get What You Give , the song is As She's Walking Away .  The lyrics that caught my attention I will put in bold - "...ask her to dance, go on son you might fall down on your face,  roll the dice and have some faith ...". So, there it is - chance and faith - they are not the same.  Chance is something that is just happenstance.  It cannot be partnered with anything else that may lead to it or predict it.  In fact, dictionary.com defines it as - the absence of any cause of events that can be predicted, understood, or controlled.  Whereas someone who has faith can usually be partnered with their supportive actions or deeds.  "What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?" – James 2:14  "In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanie...

I read my second favorite story in the Bible today - Lazarus.  I saw that I am spiritually where Mary and Martha were the fourth day Lazarus was dead and Jesus arrived on the scene.  Both sisters said the same thing to begin with - "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died." (John 11:21, 32) .  This statement by itself is not true.   John 4:43-53  speaks about a long-distance healing of an official's son who lay sick at least a day's walk away from where Jesus was staying.  The sick boy's father approached Jesus and pleaded with Him to come to where the child was, but Jesus stayed and said, "You may go. Your son will live."  The next verse I struggle with sometimes and I shouldn't - "The man took Jesus at His word and departed." (John 4:50).  However, the real zinger is the conversation Martha had with Jesus. Jesus said to Martha  "Your brother will rise again." (11:23) .  She must have been well educated in...

Jesus came, made some friends and influenced people, but He sure stirred the pot while He was here too!  He had people wanting to make Him king on one side ( Jn. 6:14-15 ).  He had people/Priests trying to kill Him on the other ( Jn.7:30; Jn. 7:44; Jn. 8:59; Jn. 9:22; Jn. 10:31; Jn.10:39; Jn. 11:53 ).  Then right in the middle Jesus confirms the turbulence when He says, "Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to turn " 'a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law-- a man's enemies will be the members of his own household.' "Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. (Matthew 10:34-38) However, in the midst of all this upheaval there was complete...

I will admit, I am not the sharpest knife in the tool-set or of the silverware, BUT I sure would love to think and believe I have enough common sense that I would not follow in the footsteps of Gideon.  This guy was clueless and God still used him.  That is no grounds for a clueless lifestyle.  God called Gideon - "mighty warrior" (NIV).  However, Gideon never realized this Godly perspective throughout his experience as supposed "Champion" of God for Israel.  Instead, he focused on all the weaknesses and imperfections of himself and his environment.  The only time anything really started to get accomplished was when  "the Spirit of the LORD came upon Gideon, and he blew a trumpet, summoning the Abiezrites to follow him." (Judges 6:34)   This lack of Holy perspective or vision of one's self as "mighty warrior" eventually led to a complete full-circle event for Israel. Anytime the Israelites got complacent with their lifestyle they would al...

Daniel was a young man mature beyond his years.  He was a nobleman who was "without any physical defect, handsome, showing aptitude for every kind of learning, well informed, quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the king's palace." (Daniel 1:4)  Then on top of all these blessings he was favored by the Lord. Daniel and his gang of merry men (Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah) were to be assimilated into the Babylonian civilization.  These men were to be taught the language and culture while being fed from the king's table for three years. However, Daniel made a resolution not to defile his traditions, culture, and beliefs concerning his "Holy Diet" and refused the food from the king's table.  Instead, he asked for only veggies and water.  Because of his loyalty to God's law, God displayed His favor on Daniel and The Boyz .  No difference in physicality could be determined from those that were eating at the king's table than those that we...

Want another rags to riches story?  Joseph can supply that and then some.  The twist to his story is what he possessed in the face of hate as he was placed in a position of influence throughout his life's journey. Joseph was hated by his brothers because he was so highly favored by his father ( Genesis 37:3-4 ).  He was hated by those same brothers for his dreams and/or visions ( Genesis 37:5-11 ).  He was hated because of his obedience to his father ( Genesis 37:12-20 ).  He was hated by Potipher's wife because he obeyed God's laws ( Genesis 39:9 ).  However, five words jump off the page when I read about his troubles and triumphs - "The Lord was with Joseph" ( Genesis 39:2 ). In order for Joseph to handle each situation, as well as knowing how to respond to his neglectful family in the end as second in command of Egypt, Joseph's life definitely needed the Lord.  I believe it also took Joseph having the right attitude and perspective on matters. ...

Several times in various settings within the last few months I have heard the Holy Spirit speaking to me. Maybe what The Spirit is saying to me will help you too. The Holy Spirit keeps saying, “Position yourself. You have plenty of knowledge, now it is time to position yourself in Christ and live (act out your faith-walk).” I asked the Lord if I have “positioned” myself before and to show me examples of this in my life. God showed me that as soon as I made my heart, body, and mind available to Him and His work last year for the Puerto Rico mission and this year for the Ecuador mission – He worked all things for the good because I love Him and have been called according to His purpose [ Romans 8:2 ]. I then asked the Holy Spirit to show me Biblical examples of Positioning Thyself. He promptly said, “Read the accounts of Joseph, Esther, and Daniel.” So, I did and these are my findings. Ladies first. Esther, also known as Hadassah ( 2:7 ) is associated with an infamous saying. Withi...

Initially, God had selected the entire nation of Israel to be his priests ( Exodus 19:5-6 ).  This meant all the people of the nation would represent God, be treasured by God and change the world for Him by "working for the honor of the one who would send them" throughout it. However, after the nation proved to be inadequate as a priesthood (the Golden Calf event Exodus 32:7-10 ), the Levites who supported Moses (found in Exodus chapters 26-28) were selected as God's priests ( Exodus 32:25-26 ;  Numbers 3:5-9 ). Fast forward to the time of Jesus.  Jesus spoke about focus and perspective on "dancing with the one who brung me" when He said, "...he who works for the honor of the one who sent him is a man of truth; there is nothing false about him." - John 7:18 Christians had a perfect example of this in Christ.  Jesus worked for  "the honor of the one who sent him" .  You can plainly hear it in the prayer Jesus prayed before the tomb of...