NCarolinian

To my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ: You accepted the issue that plagues the world as being sin - a spiritual problem with a physical manifestation - a nature that desires to be in constant rebellion with God. However, you also accepted and believe The Savior, Christ Jesus, came into this world and purchased with His own life and victory over death your Salvation, Redemption, and Deliverance. Furthermore, you believe Jesus ascended to the right hand of Father God and sent the Holy Spirit to dwell within believers as his/her Counselor, as God's Representative here on earth. Now, the command is "Go". Mark 16:15 states, " He [Jesus] said to them, 'Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.'" What He did not say was sit or stay still. How could we be silent and/or non-mobile with such Good News that bears the weight of eternal significance? Going requires action. We can actively scan for opportunities to share our testim...

I would venture to guess that there are people in most everyone's lives that we like to be around for an extended period of time, an entire day maybe a lifetime. Then there are others we like, but can only take their personality for a handful of hours. There are others we tolerate for a few minutes and others still that we avoid altogether.  For whatever reasons you and I may list for having that someone around for a whole day or a whole lifetime, we do need breaks from their presence, perspective and personality every now-and-then. However, I believe there is a Perfect One that meets all relationship chemistry - Jesus Christ. I believe that just as God has created and ordained The Church to be recognized as His Bride corporately and be treated as such, so too we will be viewed individually by Him - an individual married to Christ. I love to ponder the benefits of such a union when it will be finally and fully manifested. Finally, I will be able to see and hear my Savior t...

Romans 8:14-17 names several key identifiers for Christians as God's children.  "those who are led by the Spirit" not living in fear any longer regarding God as your true Father recognizing suffering is guaranteed as a child of God, but realizing the glory and benefits outweigh them all (verses 17-18 ). Why are there identifiers in the first place? Because acceptance of Christ's Salvation plan for your life is great, but not all. The rest of a Christian's walk is living out the joy from where or what God saved you. The faith walk of a Christian has been guaranteed to be hazardous, but not without God's presence and guidance along the way. The hope is in the destination and transformation. Heaven being the ultimate destination and the Christian's transformation from glory to glory unto more Christ-likeness being the other goal.  As a Christian there is a time we are trying to recover or return to - the pre-fall condition. Besides mankind's du...

Have you ever heard somebody say, "That name suits him/her."? The same could be said of Father God's only begotten Son - Christ Jesus. There are many names that Jesus has been entitled. The following poster names a few familiar ones to Christians. According to archaeological research and findings, Yeshua was a common name in the time of Christ.  Jesus comes from the transliteration of Yeshua into Greek and then English.  We observe it linked with another individual who ended up being a false prophet in Acts 13:5-7 . Interestingly enough, the key to appreciating Christ's earthly name is in the prophetic.  Many prophets such as Isaiah trumpeted One Savior, first for the Jews, then for the Gentiles (rest of the world) to fulfill a plethora of beautiful and powerful titles. There could not be a committee of Yeshuas - there can be and is only one!  Many of the names given to the Savior have been fulfilled in His first visitation. Many of the others are bei...

Romans 8:14-17 "For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by Him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory." This was the passage my pastor taught from recently. However, the bold print is what has been impressed upon me to teach about today. The key word in the sentence is "testifies" .  The original Greek word used here for "testifies" is summartureo  (soom-mar-too-reh-o). This word comes from a compound of two words - sun (soon) and martureo  (mar-too-reh-o). Sun means union, with or together . Martureo  means to be a witness, testify or report h...

John 14:21 "The person who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and whoever loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and reveal Myself to him." This verse declares relationship.  Christians have the privilege of a relationship with the Savior that covers ambassadorship, friendship, and family. Here the relationship is centered around an exchange of "love" , but not any kind of love. A displayed, public, social love is communicated here. And this transaction of affection and care all begins with having, knowing and living The Word of God.   Seeing a Bible on a coffee table in someone's home is one thing. Seeing it operative in the people who live in that home is another thing. To like a person is one thing and to love that same individual is another thing. So, without further delay, allow me to break down this verse in order to encourage you to be the kind of person who has God's commandments and keeps them .  ...

Growing up many of us had security blankets. Some of us felt most safe and/or comfortable with a special toy, sport or place, like a tree-house outside or an inside fort. I would dare to assume that many of us, like Linus Van Pelt, actually had a blanket as his/her security blanket and may still have it. Let me hone in on the blanket a moment, because I am guilty on this one. What is it about The Blanket that keeps me coming back for more? For me, the texture of my blanket is incredible and the size and thickness is perfect. It is not going to be too hot or not warm enough for me. Plus, it is Carolina Blue - of course. I imagine many of us take texture into consideration, but also look at design - like sports, religion or old fashion designs as part of the draw to our snugly partners. I don't think it is to far fetched an idea that psychologists submit the security blanket is a reverting back to the womb action or reaction. The womb was for many, not all I realize, a place o...