NCarolinian

To be someone's Rival is to be their Equal. Each one's power, strength, speed and wisdom - to name just a few - must be on the same playing-field to be considered Rivals or Equals. One cannot have much of a competition or challenge if one party is less in any area. With weakness exposed, the one with the more developed area of expertise will prevail. This view of the competitive drive or King of the Mountain success that drives our society touches businesses, sports, politics and personal lives, but the idea does not pertain to God. God has No Equal, No Rival. The notion that there must be a balance, a yin and yang, between good and evil for the universe to exist is a lie from the Devil himself. God was doing just fine before the material universe and the spiritual realm were created by God Himself. He created both realms with - every law, creature, being and place in them and sustains them to this second. John and Paul assist, under the power of the Holy Spirit, when th...

Any time any of us come across a product that helps our life become better in any way, are we not inclined to share this help with those that have the same challenge(s)? This is how I feel about my relationship with Christ Jesus. I know He made me better and keeps making me better thus I share my transforming relationship with others to pass along Him as their help too. In light of eternity and world events, the salvation that Christ offers, not only at The Cross but every day, spurs me to take advantage of every opportunity to share God's goodness in my life and what He could possibly do in the life I am witnessing to. So, what are some things Christians can do once we recognize the incredible relationship we have with God and the zeal for Him? Spread the Gospel Share your Testimony Speak a Rhema Word Show Loving Kindness To me, it is no surprise that the #1 thing to do is tell others about the person, place or thing that has made an impact on me. In this case, it is C...

When you read the book of Ecclesiastes you will see a repetitive phrase - "a chasing after the wind" . The phrase is meant to emphasize the meaninglessness of the previous thing described. Such things as "toil" , "envy" and "roving of the appetite" are worldly or life rabbit holes that need not be explored.  With this wind or winds we are not meant to pursue, Christ says Christians should be able to identify the moving of the Holy Spirit, also described as a wind, from the moving of the wind of the world, enemy or any other winds. "And when the south wind blows, you say, ‘It’s going to be hot,’ and it is." - Luke 12:55  It helps to be baptized in His Spirit so one can be led by His Spirit. That is what the Day of Pentecost was all about - the empowering. "When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the who...

The interaction between Jesus and the rich young, man of Matthew 19:16-30 is once again the event I bring to your attention. However, the important point I desire you to draw from today's study is that wealth is not the only relationship killer out there. I know that statement is common sense to many, if not most people, but a relationship with Christ Jesus is in the balance where concerning eliminating certain strongholds from your life. The man asked Jesus, "What good thing must I do to get eternal life?" Instead of giving the man the entire Law of Moses, Jesus supplies the man with some important, heavy-hitters - " You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, honor your father and mother, and love your neighbor as yourself." I can see the young man making a mental checklist as Jesus names these off. The man then declares, "All these I have kept. What do I still lack?" I would...

People and situations are good instruments of teaching in this thing we call life, if we are willing to learn. You might have an academic teacher/professor, a parent, mentor, pastor or life challenge that has taught you many lessons. You might even have a favorite teacher or a situation you recall and use as a testimony to where you are now. However, there is only one that is called Good Teacher and for Good Reason.  Here are a handful of Scriptural verses which describe God as Good. "Good and upright is the Lord." (Ps. 25:8) "Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in Him." (Ps. 34:8) "I will praise your name, Lord, for it is good." (Ps. 54:6) "You, Lord, are forgiving and good, abounding in love to all who call to you." (Ps. 86:5) " For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations." (Ps. 100:5) The Hebrew word used for "good...

David opens up Psalm 139 with a declaration of what the rest of the chapter/Psalm is going to cover - that which God "searches" and "knows" about him and consequently - us. David portrays God throughout as a very personal being. David says, "You have searched me, Lord, and you know me." Then he proceeds to describe how God searches and knows  himself and the rest of us. The first stanza or block of verses deal with God's knowledge, omniscience or all-knowing.  "You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely. You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain."(verses 2-6) In the Second Stanza or block of verses, David uses the question and the conditional word "if" to describe the...

I used to think, perhaps with many others, how could we have free choice with a God that says, Accept my Son or die and go to Hell ? My perception was wrong. It was not that God was holding a spiritual gun to my head and making me "choose" the only answer. Instead, everyone was already doomed in their condition and heading to their rightful destination - Hell. Meanwhile God reached down to us all with Christ Jesus, changing our condition and destination. "You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly." - Romans 5:6 "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." - Romans 5:8 Before anyone accepts Christ as their personal Savior, everyone is the Walking Dead and the Walking Saved. We have a damned spiritual nature and destination, but it has been Redeemed by Christ Jesus. All we have to do is recognize, accept and believe in Him. Of all the belief sy...

When Jesus came up from below the waters of the Jordan River, as He was being baptized, the voice of Father God announced - "This is my Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased." (Matthew 3:17) Every-now-and-then when I visit my parents, as I hug my Mom and my Dad, my Dad will greet me with an affectionate - "Hello Son!" The greeting and the word "Son" has a tone to it that warms my spirit so fast that I can feel a physical reaction in my heart. I am happily identified as "Son" to these parents; to this family. Then there are the benefits of being a "Son" of Mom and Dad, however the list would be lengthy and it all boils down to one thing in the end anyway - Love. My parents loved each other so much and decided to show that love for the rest of their lives in countless ways to me and my brother. They still do today. Another encouraging thing I hear my Mom and Dad say is - "Chad, we are extremely proud of you, Son....

I thank God for Jesus and the price He paid before and during the crucifixion. Hebrews 9:22 declares " without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness" . However, if there was no resurrection, then The Cross was just a good cause and we still have a dead, self-proclaimed messiah with empty promises. Paul in his first letter to the believers at Corinth said it like this - "And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied." (1 Corinthi...