NCarolinian

I have some bad news and good news for Christians. The bad news is that the condition of the church as a whole in these present, last days, is lukewarm and falling asleep, if not completely in dreamland. The good news is that Christ will be returning, mid-air, for His bride, The Church, anyway. Some people believe there will be a last pouring out of God's Holy Spirit on everyone (Joel 2:28-32) , before the Rapture. I hope and pray the world experiences that. However, if you read that full prophecy, I believe it has not been fulfilled in its entirety. In addition, Peter thought that prophecy was being fulfilled in his day as he gave a speech. He explained to the crowd in Jerusalem that the Holy Spirit's ministry of the disciple's speaking the Gospel in all the different languages represented in the city at the festival that year was the fulfillment of the Joel prophecy  (Acts 2:14-41) .  Perhaps this Last Outpouring of the Holy Spirit has many occurances and one of them is f...

When Jesus spoke about Himself saying, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6) - He did not use the article a for a way of life among many or a truth among many or a life among many. Jesus used the article "the" which is definitve in meaning only - only way , only truth and only life . However, God still gives the choice to accept and believe this exclusivity to us. Should we believe in Christ as our personal Lord and Savior, then we can receive His example, His  emphasis not to be wishy-washy or indecisive with our faith. He shot straight from the hip about who He was and what He was about. When we are aligned with Christ by faith, we should be the same. David and Jeremiah encourage all believers when choosing The Way, The Truth, and The Life to send down and out our roots and be grounded as a tree to The Stream of Living Water - Christ Jesus.  In  Psalm 1:1-3 , David says,  " Blessed is the...

"Do you think trees are beautiful? You’re in good company. God loves trees, too. By highlighting every sentence containing a tree in the first three chapters of Genesis, you can get a pretty good sense of what God thinks about trees. Nearly a third of the sentences contain a tree. Genesis 2:9 declares that trees are “pleasing to the eye.” This aesthetic standard does not waver throughout the Bible. Whether God is instructing his people on how to make candlesticks (Exodus 25:31–40), decorate the corbels of the temple (1 Kings 6), or hem the high priest’s robe (Exodus 28:34), the standard of beauty is a tree (and its fruits). If we were to examine the most comfortable seat in a home today, odds are that it faces a television. In heaven, God’s throne faces a tree (Revelation 22:2–3). In Genesis 2, God makes two things with his own hands. First, he forms Adam and blows the breath of life into his nostrils (verse 7). Then, before Adam can exhale, God pivots and plants a garden (verse 8...

Alone? Who is truly alone? Nobody. A person might experience loneliness - the cause of isolation by another through something like rejection, but nobody is ever alone. First, God is omnipresent - everywhere. Second, God blessed us with a relationship with Him and each other. Thirdly, concerning any kind of circumstance,  too much history has transpired to think that any one person is going through a situation that nobody else has experienced in some form or fashion. Paul states it like this in 1 Corinthians 10:12-13 -  "So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it." This is not to belittle the challenge or experience you are going through, but to inform you and encourage you that while old problems surface in new ways, God wi...

I have always believed in integrity. I have certainly not been the best example of it at different points in my life, but only One has lived the perfect life - Christ Jesus. However, this does not mean I do not keep integrity as an integral part of my life - on the contrary, integrity or being "pure of heart" as Scripture refers to it is a major daily goal of mine that I pray is shown. One of the definitions of integrity is soundness, like the soundness of an object or dependability of a person. This aspect of integrity is a result of an excellent foundation - Jesus Christ. The Lord's life was and is the perfect example of integrity-living. When using myself or anybody else as a foundation or measure for integrity, my purity of heart and benefits thereof will not be there. There are rewards or major benefits for seeking the pure lifestyle. Matthew speaks about being able to see God as a reward for having a pure heart (Matt. 5:8) . David says the right to ascend the mount...

One way or another, in some form or fasion - all of us influence the people in our lives. The impact could be a second or it could be forever or anywhere in between. But our development and the development of those around us is no accident. Chance has no place in purpose. In a plan, an experience can be odd or different but not random. Also, claiming nature or nuture as the winner of character creation is difficult. Both nature and nuture have a direct intent on shaping our soul. Our surroundings work hand-in-hand with relationships to mold us. While balance of respect between one's environment and one's relationships is the ultimate human condition, relationships with others seems to favor our attention and care. Author, Brian A. "Drew" Chalker stated in his poem Reason, Season and a Lifetime - "People always come into your life for a reason, season and a lifetime. When you figure out which it is, you know exactly what to do." Life is all about relationshi...