NCarolinian

Jesus said in Matthew 5:20 - "For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven." Earlier in Scripture Isaiah 64:6 states, "All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags ; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away."  Of course it is true, none of us is perfect.  We all make mistakes.  We then have to find perfect rightness or righteousness outside of ourselves.  Jesus said to the people of that day (and His words speak down through the years to today) that you must find that perfect, surpassing righteousness even beyond the Jewish religious hierarchy.  Only then will you be able to enter into the kingdom of heaven. Well, if nobody is perfect and the best religious leaders can't supply what we need to be right with God and grant us entry into the kingdom of heaven tha...

Matthew 5:16 vs. Matthew 6:1 Both of these verses deals with motive. Matthew 5:16 encourages your "light to shine before men" and "your good deeds" to be seen, SO THAT there might be proper praise given - to God the Father. Matthew 6:1 discourages you to perform your "acts of righteousness before men," SO THAT you may be seen by them. If you read Matthew 6 carefully you will see that God desires privacy and intimacy with His family.  Your "righteous acts", "giving to the needy", praying and fasting should all be done in "secret".  In Matthew 6:6 Jesus says, "But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen.  Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you."  I can just hear God in modern speak encouraging us, "The world does not need to know your business, so get alone with me and tell me what's up."  Now verse eight goes on to say t...

To overcome is a process.  Dictionary.com defines it as "to get the better of in a struggle or conflict".  This reinforces the idea that "there is not a crown, without a cross" (Michael English song).   Overcoming is good for personal growth.  If we do not tackle a problem then and there, the likelihood of it haunting you is great.  Better to at lest start making a dent in the situation.  Overcoming is a great way to be so challenged we change.  If we are open to God's control of our life the transformation could include a name-change - "Then the man said, 'Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with men and have overcome." (Genesis 32:28).  Another struggle we might gain victory over, documented in The Bible, is unbelief.  "Immediately the boy's father exclaimed, 'I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!' " (Mark 9:24)   These are just two instances of overcoming a...

Biblically speaking, Signs are miraculous events or physical manifestations performed directly by God or by God through one of His humble, available servants, helping to prove God's Sovereignty. (my definition) After performing a word search on crosswalk.com of S igns , the following is how I found the word to be used. In Genesis 1:14 there is the use of signs that refers to the mark of the seasons. "And God said, "Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark seasons and days and years," Most of the book of Exodus uses signs as proof of God's miracles by using Moses to force pharoh to let His people go. In 1 Sam 10:7, the word signs is used as proof of fulfilled prophecy. "Then Samuel took a flask of oil and poured it on Saul's head and kissed him, saying, "Has not the LORD anointed you leader over his inheritance?   When you leave me today, you will meet two men n...

You know that saying - "Nobody is happy when mama is NOT happy"?  I believe we can take that one to another level, the highest level.  Things are just not right and there is no happiness or joy around when your relationship with God is either not in existence or going through some "bumps" or challenges.  If you have a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ His Son and you are reading His Word on a daily basis, speaking to the Holy Spirit everyday (including Him in on everything) and allowing Him to lead, guide, and direct you...then it is very possible you have experienced The Joy of the Lord.  When believers are in God's will, when we are in sync with His plan for our lives - His joy can be a physically manifested experience (I know, I've been there).  To me it is the kind of happiness and joyful emotion that comes when my own earthly Father or Mother tells me - "I'm proud of you son.  You are doing really well.  However, we will alw...

Scripture References:  James 1:2-4 and 1 Samuel 17 (especially vv.34-36) . Pastor Richard Dial, my pastor, of Cary Church of God, has been teaching a series on Faith .  It has been awesome!  The following is what I received from the Holy Spirit and him as he taught on Sunday, August 29, 2011. The James 1:2-4 verses tells us to "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds..." .  There is more to that verse but we will get to that in a moment.  First, I noticed when Pastor Dial spoke this verse (from another translation other than the NIV) in the service, the second half came first - "whenever you face trials..." .  That was a quick lesson unto itself for me.  You will face trials.  Just because anyone chooses to follow Christ does NOT exempt them from the trials and tribulations of life.  In fact, you are promised persecution because Jesus too was persecuted.   "In fact, everyone who wants to live a...

     My title says it all, but too elaborate - many, if not all, universities to some degree, have become Farm League Universities for athletes.  Academics?  What is that?  Learning a base or core set of topics to better prepare you for life, who would ever offer and take such classes?  And student athletes who actually do the studying of a specific area of skill/trade in order to fall back on should the Pro venture not pan out - who would consider that?  It makes too much sense.  Ah yes, they have put all their eggs in one basket - the athletic "ticket"/"ride".  Well, they are at the right place here at The University of Farm League Athletes. Now, I know not every athlete falls in this category but this type of university has money to make and an image to uphold.  So, learn your sport, but please keep the team, school, and NCAA violations hush-hush.  Do not use the media or social media outlets to expose your pers...