NCarolinian

Some of us in this world have experienced a rough life growing up. Some of us keep what happened to our parents and ancestors chained to our lives for our burden to bear. In both cases, the start of a new and better life/lifestyle begins with a decision to pursue that. The decision to escape one's negative environment or past is helped with the right attitude/mindset - I am more than a survivor .  Once you have this determination in your mind and heart. Once you have sold-out to this attitude, a next step might be to acquire a support group. Find a group of friends or a mentor that will encourage and aide in your journey to make a break with the old and take a hold of the new. However, the MUST in this equation is a personal relationship with Christ Jesus. Once you have Christ as your Lord, Savior and Friend - He is the one that promises to stick closer than a brother ( Proverbs 18:24 ). He is the one that assures you that He will never leave you, nor abandon/forsake you (He...

God tabernacled or dwelt with humanity in many different manifested forms. Some of these appearances were the great cloud of thunder and lightening at the top Mt. Sinai, a pillar of cloud by day, a pillar fire by night, a burning, but not consuming bush. Other examples would be God's Glory resting on The Ark of the Covenant and the pre-incarnate Christ visiting as The Angel of the Lord. Then there was The Word of God becoming flesh and dwelling with us on earth as a man named Jesus of Nazareth. Then sometime after Jesus' death, burial, resurrection and ascension - Paul, in his first letter to the believers in Corinth stated -  Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; When the reader of Scripture arrives at 1 Corinthians 6: 9 it should make him/her ponder - when did this happen? God's Presence went from dwelling in Moses Tabernacle to Solomon's Temple to Christ Himself/Emanue...

There are a great number of characteristics in the relationship with my parents that bled over to my relationship with God. For this fact, I am eternally grateful. A few characteristics of the parent/son relationship I remember were - always carrying their words with me, always carrying their presence with me and somehow representing them wherever I went, even as a youngster. At least when I was growing up, when I was in school, at a friend's house, at an event or simply just away from home - I tried to live according to the standards instilled in me by my parents. I was and still am - blessed. Some kids might have had hovering moms and dads, but mine did not have to be. Somehow, some way they got the information they needed about me. Either I would come forth with the info or someone else provided (snitched) it on me. So, I came to the conclusion early on to just be honest and first with the information. Not to much later in life and still to this day I find that God is eve...

So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father,I thank you that you have heard me. 42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.” 43 When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” 44 The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.” The Plot to Kill Jesus 45 Therefore many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, believed in him. 46 But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. 47 Then the chief priests and the Pharisees called a meeting of the Sanhedrin. “What are we accomplishing?” they asked. “Here is this man performing many signs. 48 If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our temple and our nation.” ...

SEND SOMEBODY MY WAY Words By Chad Pritchard Chorus 1 Send somebody my way my Lord, Send somebody my way Get my face out of the clay, oh Lord, Send somebody my way Verse Lord, I feel so worthless, I don’t feel like moving at all Yet you counted me worthy to love, as far as death and beyond You call me to live, you call me to move, you call me to have my being – in you Chorus 2 Send somebody my way my Lord, Send somebody my way Get my mind straight, oh Lord, Send somebody my way Bridge Even the dependable need encouragement at times They are not immune So send a Comfortor, send a Counselor, send a Revealer of what to do…But Chorus 1 Send somebody my way my Lord, Send somebody my way Get my face out of the clay, oh lord, Send somebody my way *Maybe I will have the music or somebody else will have the perfect music that goes along with what I am trying to communicate. The whole time I was writing I kept hearing Michael Jackson...

You have heard it said – everything in moderation – don’t burn your candle at both ends – don’t put too much on your plate . All these bits of advice are wise proverbs born from experience.  King David was a man blessed in many areas of his life. Those same areas are where he gave back to The Giver. David was a poet, an athlete, a dancer, a shepherd, a warrior, a singer and a musician – oh yeah, and King. Do you think he might have stretched himself a little thin at times? I believe it was possible. However, I write this message to encourage us that with God’s help, His strength and peace, our lives can be poured out, in many different facets, as a love offering unto God (The Giver) and people. Don’t be afraid to be all you can be with the talents, treasure and time you have been given/gifted.  Being given or gifted something means there was a Giver. If you are a wise and considerate person, you would desire to see the gift used to the optimum in order to honor the Gi...

Our emotions are a two-edged sword – they can help and hinder. In this instance I am equating weaknesses with emotions. I do realize there are other areas that have weaknesses (like attitudes, wrong thinking, negative speaking, non-helpful actions, etc.…). However, whenever we need emotional support, I know someone who can aid us – Jesus. God is not only love, but all other emotions perfected. Father God expressed those emotions through Jesus. The important observation is that Christ experienced all emotions, displayed all emotions and managed all emotions perfectly . Paul said it like this – “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are – yet He did not sin.” (Hebrews 4:15) Jesus was passionate or excited in  Matthew 4:10 and 16:23  as He addressed Satan. If you couldn't tell it by the words He used, just take a look at the punctuation - an exclamation mark ...