NCarolinian

There are some things we pick up from hearsay. There are those things we pick up from oral tradition. However, there is nothing like getting the information you need straight from The Source. One of the main responsibilities of the Old Testament prophets was to foretell the coming of The Messiah who would deliver His people and reign on the earth over them and the entire human race. However, another responsibility was to foretell and describe the same Messiah or Savior that must come, but as a Sacrifice for those who would believe in Him by faith. Christ would come as a Servant before He arrives as the ultimate Soldier.  Even when Christ was here in the flesh, nobody was understanding in full or paying full attention to the fact that Jesus was and is The Messiah prophesied to come. We see deep into the ministry of Jesus and deep into the book of Matthew the account of when Jesus begins to announce His personal sacrifice for the salvation of all and His resurrection. "Fro...

Ever had an experience where you felt the Holy Spirit's presence in your midst and immediately had a reaction to Him - sense of awe, respectful cry, burst of laughter and so forth? I have also. Ever continued on your walk of faith and encountered a time when God blessed your service for Him? I have also. Ever had a situation come along that made you ask God - Are you really the one I'm to believe in? I have been there.  John the Baptist was a special man. John leaped in the womb of his mother, Elizabeth, as Mary was pregnant with Jesus and came in close proximity of him ( Luke 1:39-41 ). This was an incredible experience of the presence of God's Son and Spirit manifesting in a physical reaction - a jump/leap, by even an unborn child. John's life continued until we find him dressed in camel hair, eating locust and out in the desert by the Jordan River baptizing people as he proclaimed the Kingdom of God is near. However, his next experience with his cousin, J...

Have you ever sat under the perfect tree? I mean it provided you with the right amount of shade, it was very comfortable to sit or lean against, the area around the tree was extremely pleasant and perhaps the tree even produced a favorite fruit or nut.  I imagine myself sitting under a tree much like this one, in a green pasture, reading Scripture and not far away is a gentle flowing stream. I know there are many places on the face of the earth that fit this description, but I save the perfect location and conditions for my Happy Place - the mental setting I journey to for a variety of reasons - better attitude, de-stress, or just because I desire to be there. There are some people who are like this tree. I find their company, presence and everything that surrounds them to be just what I need. Their humor matches mine, their serious talk matches mine, their goofiness matches mine and not needing to speak at all but relish each other's companionship is enjoyed. I believ...

Life is a continual balancing act of priorities. As believers in Christ our number one priority should be the growth and development of our relationship with Jesus. However, one of the things that tends to get in the way of that goal is our re-direction of energies, talents, skills and funds to other treasures that will eventually rot and/or not matter. Matthew records Jesus saying in 6:19-21 -    " Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." There are so many "things" in my life that I devote funds and energies toward that I am pretty confident are not going to be in Heaven. There are things that I need to get by in life, but that is not what is spoken of here. "Treasure" in this p...

So much can go wrong when we act as an Ambassador or Mediator for someone else. The communication of exactly what is intended to be said to another through a Middle-Man is a risk many companies take with positions like Public Relations, Negotiator or Ambassador. Tone variations and body-english has potential for complete failure when you enter this middle-person. Nothing beats Hearing From The Horse's Mouth or straight from the source. This places an incredible responsibility on the Ambassador or Mediator to have such an intimate relationship with whom they represent. There should be hardly any difference in contact with the Original Source when trying to influence another as an Ambassador.  Christ Jesus was and is The Perfect Ambassador and Mediator. When He visited the first time, two-thousand plus years ago, He acted as Ambassador and represented to us, in flesh, God's love revealed. He taught us and showed us the principals and lifestyle of The Kingdom of Heaven. Now...

In Matthew 5:13 , Jesus says - "You are the salt of the earth." Then in the very next verse, He says - "You are the light of the world." Both "salt" and "light" have an attractiveness to them. Salt traps or attracts flavor and light attracts or draws the eye and attention.  Notice what Jesus said we are NOT. We are Not salt and light of - God and His Kingdom. True, we represent both The Lord and His Kingdom, but we are Not Salt to the Kingdom of God, we are Salt or healing and enjoyable relationships (flavor) to the earth. We are not Light to the Kingdom of Heaven, we are Light or illumination/direction to this dark world.  These two verses by Christ teach us to minister where we are with the gifts, favor and call God has bestowed upon us. We are in the world, but not of the world ( John 17:14-16 ). However, while we are in the world, there is no question that we are to be influential.  Jesus exemplified what it means to be both...

I love to be appreciated. I don't know of anyone who doesn't desire this. The concept is a healthy one and it is usually given if received. In the same Family as the idea of Appreciation is the notion of being Esteemed. According to the dictionary, the word "esteemed" means  to regard highly or favorably; regard with respect or admiration. I would go a step further and say - without the Favor of God in our lives, esteem would not arrive or lasting esteem anyway. The two Biblical examples of esteem and/or favor that pop in my mind and spirit immediately are Daniel and Mary (the mother of Jesus). In both cases the Head Messenger Angel, Gabriel, delivers an incredible, uplifting and encouraging greeting. With Daniel, Gabriel visited three times ( Daniel 9:23; 10:11; 10:19 ) and said, "...you who are highly esteemed..." . With Mary, Gabriel visited once and said, " Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you." ( Luke 1:28 ) And as I...