LIVE BY LOVE, NOT HATE

If a philosophy or religion lives in opposition to the words of Jesus, “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself,” it is not of God. “God is love and he that dwelleth in love, dwelleth in God and God in him.”

Living motivated, driven by hate is opposite to the Christian Faith. Jesus said,  “If a man says that he loves God and hates his brother he is a liar…”

If controlling the actions and lives of people instead of giving freedom to choose, think and look for answers is the law of a philosophy or religion, then run from it.   

God says in the Bible, “Ask and it shall be given you. Seek and you shall find. Knock and the door will be opened to you.”

You can have this freedom, this love, this gracious love of God. The freedom to choose is yours. “You will seek me and find me when you search for me with all your heart; and I will be found of you.” The Bible is clear! You are loved. You are offered God’s salvation. You are free to choose.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16. Let it be your favorite thought and hope and promise today.

DO YOU KNOW JESUS?

“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” Romans 10:9.

I was five years old. I crawled out of my lower bunk bed in our little room. My older sister on the top. I went into the “living room” with a double bed which was my parents' bedroom…Our little house had running water but an outhouse instead of a bathroom. I crawled into the bed beside my father and told him I was afraid. I wanted to be saved. He prayed something like this: “Heavenly Father, Elisabeth wants to receive You into her heart.” Then he said to me, “Pray after me: Dear Lord Jesus, I believe you died for my sins and rose again from the dead. Please come into my heart and save me.”

My father (an Evangelist) and wonderful mother were diligent to read all of the Bible to us (their eight children) every day…from beginning to end three times a day all through the years I we grew up. Their diligence also taught us music. We ended up for many years, traveling the US, Canada and a little in Mexico singing, playing instruments and my brothers dramatized Bible Stories.

I remember that night clearly.  Loving the Bible. Seriously pursuing growth in knowing God.

“But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever. Amen.” 2 Peter 3:18. Knowing Jesus is your privilege. Having the Creator, the Father, Son (Jesus) and the Holy Spirit dwelling in you. Heaven forever is your future after you die…

IF YOU DON'T BUY IT YOU WON'T EAT IT

 You can have a noticeable change in your health in ten days. It took Daniel, (recorded in the Book of Daniel in the Bible) and his three friends that long to prove that “things grown” are effective quickly (in Daniel 1:12).

If food by faith is a new thought for you, think of this: the journey of your life is a one-time opportunity to do the best you can, to search for the most wisdom you can find. You can become physically, spiritually, mentally all God created you to be!

The variety provided by our Creator is vast, from cows and sheep to grains and watermelon, nuts, broccoli, and squash…how about a focus on our health!

If we believe in an all-wise Creator, eating the right food makes sense. He made everything to be for the wellbeing of all humanity: our welfare, health, and our eternal salvation. He poured love into our world through the life, crucifixion, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, “The Way, the Truth and the Life….”

"And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." (I Thessalonians 5:23). Sanctified means set apart. Let faith be an adventure.

MEDICAL NEWS TODAY

Ultra-processed food consumption linked to premature, preventable death.

Written by Jessica Norris

 

·  Dietary patterns can have an immense impact on health outcomes. 

·  Ultra-processed foods that go through large amounts of processing can lose nutritional value and contain unhealthy elements.

·  A​ new study adds to a growing body of research showing that ultra-processed food consumption may cause premature, preventable death.

OUR WELLBEING IN GOD’S DESIGN

 

The Creator’s design for us is for our wellbeing. It is what the Bible is about. And he created within the natural world natural nutrition. "Wherefore do you spend money for that which is not bread? and your labor for that which satisfies not? hearken diligently to me, and eat that which is good (best), and let your soul delight itself in fatness." Isaiah 55:2. Health. This “Fatness” is abundance.

 When His people would not choose well, they hurt themselves. "He should have fed them also with the finest of the wheat: and with honey out of the rock should I have satisfied you." (Psalm 81:16). "O Israel, you have destroyed yourself; but in Me is your help." (Hosea 13:9) "He makes peace in your borders and fills you with the finest of the wheat." (Psalm 147:14)

His people went astray, and he invited them back to Him using their health and beauty as an incentive: "And you were adorned with gold and silver; and your clothing was of fine linen and silk and embroidered work. You ate fine flour and honey and oil; and you were exceedingly beautiful." Ezekiel 16:13.

"LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE" AND YOUR GIFTS!

For years I rode my bike through a neighborhood with a dirt road.  It is a route getting from one busy two-lane road having a side dirt road, to another one with a sidewalk.

 

Near one end, as I cut through the neighborhood, on the corner was a lot with dense trees and bushes, and overgrown landscaping.  There was a house in there, it seemed.  A short cement driveway led to a two-car garage that was always closed.  There were a couple of lounge chairs and trash containers in the front.   Somehow, it was a charming scene. All around were beautiful homes in a well-established area.

 

One time riding past, I noticed a small homemade “For Sale by Owner” sign…it waited there for months.  Then, last week as I rode by loud noises were coming from that direction.  As I neared, the sign was gone.  A crew of about six men and a woman were working intensely, trucks and shredders were being used.

 

Yesterday, as I rode by again, I gasped out loud.  The crew was still there, but the house showed! Behind all the overgrown trees and weeds was a stunningly beautiful two, or three-story house.  I'm not sure now, the sight was so amazing!

 

I began thinking, riding on, “That beautiful house might be you. You are amazing.”  The overgrown, untended yard is not your destiny.  Fears, insecurity, doubt about your gifts need to be cleared. Competitiveness, comparing yourself with anyone is harmful. Make your move:  get around a crew of capable, honest and caring “Tenders” who believe in you and are ready to assist you in clearing away the brush.  I’m preaching to myself.  Get into the company of people who believe in Jesus and live by the Bible.  Here is permission: “The LORD is the one who goes ahead of you.  He will be with you.  He will not fail you or forsake you.  Fear not, nor be dismayed.”

Jesus said, “Is a candle brought to be put under a bushel, or under a bed? And not to be set on a candlestick?”  Mar_4:21  

THE POWER OF GOD

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. John 14:6 

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. Romans10:9 

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. Romans 1:16

For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;  And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:  I Corinthians 15:3,4

THE LORD WILL HEAR

 At the times my heart is overwhelmed with fear or doubt I go to this Psalm. My gratitude is to the LORD who authored this amazing prayer, but I also remember that my father and mother read the Bible together with us, their eight children every day. I don't remember when I memorized it, but I encourage you to take this as a prayer of your own.

Psalm 4. 

To the chief Musician on Neginoth, A Psalm of David. Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer. 

O ye sons of men, how long will ye turn my glory into shame? how long will ye love vanity, and seek after leasing? Selah. 

But know that the LORD hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the LORD will hear when I call unto him. 

Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah. 

Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the LORD. 

There be many that say, Who will shew us any good? LORD, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us. 

Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the time that their corn and their wine increased. 

I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety.

Psalm 4 in the KJV.