Breathingbook

Archive for the ‘This Life’ Category

Much of the desires that we have are God given desires, but what happens when the enemy counterfeits those desires to deceive us? Unfortunately, mankind often chooses that which is easy and quick.

Have you ever picked a piece of fruit that wasn’t ripe? It may have appeared to the eyes from a distance to be ripe, but once you held it or bit into it, you knew that it just wasn’t. If you’ve ever picked unripe fruit, you know that you still have to place it in the window and wait for it to ripen. The truth is, if you wait for fruit to grow ripe while it’s still on the tree, it’s sweeter and It will be just right. Just as God intended.

Anyone can pick green fruit. Anyone can do what is easy.

Mat 7:13-14 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

Grace: there’s two kinds of attitudes out there right now. There’s the do whatever you want “attitude” and then there’s the obeying and be obedient ”doctrine.”

The Lord will never take choice from a person. Never.
Far be it from us to try to take it from them.

We can love others and by that love and a spirit of gentleness simply speak the truth. The truth is laid out in God’s Word. People may not like what God’s Word says, but that’s their “choice” to decide. Read the rest of this entry »

Greetings! I wanted to just do a regular post away from the study. I’ll continue to pray about that. This one’s about silence…

Life can be joyful, exciting, exhilarating, adventurous, etc… Surely, we all love to experience good times, but for many, this time of year can be really trying.  This post is for all of you. may God’s peace be with you!

When times are trying for us, sometimes just being around other believers nips it in the bud. Othertimes, however, we just might need some practical advice: What do we do when times are difficult?

Focusing on scripture like…

Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.

…will surely help, as also many other verses in God’s Word.

One could try simply reading God’s Word out loud to oneself – that’s like speaking particles of Light (Jn 1:7-9) into your spirit! Singing praises to God will also help, as will doing a little dancing before the Lord, as David did (2Sam 6:14). If you speak in tongues, that will help, (just keep doing so until you feel something lift). Praying for others will also amazingly help you to feel better, but there also another way: try focusing on silence. Read the rest of this entry »

Greetings! 2010 is upon us. Who else but the Lord knows what is next? It is good to be forgiving, letting go of the past, and looking forward to the future. My heart for this blog is to expand, to do the best I can to simply speak (write) the truth of the gospel, and to witness to the world the great hope I have found in Jesus Christ.

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. Jn 10:27

One of the hardest things as a Christian is listening for the voice of the Holy Spirit and discerning what is truth and what is not truth. The only way to do this is to know what God’s Word means. Yes, one may be able to quote scripture, but if one doesn’t understand what the scripture is saying, there will be misunderstanding.

If believers do not know for themselves what God’s Word really means, they will forever be looking to others whom they think do understand it to explain it to them. If the explanation is in error, how will they know? The one they trusted in to teach them – who taught them the error – is only human and flesh at best.  We are all sinners. We are imperfect beings. There is only one who is perfect – Jesus Christ.

For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Heb 4:15

We must know the scriptures so we’ll know if something is sound doctrine or not. If we do not know the scriptures, we inadvertently revert to trusting in someone else to know scripture for us. If we develop a pattern of  dependency or hearsay of what others say is true instead of know for ourselves via sound study of scripture, we soon become unable not only to speak God’s Word with conviction, but when we go through trials, we struggle to find the scriptures written upon our own hearts.

Knowing God’s Word brings FREEDOM to believers. For example, when Paul took the gospel to the Bereans of Jesus as the promised Messiah, the only way they could confirm this for themselves was to search the scriptures to see if what Paul said was really true. The Bereans knew that God’s Word gave prophecies and truths which proclaimed about the coming of the Messiah, so they searched for themselves to see if those things were true and were commended for it.

These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. Acts 17:11 

God wants every believer to preach the Gospel. God wants every believer to have he covenant written into their hearts. No Knowing God’s Word in His Kingdom can ONLY make a believer more confident and sure of God’s will in one’s life. I promise you, it will increase your hope for He is our hope.

That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil. Heb 6:18-19

If we know God’s Word we can either confidently say, ”I agree with that. It is in accordance with God’s Word” or, ”Please show me where it says that in God’s Word” and proceed from there. If someone cannot show you where it says it, simply say, “I’m sorry, but God’s Word says thius, and I must abide by God’s Word. God bless you.” And, beloved, speak that blessing with sincere love for it is better always to be gentle, for God is good, forebearing, and longsuffering with us (Rom 2:4).

It’s in my heart to dispense what I can. I claim no perfection. I am a sinner saved by grace, but I will adhere to God’s Word and the heart of the Gospel, putting Jesus first, as best I can. That is my pledge this new Year.

Peace out,

Loris

Merry Christmas to all. What a day to reflect upon the very first occasion of giving gifts to celebrate the birth of our Savior! I know that many people choose not to participate in celebrating Christmas, but if it was good enough for the three wise men on the very day of Christ’s birth, then surely it is also good enough for me. Long live Christmas!

The expression of giving gifts, in my very humble opinion, should be an act or expression of “love” – not an obligation as if it were works.

Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loves is born of God, and knows God. He that loves not knows not God; for God is love. 1Jn 4:7,8

Far too many have decided to be unloving in this world – as God’s Word says – in the last days, the love of many will wax cold. Whether our love is expressed in forgiveness, a gift, a loving smile or hug, all of those things are dearly needed in what has become a very selfish and cold world.

It is not the price of a gift that distinguishes it’s true value. An encouraging word, a homemade object, a smile, or perhaps consider the sacrifice of one’s life for another upon a cross? All these are precious gifts to those who can receive them. Read the rest of this entry »

For years I struggled with what to say when someone asked me, “Why Jesus? Why do you believe in Him?” Most of the time I just said, “He died for you and me. He’s the greatest influence in my life. He’s SAVED me. He’s the Son of God. He’s AWESOME!” and then I’d continue on for a while. It was years before I realized that the four Gospels are actually witnessing accounts. Gee, why hadn’t I thought of that earlier? How simple? Just tell the story about Jesus’s life, death and resurrection.

When Matthew, Mark, Luke and John penned their accounts of Jesus’ Life and ministry, they were simply telling the story – witnessing – about what happened when Jesus came, was crucified, and  resurrected. Each gospel tells that story from a unique perspective, but that’s the command we all received to spread all over the earth (Mk 16:15). Just tell the story. Simply, because without the power of the “Gospel” there is something sorely missing, called “the foundation”. Read the rest of this entry »