Matters of the Heart —(thanks to: Jeanie Shepard Ministries)

Focus Scripture: “And he called the multitude, and said unto them, Hear and understand: Not that which goeth into the mouth that defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man. But those things which proceed out of the mouth comes forth from the heart; and they defile the […]

via Matters of the Heart — Jeanie Shepard Ministries

Psychology of Jesus

Words of Jesus from the book of Matthew (NIV):

“If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.” Matt 5:39-41.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” Matt 5:43-48.

“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.” 7:12.

“Then came Peter to Him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.” Matt 18:21-22 (KJV).

Jesus in book of Luke:

“Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.” Luke 10 (NIV), verses 36-37.

Jesus from the book of John:

5:19 (NIV), “Jesus gave them this answer: “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.”

13:14-17 (KJV), “If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.”

person in white shorts holding stainless steel casserole
Photo by Fancycrave.com on Pexels.com

 

Discuss, Not Fight

A kind, wise man answered he discussed things with his wife, not fought.  Saying, “if you love someone, you don’t fight, you don’t get into a lot of horse baloney.”

“Our goal is to be like Jesus,” our Pastor prayed after a couples seminar.

“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets,” said Jesus in Matthew 7:12 (NIV).”

Live peaceably as much as possible, reads Roman 12:18.

Ephesians 5:25-33 (NKJV), “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church. For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones. “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church.  Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.”

“A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.” Proverbs 25:11 (KJV).

 

 

Get Off MY Clay

“Don’t look at that, that’s MY work,” the Lord rebuked my questioning Him about a fellow congregant a few months ago. We don’t know what others have walked through. (below photo courtesy PIXEL).

Jeremiah 18:1-6 (NKJV),

“The word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying: “Arise and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will cause you to hear My words.” Then I went down to the potter’s house, and there he was, making something at the wheel. And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter; so he made it again into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to make.

“Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying: “O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter?” says the Lord. “Look, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel!”

Galatians 6, 1-10 (NKJV),

“Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. For each one shall bear his own load.

“Let him who is taught the word share in all good things with him who teaches.

“Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.”

Philippians 2:1-4 (NKJV),

“Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.”

Esther 4:14 (NIV), “For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”

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They Are Pretenders, They Are Not Christians  — Laura Bon

Visions, Revelations and Messages In this vision the Lord took me into a Church. In that Church, I saw some of the people that write awful things and comments on social media. They were part of the congregation. These were people that openly supported and urged the killing of people that were not of the…

via They Are Pretenders, They Are Not Christians  — Laura Bon

Board Shorts

We scoured the internet for board shorts to wear at the Dead Sea part of our church’s 2006, Israel tour.  My roommate and I finally received them by mail in no time to spare before departing.  When we arrived at the Dead Sea?  There was a little shop that sold many items you might need including … board shorts.  We had to laugh.

How wide, how deep, is His love for me.  God’s arm isn’t too short, He is able to provide you what you need, and He knows more about it than you do.

Philippians 4:19 (NKJV), “But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”

Eph 3:20, “Now to Him Who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us,”

Muted Color / Muted Hearts

Father, I’m sorry for when I muted Your voice, strayed from Your commandments, Your word.  Other people & their ideas became more important to me.  Then I was lost, distracted, far away from You & Your talking.

Restore to me the joy of Your salvation (Psalm 51).  Likewise, people have been saying our fall glory, the array of colors has been washed out looking.  And now it’s end of October, beginning of November and we’ve lost our chance to view real beauty on the leaves this year.  Let us hope for joy remembering the beauty of years past & years to come as we stay grateful.

We don’t need a performance from You or Your preachers.

Our hearts have grown dull – Matt 13:15:

“For this people’s heart has become calloused;
   they hardly hear with their ears,
   and they have closed their eyes.
Otherwise they might see with their eyes,
   hear with their ears,
   understand with their hearts
and turn, and I would heal them.“

Hunker Down and Come To The Light

“But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!” says Jesus in Matt 6:23 (NIV).

Father God, thank You for miracle baby Scott’s (5 mos old now) continuing, increased strength, O God!  Prove the doctors wrong.  You have Your hand on him, and You are unstoppable. Praise God.

Colossians 1:13 (NIV), “For He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves,”

1 Thes 5:5 (NIV), “You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness.”

Eph 2:12 (NIV), “remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world.”

Eph 5:2-6, “and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.

“But immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints; and there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.

“Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.”

11-13, “Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them; for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret. But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light.”

1 Corinthians 6:9-11, “Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.”