Spiritual Muses

For those of us who consider ourselves Christian, may well ask themselves, “Do we really please our Lord and Master Jesus Christ”?

We will know the scripture where Jesus said “Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And I will profess unto them, I never knew you …”(Mat7:22,23)

It surely begs the question, “What exactly ARE we required to do in order to please our Saviour so that He accepts us as one of His“?

What does it really mean to be a disciple of Jesus Christ?

Jesus said that we should love the Lord your God with all your mind body and soul and Love our fellow men as ourselves. That is all the Law and the Prophets.

This is indeed a “cover-all”. But how do we break this down into a simple formula for us to follow?

I believe that to do this, whenever we are faced with a decision, a doubt, which course to take, or what to say in a given circumstance, we must always ask ourselves “What would Jesus do or say in these circumstances”?

But how do we know what He would do? If we are not alert we could well decide He would do what we would WANT Him to do. We could use our intellect to make this decision. Big mistake!

We have one thing going for us however which we could use and that is what I call The Light of Christ. This is the God given ability we all have to know right from wrong (conscience). In fact the Law of the Land recognises this and if this knowledge is impaired by mental deficiency, that can be become a defence. It does not usually take a lot of brainwork to know if a thing is right or not.

Sometimes however its not so simple to know just what Christ would do or say in a given circumstance. In such an instance we should simply ASK HIM!

We don’t need to get down on our knees to do this. Or go to a Church. Or even voice it out loud. Simply ask “Lord What would you have me do (or say) in this circumstance?” Then we must open our minds to receive the answer. Not by helping Him out and using our own ideas. We may get instant feedback from Him. We may have to wait. Sometimes the answer will come to us through a sudden and unexpected source or revelation. In fact however it comes to us it will be by the agency of the Holy Spirit. And it will feel right. The Spirit of God speaking to OUR Spirit. Spirit to Spirit. And not through any intellectual process.

Once we know what the Lord wants us to do then comes the tricky bit.

DO IT REGARDLESS TO THE CONSEQUENCES!

Consequences will indeed be forthcoming. Not always pleasant.

Possible loss of friends - We are too fanatic, taking it too far.

Possible loss of Job - Employer does not appreciate us refusing to carry out a less than honest policy.

Possibly the decision could cost us financially - Loss of business or income.

Possible even our Church may not appreciate our refusal to follow their watered down version of Christianity.

One thing is certain. Once we adopt a policy of always doing what Jesus would do, we can expect a cost, face ridicule, and persecution. This is what Christ meant when He said “Take up your cross and follow me”.

This is what it takes to be a TRUE disciple of Jesus Christ. This is what is means to walk in His steps.

Please know that I myself fall somewhat short of this definition of discipleship. Knowing what I should do and doing it perfectly is not the same thing. May we who profess Jesus Christ pray for strength and determination to have a closer walk with Him.

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“Who and what am I?

Well for starters I am a human being.

A Male, made up of flesh and bones and body parts.

I have a distinct appearance and personality.

What’s more I am unique.

There has never ever been another person with my genes, my DNA my fingerprints.

However I am rather more than physical matter though put together in wondrous way.

I have thoughts and emotions. I can plan and contemplate.

Are these things purely the result of the chemical reactions of my body?

I think not.

In fact I ask myself, Am I really my body at all?

When I use the term I, what am I actually referring to?

I believe that I, the real ME lives IN my body.

I use my physical body to interact with the physical world.

In fact I refer to “MY” body as if I actually own it … in the same way as I own a car or a house. I think of it as a tool.

So who is this ME, This I inhabiting my mortal body?

I believe I am in fact a Spirit Being!

As such it is my belief that I came from a spiritual realm to take up residence in this mortal physical world by inhabiting a mortal physical body.

MY body.

The real I, as a Spirit Being, am in tune with the Spiritual World from which I have come. Of which I am a part and which is in fact my true home.

Yet even as a Spirit Being I am unique.

I have my own personality, traits and talents developed over ages in my pre-mortal spirit home.

I believe my LIFE FORCE, my consciousness, my thoughts my emotions - such as love and compassion, hope etc., originate not in this physical body but are intrinsic to my SPIRIT,…. the real I.

The real I, is immortal. A living conscious miracle.

I am experiencing life on Earth through my physical body. When I finally leave this body behind, I will be just as conscious as I am now, possibly more so, in my Spirit Body, in the Spirit realm.

Like all people I am in fact a child of God. Made in His image.

This is what I believe.

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I believe if there are any two things which are essential in our Christian walk, they are Charity and Forgiveness.

These two encapsulate the Love of Christ.

To forgive is a divine attribute. It is to pardon or excuse someone from blame for an offence or misdeed.

The scriptures refer to forgiveness in two ways.

The Lord commands us to repent of our sins and seek His forgiveness.

He also commands us to forgive those who have offended or hurt us.

Who, among us, at one time or another, has not been in need of forgiveness and in need of forgiving others! If we do not forgive,  we cannot be forgiven.

I CANNOT COMPREHEND HIS POWERS, HIS MAJESTY, HIS PERFECTIONS. BUT I DO UNDERSTAND SOMETHING OF HIS LOVE, HIS COMPASSION, HIS MERCY.THERE IS NO BURDEN HE CANNOT LIFT.THERE IS NO HEART HE CANNOT PURIFY AND FILL WITH JOY. THERE IS NO LIFE HE CANNOT CHANGE AND RESTORE, WHEN ONE IS OBEDIENT TO HIS TEACHINGS.THERE IS NO STRUGGLE FOR WHICH THE ATTONMENT IS NOT SUFFICIENT.

Can we fully appreciate these words?

THROUGH THE ATTONEMENT OF JESUS CHRIST THERE IS NOTHING WHICH WE CANNOT BE FORGIVEN FOR. 

I have carried these words with me in my scriptures for most of the time I have been in the Church.  They have given me HOPE and encouragement on many occasions.

We do indeed have a loving and forgiving God.

It is wonderful to know that whatever I may have done, however short of Heavenly Fathers requirements I may have fallen, A way to total forgiveness is open to ME,  And open to YOU.

Seeking Forgiveness from the Lord

Sin is a heavy burden. It brings the tenseness of guilt,  and the anguish of knowing that we have acted against the will of our Father in Heaven. It brings lingering remorse as we realize that,  because of our actions, we may have hurt others and prevented ourselves from receiving blessings our Father has been ready to give us.

Because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ, we can receive forgiveness for our sins through sincere and complete repentance. Sinfulness brings suffering and pain, but the Lord's forgiveness brings relief, comfort, and joy.

 The Lord has promised: "Behold, he whohas repented of his sins, the same is forgiven, and I, the Lord, remember them no more" "Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool" (Isaiah 1:18).

We can experience this miracle, whether we need to repent of serious sins or day-to-day weaknesses. Just as the Savior pleaded with people anciently, He pleads with us today: "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. "Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. "For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light" (Matthew 11:28–30). "Will ye not now return unto me, and repent of your sins, and be converted, that I may heal you? "Yea, verily I say unto you, if ye will come unto me ye shall have eternal life. Behold, mine arm of mercy is extended towards you, and whosoever will come, him will I receive; and blessed are those who come unto me"

Forgiving Others

In addition to seeking forgiveness for our own sins, we must be willing to forgive others. The Lord said: "Ye ought to forgive one another; for he that forgiveth not his brother his trespasses standeth condemned before the Lord; for there remaineth in him the greater sin. I, the Lord, will forgive whom I will forgive, but of you it is required to forgive all men"

In the everyday circumstances of life, we will surely be wronged by other people—sometimes innocently and sometimes intentionally. It is easy to become bitter or angry or vengeful in such situations, but this is not the Lord's way. The Savior counseled, "Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you" (Matthew 5:44). He set the perfect example of forgiveness when He was on the cross. Referring to the Roman soldiers who had crucified Him, He prayed, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do" (Luke 23:34).

We should pray for strength to forgive those who have wronged us, and we should abandon feelings of anger, bitterness, or revenge. We should also look for the good in others rather than focusing on their faults and magnifying their weaknesses. God will be the judge of others' harmful actions.

When my ex wife left me for a family friend, I lost my children along with her. We worked on a private country estate in a joint contract with a tied cottage that went along with the job. Her leaving meant I lost my job and home also. I seemed to have lost everything which mattered to me in my life.  For years,  I harbored a deep hatred for the man who took these from me. Eventualy,  I came to realise that the only person being hurt by my hatred was myself. I also came to understand the Gospel Principle of forgiveness. I wrote a letter to my ex wife and told her that I forgave her and her  (by then) new husband. Whatever she or he made of that letter,  I do not know. But it made a huge difference to me and I was then able to get on with my life without recriminations.

May we show  Christlike Love, for others.

May we pray for our own forgiveness.

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The word Prophet usually conjours up an image of an old man with a long white beard, dressed in a long smock and carrying a staff. This is not surprising when one considers that almost all the prophets known by most people lived in ancient times.
What if a prophet was to be raised up in modern times? Would he be so dressed? Of course not! He would wear the contempary clothing of the times.

Just what is a prophet? According to scripture, a prophet is a person raised up by God for a particular purpose. God speaks to his children (us) through His prophets. God said of Abraham, "I knew you before you were in your mother's womb." God had chosen Abraham for his particular calling. A prophet is a special person, their purpose being usually to warn us of the consequences of our actions, of approaching events, prophesise of things to come, and give us new information which God wishes us to be aware of.

Many people believe that God has finished speaking to us. That, at the closing of the scriptures to be found in the Bible, He would have nothing else to say to us. therefor prophets are no longer needed.Is this the case?

It is noticeable that,  at the beginning of each dispensation, a prophet was raised up by God to give new informaiton He wanted us to have.  The very earliest prophets lived at a time when almost everyone was pagan and had many gods. Prophets such as Enoch, Noah and Abraham were instrumental in teaching the concept of One God.
Prophets such as Isaiah, Daniel etc., prophesised about future events, some which have already taken place,  and much that is happening right now or about to happen in the near future.

Usually,whenever a new teaching comes to us from our Heavenly Father, it heralds in a new dispensation. A dispensation is a period of time when God has revealed new knowledge to hi children. Knowledge which He wants us to have and which He thinks we are ready to recieve.  Jesus Christ, the only begotten son in fhe flesh of the Father, amongst other things, was also a prophet. He brought to the Israelites a Higher Law than the sadducees and pharisees had.  This commenced the dispensation which I personaly call the all the "Time of the Church".
In each case,  the new teaching is added to the teachings which came before it.

We are now in what is usually known as the dispensation of The Latter Days.
In many ways  this is the most important dispensation of all, as it is the last before Jesus Christ returns,  to set up his millenial reign. Does it seem so very unlikely that God would  raise up a prophet to bring us further knowledge and warn us of the iminent need to repent before it is too late?

We are told in the Bible, that in the last days there will be "a restitution of all things".
Could this mean that the structure of Christ's Church, as it was in the first century,  will be restored to the earth? Could we see again prophets on the Earth?  Maybe our stubborness in believing that God no longer speaks to us  either through  his prophets or by revelation blinds us to this concept!  Perhaps there have been a prophet or prophets on Earth since the beginning of these Latter Days!

Some people have the idea that a prophet is some sort of perfect being.  However, except for Jesus Chirst, no person born of woman is perfect. Prophets make mistakes. Not everything a prophet says is prophesy.  A prophet is only a prophet when he is prophesising. Moses, an ancient prophet,  made mistakes.  He sometimes did not please God. For reason of his errors,  he was forbidden by God from entering Caanan, the promised land.  Prophets are usually ridiculed by their contempories. They are called blasphemers and heritics. They are frequently. They often seal there testimony with their own blood, by being killed by those who think that God would not bring new doctrine into the world. The teachings of Jesus Christ are a very good example of this. He was called by the pharasees a heritic and a blasphemer. They thought they had Gods teaching in full and need no other teachings.

It often takes a great many years after the time of a prophet before people accept the teachings of a prophet of God.  Do we have a modern prophet? Has there been a prophet on the earth since the beginning of the Latter Days? Has God given his children further truths for these latter days?

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I believe life on Earth is a temporary assignment!

To make the best of life, we must never forget two truths: First, compared with eternity, life is extremely brief. Second, Earth is only a temporary residence. We won't be here long, so don't get too attached.

Lets compare life on Earth to temporarily living in a foreign country. This is not our permanent home or final destination. We are just passing through, just visiting Earth. The Bible uses terms like alien, pilgrim, foreigner, stranger, visitor, and traveler to describe our brief stay on Earth.

In America many people from other lands work there although they are not citizens of the US. they require a "green card" which allows them to work there. Christians should carry spiritual green cards to remind them that their citizenship is in Heaven. Their identity is in eternity, and their homeland is in Heaven. If we realise this, we will stop worrying about "having it all" on Earth. When we flirt with the temptations of this world, God calls it spiritual adultery.

Imagine if you were asked by your country to be an ambassador to an enemy nation. You would probably have to learn a new language and adapt to some customs and cultural differences in order to be polite and to accomplish your mission. As an ambassador you would not be able to isolate yourself from the enemy. To fulfill your mission, you would have to have contact and relate to them. But suppose you became so comfortable with this foreign country that you fell in love with it, preferring it to your homeland. Your loyalty and commitment would change. Your role as an ambassador would be compromised. Instead of representing your homeland you would start acting like the enemy.

We are Christ's ambassadors. Because we live on Earth does not mean it's our home. It is not. So how should we react to what the Earth offers us? Those in frequent contact with the things of the Earth should make good use of them without becoming attached to them, for this world and all it contains will pass away.

The World offers so many things to us today in the way of entertainment We are amused and catered to with all sorts of fascinating attractions, mesmerising media and enjoyable experiences available. It is so easy to forget that the pursuit of happiness is not what life is about. Life is a test, a trust, and a temporary assignment. We are preparing for something better.

The fact that life is not our ultimate home, explains why, as followers of Jesus we experience difficulty, sorrow, and rejection in the world. In order to keep us from becoming too attached to Earth, God allows us to feel a significant amount of discontent and dissatisfaction in life. We are not completely happy here because we're not supposed to be!

A story is told of a retiring missionary coming home to America on the same boat as the president of the United States. Cheering crowds, a military band, a red carpet, banners, and the media welcomed the president home, but the missionary slipped off the ship unnoticed. Feeling self-pity and resentment, he began complaining to God. Then God gently reminded him, "But my child, you're not home yet."

We will be in Heaven two seconds before we cry out, "Why did I place so much importance on things that were so temporary?

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This comment is meant for the Christians amoung us. By Christian I mean all those who believe in Jesus Christ as Son of God and put their trust in Him. It matters not if you are a Catholic, Prostestant, Non-Conformist, Mormon, Jehovah's Witness.Seventh Day Adventist, etc. At the time of the Judgement, we will be judged by the way we have lived our lives in accordance with the teachings of our Lord and Savior, and our faith in Him. Somehow I doupt our doctrinal beliefs will be top of the heap.

Maybe your Church believes its neccessary to proslytise its teachings to others of different denominations. I guess that is fine, so long as if those we try to convert and do not accept our doctrines, we leave them with Gods blessing. What I personaly abhor is the way some "Christians" lambast those of other denominations, often with words of hate. Such practice is actualy against the teaching of Jesus Christ Himself.

Mark 9:38 - 40.

38:  And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us: and we forbad him, because he followeth not us.

39:  But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me.

40:  For he that is not against us is on our part.

And don't let us forget the "Golden Rule".

I believe that every denomination holds SOME of the truth but none have ALL the truth. Maybe we could learn something from each of them.

Some years ago Catholics and Protestants were killing each other in the name of Jesus Christ. (recently in Northern Ireland). Non-Conformists were persecuted and fled England for the New World to escape persecution. Mormons were murdered, raped, driven from their homes in america time and time again. Jehovah's Witnesses were incarcerated in Hitlers concentration camps. Persecution even if only verbal is still going on today.

Let us agree to differ. Let us celebrate that which we in Christ hold in common. Let us join together in the Body of Christ as ONE in Christ.

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I believe the most important question in Life is "Is there a Creator God, or not?" The answer to that question will govern our whole outlook on life. If there is no Creator God and we are the result of pure accident, then we came from nothing, are here on Earth for no purpose, and are going nowhere except into oblivion. Our lives are without reason or purpose. We have our moments of Joy and often many more moments of pain and sorrow. There is no reason for our existense or the existense of anything in the Universe. It might as well have never happened. 

There would be a need for Law, so that we can remain civilised and governable. Most would just keep the law because they are afraid of getting caught, there being little need for morals. It is so evident that in our modern western world, which has largely abandoned belief in a Creator God, morals have indeed gone largely out of the window.

However, If there is a Creator God, then the picture is entirely different. We are no accident. We came from somewhere and are on this Earth for a PURPOSE. After our lives are over we will be moving on. We will have someone to answer to as for our actions other than the law, and we will have need for morals once that God has made known  what is required of us. Our whole outlook should then be radically different.

For one thing we would become answerable to God. There would be Spiritual Laws we would be expected to follow. We would expect consequenses if we do not follow those Spiritual Laws, just as consequenses follow our not following Phyical or Laws of the Land. I wonder how often people who feel in their hearts there is a God, ignore those promptings because they simply do not want to face the fact and have to change their lifestyle!

For all the years humanity have been on this Earth up to the last approx 100 years, virtualy all of humanity have believed in the Divine. The nomads of prehistory, the bushmen and aboriginals, the civilised and uncivilised of all past ages had a God or Gods. The idea of a supreme being or beings seem to have been instilled into the very pschye of all mankind. I believe it still is!

Then comes the Scientific Age! The idea that all the Universe is just the result of accident evolving from nothing. Darwins theory of Evolution taught as FACT in schools for many years.This is gradual evolution by natural selection. This was accepted by academics and instilled into all our children. However the evidence (ie in the fossil record) seemed to show that the various creatures appeared suddenly and virtualy no evidence seemed to show a gradual evolution. Now the Scientific world is changing its mind. The FACT of gradual evolution is giving way to one of sudden jumps! In other words the theory is being made to match the evidence.Now evolution by sudden jumps is being taught to all our children as a FACT.

Evolution seems to teach that creatures developed or changed from one species to another over time. No one has ever actualy witnessed any creature evolving into a different species, They just seem to go on producing their own kind, and the very genes seem to make certain that cross breeding or any radical change from one species to another is not possible. I also wonder, if evolution is a fact, why we ever evolved a  human conscience! (an inborn awareness of right and wrong).

The Bible tells a very different story. But one that fits the know observed facts. "Each creature gives birth to its own kind". Also that they were not evolved but created.

One evolutionary scientist commented, "The chance of life evolving from non-living matter is so extremely remote that it should be considered scientificaly impossible, but it must have happened". Wow hardly a scientific remark! This scientist would rather accept the impossibility of evolution than even consider the possibility of Creationism.

The argument as to whether there is a Creator God or whether all is the result of blind chance can go on and will do so. In the end it comes down to faith I guess. But something deep in each of us - whoever we are - seems to whisper to us of the Divine.

Someone once told me that in time mankind will be clever enough to produce life from non-living matter and make a creature (God forbid). I pointed out to that person that should that ever happen, it would only prove that it took an intelligent, planning and designing being to do it. It would not be the result of pure blind chance.

"Bible translator Ronald Knox was once engaged in a theological discussion with scientist John Scott Haldane, "In a universe containing millions of planets," reasoned Haldane, "is it not inevitable that life should appear on at least one of them?" "Sir", replied Knox, "if Scotland Yard found a body in your cabin trunk, would you tell them: "There are millions of trunks in the world - surely one of them must contain a body?" I think they would still want to know who put it there" 

Will YOU give a few moments to concider this the most important question in Life?

Check out link below

http://www.kids4truth.com/watchmaker/watch.html

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