it gets better

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This was not about the gifts for me today. I had my mind set on Christ most of the day- despite having to work and having a short family time opening gifts.

However, the gifts: a Star Trek Beyond badge, really hit pepper sauce, and something I really wanted- a Christian Standard Version Study Bible.  I decided to rebuild my physical book library. That is a good place to kick my project into gear.
#Thankful

Glory to God in the highest

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!" Luke 2:13‭-‬14 ESV

https://bible.com/bible/59/luk.2.13-14.ESV

Born for a purpose

Today we look forward to the birth of the Savior
Today we look with an hopeful eye;
It is the joy of Heaven come down to us,
But He was born to die.

This gift that God has given,
The baby is His Holy Son;
He comes to bring to man salvation,
Through faith in this Holy One.

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Sing for joy, O heavens, and exult, O earth; break forth, O mountains, into singing! For the Lord has comforted his people and will have compassion on his afflicted. -Isaiah 49.13

Through the Storms of Life

Image: https://www.skipprichard.com/25-quotes-to-encourage-you-through-the-storm/

Right now is a discouraging time for me.  But God is in control.  When a recent issue came up it actually ruined several of our plans, but we see the wisdom if God as we pass through the tempest.

I told a friend, "This is just another wave in the storm."

And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. But [Jesus] was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.  (Mark 4.37-39 ESV)

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Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word. -2 Thessalonians 2.16-17 (ESV)

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And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. (Colossians 3.15 ESV)

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και η ειρηνη του χριστου βραβευετω εν ταις καρδιαις υμων εις ην και εκληθητε εν [ενι] σωματι και ευχαριστοι γινεσθε  (ΠΡΟΣ ΚΟΛΟΣΣΑΕΙΣ 3,15)

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But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. - 2 Peter 3.13

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My tears have been my food day and night, while they say to me all the day long, "Where is your God?" - Psalm 42.3

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God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. - Psalm 46.1

i need Your help Lord. You are my help, now and always.  #Psalms #Jesus #MyRefuge

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Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher; all is vanity. [Ecclesiastes 12.8]

i.m.o...Christina Grimmie 
(All is Vanity album on iTunes)

behold, upon the mountains

Behold, upon the mountains, the feet of him 

who brings good news, who publishes peace! (Nahum 1.15 ESV)

The Brooksville Statement on Marriage

From: The Brooksville Statement on Marriage site

A Statement of Christian Conscience on Marriage

The Brooksville Statement on Marriage

Definition

Marriage is beautiful because God is glorious. God, in His infinite Trinitarian wisdom, created and ordained marriage to display the mysterious union of Christ and His Church (Ephesians 5:22-25). As the creator and author of marriage, God alone has the authority to define it. This He did in the second chapter of Genesis where God, having created both groom and bride, brought them together personally (2:22) and a benediction was pronounced over the couple;  “Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife and they shall become one flesh” (2:24, ESV). For this reason, Christian believers do now hold—and have always held—that marriage is between one man and one woman; that it is sealed by the exchange of covenant vows; and that it is intended for the whole of natural life, until death.

On the Interpretation of Scripture

We Christian believers regard the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be the inspired, inerrant, and infallible authority under which we live. We regard the clarity of Scripture to be sufficient for us to interpret the Bible accurately on matters of both faith and practice, using straightforward grammatical and historical principles. For this reason, we reject all attempts to obscure or “reread” Biblical passages which abundantly state the parameters of human sexuality. Sexual relations are to be enjoyed as a gift, and exclusively, between a married man and his own wife alone (Exodus 20:14; Hebrews 13:4). Any alternate readings of Scripture that intentionally or unintentionally obscure this foundational Biblical presupposition are to be rejected.

On Sin and Grace                                              

While it is true that Christians are called to hate transgression and iniquity, we find the sin within our own hearts—and not the sin of our neighbors—to be the most egregious of all. We lament and repent of our own sin first; be it in thought, word, or deed. We welcome those of all races, genders, ethnicities, and sexual inclinations to repent and believe in Jesus Christ and to worship in our churches. We sympathize with all who struggle in temptation, and exhort them to pursue “the obedience of faith” and embrace the new life given to the Redeemed by the Holy Spirit. Accordingly, we continue to reject any and every sin that degrades God’s glorious creation of marriage, including: adultery, fornication, rape, incest, homosexuality, polygamy, lust, pornography, coercive abstinence while in the state of marriage, and all forms of emotional, physical, and sexual abuse. Christians are called to love—and not hate—our enemies and those who persecute us (Matt 5:44). Thus, we utterly disregard any attempt to mischaracterize our convictions on the above matters as “hate speech,” for to tell the truth on these matters is indeed a most loving and gracious act.  

On Human Laws and Ordinances

Moreover, mankind can pass no law that redefines marriage any more than mortal man can pass a law that declares the light of the sun to be dark, or the gravity of the earth to be ceased. Though various laws may be passed by the agency of human pen and ink; or judgments rendered from human courts (higher or lower); yet human beings have not the prerogative, now or ever, to alter, change, or redefine marriage.

On Civil Disobedience

Finally, then, we the undersigned stand firm in our convictions on these matters and refuse to take any such actions as would compel us to violate either Scripture or conscience--even if so compelled by civil law--for “to go against conscience is neither right nor safe.” Amen.

Rev. Matthew Everhard. Rev. David Franklin. Ruling elders: David Peeler, David Field, Gwynn Blair, Scott Knight, Doug Dempsey, and Dr. George Boring (clerk).  

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a real fight has no rules.

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this is lost on a lost world, but:

do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

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we believe heaven is real, but we reject hell? we know about both from the same place. believing in one and not the other is illogical.

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when you look at me you do not see me.  you see my mask.  i hide me very carefully. no one really knows me except my God. i cannot hide from Him no matter how hard i might try.

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the fear of YHWH is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.

she

i searched for her my whole life. i never found her. i long for her everyday. she is the desire of my every breath. she would light up my world and give me joy forever.




she is wisdom.