Marry or Live Together?

November 19, 2011 by bonlou

Should you get married or simply live together?

Recently, I heard a conversation between two people who really got my attention.  The first person said, “I know people who have to live together because they can’t afford to marry.  They would lose their benefits.  This is especially true of seniors.”  The other person said, “Yes, I know!  Carl and I couldn’t afford to be together if we got married.  And, there are going to be a LOT more people living together because of the economy.”

I sat and listened and am sorry to say didn’t speak up.  I should have said, “But, they are living in sin!  Is it better to live in sin than to please God?”

Gen 2:24 NASB

  For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh.

God cannot bless these kinds of relationships.  People wonder why they have so many problems and a lot of it is because they are thumbing their noses at God.

Many couples today are living together.  They have children and when they tire of each other they think they can move on.  This is not how God planned our relationships.

Several years ago my friend and I fell in love with each other and wanted to marry.  We had to count the cost.  For me it meant that I would lose my disability payments along with medical coverage.  That was a big deal!  For him it meant he would have to take on more responsibilities and provide for the two of us.  He was retired at the time and would have to go back to work.

We talked to others about our situation, and I was shocked to learn that even Christians told us that we should move in together.  “Other Christians are doing the same thing,” they said.  ”God understands.”  Does He?   He ordained marriage and it is to be the norm.  When we live together we live in sin and are out of God’s will.

Mat 19:4-6 NASB  And He answered and said, “Have you not read that He who created them from the beginning MADE THEM MALE AND FEMALE,  (5)  and said, ‘FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER AND BE JOINED TO HIS WIFE, AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH’?  (6)  “So they are no longer two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate.”

Jesus himself said these words, and the parts in all caps are taken right from Genesis 2:24.  Way back in the beginning God ordained marriage.

We prayed about our situation and came to the conclusion that God wanted us to marry.  That was His will.  We weren’t going to entertain anything else. We thought about my husband’s children and grandchildren.  What kind of testimony would it be if we lived together?  Could we expect more from them down the road?

Then, we counted the cost financially.  We came up short.  We would not have enough money to manage our marriage.  Finally, we decided we would follow God’s will and get married anyway.  We didn’t care if some of our friends thought we were crazy getting married at our age.  We would trust God with the rest. We wanted to do things right!

God came through for us. He didn’t let us down.  He blessed us with enough money to meet our needs and more.  He blessed our marriage in so many ways and gave us peace knowing we did the right thing.

How could God have blessed us if we had decided just to live together?  He couldn’t, because it would have gone against His will.  There are consequences to sin.

I don’t know your situation, but if you are at this blog site it’s most likely because you have anxiety and/or panic attacks.  If so, and you are in a relationship where you are living with someone of the opposite sex, then you need to repent and either get out of that relationship, or get married.  If you are a Christian, God cannot bless you if you are living in sin.  He wants you to get right with Him.  If you are experiencing panic attacks or extreme anxiety or depression perhaps God has allowed this to get your attention.  God loves us and wants the very best for us.  Would you want your child doing things that were against your will for them?  God wants us to obey His word, and when we don’t He disciplines us just as a loving father disciplines his children.

Do you realize that a sexual relationship outside of marriage is sinful?  In the Bible it is called immorality.

1Th 4:3 NASB

  For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality;

1Co_6:18

  Flee immorality. Every other sin that a man commits is outside the body, but the immoral man sins against his own body.

I don’t know you, if you are young or older, but if you are considering living together instead of getting married please reconsider and look into the Word for direction.  Living together may seem to be an acceptable lifestyle in our society, but it isn’t with God. You will be blessed if you follow God.

Posted in Christianity, Culture, God | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments »

Where is the Truth?

November 11, 2011 by bonlou

Are you confused?  Today it is easy to get really confused.  We have  many voices coming at us and they take us in all different directions.  Where do you look for truth?

If we look to politicians for the truth we are in for a big disappointment.  They tell us one thing and do another.  They don’t keep their promises and they let us down every time.  It doesn’t matter which party, they are all alike.  Sometimes when they are on television, I will say, “Hey! His nose  is getting longer!”


Do we look for truth in the world?  How many commercials have you seen and then went out and bought the product and found it wasn’t at all like they advertised? It’s happened to me a lot.  No, we can’t trust the world for the truth. 

How about special “sales,” in stores.  Many times I’ve gone to get a certain product that was advertised as “on sale” and when I got there they were “all out.”  Can you say, “bait and switch”?  We can’t trust commercial enterprises.


What kind of truth are you looking for?  Is it truth about a health issue?  Maybe the psychologist will help.  Not so fast! They don’t tell us the truth either.  They don’t tell us that we have a spiritual problem that needs to be fixed between God and ourselves.  Instead, they probe into our past and try to dig up things that might cause our distress.  But, is that where we find the truth?  No!  That usually only causes more confusion.  They may prescribe psych pills that can be actually dangerous to our health.  We can become dependent on them and our psychologist.  That is not good either.

The news media is another place where we can’t find the truth.  If you surf the channels you will find many different views of the same news story.  So, who does tell us the truth?  Hard to say.  Maybe none of them.  Who do we believe?

So, let’s surf to the so-called Christian stations.  What have we here?  There is much false teaching on these stations.  We have to be careful.  How many people can actually tell what is true and what is false teaching?  You can’t if you haven’t been a student of the Word of God.  Much of it has some truth, but then they throw in all the false teachings to go along with it.


(1Co 5:6)  Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?

Well, I do have the answer to the question of where is the truth.  The absolute truth is found in the Word of God, the Bible.  Do you realize that the Bible is the only book that is alive?  It is the living Word of God.  Do you know that the Bible has the answers to all of our problems?  It does, and we can trust what it says.

(2Pe 1:3)  According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:

(2Ti 3:16)  All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

(2Ti 3:17)  That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

God tells us in the Bible that His words are truth!

(Bold print in the verses below are mine.)

(Psa 119:160) “All your words are true, all your righteous laws are eternal.”

(Psa 31:5)  Into thine hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O LORD God of truth.

(Isa 65:16)  “Because he who is blessed in the earth Will be blessed by the God of truth; And he who swears in the earth Will swear by the God of truth; Because the former troubles are forgotten, And because they are hidden from My sight!

(Exo 34:6)  Then the LORD passed by in front of him and proclaimed, “The LORD, the LORD God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth;

(Psa 108:4)  For Your lovingkindness is great above the heavens, And Your truth reaches to the skies.

(Psa 57:10)  For Your lovingkindness is great to the heavens And Your truth to the clouds.

(Joh 17:17)  “Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.

(2Sa 7:28)  “Now, O Lord GOD, You are God, and Your words are truth, and You have promised this good thing to Your servant.

God cannot lie!

(Tit 1:2)  in the hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised long ages ago,

(Num 23:19)  “God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent; Has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?

(1Sa 15:29)  “Also the Glory of Israel will not lie or change His mind; for He is not a man that He should change His mind.”

(Heb 6:18)  so that by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have taken refuge would have strong encouragement to take hold of the hope set before us.

J.I. Packer in “Knowing God,”  speaking of God’s words says: “They are an index of reality:  they show us things as they really are, and as they will be for us in the future according to whether we heed God’s words to us or not.”

No matter if we believe God’s Word is true or not it doesn’t matter because it IS true, and it doesn’t change.  It will be true forever.  We can bank on it.

The Truth is in the Bible!

Mystery solved!  We can go to the Bible to find the truth.  God is truth and His word is truth.  You can depend on it!  You can be secure in it!  It is trustworthy!  Today, as we face our challanges, we can turn to the Bible and know that we will find the answers and they will be true.


It still boggles my mind to think that the God of all creation loves me so much that He gave me an instruction book on how to live my life.  He cares about me!  He tells me how I should conduct myself on a daily basis. He helps me understand why people act the way they do.  He tells me He loves me and wants an intimate relationship with me.  He helps me know what is right and what is wrong.  He gives me wisdom and understanding.  I know when I read something in the Bible it is TRUTH!  It doesn’t matter to me what other people say about it.  I know in my heart that it is the truth and that I need to stand on it.


If you would like to read a chapter in the Bible that tells us about the Word of God there is no better one than Psalm 119.  Some of my favorite scriptures are in this chapter.  Here are a few of my favorites that encourage me to live a life that is pleasing to God.

Psalm 119:11 “I have hidden thy word in my heart that I might not sin against you.”

Psalm 119:15 “I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways.”

Psalm 119:18 “Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.”

Psalm 119:103 “How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth.”

Oh, there are so many more!  Go, read, and be blessed!

Posted in Bible Study, Christianity, Faith, God, inspirational | Tagged , , , , | Leave a Comment »

What is Your Desire?

August 31, 2011 by bonlou

I received an email from someone who expressed to me a way in which he was deceived, and this deception prevented him from becoming free from fear. It prompted me to share these thoughts with you. Here is an excerpt from that email:

“i pursue freedom from fear, and i may desire the freedom from fear more than Jesus, so that is the reason i cannot be free from fear, but if i desire and seek Christ, the freedom will come. It is strange but “freedom”can be our idol.”

Have you battled fear for a long time and wondered why you are still fearful? You pray and think you are doing all the right things, but fear still hangs on like a vice grip.

Here is a question that you need to take time to really think about and be honest with yourself. Do you desire freedom from fear more than you desire Jesus?

That’s a heavy question isn’t it? Think about it. What is your desire? Do you realize that your desire for freedom from fear (or any other thing) can become an idol? Why? Because that is the thing you are seeking after. You are seeking freedom instead of Jesus.

Perhaps you have read all the books on anxiety and fear. You’ve ordered all the tapes and listened and watched videos about overcoming panic attacks. You’ve tried all the worldly advise in your pursuit of freedom. You’ve gone to counselors, psychologists, and even Christian counselors, but still you are plagued with fear that annoys and distracts you, and it keeps you from living a full life. How many times I’ve heard people say, “I just want my life back!”

What could be holding you back?

(Jas 4:2b) …You do not have because you do not ask.

I think most of us have asked. We have prayed and prayed to be healed. I know I prayed many times that God would take away the fears that I dealt with on a daily basis and give me the peace that passed understanding. Sometimes, I felt peace for a little while, but then the fear would strike again. What was wrong?

Why didn’t I get healed the first time I asked God to heal me? There are a couple of reason that I can think of.

We must realize that the roots of anxiety and worry is sin. I know that’s a hard pill to swallow. But, let’s look at the Bible.

(Php 4:6) Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

(Mat 6:34) “So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Read Matthew 6:25-34 and you will see Jesus’ own Words as He talks about worry. He commands over and over that we are not to worry.

(Jas 4:3a) You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives,…

Could that be the answer? Did I have wrong motives? Maybe so. Yes, I wanted to be healed and immediately. But, those thoughts were from my point of view. My motives were to be healed so that I didn’t have to feel so rotten. I wanted to get back out there in the world and pursue my career. I wanted friends again, and a car, and money. I wanted to “get my life back.” It was all about ME! That way MY will.

At some point I realized that it wasn’t about ME anymore. I wanted what God wanted for me. Are you willing to continue to suffer with panic attacks and fear if that is God’s will for you? Are you willing to say to God, “Okay, if this is the way you want me, then I will submit to your will?”

When we get to the point where we no longer fight panic in our own strength and turn to God and surrender fully to Him, then He will fight our battle for us.

When we suffer, whatever it is, God is in it if we are Christians. He is right there beside us to hold our hand if we let Him. He will get us through it, but in the meantime He wants to teach us true dependence on Him. Did you get that? We need to learn to lean on Him and not trust in ourselves anymore, or any other person in our life.

Oh, if we could only desire Jesus Christ as much as we desire to be healed. Will you take that step? Instead of reading books on how to overcomer panic attacks, how about if you read and really study the Bible? Yes, you will find the answers there.

Is your desire to be free from panic attacks, or is your desire to seek and know God?

(Psa 42:1b) …As the deer pants for the water brooks, So my soul pants for You, O God.

What a beautiful picture of how we should want Jesus.

When we die to self and seek after Jesus, God will bless us in ways we never thought possible.

Posted in Faith, inspirational | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments »

Is Science and the Bible Compatible?

August 25, 2011 by bonlou

I’ve had many comments on my articles about mother nature, especially the one called, “God or Mother Nature?”  In  fact, most of them are rather hostile.  Many people believe in science and not the Bible.  Are they aware that the Bible is full of good science?  This little booklet is truly amazing and mind boggling.

Many years ago people even thought the earth was flat and if you went far enough you would fall off.  Did they not read the Bible where it clearly states the earth is a sphere?

Is 20:42 [It is] he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof [are] as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in:

You can read this little booklet online.  It gives us 101 scientific facts and foreknowledge found in the Bible.

 


“This booklet presents 101 scientific facts found in the Scriptures. Many of these facts were penned centuries before they were discovered. Scientific foreknowledge found only in the Bible offers one more piece to the collective proof that the Bible is truly the inspired Word of the Creator.”

 

Eternal Productions – 101 Scientific Facts and Foreknowledge

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Are You Good Enough For Heaven?

August 24, 2011 by bonlou

I came across a video that really made me stop and think, “Am I really good enough for heaven?”

What do you think?  Are you?  Do you know for sure that when you die you will go to heaven?

These are questions we all must  answer  at some point.  Watch this video and see how others answer as they take, “The Good Test.”

http://youtu.be/-qFPgLLpGYA

 

 

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New Age: What is it?

March 5, 2011 by bonlou

Over the last several days I’ve been asked: What is New Age anyway?”  Maybe you wonder the same thing.

Contemporary Use of the Term New Age

“Widespread usage of the term New Age began in the mid-1970s (reflected in the title of monthly periodical New Age Journal) and probably influenced several thousand small metaphysical book- and gift-stores that increasingly defined themselves as “New Age bookstores.”[28][29] As a result of the large-scale activities surrounding the Harmonic Convergence in 1987, the American mass media further popularised the term as a label for the alternative spiritual subculture, including practices such as meditation, channeling, crystal healing, astral projection, psychic experience, holistic health, simple living, and environmentalism; or belief in phenomena such as Earth mysteries, ancient astronauts, extraterrestrial life, unidentified flying objects, crop circles, and reincarnation.”

The above source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Age

What Does this Mean for Christians?

Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.  (Mat 10:16 KJV)

Yes, we need to be wise because we are in a world that is full of false teachers and wolves in sheep’s clothing.  They  fool many Christians today.  Don’t be one of them.

As Christians there are several “red flags” we can look for that might indicate someone is a New Ager. 

Some New Age Beliefs

Because the New Age is simply an umbrella term which covers a myriad of groups, with scores of authors, it is impossible to identify all its doctrines.

The following, however, is a brief overview of the basic teachings of the majority of the New Age groups.

1) All is one: all reality is a unitary whole;

2) Everything is God (god) and God (god) is everything;

3) You (as an individual) are God. You are divine; God is within you;

4) You will never die; You have lived before and you will live again (reincarnation);

5) You can create your own reality or transform your own consciousness;

6) All religions are true and, therefore, one;

7) A new world is coming; a New Age is dawning.

(Belief Bulletin: New Age Movement, Southern Baptist Home Mission Board, p. 1).  Source:  http://www.watchman.org/na/nadefine.htm

Some New Age Practices and Methods

  • meditation – Eastern
  • hypnosis
  • yoga
  • Reiki – meditation using “life force” channeling to evil spirits
  • Transcendental mediation
  • psychology
  • Kriya Kirtan – a form of meditation
  • Alternative medicine
  • Visualization -  go to a “peaceful place” in our mind.
  • Holistic medicine – body, soul, and mind. 

Several of these techniques will allow our minds to go  into an altered state of consiousness.  This is dangerious because it can open our minds up to the evil spirit world of Satan.  This is against all the Word of God teaches us.  God has never told us to do this.  Instead He has told us to renew our minds with the Word of God.

I’m sure there are other things I could add to this list, but that will give you an idea of what to look for.

Some of these practices are actually being done in churches today. I find that unacceptable and we need to become educated about what we are taught in church, so we can identify the enemy and not be duped by the Devil’s workers.

What Does God’s Word Say?

(Deu 18:9-13 NASB)
“When you enter the land which the LORD your God gives you, you shall not learn to imitate the detestable things of those nations. “There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, one who uses divination, one who practices witchcraft, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, or one who casts a spell, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead. “For whoever does these things is detestable to the LORD; and because of these detestable things the LORD your God will drive them out before you. “You shall be blameless before the LORD your God.

I pray if you are a Christian you will walk in a way that is honoring to our precious Lord and Savior.  If your church is entertaining any of the New Age practices please inform your leadership and help them understand the dangers.

Recommended Reading: “False Christ Coming: Does Anybody Care?” Warren B. Smith, available at www.Amazon.com.

Posted in Christianity, Culture, Health, Inspiration, Religion, Spirituality | 4 Comments »

Slave to Christ

March 4, 2011 by bonlou

Just recently John MacArthur came out with a new book called, Slave.
In it he explains how the word translated as servant and bond servant should have been translated as slave.  This gives a whole new meaning to the term, “slave to Christ.”  This realization gave me a new outlook as to my relationship with Christ.  It really is very beautiful.  I recommend this book.

Some time ago I wrote an article after watching a DVD by John MacArthur on this very subject.  I’m reposting it here now as this subject is relevant. 

Have you ever thought of yourself as a slave to Christ?  I hadn’t until recently.  I thought more of myself as a servant of Christ.  Like a helper at times.  But a slave, no.

As I began to think about this I realized that we can be slaves to many things.  Who or what are you a slave to?  Anyone or anything that controls us owns us, and we are slaves to them. 

Some could be slaves to alcohol, money, lust, sex, pornography, smoking, sports, illegal drugs, pot, television, work, or fear, worry, and anxiety.  Those are just some of the things we can be controlled by.  We can also be a slave to people; our husbands, our children, our friends. 

On the other hand we should be a slave to Christ.  However, the Bible tells us we cannot serve two masters.

Matthew 6:24 NASB  “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.”

So there is the problem.  Who or what do we serve? 

When we become a Christian we do not any longer have to be a slave to fear.  God adopts us into His family.  He takes care of us from then on.

Romans 8:15 LITV  “For you did not receive a spirit of slavery again to fear, but you received a Spirit of adoption by which we cry, Abba! Father!”

It is the same with the other bondage’s that we find ourselves in.  When we turn our lives over to the Lord as our Lord and Master, then we no longer have to be a slave to anyone or anything. 

Rom 6:6 NASB  knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin;

The Greek word “Doulos” in the Bible is often translated as servant.  It should be the word slave.  It does make a difference.

A servant is one who has a choice.  They worked for wages and could quit at any time.  A servant can do what he wants and is free to make his own decisions. 

But a slave is bought and owned.  He is to do the will of his master.  He has no rights and cannot do as he pleases.

1Co 7:22-23 LITV  For the one called while a slave in the Lord is a freed man of the Lord. And likewise, the one called while a free man is a slave of Christ.  23  You were redeemed with a price; do not become slaves of men.

You see when Jesus died on the cross for the payment of our sins he bought us with his own precious blood.  He now owns us and the Word says we are to become a slave of Christ.  That is an awesome thought!

In the Bible, Paul saw himself as a slave of Christ. 

Rom 1:1 LITV  Paul, a slave of Jesus Christ, a called apostle, separated to the gospel of God,

Gal 1:10 LITV  For do I now persuade men or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I yet pleased men, I would not be a slave of Christ.

Paul is talking to Timothy here.  He refers to Timothy as a slave of the Lord.

2Ti 2:24 LITV  But a slave of the Lord ought not to quarrel, but to be gentle towards all, apt to teach, forbearing,

When we see ourselves as a slave of Christ our whole attitude changes.

  • We realize we have been bought and are not our own.  We can then die to “self.” And, let that part of us go.
  • We need to be always available and ready to serve our Master.
  • We need to make sure we don’t get caught up with trying to serve two masters.
  • We need to pray and keep close to our dear Lord.
  • We need to be dependent on Him for all things.  He will supply all our needs according to His riches in Glory.  (Philippians 4:19.)
  • We need to realize that God may allow trials and troubles to come into our lives, but they are to discipline us and grow us to be more like Him.  They are for our good.
  • And, we need to know that everything good that comes our way is from God Himself. 

We’ve truly been blessed when we come to know Jesus Christ as Lord and Master. 

  • He has made us a child and heir of God and a joint-heir with Jesus Christ.  (Romans 8:14-17) 
  • We are an ambassador for Christ, (II Corinthians 5:20),
  • a member of a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a citizen of a holy nation, a possession of God (I Peter 2:9),
  • and a holy temple of the living God. (II Corinthians 10:5)

We will actually rule and reign with the Lord in Heaven some day.  Isn’t that truly amazing!  What a Savior!  What a Master!

That is only a few of the blessings God bestows upon us.  And to be honest none of us deserve any of it.  I’m truly happy to learn that I am a slave to Christ! 

Scripture taken from NASB  New American Standard Bible and LITV Literal Translation of the Holy Bible

Note: For more teaching on the subject of slaves for Christ you can go here to John MacArthur’s website. 

http://www.gty.org/Products

Posted in Christianity, God, Inspiration, Religion, Spirituality | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments »

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