Do you think it’s possible to be wealthy and be truly happy?

March 16, 2010 — Angela

Do you think it’s possible to be wealthy and be truly happy?

I believe many wealthy people are happy.  (whatever their idea of happiness is). Sometimes their sense of self worth is healthy and they are anything but depressed. They walk in prosperity, and perhaps are blessed enough to have the wisdom to be debt free. They are not “like the Jonses” they “are” the Joneses. They are, living their dream.

But, here, for me is the crux of the matter…… I believe there is really only one way to be truly happy, and it is this:

If we “want” for anything let it be to know and understand that if I am blessed with wealth it is a gift from God, his best for me and that God himself will keep me occupied wth gladness of heart.  Let me not “desire riches”, let my soul desire God (Psalm 37:4 , Matthew 6:33) and trust that his best for me is his best for me.    If God prospers me, let me not misuse or abuse the blessings God has given, Let me not forget the giver and source of my being and life, and let my soul praise Him and my life glorify Him with JOY all the days of my life.

God says: Ecclesiastes 5:18- 20- Then I realized that it is good and proper for a man to eat and drink, and to find satisfaction in his toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given him—for this is his lot. 19 Moreover, when God gives any man wealth and possessions, and enables him to enjoy them, to accept his lot and be happy in his work—this is a gift of God. 20 He seldom reflects on the days of his life, because God keeps him occupied with gladness of heart.

Proverbs 10: 22 –  The blessing of the LORD brings wealth, and he adds no trouble to it. (NIV)
Proverbs 12:11 -He who works his land will have abundant food, but he who chases fantasies lacks judgment.

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Redemption

March 6, 2010 — Angela

The Kite Runner, is a riveting fictional story of the lives of two childhood friends.  Their stories span several generations and encompass all that childhood holds and all that the future demands.  There are moments that will delight you and moments that will remind you of  the evil that, sadly, always exists in this world.  It is a story of the all too familiar consequences of our sinful and selfish natures and mans’ attempts to redeem himself in the eyes of people and in the eyes of God.

The boys are Muslim and so we are given a chance to look a bit further into the modern day culture of the mid-east, specifically Afghanistan.  What struck me (without ruining the ending of the movie for you) was a song that was part of the movie toward the end.  It is called Supplication and I have included it here for you.  Notice the words:

O My Lord, My sins are like The highest mountain;
My good deeds Are very few They’re like a small pebble.
I turn to You My heart full of shame, My eyes full of tears.
Bestow Your Forgiveness and Mercy Upon me.
Ya Allah, Send your peace and blessings On the Final Prophet,
And his family, And companions, And those who follow him.

Notice how similar the lyrics are to songs that Christians sing, and yet if you look and listen closely, the God they are calling on is Allah, not Jesus.  I am reminded once again that each person is filled with a God shaped vacuum that must be filled.  I am reminded that the Lord knows who are his.  I am reminded that God in his mercy draws us.  I am reminded that there is no one good enough to redeem themselves.  And I am reminded that the Bible tells us that Jesus, not Allah is the Lord.  I am reminded that God will never forget who are truly His.  Thank you Abba Father.  Draw us close to you.

Posted in Forgiveness, Restoration, Salvation/Redemption, Saving Faith, Self-sufficiency, Sin. Leave a Comment »

Am I ignoring God today?

November 19, 2009 — Angela

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Hebrews: 2:3a
How shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation.

Do I get up in the morning and purposefully exclaim … “I think I’ll ignore God today!” Perish the thought that any self-respecting man or woman who calls himself a believer would utter those words. And yet, as I read the words in Hebrews 3:1 – 6 today, I am struck by the thought that these days our thoughts seem to be on anyone and anything but Jesus.

We all seem to be so preoccupied with so many things. Some things are good, some are necessary, but some, and if truth be told probably many things more than likely hurt the heart of God, and of course don’t help us either. Read the rest of this entry »

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How Good do you have to be to get into Heaven

November 13, 2009 — Angela


The Good-O-Meter
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Blessed Are The Poor In Spirit

November 10, 2009 — Angela

What Does It Mean to be Poor in Spirit. I’ve been pondering that portion of scripture for some time now. (Matthew 5 – from The Beatitudes).   I’ve been asking myself if I am Poor In Spirit.  I don’t think I always am.  As a matter of fact, I doubt think many people are.  But I do think that many people, if they truly understood what Jesus meant by that statement would want to be poor in Spirit.  However, what I’m learning about that statement is that it is the opposite of what the world would have us be.  The world wants us to be self-sufficient, proud and godless.

Consider what John Piper said about this topic.  I think you’ll find it quite fascinating.  Perhaps life changing.

What Then is Poverty of Spirit?

It is a sense of powerlessness in ourselves.
It is a sense of spiritual bankruptcy and helplessness before God.
It is a sense of moral uncleanness before God.
It is a sense of personal unworthiness before God.
It is a sense that if there is to be any life or joy or usefulness, it will have to be all of God and all of grace.
The reason I say it is a SENSE of powerlessness and a SENSE of bankruptcy and a SENSE of uncleanness and a SENSE of unworthiness, is that, objectively speaking, everybody is poor in spirit. Everybody, whether they sense it or not, is powerless without God and bankrupt and helpless and unclean and unworthy before God. But not everybody is “blessed.”

Who Is Blessed?

When Jesus says, “Blessed are the poor in spirit,” he does not mean everybody. He means those who feel it. That is why it is so appropriate to take the first and second beatitudes together. “Blessed are those who mourn,” clarifies the subjective side of being poor in spirit.

Blessed are the poor in spirit who mourn. Blessed are the people who feel keenly their inadequacies and their guilt and their failures and their helplessness and their unworthiness and their emptiness—who don’t try to hide these things under a cloak of self-sufficiency, but who are honest about them and grieved and driven to the grace of God.

Blessed are you! because you are going to be comforted. Fear not, you worm, Jacob! Fear not, Moses, Jeremiah (Jeremiah 1:6-8), Isaiah, Peter! For I will be with you, I will help you, I will strengthen you, I will uphold you with my victorious right hand. Yours is the very kingdom of God. Amen.

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