FAITH & BELIEF: Gods, Gods, Everywhere?!?!

The Conversation Was Pleasant!
The Participants 
- From Various Countries, Ethnicities and Belief Systems -  
Had All Been Respectful and Polite
When,  Suddenly - Out of Left Field -
One Determined Voice
Voiced That Statement-Question Sure To Start "The Nasty Fight!"

I Don't Believe In God!

AND ...

The Flood Gates Opened!


I Can't Prove That There Is OR Isn't A God!

Nature Is God!

Man Is God!

God Is An Absentee Landlord!
He Made Us and Left Us To Destroy Ourselves!

Satan Is God!


Exclamations of Horror Were Heard,  When ...

A Bold Heavy Lyrical Voice said:


Satan and God Are Equally God!


There Followed Consternation ...


Then ...


In Our Family We Have Several Gods 
But One Is More Important Than All The Others!

Who Decided Which God IS More Important Than All The Others?


Another Voice Stated:


We Worship The Sun, and  The Moon, and The Stars in Their Courses!


The Multiplicity of Gods Is Mind-Boggling!

Wood Gods
Stone Gods
Silver Gods
Golden Gods
Bronze Gods
Clay Gods
Rich Gods
Poor Gods
Tree Gods
Sex Gods
Money Gods
Fertility Gods
Animal Gods
Bird Gods
Reptile Gods
River Gods
Sea Gods
Lake Gods
Air Gods
Fire Gods
Wind Gods
Storm Gods
Peace Gods
War Gods
Evil Gods
Malicious Gods
AND
Gods On Top of Gods and ... More Gods!


There Was A Lull In The Discussion When Timon Called My Name and Said:

We Have Not Heard A Word From You!

And Asked:

How Many Gods Do YOU Have?


I Quietly Replied:

I Have, and Believe In, One God!


Ino Pointed At Me And Said:

You Must Be Very Poor Indeed To Only Have One God!


Everybody Laughed Uproariously!


I Felt Energized And I Stood Up 
And Uttered A Silent Prayer And Began ...


In Your World View I Appear God-Poor BUT

I Believe In The One True Living Holy Eternal God
Who Made The Heavens And This Planet
And Everything On It And In It,
And Everyone Of You, And Me,  Too!

I Cannot See My God!
I Cannot Make The Almighty God!
AND
I Cannot Elevate Nor Denigrate My God!

I Cannot Place My God On A Shelf!

I Cannot Conceive Of The Face Of My God
So I Cannot Make A Statue Or Painting of Him To Venerate
For He Calls That Idolatry
AND
He Deems Such A Sin!

His Holy Word Clearly Says That The
World Cannot Contain Him

AND

Furthermore,

He IS A Consuming Fire
He IS A Spirit
AND
He IS Jealous For The Worship That Belongs Solely To Him

AND

He Says That I Must Worship Him In Spirit
AND
In Truth!

My God Is Holy

AND

My God Is My Shepherd
My Savior
My Redeemer
My Provider
AND
My Sustainer!

He IS Love!
He IS Life!
He IS Light!
He IS The Way
AND
He IS Truth!

He IS My Companion
AND
We Have A Relationship
AND
He IS My Friend
Until My Life Shall End!

He Gives Me His Peace!
He Gives Me His Rest

AND

Direction
Protection
Correction
Hope
Help
AND
He Provides Healing When My Spirit and My Body Are Tried!

When I Sin Against His Holy Name
He Restores My Soul
After I Confess
AND
Repent
Of That Sin!

AND

My God Has Given Me Of His Holy Spirit
To Dwell Within My Heart
To Comfort Me
AND
To Teach Me!

My God's Holy Spirit Also Chides Me
To Do What Is Right
When I Start Leaning
On My Weak And Carnal-Minded Self!

He Leads Me
He Guides Me
He Holds Me
AND
He Carries Me At One And The Same Time!

What Rubbish!

No God Is Anybody's Friend!

Nor Their Companion Either!

Our Gods Take Everything We Own!

Our Gods Don't Give Us Anything!

Our Gods Don't Care What We Do!

No God That I Know
Can Lead, Guide, Hold and Carry You
At One And The Same Time!

True! True!

YOUR GODS Can't Do All Those Things
At One And The Same Time
BUT
My God
God Almighty
God The All Seeing
God The All Knowing
God The Ever Present
MY GOD -  Your God,  Too -  If You Want Him
The True And Living God
The Ancient Of Days
The Eternal God
CAN and DOES
All of That And More
Every Moment of Every Day!

AND ...

Best Of All
He Sent His Only Begotten Son
The Darling Of Heaven
To This Planet
To Die For My Sin
AND
YOURS,  TOO!

AND ...

His Son, Jesus Christ - The Righteous
Conquered Sin,  Death And The Grave
AND
Is Alive 
AND
Has Prepared A Home For Me In Heaven!
All Of You Can Receive That Blessing As Well!

There Was A Sudden - Deathly - Quiet In The Room!

AND, THEN ...

The Voice That Started It All
Quietly, And Earnestly, Asked:

Would You Tell Us More About This Amazing and 
Giving God That IS Yours and 
How We May Know Him?

YES! Yes!

Teach Us!

Please Do! 

Dear Ones:

People all around The World are dying to hear The Word of God!

Please share The Truth, The Good News, so that another Heart may be Blessed of God.

Remember, as The Apostle Paul said: "I Planted, Apollos Watered; but God Giveth The Increase!" 1 Corinthians 3:6

Just Share, and Move Along, for God, Himself Promised   

May The Blessings and Bounties of Heaven Be Yours,

Betty

VESPERS AT THE END OF THE SABBATH: Brethren, Be Faithful ... Unto Death!

Brethren, 

Let Us Be Faithful Unto Death

AND

We Shall Wear The Crown Of Life!

Let Us Be Faithful Unto Death for

Jesus Christ Survived Our Strife!

Brethren,

Let Us Be Faithful Unto Death -

This World Is Not Our Home!

Let Us Be Faithful Unto Death for

We Are Not Battling This World Alone!

Brethren,

Let Us Be Faithful Unto Death!

Death Is A Sleep -

We'll Rest In The Lord!

Let Us Be Faithful Unto Death for

In The Day Of Dawning

Our Arising Shall Be Glorious Sweet!

Be Faithful!

Be Faithful!

Jesus Christ Is On His Way!

Be Faithful!

Be Faithful!

In Him We'll Not For Our Own Sin Pay!

Brethren,

Let Us Be Faithful Unto Death for

Death Can't Us In Shackles Keep!

Let Us Be Faithful Unto Death for

After Mortal Death

Immortality Is Eternal Sweet!

Traveling Will Be On The Wing -  Not Feet!

The Race Will Have Been Won

AND

We Shall Never Against Each Other

For Things Compete!

AND

At Home With Jesus 

We Will Have Comfort Complete!

Brethren,

Let Us Be Faithful To Our God ... 
UNTO DEATH!

The Promise-Keeping God!

A Beloved Brother Ended a Message to Me Recently With These Words:

"And God is still Working On US...!!"

I Responded with:

"And He has Promised to Finish What He Has Started! ... And He IS The God of The Kept, Sealed and Settled Word! ... And He IS Our Almighty God! ... And,  By His Grace,  and With His Mercy,  We Shall Stay The Course,  and Arrive Safely Home!
I Like How This God Rolls!!"

In These Few Words Is The Sermon of The Ages!

The Promise-Keeping God 

Provides Grace - Unmerited  Favor - To Us

Seasoned With His Mercy

AND 

His Love Loves Us 

Despite Our Great Shame

FOR

His Word - Character -

Is Perfect!

He Will "Do The Do"

As He Hath Promised

To Me and To You

SO ...

Do Not Let Satan Rob You

Of What God Has Promised You!

*******

Hear The Promise!

Believe The Promise!

Hold The Promise!

Live In Anticipation of Receiving The Promise!

AND

At The Appointed Time

AND 

In The Stipulated Place

We Will Hold Out Our Hands

AND

Bow Our Heads

IN

Receipt and Acceptance

OF

The Fulfillment of The Promise!

*******

May God Grant Us All 

The Blessing of Peace 

As We Walk Holy

and

Wholly Faithful

Up Toward 

The Kingdom Of His Light!

HAPPY SABBATH: OXYMORON - Closet Christian Closet Christianity?!?!

I Don't Know About You
BUT
I Have Never Been 

A Closet Christian!

I Don't Care Who Is Looking At Me "Funny" 
When I Say Prayers In Public Before I Eat!

I Don't Care Who Knows That I Say Prayers 
To The Almighty God
- In Jesus Christ's Name -
To Watch Over Me When I Sleep!

I Don't Care Who Thinks It Is Weird For Me To Say:

"Thank God for Grace and Glory!"

AND ...

I Don't Care Who Thinks I'm Strange 
For Not Believing That God Is A Made-up Story!

I Believe In:
Almighty God - The Father
Jesus Christ, Creator, Redeemer, Savior, Friend: God - The Son
AND
The Comforter: God - The Holy Spirit,  Too!

I Believe That Holy Angels Do Surround 
AND
Protect True Believers from The Devil And His Evil Crew!

I Believe That It Is A Fool Who Plays With The Devil
Dipping And Touching Hands in 
The Devil's Pot of Deceitful Stew
AND
I Decided That Heaven Is My Goal
AND
I Know That I Will Survive And Thrive 
By God's Grace 
AND
I Know - For Sure - 
That I Can Do Without Satan's Fool's Gold!

I Shall Continue To Testify About 
What Good God Has Done For Me!

I Will Tell It To The World
That Being A Christian Does Not Mean That I Can't Laugh 
AND
Be Happy
AND
That Laughter Is Not Akin To Having Killed The Fatted Calf!

I Will Tell The World That 
In Jesus Christ 
My Failures Are Not Fatal
AND
My Mistakes Are Not Considered 
An Infestation of Rabid Lice
So That I Must Be Put Down!

I Can - And Do - Tell My Jesus Anything And Everything
AND
I Know That He Will Direct Me 
AND
Mark The Straight And Narrow Path That 
I Must Walk Along!

And ...

I Don't Have To Worry And Fret
AND
Threaten To Commit Suicide ... "Just Because ...!"
A Friend Is Doing Better Than I Am

WHEN ...

In Jesus Christ's Blessed And Holy Name 
The Almighty God Provides For Me!


NO! NO! NO!

No Closet Christianity For Me!
I Am Out 
In The Open 
For All The World To See
That Jesus Christ 
IS
The Lover Of My Soul
AND
Come Hell Or High-water
Jesus Christ Is Carrying This Soul 
AND
His Eternal City Is Mine
AND
I Shall Live Forever - After Having Endured To The End -
At The Fullness Of Time
FOR
The King Of Love Is My Shepherd
AND
His Love For Me Is Divine 
AND
Not Love On The Line!

Confessing To Being 

A Faithful Christian 

IN TIMES LIKE THESE

Puts A Bulls-Eye On Our Bodies!

*******

We Don't Need To Worry!

Let Us Remain Faithful!

*******

Man Can Kill The Body

BUT

Almighty God

Has Got Our Souls

AND

We Will Live ... Again

Immortal AND Glorified!!

PRAYER: Help Me To Deny My Wayward Self

Father,  

Wayward Self and I had a Difference of Opinion

And, it did not turn out too well!

I wanted to Trust You More Today

BUT 

Wayward Self wants Me to Believe as The World

That You're just Something inside My Head?!

Father, 

You have to Help Me

Wayward Self is becoming more overbearing of late

As It knows that I'm Leaning on Something Someone

Who is Steering Me away from The Sinners' Just Fate!

Father,  

I Love You!

I Trust You!

And, By Your Grace

There is Nothing and Nobody That can Change That

But That Wayward Self Is Acting Right Malicious

Pompasetting and Somehow Plotting

Something Nasty Behind My Mind's Back!

Lord, 

I Beseech You Today

To Hear Me as I Pray!

Please Remove Wayward Self Clean Out of My Way!

I Repent of My Sins

And I Am Walking As One Cleansed

BUT,  Lord Have Mercy

This Wayward Self is Pushing Me to Act 

Like Someone Straddling The Fence of Truth

And Avoiding Faith Like It's A Disease!

Lord, I am Mere Man!

You Created Me

And You Understand

For Jesus Christ Was Tested 

With Everything That Is Common To Man!

Jesus is Our Example

And You Say You Won't Leave Those Who Believe

For Satan to Trample Upon

So,  Please, Accept This Wayward Self 

That I am Placing On Your Altar

So that I will No Longer

By My Own Wayward Self

Be Made Anymore To Stumble and to Falter!

Help Me, Lord,

To Die To Self Today 

AND

Every Day 

Until That Day that Begins Forever.

AMEN

The Works and Workings of Almighty God

GOD IS NOT A MAN!

Sooo ....

Let's Get Our Minds Around That Fact

AND

Save Our Souls Absolute Distress

For Believing That God Is As Our Selves!

God Cannot Die!
God Cannot Lie
AND
Even Tough It Is Bandied About in The Din
God Cannot - God Will Not 
Save Us While We Continue Reveling In Our Sin!

God Does Not Joke
So God Can't Prank You!
So, Please Make A Note
God Does Not Need Our Up-Vote!

God Cannot Undo The Past!
God Cannot Not Punish Sin!
God Cannot Change

AND

God Has No Love for That Destructive Work That He Calls Strange!

God Loves The Sinner!
God Hates Sin!
God Welcomes All Who Will
Come to Him Their Known Sin Confessing!

God Hears Our Prayers!
God Answers Our Prayers Because 
He For Us Cares
BUT
God Has Nothing For
The Double-minded Man
Who Doesn't Know Whether He Is Going or Coming!

God The Father
God The Son
God The Holy Spirit
Three Distinct Operating Beings
Which Agree As One!
We Creatures Cannot Pit Each Against the Other
As We Do Our Parents Here on Earth
For 
All Seeing
All Knowing
Ever Present
They Are
AND
They have No Gear Called 
Back-back
Turn Around
Change Position
Nor
Reverse!

God IS Love!
God Has No Kid Gloves!
God Reigns In Earth 
AND 
In Glory!
His Footstool Is Earth
AND
His Throne Is In Glory!

God Is Calling You!
God Is Calling Me, Too!
God Will Not Scream!
God Will Speak Quietly
AND
Even Appear To Us In Our Dreams
BUT
Know With All Confidence
That When We Deny The Liar
AND
Give Up The Life of Dirt
God Will Wash Away The Past
God Will Make Us Anew
God Will Help Us To Endure 
Until This Life Shall End
AND
At The Last Trumpet
God Will Raise Us Up Immortal
To Enter Redeemed
In Through Heaven's Glorious Pearly Gate Portals!

God Cries!
God Gives Good Gifts!
God Heals!
God Feels
BUT
God Cannot Steal
FOR
All That He Surveys IS His
AND
If He Were Hungry
He Would Not Tell Us
For We Surely Have Not The Wherewithal To Him Feed!

God Made Us All
AND
He Gives To Us All
A Portion of His Blessings!
We All Know The Who
BUT
We Will Never Know
The What
The When
The Where
The Why
NOR
The How
Of Almighty God's Provision
NOR
What Is Enough
NOR
What Is Sufficient
BUT
We Know With A Certainty
That There Is No Being Who Can Order God
To Become More - Or Less - Efficient
For There Is No One
Who Can Say To God:

"Know What, For A God
You Are Gross
AND
Your Methods Are Grossly Deficient!"

God 

IS

Sufficient 

Unto Himself!

ACCEPT THIS

and

PROSPER

in

HIS LOVE and CARE!!

EXERCISING PERSONAL FAITH: Proving God!

God is Not Man!
He Cannot Forget
AND
He Ever Remembers
AND
In His Book of Remembrance
Are The Names of Those Who Fear His Holy Name!

God Can't Forget
AND
He Ever Remembers
To Bless Those
Who Prove Him
By Returning 
Faithfully of Offerings and The Tithe!

There Is No Other Place
In Scripture To Be Found
Such A Blessing Upon Him
Who Picks Up The Gauntlet
That The Holy God Himself Cast Down:

I Gave You First!

Return To Me Some Of Your Receivings

And 

Prove For Yourself

The Multiple Blessings I Will Pour Upon You 

Who

Of Your Receipts In Faith Doth Me Repay!

Give Me!

I Will Give Back To You!

Give Me A Morsel of Your Bread

And

I will Give You Of My Soup!

Your Dry Bread Cast On Water

Cannot Return To You The Same!

Watch Me Perform Miracles

That Your Faith Can Claim!

Give Me of Your Bread

And

I Will Return Soup

With Meat

Vegetables

Dumplings

Seasonings

And

With The Perfect Salt To Boot!

Your Pantry May Be Empty

Your Refrigerator Bare

Your Job May Be Missing

Your Children Own-Way

Your Spouse May Be Difficult

Your Health Has Gone South

BUT

Your God IS All Glorious

AND

All Things Emerge Settled

From My Mouth!

So ...

Trust Me!

Test Me

Even One Time!

Challenge Me!

Prove Me

I AM Almighty God Holy Divine!

My Word Is Clear!

Give!

AND

It Will Come Back To You

Full Measure

Pressed Down

Shaken Together

AND

Running Over!

For

By My Own Self

I Do Swear!

*******

So ...

It Seems To Me That 

If God Gives Me A Tree

And

I Harvest Wood

And

I Give God A Portion Of My Wood

I Can Expect To Receive It Back 

As A King's Chair 

Or

Even Better! 

Hmmm...