Friday, April 24, 2009

  But the voice spoke again: “Do not call something unclean if God has made it clean.”

[Acts 10:15]

“This is the day the LORD has made let us rejoice and be glad in it”!

There was a lot going on in the book of Acts.  The New Testament church was forming.  The Jesus movement was growing by leaps and bounds.  Persecution grew also, people just didn’t understand why folks were following a ‘dead carpenter’.  (sounds like the thoughts of some people today).  Even those most versed in the Holy Scriptures, and who were waiting for Messiah, couldn’t believe that He had come, and worse yet that they were the ones who called for His death.  On top of a bad situation, here comes a man named Saul rounding up these ‘Christ-ians’ and killing them.  Fear must have been running rampid, but faith out-ran fear because despite it all, many still believed and the church grew.  In this tumultuous climate there was a man named Cornelius, who was a centurion.  He was a good man… a devout man who feared God…. he and his whole household.  God sent an angel to him to tell him to send for Peter (the Apostle).  As Cornelius is given these instructions (which he wasted no time following), Peter is also visited by an angel.  Now this part fascinates me.  Peter is hungry, all sorts of animals are presented to him to kill and eat (no grocery stores where he was).  He says no because the animals were ‘common’ or ‘unclean’ according to their dietary laws.  Peter was admonished that, what God has cleansed must not be called common.  God was preparing Peter to meet and minister to Cornelius who servants and soldier were on their way.  When they arrived, the angel told Peter to go with them, which he did.  Peter ministered to Cornelius and his entire house-hold (which was probably many due to his prominence).  The Holy Spirit fell upon them, they began to speak in tongues and magnify God.  Everyone believed.  Now when the Apostles and the other brethren heard about Peter’s little escapade with the ‘gentiles’, Peter had a lot of explaining to do.  After He told them what happened… “ When the others heard this, they stopped objecting and began praising God. They said, “We can see that God has also given the Gentiles the privilege of repenting of their sins and receiving eternal life.””(Acts 11:18).  Now that sounds like some members of the family of God.  When God has cleansed something, (or someone) our reaction should be the same.  Some, in their sincere desire to see folks delivered, inadvertently repel the ones we are called to minister to.  What God said in black and white, we stand on, but whether ladies’ should wear black stockings or brown stockings is a non-issue.  The bible doesn’t say sheer stockings are evil.  I don’t even like stockings. All I know is Jesus the Christ, Son of the Living God came to set us free.

… and that Beloved is the Good News He wants us to share!

U Blessed

Have A Fabulous Day!

Regina

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Much love and appreciation to a great man of God for the gifts he left behind!

Reverend Timothy Wright ~

our thoughts and prayers are with his family and loved ones

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“Who’s On The Lord’s Side”, Rev. Timothy Wright

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z02V2psiyBM

“You Must Come In At The Door”, Rev. Timothy Wright

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJx0is_Qkg8

“Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, The Katrina Song”, Rev. Timothy Wright

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9oyFp20YZ0

“For The Rest Of My Life”, Rev. Timothy Wright (at Bishop GE Patterson’s homegoing)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_MCzVtV0b8

“I Made It”, Rev. Timothy Wright

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1SYe3WodqgU

  “Leaning on the Everlasting”, Rev. Timothy Wright

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPcHNXC8eU8

Rev. Timothy Wright Interview before the accident in 2007

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVdJozMh1DI

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation—the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ*—for this will bring much glory and praise to God

*[Greek with the fruit of righteousness through Jesus Christ.]

Philippians 1:11

Good Morning Beloved,

This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it!

 Someone once said that character is who we are when no one is looking. What we do, even if there is no way we could get caught.  Nobody will ever know.  Well.. almost nobody… God sees all.  People forget that.  Maybe because there is no audible voice from heaven that shouts, “Hey… put that back!  That’s not yours”… or “Hey!  Turn that off!! …  What are you doing looking at that!“…..”I SEE YOU!… Actually, God is speaking all of the time.  We hear Him.  He speaks through His Word, to our spirit, through other people and even circumstances… (ever said “somethin’ told me not to turn here”).  The more we seek God, the more we desire Him, the more we pray, the more we ingest His Word.. the more we become like Him.  We take on His character–His nature.  We have the ability to swim against cultural currents that despise God.  Remember the saying, “any dead fish can float downstream“, our spirit has been quickened (made alive).  We have the privilege of being called salt and light in our society.  We are preservatives and we add flavor.  We illuminate a dark world, and point them to a living Savior who loves them.  We are called to live in peace, but that doesn’t mean rolling over and playing dead.  Peace does not come without sacrifice.  However, in Christ living in peace becomes a little easier, forgiveness becomes possible, rough places become a little smoother, crooked places a little straighter.  Our goal is to be the person that, while people may disagree with our views, they will have to admit that we are a trustworthy people of fine character.  A tall order, but we have help.  We have an advocate.  We have a friend.  We have a God!

 

 

Cartoonist’s Comment:

We need to have faith in God to get us down the highway of life, to the destination that God has planned for us. The Word of God is the fuel that keeps our faith moving along.

 

 

Cartoonist’s Comment:

The Good News is that the pardon for your sins has already been given. But you need to accept it by faith

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Regina,

Thank you for sharing the cartoons on your blog. I am glad to know my cartoons are being put to good use.

Sincerely,

Mike Waters

mike@joyfultoons.com

www.joyfultoons.com

www.cafepress/joyfultoonsshop.com