tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74934281429391876052024-03-05T19:02:45.326-08:00A Few WordsArlee Birdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11663942782929929334noreply@blogger.comBlogger283125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7493428142939187605.post-67193401048699127262015-05-17T02:00:00.000-07:002015-05-17T02:00:01.726-07:00Temporary Hiatus<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container zemanta-img" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:The_open_road%2C_the_B3224_across_the_Brendon_Hills._-_geograph.org.uk_-_182332.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: clear:right;"><img alt="English: The open road: the B3224 across the B..." border="0" class="zemanta-img-inserted zemanta-img-configured" height="232" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/95/The_open_road%2C_the_B3224_across_the_Brendon_Hills._-_geograph.org.uk_-_182332.jpg/350px-The_open_road%2C_the_B3224_across_the_Brendon_Hills._-_geograph.org.uk_-_182332.jpg" style="border: none; font-size: 0.8em;" width="350" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption zemanta-img-attribution" style="text-align: center; width: 350px;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> The open road: the B3224 across the Brendon Hills. This fast and open road carries surprisingly little traffic. (Photo credit: <a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:The_open_road%2C_the_B3224_across_the_Brendon_Hills._-_geograph.org.uk_-_182332.jpg" target="_blank">Wikipedia</a>)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i> With summer around the corner and so much for me to do at the present time, I have decided to take a break from posting at this site for an indeterminate period. This will be the case with all of my blogs except for </i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="http://tossingitout.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Tossing It Out</a></span><i> which will most likely go into a cut back summer schedule to be decided in the next week or so. If circumstances change I may be back up and running at </i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A Few Words</span><i>, but the time being my projected date of return to this site will be sometime in September. </i></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>See you then if not before!</i></b></span><br />
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<b><i><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">A man’s heart plans his way,</span></i></b><br />
<b><i><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">But the Lord directs his steps.</span></i></b><br /><b><span style="color: #990000;">Proverbs 16:9</span></b><div>
<span style="color: #990000;">New King James Version (NKJV)</span></div>
Arlee Birdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11663942782929929334noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7493428142939187605.post-22982148661590027622015-05-03T02:00:00.000-07:002015-05-03T02:00:06.056-07:00A to Z Reflections for A Few Words<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUfI6RlD_EN2-IWi6JVq_La7YxSGu0atLQfHMFcIqO0apDYwzViCXWx3aZNhGxsdKc60waZpOwDXMk9aDNUP4w6Citgcc-DYYWvplNnCArWE2lzTOpqWyjqtXuTKkvxnAz3cdYe6Pm6Q91/s1600/A-to-Z+Reflection+%5B2015%5D+-+Lg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUfI6RlD_EN2-IWi6JVq_La7YxSGu0atLQfHMFcIqO0apDYwzViCXWx3aZNhGxsdKc60waZpOwDXMk9aDNUP4w6Citgcc-DYYWvplNnCArWE2lzTOpqWyjqtXuTKkvxnAz3cdYe6Pm6Q91/s1600/A-to-Z+Reflection+%5B2015%5D+-+Lg.jpg" height="152" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="color: blue;"><i style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> As a participant in the </i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://a-to-zchallenge.com/" target="_blank">2015 Blogging from A to Z April Challenge</a></span><i style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> I'm joining in with others who are offering their reflections on this sixth edition of the annual event. The Reflections posts have been a tradition from the first Challenge in 2010. To see the entire list of bloggers with Reflection posts visit the A to Z Challenge Blog. The Linky List will open on Monday May 4th.</i></span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"><b>A Few Words about A to Z 2015</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"> As a rule this blog receives few visits with a very minimal number of comments. This past April was no exception. During A to Z </span><b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A Few Words</span></b><span style="font-family: inherit;"> had an average of less than 50 visits per day with the largest number occurring for the post </span><b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="http://psalmsunday.blogspot.com/2015/04/idols-elements-of-existence.html" target="_blank">I for Idols</a></span></b><span style="font-family: inherit;"> which received 90 visits. This was the only post I promoted to any great extent and even though the post had more visits then others, there were only three comments on this somewhat controversial approach that I took regarding this topic. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Low turn-out is probably to be expected on this blog due to the nature of the subject matter. Of course I'm disappointed that there are not more visitors to this blog, but I'm not surprised either. Something that I do wonder about is how many people actually do find blogs from the Linky List. </span><b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A Few Words </span></b><span style="font-family: inherit;">was added a few days after the list opened and probably started near the number 500 spot or somewhere in that vicinity. I guess we'd need to know more stats from other bloggers to come close to any conclusion about the effectiveness of visits coming from the Linky List and that's something we'll likely never know for sure.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"> As on my other blogs with low traffic, I'm disappointed about the performance but not discouraged. At least I have content added to my blog that has the potential of being seen by someone eventually. And some of the content might be something I can eventually use for other purposes one day. Content is good to have on hand as we never know when we might need it or how it might be useful to us.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"> My focus remains on my main blog </span><b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="http://tossingitout.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Tossing It Out</a></span></b><span style="font-family: inherit;">. That's the blog I tend to promote the most and the blog that serves my interests the most. I see </span><b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A Few Words </span></b><span style="font-family: inherit;">as my attempt to serve God. Even if this blog is merely writing and blogging practice for me, preparing the posts helps keep me in some Bible study while giving me more opportunity to write. The blog is not in vain nor is participation in the </span><b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Blogging from A to Z April Challenge</span></b><span style="font-family: inherit;">. Sometimes the effectiveness of what we do now is not evident until sometime in the future.</span></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">Commit your work to the Lord,<br /> and your plans will be established.</span></i></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #990000;">Proverbs 16:3</span></b><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">English Standard Version (ESV)</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBr7GxIqUhjN1ZA-D4sOT_6O76F-GfnC5EjqGmhQaPgLwp5N7iKwGM5hEwcBqso7v92mK0iTww7e3_RnI492iQpR-gIMpBHcBE5X8W_OAOZOo6ZaV9hfukG8vRx5u10fnBNKUOuqg8RWns/s1600/survivor-atoz+%5B2015%5D+-+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBr7GxIqUhjN1ZA-D4sOT_6O76F-GfnC5EjqGmhQaPgLwp5N7iKwGM5hEwcBqso7v92mK0iTww7e3_RnI492iQpR-gIMpBHcBE5X8W_OAOZOo6ZaV9hfukG8vRx5u10fnBNKUOuqg8RWns/s1600/survivor-atoz+%5B2015%5D+-+2.jpg" height="640" width="320" /></a></div>
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Arlee Birdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11663942782929929334noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7493428142939187605.post-5937304429858409242015-04-30T02:00:00.000-07:002015-04-30T02:00:04.152-07:00Zion (Elements of Existence) #AtoZChallenge<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container zemanta-img" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Israel-flag01c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: clear:right;"><img alt="English: Flag of Israel with the Mediterranean..." border="0" class="zemanta-img-inserted zemanta-img-configured" height="326" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/86/Israel-flag01c.jpg" style="border: none; font-size: 0.8em;" width="326" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption zemanta-img-attribution" style="text-align: center; width: 326px;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">English: Flag of Israel with the Mediterranean sea in the background, in Rishon LeZion. עברית: דגל ישראל בראשון לציון (Photo credit: <a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Israel-flag01c.jpg" target="_blank">Wikipedia</a>)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><b><i>This is what the Lord says: “I will return to Zion and dwell in Jerusalem. Then Jerusalem will be called the Faithful City, and the mountain of the Lord Almighty will be called the Holy Mountain.”</i></b></span><br />
<b><span style="color: #990000;">Zechariah 8:3</span></b><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">New International Version (NIV)</span></div>
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We hear much condemnation of Israel in our time. This is not surprising to anyone who knows the Bible. The amazing prophecies of thousands of years ago should be enough to turn all eyes upon Jerusalem in reverence and awe. Yet, as predicted in books of the Old Testament, Jerusalem has become a source of contention to many nations. The time of settlement of this dispute appears to be close at hand.<br />
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Many nations are turning against Israel and this is their mistake. God will protect Israel and those who condemn the nation will face judgement and ruin. If you think of "Zion" with negativity then perhaps it is time for you to research the matter. Christ will one day rule from his throne in the Holy City of Jerusalem. The lines have been drawn. Which side are you on?</div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><b><i>“See, I lay a stone in Zion,<br /> a chosen and precious cornerstone,<br />and the one who trusts in him<br /> will never be put to shame.”</i></b></span><br />
<b><span style="color: #990000;">1 Peter 2:6</span></b><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">New International Version (NIV)</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b> And so ends the 2015 Blogging from A to Z April Challenge. My A to Z Reflections post for this blog will appear on Sunday May 3rd.</b></span><br />
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Arlee Birdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11663942782929929334noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7493428142939187605.post-35313845116036752522015-04-29T02:00:00.000-07:002017-03-01T14:09:07.527-08:00Youth (Elements of Existence) #AtoZChallenge<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container zemanta-img" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Fulbe_youth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: clear:right;"><img alt="Fulbe youth (Fula youth), Mauritania" border="0" class="zemanta-img-inserted zemanta-img-configured" height="237" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d7/Fulbe_youth.jpg/350px-Fulbe_youth.jpg" style="border: none; font-size: 0.8em;" width="350" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption zemanta-img-attribution" style="text-align: center; width: 350px;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Fulbe youth (Fula youth), Mauritania (Photo credit: <a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Fulbe_youth.jpg" target="_blank">Wikipedia</a>)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b><i>Honor and enjoy your Creator while you’re still young,<br />Before the years take their toll and your vigor wanes,<br />Before your vision dims and the world blurs<br />And the winter years keep you close to the fire.</i></b></span><br />
<b><span style="color: #990000;">Ecclesiastes 12:1</span></b><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">The Message (MSG)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">The time of youth is often the time of rebellion, irrational behavior, and egocentric focus. When we are young, strong, and full of vitality we can feel indestructible with the attitude that we only need tend to our feelings of the moment without any regard to the future. Unfortunately many young people don't think they need a loving God ruling over their lives. Instead they create their own gods and try to take charge of everything themselves.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"> An awareness of grower older often hits us at inopportune times in our lives. At some point we find ourselves as members of the generation for which we may have once felt disdain. We become the adversary of youth and the advocate of orderly existence. Eventually we are the old, the feeble, and the diminishing in health as we become at the mercy of that generation of which we were once a part.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"> If only we could see things of the future through our eyes of youth. When we have good examples in our parents and elders there is an opportunity to learn and better understand. Parents have a responsibility toward the children they bring into this world just as the children have a responsibility to listen and to respect their elders. Fortunately sometimes this happens. Sadly it sometimes doesn't.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"> The cycle of youth to middle age to old age continues. The attitudes don't seem to change much. Parents must capture the minds and imaginations of the children when they are malleable and more receptive to receiving the important messages of the ages. The child gets older and eventually dies as will their children. The sacred message of the Scripture must be planted in their minds when they are listening to those who are older. Attempting to teach youth in rebellion is a tough task that usually ineffectual.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><i>Children, obey your parents the way the Lord wants. This is the right thing to do. The command says, “Honor your father and mother.” This is the first command that has a promise with it. The promise is: “Then everything will be well with you, and you will have a long life on the earth.”<br /><br /> Fathers, do not make your children angry, but raise them with the training and teaching of the Lord.</i></b></span><br />
<b><span style="color: #990000;">Ephesians 6:1-4</span></b><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">International Children’s Bible (ICB)</span><br />
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Arlee Birdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11663942782929929334noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7493428142939187605.post-43862103994551132382015-04-28T02:00:00.000-07:002015-04-28T02:00:06.671-07:00X (Elements of Existence) #AtoZChallenge<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container zemanta-img" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ten_Commandments_Monument.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: clear:right;"><img alt="A Ten Commandments monument which includes the..." border="0" class="zemanta-img-inserted zemanta-img-configured" height="480" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/ce/Ten_Commandments_Monument.jpg/350px-Ten_Commandments_Monument.jpg" style="border: none; font-size: 0.8em;" width="350" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption zemanta-img-attribution" style="text-align: center; width: 350px;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">A Ten Commandments monument which includes the command to "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy". (Photo credit: <a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ten_Commandments_Monument.jpg" target="_blank">Wikipedia</a>)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">The Ten Commandments (Exodus 20)</span></b><br />
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<ol style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: ff-meta-serif-web-pro, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.6; list-style-position: outside; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem 1.5rem; padding: 0px;">
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000;">You shall have no other gods before Me.</span></b></li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000;">You shall not make idols.</span></b></li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000;">You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain.</span></b></li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000;">Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.</span></b></li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000;">Honor your father and your mother.</span></b></li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000;">You shall not murder.</span></b></li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000;">You shall not commit adultery.</span></b></li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000;">You shall not steal.</span></b></li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000;">You shall not lie about your neighbor.</span></b></li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000;">You shall not covet.</span></b></li>
</ol>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: ff-meta-serif-web-pro, Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 25.6000003814697px;"><b> </b></span></span> In some ways I'm baffled about the United States government bending to those who are offended by the posting of the Ten Commandments on government properties and in courtrooms. Okay, so the first four might bother atheists, but then again if we look at these Commandments as the historical document that they are, any offense should be considered a non-issue. After all the foundation of law in western society has been rooted in the Ten Commandments. Thus we can argue that the Commandments are an element of our history.<br />
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Other than to those who have some aversion to God or the institution of religion, there is nothing in the final six commandments that should be problematic to anyone no matter what they believe. Arguably there is even merit for all in the first four Commandments though none of these have any actual legal implications from the standpoint of government in our day. <br />
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The actual desire in preventing the display of the Commandments is to remove any mention of God from our lives and our society. The whims of the few are imposed upon the many. Who should receive the greater respect, those Godless parts of society who would prefer that we all stop believing or God the Supreme Creator? Personally I'm in favor of God.<br />
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God will win this in the end, but first the other side might have their day of temporary glory. Believers might pay when that time comes, but our rewards will be much greater when God's time comes.<br />
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven."</i></b></span><br />
<b><span style="color: #990000;">Matthew 5:17-22</span></b><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">New International Version (NIV)</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span></div>
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Arlee Birdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11663942782929929334noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7493428142939187605.post-83648759348831693492015-04-27T02:00:00.000-07:002015-04-27T02:00:04.846-07:00Worship (Elements of Existence) #AtoZChallenge<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container zemanta-img" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Benozzo_Gozzoli_001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: clear:right;"><img alt="c. 1460-1480" border="0" class="zemanta-img-inserted zemanta-img-configured" height="276" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c1/Benozzo_Gozzoli_001.jpg/350px-Benozzo_Gozzoli_001.jpg" style="border: none; font-size: 0.8em;" width="350" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption zemanta-img-attribution" style="text-align: center; width: 350px;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">c. 1460-1480 (Photo credit: <a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Benozzo_Gozzoli_001.jpg" target="_blank">Wikipedia</a>)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<b><i><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">Ascribe to the Lord, you heavenly beings,</span></i></b><br />
<b><i><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"> ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.<br /> Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;<br /> worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness.</span></i></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #990000;">Psalm 29:1-2</span></b><br />
<span style="color: #990000;">New International Version (NIV)</span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> People worship many things--material possessions, celebrities, and even each other. We have a tendency to elevate others, our activities, and our possessions to a point of keen longing for them when they are apart from us. Our adulation is often misplaced. Things and people pass through our lives. They are temporal while God is eternal.</span><br />
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Our eternal God is worthy of our feelings of most profound love and devotion and it is to Him that we should direct our worship. Love our families and friends in the sense that they should be loved. Enjoy our possessions and experiences but always keep them in perspective of the short-lived things that they are. But set your eternal sights on Almighty God. Worship Him for He is Lord.<br />
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><b><i>Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our “God is a consuming fire.”</i></b></span><br />
<b><span style="color: #990000;">Hebrews 12:28-29</span></b><br />
<span style="color: #990000;">New International Version (NIV)</span><br />
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<b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><i>The end of a matter is better than its beginning,</i></span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><i> and patience is better than pride.</i></span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #990000;">Ecclesiastes 7:8</span></b><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">New International Version (NIV)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"> My upbringing has always reinforced the idea of finishing what I've started. There have certainly been times when I have fallen short of this worthy goal and most of those times I was not pleased in having been a quitter. I try to finish what I've started and carry the burden of not having finished something when that has been the case.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Our image in this world is reflected in the work we do. If we gain a reputation for not following through with our stated commitments then we are known as unreliable, undependable, and not up to being given responsibilities. This can hurt us not only in our work life, but in our relationships with those around us.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Slow and steady is a good philosophy to heed in most cases. Jumping headlong into a venture and then losing steam and giving up might look good at the outset, but it doesn't win the contest. Preparation is important. Pacing provides strength and stamina. If you're going to be a winner at anything, you have to finish those things. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"> What you do in life and how you do it tells others who you are and what they can expect from you in the future. If you look back to see a life filled with failures in work and relationships then evaluate your performance to see how honestly you worked at those things in your life. Then look at yourself now to see what you need to do to change your image. Whenever you set out to do something, do it well and see it through to the end. Finish and finish well. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><b><i>Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means.</i></b></span><br />
<b><span style="color: #990000;">2 Corinthians 8:11</span></b><br />
<span style="color: #990000;">New International Version (NIV)</span><br />
<div>
<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span></div>
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Arlee Birdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11663942782929929334noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7493428142939187605.post-32314086940096424922015-04-25T02:00:00.000-07:002015-04-25T02:00:07.077-07:00Value (Elements of Existence) #AtoZChallenge<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container zemanta-img" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Spanish_Sparrow_female%2C_Mellieha_Bay%2C_Malta.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: clear:right;"><img alt="A sparrow in Mellieha, Malta. In Malta the res..." border="0" class="zemanta-img-inserted zemanta-img-configured" height="322" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fe/Spanish_Sparrow_female%2C_Mellieha_Bay%2C_Malta.jpg/350px-Spanish_Sparrow_female%2C_Mellieha_Bay%2C_Malta.jpg" style="border: none; font-size: 0.8em;" width="350" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption zemanta-img-attribution" style="text-align: center; width: 350px;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">A sparrow in Mellieha, Malta. In Malta the resident sparrows are mostly hybrids between Spanish Sparrows (Passer hispaniolensis) and the House Sparrows (Passer domesticus). It is difficult to identify this bird with certainty, because of the mix of sparrows wintering on Malta. (Photo credit: <a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Spanish_Sparrow_female%2C_Mellieha_Bay%2C_Malta.jpg" target="_blank">Wikipedia</a>)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<b><i><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;</span></i></b><br />
<b><i><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"> your works are wonderful,<br /> I know that full well.</span></i></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #990000;">Psalm 139:14</span></b><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">New International Version (NIV)</span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> If God is great and all of his creation is great then we are great since we are made by God. That's pretty sound reasoning I would say. We are fallen creatures so that takes away our perfection, but God's intent in creating us was a perfect one. Since we all are part of God's creation, we have value in God's eyes.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Now, if God sees value in us then we too should see value in others and we should be aware of our own value. When I hear someone say that they are worthless then I have to ask, "According to whom?" Self devaluation is just plain wrong as far as I'm concerned. We all have shortcomings, but that is not a diminution of our value. We always have room to grow and to better ourselves.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Don't look down on others as though they have no value to anyone. And since you are closest to you, don't look down on yourself. You will never achieve perfection in this life, but that's not any excuse to not try to become the best that you can be. Living up to God's standards is up to you. God cares and wants you to become a better person. God never gives up on any of us because we are valuable to him. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b><i>Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.</i></b></span><br />
<b><span style="color: #990000;">Matthew 10:29-31</span></b><br />
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<h1 class="passage-display" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 500; line-height: 1.1; margin: 0px 0px 20px;">
<span class="passage-display-version" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: inherit;">English Standard Version (ESV)</span></span></h1>
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<div>
<span class="passage-display-version" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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Arlee Birdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11663942782929929334noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7493428142939187605.post-12525505729770761272015-04-24T02:00:00.000-07:002015-04-24T02:00:07.562-07:00Uprigthtness (Elements of Existence) #AtoZChallenge<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container zemanta-img" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Look_at_Earth_from_the_Heaven.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: clear:right;"><img alt="Look at Earth from the Heaven" border="0" class="zemanta-img-inserted zemanta-img-configured" height="263" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4c/Look_at_Earth_from_the_Heaven.jpg/350px-Look_at_Earth_from_the_Heaven.jpg" style="border: none; font-size: 0.8em;" width="350" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption zemanta-img-attribution" style="text-align: center; width: 350px;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Look at Earth from the Heaven (Photo credit: <a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Look_at_Earth_from_the_Heaven.jpg" target="_blank">Wikipedia</a>)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;"><i>For a day in your courts is better</i></b><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b><i> than a thousand elsewhere.<br />I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God<br /> than dwell in the tents of wickedness.<br /> For the Lord God is a sun and shield;<br /> the Lord bestows favor and honor.<br />No good thing does he withhold<br /> from those who walk uprightly.</i></b></span><br />
<b><span style="color: #990000;">Psalm 84:10-11</span></b><br />
<span style="color: #990000;">English Standard Version (ESV)</span><br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">These days there often seems to be little concern for decent moral behavior. Many people are shameless about how they conduct themselves on social media and the things they put online about themselves. In public places we see people dressed without regard to decency and using language that we are embarrassed for our children to overhear. There seems to be a general lack of respect for standards of decency and uprightness of character.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> High profile public figures often show blatant disregard for respectful behavior and many flaunt their inappropriateness as their badge of individuality and badness. Bad is good in the eyes of modern culture while sin is merely another synonym for having a good time. As our society is turning topsy-turvy, Satan is undoubtedly thrilled to see so much disobedience of God's commands.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Raising children and keeping ones morality on track are challenges that Christians have always faced, but now more than ever we are constantly tempted to fall into sinful ways and evil thoughts. Each of our lives is merely a brief flash in the span of time. Is a moment of carnal pleasure or immoral action worth sacrificing an eternity in Paradise with God?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> When we walk upright and keep our sights high, we can lift ourselves above the filth that is all around us. Our uprightness sets an example for others and especially for our children and the younger generations who look up to us. </span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b><i>This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us.</i></b></span><br />
<b><span style="color: #990000;">1 John 1:5-8</span></b><br />
<div>
<span style="color: #990000;">New American Standard Bible (NASB)</span><br />
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
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Arlee Birdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11663942782929929334noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7493428142939187605.post-66913731263205178302015-04-23T02:00:00.000-07:002015-04-23T02:00:08.213-07:00Talents (Elements of Existence) #AtoZChallenge<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container zemanta-img" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Parable_of_the_Talents.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: clear:right;"><img alt="Parable of the Talents" border="0" class="zemanta-img-inserted zemanta-img-configured" height="500" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ec/Parable_of_the_Talents.jpg/350px-Parable_of_the_Talents.jpg" style="border: none; font-size: 0.8em;" width="350" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption zemanta-img-attribution" style="text-align: center; width: 350px;">Parable of the Talents (Photo credit: <a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Parable_of_the_Talents.jpg" target="_blank">Wikipedia</a>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<b><i><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">The right gift at the right time can open up new opportunities<br /> and gains access to influential people.</span></i></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #990000;">Proverbs 18:16</span></b><br />
<div>
<span style="color: #990000;">The Voice (VOICE)</span><br />
<div>
<span class="passage-display-version" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="passage-display-version" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline;"> <span style="font-family: inherit;">Despite anything that you might believe about yourself, you have talent. I've heard some say that they have no special talents or skills. Untrue! God has blessed each of you with one or more special gifts.</span></span><br />
<span class="passage-display-version" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="passage-display-version" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> Maybe you can't dance, play a musical instrument, or sing. That doesn't mean you don't have a talent. Some people might be good at sports and physical activities while others might be better with writing or math. Talent can encompass many many things.</span></span><br />
<span class="passage-display-version" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="passage-display-version" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> One person might be good with children which makes them a good candidate for childcare, teaching, or parenting. Another might have extraordinary abilities with cooking and other skills in the kitchen. Maybe you're a good driver or mechanic. There are many skills that a lot of people don't think of as talent.</span></span><br />
<span class="passage-display-version" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="passage-display-version" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> Before you start believing that you have no talent, think about the things that you do well and the things you enjoy doing. Those are some of your talents. Chances are you have a number of talents. Put them to good use. Look for a career that puts those skills to work or volunteer your skills in service to God at your church or local charity.</span></span><br />
<span class="passage-display-version" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="passage-display-version" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> Don't hide your talents. Be glad for the special gifts with which God has blessed you. He gave those to you so you could share them with others, give you self worth, and to glorify Him. Don't waste those resources.</span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="passage-display-version" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline;"><br /></span></div>
<b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><i>Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.</i></span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #990000;">1 Peter 4:10</span></b></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #990000;">New International Version (NIV)</span><br />
<div>
<span class="passage-display-version" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="passage-display-version" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
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Arlee Birdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11663942782929929334noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7493428142939187605.post-70935718761588481802015-04-22T02:00:00.000-07:002015-04-22T02:00:07.233-07:00Salvation (Elements of Existence) #AtoZChallenge<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container zemanta-img" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Brooklyn_Museum_-_Our_Lord_Jesus_Christ_%28Notre-Seigneur_J%C3%A9sus-Christ%29_-_James_Tissot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: clear:right;"><img alt="Our Lord Jesus Christ" border="0" class="zemanta-img-inserted zemanta-img-configured" height="320" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/95/Brooklyn_Museum_-_Our_Lord_Jesus_Christ_%28Notre-Seigneur_J%C3%A9sus-Christ%29_-_James_Tissot.jpg/350px-Brooklyn_Museum_-_Our_Lord_Jesus_Christ_%28Notre-Seigneur_J%C3%A9sus-Christ%29_-_James_Tissot.jpg" style="border: none; font-size: 0.8em;" width="204" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption zemanta-img-attribution" style="text-align: center; width: 350px;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Our Lord Jesus Christ (Photo credit: <a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Brooklyn_Museum_-_Our_Lord_Jesus_Christ_%28Notre-Seigneur_J%C3%A9sus-Christ%29_-_James_Tissot.jpg" target="_blank">Wikipedia</a>)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><b><i>Sing to the Lord, all the earth;<br /> proclaim his salvation day after day.<br />Declare his glory among the nations,<br /> his marvelous deeds among all peoples.</i></b></span><br />
<b><span style="color: #990000;">1 Chronicles 16:23-24</span></b><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">In some ways we might say that salvation is what life on this Earth is all about. We may not totally know why we are here and where in this life we are going other than we will one day die and leave this life. While in this life we are given the opportunity to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"> We are all sinners and are undeserving of God's mercy and yet our Lord has provided us an opportunity to be saved from eternal damnation. God offers his grace. It is up to each of his to receive this gift through our profession of faith, confession of sin, and acceptance of Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"> You are offered a generous gift. Will you receive it?</span></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.</span></i></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #990000;">Ephesians 2:8-9</span></b><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">New International Version (NIV)</span><br />
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Arlee Birdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11663942782929929334noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7493428142939187605.post-27906539434421866222015-04-21T02:00:00.000-07:002015-04-21T02:00:06.471-07:00Renewal (Elements of Existence) #AtoZChallenge<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container zemanta-img" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Holy_Spirit_as_Dove_%28detail%29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: clear:right;"><img alt="English: Gian Lorenzo Bernini - Dove of the Ho..." border="0" class="zemanta-img-inserted zemanta-img-configured" height="276" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e6/Holy_Spirit_as_Dove_%28detail%29.jpg" style="border: none; font-size: 0.8em;" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption zemanta-img-attribution" style="text-align: center; width: 265px;"> <span style="font-size: xx-small;">Gian Lorenzo Bernini - Dove of the Holy Spirit (ca. 1660, stained glass, Throne of St. Peter, St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican) (Photo credit: <a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Holy_Spirit_as_Dove_%28detail%29.jpg" target="_blank">Wikipedia</a>)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><b><i>Create in me a pure heart, O God,<br /> and renew a steadfast spirit within me.<br /> Do not cast me from your presence<br /> or take your Holy Spirit from me.<br /> Restore to me the joy of your salvation<br /> and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><b>Psalm 51:10-12</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"> All around us we see others struggling with their lives. There are those who are dealing with economic hardships, health problems, and emotional conflict. These life difficulties are often self-inflicted, not so much on purpose but more so being the consequences of bad life choices and withdrawing from the aid of the Holy Spirit.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Alienation from God is our choice, but so often we want to blame God for leaving us on our own and not providing the assistance to pull us from the depths into which we've sunk. Blame is not the appropriate solution. Instead we need to call out for God's help and reach out for his hand. God provides the ultimate answer to the difficulties we face in life.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Mental health specialists might be able to help some. Drugs can provide temporary assuagement, but they are not the ultimate long term answer. Friends or family members can comfort us to some degree, but we become a burden to them if we are overly dependent. God is the perfect solution to our needs, but if we don't recognize this and believe it then we cannot hear his voice of comfort calling to us through the confusion of our pain.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Each day we are dying. Yet through God we are becoming more alive and growing ever closer to a perfect eternity with Him. Feeling defeat and weariness is not an unusual state of human existence on occasion, but we don't have to be constantly beaten down into that frame of mind. Renewal is at hand and is ours for the believing.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><b><i>Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.</i></b></span><br />
<b><span style="color: #990000;">2 Corinthians 4:16</span></b><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">New International Version (NIV)</span><br />
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Arlee Birdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11663942782929929334noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7493428142939187605.post-75706804198851164522015-04-20T02:00:00.000-07:002015-04-20T02:00:02.891-07:00Quiet (Elements of Existence) #AtoZChallenge<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container zemanta-img" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Landscape-netherlands-twisk.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: clear:right;"><img alt="English: A nice view on the quiet landscape in..." border="0" class="zemanta-img-inserted zemanta-img-configured" height="263" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f1/Landscape-netherlands-twisk.JPG/350px-Landscape-netherlands-twisk.JPG" style="border: none; font-size: 0.8em;" width="350" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption zemanta-img-attribution" style="text-align: center; width: 350px;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">A nice view on the quiet landscape in Twisk, The Netherlands (Photo credit: <a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Landscape-netherlands-twisk.JPG" target="_blank">Wikipedia</a>)</span></td></tr>
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<b><i><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">Better a dry crust with peace and quiet</span></i></b><br />
<b><i><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"> than a house full of feasting, with strife.</span></i></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #990000;">Proverbs 17:1</span></b><br />
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The world can be a noisy place at times, but still there are quiet places to which we can retreat. Solitude and silence sometimes seem like something that many fear and yet these are states that are vital to our sense of inner peace and personal sanity. We should not only seek out the quiet places which we can use to our meditative advantage, but we should strive to help create environments of quietude for ourselves and others to enjoy if even for only a few minutes at a time.<br />
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So many of us feel the need to have chatter around us whether it be the television, radio, or merely our own idle talk. Once in a while it doesn't hurt to just keep your mouth shut and listen to others or even strain for the distant sounds of all that surrounds us. We usually don't have to strain much for that!<br />
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I'm not suggesting that we should just clam up and not have conversation with others, but we should perhaps be more careful in the things we say. I've been trying my best to speak carefully when I'm among others. A quiet person can have a lot of impact when their words are spoken. Try to make what you say count for something. Words can be like precious treasures or dangerous daggers.</div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”</span></i></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #990000;">Matthew 12:36-37</span></b><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">New International Version (NIV)</span><br />
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Arlee Birdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11663942782929929334noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7493428142939187605.post-2310068622203478482015-04-19T02:00:00.000-07:002015-04-19T02:00:04.471-07:00And Now the Rest of God's Story<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container zemanta-img" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Hnizdovsky_prayingchild.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: clear:right;"><img alt="English: Praying Child Notecard" border="0" class="zemanta-img-inserted zemanta-img-configured" height="320" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f4/Hnizdovsky_prayingchild.jpg/350px-Hnizdovsky_prayingchild.jpg" style="border: none; font-size: 0.8em;" width="227" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption zemanta-img-attribution" style="text-align: center; width: 350px;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Praying Child Notecard (Photo credit: <a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Hnizdovsky_prayingchild.jpg" target="_blank">Wikipedia</a>)</span></td></tr>
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<b><i><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">In peace I will lie down and sleep,</span></i></b><br />
<b><i><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"> for you alone, Lord,<br /> make me dwell in safety.</span></i></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #990000;">Psalm 4:8 </span></b><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;"> </span>As a child I would kneel by my bedside to recite that famous children's prayer that begins with "<a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Now_I_Lay_Me_Down_to_Sleep" rel="wikipedia" target="_blank" title="Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep">Now I lay me down to sleep</a>." This was a sweet ritual that my mother taught me. I suppose this prayer provided me with some comfort, but the fact is that when I was a child I never had any trouble falling asleep. I felt safe and secure in my family's home with loving parents nearby and some hazy concept that made me accept that there was a loving God watching over all of us.<br />
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After we've grown older and a bit more jaded about this world, we start finding more things to worry over to the point where they can often consume our lives. I've spent more than a few sleepless nights mentally rehashing things that I can't do much about or situations I should just leave in God's hands. Sometimes it seems silly when I think about the things that can keep me awake. At these times I realize that I should be letting God's peace just settle over me to give me the rest I sorely need</div>
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<span style="color: #990000;"> </span> I suppose we can be funny in that way. We know that we should let God handle the problems and yet in our lack of patience and our inklings of doubt we want to come up with our own solutions to our problems. Sometimes we might think that God's not listening to our petty problem so it's up to us to fix it. Deep down I believe that God's listening, but my human weakness leads me to fret by day and lose sleep by night. That's not the way it's supposed to be.</div>
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<span style="color: #990000;"> </span>Jesus came to this Earth to provide salvation and hope. He did not come to cause turmoil, and yet his message has been one that has divided many and distressed those who wish He had never made his appearance. These are the people who need to listen closely to the words of the Messiah. And when I fall back onto my own sense of self-reliance, that's when I need to remember his words as well.</div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><b><i>“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”</i></b></span><br />
<b><span style="color: #990000;">John 16:33</span></b><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">New International Version (NIV)</span><br />
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Arlee Birdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11663942782929929334noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7493428142939187605.post-77626181203112369452015-04-18T02:00:00.000-07:002015-04-18T02:00:01.730-07:00Patience (Elements of Existence) #AtoZChallenge<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container zemanta-img" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Trafficjamdelhi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: clear:right;"><img alt="English: Traffic Jam in Delhi Français : Un em..." border="0" class="zemanta-img-inserted zemanta-img-configured" height="263" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/24/Trafficjamdelhi.jpg/350px-Trafficjamdelhi.jpg" style="border: none; font-size: 0.8em;" width="350" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption zemanta-img-attribution" style="text-align: center; width: 350px;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> Traffic Jam in Delhi (Photo credit: <a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Trafficjamdelhi.jpg" target="_blank">Wikipedia</a>)</span></td></tr>
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<b><i><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.</span></i></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #990000;">Jeremiah 29:11</span></b><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">In this world, and especially in our time, we have to have a lot of patience. We find ourselves on phone hold, sitting in traffic, or waiting in lines. We wait for important mail, checks, or for dinner to be ready. Rarely do we enjoy waiting, but whether or not we like it, waiting is a fact of life.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Some of us may be waiting for God to do something big in our lives. Or for that matter something small. We wait for God and wonder where He is when we need him. It's not like the futility of honking ones horn in the traffic or complaining to others when the line is long and doesn't seem to be moving fast enough. We might try praying, but it's important to remember that we are on God's time and within God's plans for us.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Grumbling will only discourage us and get us feeling despondent. Praise God for what you have and wait for your prayers to be answered. Stress and negativity is not only bad for your health, it can literally kill you. Be glad that you are able to wait with hope within you. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Faith will bring healing and eventually the right answer to prayers. Patience in the presence of God has rewards far bigger than anything you wait for in this world.</span><br />
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<b><i><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.</span></i></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #990000;">Romans 12:12</span></b><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">New International Version (NIV)</span><br />
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Arlee Birdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11663942782929929334noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7493428142939187605.post-36165000991504351192015-04-17T02:00:00.000-07:002015-04-17T02:00:08.600-07:00Order (Elements of Existence) #AtoZChallenge<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container zemanta-img" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:NGC_4414_%28NASA-med%29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: clear:right;"><img alt="Galaxies are so large that stars can be consid..." border="0" class="zemanta-img-inserted zemanta-img-configured" height="289" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c3/NGC_4414_%28NASA-med%29.jpg/350px-NGC_4414_%28NASA-med%29.jpg" style="border: none; font-size: 0.8em;" width="350" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption zemanta-img-attribution" style="text-align: center; width: 350px;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Galaxies are so large that stars can be considered particles next to them (Photo credit: <a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:NGC_4414_%28NASA-med%29.jpg" target="_blank">Wikipedia</a>)</span></td></tr>
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<b><i><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"> Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”</span></i></b><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><b>Genesis 1:26</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">New International Version (NIV)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">There is so much disagreement and clash within our world that sometimes it's a wonder that we don't all live in utter chaos. Yet the natural state of humans and society is some kind of semblance of order. It's the way we were created. God created an orderly universe that is intricately, fastidiously, and amazingly structured. Even in the most seemingly chaotic states of nature, order brings everything into a proper place. Without order the world would cease to exist.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Each component of God's wondrous creation intersects and works together with a beautiful harmony. The world resounds with the music of God's glory. Humans may do things that affect our natural world in adverse ways, but the insistent harmony of God's order will eventually prevail. We are responsible for taking proper care of the Earth, but no matter what harm we do, God's order will readjust the damage to heal that which has been harmed.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Humankind has a responsibility to conserve and preserve the Earth, the resources, and all of God's creation. We also should strive to create order within our social institutions and among all the peoples of this Earth. The Bible tells us clearly that this orderly existence of our society will not last within the confines of the time of our world, but that does not mean we should not at least try to do what we can to do our parts in achieving order as God would have it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"> We are promised the day to come when there will be a new heaven and a new Earth under the reign of the perfect order of God's government. In the interim we have to deal with the world we have now and the imperfect society of fallen humans. Let's work for God's order as best we can.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b><i>For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things,and in him all things hold together.</i></b></span><br />
<b><span style="color: #990000;">Colossians 1:16-17</span></b><br />
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Arlee Birdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11663942782929929334noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7493428142939187605.post-3675447335593201082015-04-16T02:00:00.000-07:002015-04-16T02:00:05.254-07:00Neighbors (Elements of Existence) #AtoZChallenge<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container zemanta-img" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:FEMA_-_31824_-_Aerial_of_neighborhood_where_residents_are_cleaning_up_after_the_floods.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: clear:right;"><img alt="English: Caddo County, OK, August 20, 2007 -- ..." border="0" class="zemanta-img-inserted zemanta-img-configured" height="233" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4c/FEMA_-_31824_-_Aerial_of_neighborhood_where_residents_are_cleaning_up_after_the_floods.jpg/350px-FEMA_-_31824_-_Aerial_of_neighborhood_where_residents_are_cleaning_up_after_the_floods.jpg" style="border: none; font-size: 0.8em;" width="350" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption zemanta-img-attribution" style="text-align: center; width: 350px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> Caddo County, OK, August 20, 2007 -- Debris litters the yards as neighbors help neighbors clean up in the aftermath of the flooding caused by the severe weather following Tropical Storm Erin in Caddo County, Oklahoma. Before the state or FEMA are asked to assist, it is individuals and local communities who first help citizens in their recovery. Photo by: Patricia Brach/FEMA photo (Photo credit: <a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:FEMA_-_31824_-_Aerial_of_neighborhood_where_residents_are_cleaning_up_after_the_floods.jpg" target="_blank">Wikipedia</a>)</span></td></tr>
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<b><i><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">Do not plot harm against your neighbor,</span></i></b><br />
<b><i><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"> who lives trustfully near you.</span></i></b><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><b>Proverbs 3:29</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">New International Version (NIV)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"> If you're like I am, you probably don't know your neighbors very well. When I see my neighbors we might exchange friendly greetings, but on the whole neighborliness where I live isn't like I remember it when I was a kid still living with my parents. We seemed to know mostly all of the neighbors and they'd visit with one another and maybe even drop in with goodies now and then.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Maybe you still live in a neighborhood where things are still this way. Not where I live. Everyone is busy with work or activities. Not many people stay at home much and when they are at home they'll mostly be inside. There are few neighbors whom I know by name and I don't know much about those whose names I do know and nothing about the rest of the neighbors.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> But I would hope that I would be able to step up to help if any of them needed it. And I certainly don't want to do anything against any of them. There are almost always those mean folks in a neighborhood who want to complain about something a neighbor is doing or cause problems for them, but I'd rather treat my neighbors like I want them to treat me--with respect and with as little hassle for them as possible.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> If they have the time and seem like they want to talk then I'll gladly take the time to visit with them. I'll hear their needs and if there is some way that I can be of service to them then I'll do it. And this doesn't just apply in the immediate vicinity where I live. The world is our neighborhood and we should be good neighbors with everyone.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Sadly, neighborliness has been forgotten by much of the world. There is a lot of spitefulness, greed, and distrust in our world. People are out for themselves, their specific group, or their nation. To a certain extent I suppose you have to think in these terms, but that shouldn't be the way our lives are ruled. It sure seems like we'd all be better off if we showed more love for each other and had a greater live and let live philosophy about everything.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> We need to live within God's law which is the perfect law that would solve all the problems of this mean old world. I guess there's just too many folks thinking that their law <i><b>is</b></i> God's law even if their thinking is wrong. Maybe those people need to do a bit more thinking and a bit more studying on the issue. Thoughtful kind people are the ones I want for my neighbors and that's the kind of neighbor I prefer to be as well.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span></div>
<b><i><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">This royal law is found in the Scriptures: “Love your neighbor as you love yourself.” If you obey this law, you are doing right.</span></i></b><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><b>James 2:8</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">New Century Version (NCV)</span><br />
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Arlee Birdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11663942782929929334noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7493428142939187605.post-19988649759390225002015-04-15T02:00:00.000-07:002015-04-15T02:00:01.029-07:00Music (Elements of Existence) #AtoZChallenge<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container zemanta-img" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:USA.NM.VeryLargeArray.02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: clear:right;"><img alt="The Very Large Array at Socorro, New Mexico, U..." border="0" class="zemanta-img-inserted zemanta-img-configured" height="263" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/63/USA.NM.VeryLargeArray.02.jpg/350px-USA.NM.VeryLargeArray.02.jpg" style="border: none; font-size: 0.8em;" width="350" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption zemanta-img-attribution" style="text-align: center; width: 350px;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">The Very Large Array at Socorro, New Mexico, United States. (Photo credit: <a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:USA.NM.VeryLargeArray.02.jpg" target="_blank">Wikipedia</a>)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<b><i><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">My heart, O God, is steadfast,</span></i></b><br />
<b><i><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"> my heart is steadfast;<br /> I will sing and make music.</span></i></b><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><b>Psalm 57:7</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;">New International Version (NIV)</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #990000;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">One of the truly wonderful gifts that God has provided us is the gift of music. I've often maintained that music is the language of God. We hear the sound of music throughout nature and now radio astronomy has indicated that even from the depths of space something akin to music is being transmitted from the stars. In the Book of Job (38:7) reference is made to the stars singing together--this written long before the more recent discoveries of astronomy.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Music--in the more traditional sense--represents order, harmony, and emotion. The sounds of music can bring us to tears or incite us into action. The structuring of sounds into a framework that we can define as music is a miracle in some sense. Though music has become so commonplace in our lives, it is still amazing to consider how music can move us in so many ways, evoking memories as well as raising hopes for the future.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> To my thinking music is a wondrous element of our existence that embodies so much that is spiritual and good. Now, this is not to say that man hasn't corrupted some of this wondrous gift to create blasphemous and evil music. Sometimes the lyrical content of songs is far from Godly and expresses vile sentiments, but this is the way of the things of this world. At it's core music is a good thing.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> One day we will hear nothing but good music that is worthy of being played and sung in the presence of God. When I hear a song or a musical work that lifts me a bit higher toward heaven that's when I believe that I am hearing the voice of God speaking through beautifully organized sound.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span></div>
<b><i><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"> Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.</span></i></b><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><b>James 1:17</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">New International Version (NIV)</span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span></div>
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Arlee Birdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11663942782929929334noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7493428142939187605.post-80032639050549954262015-04-14T02:00:00.000-07:002015-04-14T02:00:05.613-07:00Love (Elements of Existence) #AtoZChallenge<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container zemanta-img" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:%22For_God_So_Loved_the_World%2C%22_Lubbock%2C_TX_IMG_4724.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: clear:right;"><img alt="English: I took photo in Lubbock, TX, with Can..." border="0" class="zemanta-img-inserted zemanta-img-configured" height="263" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/55/%22For_God_So_Loved_the_World%2C%22_Lubbock%2C_TX_IMG_4724.JPG/350px-%22For_God_So_Loved_the_World%2C%22_Lubbock%2C_TX_IMG_4724.JPG" style="border: none; font-size: 0.8em;" width="350" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption zemanta-img-attribution" style="text-align: center; width: 350px;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> I took photo in Lubbock, TX, with Canon camera.<br /> (Photo credit: <a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:%22For_God_So_Loved_the_World%2C%22_Lubbock%2C_TX_IMG_4724.JPG" target="_blank">Wikipedia</a>)</span></td></tr>
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<b><i><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">Let your face shine on your servant;<br /> save me in your unfailing love.</span></i></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #990000;">Psalm 31:16</span></b><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">New International Version (NIV)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">We've all most likely heard it said that "God is love" and yet sometimes we ask why a loving God would allow bad things to happen to us sometimes. We have to realize that we live in a fallen world. Humanity has opened the doors to sin and sin in turn causes the pain and the bad things to happen. One follows from the other. Imperfect that we are, we often fall into the ways of sin and face the consequences that result from our actions.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Never fear though, for God is ever watchful over us. Through his never-ending love He continues to provide our needs. He hears our prayers when we call to him. Even if his answer is not the one we want, it is the answer we need. A good parent does not give a child that which will hurt them even though the child may beg or scream--that is the parent's love in action. The child might feel resentment for a short term, but eventually that child usually will understand that what seemed like deprivation was actually an act of great caring.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Love involves sacrifice. God made the greatest sacrifice because he loved us. If we accept this and believe in this truth, then we will come to know the greatest love of all. God's love for us is like no other.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span></div>
<b><i><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.</span></i></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #990000;">John 3:16</span></b><br />
<span style="color: #990000;">New International Version (NIV)</span><br />
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Arlee Birdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11663942782929929334noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7493428142939187605.post-25171108845929064702015-04-13T02:00:00.000-07:002015-04-13T02:00:04.186-07:00Knowledge (Elements of Existence) #AtoZChallenge<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container zemanta-img" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Bridging_knowledge_and_healing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: clear:right;"><img alt="English: The interior of the pedestrian bridge..." border="0" class="zemanta-img-inserted zemanta-img-configured" height="263" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/55/Bridging_knowledge_and_healing.jpg/350px-Bridging_knowledge_and_healing.jpg" style="border: none; font-size: 0.8em;" width="350" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption zemanta-img-attribution" style="text-align: center; width: 350px;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">The interior of the pedestrian bridge that crosses Shuter Street and links St Michael's Hospital to the hospital's Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute and International Centre for Healthcare Education & Research. Doors Open Toronto 2011. Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo credit: <a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Bridging_knowledge_and_healing.jpg" target="_blank">Wikipedia</a>)</span></td></tr>
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<b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><i>The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge,</i></span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><i> but fools despise wisdom and instruction.</i></span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #990000;">Proverbs 1:7</span></b><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">New International Version (NIV)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;"> </span>Education and learning are good things. We should all strive to continually increase our intelligence since that goal is an important element of our existence. Some people have a vast amount of knowledge to the extent that they can be like walking encyclopedias. But what good is that knowledge if those people don't know how to apply it in order to make them spiritually stronger rather than just smart?<br />
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Knowledge and the ability to properly use that knowledge has been given to us by our Creator. If we are not using that gift in a way to glorify Almighty God then we are merely exploiting our gifts for our own vanity or to satisfy the temporal world of humanity. There's nothing wrong with wanting to better the state of this world, but we should also give credit where it is due.<br />
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When we honor and respect our Lord then our knowledge will increase in more practical and proper directions. Without God in our knowledge equation we are leaving our creativity and productivity open to misguided uses and destructive tendencies.<br />
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God expects us to seek greater knowledge, but we are to seek Him first. </div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done.</span></i></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #990000;">Romans 1:28</span></b><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">New International Version (NIV)</span><br />
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Arlee Birdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11663942782929929334noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7493428142939187605.post-3884767138678570052015-04-12T02:00:00.000-07:002015-04-12T02:00:03.147-07:00Please God First and Your Rewards Will Follow<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container zemanta-img" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Suffer_the_Little_Children_to_Come_Unto_Me.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: clear:right;"><img alt="Suffer the Little Children to Come Unto Me" border="0" class="zemanta-img-inserted zemanta-img-configured" height="211" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e8/Suffer_the_Little_Children_to_Come_Unto_Me.jpg/350px-Suffer_the_Little_Children_to_Come_Unto_Me.jpg" style="border: none; font-size: 0.8em;" width="350" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption zemanta-img-attribution" style="text-align: center; width: 350px;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Suffer the Little Children to Come Unto Me (Photo credit: <a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Suffer_the_Little_Children_to_Come_Unto_Me.jpg" target="_blank">Wikipedia</a>)</span></td></tr>
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<b style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: xx-large;"><i>Trust in the Lord with all your heart</i></b><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><b><i> and lean not on your own understanding;<br />in all your ways submit to him,<br /> and he will make your paths straight.</i></b></span><br /><span style="color: #990000;"><b>Proverbs 3:5-6</b></span><div>
<span style="color: #990000;">New International Version (NIV)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">This world can make it tough on the person who wants to do right and live by the precepts of what is taught in the Bible. Sometimes it feels like Christians are fighting a losing battle. More often than not we've seen the side of righteousness cede to the way of worldliness.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Most people react according to what makes them feel good and doesn't offend others. Sure it's nice to be happy and be filled with good feelings, but if it's sin then it is the wrong way to go. Sin often feels good when you're at it, but down the road there are consequences and what we reap from sin is not very pleasant.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"> And if you're trying to go through life not offending anybody then you might as well give up now. You can never please everyone so you should accept that trying to do so is a futile goal. What pleases one will offend another. Even the best and sweetest actions you can think of can be condemned by someone somewhere. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"> The only goal that matters is pleasing God. We can please ourselves and others, but those actions are in vain if they have not been performed within the parameters that God has set out for us. Likewise we can set about doing good in God's eyes and be reviled by most of the world. To be hated for doing the right thing is a victory that not many of us enjoy winning.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Do what good you can. Stand firm in righteousness and the ways of God. Your rewards may not be instantaneous, but your rewards will be waiting for you somewhere in the future. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span></div>
<b><i><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.</span></i></b><br /><b><span style="color: #990000;">Galatians 6:9</span></b><div>
<span style="color: #990000;">New International Version (NIV)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span></div>
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<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="background: none; display: block; float: left; font-size: 11px; list-style: none; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px; padding: 0; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 84px;"><a href="https://church4u2.wordpress.com/2015/03/26/2-timothy-222-flee-the-evil-desires-of-youth-and-pursue-righteousness-faith-love-and-peace-2/" style="border-radius: 2px; box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; display: block; padding: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="//i.zemanta.com/333897485_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0; max-width: 100%; padding: 0; width: 80px;" /></a><a href="https://church4u2.wordpress.com/2015/03/26/2-timothy-222-flee-the-evil-desires-of-youth-and-pursue-righteousness-faith-love-and-peace-2/" style="background-image: none; display: block; height: 83px; line-height: 12pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">2 Timothy 2:22 - Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace,</a></li>
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Arlee Birdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11663942782929929334noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7493428142939187605.post-85282610775442148292015-04-11T02:00:00.000-07:002015-04-11T02:00:03.210-07:00Joy (Elements of Existence) #AtoZChallenge<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container zemanta-img" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Present.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: clear:right;"><img alt="picture of a wrapped present" border="0" class="zemanta-img-inserted zemanta-img-configured" height="300" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/db/Present.gif" style="border: none; font-size: 0.8em;" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption zemanta-img-attribution" style="text-align: center; width: 300px;"> <span style="font-size: xx-small;">(Photo credit: <a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Present.gif" target="_blank">Wikipedia</a>)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<b><i><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">Clap your hands, all you nations;</span></i></b><br />
<b><i><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"> shout to God with cries of joy.</span></i></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #990000;">Psalm 47:1</span></b><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">New International Version (NIV)</span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> We all have so much that we could celebrate in this life and yet there are so many who go through life disgruntled and never attaining the joy that God meant for us to have. Then again, what do many of us celebrate? We have special days of the year and special events in our lives, but those joys are fleeting, quickly becoming hazy memories of past moments of glory that are soon trampled by what we see as the drudgery of our lives. We should be happy, but often we can find many reasons not to be.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Yet we do have every reason to allow joy to well up within us leading to rejoicing and praise. God has done so much for us. Have you come to recognize that? God has not only given you life here on Earth, but the salvation that will provide you an eternal life in Paradise. Is that not a reason to shout to God with cries of joy?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> The bottom line is that hope, peace, and joy are yours if you are willing to believe in what God has done and receive his grace that will provide you salvation. It's a gift for you to willingly accept. Once you have learned to trust in God's promises and providence then you can feel the gifts within you. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> If a friend hands you a gift do you accept it? God is presenting his gift to you. It's yours for the taking. Receive it and be blessed for eternity.</span><br />
<br /><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><b><i>May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.</i></b></span><br /><b><span style="color: #990000;">Romans 15:13</span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;">New International Version (NIV)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span></div>
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Arlee Birdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11663942782929929334noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7493428142939187605.post-40826884874291101102015-04-10T02:00:00.000-07:002015-04-10T02:00:02.936-07:00Idols (Elements of Existence) #AtoZChallenge<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container zemanta-img" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:ReligiousFreedomStamp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: clear:right;"><img alt="U.S Postage Stamp, 1957" border="0" class="zemanta-img-inserted zemanta-img-configured" height="328" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/47/ReligiousFreedomStamp.jpg" style="border: none; font-size: 0.8em;" width="219" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption zemanta-img-attribution" style="text-align: center; width: 219px;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">U.S Postage Stamp, 1957 (Photo credit: <a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:ReligiousFreedomStamp.jpg" target="_blank">Wikipedia</a>)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<b><i><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">Not to us, Lord, not to us</span></i></b><br />
<b><i><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"> but to your name be the glory,<br /> because of your love and faithfulness.<br />Why do the nations say,<br /> “Where is their God?”</span></i></b><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><b>Psalm 115:1-2</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">New International Version (NIV)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">In the United States we often proudly declare that ours is a secular nation not under the rule of any one religion, but with freedom of religion. Yet is this a precarious boast to make? Have we made ourselves stronger by taking the law out of God's hands and placing it into the hands of men and government bodies? Instead we may be weakening our position as a nation of strength and opening ourselves up to Godless chaos.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Did those who set up the United States government have any foresight of the potential error of creating too much freedom? We pride ourselves on the freedom to believe whatever we wish and as our nation becomes more diverse, there are more and more systems of belief and non-belief that set the stage for clashes in the courtroom and on the streets. Our acceptance of everything may be taking us on a road to unbelief in the True God and a worship of false idols.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Already we have become overly focused on money and material possessions. We often revere celebrities, politicians, and leaders to a point of near idolization. In modern culture we admire those whom we consider to be idols and may even long to become idols ourselves. Even the heads of the religious bodies are placed on thrones that at times seem to put them on an equal footing with God. Instead of actually placing our trust in the Supreme Creator we have relegated the concept to slogans like "In God We Trust" while debating whether it is time to eliminate those slogans in fairness to others.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> In reality the concepts of fairness, diversity, and tolerance might be the undoing of our "One Nation Under God" as we open ourselves up to the belief that anything goes and everybody is right. What we cede to one group, we diminish from our own faith. If we back down from atheistic demands, then we allow them more strength. The concept of the give and take society might seem wonderful in one sense until our own freedoms have been disallowed in favor of being more fair and more tolerant.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> These are tough issues that many will argue. The concept of the slippery slope is oft frowned upon as a tactic of argument and yet we have already seen the doorways to more sin and less tolerance of Christianity flung open to dilute the church and the traditional teachings of the Bible. The Western world has made idols of tolerance, diversity, and acceptance as somewhere there is a faint echo in the hallways of the past of "One way to Jesus." </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Beware of the idol of government ruling and societal acceptance. As the increase of sin and the rejection of Biblical values becomes the norm of society, the more difficult it will become to reach the lost with the true message of the gospel. Just because what society says sounds fair to all and wonderful to have in place doesn't mean it's the message that we should accept as the one to replace the seemingly out-dated message of the Bible. After all, God's Word is as solid as rock and does not change.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span></div>
<b><i><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”</span></i></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #990000;">Luke 16:13</span></b><br />
<div>
<span style="color: #990000;">New International Version (NIV)</span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span></div>
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Arlee Birdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11663942782929929334noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7493428142939187605.post-87475149005043329442015-04-09T02:00:00.000-07:002015-04-09T02:00:01.625-07:00Heaven (Elements of Existence) #AtoZChallenge<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container zemanta-img" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Dutch-Mansion.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: clear:right;"><img alt="Mansion near Almelo, The Netherlands. Image ta..." border="0" class="zemanta-img-inserted zemanta-img-configured" height="263" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2f/Dutch-Mansion.jpg/350px-Dutch-Mansion.jpg" style="border: none; font-size: 0.8em;" width="350" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption zemanta-img-attribution" style="text-align: center; width: 350px;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Mansion near Almelo, The Netherlands. Image taken by uploader. Category:Images of the Netherlands (Photo credit: <a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Dutch-Mansion.jpg" target="_blank">Wikipedia</a>)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<b><i><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">In the time of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will crush all those kingdoms and bring them to an end, but it will itself endure forever.</span></i></b><br /><b><span style="color: #990000;">Daniel 2:44</span></b><br /><span style="color: #990000;">New International Version (NIV)</span><div>
<br /> <span style="font-family: inherit;">In the Bible we are given a few glimpses into Heaven. In fact we get some rather detailed descriptions of what Heaven is like and even how big it is. There is some controversy about the nature of Heaven and what these Biblical descriptions mean. Whether what is said about Heaven in the Bible is literal or figurative is a debate that I won't get into here. What I do believe is that Heaven is real and those who are the true followers of Jesus Christ will one day be with Him in Heaven.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> If we are to believe that there is a life eternal then it stands to reason that there is an eternal place where that life will be lived. We can dream and speculate all we like about Heaven, but we won't really know what exactly Heaven is like until we get there (John 3:13). Believe and receive is the motto that I will continue to express in </span><b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A Few Words</span></b><span style="font-family: inherit;">. You will not see Heaven unless you are saved.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Jesus said that he was preparing a place for his flock (John 14:2). We have a true home for eternity. What we do while in this earthly life determines where we will be for eternity. I want to spend my eternity in Heaven. This life that I live now has been God's gift to me and my hope is that this life will remain one of comfort and abundance for me. There are no guarantees as to what this life will hold except that we will eventually die.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Have you booked your reservation for a place in Heaven? If not, Jesus would be more than happy to take it for you now.</span><br />
<br /><br /><b><i><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come.</span></i></b><br /><span style="color: #990000;"><b>Hebrews 13:14</b></span><div>
<span style="color: #990000;">New International Version (NIV)</span></div>
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Arlee Birdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11663942782929929334noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7493428142939187605.post-28353235562617779062015-04-08T02:00:00.000-07:002015-04-08T02:00:08.812-07:00Guidance (Elements of Existence) #AtoZChallenge<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container zemanta-img" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Still_life_with_Bible.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: clear:right;"><img alt="Still life with Bible, by Vincent Van Gogh" border="0" class="zemanta-img-inserted zemanta-img-configured" height="297" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3e/Still_life_with_Bible.jpg/350px-Still_life_with_Bible.jpg" style="border: none; font-size: 0.8em;" width="350" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption zemanta-img-attribution" style="text-align: center; width: 350px;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Still life with Bible, by Vincent Van Gogh (Photo credit: <a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Still_life_with_Bible.jpg" target="_blank">Wikipedia</a>)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><b><i>Your word is a lamp for my feet,<br /> a light on my path.</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><b>Psalm 119:105</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;">New International Version (NIV)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Many have doubts as to where they are going in this life, what they should be doing, or why they even exist. These are indeed difficult questions if we dwell upon them to deeply. Without God in our lives there is no particularly reasonable answer. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Those who live without a hope in the Creator's promise of a perfect eternal life might be prone to live the <i>carpe diem</i> philosophy which is to live to the utmost today and forget about what the future may hold. The Bible tells us that we should not fret about our future on Earth as sometimes we have no control over the things that happen to us. However, we do need to think about eternity and make a decision about which way we are going to choose--God's way or the wide roadway which leads to destruction.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"> In our time on Earth we are to learn what we can and make the right decisions. If we let the ways of the world be our guide then we might feel good for a short term, but we will eventually realize that there is more meaning to our existence than just accumulating possessions and having a good time. A better guide is found in scripture.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Forget the self-help books and the philosophies of those who think they know the answers. If the authors of these schools of thought are not grounded in sound Biblical doctrine then they are espousing vain doctrines of empty-headed blathering. Oh sure, some of the ideas found in the world of human thought are fine, but if they are contrary to what the Bible teaches us then they are not the guidance you should be seeking.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Thousands of years in the making, the Bible has all you need to know about life. It might take some digging and rereading, but all of the books in the psychology sections of all the libraries and bookstores would take just as much or more time to peruse to find answers to life and for the most part the answers are still going to be inadequate.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Need answers? Need guidance? It's right at your fingertips in the Bible. We were given the Bible for our benefit. Are you taking complete advantage of what the Bible offers you?</span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><b><i>For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.</i></b></span><br />
<b><span style="color: #990000;">Romans 15:4</span></b><br />
<span style="color: #990000;">New International Version (NIV)</span><br />
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Arlee Birdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11663942782929929334noreply@blogger.com2