Why Do You Hate Me?

Hatred (Photo credit: dton23)

...the wicked slander me
    and tell lies about me.
3 They surround me with hateful words
    and fight against me for no reason.
4 I love them, but they try to destroy me with accusations even as I am praying for them!
5 They repay evil for good,
    and hatred for my love.

Psalm 109:2-5

New Living Translation (NLT)

       No one purposely sets out in life to be hated.  The act of hating can take a tremendous physical and mental toll on those who are engaged in the action.  Likewise for the one who is hated.   A goal that I strive for is to neither hate nor be hated, but I'm certain that there are those out there who hate the things that I cherish and believe in.  If those haters could directly connect me to my loves and beliefs then they would probably hate me specifically.

       Many who call themselves Christians try to make an effort to be loved by all.  They try to adapt their Christian beliefs to be a big house where everyone is welcome to live no matter what beliefs they may have.  Much modern Christianity adopts a doctrine of acceptance of all things--an open door for all believers no matter what it is they believe.

        The Church should not be trying to conform itself to meet the world's approval.  Christians should accept that there are times when they will be hated for the things they believe.  To be hated does not feel good.  Just remember when it does happen--Jesus suffered through the ultimate hatred so that we can have eternal life with Him in paradise.

         Better to suffer for a while in this life than to suffer for eternity.

Blessed are you when people hate you,
    when they exclude you and insult you
    and reject your name as evil,
        because of the Son of Man.

Luke 6:22

New International Version (NIV)

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Trials and Tribulations ( #atozchallenge )

English: Old Step Leading to Church on the Hill Steps in need of repair, leading to Holy Trinity Washington, Known locally as the Church on the Hill. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

        Don't be misled into believing that accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior means that all your troubles are over.  A life given over to God will not guarantee health and wealth.  Things may turn out just fine for you, but also be prepared for difficult times.

         Sickness, financial problems, and disasters can fall upon God's children just as they can fall upon the unsaved.  Hardships can come to us all, but our faith can help our outlook and sense of hope for the future.  God has not guaranteed heaven here on Earth.   Your investment in God's kingdom is rewarded after you've paid into your account with what you've done while on Earth.

         Jesus told us that we could expect trouble in our lives (John 16:33), but He would carry us through.  Some followers of Jesus have suffered horribly for their convictions, but they have a far greater reward ahead.  Better to live in eternity with God, then to have a brief time of riches and pleasure while on Earth then spend forever in darkness separated from God's glory.

         If you are rolling in riches today and lose it all tomorrow you will be sorrowful.   But if you have God in your life, whatever earthly things are taken from you will still leave you with God.  And if you have God, then you have everything.

 If you would like to know more about a true life change in a positive direction, then please read Take the Next Step. 

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Meditation (#atozchallenge)

Bible studies at Capernwray (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

       Who has time to think about God or read the Bible?   We are busy people with things to do!   We may have jobs to go to, school classes to attend, or work around the house.   Then there are activities for our kids or for us.  Let's not forget time for exercise, shopping, or eating out.  And to give us a break from all of those things we need time for the recreational activities like reading, watching television, or going to the movies.  Life is short so why fill it up with little God things?

         Yes we are busy people in a busy world.  Our schedules are filled with activities and we don't have available time to fit in much of anything else.  Or do we?  What is really important in the long run?  When we think of things that are important to us at the present time we can probably see that a lot of them won't mean anything five, ten, or twenty years from now.  Think of what you were doing ten years ago.  Which things do you remember?  What is still important to you now?

         We don't need to give up living, but we should think about adding those few little things that might enhance living and even help us to live longer.  None of us could go without eating or sleeping.  These are activities necessary to survival.  Likewise sometimes the body and mind need a break from the world around us.  And I mean something besides escapist reading or blankly staring at a television set.

        Try a few minutes of contemplating God and creation.   Read a bit of the Bible.  Start with five minutes a day and see how this works for you.  Surely you can spare five minutes.  Turn off everything for those five minutes and direct your mind solely on the things of God.   You don't even have to believe in God or the Bible.  Just try it for a week or two to see what happens.  If you are giving it an honest shot then I believe you will see a difference in the way you feel and think.

        Are you willing to do this?  I hope so.  At least for that trial period.  Time is our greatest asset.  Do you spend your time wisely?

 If you would like to know more about a true life change in a positive direction, then please read Take the Next Step. 

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Jesus

Jesus (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

         Jesus is who this A to Z series is all about.   Jesus is what the world is all about in the final accounting of things.

          Many have heard of Jesus and know something about Him.  In many ways things haven't changed that much since Jesus walked this Earth.   People hear and some accept who He is while others reject Him.  The main problem is many don't learn the whole story.  It didn't start in the manger in Bethlehem.  The coming of Jesus Christ was prophesied thousands of years prior to his coming.   His coming was always meant to be and yet many doubted when He arrived and many still doubt.

         Faith and believing start with hearing the Word.   Don't let it stop there.  You need so much more than just hearing in order to walk in the footsteps of our Lord.   Greater understanding comes from studying and learning more about who Jesus is and why He came.   Never just go on the words of what someone tells you.  You must read and learn more on your own.

          Jesus was born of a virgin, lived and walked among the people in His time, was crucified and died to atone for our sins, was buried and resurrected, and will one day return in glory.   Those who have a true belief in Christ as the Savior and have accepted Him totally into their lives with  confession and humble adoration will join Jesus for eternity.

           It is a big story.   The Greatest Story Ever Told.   A story for us and for all the ages.  It is the story of Jesus Christ.  Hear it, but then live it, learn it, and know it.      

 If you would like to know more about a true life change in a positive direction, then please visit Take the Next Step. 

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Believe

God, the Father watches us all everywhere. (Photo credit: angelofsweetbitter2009)

Believe

       When you begin to acknowledge God's relevance in your life you are on the doorstep of belief.   Why would you not want to believe?  If you are counting on other people to always be there when you need them, then you are setting yourself up for disappointment.   And you certainly don't have all the answers no matter how brilliant you think you are.   Humans make mistakes and oftentimes fail.

       The concept that there is something greater, smarter, and more powerful than you should not be unfathomable.  It is actually something that makes a lot of sense.  World leaders and brilliant individuals have come and gone and will continue to do so until the end of the world as we know it.  They all become as nothing except memories and even memories soon fade.

        There is one sustaining power that holds all logic, order, creativity, and beauty together.  That power is God, creator of all things in the universe.   There is no good reason not to believe, but every reason in the world to seek Him and love Him.

        After all God first loved us and He wants us to love Him in return.  He doesn't want any of us to be lost.   It doesn't matter if we don't understand everything about God.  How can we comprehend things that are so far greater than we are?  But we should try.  And that begins with believing.

If you confess that Jesus is Lord and believe that God raised him from death, you will be saved.

Romans 10:9

Good News Translation (GNT)

        If you would like to know more about a true life change in a positive direction, then please read Take the Next Step. 

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When My Spirit Becomes Dispirited

 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I will love You, O Lord, my strength.

Psalm 18:1

New King James Version (NKJV)

           I need that strength!  I need a love that will encompass the world and reflect all the good that You are. Sometimes I feel so discouraged about this sad, decrepit and seemingly hopeless world.  The beauty of creation lifts me up, but then I hear the next bit of bad news that brings me back to dirty streets and despairing humans who seem to have no direction.


          Oh, Lord!  Please fill me with that strength.  My well seems to be running dry.  My mind and body are on the brink of vitiation.   My spirit is threatened with atrophy.  Lift me up, Lord, and overflow my cup with Living Water to sate my seemingly unquenchable thirst.  


            You have shown me the greatest love and I am in your hands.            

See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him.

1 John 3:1

English Standard Version (ESV)

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Christ for All

Bible (Photo credit: Light from Light)

Say among the nations, “The Lord reigns. ”
    The world is firmly established, it cannot be moved; 
    he will judge the peoples with equity.

Psalm 96:10

New International Version (NIV)

         Who have you told?  Do you ever tell other people about Jesus Christ?  Have you ever been a defender of your Christian faith?   Are you thankful for the freedoms you enjoy to worship as you please?

         We in the United States and most other Western nations have been fortunate in the relative freedom we have to believe what we want to believe with virtually no persecution.  Sure, we might deal with some verbal barbs that might get thrown our way, but we can still go to church, listen to religious radio or television programs, read our Bibles, and freely discuss among ourselves our faith without fear of imprisonment, torture, or even death.  The day will come, but fortunately we are not there yet.

      This thought crossed my mind this past week.  As I was visiting some of the blog posts that I had missed during the April A to Z Challenge I ran across a post by Philips Verghese Ariel which moved me.  This man's defense of my faith was so wholehearted and sincere that it gave me pause to think.

      I hope you will stop by to say hello to PV Ariel and thank him for his post.

So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God.

2 Timothy 1:8

New International Version (NIV)

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