LOVE...

Welcome to my blog! I posted this on the wrong blog! IKR! I have so many to keep straight. This one ought to have come here but ended up in my Until Tomorrow, Canada blog.... Anywho, the number one problem with "Falling" in love is that sooner or later you hit rock bottom. As Edgar Allen Poes Raven said, "NEVER MORE". Friends, I think it's time to address this love issue...

LOVE

The Key: Love

Ah! *sigh* L’amour! Oh Love…how sweet it is. Just the word alone brings the warm fuzzies all over, doesn’t it?

The Bible mentions the word “Love” 310 times! That’s a whole bunch of lovin’ going on! But really what does it mean? I love cookies but I’m not bringing them home to meet my mom and dad. My Dad would eat them and probably wouldn’t share either.

I love my daughter...she is my everything...

I loved my cat Seti. He was my best fuzzy buddy. We were together for 17 years. Small, fat and grey. But oh what a jolly feline he was! He’s passed away 3 yrs ago Feb 2...but I still love him and miss him...

I love so many things, shoes, purses, cars. I’m eyeballing the Ford Flex right now. There’s just something about that car! Mmm hmmm…

 Yeah…um…back to reality… Most couples say they are marrying because they love their fiancé, but what is love? In our educated western society, love has changed. It really doesn’t mean what it used to.

We've exchanged the truth of love for a squishy feeling that means absolutely nothing if sincerity is not behind it. Heck we have taken the word love and applied it to places it need not be. It has literally become a foolish word in the English language.

 The Biblical Concept of Love

Let’s look up a few scriptures first for reference sake and not all 310 of them, we’ll settle for about 17.  To understand anything we must start to build on a solid foundation and with Love, the best book ever written on the subject is God’s word. I used the New King James for these particular scriptures.

Love Scriptures

Proverbs 17:17a: A friend loves at all times…

Matt 6:24: No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.

Matt 22: 37-39 You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And second is like it: You shall love your neighbour as yourself. 

Luke 6:27 …Love your enemies…

John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

John 13:34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.

Romans 13:8, 10 Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves one another has fulfilled the law. 10 Love does no harm to a neighbour therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

1Cor 8:1b …Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies.

Gal 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

Gal 5:13 For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.

Gal 6:2            Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

Eph 4:2 With all lowliness and gentleness with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love.

Eph 5:2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.

Eph 5:25 Husbands love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her.

Titus 2:4 …that they admonish the young women to love their husbands to love their children.

1 Peter 4:8 And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.”

1 John 3:16-18 By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? My little children let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and truth.

That there was a lot of typing! See how much I "loved" you; I typed it all out so you could just keep on reading! But you’re not off the hook by any stretch of your wild imaginations.

Now 1Cor 13:4-7 gives the Bible’s DEFINITION of love. These verses indicate that love consists of many elements. We are now going to examine what are some characteristics of love?

♥Love suffers long-endures offense, is not hasty, waits for the LORD to right all wrong.

♥Love is Kind – not inconsiderate, seeks to help, is constructive, blesses when cursed, helps when hurt, and demonstrates tenderness.

♥Love is not envious but content – is not jealous of another person’s success or competes.

♥Love is not arrogant, but humble – is not haughty but lowly and gracious.

♥Love is not boastful, but reserved – does not show off, try to impress, want to be the centre of attraction.

♥Love is not rude, but courteous

♥Love is not selfish, but self-forgetful

♥Love is not irritable, but good tempered

♥Love is not vindictive or wrathful, but generous

♥Love does not delight in bringing another person’s sins to light, but rejoices when another person obeys the truth.

♥Love is not rebellious, but brave conceals rather than exposes another person’s wrong doing to others.

♥Love is not suspicious but trustful, not cynical, makes every allowance, and looks for an explanation that will show the best in others.

♥Love is not despondent, but hopeful, does not give up because it has been deceived or denied.

♥Love is not conquerable, but invincible – it can outlast any problem.

Do you recognize any of these in yourself? Do you see how LOVE is NOT a feeling...

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Types of Love

In the English language LOVE means many things. But in the Bible, love is actually three different Greek words. EROS, PHILIA, AGAPE.

Eros is the love that seeks sensual expression. Eros is a romantic love, sexual love. It is inspired by the biological structure of the human nature. In a good marriage, a husband and wife will eros each other romantically and erotically.

Philia is Friendship. Friendship means companionship, communication, and cooperation. If you are considering marriage, might I suggest building your relationship on this particular Philia foundation.

Agape is self-giving love, gift of love, unconditional love, the love that goes on loving even when others become unlovable. Agape love is not just something that happens to you; it’s something you make happen. It’s a choice. Love is a personal act of commitment. Jesus’ love is that gift. It is being sympathetic, thoughtful, and sensitive to the needs of your loved one. Agape is contentment and forgiving.

You Are Loved!

Jesus’ love for us is a sacrificial love, an eternal love.

Can you imagine if individuals would put forth an effort on purpose to increase the Philia (Friendship) and Agape (Unconditional) love, all three types of love would increase and enhance and enrich in this earth. The agape love alone can increase and enhance in others. But all three must be given conscious concise effort.

Looking back on the scriptures I wrote out for you, do you see any common threads? A lot of what I read was reiterate the fact that Love is an action. It’s not merely hubby on the couch shouting to the wife who’s up to her ears in dirty dishes “I love you hunny”. No, it’s hubby getting up and giving her a hand and putting an actual effort into helping her. Lord knows, that's part of my idea man right there!

When God formed man, He did so for one reason, Family. God wanted a family. He wanted people to love and have them freely love Him right back. 

Out of Love, God from the beginning of time planned to have His only Son Jesus die for us. Jesus didn’t have to die for us. He could have simply said no and went on his merry way, but instead, He came to earth, humbled Himself by becoming one of us and lived a less then glamorous life ending with His INNOCENT UNWARRANTED death on the cross.

I saw a bumper sticker once; it said “What? Are you allergic to love” and the picture on it was of a crucified Christ.

In light of all we have discovered thus far, I want to add one more item to this mix…

Self love

Now I’m not talking conceit here, like you are “all that and a bag of cookies”, I’m talking about loving yourself, respecting yourself, respecting the person God created you to be. If you cannot love yourself, you can’t love anyone. In this day and age, all you see is the world’s view of love and it's all about personal gratification.

Somehow, we managed to take God out of love and put sex in His place. It’s just not right. Sex and Love are two different animals. And right now we aren’t going to feed one of them. Let me scream this at you...SEX IS NOT LOVE!!!! For heaven's sake! STOP MIXING THE TWO UP!!! SERIOUSLY!!!!!

I want you to focus on you as the Masterpiece of God…You, who from the beginning of time was so loved by God that He made His plan and included you in the fine details. You are worth the blood that Jesus shed on Calvary. Jesus loves you, I love you in Jesus, and you MUST – NEED to start loving yourself. You’re a good person. I can feel it. Close your eyes for a moment…think about what TRUE LOVE IS…When you open them again think about Jesus and look through the eyes of Love…Love sees the finished worked.  Love sees through the "I" and the self loathing...Love is Christ crucified for you.

Next to Self Love is LOVE FOR OTHERS!

Love For Others

Did you know that by showing Love you are showing yourself a true disciple of Jesus! As Christians; if you step out and show compassion on people, even the ones you want to hand a bar of soap to, you are showing the world that you are different, that you want to be different. Remember what I said earlier on, love is actually unnatural to us because we are such an egocentric society.

Prove the world wrong! What’s that old saying “Actions speak louder than words.” It’s true.

Love is the world changer. When Jesus showed us how much He loved us when He gave up His life on the cross, it forever changed the course of the world! Love Changes Circumstances! Love needs to be lived out. It’s not happy unless it’s spread abroad. Pass it around!

Love will take advantage of just about every situation because it comes from God.

Love changed me…I was a sinner who is now redeemed and saved by Grace through Jesus!

The First Next Step

My favourite band is Petra. I was heartbroken when they retired. They have this one song that speaks volumes to me. From their 1998 album God Fixation, ‘If I had to die for someone’….the course and last verse are speaking of Love and the Love of Jesus:

“I don’t know if I could even if I think I would, if I had to die for someone if I had to die for someone else, how could ever give my life to set the guilty free, when I cannot image if I had to die for someone else like me…

And I am glad that you are not all like me, cuz you laid down your life and did it willingly, it still amazes me to know, it’s me that you were thinking of no one else could have a greater Love!”

Love boils down to one word “sacrifice.” You have to give up something to get it. Jesus gave His life, what are you willing to give? How about that pity? That’s a good trade off.

If Loving God and loving your neighbours are the greatest commandments, what actions are motivating us to love? In this world, love is very much unnatural. Love is something we have to consciously work towards. It’s so much easier to be “I” centered then to put someone before ourselves. Human nature is just so dang annoying! It’s practically opposite of God!

 If you want that closer walk with the LORD then that fleshly nature needs to die so that your spiritual nature can rise up in its place. Understand that Jesus does love you. Understand that you are now and forever a Child of the Most High God! It’s time to stop putting yourself down. You are a Masterpiece, fashioned by God’s own hand. You are loved my friend. You are blessed and highly favoured! AMEN! 

 

CHOOSE TO LOVE...CHOSE WHO TO LOVE! Don't listen to your heart, it LIES...listen to yourself and choose the right road. Don't FALL in love, WALK in Love! Go in with your eyes open! And remember the golden rule... DO UNTO OTHERS, AS YOU WOULD HAVE THEM DO UNTO YOU! That there my friend sums up this whole chapter into one line...

STOP THE WAR ON MASCULINITY!!!!!

WELCOME TO MY BLOG!!! If you been here before you know how I write. If you haven't, prepared to get your panties in a bunch. I'm not going to sugar coat nuttin' hunny. This is my blog and my opinions. Which of course do not reflect those of the participants or my church or my friends. Finally, something of my own! WOOT! Anywho, strap yourselves down and lets talk about the pink elephant in the room FEMINISM and the war on Masculinity!

STOP THE WAR ON MASCULINITY!

Isaiah 3:12 O My people! Their oppressors are children, And women rule over them. O My people! Those who guide you lead you astray And confuse the direction of your paths.

Why do we insist on allowing FEMINIST to rule our world??? 

There is a HUGE difference between Women's Rights and Feminism. 

Women's Rights is just that, our rights to equal pay for equal work. Health care, social status etc.

Feminism is of course the extreme left liberal ideology.  It started out as equality, now it's warped and morphed into total destruction of anything masculine - especially men.

Ever notice that it's the feminazi who are pushing this lgbt nonsense. Some of the greatest supporters are high profile liberal women. Frankly, I'll  say it, they don't want men in this world. They want girly boys. They want to eradicate ever scent of a man. The don't want equality, they want to dominate!

As Godly women, our role is not to take over the world and emasculate men in our wake... NO!  Our role is to serve BESIDE our men in whatever capacity we can.

Historically, many women have held power positions and lead their people in positive ways along side men. But there are some women that when they got power, it went to their heads and the wisdom left. 

Lets look at some cool GODLY chicks in the bible who showed what it truly means to have POWER and WISDOM in a "mans world".

The Wise Woman of Abel Beth Maakah

The story of the unnamed wise woman is found in 2 Samuel 20. This woman stopped her whole town from being slaughtered by Joab's army!  Joab was on the hunt for Sheba son of Bikri, who had taken up hiding in the town of this wise woman. While the city was being surrounded the wise woman called out for Joab and he answered her. In her Godly wisdom, she calmed the steathing Joab and produced the head of the man Sheba, the trouble maker.

Why did Joab listen to this mere woman to begin? Who was she to him? A nobody by all accounts, but a wise woman knows how to speak to an angry man. She knew just what to say to save herself and her people, and her people respected her wisdom and followed her guidance.

Deborah

Judges 4-5 tells how Deborah became the only woman to be a judge, or tribal ruler, during the time before the Israelites had kings. Deborah was known as a woman of great wisdom and spiritual depth whose decisions were guided by her ability as a prophetess, that is, someone who contemplates God and discerns instructions from such meditations. And talk about strong women in the Bible! Deborah went into battle to help the Israelites throw off an oppressive Canaanite ruler. In a reversal of the typical Old Testament marital record, we know that Deborah was married to a man named Lappidoth, but we have no other details about their marriage.

Ruth

The Book of Ruth is even more exciting than Tamar's story, for Ruth shows how women used kinship ties for survival. Her story actually tells of two strong women in the Bible: Ruth and her mother-in-law, Naomi.

Ruth was from Moab, a land adjacent to Israel. She married a son of Naomi and her husband, Elimelech who went to Moab when there was famine in Israel. Elimelech and his sons died, leaving Ruth, Naomi and another daughter-in-law, Orpah, widowed. Naomi decided to return to Israel and told her daughters-in-law to go back to their fathers. Orpah left weeping, but Ruth steadfastly remained, uttering some of the Bible's most famous words: "Where you go I will go; where you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God my God" (Ruth 1:16).
Once they returned to Israel, Ruth and Naomi came to the attention of Boaz, a distant relative of Naomi's and a rich landowner. Boaz was kind to Ruth when she came to glean his field to get food for Naomi, because he had heard of Ruth's loyalty to her mother-in-law. Learning of this, Naomi instructed Ruth to wash and dress, and to go in to offer herself to Boaz in hopes of marriage. Boaz refused Ruth's offer of sex, but he agreed to marry her if another relative, closer in lineage to Naomi, refused. Eventually Ruth and Boaz married and had children including Obed, who grew up to father Jesse, the father of David.

Ruth's story shows how much family ties and loyalty were prized by the ancient Israelites. Ruth's character also shows that foreigners could be assimilated successfully into Israelite families and become valued members of their society.

NOW... Let's flip the coin to the power hungry Bad women in the Bible

Jezebel 1 Kings 16

Jezebel was a Phoenician princess in the 9th century who married Ahab, the prince of Israel. Eventually, they ruled as king and queen. Jezebel continued worship the nature god Baal. Her citizens and the prophet Elijah despised such actions. 



Her citizens' displeasure came to a critical point when, at their expense, she brought 800 Baal prophets to Israel and ordered the murder of several Yahweh prophets. At this major moment, Elijah, a Jewish prophet, appeared. Elijah gave a prophecy: That terrible drought would come upon Israel. Amazingly, famine spread across Jezebel's land, according to the story.
 
Preparing herself to be murdered by General Jehu, she applied makeup and dressed in finery before she was thrown over her balcony and eaten by dogs.
 
Some believe she typifies evil. Others believe that Jezebel was one of the first suffragists. Can you believe that? She was as rotten at they get and people still think she was some sort of victim!

Delilah Judges 16

A seductress if ever there was one. Delilah was loved by the strongman Samson. She was approached by the powerful Philistine lords who ordered her to help them find out why he was so strong. She tired several times to wheedled the secret of his strength from Samson, but each time he evaded her questions and lied to her. But, one day, through tears of manipulation, she manage to pull the truth out of Samson, subsequently betraying him and leading him to being captured, tortured by the Philistines.

There's a bunch more, I'll post a link at the bottom of the page.

Here's my point, The wise woman of Abel, Deborah & Ruth showed great CHARACTER. Each story so vastly different but all showed godly wisdom, patience, self control, strength and Femininity, all while remaining in the roles that God put them in. They didn't seek power or authority, they received it through wisdom. These are women we need to be looking up too. 

WHY is it that we rather glorify the evilness in this world. Why do we women live by such unholy standards. We allow our wishy washy feelings to dictate our lives. It's not good to live by the tides of hormonal changing feelings.

 

THE DOUBLE STANDARD

 More and more I'm seeing a double standard in the world we live in, I despise double standards.

For example, a man loses his job for saying something completely stupid and ignorant on live tv. However the event that the man is at has nothing doing with his job, but still, he loses it. Now if a woman were to say something lewd and crude in the same context, she's be getting patted on the back for sticking it to men everywhere. A woman can say almost anything by virtue of her womanhood and get away with almost anything! A man is tarred and feathered. 

Liberal extreme Feminism is a DISEASE to womanhood!

Lets go with Abortion... a "woman's right to choose" but a man isn't allowed any input. What if Daddy wants a baby and is willing to raise them alone? Should he not be allowed this privilege?

I could go on and on about women trying to boldly go where no woman has gone before, and yes they try their hardest to bend all the rules to get further in this man's world, but please don't forget, not all of us want to be men. 

I want to affirm women everywhere: 

There is nothing wrong with women being women and doing women things. 

60-70 years ago, when the world was some what sane, things were great. Women did women things and men did men things and the world was somewhat normal and Canada was prospering and then... the rotten 60's showed up with this over sexed weird drug induced hysteria over what roles people should play... 

How about WOMEN play the role that God intended for us. If you're a biological woman, be a woman! Seriously with Jesus by your side, you don't have to make it in a man's world especially when you make the WORLD, GOD'S! That's the key ladies! Put God first in all you do and watch how fast this fallen man's world accommodates you. Yes you can still play sports, be a police officer, be a CEO... but PUT GOD FIRST and see what true success can and does look like from His perspective. Aren't you tired of fighting?

 WHAT DO WE REALLY NEED AS WOMEN IN THIS MAN'S WORLD?

I'll tell you what we need... we need less feminism and more JESUS. That's right... We need A MAN to navigate WITH US through this man's world. If we use more wisdom with the Help of the Holy Spirit, just imagine what you could possibly accomplished in your life. You do not ever have to compete with a man for anything when you put God first. He knows what is best for you and you won't have to give up anything because you would be more than willing to take God's best for you.

Some great verses:

Proverbs 14:1 ESV 

The wisest of women builds her house, but folly with her own hands tears it down.

Proverbs 31:10-31 ESV 

An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels. The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain. She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life. She seeks wool and flax, and works with willing hands. She is like the ships of the merchant; she brings her food from afar. ...

Proverbs 1:7 ESV 

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.

1 Corinthians 11:3 ESV 

But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a wife is her husband, and the head of Christ is God.

Proverbs 31:26 ESV 

She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.

Hebrews 13:5 ESV / 

Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Titus 2:3-5 ESV / 

Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled.

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 In the end the choice is up to you. You can cat scratch, scream and cry your way through your life fighting the feminist fight OR you can follow Jesus and let Him lead you on the path that He wants for you. It may not be what you expected, but I tell you what, it will be 100x more satisfying then anything you could do under your own steam. 

STOP THE WAR ON MEN AND MASCULINITY and Embrace the life that Jesus wants for you! You were born a woman, be the woman that God has intended you to be. You are after all, Fearfully and Wonderfully made by a loving God! 

If we honour our men in the way we honour Jesus, watch the turn around. Watch how fast a Godly man will lead us all, and walk the upright path.

Just thinking out loud...







http://www.womeninthebible.net/bad-women.htm 
http://www.womeninthebible.net/index.htm
 

Only "God" Can Judge me!

Welcome to my blog... if this is your first time, Welcome! If you've been here before, you know what to expect from me by now. So without further ado/adieu (pick your poison), lets jump in to the next "ruffle my feathers" topic...

ONLY GOD CAN JUDGE ME! 

Holy cats do you hear this almost everywhere? I have heard and read this idiom about 20 times in the past week from various sources. So it got me to thinking of some fun hypothetical sceniaros... try and track with me (yeah, I will probably step on someone's toes...) :

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1. I am the boss and I will do and say as I please! I make the rules only God can judge me.

2. I was polishing my car that no one is even allowed to breath on today, my spouse and the kids brought home the groceries, it's about time, someone needs to get that kitchen clean and make supper! I'm not cleaning I have to polish my rims! Only God can Judge me.

3. IT'S SELFIE TIME!!!! I upload at least 10 to 15 pictures of me a day! Like seriously I am AWESOME! Don't be hating! Only God can judge me.

4. OMG! That totally sucked! But only God can Judge me! 

5. Sunday is my "family day", we sit on the couch and play video games together. Don't judge me! Only God can judge me!

6. Holy Crap! I hate my parents! They suck! They have no clue what it's like to be a teenager! All they do is yell at me and Judge me! They can't do that! Only God Can Judge me!!!

7. I killed something today. I'm not going to tell you what it is, but I put it out of it's misery. Don't tell anyone cuz I'll hate you for it! Only God can Judge me!

8. This person beside me isn't my spouse, but dayumm!!! The sex is better with them, then with my spouse! Besides, my spouse is mean to me. Don't judge me! Only God can judge me.

9. I went to the 7-11 today and took a chocolate bar without paying for it, as I left the store, I told the girl behind the counter, it's ok, only God can judge me!

10. I said what I said to protect you from the truth. You know everyone hates you. I was just making things easier for you, so what if I lied? Don't judge me, Only God can judge me!

11. I want everything the Jones have! They have the biggest house on the block, the coolest car and all their kids dress in the latest fashions!!! Did you see Mrs. Jones! Holy crap she's smoking hot! I'd do her any time anywhere! He don't deserve her, he's a jerk. But don't judge me, cuz Only God can judge me!

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Folks, most of these have actually been done and said so many times it's become part of our gross and ever increasingly godless culture. Did you catch what I did? I want to point something out, maybe you caught on to my list there, maybe you didn't... but here you go:

Exodus 20 King James Version (KJV)

20 And God spake all these words, saying,

2 I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.

3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.

5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;

6 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.

7 Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.

8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.

9 Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:

10 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:

11 For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.

12 Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which theLord thy God giveth thee.

13 Thou shalt not kill.

14 Thou shalt not commit adultery.

15 Thou shalt not steal.

16 Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.

17 Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's.

Anything that has been Highlighted is in direct correlation to the above hypothetical statements in order of appearance in the 10 Commandments.

Now, this is how I perceive the ridiculous idiom. This "Only God Can Judge Me" is THE LAMEST statement I have ever heard. Folks, God has ALREADY JUDGED US. Why the heck do you think Jesus came? For skits and giggles? What? Are you new? He came to absolve us from the SINS that we have/are going to commit so that we, when we get to heaven will be in RIGHT STANDING with the Father God!

To sit here and say "Only God can Judge me" is an oxymoron. It contradicts itself. You know the truth, that's that conviction you feel in your heart. You know that the things you are doing are in direct conflict with What God has decreed. All your doing is making excuses for your behaviour instead of owning up to them and turning away from them.

NEWS FLASH - Only Jesus made it through this life perfect! We sin. Some more than others, some intentionally and some not so intentional. But we also have GRACE AND FORGIVENESS THROUGH JESUS CHRIST!

How can you who claim Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour, knowing His Words and His Will (you have a bible) still say "Only God can Judge me". Is that some sort of justification for living in sin? If you know you have sin, Get Right with God PDQ or faster! Don't allow your sin to rule your life!

Friends, Jesus DIED for you while you were still in your sin. How hard is it to live from Him?

Our pastor said something really great this past Sunday: FIGHT FROM VICTORY... We already won the war, so fight from the grounds that you are SAVED BY GRACE THROUGH JESUS.

We all ought to try something new...

LETS STOP FINDING SCRIPTURE TO VALIDATE BAD BEHAVIOUR --- FIND SCRIPTURE THAT CHALLENGES YOU TO GODLY LIVING.

The Blood Covenant of Marriage

WELCOME TO MY BLOG TODAY! TODAY'S TOPIC BLOOD COVENANT - MARRIAGE - HOMOSEXUAL UNIONS. 

It's fairly long, I did add in alot of scripture in full and then got lazy near the end and just gave the referenced for you to look up. As usual, If you are easily offended, oh well. I don't care, read on and get offend. The cross of Jesus is offensive to many.

BLOOD COVENANT - MARRIAGE - HOMOSEXUALS UNIONS

A quote from a pro gay marriage lobbyist: "No one dies from two men or two women getting married"....... 

My reply: No one is born either.

Marriage is a sacred covenant between one man and one woman that results (in most cases) in procreation.

Marriage is the ONLY covenant ceremony that God instituted before the fall. This union between one man and one woman is sacred and blessed by God. It is a blood covenant.

There are 7 Covenants mentioned in the Bible 4 of which are Abrahamic, Palestinian, Mosaic and Davidic. God made these covenants with Nation of Israel. Of those four, three are unconditional in nature; that is, regardless of Israel's obedience or disobedience, God still will fulfill these covenants with Israel. One of the covenants, the Mosaic Covenant, is conditional in nature. That is, this covenant will bring either blessing or cursing depending on Israel's obedience or disobedience. Three of the covenants (Adamic, Noahic, New) are made between God and mankind in general, and are not limited to the nation of Israel.

Western People today, even churched people, have little to no understanding at the sacredness of covenants. In 30 yrs of going to church, I can literally count on one hand how many time the churches I have attended taught on covenants.

FACTS ABOUT BLOOD COVENANTS

(This is just a brief explanation of blood covenants, there is so much more but I just wanted to give a solid understanding of blood covenants)

The two participants in the cutting of the covenant are called "covenant heads." The covenant remains in effect until both covenant heads die. If one covenant head dies, the other will extend the benefits and blessings of the covenant to the family of the deceased covenant head. In essence, a blood covenant not only joins the two covenant heads together but also joins the families as well. These facts should be kept firmly in mind as we explore the reality of our redemption in the new covenant in Christ’s blood.

At the conclusion of the ceremony, the two covenant heads are called "friends." The word "friend" is a covenant term that has completely lost its meaning in today's English language. We say, "I think I'll have a friend over for dinner tonight," or "I want you to meet a good friend of mine." The original meaning of "friend" carried with it the union of a blood covenant. It means very little in our culture. The same thing is true of the handshake. This blood covenant act has lost its true meaning. In our culture, it has become nothing more than a gesture that communicates courtesy or greeting. If we took seriously the true meaning behind the handshake, we would be very careful in using it.

With these facts in mind, we can better understand what Jesus was saying in 

John 15:13-15  Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends. You are friends if you do whatever I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father, I have made known to you.

The disciples were excited about the words Jesus used here. In that part of the world and at that time, the blood covenant was a respected institution. When Jesus used the word "friend" to define his relationship with these men, it had a tremendous impact on their lives. The word "friend" as Jesus used it did not mean some kind of "Jesus is my buddy, my pal" mentality—that is found in some parts of the church today. The word "friend" as used in this verse meant "covenant friend" or "blood brother." It implied the union of two people in a blood covenant. Religious teaching and the erosion of the true meaning of covenant terms like "friend" by our modern culture causes us to gloss over the importance of this section of scripture. The "friendship" Jesus was talking about in this scripture was not limited to the disciples but to all those who receive salvation through their testimony—this includes us.

Literally every culture has practiced "blood covenanting" at some point in their past and many still do today except in North America. 

A Covenant with YHWH is a divine and spiritual contract, agreement, or testament between the Creator of the Universe and man. You as a Christian, a member of the spiritual, mystical Body of Christ are in a Blood Covenant with the Creator of the Universe.

Covenants can not be broken on penalty of death.

Man is responsible to uphold his end of the covenant. Each person in a contract with YHWH is responsible before YHWH for their OWN ACTIONS as they pertain to their covenant with Him. Even though the Old Covenant was cut with the nation of Israel, God dealt with the individuals, not just the nation as a whole. It is the same with the Body of Christ, although the New Covenant is with the entire Body of Christ, we personally are responsible before YHWH for how we walk as it pertains to our covenant with God. 

God's covenants are eternal even if the human partner is weak.

1 Corinthians 11:23-31GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)

23 After all, I passed on to you what I had received from the Lord.

On the night he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took bread 24 and spoke a prayer of thanksgiving. He broke the bread and said, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this to remember me.” 25 When supper was over, he did the same with the cup. He said, “This cup is the new promise[ testament or covenant] made with my blood. Every time you drink from it, do it to remember me.” 26 Every time you eat this bread and drink from this cup, you tell about the Lord’s death until he comes.

27 Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks from the Lord’s cup in an improper way will be held responsible for the Lord’s body and blood. 28 With this in mind, individuals must determine whether what they are doing is proper when they eat the bread and drink from the cup. 29 Anyone who eats and drinks is eating and drinking a judgment against himself when he doesn’t recognize the Lord’s body.

30 This is the reason why many of you are weak and sick and quite a number of you have died. 31 If we were judging ourselves correctly, we would not be judged.

Time and time again in scripture you find the human who is in covenant relationship with YHWH breaking his covenant with God, deserving of the death penalty, also, time and time again you find YHWH being merciful to their unrighteousness and forgiving their sins as soon as they once again approach Him with blood for the atonement of their sins.

The word blood appears 434 times in the Bible. Specific to this topic 85 times in Leviticus (law) 22 times in Hebrews (Priesthood) and 19 times in the Book of Revelation (Overcame by the blood)

Our relationship with God depends on blood. God has no other way of dealing with sin, or the sinner except through the blood. 

Leviticus 17:10-11GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)

Eating Blood

10 “If Israelites or foreigners eat any blood, I will condemn them and exclude them from the people, 11 because blood contains life. I have given this blood to you to make peace with me on the altar. Blood is needed to make peace with me. 

This belief that the life is in the blood seems to be universal. All ancient peoples and tribes considered blood to be the representative of life.

Shedding of blood was considered to be the giving of life. Transference of blood was considered the transference of life. That is why there have been so many perversions down through history, drinking blood, cannibalism, scalping etc. 

The life is in the blood, therefor the value of the blood corresponds to the life that is in it. The life of YHWH and His blood are of more value than anything else's. Jesus' blood is powerful because it is Gods' blood! The life of YHWH is carried in that blood!

The blood of Jesus is the Centre of our redemption! It is the theme of the Old and New Covenants.

1 Peter 1:18-19GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)

18 Realize that you weren’t set free from the worthless life handed down to you from your ancestors by a payment of silver or gold which can be destroyed. 19 Rather, the payment that freed you was the precious blood of Christ, the lamb with no defects or imperfections.

Both Testaments tell the same story, that God has entered into a Blood Covenant with man, through the blood of Jesus Christ. 

Christianity is the only religion where YHWH reaches down to mankind. In all others, man reaches up to god. Our Heavenly Father loves us and desires to bless us.  He took the initiative to enter into an eternal covenant with us, and it's available to all who would enter it.

BREAKDOWN OF HOW A COVENANT IS CUT 

A Covenant is a a binding agreement between 2 parties. The Hebrew word for covenant is "berith", the greek is "diatheke', both mean to 'cut covenant' suggesting an incision that causes blood to flow.

Covenant - Hebrew - 'berith'

1. Something which is eaten
2. From a root which has a sense of 'cutting'
3. A compact, contract, agreement which was usually made and sealed by passing between two pieces of flesh which has been divided. 

A covenant is more than a contract, it is an unbreakable agreement.  The punishment for breaking a blood covenant is always death.

REASONS FOR ENTERING A BLOOD COVENANT

1. BUSINESS 
2. SURVIVAL - A weak tribe would seek a stronger tribe
3. LOVE - A mutual love for one another, not your regular man/woman relationship that leads to the marriage covenant.

A BLOOD COVENANT COULD BE DONE BY PROXY
Someone else could stand in for you in the cutting of a blood Covenant. (Jesus in His great love, stood in proxy for me)


SIGNIFICANCE OF A BLOOD COVENANTING 
IT IS A sacred union, a blood Covenant has never been known to be broken other than by individuals, never by tribes or nations. 

Two natures become One nature
Two lives become One life
Two souls become One soul
All that belongs to one belongs to the other if needed.

COMMON PRINCIPLES OF PROCEDURE OF A BLOOD COVENANT

1. Parley - Bargaining, they agree on the terms.
2. Witnesses - They gather witnesses and swear to the agreement
3. Gifts - this symbolizes that everything they have belongs to the    other IF needed. 
4. Eating - sharing a meal in honour of the Blood Covenant
5. Actual sharing of blood - done by drink or transfusion
6. Pronouncing of Blessings and Curses
7. Memorial - something by which to remember the Blood Covenant - a    physical sign

THE MARRIAGE COVENANT

PRINCIPLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Genesis 15:6GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)

6 Then Abram believed the Lord, and that faith was regarded as the basis of Abram’s approval by the Lord.

Ephesians 5:31-32GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)

31 That’s why a man will leave his father and mother and be united with his wife, and the two will be one. 32 This is a great mystery. (I’m talking about Christ’s relationship to the church.)

If both parties have a proper covenant relationship with YHWH through Jesus, then the marriage will automatically work well and will have a proper covenant relationship, both husband and wife.

To break the marriage covenant is to break relationship before God.

VOWS

Your marriage vows or promises to each other were sworn before God who was a witness to your marriage covenant. YHWH always KEEPS His Word and He expects you to keep yours also.

Psalm 15:4GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)

4     The one who despises those rejected by God
        but honors those who fear the Lord.

    The one who makes a promise and does not break it,
        even though he is hurt by it.

Gods Instructions for husband wife:

Ephesians 5:25-30GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)

25 Husbands, love your wives as Christ loved the church and gave his life for it. 26 He did this to make the church holy by cleansing it, washing it using water along with spoken words. 27 Then he could present it to himself as a glorious church, without any kind of stain or wrinkle—holy and without faults. 28 So husbands must love their wives as they love their own bodies. A man who loves his wife loves himself. 29 No one ever hated his own body. Instead, he feeds and takes care of it, as Christ takes care of the church. 30 We are parts of his body.

Instructions for our covenant relationship to each other within the Body of Christ.

Philippians 2:1-11GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)

Have the Same Attitude as Christ

2 So then, as Christians, do you have any encouragement? Do you have any comfort from love? Do you have any spiritual relationships? Do you have any sympathy and compassion? 2 Then fill me with joy by having the same attitude and the same love, living in harmony, and keeping one purpose in mind. 3 Don’t act out of selfish ambition or be conceited. Instead, humbly think of others as being better than yourselves. 4 Don’t be concerned only about your own interests, but also be concerned about the interests of others. 5 Have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.

6 Although he was in the form of God and equal with God,
    he did not take advantage of this equality.
7 Instead, he emptied himself by taking on the form of a servant,
    by becoming like other humans,
    by having a human appearance.
8 He humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death,
    death on a cross.
9 This is why God has given him an exceptional honor—
    the name honored above all other names—
        
            and in the world below will kneel
                
                    to the glory of God the Father.

The same principles apply to the Marriage Covenant as they do to the Blood Covenant or in other words, the New Christian Covenant you're in with YHWH. Your marriage should be built on the Rock, Jesus Christ. 

Your marriage will only be as good as your word and your relationship with God. You may have sacrifice your desires for the good of your spouse and marriage. Jesus laid down His life for His bride, the Body of Christ. 

Ephesians 5: 25-27 - Husbands may have to put their wife's feelings and needs ahead of their own sometimes. This is agape love, sacrificial love, and it will produce unity and responsive love from your spouse. 

Philippians 2:5GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)

5 Have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.

Ephesians 5:22GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)

22 Wives, place yourselves under your husbands’ authority as you have placed yourselves under the Lord’s authority.

For a husband to be the head of his wife, does not mean he lords it over her. Jesus said, to be great in the kingdom of God you must learn to be a servant of all.  wife is to submit to her husband, giving him the final say or authority in all major decisions even if she doesn't agree with his decision. This however would not apply in an area where his decision was totally ungodly and would cause great harm, in such a situation the wife would have to bow to the greater law of YHWH and do as YHWWH would command in that situation.

Matthew 20:20-28GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)

A Mother Makes a Request

20 Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Jesus with her two sons. She bowed down in front of him to ask him for a favour.

21 “What do you want?” he asked her.

She said to him, “Promise that one of my sons will sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom.”

22 Jesus replied, “You don’t realize what you’re asking. Can you drink the cup that I’m going to drink?”

“We can,” they told him.

23 Jesus said to them, “You will drink my cup. But I don’t have the authority to grant you a seat at my right or left. My Father has already prepared these positions for certain people.”

24 When the other ten apostles heard about this, they were irritated with the two brothers.25 Jesus called the apostles and said, “You know that the rulers of nations have absolute power over people and their officials have absolute authority over people. 26 But that’s not the way it’s going to be among you. Whoever wants to become great among you will be your servant. 27 Whoever wants to be most important among you will be your slave. 28 It’s the same way with the Son of Man. He didn’t come so that others could serve him. He came to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many people.”

A man cannot be a proper spiritual head of his family until he learns to be a servant to them. A mans wife is his helpmate, not his doormat. (slight difference) God took a rib from Adams side, a wife to stand by her husbands side to be supportive to him always. 

A wife should have a willing submissiveness from her heart towards her husband. This will grow out of her husbands servant attitude towards her, not his forced submission caused by his lordship over her. Remember girls, you chose this man yourself to be the head of you, your children and your home. (CHOICES)

SACREDNESS OF THE MARRIAGE COVENANT

As the Blood Covenant is considered a sacred union, so it is with the Marriage Covenant. it is sanctioned and guaranteed by God.

Mark 10:2-9 - God created marriage, man warps it

Hebrews 13:4 - Marriage is scared

1 Corinthians 7:12-14 - God expects us to separate ourselves from everything sinful

2 Corinthians 6:14-18 - God expects not to be unequally yoked

Psalms 1:1-3 - Not to spend alot of time with unbelievers 

Malachi 2: 13-16 - Marriage Covenat is a protective covering for those within it. YHWH ordained marriage in order for us to give Him godly offspring - Our children belong to YHWH!

LAW OF THE MARRIAGE COVENANT

The law of love. Love is the main reason one would enter into a Marriage Covenant. 

In the Old Testament the law was established as a means of keeping covenant.

In the New Testament the Law of Love has been established as a means of keeping the covenant. 

In the Marriage Covenant the Law of Love also has been established as a means of keeping the covenant.

Romans 13:10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbour, love is the fulfillment of the law. 

Agape love, the "God kind of love" sacrificial love, will mold your marriage into a joyful existence for your spouse, your children and yourself. 

Read 1 Corinthians 13: 1-8 (What love is)

There are many divorces in the world simply because the individuals never learned to walk in "God's kind of love". A person cannot operate in agape love until after they are born again because they haven't yet received YHWH's nature and love with them. Romand 5:5

 A marriage should grow more precious all the time in the LORD, not deteriorate. if it is deteriorating, one or both parties do not have a proper covenant relationship with YHWH and are operating in selfishness. 

MARRIAGE SCRIPTURES

GEN  2:22-24

DEUT 24:5

PROV 5:18-19

PROV 12:4

PROV 18:22

PROV 19:14

PROV 20:6-7

PROV 30:18-19

PROV 31:10

EPH  5:22-33

MATT 19:4-6

1COR 7:1-16

COL  3:18-19

HEB  13:4-7

MARK 10:6-9

IS GAY MARRIAGE ACCEPTABLE TO GOD?

Let the scriptures, the WORD of YHWH speak for themselves, they all say the same thing.  

Leviticus 18:22 ESV

You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination.

1 Corinthians 6:9-11 ESV 

Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

Romans 1:26-28 ESV 

For this reason God gave them up to dishonourable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error. And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done.

Leviticus 20:13 ESV 

If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination; they shall surely be put to death; their blood is upon them.

1 Timothy 1:10 ESV

 

The sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine,

1 Corinthians 7:2 ESV

But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband.

1 Timothy 1:10-11 ESV 

The sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine, in accordance with the gospel of the glory of the blessed God with which I have been entrusted.

Mark 10:6-9 ESV 

But from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.’ ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.”

Jude 1:7 ESV  

Just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire.

Romans 1:27 ESV

And the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.

HOW SHOULD CHRISTIANS "DEAL" WITH SAME SEX MARRIAGE

I'm going to be totally blunt here. We don't. The powers that be will eventually bow to the Homosexual Community demands and allow for SSM, it's simply a matter of time.

As Christians, we are called to pray for the lost in this world, and show them the love of Christ, who died for them in the state they are in. Romans 5:8 - While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (This includes homosexuals)

This battle maybe lost to us. HOWEVER, it truly is not a victory for the Homosexual community as they are not in Holy covenant with YHWH and YHWH will not go back on His Word. Their unions are not blessed and will not produce godly fruit (children), which is one of the purposes of marriage if you recall. 

This world wide sin will only remain for so long until Christ return. Our concern is not about these people marrying, our concern is for their souls not to enter damnation. What we ought to do as Christians is show them God's love. I have a feeling that most if not all homosexuals already have that conviction in their heart that something just isn't right and something is missing, and unless one of us points them to Christ, they will be lost forever. I also know that most if not all homosexuals are well acquainted with the aforementioned scriptures, but because their eyes are covered by this sin, they can not see the truth that is ONLY found in Jesus. 

Isaiah 6:9-10GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)

9 And he said, “Go and tell these people ‘No matter how closely you listen, you’ll never understand.No matter how closely you look, you’ll never see.’ Make the heart of this people calloused; make their ears dull and close their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed."

I Personally do not condone homosexuality, but I do not hate any homosexuals based on their actions. I dislike a bunch of them because they are jerks, but I do not hate them. If I hated them, I would not care if they died and went to hell, but I do. Hence why I write this blog today.

If you are a homosexual reading this, understand that the choices you make today will effect your future. You have a choice to make and it's simple, Follow Jesus or don't. That's up to you. I would humbly suggest that a life filled with Jesus is most satisfying but that's just me. I love you enough to tell you there is a better way, and you don't have to be a slave to the sin that holds you, there is freedom in Christ Jesus. But I also love you enough to let you know that your choice to remain in sin will lead you to separation from Jesus and eventually, yes Hell. But it's your choice. 

I hope to see y'all in glory one day, worshipping Jesus in perfection instead of this fallen world. Choices must be made and consequences must occur, good, bad or indifferent.

 

Deuteronomy 30:16-20King James Version (KJV)

16 In that I command thee this day to love the Lord thy God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commandments and his statutes and his judgments, that thou mayest live and multiply: and the Lord thy God shall bless thee in the land whither thou goest to possess it.

17 But if thine heart turn away, so that thou wilt not hear, but shalt be drawn away, and worship other gods, and serve them;

18 I denounce unto you this day, that ye shall surely perish, and that ye shall not prolong your days upon the land, whither thou passest over Jordan to go to possess it.

19 I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:

20 That thou mayest love the Lord thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the Lord sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.

Blood Covenants: http://www.rockofoffence.com/myst6.html

Read more: http://www.gotquestions.org/bible-covenants.html#ixzz3Z75QJ4uz

Covenants of God - Rev. Dr. Kathy Kanters