What does it mean to fear God?

The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them...Fear the LORD, you his holy people, for those who fear him lack nothing. The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.
Psalm 34:7;9-10

Psalm 34 is all about fearing God. It includes the rewards for fearing God and the punishment for not doing so. This might make you wonder what exactly, it means to fear God. First, I want to be sure everyone understand that fear of God is a positive thing. Here are a few examples of this:

• Exodus 1:17: Because the midwives feared God, they obeyed him instead of Pharaoh by sparing the Hebrew babies
• Exodus 9:29-31: Pharaoh brought disaster on his nation because he did not fear God
• Exodus 18:21: Moses was to choose leaders who feared God and wouldn't take bribes
• Exodus 20:20: Moses told the Hebrews that they should fear God to keep them from sinning 
• Leviticus 19:14; 32: The law says fear of God as a reason to treat the disabled and elderly well
• 2 Corinthains 7:1: Paul says to work toward complete holiness because we fear God

Fear of God is obviously not a bad thing, but is is indeed, fear, not a holy reverence.

Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
Mathew 10:28

Jesus says so himself. The bible does say over and over again to fear not, but what Jesus is saying is that shouldn't fear creation, but the creator. The creator is the one who decides if we go to heaven or to hell.

Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.
Ecclesiastes 12:13

Serve the LORD with fear and celebrate his rule with trembling. Kiss his son, or he will be angry and your way will lead to your destruction, for his wrath can flare up in a moment. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.
Psalm 2:11-12

I've talking on God's wrath before, so I'll get to the point. The point is 1 John 4:18 says "There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love." So this may seem like a contradiction. How can we love and fear God at the same time? This verse says we can't.
Well Jesus is the best example of fear and love working together. He warned us over and over again to not fear men, but to fear God. He spoke lovingly, but frankly to all people because we all need to face our sin and repent. But he also demonstrated love beyond human understanding

My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends.
John 15:12-13

Photo Credit:
http://survivingsurvivalism.com/fear.htm

Sources:
http://www.christianitytoday.com/biblestudies/bible-answers/spirituallife/what-does-it-mean-to-fear-god.html

Our Treasure

But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.

2 Corinthians 4:7-9

Christians are just ordinary jars of clay, but what makes us so extraordinary is what’s on the inside. I like the first sentence. “But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.” We are nothing, and that’s why it’s so amazing that God gives us his treasure. What God has done is obviously not the works of us. We’re just a pot. It’s obviously from God. And this treasure is much more valuable than silver or gold, it’s Jesus Christ himself.

God has given us his treasure and it’s the best treasure out there, but thieves will try to take away your treasure Satan wants you to crumble, but we are never crushed. A clay pot is weak, but through the treasure, Jesus, we are able to withstand the pressures of life.

Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

Colossians 2:2b-3

As a Christian, you will face tough decisions and impossible issues, but our treasure will be our counselor. Jesus protects us from hopelessness.

... God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."

Hebrews 13:5b

Persecutions are included in the process. We will be accused, misunderstood, and have lies told about us, but we know that Jesus will never abandon us.

They confronted me in the day of my disaster, but the LORD was my support.

Psalm 18:18

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

Mathew 11:28

He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.

Isaiah 40:29-31

Bad stuff will happen too. We will be “struck down, but not destroyed.” Life may feel like it’s overwhelming you, but Jesus will still be there to bear the burdens with us.

The bible never said life as a Christian would be easy and I fill you with lies if I tried to say that being a Christian would be. Life will be hard, but the amazingness of Jesus Christ will help us survive. Life comes at us like an overpowering tank and there is hope for survival with anything man has to offer. There is no earthly way a clay pot can overpower a tank, but with Jesus there is nothing a tank can do to destroy you. There will be challenges, but with Jesus you can withstand the pressures of life.

This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist  which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world. You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them.

1 John 4:2-5

Sources:

http://www.blueletterbible.org/devotionals/dbdbg/view.cfm?Date=05/22

Forgiveness: MY thoughts

Forgiveness is an interesting topic, and it is the one I have chosen today. I spend several hours debating with my family over what I though forgiveness was. And I'm going to tell you MY interpretation of what the bible says about forgiveness.
I have been told to forgive as God forgave me...So how does God forgive, anyway?

declares the LORD. "For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more."

Jeremiah 31:34b 

Forgiving isn't being able to have amnesia, but rather when you forgive someone, your saying that you will not dwell on their sin or bring it up. God doesn't hold our sins against us after we've been forgiven.

as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

Psalms 103:12

God removes sin from us, it completely takes it away. But I haven't yet got to the part that I had an argument about, I'm stilling getting there. I just need to make sure everyone understands that. Let me ask you this: 

When does God forgive us? When we ask for it.

So does that mean we forgive other WHEN THEY ASK FOR IT?

So am I saying you can be angry and bitter until forgiveness is asked? NO WAY!

Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Ephesians 4:31-32

You get ride of bitterness, anger, and rage BEFORE you forgive. These two verses say we should...

1. get ride of sin
2. be compassionate
3. forgive

In your anger do not sin: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry

Ephesians 4:26

So you CAN be angry (Jesus was) but you must not sin and you must no dwell on why you are angry. So, now, here's back to what God does.

God, the perfect one, does not forgive until we confess, or ask for forgiveness

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

1 John 1:9

So when WE ask, he WILL forgive. BUT he doesn't forgive us UNTIL we ask. Were suppose to forgive like God, right? So that means that we shouldn't forgive UNTIL the person who wronged us asks for forgiveness...RIGHT?

One thing my mom said was that we we are not God (I agree) and we shouln't forgive like him (I disagree, Note Luke 17:3-4)

"If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him. If he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times comes back to you and says, 'I repent,' forgive him."
Luke 17:3-4

Jesus says "If he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times comes back to you and says, 'I repent,' forgive him." 
Jesus, the perfect son of God, says that IF HE SAYS 'I REPENT' YOU SHOULD FORGIVE

If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that 'every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.'
Mathew 18:15-16

If you forgive someone before they repent, you cannot rebuke him or her. This is why Jesus says not to have unconditional forgiveness.
My family brought these two verses to my attention:

While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." Then he fell on his knees and cried out, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." When he had said this, he fell asleep.
Acts 7:59-60

Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing."
Luke 23:24

Was Jesus sinning? Was Stephen sinning? No, and no.
Neither Jesus or Stephen said "I forgive them" they said "God, forgive them." I MY OPINION these two where saying, God, do not hold this against them. (Stephen was saying that, but that's what I THINK Jesus was saying as well). Jesus did not sin, but he was ready to forgive the men who killed him, as was Stephen and, had they asked for forgiveness, I think Jesus would have also said "Father, I forgive them."

Here's a summary of all this:

1. Forgive like God forgives
2. When you forgive, you are saying that you will not bring up the offenders sins anymore
3. God forgives us when we repent
4. We should forgive others when they repent
5. If someone sins, you should talk to them alone and show them how they have sinned

Anything I said that was not clearly stated in a bible verse is MY OPINION I tried to make it clear what was my thought and what is God's word.

-Ruth

And this is love:

Happy valentines day! as we prepare for valentines day on Feb 14, I want to give you some good verses about true love.


And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.
2john 1:6

This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands.

1john 5:2

We love because he first loved us.
1john 4:19

Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.
1john 4:8

Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.
1john 3:18

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.
1john 3:16

love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.
1Peter 4:8

The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.
1timothy 1:5 

May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you.
1thessalonians 3:5 

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud

 1Corinthians 13:4

Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.
Romans 12:9 

Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.

John 15:13

Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you, I will give men in exchange for you, and people in exchange for your life

Isaiah 43:4 

Many waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot wash it away. 
Songs of Songs 8:7 

Better is open rebuke than hidden love.
Proverbs 27:5 

Turn, O LORD, and deliver me; save me because of your unfailing love.
Psalm 6:4


Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.
1 Chronicles 16:34

Love the LORD your God and keep his requirements, his decrees, his laws and his commands always.

Deuteronomy 11:1

Jacob was in love with Rachel and said, "I'll work for you seven years in return for your younger daughter Rachel."
Genesis 29:18

Again, happy valentines day, and I hope that wasn't to long...

Cheer For The New Year

Happy new years! as we prepare for a new year, we might set a goal. my goal is to be more like Christ. if you want to be like Christ, then you need to read the bible.

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
2peter 1:5-8

if your a christian you need to prove it. in 1john 1:6 it says:
If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth.

so if you claim your a christian, you have to act like one or all of us will look like fools. so have a happy new year!


Hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
Romans 8:24-25

I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.
Romans 9:15

That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame. Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
Romans 9: 9-11, 13

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

James1:2-4

 HAVE A HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!