Voice of the Introverts

“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”

Philippians 4:13

This is going to disappoint some people but this verse, at least in the flagrant way people take this out of context in today’s society, this ain’t necessarily so!

Just because some mega-bucks TV evangelist tells you that you are so good that God will hand you a big purse every time you need it, does not make it true. 

Don’t we all just love new things? Say, for instance, a new car. We get in the car and the smell is even new. Then, over time, the car gets dirty, it has to go in for repairs and we get apathetic with it. Anything new is the same way; we are looking forward to this new purchase, but after we get it the newness wears off and it gets old and familiar – we get tired of it and apathetic toward it.

“For God has not given us the spirit of fear…”      2 Timothy 1:7a

Have you noticed how everyone is living in fear lately. I am talking Christians too! How is that possible? I think it is because we are living too much in and too close to the world (I mean the world system/culture).

There are seven different types of churches listed in the book of The Revelation. They are represented by seven different areas in the major areas in the world at the time of writing. They are Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea. The Holy Spirit thru Paul writes of churches that are in good standing, how that these churches are are living what they teach and doing good works for Christ, spreading the Gospel. There are churches that are trying to walk right and there are churches that are churches in name only, not going after the things of God. The Spirit is giving accolades where they are due, but also reprimanding where it is necessary. The Spirit gives some good, some bad, about each represented church, and then gets to the church at Laodicea! My, oh my!

Here are the facts.  Lil’ Nas X, a homosexual rapper, decided to make a shoe filled with a drop of human blood and red dye to look like it was filled with human blood.  The shoe also had the #666 and Luke 10:18 written on the side. A pentagram charm dangles from the side. Only 666 of these shoes were made, and they sold out in under one minute.    

Once you can follow a good example it is more likely you can be a good example. The question is, what do you feel is being a good example? Is it being nice, being kind, being generous? That is not what Christ was interested in while he was on the earth, and it is not what he is interested in today. In the following scriptures, Christ was talking to the heads of the synagogue (the religious leaders of the time).

The darkest day in the history of the entire world had just occurred.  The crucifixion of Jesus Christ was the most horrific moment in the lives of the followers of Jesus.  The disciples were feeling the hopelessness that comes from being separated from the father, but then…

Sure, sure. I get the original concept of having cute little chickens and bunnies as a sign of Spring. They are a sign of new life and new growth. But why would these little creatures absolutely take over the most sacred, holy day of Christendom? 

How do you make decisions? When things come up do you pray about it and try to consider pros and cons, to make the best decision possible? Or, do you make your decisions on the fly and go with your gut instinct of the very first thing that pops into your head? I will be honest here, with me it has more often been the latter and that has been a mess, but it has sometimes worked out with a very good outcome. I have sometimes been flabbergasted (old person’s word) of how good that bad decisions sometimes work out!

Believers must be honest in all things. Because the Bible commands us to be honest. The Bible also states that dishonesty is sin, and we need to obey the Bible! Plus, dishonest acts will be found out sooner of later. This is what the Bible states, and we should obey it! Honesty is the only acceptable action for one who is a child of God.

~Alana Stovall