Belovedness 2 - Sarah Kroger

  Negative self-talk has probably plagued humanity since the beginning. If a friend said some of the things to us that we say to ourselves, they would no longer be our friend. And yet we allow our internal chatterbox to persist, often without even realizing it.

I hope this song wakes people up to the truth that they are beloved. This is who we are, and it’s literally an instruction: be loved. There is nothing we’ve done, no mistake we’ve made, nothing that’s been done to us that can take away the fact that we are beloved. We own the negative things about ourselves far too quickly and we allow those thoughts to control our actions and our beliefs about ourselves. It’s time to silence the chatterbox and allow the truth to grow. It’s time to own our belovedness. 

Whether you’re eight or 80 years old, this song is for you. 

Sarah Kroger

http://www.sarahkroger.com/blog/2020/8/21/belovedness

Bring the Rain .. MercyMe

I can count a million times

People asking me how I

Can praise You with all that I've gone through

The question just amazes me

Can circumstances possibly

Change who I forever am in You

Maybe since my life was changed

Long before these rainy days

It's never really ever crossed my mind

To turn my back on you, oh Lord

My only shelter from the storm

But instead I draw closer through these times

So I pray

Bring me joy, bring me peace

Bring the chance to be free

Bring me anything that brings You glory

And I know there'll be days

When this life brings me pain

But if that's what it takes to praise You

Jesus, bring the rain

I am Yours regardless of

The dark clouds that may loom above

Because You are much greater than my pain

You who made a way for me

By suffering Your destiny

So tell me what's a little rain

So I pray

Holy, holy, holy

Is the Lord God Almighty

Songwriters: BILLY MONTANA, HELEN DARLING

© CARLIN AMERICA INC, MIKE CURB MUSIC

For non-commercial use only.

The God who Stays Matthew West

[Verse 1]

If I were You I would've given up on me by now

I would've labeled me a lost cause

'Cause I feel just like a lost cause

If I were You I would've turned around and walked away

I would've labeled me beyond repair

'Cause I feel like I'm beyond repair

[Pre-Chorus]

Oh, but somehow You don't see me like I do

Somehow You're still here

[Chorus]

You're the God who stays

You're the God who stays

You're the one who runs in my direction

When the whole world walks away

You're the God who stands

With wide open arms

And You tell me nothing I have ever done can separate my heart

From the God who stays

[Verse 2]

I used to hide

Every time I thought I let You down

I always thought I had to earn my way

But I'm learning You don't work that way

[Pre-Chorus]

'Cause somehow You don't see me like I do

Somehow You're still here

[Chorus]

You're the God who stays (You're the God who stays)

You're the God who stays (You're the God who stays)

You're the one who runs in my direction

When the whole world walks away

You're the God who stands (You're the God who stands)

With wide open arms (With wide open arms)

And You tell me nothing I have ever done can separate my heart

From the God who stays

[Bridge]

My shame can't separate

My guilt can't separate

My past can't separate

I'm Yours forever

My sin can't separate

My scars can't separate

My failures can't separate

I'm Yours forever

No enemy can separate

No power of hell can take away

Your love for me will never change

I'm Yours forever

[Chorus]

You're the God who stays (You're the God who stays)

You're the God who stays (You're the God who stays)

You're the one who runs in my direction

When the whole world walks away

You're the God who stands (You're the God who stands)

With wide open arms (With wide open arms)

And You tell me nothing I have ever done can separate my heart

From the God who stays

You're the God who stays

You're the one who runs in my direction

When the whole world walks away

You're the God who stands

With wide open arms

And You tell me nothing I have ever done can separate my heart

From the God who stays

Bible Study is... Letter from Logos.com

The Bible isn’t a collection of inspirational thoughts like pearls on a string. The human authors present logical positions and arguments. One of the most important aspects of Bible study is understanding an author’s line of thinking.

Faithlife Aug 2 2020

Adam and Eve - Curt Thompson md

Anatomy of the Soul - Curt Thompson md

One wonders how the story would have unfolded differently in the Garden had Eve and Adam, instead of hiding, been more attentive to their fear, more willing to turn toward their own shame. What if, when God sought him out, Adam had said, “Here I am, over here! And I’m in quite a state. I feel really bad about this . . . and in fact it terrifies me to tell you what I’m about to say, and I’m really, really embarrassed. As you can see, wearing these rather odd, um . . . clothes, I believe?” “Yes, I see. Go on,” God might have replied. “Well, the tree you said I couldn’t eat from, well, Eve, well . . . that’s not important. I mean, I know you probably have to talk with her about her part in this, but let me just say . . . I ate from the tree. Okay, there. I said it. I blew it. I hate that snake, but it’s my fault. I’m really sorry. “I know Eve may be in big trouble too, but really, don’t take it out on her. Just do with me what you will. . . .” Who’s to say God’s response would not have been, “Well done. I know it’s been painful for you to take responsibility for your and her behavior. But well, well done. Now there is more for you to learn. . . .” Although this is an imagined outcome, it reflects how we are encouraged to embrace confession. Epistle writers of the New Testament go further. In his first letter, the apostle John writes, 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) John does not write, “If you confess your sins and then ask God to forgive you, he will.” There is no middle step. It is as if forgiveness fills the room, waiting for us, and confession merely opens our hearts to receive its flood of relief, joy, and freedom. God is not waiting for us to grovel. He’s not into groveling. He does not need or want us to remain in the shame of our sin (though some of us live as if this were the case). Shame merely gets our attention—if we are alert. However, God does wait for us to be real about our shame so he can meet us in it and then rewrite our narratives. Given that God is the author of forgiveness, can we assume that confession should be made to God alone? John neither says that nor, I think, does he imply it. There is a reason for this. It is in the physical, bodily sensations of being mindfully mentalized that we sense, experience, and truly internalize forgiveness. It is not enough simply to hear the words or take in the fact that we are forgiven. That would

Anatomy of the Soul Curt Thompson md

- forgiveness,

Only one life, twill soon be past - CT Studd

Two little lines I heard one day,
Traveling along life’s busy way;
Bringing conviction to my heart,
And from my mind would not depart;
Only one life, twill soon be past,

Only what’s done for Christ will last.
Only one life, yes only one,
Soon will its fleeting hours be done;
Then, in ‘that day’ my Lord to meet,
And stand before His Judgement seat;
Only one life, 'twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, the still small voice,
Gently pleads for a better choice
Bidding me selfish aims to leave,
And to God’s holy will to cleave;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, a few brief years,
Each with its burdens, hopes, and fears;
Each with its clays I must fulfill,
living for self or in His will;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.

When this bright world would tempt me sore,
When Satan would a victory score;
When self would seek to have its way,
Then help me Lord with joy to say;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Give me Father, a purpose deep,
In joy or sorrow Thy word to keep;
Faithful and true what e’er the strife,
Pleasing Thee in my daily life;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Oh let my love with fervor burn,
And from the world now let me turn;
Living for Thee, and Thee alone,
Bringing Thee pleasure on Thy throne;
Only one life, 'twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, yes only one,
Now let me say, "Thy will be done";
And when at last I’ll hear the call,
I know I’ll say "twas worth it all";
Only one life, 'twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last. ”

— extra stanza —

Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.
And when I am dying, how happy I’ll be,
If the lamp of my life has been burned out for Thee

Belovedness by Sarah Kroger

Sarah kroger Belovedness

You've owned your fear and all your self-loathing
You've owned the voices inside of your head
You've owned the shame and reproach of your failure
It's time to own your belovedness

You've owned your past and how it's defined you
You've owned everything everybody else says
It's time to hear what your Father has spoken
It's time to own your belovedness

He says, you're mine, I smiled when I made you
I find you beautiful in every way
My love for you is fierce and unending
I'll come to find you, whatever it takes
My beloved

You've owned the mess you see in the mirror
You've owned the lies that you're just not enough
You've been so blinded by all you're comparing
It's time to own your belovedness

He says, you're mine, I smiled when I made you
I find you beautiful in every way
My love for you is fierce and unending
I'll come to find you, whatever it takes
My beloved

You are completely loved and fully known
Beloved, believe He died to make your heart His home

And He says, you're mine, I smiled when I made you
I find you beautiful in every way
My love for you is fierce and unending
I'll come to find you, whatever it takes

He says, you're mine, I smiled when I made you
I find you beautiful in every way
My love for you is fierce and unending
I'll come to find you, whatever it takes
My beloved
It's time to own your belovedness

When I saw him he was my brother - African Proverb

 

African proverb: 

"When I saw him from afar, I thought he was a monster.

When he got closer, I thought he was an animal.

When he got closer, I recognized that he was a human.

When we were face to face, I realized that he was my brother."

Not of Christ - Boston history from Christian History Institute

A SOUR GREETING FOR TWO QUAKER WOMEN

[19th century Quaker woman—Charles Frederick Holder, Quakers in Great Britain and America (New York: Neuner 1913)]

TWO QUAKER MISSIONARIES, Ann Austin and Mary Fisher, arrived in Boston harbor on this day, 11 July 1656, the first of their sect to reach New England. They were greeted with cruelty. The Puritans who ruled Massachusetts regulated religious teachings and behavior. News from England had prejudiced them against Quakers, whom they classed with heretics.

Deputy Governor Richard Bellingham boarded the ship Swallow, ordered the women to remain aboard until further notice, searched their belongings, and confiscated about one hundred books they had brought with them. According to Boston authorities, these “contained most corrupt, heretical, and blasphemous doctrines, contrary to the truth of the gospel here professed amongst us.”

The Boston council met at once. Deploring the women’s “dangerous, heretical, and blasphemous opinions” which “they came here purposely to propagate,” the council ordered their books burned, the women imprisoned with no opportunity to speak to anyone, and the Swallow’s owner, Simon Kempthorn, to give security that he would transport the women back to Barbadoes, or cause them to be transported.

The authorities then forced Austin and Fisher to strip and examined them closely for signs of witchcraft. Austin claimed that one of the searchers was “a man in womens apparel.” To prevent anyone seeing or speaking to them, the window of their cell was boarded up. No arrangement was made to provide them with food.

Nicholas Upsall, an innkeeper with a Christian heart, offered to pay the women’s fines if he could speak with them. His request was denied. Indeed, Bostonians were warned that anyone attempting to speak with the heretics would be fined five pounds. Upsall then bribed the jailer five shillings a week to take food to the prisoners, who otherwise might have died of starvation. 

Boston held the women five weeks, until another ship owner, William Chicester, agreed to take them back to Barbadoes. During those five weeks, the pair were permitted neither candle nor writing material in their darkened cell. When they left, the jailor kept their Bible and bedding as his payment.

Shortly afterward, Upsall, an elderly man, was banished from Massachusetts for protesting the treatment of a second group of Quakers. Although Upsall was a blameless Puritan and a faithful churchgoer, the authorities showed him no leniency. He found shelter with an Indian chief in the area now known as Rhode Island.

https://christianhistoryinstitute.org/it-happened-today

The Scariest Verse of the Bible Matt 7.21

Matt. 7.21   “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

Clearly Jesus is here saying people might think that they know what they are doing, serving the king, they are not just pew warmers but active in the church, believing all the while they are serving the king of kings and yet when they stand before the king it is evident that they never knew Him. Some people think the solution is to follow the commandments apparently, but God wants a relationship, not obedience.

Call to Discipleship - Juan Carlos Ortiz

Call to Discipleship 

From Milk to Meat

Why did Jesus put ministers in the Church?

And He gave some apostles: and some prophets: and some Evangelists: and some pastors and teachers; For perfecting maturing of the saints , for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ(Eph 4:11-12)

Herein lies part of the answer. the purpose of the preaching oand teaching in the church is to perfect (bring to maturity) the saints for the work of the ministry. The one learning today is to become a teach tomorrow. The pastors are not to entertain or maintain the believers, but to mature them. In other words, shepherds are not placed in the flock to give milk to the sheep. God provides milk to every mother to give her child. Ministers must take the sheep into maturity. 

God gave the church ministers to equip and perfect the saints. Yet most of the activities we have in the church are to maintain the saints rather than equip them. 

. . . 

Our Ministry is to equip them, to perfect them, to make out of them teachers that they may teach others. That meant I as a pastor needed to have a clear vision of the objective of my existence. What does God wish me to make of the believers? Each pastor must ask himself, " why did God put me in the ministry? what is my work? To what should I dedicate myself?" The answer to this question is always, To perfect the saints for the work of the ministry, that Christians might be properly equipped for their service" (Phillips).

. . . 

Paul tells the Hebrews they should already have been teachers, which means that the Christian is really progressing when he can teach and guide someone else to be a Christian. "For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again" (Heb. 5:12 RSV). Phillips, translating the same passage, says, "At a time when you should be teaching others, you need teachers yourselves to repeat to you the ABCs of God's revelation to men." This means we should graduate sometime, for if we do not advance we are slipping back.  We should pass from the first grade of the rudiments to the second grade of the pure milk, and on to the third grade of solid food.

Call to discipleship

Juan Carlos Ortiz

Logos International, Plainfield, New Jersey

1975

- Christian Growth, Maturity

The Current Banking Practice Explained

Add caption

THE CURRENT BANKING CRISIS EXPLAINED BY A "Politician". 

Young "Donald" bought a donkey from a farmer for £100. The farmer agreed to deliver the donkey the next day.

The next day he drove up and said, 'Sorry son, but I have some bad news. The donkey died.'

"Donald" replied, 'Well then just give me my money back.'

The farmer said, 'Can't do that. I've already spent it.'

"Donald" said, 'OK, then, just bring me the dead donkey.'

The farmer asked, 'What are you going to do with him?'

"Donald" said, 'I'm going to raffle him off.'

The farmer said, 'You can't raffle a dead donkey!'

"Donald" said, 'Sure I can. Watch me. I just won't tell anybody he's dead.'

A month later, the farmer met up with "Donald" and asked, ' What happened to that dead donkey?'

"Donald" said, 'I raffled him off. I sold 500 tickets at £2 each and made a profit of £898.'

The farmer said, 'Didn't anyone complain?'

"Donald" said, 'Just the guy who won. So I gave him his £2 back.'

"Donald" now works for the Bank of Ireland.

Bertrand Russel: Why I am not a Christian Intro - Bertrand Russel

Professor Edwards republication of various essays of mine concerned with theological subjects is a cause of gratitude to me, especially in view of his admirable prefatory observations. I am particularly glad that this opportunity has occurred for reaffirming my conviction on the subjects with which the various essays deal. 

There has been a rumor in recent year to the effect that I have become less opposed to religious orthodoxy than I formerly was. This rumor is totally without foundation. I think all the great religions of the world - Buddhism, Hinduism, Christianity, Islam, and communism - both untrue and harmful. It is evident as a matter of logic that, since they disagree, not more than one of them can be true.  With very few exceptions, the religion which a man accepts is that of the community in which he lives, which makes it obvious that the influence of environment is what has led him to accept the religion in question. It is true that the Scholastics invented what professed to be logical arguments proving the existence of God, and that these arguments proving the existence of God, and that these arguments, or others of a similar tenor, have been accepted by many eminent philosophers, but the logic to which these traditional arguments appealed is of an antiquated Aristotelian sort which is now rejected by practically all logicians except such as are Catholics. There is one of these arguments which is not purely logical. I mean the argument from design, this argument, however was destroyed by Darwin; and, in any case, could only be made logically respectable at the cost of abandoning God's omnipotence. Apart from logical cogency, there is to me something a little odd about the ethical valuations of those who think that an omnipotent, omniscient, and benevolent Deity, after preparing the ground by many millions of years of lifeless nebulae, would consider Himself adequately rewarded by the final emergence of Hitler and Stalin and the H-bomb. 

The question of the truth of a religion is one thing, but the question of its usefulness is another. I am as firmly convinced that religions do harm as I am that they are untrue.

The harm that is done by a religion is of two sorts, the one depending on the kind of belief which it is thought ought to be given to it, and the other upon the particular tenets believed. As regards the kind of belief: it is virtuous to have faith -- that is to say, to have a conviction which cannot be shaken by contrary evidence. Or, if contrary evidence must be suppressed. On such grounds, the young are not allowed to hear arguments, in Russian, in favor of capitalism, or in America, in favor of Communism. This keeps the faith of both intact and ready for internecine war. The conviction that it is important to believe this or that, even if a free inquiry would not support the belief, is one which is common to almost all religions, and which inspires all systems of state education the consequence is that the minds of the young are stunted and are filled with fanatical hostility both to those who have other fanaticisms and, even more virulently, to those who object to all fanaticisms. A habit of basing convictions upon evidence, and of giving to them only that degree of certainty which the evidence warrants, would, if it became general, cure most of the ills from which the world is suffering. But at present, in most countries, education aims at preventing the growth of such a habit, and men who refuse to profess belief in some system of unfounded dogmas are not considered suitable as teachers of the young.

The above evils are independent of the particular creed in question and exist equally, in all creeds which are held dogmatically. But they are also, in most religions, specific ethical tenets which do definite harm. The Catholic condemnation of birth control, if it could prevail, would make the mitigation of poverty and the abolition of war impossible. The Hindu beliefs that the cow is a sacred animal and that it is wicked for widows to remarry cause quite needless suffering. The Communist belief in the dictatorship of a minority of True Believers has produced a whole crop of abominations. 

We are sometimes told that only fanaticism can make a social group effective. I think this is totally contrary to the lessons of history. But, in any case, only those who slavishly worship success can think that effectiveness is admirable without regard to what is effected. For my part, I think it be better to do a little good than to do much harm. The world that I should wish to see would be one freed from the virulence of group hostilities and capable of realizing that happiness for all is to be derived rather from co-operation than from strife. I should wish to see a world in which education aimed at mental freedom rather than at imprisoning the minds of the young in a rigid armor of dogma calculated to protect them through life against the shafts of impartial evidence. The world needs open hearts and open minds, and it is not through rigid systems, whether old or new, that these can be derived.

Bertrand Russel 1957

Bertrand Russel Why I am not a Christian

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Questions:

1. How can there be good and evil

2. When did Darwinian view of Evolution become a fact rather than a theory?

3. Did he really believe the absence of religion is really an neutral position not a new religion of Self?

4. The world does need open minds and hearts but need you through out the baby to get them? Is he not stating that no one except those who think like him have an open heart and mind, and is it not rather close minded to think that way?