Bible Scriptures for Healing

Posted on

can  we really be HEALED from physical, mental, and emotional illness?? The below scriptures have been suggested to us for true healing

. . .

Bible  Scriptures for

H e a l i n g

Isaiah 41:10 – Fear thou not; for I [am] with thee: be not dismayed; for I [am] thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

Jeremiah 17:14 – Heal me, O LORD, and I shall be healed; save me, and Ishall be saved: for thou [art] my praise.

1 Peter 2:24 – Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

Jeremiah 33:6 – Behold, I will bring it health and cure, and I will cure them, and will reveal unto them the abundance of peace and truth.

Isaiah 53:5 – But he [was] wounded for our transgressions, [he was] bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace [was] upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

Psalms 103:2-4 – Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits

James 5:15 – And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.

James 5:14 – Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:

James 5:16 – Confess [your] faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

3 John 1:2 – Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.

Proverbs 17:22 – A merry heart doeth good [like] a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.

Matthew 10:1 – And when he had called unto [him] his twelve disciples, he gave them power [against] unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.

Psalms 127:3 – Lo, children [are] an heritage of the LORD: [and] the fruit of the womb [is his] reward.

Matthew 10:8 – Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.

Deuteronomy 7:15 – And the LORD will take away from thee all sickness, and will put none of the evil diseases of Egypt, which thou knowest, upon thee; but will lay them upon all [them] that hate thee.

 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power    EPH 6:10

 

 

We can buy medicine, seek medical experts … but only GOD can truly heal us!

 

 

 

ALL LIVES –MATTER!

Posted on

Proverbs 6:16-19  (KJV)

While driving up the Interstate 1—somewhere between Southern Pines and Sanford, NC I read a church billboard that said “Aborted Lives Matter”–Proverbs 6:16-19. This is a position taken after so much publicity has been diverted to the “Black Lives Matter” movement– And they do–but ALL LIVES MATTER!! Red or Yellow Black or White .  . and ALL lives matter at ANY age!

And even when we decide to agree upon that premise–that ALL LIVES MATTER–we still have this massive sin in our world, our country, our community- ABORTION.

According to our Abortion laws in the USA–women have the “right” to choose. The Roe v. Wade decision set precedence in Jan 1974, where the highest court of the land SCOTUS determined that “a woman had a right to her own body.” Roe v. Wade, 410 U.S. 113 (1973), is a landmark decision by the United States Supreme Court on the issue of abortion. It was decided simultaneously with a companion case, Doe v. Bolton. The Court ruled 7–2 that a right to privacy under the Due Process Clause of the 14th Amendment extended to a woman’s decision to have an abortion, but that this right must be balanced against the state’s two legitimate interests in regulating abortions: protecting women’s health and protecting the potentiality of human life.[1] Arguing that these state interests became stronger over the course of a pregnancy, the Court resolved this balancing test by tying state regulation of abortion to the third trimester of pregnancy.–Wikipedia

As a young, and out of fellowship with the Lord, know it all woman, I thought this decision was not only practical, but RIGHT!! I mean how dare anyone tell anyone what they could do with their own body!! And who were these “men” telling us, “women” what we could and SHOULD do!! RIGHT? right?

And don’t women have dominion over what path they decide on for themselves??? What if they were raped? What if they were impregnated in an incestuous relationship? OR, what if the mother’s life was endangered–there would be this “legal” loophole that a woman would not be punished further! ABORTION was legal.

I mean come on . . . it’s just a clump of cells. . . you can’t even tell what it is!! RIGHT?  . . .right?

After later, having two babies, I queried my friends and family members–I could not even imagine having an abortion after having two children! I had never known love so deep and meaningfully! Then after I became a college professor and listening to 1000s of student speeches and listening to the differing points of view . . . there seemed a smugness in that “women were in control of what they did to their bodies individually.”

Look where man’s law has gotten us! Last count roughly 56 million LEGAL abortions have been performed in the USA since that infamous landmark decision in 1974. The stats below reflect some very shocking facts:

                     The clock is ticking . . .

                     Think about this:

         One baby is aborted every

                        26 seconds

                     137 every hour

                    3,304 every day

                  23,196 every week

                100,516 every month

                1.206,192 every year

           in the United States alone!

Because you see, even though you might be able to justify to yourself that “it’s just a bunch of cells” or in a worse case scenario that it’s a far along as 5 months in utero or in STILL LEGAL cases of up to the DAY OF DUE DATE–an abortion is shedding innocent blood–it’s a baby, the unborn, innocent, indefensible child that God knows, and HIS words are recorded in Proverbs 6:16-19:

16 These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:

17 A proud look, a lying tongue, and HANDS THAT SHED INNOCENT BLOOD,

18 An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,

19 A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.

King James Version (KJV)

GOD is our CREATOR and has a plan for each and every life–regardless of what color, sex, or age. Respecting all life is key to obeying GOD’S Word. I thank God daily for guiding me to the truth and giving me the opportunity to take a stand against this terrible procedure—a procedure that treats the unborn with total disregard for the sanctity of life–

Oh, God in Heaven, we thank THEE for EVERY life!

Be of Good Cheer!

Posted on

Be of Good Cheer!

When Jim and I go to our little house in Comanche, Texas, we attend the Gustine church of Christ just a few miles from town, in Gustine, TX population about 200. . . It’s the warmest congregation with about 20 members–all of who welcome us as though we are sorely missed and that they are so happy to see us–and we know they really are sincere!!

This congregation, as I mentioned, has 20+/- members who attend regularly–a number which is down substantially from 250+ just 40 years ago–like 90% down !! Most of the members are elderly or close to being so, but what attracts us to this congregation is because they define what I refer to as great examples of Christian men and women. I love them, respect them, and admire them for their continued service to Christ our Lord and Savior– and to the local community–with no complaint–and most of them have many good reasons to complain . . . but you would never know it–because they are friendly, engaging, and cheerful.

Bro. Bill Blackstone–the preacher is 80 or older–and brings the messages on Sunday, teaches Sunday School and the Wednesday classes and he puts out the Weekly Bulletin. I am sharing one of his articles about our attitude regarding our lives. He said that I could use anything that he writes and I chose this article for this week’s Words of Wisdom article. I hope you are able to use it to your benefit!

“BE OF GOOD CHEER” One thing in life is sure: we all have our share of pain and suffering. Bad things happen to good people. Age, disease and sickness can destroy our health. Family problems threaten lives and souls of those we love most dearly. Financial strain, job related stress, and everyday challenges of life seem to be like Jesus’ description of the poor – “With us always.” (Mark 14:7).

This should not surprise us. Didn’t Jesus warn us, “In the world you shall have tribulation?” (John 16:33). We can be thankful that Jesus did not stop his thought here, but continued by promising, “….be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

No problem or sorrow is larger than our God. And God, who “cannot lie” (Titus 1:2), has promised to help his own. “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” (Psalms 46:1).

The question is not “Does God care?” He does! The real problem that each one must answer is “Do I believe what God has promised?-Bill B

I do!

And, again, I am inspired to do better and to have the reputation as a cheerful Christian. I am also inspired because Jim and I have found this scripturally sound, and cheerful congregation here at Boyd Lake Rd and there are so many parallels–uplifting, kind, concerned, friendly members, excellent sermons and services . . . both “cheerful” . . . one difference to note: Gustine may be losing membership due to the small town getting smaller reality –but continues to be an inspiration to so many and Boyd Lake Rd continues to grow and add more cheerful faithful Christians to its number-I am so blessed!

 

 

 

 

 

The Local Congregation

Posted on

For over 20 years Bro. Gene Taylor published a church bulletin under the title of Reflections On Truth. The bulletin started when he served as preacher in Evansville, Indiana and in Zion, Illinois. This blog is regarding Local Church Membership

The word “church” can refer to the church universal Matt. 16:18; Eph. 5:23), the whole body of baptized believers, or to a local body of Christians (Rom. 16:16; 1 Cor. 1:2).  When you were baptized into Christ (Rom. 6:3-4), He added you to His church (Acts 2:41, 47). This refers to the church universal, the body of all the saved who belong to Christ (Eph. 2:16; 4:4; 1:22-23). On the other hand, such expressions in Scripture as “the church of God which is at Corinth” (1 Cor. 1:2) refer to a local church, a congregation of those who belong to the Lord in a particular locality who have banded together to work and worship collectively in those things God would have them to do. The Christian, while added to the universal church by the Lord, joins himself to the local church like the apostle Paul did with the church in Jerusalem in Acts 9:26.
Every Christian needs to be identified with a local church. When a child of God moves from one locality to another, he should seek out a faithful group of the Lord’s people and identify with them in order to fulfill his share of the collective responsibilities the Lord has given him. For, you see, the local church is the only collective functioning unit revealed in the New Testament. The church universal has no organization with which it can function. Nor are there any structural ties between local churches. Each local congregation is an independent, autonomous, i.e., self-governing, group.
God has designated that when there are qualified men to serve, each local church should be organized with elders, deacons and members (Phil. 1:1). The qualifications for elders are found in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:6-9. The deacons’ qualifications are found in 1 Timothy 3:8-13. Elders are to tend the church (1 Pet. 5:2) and rule over it (Heb. 13:17) by exercising oversight (1 Pet. 5:2), to watch out for the souls placed in their charge (Heb. 13:17), to admonish the unruly (1 Pet. 5:1-2) and be an example to all (1 Pet. 5:2). Deacons are special servants who attend to those things the church needs and the elders direct them to accomplish. If there are no qualified men in a congregation who can serve in these offices, a local church may exist and function by using such an expedient as a business meeting — a meeting of the men of the congregation which determines the course of action the church will follow in accomplishing the work of the Lord.
The Christian’s Responsibilities to Members of the Church
As a member of the church the Christian is a part of the family of God (1 Tim. 3:15). Being a family member carries responsibilities. As a part of the universal Church one has responsibilities to all Christians worldwide. Being a member of a local church, though, he sustains peculiar responsibilities to those who are his fellow-members in that local body. It is like being a part of the physical family. When one is born he becomes a part of a large family with aunts, uncles, cousins, etc., to whom he has responsibilities. But he also is part of a nuclear family of mother, father, sisters and brothers to whom he has special moral and spiritual obligations over and above those he has to the rest of his relatives.
Please check out the following terms that identify more of the Christian’s Responsibilities to Other Members of the Church
• Love (1 Pet. 1:22)
• Edify (Eph. 4:16)
• Encourage (Heb. 10:24)
• Teach and Admonish (Col. 3:16)
• Bear Burdens (Gal. 6:2)
• Comfort (1 Thes. 4:18)
• Forgive (Eph. 4:32; Matt. 6:14-15)
• Work Together (Phil. 1:27)

Making a Difference in The Family

Posted on

God gave each member of the family a role to play. Each one playing his or her part will make a difference in the family, as can be seen in Paul’s instructions to the saints in Ephesus.

Christian wives are to place themselves under the control of the husbands as one means of showing that they are yielding to the Lord (5:22). God made man the head of the family, foreshadowing the relationship of Christ to the church. Jesus demonstrated His love the church by giving His life for her. Husbands should be ready to sacrifice their lives for their wives (5:23-23). The self-sacrificing nature of the Savior is a perfect example for each husband to follow. Wives whose husbands are willing to die for them have little trouble with submission.

Children are instructed to keep on obeying their parents (6:1-3). The only limitation to this is the expression “in the Lord,” which means a child may refuse to obey his or her parents if they ask them to do something wrong in the sight of God. The fifth of the Ten Commandments reads, “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you” (Exodus 20:5). Paul described it as the “first commandment with a promise” because obeying and honoring one’s parents is well-suited to developing a character that will cause one to live a long life on earth. Obedience requires one to grow in self-control, self-discipline, recognition of authority and a teachable spirit, all of which are necessary ingredients for a good life.

Fathers can facilitate the obedience of their children by provoking them to wrath (6:4). Discipline is an important part of the parent and child relationship, but harsh discipline can cause a child to strike back. Inconsistency in discipline can lead to outbursts of anger. Fathers do not need to laugh about things a little child does and then spank for the same actions when the child is a little older.

You can make a difference in our family! Godly parents can make a positive difference in their families.