Episodes

Originally written July 1, 2011 Originally posted here: https://forthesakeofthetruth.com/2011/07/01/so-what-am-i-supposed-to-do/ So what am I supposed to do? I’ve been writing a lot lately about resting in Christ and abandoning works of the flesh. About how we aren’t to work to be approved in God’s eyes; just receive His grace and favor. If this is all a new concept to you, as it once was to me, then you may ask yourself, “So, what is it I am supposed to do?” Without a doubt, we are to do som...

This ties in somewhat with the previous miracle. As I mentioned there, I came back to Oklahoma with no job, no money, and no husband. I also became saddled with new debt that he insisted I pay in the divorce. To top all that off, I began to bleed profusely as if I were having a heavy menstrual cycle every single day. I was so bad that many days I couldn’t leave the house. I kept praying to God about it. My request was to heal me or show me what to do. I knew I didn’t want to go to a doctor for...

On Wednesday, I talked about the word disobedient and how that word means ‘unpersuaded’ and ties in closely with the word ‘repent’ which means to change your mind. I’ve seen for years people rooted and grounded in a belief that they would refuse to give up on or even listen to or consider another thought. They read their bibles with that close-minded attitude, and what they read is colored by that ideology. I’m not sure at what point a Christian mind becomes so closed that it refuses to accept...

Disobedience Transliteration: apeithés Phonetic Spelling: (ap-i-thace’) Short Definition: unbelieving, disobedient Definition: unbelieving, disobedient, who will not be persuaded. Colossians 3:5-7 5) So put to death your worldly impulses: sexual sin, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed (which is idolatry). 6) It is because of these things that the wrath of God is coming on those who are disobedient. 7) You used to behave like them as you lived among them. 8) But now you must also get ri...

Today’s Meditation Verse: Colossians 3:16-17 16 Let the teaching concerning Christ remain as a rich treasure in your hearts. In all wisdom teach and admonish one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, and sing with grace in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, and let it be through Him you give thanks to God the Father. Today’s verse was taken from the Weymouth version of the Bible. I really love the way it uses...

Go and Sin No More John 8:10-11 10 Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?” 11 “No, Lord,” she said. And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.” This is a beautiful story of a woman caught in the act of adultery, receiving no condemnation from Jesus. But I think that this message of freedom from condemnation has turned into a precept of the church that ultimately brings more condemnation than we could have ever ...

I loved living in Tucson and felt our marriage was good. I loved him dearly, and I felt he love me too. Near the end of the first year, I got word that the contract I was working on was ending. It was the position that I had taken when laid off late in 2001. It had been a contract position. The same company employed me, but they leased out their workforce to other companies. The contract I was on was ending in a couple of months. We discussed what that would mean for us. We had rented out the ...

Originally written November 11, 2011 posted here: https://forthesakeofthetruth.com/2011/11/11/defying-disappointment/ Defying Disappointment Disappointment is something that, as people, we deal with continually. It doesn’t matter how much you trust God and believe in Him or how much faith you have, we all from time to time experience disappointment. Sometimes, for whatever reason, the ‘thing’ we have been believing for doesn’t happen, or doesn’t happen in the way or at the time we were believ...

Originally written November 9, 2011 posted here: https://forthesakeofthetruth.com/2011/11/09/wednesday-word-study-double-minded/ Double-minded Transliteration: dipsuchos Phonetic Spelling: (dip'-soo-khos) Short Definition: double-minded, wavering Definition: (lit: of two souls, of two selves), double-minded, wavering. On Monday, we discussed the scripture. James 1:5-8 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given ...

Originally written November 11, 2011 posted here: https://forthesakeofthetruth.com/2011/11/07/monday-meditations-james-15-8/ Today’s Meditation Verse: James 1:5-8 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. 6 But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is...

Originally written June 24, 2011 posted here: https://forthesakeofthetruth.com/2011/06/24/elevator-buttons/ Elevator Buttons It is hard to resist. You know, pushing an elevator button more than once. We push the button, and nothing happens. So we look at it long and hard. It is lit, but nothing is happening that we can see, anyway. So, we push the button again. It must not have ‘heard’ us the first time. Sometimes we get really frustrated and push it over and over very hard. That should make...

Earlier I told about fasting and prayer targeted at a very misguided outcome. I knew how powerful prayer and fasting were, but was very immature in applying them to my life at that time. If we submit our lives with all sincerity to God and his plan for our lives, then to manipulate situations for our own personal desires, we are not truly in submission to God. He honored my faith, though when I prayed in that misguided way. He showed me that my fasting had been heard and was powerful, but beca...

Originally written November 4, 2011 posted here: https://forthesakeofthetruth.com/?s=bowling+with+god There are many people who want to challenge the concept of grace in its entirety. A little grace is fine. You get just enough grace to get saved, and then we are to ‘crucify our flesh’ and live a godly life, following the ‘right and wrong’ rules. That is how we become holy, by seeking holiness and living a godly life. Sounds good. Anyway, it sounded good to me for years. For years I pushed tow...

Originally written November 2, 2011 posted here: https://forthesakeofthetruth.com/2011/11/02/wednesday-word-study-law/ Law Transliteration: nomos Phonetic Spelling: (nom'-os) Short Definition: a law, the Mosaic Law Definition: usage, custom, law; in NT: of law in general, plur: of divine laws; of a force or influence impelling to action; of the Mosaic law; meton: of the books which contain the law, the Pentateuch, the Old Testament scriptures in general. 3551 nómos – law. 3551 (nómos) is used...

Originally written: October 31, 2011 Posted here: https://forthesakeofthetruth.com/2011/10/31/monday-meditations-hebrews-810/ Today’s Meditation Verse Hebrews 8:10 10) FOR THIS IS THE COVENANT THAT I WILL MAKE WITH THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL AFTER THOSE DAYS, SAYS THE LORD: I WILL PUT MY LAWS INTO THEIR MINDS, AND I WILL WRITE THEM ON THEIR HEARTS. AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE. I love this verse. Here the author is talking to the Hebrews. He is talking to the people who have ...

Originally written June 22, 2011 Posted here: https://forthesakeofthetruth.com/2011/06/22/patience/ Do you think we will ever have all the patience we will need? As for me… I doubt it!!! Oh my!! Just about the time I see myself exhibiting extreme patience, well then you know how that goes… But let’s consider a few whose patience was more than I can ever hope to achieve. In John 1:10, 31 and 33, John the Apostle declared that when Jesus came into the world, the world, even John himself, did n...

This is another miracle that my daughter experienced around the same time as her car wreck. Bless her heart! She was having such a challenging time. I hadn’t included this miracle originally; after all, it is her miracle, but I know in my heart that my continual praying for her, as well as her own prayers, helped her to live a miraculous life as well. After she left college and had her first son, she worked several good jobs, but was limited in growth without a degree. I told her she could move...

Originally written October 28, 2011 posted here: https://forthesakeofthetruth.com/2011/10/28/your-unique-zoe-life/ This week we have been learning about this verse: Matthew 7:14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. On Wednesday we discussed the word narrow – to press or afflict. Narrow defines the path or road to life, but as I began to study even more I found something else very revealing. In the verse we have the word ‘small’ which describe...

Originally written October 26, 2011 posted here: https://forthesakeofthetruth.com/2011/10/26/wednesday-word-study-narrow/ Narrow Transliteration: thlibó Phonetic Spelling: (thlee'-bo) Short Definition: I make narrow, persecute, press hard Definition: (a) I make narrow (strictly: by pressure); I press upon, (b) I persecute, press hard. Matthew 7:14 14 But the gate is narrow (contracted by pressure) and the way is straitened and compressed that leads away to life, and few are those who find it...

Originally written October 24, 2011 posted here: https://forthesakeofthetruth.com/2011/10/24/monday-meditations-matthew-714/ Today’s Meditation Verse: Matthew 7:14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. I’ve been a Christian for almost my entire life. Most of the people that I’ve been around in my life have professed to be Christians. So when I would read this scripture above, it would make me wonder. Who are the few? From my standpoint, there ...

Originally written June 15, 2011 Posted here: https://forthesakeofthetruth.com/?s=hard+work Hard Work… We wear that phrase like a badge of honor. “I worked really hard today.” “I logged 50 hours this week at work.” “Man, I’m exhausted. I’ve worked so hard.” And I know you can come up with many more. After all, we have said something like that so many times and been very proud of that very fact. But what I’ve been learning over the past year is that the only labor commanded of us under the...

I am not sure of the exact date of this miracle, but I know my grandson was around a year old. This miracle is one my daughter experienced. As I have said several times, I always, and still do, trust God with my children, grandchildren, and now great grandchildren. Not that I don’t pray for them, I do. I am frequently in prayer for them. But prayer isn’t enough. Yes, you heard me. Prayer isn’t enough. We must pray in faith, believing. Panicked, last-minute prayers are often the norm. We are gr...

Originally written October 21, 2011 Posted here: https://forthesakeofthetruth.com/2011/10/21/the-punishment-of-the-imposters/ Christians have gotten a bad rap in many circles. The term ‘one rotten apple spoils the bunch’ is not true in this case, but it can certainly spoil the reputation. I’ve met many people who said that the Christians they knew were critical and judgmental. And that the churches they had been to just expected them to live a certain way, which they could not; therefore, they ...

Originally written October19, 2011 posted here: https://forthesakeofthetruth.com/2011/10/19/wednesday-word-study-tares/ Tares Transliteration: zizanion Phonetic Spelling: (dziz-an'-ee-on) Definition: spurious wheat, darnel; a plant that grows in Palestine which resembles wheat in many ways but is worthless. 2215 zizánion (plural, tares/zizania) – a tare (darnel); (figuratively) a pseudo-believer (false Christian); a fruitless person living without faith from God and therefore is "all show an...