The Consequences Of Sin

There are many people who don’t take sin seriously. They think I can do anything I want, but they don’t consider the consequences.

“There is a way, that seems right to a man, but in the end, it leads to death“ -Proverbs 14:12

When was the last time you thought about the consequences of sin? I’m not talking about the little moral compass you have that tells you what is right or wrong. I’m talking about the personal effect it might have on different levels. Scripture tells us over and over that sin leads to death and destruction because these are consequences with going against the grain regarding how God designed us to live and obey Him.

Physically -Sin can cause an internal conflict between God and us, leading to health issues and taking a physical toll on our bodies. Depending on the sin we battle with, it can affect your blood pressure, and sleeping patterns or destruct our bodies depending on our lifestyle choices because of sin.

Because of my sin and not giving a thought to the consequences I have suffered many physical problems. My early drug use, caused me to get dentures at an early age, because of this my bones in my mouth are breaking down so I am unable to wear dentures at all. My cancer was a direct result of the unforgiveness, bitterness, hate, anger I carried with me for years. While these things are not a sin in results in numerous changes in heart rate, blood pressure, which increases the risk of depression, heart disease and diabetes among other diseases. The thing about unforgiveness, bitterness hate and anger is it causes us to poison ourselves, not the other person.

Emotionally -The Bible tells us that walking the wide or easy road leads to destruction. This goes beyond physical death and results in emptiness, hopelessness, and brokenness. Many who go down this path of sin because they are hoping it will fill them emotionally. Sadly, that is not the case. Many have experienced guilt, and depression, and have suicidal thoughts due to the emotional consequences of sin.

People look for an easy way out, the road with drugs, alcohol, sex, etc…anything pleasure that gives us instant gratification to try to fill the emptiness they feel inside. This leads to emotional problems down the road.

Spiritually -The most common consequence we understand is spiritual death. Any sin breaks off our relationship with God, which affects us spiritually. Many people they aren’t good enough to be in any relationship with God due to their sins. So they never attempt to turn to or back to God. And the devil is pretty dang good at making us feel like we are not good enough.

Take a few seconds and consider the cost because there’s no sin in this world that is worth the consequences.

What God Asks Of Us

God expects His people to act with justice. He expects us to be “doers of the Word.” We need to do the things God asks us to do them as best we can.

The problem is that every day each one of us has choices to make. And there is a multitude of voices from people who have their own unique ways of following God. When faced with such complexities perhaps the solution is to go back to the basics.

The first thing God desires of His people is that they do Justice, not simply assent the justice is good, but we are to do justice. Our actions reflect our beliefs. God wants His people to reflect His character. He is a just God and so His are to bring about justice in their communities. We are to seek out and support the broken, and to liberate the oppressed.

The second thing God desires is that His people love kindness. Kindness is not merely an ephemeral concept we can add to our lives, but it is something we are to love and cling to. Kindness demands that we live charitably, speak peaceably, and serve others passionately. The justice God looks for is kindness is a second person quality. It requires us to be in a relationship and have fellowship with others.

The third and final thing God desires His people to do is to walk humbly with Him. There is a certain pride that can sneak into a believer’s life. A pride that we follow God, and so therefore we must be very important people. Or so our ego can tell us. God is in heaven and we are on earth. We do not live and exist solely for our own glory, but rather we live to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. We need to humbly understand that we are not the center of the universe, but have a tremendous opportunity to share about the One who is that center.

When life gets complex and we feel left behind, we need to remind ourselves of the basics of faith. God’s desire for you and me is not a hidden mystery or secret, We are people who should do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly before God.

By focusing on the basics, we see the principles that will enable us to live faithful and fruitful lives for God.

The Most Important Invention Of My Lifetime

The most important invention in your lifetime is…

In 1972 the Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scanner was invented. It creates images of the body using a large magnet and radio waves.

The first successful images were made in July 1977. Since then it has saved many people. This machine can help diagnose cancer, strokes, aneurysms, and spinal issues as well as many other things.

It is a tool that doctors use to see inside the body to understand what is happening in disease. It shows soft tissues like the brain, and the heart, as well as muscles and organs.

God’s Promises

The Bible records two kinds of promises from the Lord -unconditional and conditional. An unconditional promise is one whose fulfillment rests solely with God. His commitment is independent of people and situations. For example, would be His covenant to never send another flood to destroy the earth (Genesis 9:11). No matter how the people on earth behave, He will not send another flood.

The second type of promise is conditional, which means the Lord is willing to act under certain circumstances. Romans 10:9 tells us that salvation is promised to those who confess with their mouth and believe in their heart that Jesus is Lord. We are saved when we genuinely trust in the Savior.

These types of conditional promises are often written as an “if-then” statement and involve our cooperation. For example 2 Chronicles 7:14 says,

“If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and heal their land.”

God will do exactly what He’s promised. But He requires our obedient cooperation before fulfilling His conditional promises. To receive the blessing, we must satisfy the conditions He has set.

In order to receive the promises from God, we need to check to be sure that we are carrying out our part.

The Most Ideal Day

Describe your most ideal day from beginning to end.

My ideal day would start by waking up with a cup of fresh coffee in my hand, and spending my time with the Lord with no distractions. Going to a friend’s house for coffee. And being able to spend at least two hours at the gym swimming and enjoying the hot tub. Taking a long nap before I have to cook supper.

After supper being able to take my dog for a walk and enjoy time in nature. And ending my day reading and relaxing.

Perspectives

How do significant life events or the passage of time influence your perspective on life?

After being a child of emotional abuse, along with being neglected. My early adulthood was tough. I allowed the effects of my abuse to almost destroy my life. I was mentally weak and easily gave up. The nightmares and flashbacks were horrible.

I learned to make myself a priority and be kind to myself. I built up an emotional resilience and inner strength. I learned coping skills to be able to adapt to life challenges and stressors.

I learned through trial and error to see problems differently. Because of my childhood experiences, I can see a more complete picture of any situation.

Practicing mindfulness and meditation techniques has positively changed my life. And having a good support group around me, I heal more every day.

Through everything I’ve been through I’ve developed a positive perspective on life. I’ve become a strong person. I have a greater appreciation of life. I have more self-esteem and a renewed sense of meaning and purpose.

I have developed an increased personal strength and sense of spirituality which has allowed me to produce self-efficacy which has leaf to perseverance in the face of obstacles I face in life.

Life Can Hurt But God Can Heal

Life can really hurt sometimes, can’t it? Whether it’s something we bring on ourselves or it’s something that just happens, there are times when life just really hurts.

Even though we know that life can sometimes be a painful struggle, we also know that there is help for the pain. Life can hurt but God can heal. God can do amazing things in our lives and heal us from our hurts.

All through the Bible we see examples of God miraculously healing someone from their physical ailments. And probably most of us can attest to seeing someone who’s been miraculously healed from a physical ailment.

In 2014 I was diagnosed with bladder cancer. The Doctor gave me 1 year to live. After I had surgery to remove a grapefruit-size tumor from my bladder, I was sure I would die. I began seeking God more than ever. I decided that I was going to give satan the fight of his life. And I would end up winning. I listened carefully and obeyed God’s every word. The doctors said they couldn’t even see a trace of the cancer. And I was the closest I’ve ever been with God.

We have all read about healing or we’ve seen them with our own eyes. But I think that many times we miss the point of the miracles that God had done. We seem to think that the miracle was about freeing someone of their physical discomfort. But we need to understand that when God works a miracle of physical healing it’s most to present a picture of spiritual healing,

This is deemed true for several reasons. First of all physical healings are selective. Not everyone gets healed of their physical problems. The Apostle Paul himself asked God to heal his disease (the thorn in his flesh) but God kept saying “no.” Obviously there was a bigger purpose from His plan other than immediate healing.

If you think about it physical healings are temporary. Every person in the Bible who was miraculously healed in some way eventually died. People throughout history who have been healed by God died. Physical healings are temporary.

But when God does choose to physically heal someone, the reaction of everyone who saw it or experienced it shows us that when God works a miracle of physical healing it’s mostly to present a picture of spiritual healing.

Too often we focus on the miracle when we should be focused on the message of the miracle. The message that spiritual healing is available to us.

Yes, we should pray for miracles to relieve the suffering of sicknesses. It’s biblical. Many times God works as a result of our prayers. But when He does work a miraculous healing of the most, look at the picture of how He can heal our souls.

There are many people who need healing, but many people also need spiritual healing. Our souls, our spirit, our lives are plagued with sickness and even death. Life can hurt, but God can heal.

Whatever the sickness is God wants to heal us. Maybe our sickness is because of our sins. Our thought life is sick with impurity. Our attitude is sick with negativity, Our self-discipline is sick with weakness. Our relationships are such with unforgiveness.

I completely believe that my bladder cancer was because of my unforgiveness i had carried all of my life. Sometimes we don’t deal with the spiritual sickness in our lives. And if we let them go untreated for too long than that sickness kills the area of our lives in was infecting.

Untreated illness can lead to death -physically and spiritually. If there’s an area of your life that seems to be dead, trust God for a spiritual resurrection. God can resurrect the dead areas in our lives, we must simply have to trust Him.

To-Do-Lists

Something on your “to-do list” that never gets done.

Over the course of the day, it’s easy to get caught up in the little things that come up. I start my to-do list with the most important tasks of the day and determine how long it will take to get those tasks done.

The problem with to-do lists is we optimistically assume most of the day’s tasks will take less time than they will actually take. It’s easy to sociable a lengthy list of things we “think” we can get done in z few minutes.

To-do lists are never quite done because we always roll them over to tomorrow.

Conquering Hindering Spirits

Have you ever found yourself distracted and disorganized? Or do you feel like a failure going around the same mountain year offer year?

Hindering spirits that distract you can delay and disappointment. These demons are assigned to hold you in bondage to steal your destiny.

Revelation 12 talks about the dragon (Satan) falling to the earth with little time and great fury. He came to gather as many souls for his kingdom as possible. But he ran into a roadblock; the blood of Jesus. In Revelation 12:11 they overcame Satan by the “blood of the Lamb“ and by the word of their testimony and they did not love their lives unto death.

Satan cannot take our souls because of the blood of Jesus so he aims at hindering us. That’s the vulnerable area where Satan uses distraction to take us off course to delay us and then bring in hope deferred and disappointment.

If Satan can delay you long enough you may begin to hear mocking spirits whispering:

  • “You’re a failure.”
  • “You will never amount to anything.”
  • “Nothinh is ever perfect enough for you.”

These words can distort your self-image and cause you to agree and repeat them over and over in your head until you start believing them:

  • “I am unworthy.”
  • “I not able to…”
  • “You’re so stupid, no one will ever love you.”

Negative word curses that you agree with allow hindering spirit to set up shop derail you.

My mother used to say all these things to me so much I began believing them. It allowed satan to come in and literally destroy my life for years.

There are 3 steps to begin conquering hindering spirits

1. Break the word curses that are believing. Pray: Father God, I cancel every word curse of (list them) that I have spoken over myself or that others have spoken over me. In the name of Jesus Amen.

2. Replace the wrong self-image with Gods image of you.I used to have a defeated self-image. I was afraid to go after dreams. Thankfully God got a hold of me and the ungodly self-image didn’t line up with me anymore. I recognized that what I allowed to hinder me was my agreement with that fearful cowering child. I had to change the picture I saw of myself and let the word of God paint me a new image.

We cannot become who God says we are unless we can see ourselves as He sees us. We will become what we imagine whether that image is positive or negative. If we think we are failures, we will be. We have to deal with our thoughts and imaginations and get them in-line with God’s image of us. We can’t let what others define or identify or our future.

3. Spend time in God’s Word daily. The only way to know who you are in God is to read His word. The book or Ephesians and Colossians are good places to start. Ask God to reveal His truth to you through the power of the Holy Spirit before you begin reading.

These are real steps to starting your journey in conquering the hindering spirits.

Don’t spend anymore time dancing around the same mountain. Make a plan to do something different.

Cooking

What’s your favorite thing to cook?

My favorite things to be in bakery items, cookies, and cakes. But my favorite meal to cook is crackling biscuits (Toportyus Pogacsa) from my Hungarian heritage. And Chicken Paprikash.

The Cost Of Following Jesus

Prosperity preachers teach that coming to Jesus will bring financial blessings, a life filled with ease, and freedom from worry and hardship. Sunday after Sunday, their churches are packed with unsuspecting people who think they that following Jesus will make their lives easier. Ultimately, they will walk away disappointed because the promise of Christianity that they were promised is not the Christianity they experienced. But Jesus didn’t teach that Christianity would make our lives free from struggle. In fact He said the opposite.

Many blessings come with being a Christian, but there are also important costs that come with following Christ Jesus. I write this not to scare you away from Christianity but to tell you that the benefits outweigh the cost.

When you build a house, wouldn’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you had enough money to complete it? If you lay the foundation and weren’t able to finish it. Luke 14:28-29 tells us,

“For which of you, desiring to build a tower, doesn’t first sit down and count the cost, to see if he has enough to build it? Or perhaps when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, everyone who sees begins to mock him”

Many people today fail to understand that following Jesus comes with a cost. They don’t consider that Jesus would ask them to give up their greatest possessions.

If you want to start a project or work on an idea, wouldn’t you first consider how much of your time and resources it would take before beginning? Likewise, if we want to follow Jesus we should be aware of how much it will cost to follow Him.

To be a true follower of Jesus you have to carry your own cross. Luke 15:27 says,

“And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.”

The cross represents the suffering that Jesus endured. Carrying our cross means being willing to endure our own hardship for the sake of Jesus. If we are not willing to carry our cross, there is no point in following Jesus.

Just also says something in Luke 14 that’s a little difficult to hear,

If anyone comes to me, and doesn’t disregard his own father, mother wife, children, brothers, and sisters, yes, and his own life, he can’t be my disciple.

This doesn’t mean to hate our loved ones in the way it is thought of today. In this context “hate” is a Semitic idiom that simply means to love less. What Jesus was saying is that in order to follow him we should love Him more that anyone else.

In Matthew 16:24 Jesus explains that following Him also includes self-denial. This means that we need to be willing to lay down some things we deeply love and enjoy for the sake of following Him. Just like Jesus followed the Father’s will and went to the cross. Sometimes this comes easily, and other times it can be difficult. Following Jesus means preserving and doing God‘s will whether it is easy or difficult.

Believing in Jesus doesn’t promise that everything will be perfect. It doesn’t promise that everyone will love us, or that things will always work out just as we hoped. Jesus’s disciples all had to endure hardship for the sake of the cross, and we will too.

Following Jesus isn’t all hardship and pain. It is filled with so much joy and beauty. And any hardship we endure is absolutely meant to lead us toward a beautiful future in the presence of God.

Believers are freed from the power of sin. It can no longer weigh on them like a burden. It also gives them access into the presence of God and unhindered fellowship with our creator which leads to eternal life with God.