The subject of discipline, punishment and forgiveness is a major undertaking, especially when thinking about how it relates to God and His Holy Word. There are many that view God as a "cruel taskmaster" that was running amuck, destroying, punishing, etc., but that is just not borne out in the Bible at all. God was proven to be merciful time and time again, throughout His Word! The following is an attempt at my "defending God" and pointing out (in a thumbnail sketch) His nature, and His love for humanity! The LAW in the Old Testament was to identify sin! When we identify something that is dange ..read more

Colossians 3:13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. Forgiveness is a dying art. It seems like the world in general never forgives and will hold a grudge against anyone or everyone that they feel that has wronged them, or anyone else, for that matter, and will never forget what has been done, said, or otherwise in a person’s life or past. Now, I’m not saying that there shouldn’t be consequences to the actions of a person or the words that they speak. There has to be accountability for our words and ..read more

Many times in life we face things that aren't easy to go through or easy to wrap our minds around. In the Christian world, we call these things trials, and some refer to them as tribulations. We don't understand through our human intellect why we have to face terrible things, and if we aren't careful, we can become bitter and resentful of others that seem to skate through life without a care in the world. The fact of the matter is that we will all go through things that we don't understand and that are painful, but if we will allow God to work, He will sustain us even in the darkest times in l ..read more

Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. (KJV) "For ever" is a long time! When we typically think of for ever as humans, most people (especially kiddos) think about how long it took to wait on something to arrive, how long it took to get somewhere, how long it took to complete a task, or something thereabouts. There are times when we think of how long something will last, but more often than not, it’s generally more of our habit to think back when thinking of for ever, rather than thinking forward; however, you have to think of the fact that this phrase means tha ..read more

Job 12:16-23 16 With him is strength and wisdom: the deceived and the deceiver are his. 17 He leadeth counsellors away spoiled, and maketh the judges fools. 18 He looseth the bond of kings, and girdeth their loins with a girdle. 19 He leadeth princes away spoiled, and overthroweth the mighty. 20 He removeth away the speech of the trusty, and taketh away the understanding of the aged. 21 He poureth contempt upon princes, and weakeneth the strength of the mighty. 22 He discovereth deep things out of darkness, and bringeth out to light the shadow of death. 23 He increaseth the nations, and destro ..read more

Of all things that we can point to as powerful, the most powerful thing on earth is the power of choice! Man is born with the power of choice, and while we are created in the image and likeness of God, for His pleasure and because he wanted a relationship with humanity, He gave us the ability to choose whether we would have that relationship with Him. Genesis 2:16-17 states this: 16 And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: 17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereo ..read more

Romans 13:1-5 (KJV) 1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. 2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: 4 For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the min ..read more