How can god sacrificed himself to himself

The masters tell you they do not strike the boards. They visualize a place just beyond the wood, that is where they focus, where they are striking, not the actual surface.

They see their hand or foot passing through the material to reach their goal. Do we have an equivalent in our faith? Yes, because with God anything is possible. He speaks to us again and again about asking, seeking, knocking and we will receive, find and be invited into the presence of God. Why do we expect the creator of all that is who loves us so much that all of this was created for us to have a relationship would want anything other than the very best for us?

Truth is, we are, because God said we were, even when we know we are not. On top of this most amazing gift, we would have all our needs met. In my experience, God does more than cover the basics.

To be fully known and loved by God is humbling, staggering, cleansing, freeing, and joyous! Dive into the Word every day. Keep an open prayer line to the Throne of Grace. Seek God first. With all we have, body, mind, heart and soul.

Love our neighbors. Watch our lives grow in love and grace. We expect much because we know the one of whom we expect is able to create everything just so we can be together. God has never failed to live up to the promises made to us. He promised, so we may live with the highest expectations possible. Work on the Pilot Mountain First Presbyterian Church fellowship hall is progressing quickly and, according to Building Committee Chairman Steve Gilbert, the committee is pleased and excited by how the resulting structure is taking shape.

When complete, Gilbert said, the addition will feature a large, open central area for fellowship. Areas along the side will be available to be partitioned off, allowing for Sunday School classes or meetings. A kitchen area will allow for food preparation and service and bathrooms will be included in the new area. An enclosed breezeway will provide easy access to the sanctuary. In keeping with a desire to integrate the old and the new, however, the window was saved and moved to a prominent location at the front of the fellowship hall when viewed from East Main Street.

The project includes a renovation of the church parking lot, allowing it to connect to both East Main and Needham streets.

The lot renovation will allow for a significant increase in the number of vehicles which can be parked. A covered drop-off area, Gilbert said, will allow individuals to move from the parking lot into the sanctuary without the necessity of dealing with any steps. According to Gilbert, wet weather has impacted the pace of the outside work but plans are still to have the project completed at some point in the spring. The sanctuary front entrance is also being redone in a way, Gilbert noted, that will allow for much easier handicap access.

Other work in the sanctuary building will include renovations to church offices and bathrooms as well as the addition of a nursery and choir rehearsal area. First Presbyterian Pastor Travis Milam noted that the building was already generating positive comments from the surrounding community. Greetings to each and everyone of you today. I really appreciate speaking with you.

It seems each passing year goes quickly. But of course we have had so much happening everyday. The deadly coronavirus, that has affected family, and loved ones. This deadly virus does not discriminate. No difference here. Oh only if this could be this way in everything. We ought to really think about this for a while. This year is a new year, and new opportunities. I am praying for our nation, especially the elderly, and the youth.

I have never ever seen the voter turnout as it was in the November election. Most of us wanted change, I certainly did. And according to the voters they wanted it also. The younger generation were not being heard. There was so much bloodshed. We have so many that we need to give homage to. Thank God for President Biden, finding these children that had been separated from their mothers, These children will be traumatized for life if they do not get help.

Martin Luther King Jr. Congressman John Lewis was a man full of faith, and did so much for the people. The late Rosa Parks was also a wonderful woman that made an impact.

A new year and new opportunities. Isaiah To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of Vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; opportunity can be yours. Greetings my fellow readers. I do appreciate your faithfulness in reading. I desire your prayers. And I know a lot of you are praying. Thank you very, very much. We must pray for one another. The spirit spoke with me.

Sometimes people lose their way spiritually. That is why we must press our way and pray. Press and pray means to act upon through steady pushing or thrusting force exerted in contact. Sometimes we procrastinate. And I am sure at some point we are all guilty. If you are a faithful prayer warrior, you pray and press and press and pray. This is Black History Month.

Oh, I am so proud of my people, proud of what we have accomplished. Oh what a blessing to have a president with a smile and not arrogant. One who cares about people. President Joseph Biden, when he speaks, he gets your attention, without falsehood. We needed a big change, thank God we have one now.

We have a long way to go but we are in this together. I praise God for it. There is so much to cover, but not all in this column. In this column we are speaking on the blood of Jesus Christ. Romans But God commendeth his love toward us, in that while were yet sinners, Christ dies for us. Romans much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. We will sum it all up as because of the blood. God bless you!

Hello, to each and everyone out there. I do hope you are trusting and taking heed to things going on around you. I am sure you all know what taking heed is.

Webster says we should listen, attend, hear, hearken, mind, note, observe, see, watch, and pay attention. It seems some of us are guilty. But if we follow the spirit of Jesus Christ, we will not error.

Sometimes we would rather things stay the same, than to experience change. Most of our lives have changed tremendously. I know mine has. The corona virus pandemic has affected all of lives, one way or another.

We are speaking on taking heed on situations, and all things. I am so proud to be celebrating Black History Month. We have made history, by the grace of God. Even with the tragedies with family, and loved ones. Oh wait a pleasure to have a president that wants to bring us together, instead of separating us. Praise God! Matthew Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones, for I say into you, that in heaven their Angels do always behold the face of my father which is in heaven.

Mark And Jesus answered, answering them began to say, Take heed lest any man deceive you. Mark For many shall come in my name, saying I am Christ, and shall deceive many. There are so many people being deceived today.

Some people refuse to open their eyes, but would really see themselves. Well, there are so many I would love to give homage too. The late Congressman John Lewis, he was such a humble man. Cicely Tyson, a pioneer woman who opened many doors for our people. We can never forget Dr. They served with such class, and I know it could not have been easy. The Bible says in Matthew and Jesus answered and say unto them, take heed that no man deceive you.

There are people, just refuse to believe the truth. I am going to close now. I do hope you enjoyed the reading. Keep looking up. Lean and depend on Jesus Christ. He has the answers you need. Greetings to each and every one of you readers out there. We truly appreciate your faithfulness in supporting our columns.

Sometimes it is difficult to get to a calm quiet place to work with the Lord. I always take time out with God, even though sometimes I must put people on hold.

It is a must if you want time with the Lord. Today my thought is because of the blood. Blood is the fluid that circulates in the heart, arteries, capillaries and veins of a vertebrate.

All of these organs have to function in order to live. He dies on the cross so that we might live. He saith unto them, but whom do ye say that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said thou art the Christ, the son of the living God.

We are in a brand new year, with so much we are facing right now. There has been and still is a battle with the coronavirus pandemic. It truly is a war, if government had been honest. Well, not the entire government. Our commander in chief decided to keep silent. Only the weak ones fall apart. Americans are very resilient.

Most of us are. Prayer is the key and faith will unlock the door. Pray means to appeal, beseech, brace, crave, entreat, implore, plead, supplicate, you make a formal request for something.

Prayer means you have petition or a plea. We are speaking of pressing and praying. And the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them walking on the sea.

You know it frightened the disciples. There are so many things that have taken place. In spite of the riot at the Capital, God is still on the throne. It is unfortunate, there were some that were killed, but wrong can never come out right.

There is so much to speak on with Black History Month, but the word is so precious. Thank God, a whole new cabinet of rainbow colors, Praise God! I must bring this column to a close. I hope it will bless. The sum of all reasons are: the conclusion of the whole matter is, the Lord is Worthy of all our love; with every part of us that He has created and enabled us to love Him with. Our heart, the core of who you the individual are; with which when we love wholeheartedly, we are honestly loving Him first, and choosing Him above all else.

Our soul, with which we are loving and communing with God in that eternal, spiritual part of us. Our mind, the intelligent part of you, which delights to seek, study and grow in the knowledge of the Lord and His Word to us. How great is the sum of them. If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand. You are a living, breathing, beautiful in complexity, scientific miracle: and God thinks innumerable loving thoughts toward you.

In gratitude for life, and even more in thankfulness for eternal life through Christ, we should love Him by living for Him. Psalm , O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the one that trusts in Him. He also graciously gave us eyes, which can perceive around one million colors according to scientists , and we appreciate light, and greatly enjoy beauty.

I would like to glorify God by also adding to this Psalm, that He has created us with ears to hear music, the laugh of a child, the song of a bird. God has gifted us with the sense of touch, our skin tingles as we take in the softness or texture, cold or warmth. And because God is good, we love Him with our body, and our strength, by using them to bless Him back.

We use our bodies, His temple for good works of love and righteousness. I Cor. Remember we learned that love is a verb, an action word. Love compels us to do something loving. What love for God does not look like is living in any way that is opposed to, or rebellious to His will.

What He forbids, condemns and calls an abomination is sin, and He hates sin. Anything that is against His holiness is evil, and, we also are to hate all wickedness.

He that says I know Him, and keeps not His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in Him…He that says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk, even as He Jesus walked. Once again, Jesus is our greatest example of what loving God looks like. If we love God with all of our strength, what it will look like, is that we are on a mission to make Him happy. It will look like we intend to do His will with all our might, and we do so as a body in motion, following Jesus.

Sometimes our love for God will be in the direction of loving others. Perhaps a hand up Prov. I Tim. And we do so, not out of duty, but out of the pleasure this love gives us. We are gladly living out our lives as a gift back to the Lord; We are His temple, lifting up our loving, joyful worship to the One Who made us, and saved us.

When all of these parts of you are working together as a whole, to love the Lord, God is fully blessed by you. When with your heart you desire Him first, when you adore and fellowship with Him in your eternal soul, when with your mind you meditate on His goodness and His Word, and when you worship and serve Him with all the strength in your body, God must be so very happy He created you.

Fall in love with Him daily. Abide in Him continually. How can we love God with all our mind? We will examine the Word of God on this topic; and reason together on the instruction, knowledge, and wisdom contained in the Bible, as to how, why and where. As a Christian, I believe I can logically love God with my mind; and it makes perfect sense. We can learn.

We receive information, reason on it, problem solve, come to understanding, draw a conclusion, then plan a course of action.

Later on in life, as I studied and sought more of the answers in the Scriptures, with my intellect, I found a wealth of solid evidence there. What I had believed in, truly was undeniable. It was with my mind that I discovered the proof in the Word of God. Then, in reading the four Gospels, I found the exact, meticulous fulfillment, through the eye witness accounts, of the life of Jesus Christ.

Jesus is Lord. Therefore, with my mind, with my thoughts and meditation, I may love, honor and worship Him. One way we love Him with our mind is to love what He says.

His Words to us. Read, study, and meditate on the Sacred Scriptures with desire, and respect, and obedient heart. As Deut. Luke We too should humble ourselves at His feet, longing to hear what He has to share with us. I will not forget Thy word. I trust in Thy word. Thy word has quickened me given me life. Thy word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path.

Order my steps in Thy word. I love Thy commandments above gold. My heart stands in awe of Thy word. My tongue shall speak of Thy word; for all Thy commandments are righteous. Who shall deliver me from the body of this death? So then, with the mind, I myself serve the law of God. Our mind loves God by yielding our will to His holy will.

We have now received and processed the information. We have deduced that God is good. We choose with our mind; we decide to love Him. When we love Him, it causes us to desire to know Him more, to know Him better, and to discover what blesses Him. To Him be glory both now and for ever. I hope that throughout this past week you have been loving the Lord with all your heart.

I hope that we can grow deeper in our love for our God by discovering how to also love Him with all our soul. Our soul is that part of us that is created and designed by God to be eternal. God owns our soul. I believe it is in this spiritual portion of us that we fellowship, and commune with the One Who loved us first. A time of close and personal companionship; joyful communion together. Without distraction, nor interruption. Focused on each other. A time to abide together united as One.

It is of the utmost importance that we come aside from this world, and busy life, to find time to spend with our Beloved. If we turn our gaze away from this present world, and look through the spiritual eyes of our soul, and focus fully on Jesus, we cannot remain the same; we cannot remain unchanged.

We will fall completely, unashamedly in love with our Lord and Savior. He becomes the love of our life. The center of our universe. Because He is all that is good, and right, and all together beautiful. Jesus is better. He alone is Worthy of my all, my best, my loyal love. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: who when he had found one pearl of great price, sold all that he had, and bought it.

Jesus is that treasure. Jesus is that one pearl. And, when we realize His great worth, we see all else as less than Him; we would trade everything to have Him. This is alike to the intimate union we, the church, the Bride of Christ spiritually shares with Christ Jesus. Here are just a few examples. I sat down under His shadow with great delight, and His fruit was sweet to my taste.

Is He your One desire? Is He your valued treasure? Yes, I remind myself, and remind myself often and again. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. To those who have received Him as Lord of their life, and the Savior of their soul, He far excels all in this temporal world, and short life.

Because He is eternal. His love is everlasting. He has set His affection on those who believe on Him, and has also given us value. The rest of this month we will focus on the first commandment.

It seems that only with constant guidance, reminders, and correction, do we choose to do the right thing. This is very good reason why church attendance, listening to the minister of God, Christian fellowship, and personal Bible study and prayer are so immeasurably important. We need realignment often. And, the other even more important reason is that God is worthy of love.

So, you and I are to love the Lord our God with all our heart. Our heart, not the muscle in our chest, although, yes, every heartbeat and every breath, should be with love and worship for our great creator. What the scriptures are meaning by your heart is, who you are deep within; your core person, your identity, your desires, your beliefs and convictions.

Everything that is done from the heart is done with intent and purpose. We are invested, all in, if our whole heart is in it. That is why the Lord cautioned us not to have a heart divided between two loves. II Sam. Ye cannot serve God and wealth. He tells us to choose. Him over all. Jesus is better than everything, and everyone we might choose to love. His position in our hearts should be, must be first.

If we love Him first and most, there is more of the right love, His love; agape love, for our spouse, family, and friends. I believe it will inspire us to respond in loving reply to Him. Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us given us life together with Christ.

By grace ye are saved. And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places soon to come in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come He might show us the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us, through Christ Jesus…it is the gift of God.

Being in His presence will be the greatest present. Elevated to His side, beholding the one who loved us and redeemed us from our brokenness, and now, made whole in Him.

Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril or sword? No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us.

His love for us is more secure, stronger, and greater than all other things. My spiritual eyes can see Him. His love is true. His love is satisfying. His love alone makes me complete. He is to be desired above all other loves. He is best. Lord Jesus, I surrender to your love. You have sought after me, called out to me, and lovingly drawn me; and now I choose you too.

I vow that no one, and nothing, will come between Us. I am yours. I love, adore, worship you with all of my heart. Those tender words, and your loving care can make all the difference in the lives of others.

Love is a powerful force! Have you ever seen those bumper stickers that say, I love my wife, my kids, or my grand kids? We each display our love for someone, or something in various ways. Where we spend our time, attention and resources is evidence of what we care about. There are also varying measures of love. There is a little love, and there is great depth of love. Phileo love is brotherly love; a friendship type of love, as in, Philadelphia, the City of Brotherly Love.

Eros love is romantic love, as in an erotic, sensuous love. Storge love is the natural instinctual affection that parents have for their children. We all have the need to love and be loved. It is our deepest longing, and our greatest fulfillment. I do believe it is one of the ways that God has created us in His image. I am convinced that He desires to be loved by you and I, with our free-will, with gladness, and with sincere heart, fervently and faithfully; as He does us.

I believe God wants us to share love, and companionship eternally together with Him, even here and now; as best as we can in this present life. Consider this, we have the capacity to receive and understand how satisfying it is to be loved by someone.

Therefore, we can learn also, to properly love Him. I wish all children could begin to learn this beautiful virtue from their parents, as they are nurtured, and taught, and trained up in how to care for one another as a family. I first learned love from my mom and dad. Our greatest teacher in how to show love through our words and actions towards another person is God Himself. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. When Jesus made that ultimate personal sacrifice due to His great love for lost mankind, it proved His true love for you and I!

Yes, love is a verb; an action word. Love compels us to do something. It is much more than mere emotion, that can wain or change. It is more than just words. Much like the wedding vows promised between a groom and a bride; a marriage covenant. We hold steadfast to that love through thick and thin until it overcomes whatever trials or tests we go through. Remember, God has done the same for each of us who have promised to believe on, and receive Him as Savior. Yes, we disappoint Him so often, but His love for us is true.

He abides faithful to the covenant! His promise is of never ending love. He cannot lie! He has clearly shown His love by His actions! He gave us an example, to reply in like manner back to Him, and to also love the people around us. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these. What an amazing, deep and beautiful love He has, to love us even when we were enemies due to our sinful condition.

Romans We must allow this God-love to pour through us, to be lived out, and proven; through kind words and actions for our fellow man. Charity does not rejoice in wrong, but rejoices in the truth; Bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Charity never fails…And now abides faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity. Love others. In , St. Nicholas gathered with the other Bishops in Nicaea to resolve some difficulties about how to understand how the person of Jesus is divine.

They all had their favorite scripture passages to understand Jesus. Is Jesus God in all the ways the Father is? Nicholas said yes with the majority. They relied on the first chapter of John along with the first chapter of Hebrews. The whole book Isaiah brought forth supporting passages.

Nicholas with the others produced the Nicaean Creed, which many of our churches use today. Others might have been suspicious this person was a criminal and deserved what happened and this was his punishment.

Or maybe they were just really busy that day or were late for a lunch date or an important meeting. Whatever reasons these individuals deemed it either too costly or insignificant, Jesus condemns them. To love their neighbor at that moment required stopping what they were focused on and deciding to do what was right. Jesus continues to teach these spiritual principles as He declares in Matthew chapter 25, that whatever we refuse to do for others, we are also ignoring to consider Him.

This includes our love. So, how crucial is it to be sensitive to the voice of the Holy Spirit and be ready to serve? We are not deserving of it, yet God freely offers us his forgiveness through Christ. Although we are unworthy and run from God, Jesus died on our behalf. His desire is for us to say yes and be made whole, complete, in Him. Forgiveness is like a presidential pardon in that it waives the usual punishment, but it does not make the offending act any less wrong.

Not everyone deserves forgiveness. So, what is required for forgiveness? In the first place, an agent must do something that violates a norm, acknowledge that violation, and have made some effort to correct the wrong that has occurred. Anyone who does not acknowledge the correctness of the norm or the need for a correction may not be eligible for forgiveness.

Furthermore, someone who intentionally inflicts harm on someone else who is undeserving of that harm, and who has no desire or intention to make restitution, does not deserve forgiveness. Some acts are objectively unforgiveable e. To forgive something does not make the action any less wrong. Everyone deserves to be forgiven and given a second chance. Forgiveness is a critical aspect of Islam as everybody makes mistakes in life. If we want to be forgiven by God, we should forgive ourselves and our fellow brothers and sisters.

Forgiveness, however, is not a given right nor is guaranteed without any effort. Forgiveness comes with a framework, which must be followed before it is granted. Sincere repentance is at the root of this framework,. As no one is born perfect, nor dies perfect; forgiveness can be a life-changing gift. All people deserve the opportunity to own their failures, make amends, course correct, and to be forgiven.

Do we only deserve forgiveness if we are sorry? Then, there is mercy — which is how God forgives. We imitate God when we allow ourselves to forgive in this way. God looks at the heart, at motive. Motive provides insights that even the perpetrator may not fully realize. Buddhist forgiving is always radical. Yes forgive! Everyone who wrongs you! Whenever we feel resentmentful and victimy we are actively holding on to pain, causing our suffering.

Like picking up a hot coal to throw at one who wrongs us, we are more injured than the actual target of our resentment. They harmed because of the circumstances of their life.