Monthly Archives: March 2018

1 Corinthians

1 Corinthians 7:12-14

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1 Corinthians 7:12 But to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away.13 And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him.14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.
 
Here in 12 and 13 Paul is saying that if two are married and one is a believer and the other is not then they should stay together. The word teaches we should not be unequally yoked, meaning a believer an a non believer but if they are they should work to stay together and hope the unbeliever becomes a believer. Verse 14 lets us know that because there is one believer in the marriage that there is an umbrella over the family for the blessings of God. This could lead to the unbeliever to come the salvation of Christ. One Christian in a marriage brings grace that spills over on the spouse. The presence of even one Christian parent will protect children from undue spiritual harm and they will receive many blessings, and often that includes salvation.We all probably know of situations like this and we need to pray for these families that the one believer stays strong and God grants the them rest of their family through salvation.
1 Corinthians

1 Corinthians 7:10-11

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1 Corinthians 7:10 And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband:
11 But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife.
 
Paul writing here to the married people is just saying if you are married you should stay married. The couple can work for the Lord while they are married. The word says one can put a thousand demons to flight then two can put ten thousand to flight, so it is beneficial for the two to work together. When this scripture says depart it is the same as divorce and if a spouse leaves then they should remain unmarried or be reconciled to the other spouse. Divorce today is rampant and the Bible says the only cause for divorce is because one spouse is unfaithful. The union of husband and wife is to be a permanent arrangement. As long as they bond as one in Lord they should never have any reason for separation of any kind.
1 Corinthians

1 Corinthians 7:8-9

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1 Corinthians 7:8 I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I.
9 But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.
 
Paul continues here in verse 8 to reassure the single and the widows to remain single. He says this this where they will be able to devote their full attention to serving the Lord and not have any added distractions. He continues in verse 9 to say that if you have a burning desire for the opposite sex you would be better for you to marry than commit an act of a sexual sin and lose you relationship with God and be lost to Satan. It is important that we realize whether we are single or married we should live our lives for Christ everyday. A single person should stay focused on God and not let the distractions of this world pull them in wrong direction. The married couples need to be holding each other up to the standard of living that God laid out for them in His word so they do not stray from the Lord.
1 Corinthians

1 Corinthians 7:6-7

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1 Corinthians 7:6 But I speak this by permission, and not of commandment.
7 For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that.
 
Paul is speaking here to those that are going into the ministry. He realizes that he is freer to go and minister because he has no family ties. He chose to be single and Jesus made reference to being single in the book of Matthew 19:12, “For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother’s womb: and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven’s sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it.” Then Paul says that he would that all men be like but that each man has a different gift from God. Which ever way a person chooses to go whether it be a single life or marriage they are gifts from God. All believers are not not expected to be single, nor all who were that way to stay single, nor all who were married to act like they are single and try to be celibate.
1 Corinthians

1 Corinthians 7:4-5

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1 Corinthians 7:4 The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife.5 Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.
 
Paul continues with these two verses in instructing us as husbands and wives as to how we are to treat each other. He first lets us know that we should not be ashamed in the presence of each other, we have become one flesh and and our bodies belong not to one of them, but each belongs totally to the other. Each partner is given the right over the spouse’s body for the satisfaction of the other in the covenant of marriage. Verse 5 is saying that the two should comfort one anther and not refuse the closeness a husband and wife should have. If they have agreed to a period of no personal contact because of a time of pray fasting it is OK, or if there has been a sickness or pregnancy. This abstinence period should not last long though so that one or the other becomes vulnerable to a sinful desire. This is not just a physical togetherness with the husband and wife, but is a bond between them.
1 Corinthians

1 Corinthians 7:1-3

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1 Corinthians 7:1 Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.2 Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.3 Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband.
 
Paul here is making reference to someone not being married. It was God’ intention that a man and woman join marriage to populate the earth but it does not mean that if you stay single it is a sin. In the next verse Paul is saying if you are going to be joined together in marriage let it be a man and a woman in a husband and wife relationship. Even if you do not marry you are still to stay away from fornication or all sexual sins. There is not sin in getting married. There is a sin when you live with someone you are not married to. Finally here he says that a husband and wife are to love the other and think about their spouses needs more than their own. We are to love and comfort our spouse so they do not even think of looking else where for that comfort. While celibacy is right for the single, married believers are not to sexually deprive their spouses.The love between a husband wife is a bond God put together and we are to keep that bond the way God intended.
1 Corinthians

1 Corinthians 6:18-20

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18 Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.
 
As this chapter winds up we see Paul warning against fornication again and here he is meaning all kinds of sexual sins. for a believer to commit these sins he is defiling his body which belongs to Christ. It is wrong in many ways cause it is also the way many diseases are transmitted. A Christians body belongs to the Lord an is a member of Christ and is the Holy Spirit’s temple. Every act of sin that is committed by the believer is in the sanctuary, the Holy of Holies, where God dwells. When Jesus died on the cross He bought us and paid in full for us. If Christ lives in us we should treat our bodies as if it is His temple and not do anything to defile the temple of God. In Galatians 2:20 it tells us, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” Attend a church today that will feed you the true word of God.
1 Corinthians

1 Corinthians 6:14-17

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1 Corinthians 6:14 And God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise up us by his own power.15 Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid.
16 What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh.
17 But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.
 
Bodies of believers and the Lord have an eternal relationship that will never perish. He is referring to the believer’s body to be changed, raised, glorified and made heavenly. Because we are the body of Christ should we commit sin a sin of the body is what Paul is asking. It is important not to involve the temple of the Holy Spirit in the act of a body sin. N ext we see when a man and woman are joined together they become one flesh. likewise when someone is joined to harlot they become one flesh. The two Scriptures above say that husband and wife are one in the flesh, All Christians, whether male or female, are one in spirit with the Lord Jesus Christ.
A Note from Hope

Happy Tails! a Note from Hope

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Did you know that all dogs don’t have a good home? It’s sad to think about some pups having to live out in the woods, being scared and hungry and cold… but you know what? We know some folks who try to help them.

Have I ever told you how I came to live with Mom and Dad? My friend Ms. Kimmie had a big pen in her back yard, and she brought me and my brother and sisters to her house from where we were born at Ms Kamellia’s house. We ran and played and ate and drank and, well you know what else puppies do. We had toys to play with and chew on, and Ms Kimmie came every day to play with us and make sure everything was OK.

Then one day, a new truck came in the yard. A lady with long hair got out and walked up and started talking to us. She came in the pen and squatted down and petted all of us. She would pick us up, one at a time and love us a little, then put that one down and pick up another one. After she’d put us down, we’d run off and play. Well, everyone but me. You see, I knew who she was – she was going to be my mom. So every time she put me down, I’d put my foot on her foot and look up at her.

After she’d petted all of us, and held us, she stood there and looked at us. She picked me up again, and squeezed me a little, and then put me back down. I put my foot on her foot again.  And then she took her phone out and took my picture- the picture up above! She petted me one more time and said she would see me soon.

When she got home, she told Ms Kimmie that I was the one she wanted – she sent my picture to her so she’d be sure.

You see, the rest of the puppies were going on a trip up north to be adopted by folks. They were going on a transport trip, which means they got to ride in a big van with lots of other puppies and dogs, heading somewhere to find new homes.  And that’s what makes happy tails happy!

via GIPHY

Our friends at CCAS (and us too!) help get these pups on trips to new homes, and you can help us! Talk to Ms Kimmie, or Ms Leah,  or Ms Jamalyn, or my BFF Jordan; or you can just talk to me and Mom- we would LOVE to tell you how you can help!