“And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;”
Ephesians 5:18-19 KJV
Paths of Mercy Comforting Christian Prayer Songs by Suzanne Davis Harden All Glory To God
“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
For men shall be
*lovers of their own selves,
*covetous,
*boasters,
proud,
*blasphemers,
disobedient to parents,
unthankful,
unholy,
Without natural affection,
truce breakers,
false accusers,
incontinent,
fierce,
despisers of those that are good,
Traitors,
heady,
high minded,
lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
Having a form of godliness,
but denying the power thereof:
from such turn away.”
2 Timothy 3:1-5 -KJV
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Definitions from The Strongs Concordance of these Biblical Terms
1. “LOVERS OF THEIR OWN SELVES ”
Strongs~ philautos (G5367)
1. Loving one’s self
2. Too intent on one’s interest, selfish
A combination of two words one of which is “one of the bridegroom’s friends…
and a word that generally means the soul. This suggests that Paul is talking about the BELIEVER in these verses for the Believer is metaphorical for a friend of “The Bridegroom” which is a metaphor for Christ.
1. speaking evil, slanderous, reproachful, railing, abusive~ from the word “blapto”
1. to injure or harm~ a primary word.
Also from the word~ pheme~ 1. fame, report
from a word meaning to make known one’s thoughts, to declare, to say…
COVETOUS
Strongs~ philarguros (G5366)
1. Loving money, avarice
Origin: from G5384 and G696
G5384~ one of the Bridegroom’s friends…
G696 ~ silver, things made of silver, vessels, images of gods
BOASTERS
Strongs ~ (G213 alazon)
1. An empty pretender, a boaster
Origin: from ale (vagrancy)
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Thanks for listening to my bible study this morning with me. I will have to continue this study as the Lord enables me! But this has been amazing.
I pray the Lord has spoken to you through this poem and bible study as He has to me. Please join me in prayer for all the Lord’s people, especially those who may be suffering in any way.
As one who lives with chronic pain I understand the challenges of trials. Those who are not suffering please pray for those who are. In this way, we can in Christ’s love lay our lives down for each other by helping to shoulder someone else’s burden.
Prayer is an act of love that everyone in the Body of Christ can participate in. May God bless you and fill you all with His Holy Love for you, in Jesus name, amen.
“But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.” 1 Peter 5:10 KJV
I had intended this to be a short message introducing my new encouraging scripture music video about suffering that the Lord inspired me to make last week. He helped me make it to encourage myself as well as others who are suffering. The Bible assures me that I’m not the only one who endures challenges. How often we see this affirmed in our society every day. 1 Peter 5 helps me to keep it all in perspective. When I’m at my worse, I know that there are always many others out there somewhere who are worse off than I am. God’s word exhorts us to pray for just that one who is in a deeper pit than ours when we imagine we are in the lowest depths of hell and that everyone else has it better than we do. It’s in our most painful moments that we are just certain that the Lord has left us and gone off to party with everyone else, now that He’s made our life a dung pile…tears for fears and pity poor me…:( These are just the moments we need to turn to God’s Word because it’s in His Word that we find Him encouraging us. Consider the verse I mentioned from 1 Peter 5:
“Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he cares for you.” 1 Peter 5: 6-7 KJV
These verses mean that if we pray when we feel burdened or disappointed or depressed or worried or stressed that we can know God hears us; that He cares about us and our needs. God loves us. He wants us to bring our burdens to Him, to pour our troubles out on His Altar. He is real and He is listening even though we can’t see Him. We grow close to Him in our suffering when we cry out to HIM.
“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.” 1 Peter 5:8-9 KJV
These verses are referring to our unseen enemy who is ever seeking to undermine us spiritually and pull us away from God through any means he can. And we must resist the enemy at all costs because what is more important than our relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ who suffered and died on the cross to give us peace with God? This peace is what the enemy wants to destroy. Our peace with God and our fellowship with each other. He sows hatred, strife, and dissension. He will use any means he can. Resist him steadfast in the faith knowing that the same afflictions are being experienced by everyone else in the world.
In other words we are not alone in our trials. Other people are being gossiped about, abused, slandered, persecuted, mocked, lied about, dishonored, treated shamefully…we are not singled out to be treated like cow pies. So what does that mean? We are not really cow pies~no! We are God’s precious children, but the Apostle John wrote it’s just that the world has not got the eyes to see how special we really are.
“Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew Him not. 2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as he is.” 1 John 3:1-2 KJV
But one day the sons and daughters of God will be revealed and those who have treated God’s children so shamefully will be themselves covered with shame. Amen! God’s word assures us that we are His jewels!
Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another: and the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon His name. And they shall be Mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up My jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spares his own son that serves him.” ~ Malachi 3:16-17 KJV
Don’t take my word for it~read God’s word and encourage yourself. This is why the Lord inspires me to make scripture videos. His word is encouraging!
But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.” 1 Peter 5:10 KJV
God puts a boundary on all suffering that we endure. He will not give us more than we can handle. He knows what we can tolerate. All suffering is meant to refine our faith. (See 1 Peter 1, James 1)
11 To Him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. “ 1 Peter 5:11 KJV
The word dominion means sovereignty or control. This verse means that God is in control over all things. Even though the enemy takes aim at us and tries to harm us, the enemy is on God’s leash and can only go but so far. He, like our suffering, has boundaries placed on him. We serve a loving, merciful God. His love and mercy towards us reaches higher than the sky it says in Psalm 103. Read and meditate on the verses below from Psalm 103 about God and His love for us. And then watch and listen to the scripture video He gave me to share with you. May our Heavenly Father encourage your heart with the scriptures and comfort you with His peace and love. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Psalm 103:8-19 *ERV 8 The Lord is kind and merciful. He is patient and full of love.
9 He does not always criticize. He does not stay angry with us forever.
10 We sinned against Him, but He didn’t give us the punishment we deserved.
11 His love for His followers is as high above us as heaven is above the earth.
12 And He has taken our sins as far away from us as the east is from the west.
13 The Lord is as kind to His followers as a father is to his children.
14 He knows all about us. He knows we are made from dust.
15 He knows our lives are short, that they are like grass. He knows we are like a little wildflower that grows so quickly,
16 But when the hot wind blows, it dies. Soon, you cannot even see where the flower was.
17 But the Lord has always loved His followers, and He will continue to love them forever and ever! He will be good to all their descendants, 18 to those who are faithful to His agreement and who remember to obey His commands.
19 The Lord set His throne up in heaven, and He rules over everything.” Psalm 103:8-19 *ERV
Lana Lynn Higginbotham is one of the most gifted Authors writing today.
She has written Christian fiction and nonfiction books for both adults and young adults.
The following is a re-post of an interview with Lana Lynn by another excellent author, Ann Malley, from her Writer’s Blog https://annmalleybooks.com
You will find links to Lana’s books at the end of her article. All of Lana’s books would be great for summer reading!
Ann Malley has graciously given her permission to re-post her wonderful interview with Lana on Angelsong.
Check out Ann’s blog site for her other interesting posts about different authors, books, and the world of writing.
Thank you so much, Ann
The awesome strength of nature is amazing to behold.
Hey guys. I hope everyone is enjoying the shift in seasons and that nasty weather is on the decline. (We had a corker lightning storm Saturday night. Full on cracking, white light flashing in the wee hours. Lovely. But I’m weird that way.)
Meanwhile, I’m back with another author interview. Why do I do them? Because learning keeps us fresh. And the best way to learn is to glean wisdom from those who have gone before. Those who are doing what we want to do — keep writing. (Reading, too!)
So who is Lana Higginbotham? And why WRITING?
Lana Lynne Higginbotham – well rounded, firmly grounded, and sharing the realities of God and family — the foundation for satisfying romance.
Firstly, I am Lana “Lynne” Higginbotham (Did you all catch that middle name? It’s important, but we’ll get there.) As a…
Paths of Mercy Comforting Christian Prayer Songs by Suzanne Davis Harden All Glory To God
Peaceangel Song 
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