Misconceptions

Randy Alcorn has written a lot about Heaven. His blog for Friday, Dec. 21 is VERY interesting.

It led me to think of all the misconceptions about, not just Heaven, but everything the Bible has to say. I once taught a Sunday School class for teenage girls. I was shocked at how much they MISunderstood. For example, Satan. They thought he lives in hell; that it's his domain and he loves it there. Wrong! 2Peter 2:4 says, "For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;..."

Jamieson, Faussett, and Brown Commentary says this: 'hell — Greek, “Tartarus”; for though their final doom is hell, yet for a time they are permitted to roam beyond it in “the darkness of this world.” Slaves of Tartarus (called “the abyss,” or “deep,” Luke 8:31; “the bottomless pit,” Revelation 9:11) may also come upon earth. Step by step they are given to Tartarus, until at last they shall be wholly bound to it.' Strong's Concordance says that Tartarus is the deepest abyss of Hades. Matthew 25:41 says that the everlasting fire was prepared for the devil and his angels.

Satan's not looking forward to spending eternity there, but he wants to take as many souls with him as he can, to spite God. The penalty for sin is death (Romans 6:23), but Jesus took that penalty on himself so that we don't have to die for our sins. He conquered death and he makes one requirement of us - that we accept that gift. God has chosen not to force us to be in heaven. Satan uses every insidious lie and half-truth he can come up with to deceive us into thinking heaven is boring and hell is a party.

The question is: Are you going to let him get away with that?

Disciple

It bothers me when a verse is quoted out of context. One such verse is, "You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free." (John 8:32) This verse does not apply to just anybody! Read the context: "Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. (vv. 31, 32)

I was reading this the Live Well article for December and something struck me. (You can click on the pear in the Live Well column at the top of my site.) I have to admit here that I struggle with weight. I can blame a lot of it on my illness and various medications I've taken over the years. However, the responsibility to get it off again rests with me. I have struggled with disciplining my appetite and my exercise habits. Well, here's what struck me as I read. I can not know the truth that makes me free - free from being overweight, free from laziness - unless I am continuing in God's word... unless I am truly a disciple.

Confession time: I haven't done as well as I should in this area lately. I have struggled with depression and a "what's the use?" attitude. God has spoken to my heart. "If you, Kyria, will continue in My word, then you are My disciple. Then you will know the truth you need for whatever situation you face, and that truth will make you free." How's that for motivation?!

New Paint Job

To satisfy your curiosity (those of you who knew I was painting the trim on our trailer house), here are some pictures that Tana kindly took for me.
This shows the pretty latticework Rowdy installed at intervals to allow air through underneath.

Here you can see the "before and after". And of course, you can see that the white part needs painting too!

Vision Forum contest

My sister, Rachel, is having a drawing for a free video from Vision Forum. Check it out at her blog Four Mile Farm.

You can also help her with her school supply budget if when you order from Amazon or Vision Forum, you go through her links. Thanks!

I finally got pictures of Tana's horse, Windrunner, or Windy for short.

This is Rowdy leading her to the round pen.









Tana with her horse.








Tana sacking out Windy.