Beware of Self-Isolationism
When Satan keeps us from sharing our struggles, bearing each other's burdens, and encouraging one another—he has pushed our spiritual lives into a potential cycle for constant defeat. He plants thoughts like: "no one else has ever faced what I am facing", or "I am so bad and no other Christian has ever done what I have done", or "no believer has ever failed as I have failed".
As we read I Corinthians 10:11-13, it is our introduction to how much we need to realize we are all weak, frail, and in need of God's grace.
What David faced, we all face; how David struggled, we all struggle. In varying degrees an in various flavors of sin, but we are all made of the same stuff. There are no super-saints.
"Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. 12 Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. 13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it."
Most of us who grew up in the twentieth century remember the comic books, cartoons, and TV shows portraying the exploits of super-heroes. Those superheroes had extraordinary abilities to fight a never-ending battle for truth and justice. Fans all over the world therefore idolized them—and loved hearing stories of their great feats!
In the 21st century many of these superheroes are coming back in the movies. As usual, movies often reflect deeper issues that can lurk in the back of our minds. It is easy to slip into a Bible-characters-were-superheroes mentality.
Those thoughts can lead to many Christians viewing God's choicest servants like David, or Elijah, or Paul as Super Saints.
He Leadeth Me
He leadeth me, O blessèd thought!
O words with heav’nly comfort fraught!
Whate’er I do, where’er I be
Still ’tis God’s hand that leadeth me.
Sometimes mid scenes of deepest gloom,
Sometimes where Eden’s bowers bloom,
By waters still, over troubled sea,
Still ’tis His hand that leadeth me
Lord, I would place my hand in Thine,
Nor ever murmur nor repine;
Content, whatever lot I see,
Since ’tis my God that leadeth me.
And when my task on earth is done,
When by Thy grace the vict’ry’s won,
E’en death’s cold wave I will not flee,
Since God through Jordan leadeth me
Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant plans to sign a bill that will ban abortion at 20 weeks.
Under the bill, abortion would be allowed at or after 20 weeks if the baby faces severe fatal abnormality or the woman faces permanent injury or death because of the pregnancy.
“This measure represents a great effort to protect the unborn in Mississippi,” Bryant said in a statement after the bill passed in the House and the Senate.
It passed in the House 91-20 and in the Senate 41-10.
The most recent Health Department statistics show more than 2,100 abortions were done in Mississippi in 2012. Two were listed at 21 weeks or later.
Mississippi’s only abortion clinic already stops doing abortions after 16 weeks’ gestation, said Diane Derzis, of Jackson Women’s Health Organization.
Other states with a 20-week ban include Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas.
Sen. Deborah Dawkins, who voted against the bill, said the 20-week ban would affect poor women.
“It occurs to me, over the past few years, that a lot of men do not understand how a female body works,” Dawkins said.
O words with heav’nly comfort fraught!
Whate’er I do, where’er I be
Still ’tis God’s hand that leadeth me.
Refrain
He leadeth me, He leadeth me,
By His own hand He leadeth me;
His faithful follower I would be,
For by His hand He leadeth me.
By His own hand He leadeth me;
His faithful follower I would be,
For by His hand He leadeth me.
Sometimes where Eden’s bowers bloom,
By waters still, over troubled sea,
Still ’tis His hand that leadeth me
Refrain
He leadeth me, He leadeth me,
By His own hand He leadeth me;
His faithful follower I would be,
For by His hand He leadeth me.
By His own hand He leadeth me;
His faithful follower I would be,
For by His hand He leadeth me.
Nor ever murmur nor repine;
Content, whatever lot I see,
Since ’tis my God that leadeth me.
Refrain
He leadeth me, He leadeth me,
By His own hand He leadeth me;
His faithful follower I would be,
For by His hand He leadeth me.
By His own hand He leadeth me;
His faithful follower I would be,
For by His hand He leadeth me.
When by Thy grace the vict’ry’s won,
E’en death’s cold wave I will not flee,
Since God through Jordan leadeth me
Refrain
He leadeth me, He leadeth me,
By His own hand He leadeth me;
His faithful follower I would be,
For by His hand He leadeth me.
By His own hand He leadeth me;
His faithful follower I would be,
For by His hand He leadeth me.
Mississippi Governor to Sign Bill Outlawing Abortion After 20 Weeks
Amanda Casanova | Religion Today Contributing Writer
Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant plans to sign a bill that will ban abortion at 20 weeks.
Under the bill, abortion would be allowed at or after 20 weeks if the baby faces severe fatal abnormality or the woman faces permanent injury or death because of the pregnancy.
“This measure represents a great effort to protect the unborn in Mississippi,” Bryant said in a statement after the bill passed in the House and the Senate.
It passed in the House 91-20 and in the Senate 41-10.
The most recent Health Department statistics show more than 2,100 abortions were done in Mississippi in 2012. Two were listed at 21 weeks or later.
Mississippi’s only abortion clinic already stops doing abortions after 16 weeks’ gestation, said Diane Derzis, of Jackson Women’s Health Organization.
Other states with a 20-week ban include Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas.
Sen. Deborah Dawkins, who voted against the bill, said the 20-week ban would affect poor women.
“It occurs to me, over the past few years, that a lot of men do not understand how a female body works,” Dawkins said.
Happy Saturday Everyone... We made it through another week...
Have a Blessed Day,
Richard
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