140323 Trusting God by Praying: Prosperity

Do you trust God for prosperity? There are two ways of looking at prosperity: having a lot of money and having no need.

22yo worked for Phillip Anschutz in 1980s. Mormans tithe. I am prosperous, too.

Phil 4:6,10-13
This is how I know I am prosperous. How can I claim this? My income is below the minimum for ACA. I don't even have to file taxes. By worldly standards, I am sunk. Let us look at what God calls 'prosperity'
εὐοδόω
From a compound of εὖ and ὁδός; to help on the road, that is, (passively) succeed in reaching; figuratively to succeed in business affairs: - (have a) prosper (-ous journey).

Romans 1:8-10
  First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.
  For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers;
  Making request, if by any means now at length I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God to come unto you.

What gets us on the road to prosperity?

1 Corithians 16:1-3
  Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye.
  Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.
  And when I come, whomsoever ye shall approve by your letters, them will I send to bring your liberality unto Jerusalem.

3 John 2-4
  Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.
  For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth.
  I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.

Ephesians 1:5,9
5  Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
9  Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:

God wants the best for us. Who has better intentions than God?

2 Corinthians 9:5-15
  Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren, that they would go before unto you, and make up beforehand your bounty, whereof ye had notice before, that the same might be ready, as a matter of bounty, and not as of covetousness.
  But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
  Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
  And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:
  (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever.
  Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;)
  Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.
  For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God;
  Whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto them, and unto all men;
  And by their prayer for you, which long after you for the exceeding grace of God in you.
  Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.

We are blessed. Develop the attitude of gratitude.

140306 Food and Where to Find It

No, I am not an expert at this. If I couldn't go to the grocery store, I would seriously test whether ragweed was indeed edible and probably raise or try to trap small animals. Thus, I have been following some pages: "Foraging Texas", "Living the Rustic Life", and "The Fish Tank".

One of the authors, Kasper, has done a lot of footwork on Aquaponics. After a year, he declared it to be too much work for too little produce and is returning to a traditional garden. I suspect that I would have the same opinion, but my sister wants mr to give it a go anyway. She's pretty gung ho about this survivalist stuff. She has an impressive garden, solar panels, and a greenhouse. My 'man friend', on the other hand, is into freeze-dried foods and bought me a dehydrator. I just want a steady supply of tomatoes and okra that does not depend on my 'brown' thumb.

Maybe, I should befriend a farmer. Coaxing my garden-raising sister down here has not been successful.

Essential Oils: The Flu Shot Is Not Always Effective

Essential Oils: The Flu Shot Is Not Always Effective



Better than a flu shot.

140203 Happy Independence Day?

Well, yeah! On this day in 1836, a group of volatile Texians declared independence from Mexico. Most people don't know that some of those people were tejanos. It wasn't just an Anglo thing, but Anglos do have a bit of fire when it comes to independence. Modern historians with an agenda claim that the fight was started by Anglos to promote slavery. Actually, it was against what they perceived as their own slavery to Antonio de Padua María Severino López de Santa Anna y Pérez de Lebrón. Even the Mexicans in the area were a bit perturbed with Santa Anna. He mistreated everyone north of the Rio Grande.

The writings of the time indicate that most of the Texians wanted to keep their own method of worship. Taxes figured into this, too. Santa Anna decided that everyone had to be Catholic and support the Pope in Rome. This didn't set well with the growing Protestant population. He also demanded that everyone support his lifestyle as "The Neopolian of the New World". The people of El Norte questioned this.

Texans love their history. We see ourselves as unique, special, feisty. Local elections happen on Tuesday, March 4th, and the airwaves are full of ads. I've lived all over the country, and this is one of only two places where candidates claim linage by state:

"I am a fifth-generation Texan..."
"I've lived in San Antonio all my life!"
"I was born in Larado, so I know..."
"My [ancestor] fought for Texas independence."
"I will put Texas first, and Washington second!"

Here, it's all about Texas. We merely lend ourselves to the rest of the country. I'm praying that the unemployed Californians moving here to find work adopt our ways, and leave their freedom destroying ideas at the border. Our ways are why we have work and they don't. California and the West Coast have plenty of oil, but their governments do not allow them to drill. Our government has allowed freedom. Nationwide, real unemployment is in double digits, but down here jobs go unfilled for lack of skilled personnel. One may trace the economic divide by the political policies in place. Sad. Very sad.

Well, to be happy and cheerful, let me post my favorite version of the Alamo. It is accurate as the Texan director could make it. Texans stared in it; Texans were used as extras, and it was filmed in Texas. It's not perfect, but it's about as close as it gets to the heart of a Texan.

Essential Oils: Lack Of Sickness & Stronger Immune System

Essential Oils: Lack Of Sickness & Stronger Immune System



My own journey has different oils, but I know that strength and health are returning.

Essential Oils: Daughter Had Runny Nose For Several Days

Essential Oils: Daughter Had Runny Nose For Several Days



Oils are good for children! This mom writes about it.

140224 Baptism of the Spirit

2 Peter 1:20,21
  Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
  For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

Guessing and tradition are nothing to God's Word. If there is no private interpretation, then there is either none available, or only God's interpretation counts. Let's read what is written.

Act 1:5  For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.

This sets a new way of doing things. The dramatic thing that happened not many days from the Ascension was the outpouring of the holy spirit in Acts 2:

Acts 2:4
  And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Acts 2:38
  Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Acts 2:41
  Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

Since the last mention of baptism was of the Spirit, that is what is happened here. Later in Acts, the Ethiopian Eunuch was baptized with water, but further records didn't use water. In fact, there was a correction recorded in Acts 10 and 11.  In his excitement, Peter went back to the standard taught while Christ walked the earth:

Act 10:47  Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?

Later, he returned to the standard set at the beginning of the Book of Acts:

Act 11:16  Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost.

1 Corinthians addresses wrong thinking, and one of the first items Paul mentions concerns baptism:

1 Corinthians 1:13-17 
  Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?
  I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius;
  Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name.
  And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other.
  For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.

1 Corinthians 12:13
  For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

The last enemy to be destroyed will be death. Death is not a friend, it is an enemy. The Son of God lives. Baptism of the Spirit is not through death, but through life. Christ was raised from the dead and dies no more. He is the first of many who shall rise when Christ Jesus returns. The dead in Christ shall rise. According to Figures of Speech Used in the Bible by E.W. Bullinger, 1 Corinthians 15:20-28 is a parambole, a brief insertion. The thought leading to verse 29 come directly from verse 19.

1 Corinthians 15:16-19,29
  For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised:
  And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.
  Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.
  If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.
  Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead?

Then, he tells people to wake up and believe the Truth. Acts marks a change in who would be called God's People. Formerly, God's people were those of Abraham's children who proceeded from Isaac and Israel and kept the Law. After the Day of Pentacost, all in any place could believe to be born again of God's Spirit. Christ rose, so that is our promise that we will rise, too. We are not baptized to die, but to live.