High Horse

Here's a definition from Merriam Webster Dictionary of high horse:  an arrogant and unyielding mood or attitude.

How many times have you looked at another person or group of people, you may know them or not even know them, or do you know about them & passed judgement on what they do or who they are or what they do in their lives without any true facts of proof that they did it?  I'm not talking about the gut feeling you get when you may be faced with harm.   Have you judged a person on the color of skin, what they are wearing, their age, the way they talk?   

When you start making opinions, judgements, comments about a person without interacting with them & getting to know them as a person, you are on a high horse.   You can then be compared to the Pharisee in the Bible.   The Pharisee did just that, they thought very highly of themselves & very less about the people below them.  Remember Jesus came for the people below the Pharisees.  The Pharisees did tell Jesus they did not want him.  They thought they were above Jesus.   

When people tend to "look down", "frown upon" or scorn people who they feel are different, doing wrong, or don't even measure up to their standards.   Remember not everyone has the same standards as you.  Doesn't make them wrong or less of a person.  It does make them different. Different is not sinful.  Are you afraid of different?  

Self-righteousness is what the Pharisees excelled in it.  Pharisee had their own insecurities that made them get on their high horse so they could feel better & secure.   With their attitude towards Jesus the people around picked up on & followed in it.   In Mark 2:18-22 gives example of that.  
  
Mark 2:18-22 (NIV)^" Now John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting. Some people came and asked Jesus, “How is it that John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees are fasting, but yours are not?” Jesus answered, “How can the guests of the bridegroom fast while he is with them? They cannot, so long as they have him with them.  But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them, and on that day they will fast. “No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. Otherwise, the new piece will pull away from the old, making the tear worse.  And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins.”

People were making judgement why was Jesus disciples different?  Like they were wrong.   Jesus clears it up for them.  John's disciples & the Pharisee's disciples had their own standards then Jesus' disciples. Yes, they were different.  I'm not looking to point if one was wrong or right.  But the point is a group of people seen a differences & looked at it as wrong.  The passed a judgement on people that were different.   Jesus cleared the matter up.  If the group still felt the same afterwards, I don't know.   Were they set in the decision? Or did they hear the words & change?   

How do you interact with people? Are you on a high horse, feel more holy then another?  Do you deal with religious snobbery?   Jesus gave us the greatest command of all, Love God with all our heart mind & soul, Love your neighbor as yourself.   Love your neighbor as yourself, so how can you be more holy than your neighbor, how can your neighbor be less than you?  

Are you a Pharisee or the people that Jesus came for?  Jesus came to love people & share the knowledge of who God is.   Love first then knowledge. 

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Sleep Apnea

Are you feeling like you don't get enough sleep even if you go to bed at a normal time & sleep for at least 8 hours a night?  Do you wake up in the night?   If you think you may have Sleep Apnea talk with your doctor right away.

 Sleep Apnea can lead to different health problems.   Besides being exhausted all the time, it can be hard to stay a wake during the day.  It can effect your relations, education & or job.   Your doctor can help you with setting you up with a sleep test study.  It's painless & can help the doctors know how to care for you better.  

When I talked to my doctor about it, I was shocked at all that is connected with sleep & my health.  The small warning signs that I over looked to the hello bigger signs.  I thought I might have moderate Sleep Apnea.  After talking with my doctor he said I was looking pretty severe with Sleep Apnea.  Onward for the sleep testing & may have to do a study during the day too.  All depends on how the sleep study test goes.    

If what I offer here is relevant to you in any way, please consider donating. As I tend to my family (disabled hubby and homeschooled kids) I write in my free time. No knitting here but I love Taco Bell now and then and your donations help keep the spicy food coming. Every donation is appreciated!!!

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Pressure

Pontius Pilate had Jesus as a prisoner.  Pontius Pilate had to make a choice, either Jesus was innocent & Pilate let Him go or find Jesus guilty & crucify Him.  Pilate had tons of pressure from the religious leaders, the crowds (which the religious leaders were stirring up) & Rome (whom wanted peace in the territory) plus what his own gut was saying & his wife's dream.   Talk about being surround by pressure from all sides!!!

Pontius Pilate tried to get Jesus to defend himself so Pilate did not have to make the choice.  Jesus stood in silence.   Pilate then thought he would give the crowds a choice, to get away from the pressure of making the wrong choice.  Pilate did not want to put an innocent man to death.  Pilate brought out Barabbas, who was part of a rebellion against Rome & was a murderer, & Jesus.  Pilate offered to release one of them.  He thought the crowd would pick Jesus.  But the religious leaders kept stirring the crowds.   

Pontius Pilates wife had a dream that she shared with Pilate while he was sitting in the judgement seat, "Don't have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him."  (Matthew 27:19 NIV). Pontius Pilates wife even had a dream to warn Pilate to stand against the pressure.  

Pontius Pilate let the crowd pick.  They picked Barabbas.   Pilate released Barabbas & washed his hands from the innocent man's blood.  Pilate did not want to take responsibility for making the choice. He did not  stand up to the pressure from the crowds, religious leaders & Rome.  

Washing of the hands only gives a false sense of peace.  Pilate was still responsible for his actions of not standing firm against the pressure of the crowds, religious leaders & Rome.   When faced with right & wrong, we all get to pick & live with what comes next.   There is no washing of the hands to keep yourself free from consequences.    

When you are faced with peer pressure, or any choice of right & wrong, how do you handle it?  Do you stand firm in your beliefs & what you know is right?  Or do you fold under pressure?

Remember Peter thought he would never deny Jesus & stand against the pressures of knowing Jesus, but he fold too. (Matthew 26:69-75).  Jesus still loved Peter. 

How can you stand firm when faced with pressure?

If what I offer here is relevant to you in any way, please consider donating. As I tend to my family (disabled hubby and homeschooled kids) I write in my free time. No knitting here but I love Taco Bell now and then and your donations help keep the spicy food coming. Every donation is appreciated!!!

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If a person is not strong in their own strength, how can they grow in their weakness?

Not looking to start a blame game of who did what or didn't do for you.   Let's just get to the facts.  If a person is not confident in what their strengths are , how are they to grow in their weaker area's?  If a person is weak in their strengths are, it would make sense to help them grow in the strengths before helping them grow in the weak area's.  Our strengths can help us in are weakest moments.  

If you are trying  to help someone in life with their weakness & they are hitting a wall & no fruit is to be seen, do some digging in their strengths  where there is lack.   Start by building their strengths up. They may need help finding their strengths. Dig deep, don't just go for the sallow strength, easy pickings will not make for a good foundation.  Find the strengths God put in there. Those will be more fruit giving, not just for that person but for anyone who comes into that persons life.

Look into their passions, dreams, goals, what comes to them easy in life. Theses are the areas you want to look into for the strengths. Also look at what might be blocking them from any of those just listed, that could be what is blocking growth.  

Remember you are dealing with a person,  not a machine.  Take time, be gentle & loving. This person is a gift from God. Their deep beauty needs help unpacking, so the beauty can shine!!!    

If what I offer here is relevant to you in any way, please consider donating. As I tend to my family (disabled hubby and homeschooled kids) I write in my free time. No knitting here but I love Taco Bell now and then and your donations help keep the spicy food coming. Every donation is appreciated!!!

Donations are not tax deductible.

Does the blessings/curses from the Old Testament apply to us today?

How does the Old Testament Law apply to Christians today?   The past post Adam & Eve, Submit, & Help Meet mix with this.   The Old Testament Law was written for the chosen people of Israel, the Israelite's, not the Gentiles.   

The difference between Israelite's & Gentiles (Christians):  1 Israel was picked for a purpose, see Genesis 12:1-3.  Through them was God's plan to save the world.  Plan was to Jesus coming through from the Jewish race, then dying on the cross to cover man from our sins.  2. Christians are chosen because those who are in Christ by putting their trust in Him & believing who He is.  This is how Christians are to be saved & will have salvation. 

In the Book of Deuteronomy covers the The Covenant made between God & the Israel.   Deuteronomy was the second time the law was given.  The first time was in Exodus, when Moses went up to Mount Sinai.  Moses passed the Law to Joshua before Moses died.  The Covenant was an agreement between God & Israel.  It was not an agreement God made with everyone.  

Christians have a New Covenant with different responsibilities.  The Old Covenant is no longer enforced. It has been replaced for everyone, Jews & Gentiles.  The New Covenant is for everyone who puts their faith in Jesus.   

We are under a New Covenant & must follow it, Love God with every part of you, Love your neighbor as yourself. Key point you must love God first, yourself & then your neighbor.  Remember even your enemies.   

The Old Covenant was based on obeying the laws t receive God's blessing/curses.  The New Covenant is based on grace.  The grace we would not have if Jesus did not come.  The Old Covenant is still in play for everyone to use as a foundation.  The New Covenant commands us to live with moral principles ( the Old Covenant). The Ten Commandments are expressed in some way or another with the moral principles.  See how it is all laying out!!!!   

Make sure you understand all the laws in the Old Testament, for they are the base of moral principles that we all uses as our foundation.  With the foundation laid, keep Jesus as your cornerstone.  

To answer the question that I started with, I feel yes, the blessings/curses apply still today. But with Jesus we have a chance/ Hope/ away!!!

If what I offer here is relevant to you in any way, please consider donating. As I tend to my family (disabled hubby and homeschooled kids) I write in my free time. No knitting here but I love Taco Bell now and then and your donations help keep the spicy food coming. Every donation is appreciated!!!

Donations are not tax deductible.

What's In A Name?

Do you know what your name means?  Are you named after a family member? Is it after a couple family members or a combo of names?  Do you feel like you are living up to your name? Do you like your name? Do you know why your parents picked your name?

Did you know sometimes one name may have different means?  It depends on the origins it came from.  Some names may have different spellings. Example: Teressa has different was to spell it & different forms of it, Tessa & Tracy.   

There are different ways to find out about your name, talking with family members, getting a baby name book that has names & meanings or checking it out on the web.  

Some people have middle names. Middle names have meaning too.  Sometimes they go together & meaning the same thing.  Sometimes it is different.   Don't forget the last name.  Check in to what your last name mean & what the maid name of your mom or grandmothers name means.  How far back can you trace your family name? 

Knowing more about your name can help you know who your are.   How do you see your name? Do you want your name  to be a legacy? 

Here is a web site that talks about people hating their name.  They even done a poll on who hates/dislikes their name. They even stated, "People with high self-esteem tend to like their name." Check it out.
https://waltzingmorethanmatilda.com/2013/09/22/why-your-child-will-hate-their-name/

If what I offer here is relevant to you in any way, please consider donating. As I tend to my family (disabled hubby and homeschooled kids) I write in my free time. No knitting here but I love Taco Bell now and then and your donations help keep the spicy food coming. Every donation is appreciated!!!

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Rahab

Rahab was labeled as a prostitute, some say she was not a prostitute but an innkeeper, single business woman & some even say she was an ancestor to Jesus.  This is not a debate on any of that.  You can do your own digging on that & make your own opinion on that.

Rahab was a Canaanite woman, that lived in the city wall in Jericho.   The Book of Joshua tells the story about her.  Canaanites practiced many things that did not line u with God.  God was sending Joshua & an army to Jericho.  Joshua sent 2 spies to the city to look it over.  

The stories of what God did in Egypt & through the desert the people of Jericho heard & were very afraid.   The Canaanites did not believe in God, they had their own beliefs.   But the believed what was told to them on what had happen.  

When the King of Jericho heard about the spies staying at Rahab's, he sent messengers to Rahab.  The King wanted the men to be brought out.   Rahab hid the spies, told the messengers that they missed the spies & they went out of the city & she gave false directions to them.   

Rahab went to the 2 spies & plead for her life & her families life for helping the spies.   The spies agreed to show her & her family kindly & faithful when the Lord gives them the land.   Rahab helped them out of the city & told them which way to go to avoid the ones who are pursing them.

Rahab, Canaanite woman, had her own beliefs, religion & rituals that she & her family followed. The only time she heard of God is the stories from Egypt, she did not know of God's law or love.  But when she heard of the stories what God could do, she was in fear of God & believed in His power.  Rahab believed in God without knowing Him.  Rahab moved on faith that she need to plea for herself & her family lives.  

God remembered Rahab for for faith & not her profession.  God often uses people with simple faith to accomplish His great purpose.  No matter your past, God is not holding you down because of it. Don't let your past stop you now.  God can & will use you in His perfect plans.  Rahab didn't let her past stop her from being apart of God's plan.   

If what I offer here is relevant to you in any way, please consider donating. As I tend to my family (disabled hubby and homeschooled kids) I write in my free time. No knitting here but I love Taco Bell now and then and your donations help keep the spicy food coming. Every donation is appreciated!!!

Donations are not tax deductible.