The day with dianne Louise

For I passed on to you as most important what I also received: That Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, That He was buried, That He was raised on the third day according to the scriptures, and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the Twelve. Then He appeared to over 500 brothers at one time; Most of them are still alive, but some have fallen asleep. Then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one abnormally born, He also appeared to me. 1Cor 15:3-8   It is easy enough for a few persons to lie or create a story but for 527 sightings of Jesus, in several different lots and times, this would be much ore difficult. Paul is giving evidence validating Jesus' authenticity.   Whilst ironing tonight I watched a show that the Brits are quite fond of. They seem to produced them in volumes. This one was a history of Rome and its religions and those that threatened them. The presenter was obviously not a Christian and ad...

Now brothers, I want to clarify for you the gospel I proclaimed to you; you received it and have taken your stand on it. You are also saved by it, if you hold to the message I proclaimed to you-unless you believed for no purpose. 1 Cor 15:1,2   When I became born again I received the fullness of the gospel. It brought life to my soul, filled me with joy and totally satisfied me.   Establishing my life in Christ I took a stand on the word, in all it entailed. I did not cut out the bits that made me uncomfortable, in fact I did the opposite, I embraced it, allowed it to work in my spirit and soul, challenge me, bring me to repentance and construct me as a dwelling in Christ.   Salvation is not a one-off experience, it is daily and on-going, it is living and active, just like the word of God. Daily I apply the word to my life and allow it to fertilize, chastise, revive, refresh, renew.   Jesus Himself told us the parable about the wise man who built his...

If anyone thinks he is a prophet or spiritual, he should recognize that what I write to you is the Lord's command. But if anyone ignores this, he will be ignored. Therefore, my brothers, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in other languages. But everything must be done decently and in order. I Cor 14:37-40   Paul is outlining decent and orderly behaviour with regard to prophesy and speaking in tongues. There seems to have been disarray at Corinth and Paul is bringing teaching that will correct this and lay a foundation for progress beyond this time.   The fact that Paul says: 'if anyone thinks he is a prophet or spiritual.' indicates there was a problem. Remember at the beginning of this book Paul rebukes the people for their arrogance and pride. We meet many who think they are God's gift to the church, to bring order, yet they carry either a religious spirit or critical spirit and therefore operating in self-will and rebellion and thus ignored fo...

Since God is not a God of disorder but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints, the women should be silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak, but should be submissive, as the law also says. And if they want to learn something, they should ask their own husbands at home, for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church meeting. 1Cor 14:32-25   Now, this seems to be a red rag to a bull, yes? I am glad I had the opportunity to read books written about Paul's teaching and realise that there was another story that we do not know about. I can already see great disorder with everybody babbling away, loudly in tongues without interpretation, everybody wanting to have a say and because no one knew what was being said women talking out of order trying to work out what was being said.   It is always important to look at the big picture. Paul was trying to bring order. In regard to his attitude to women, he is generally very favourable and ...

Therefore the person who speaks in another language should pray that he can interpret. For if I pray in another language, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful. What then? I will pray with the spirit and I will also pray with my understanding. Otherwise, if you praise with the spirit, how will the uninformed person say "Amen" at your giving of thanks, since he does not know what you are saying? For you may very well be giving thanks, but the other person is not being built up. I thank God I speak in other languages more than all of you; yet in the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding, in order to teach others also, than 10,000 words in another language. Brothers do not be childish in your thinking, but be infants in regard to evil and adult in your thinking. 1Cor 14:13-20 Praying in tongues is for you, in your prayer closet, between you and God, unless you are motivated to do so in a church gathering and have an interpretation. I spe...

Pursue love and desire spiritual gifts, and above all that you may prophesy. For the person who speaks in another language is to speaking to men but to God, since no one understands him: however he speaks mysteries in the Spirit. But the person who prophesies speaks to people for their edification, encouragement, and consolation. The person who speaks in another language builds himself up, but he who prophesies builds up the church. I wish all of you spoke in other languages, but even more that you prophesied. 1Cor 14:1-5   Praying in tongues is essential for me, the times I do not know how to pray the Spirit does, in these times praying in tongues builds me up. I remember as a new Christian speaking out in tongues in the church I was saved into. There was no interpretation and the pastor graciously explained I was a new believer who was expressing my love for God. I quickly realised that prophesy was the way to go.   Prophesy in the church today seems to be don...

When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put aside childish things. For now we see indistinctly, as in a mirror, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I will know fully, as I am fully known. Now these three remain: faith, hope, love. But the greatest of these is love. 1Cor 13:11-13   When I approach the Christian life from a childish perspective, what is in it for me, I am missing the point. Reasoning like a child, thinking like a child is very small and limited. There is no insight, no depth of understanding. there is only: I am hurt, you hurt me, stop it or I want to leave.   Love that revolves around what I get, is small, it is limited. Love that revolves around the picture that Christ sees is broader and more gracious.   Tomorrow I have another confrontation. I am having to contain my thoughts and emotions or I will mess things up. God know what the best outcome is, n...