Christian

Are You Flying Blind?

Do you remember the fatal airplane crash of John F Kennedy Jr.? In July of 1999, John F. Kennedy Jr, and two other passengers on board crashed into the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Massachusetts. The official NTSB report concluded that Kennedy experienced spatial disorientation while descending at night over water. He lost control of the aircraft and crashed.

Interestingly, Kennedy did not hold an Instrument Rating and was only certified to fly under VFR (visual flight rules). Although Kennedy’s ill-fated flight was legal (barely), it was not safe.

“Spatial disorientation” happens to a pilot when his plane enters dark storm clouds and he can no longer see the horizon or the ground. Points of reference that guide his senses disappear and he can no longer be sure which way is up or down. His perceptions are unreliable.

The only way a pilot can overcome spatial disorientation is to fully trust his cockpit instruments to tell him what is real.

Just as a pilot needs his cockpit instruments, Christians also need an authoritative source of Truth to navigate our perilous times. The Bible is that authoritative source. But are Christians using it, or are they flying blind?

A new joint study by Barna and Summit Ministries looks at the worldviews of practicing Christians. The results may surprise you. It found that only 17 percent of Christians have what the researchers consider a biblical worldview. That includes believing that the Bible is totally accurate in all of the principles it teaches.

Jesus said, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.” Mark 13:31 NIV

The Bible is God’s Word for mankind, a lamp to our feet, and a light for our path. (Psalm 119:105)

If the Bible is truly God’s Word, then we should cherish it, study it, obey it, and fully trust it. If the Bible is truly the Word of God, then it is the final authority for all matters of faith, practice, and morality. If the Bible is the Word of God, then to dismiss it is to dismiss God Himself.”

GotQuestions.org

That’s something to think about and I hope you will!

We have to ask ourselves, “How high on my priorities is reading the Bible?” In these perilous times, nothing is more important. Have you read the whole Bible cover to cover? You should. And it’s not that hard to do!

Four years ago, my pastor challenged us to read the Bible using a One Year Bible Reading Plan. It requires reading only 2 or 3 chapters each day! It was so easy that I have done it every year since.

I highly recommend it! I use the YouVersion Bible App right on my phone. They have several different plans and it’s available in several good translations for free.

To navigate this present storm of deception that is infiltrating our world today, we must know God’s Word. We can trust His Word to guide us safely home, even when we cannot see clearly all that hovers around us.

God gave us the gift of His Word so that we could have wisdom and understanding. Perilous times require an authoritative source of truth. Without God’s Word, we are flying blind.

“But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,  unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good,  traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,  having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!” 2 Timothy 3:1-5 NKJV (emphasis mine)

“I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word.” Psalm 119:16 NIV

“If your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction.” Psalm 119:92 NIV

Love, Cindy

Do you want to know more about Jesus? Read my page Who Is Jesus?

Sources:

UpperLimitAviation.edu/spacial disorientation

https://www.gotquestions.org/Bible-God-Word.html

Photo: Google Images

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Christian

Friday’s Verse, 10/21/22

“You have searched me, Lord,
    and you know me.
 You know when I sit and when I rise;
    you perceive my thoughts from afar.
 You discern my going out and my lying down;
    you are familiar with all my ways.
 Before a word is on my tongue
    you, Lord, know it completely.” Psalm 139:1-4 NIV

With Love, Cindy

Do you want to know more about Jesus? Read my page Who Is Jesus?

Photo by Joel Holland on Unsplash

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Christian

Verses for Meditation, 10/20/22

“Do you not know?
    Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
    the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
    and his understanding no one can fathom.
He gives strength to the weary
    and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary,
    and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the Lord
    will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
    they will run and not grow weary,
    they will walk and not be faint.” Isaiah 40:28-31 NIV Read full chapter

With Love, Cindy

Do you want to know more about Jesus? Read my page Who Is Jesus?

Photo by Ralph Mayhew on Unsplash

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Christian

Quote of the Week, 10/19/22

Practising Biblical discernment is not an optional choice for a follower of Jesus. We are repeatedly instructed throughout the Bible, to study God’s Word so that we are able to rightly divide God’s Word, and not be ashamed or unable to rightly handle the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15).

Bruce Cooper, Investigating the New Apostolic Reformation

Bruce’s blog, Reasoned Cases for Christ, is a wonderful resource for many topics of interest and concern to Christians. I highly recommend it!

With Love, Cindy

Do you want to know more about Jesus? Read my page Who Is Jesus?

realchristianwomen.blog  

Christian

Tuesday’s Verse, 10/18/22

“Who can speak and have it happen
    if the Lord has not decreed it?” Lamentations 3:37 NIV

With Love, Cindy

Do you want to know more about Jesus? Read my page Who Is Jesus?

Photo by Jakub Kriz on Unsplash

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Christian

Monday’s Verse, 10/17/22

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20 NIV Read full chapter

With Love, Cindy

Do you want to know more about Jesus? Read my page Who Is Jesus?

Photo by Josue Michel on Unsplash

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Christian

Sunday’s Memory Verse, 10/16/22

“Pride goes before destruction,
    a haughty spirit before a fall.” Proverbs 16:18 NIV

With Love, Cindy

Do you want to know more about Jesus? Read my page Who Is Jesus?

Photo by Pedro da Silva on Unsplash

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Christian, women

Do You Believe in Magic?

Does magic exist in the world today? Is all magic just an illusion? Or do some people really call upon demonic forces to experience the supernatural?

God warns his people not to participate in such things, yet I fear that many Christians are unaware of the danger they put themselves in when they seek the supernatural.

Have you ever gone to a fortune-teller for fun? Have you read your horoscope and said, “That is so true!” Have you ever participated in a séance or played with a Ouija board?

You may be thinking, “There’s nothing wrong with a little fun. It’s no big deal.” But do you know what God’s word says about this?

Proverbs 14:12 says, “There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death.”

What does that mean? It means you can do something you think is innocent, but it might be dangerous, very dangerous.

Deuteronomy 18:10-12 says: “Let no one be found among you who sacrifices their son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead.  Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord;”

That is as clear as glass, but I wonder how many Christians know these verses. Fortunetelling is the art of forecasting the future, supposedly by supernatural means, and is an ancient practice which is still popular today.

Fortunetelling is also known as divination. The one who practices this activity is known as a diviner. Fortune-tellers include all those who claim to predict your future or advise your life through such means as Ouija boards, crystal balls, horoscopes, astrology, palm-reading, tarot cards, etc.

Magic, real magic exists in the world today, just as it did long ago. Participating in these things can bring you a lot of trouble. I know a person whose 16-year-old daughter was so filled with fear, she would not sleep in her own room. She said she saw ghosts. What did she do to open this door? I don’t know what she did, but I believe that someone did something that welcomed evil spirits into the home.

The Bible has plenty to say about witchcraft, sorcery and divination. What I have shown you is just the tip of the iceberg. I urge you to study this for yourself. It is so important to be knowledgeable about God’s word in this day and time. It is a time when the world is fascinated with the supernatural. Therefore, these practices will become normalized in society. Perhaps they already are.

“Once when we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a female slave who had a spirit by which she predicted the future. She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling. 17 She followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved.” 18 She kept this up for many days. Finally Paul became so annoyed that he turned around and said to the spirit, “In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!” At that moment the spirit left her.” Acts 16:16-18 NIV

I must tell you that I have had experiences, said to be “in the name of Jesus”, that I do not believe were from God, but from the power of an evil spirit. I will not discuss this in detail because all believers must discern for themselves what is right and true. Discernment comes from knowing God’s word, loving the truth, and protecting your heart. I will close with these verses:

“Keep and guard your heart with all vigilance and above all that you guard, for out of it flow the springs of life.” Proverbs 4:23 AMP

“Your statutes are my delight; they are my counselors.” Psalm 119:24 NIV

“If your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction. Psalm 119:92 NIV

“All your words are true. All your righteous laws are eternal.” Psalm 119:160

“Great peace have they who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble.” Psalm 119:165

With Love, Cindy

Do you want to know more about Jesus? Read my page Who Is Jesus?

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Christian

Friday’s Verse, 10/14/22

“Whoever heeds discipline shows the way to life,
    but whoever ignores correction leads others astray.” Proverbs 10:17 NIV

With Love, Cindy

Do you want to know more about Jesus? Read my page Who Is Jesus?

Photo by Keren Fedida on Unsplash

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Christian

Verses for Meditation, 10/13/22

“Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” Hebrews 13:20-21 NIV Read full chapter

With Love, Cindy

Do you want to know more about Jesus? Read my page Who Is Jesus?

Photo by Jaka Škrlep on Unsplash

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