Reflections

I want to thank all of my readers for your support and following my blog.  I’m sorry that I have not been able to post blogs more frequently the past month.  I took some time to just focus back on God. 

My plan has been to try and do 5-6 blogs a week.  So again I apologize for the infrequency of the blog posts since the beginning of April.  Also, I do enjoy comments I receive and encourage you to continue with the comments.  Just so you know that when you post a comment it has to be approved by me before it will show up on the blog to prevent spammers.  I do approve the comment as soon as I see it in my email account.  A delay usually means I have not checked my email.  Please keep the comments coming and I also try to respond to all comments.  Discussions can really make the blog a lot more interesting.  So please never be afraid to post comments.

Starting tomorrow I plan on publishing 5-6 blogs a week.  Again thank you so much for your support and encouragment.  My goal is that each blog will bless you the way it has blessed me.  The scriptures are the living word and give us life, builds our faith, and helps us to understand the Kingdom of God more and more.

God Bless You,

Pastor Anna Mangeni

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 1Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God.

 2Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves.

 3For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same; Romans 13:1-3

Let’s be honest this is a hard scripture to follow especially when you don’t agree with your boss, leader or government officials.  However, we are to submit to all authority because God is the one who establishes authority.  So what do we do when we disagree then we pray.  Too often we spend so much time complaining about those in authority instead of praying for them.

This can be especially difficult when you are dealing with someone who does not treat you well or seems to be incompetent.  Also, remember that some people are in authority because of the will of the people.  We can take comfort in knowing that God is ultimately in control and has the greatest authority.  So even when our leaders fail us we can know that God will never fail us.  Also, those in authority must answer to God, so we can take our issues with them to God.

When we do well and submit to the authority that God has placed over us we will find favor and receive praise with that authority.  Think of godly men like Joseph who found favor with Pharaoh, or Daniel who found favor with King Nebuchadnezzar who was the most evil king.  When we submit to our leaders we are submitting to God who placed those leaders over us.

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“For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you.” Matthew 7:2

It is good for us that God does not judge us the way man does, otherwise we would all probably be gone.  We are so judgmental toward one another.  Many of us who are saved sit in judgment of those who do not know Jesus.  We judge people based on their past mistakes or our prejudice toward someone.  We can be very harsh with each other. 

Jesus tells us that they way we judge others is how we will be judged.  How do you judge people?  Do you show people the same mercy and compassion that God shows?  Our judgment will not win people for Christ.  Even the bible says the kindness of God brings repentance.  We are to show the love of God especially to the unsaved.  We must remember that we were once sinners and Christ died for the ungodly.  We are saved by grace and not by works, so we have no room for boasting.  Let’s use the measure that Jesus used in judging others.  Jesus sees the best in a person and does not hold their sins against them because He died for all of our sins. 

One day we will stand at the judgment seat and must give an account for what we have done.  Do you want to be judged on how you judged others or judged by Jesus who already paid the price for your sins?

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Sustain me according to Your word, that I may live; and do not let me be ashamed of my hope. Psalm 119:116

In the news this week there were two stories of suicides by celebrities’ adult children.  As I was reading these stories I began to wonder what hope did they have.  There are so many who do not have hope or faith to live by.  There life is full of pain, despair, hopelessness, etc.  We that know God put our hope in Him.  God sustains us through His word.  So we should never be ashamed that our hope is in God.

Our world is full of so much trouble and bad news but we who hope in God have good news to share.  God loves us with an everlasting love and God loved the world so much that He sent His only Son Jesus to die on the cross for our sins.  So let’s spread the hope that we have to people who are desperately looking for purpose and hope in their life.  Let’s not be ashamed of the gospel of Jesus for it is life giving and will sustain us so that we might live.

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 Righteousness exalts a nation, But sin is a disgrace to any people. Proverbs 14:34

The United States is in a recession.  Our government is in gridlock.  Other countries do not admire the US like they once did.  Many are looking for answers.  Do we change our elected officials?  Do we need another political party?  What are the answers?  How does the US become a great nation again?

The answer lies with us – those who believe and fear God.  For righteousness exalts a nation.  When we live according to the Holiness God has called us to our nation will be great.  God will give us the answers to our problems and wisdom in governing the land.  God will give us the nation if we ask.  So let’s stop complaining and decree our nation will be great.  Let our righteous acts declare that we will prosper and our nation will be exalted.

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“The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our sons forever, that we may observe all the words of this law.” Deuteronomy 29:29

God has revealed Himself through His word.  In order for us to get to know God’s ways and heart we must study His word.  What is revealed about God in His word belong to us.  God desires for us to get to know Him.  As we spend time in His word and in His presence, He will reveal more things about Himself to us.

So let’s take a journey together and explore the scriptures that point us to knowing God more.  As we study the scriptures the Holy Spirit will reveal the nature and heart of God.  As we seek Him, He will draw closer to us.  The more we know about God the more intimate we become with Him.  We will never learn every detail about God but each day we can learn a little more about our Heavenly Father.  We have all of eternity to get to know God.

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 A fool finds no pleasure in understanding
     but delights in airing his own opinions.  Proverbs 18:2 NIV

One of the things I love about the bible is that you can find a scripture that is so relevant to our day.  Recently, I have been amazed at the bias in the media especially with the internet.  It seems that everyone has an opinion and apparently a lot of fools report the news.  Originally, I was not thinking they were fools but once I read this scripture I realized there are a lot of fools out there.

When we are wise we seek understanding so when we approach a topic we should really try and see all sides.  I use the media as an example of foolishness because there was a time that news was balanced – a news story had just the facts and left out opinions.  But now with the 24 hour news channels and the internet, news has become very lopsided and opinionated.  News now has very little fact but a lot of opinion.

So let us not be foolish.  We should always seek to understand.  We should be slow to speak and quick to listen.  We should be open to correction and wise counsel.   We do not always have the right answer or opinion.  There are times we need to just stick with the facts and keep opinions to ourselves.

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