Showing posts with label Peace. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Peace. Show all posts

June 02, 2018

MY OTHER LITTLE SISTER


I was about six years old and my sister was sixteen months younger than me. One day we went to the little country store that had recently opened up in front of our house. The owner’s name was Amos. My grandmother had known him since he was a little boy. Around mid-day, there were always several men sitting around inside eating lunch.
I don’t remember exactly what it was, but my sister, Loretta, wanted to get something and my grandmother told her no. So she fell down on the floor and threw a tantrum. She was crying, and kicking, and screaming. All of a sudden, from out of nowhere, our grandmother grabbed her by the arm and pulled her to her feet, and gave her a good spanking right there in front of the store owner and all those men. Let me tell you, she never ever acted like that again.
Another time, though, we had gone to that same store and returned home. That’s when our grandmother noticed that Loretta had a candy bar. She asked her, “Where did you get that candy bar?” She said, “From the store.” Our grandmother told her she had to take it back and tell Amos that she had stolen it. She didn’t want to do that so our grandmother went outside and got a small branch from a tree and stripped the leaves off. We called that a switch back then.
She gave her a switching and we all headed back to the store. We went inside and walked up to the counter. Loretta laid the candy bar on the counter and said, “I stole this.” Amos said, “Oh, it’s alright. You can have it.” My grandmother quickly spoke up and said, “No it’s not alright. I ain’t gonna have them stealing.” We left and went back home. I never knew of her ever stealing anything again.
I believe that one of the reasons there are so many disrespectful, lying, thieving people out there today is because they were not disciplined as children. There’s nothing wrong with disciplining your child in a loving manner. I don’t think you should ever discipline them while you’re angry, though. You should pray and ask for God’s help and guidance before doing anything. I wish I had done that when I was raising my three.
If we would get back to raising our children God’s way, our world would be a better place. We need to make God number one in our lives and follow his word. Here are a few versed from the Holy Bible about disciplining children.
Proverbs 22:6 – Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
Proverbs 29:17 – Correct your son, and he will give you rest. Yes, he will give delight to your soul.
Proverbs 29:15 – The rod and correction give wisdom: but a child left to himself brings his mother to shame.
Proverbs 22:15 – Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child, but the rod of correction will drive it far from him.
Proverbs 23:13-14 – Do not withhold correction from the child because if you hit him with the rod, he will not die. You will hit him with the rod and will deliver his soul from hell.
Proverbs 13:24 – He that spares the rod hates his son, but he that loves him disciplines him early.
Hebrews 12:11 – No discipline seems to be delightful at the time, but sorrowful, but afterward it brings the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who are trained by it.
God tells us to discipline our children and train them to do right. They need to understand there are consequences for all wrongdoing. That will help them learn to obey God and avoid the flames of hell fire which is the ultimate consequence of doing wrong. Consistent, loving, discipline works, and when they’re grown, your children will understand, and they'll be grateful that you cared enough to correct them, just like my sister is thankful for our grandmother’s discipline today.
Other stories about my sisters --- 
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© 2018 Teddy Lynn – All Rights Reserved
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June 11, 2017

A STRANGE TALE


Ricky had just graduated from high school and was preparing himself for college. A few of his friends had been telling him about a new friend they had met a few weeks earlier out in the woods just south of town. This was not a man, but a strange creature with strange powers, but soon, Ricky’s friends talked him into going to meet this stranger.

At first, Ricky was afraid, but his friends assured him that the creature would not harm him. He promised Ricky joy and happiness and vowed to make every part of his life better than it had ever been before.

The creature was strange, yes, but very fascinating. After Ricky got to know it, he was no longer afraid and began to spend more and more time with it. By the end of the Summer, they had become best friends. By this time Ricky had his own place on the College campus and his best friend had moved in.

When Ricky was feeling bad, his friend was always there to make him feel better. When he was feeling down, he could always count on his friend to cheer him up. Ricky soon discovered that his best friend had a strange power. When he couldn’t sleep, his friend would work his magic, and before long Ricky would be in dreamland.

After some time enjoying this perk, Ricky started noticing something strange happening. The creature began to take control, and started putting Ricky to sleep when he needed to be awake, and would keep him asleep long after he needed to wake up.

Ricky was missing appointments, and he wasn’t keeping plans he had made with family and friends. He was late for classes and his on-campus job way too often, and he was unable to do anything about it. The creature was now in complete control of his life.

Eventually, he lost his friends, and his relationships with his family members were on the rocks. He lost his job at the school and his grades were suffering severely. All he had left was his friendship with this strange creature who was now controlling his life. He now saw this creature as a demon, instead of the magical, fun-loving, happy-go-lucky pal he had met only a short time ago.

He wanted out. He wanted to go back to the time before he had met the creature and get his life back, but it seemed impossible. He seemed to have no power over his own life. What could he do? How could he ever escape?

As Ricky sat thinking, trying to find a solution, he remembered his grandmother, and something she had always told him. She knew a man who could help people in any situation. Ricky knew he needed help. He knew he couldn’t do this on his own. With one last act of desperation, he knelt down to pray, and ask Jesus to help him defeat this monster that had taken over his life.

As he prayed, he felt a peace come over him. He knew everything would be alright now. Jesus would be by his side every step of the way. He knew Jesus would help him overcome this demon. And he did. Today Ricky is free from the power of that monster that many call alcohol. He has a wonderful life with a great family, and he’s truly happy.

If you’re a slave to alcohol, drugs, or anything else, Jesus can help you. He can set you free from addiction and give you a new life. All you have to do is ask him. You can trust him. He has set millions free from addiction. He did it for me, and he can do the same for you. In Matthew 7:7, Jesus said, “Ask, and you shall receive.”

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© 2017 Teddy Lynn – All Rights Reserved

My books are available in paperback and digital format on Amazon @ 
https://www.amazon.com/Teddy-Lynn/e/B01MZDB6L6

January 31, 2016

GOD SO LOVED



FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD, THAT HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, THAT WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM SHOULD NOT PERISH, BUT HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE. (John 3:16)
This has always been one of my favorite bible verses. Here, Jesus tells us how much God truly loves us. GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD. When he says “WORLD” here, he’s referring to the people in the world. He loved us SO. This word SO here means so much. He Loved us so much that HE GAVE… HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON. He had a plan to save us, so he GAVE his SON to be our substitute, to come to earth, suffer, and die for our sins.
When Adam sinned, by disobeying God, he died spiritually. He passed that spiritually dead condition down to his children, and to all his descendants. Every person who has ever been born on earth is spiritually dead. This is the first death; Spiritual death. (1 Corinthians 15:22, Ephesians 2:5) 

We are all sinners and sinners sin. Romans 6:23 says the wages of sin is Death. Wages are what we earn. It’s our payment. It’s what we deserve. We deserve to die because we are sinners. Since we’re already spiritually dead when we're born, because of Adams's sin, this death we earn by continually sinning is a literal death. Eternal death. For more information on that, read FIRST AND SECOND DEATH, FIRST AND SECOND RESURRECTION.
God doesn’t want us to die. He doesn’t want to give us what we deserve and destroy us. He loves us, and he wants us to live with him for eternity, so he GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON to take our punishment for us. It should have been us on that cross, but instead, Jesus suffered and died in our place. To claim this substitution, all we have to do is accept it and we won’t have to suffer the second death.
God GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON… The Bible teaches that Jesus is God(John 1:1-3). He has always existed with the Father and the Holy Spirit (Genesis 1:1-2, Genesis 11:4,7). All three of them were there in the beginning, and Jesus is called the Son twice in the old testament (Proverbs 30:4, Psalm 2:12). He was not created, as some believe. He was begotten as a human by God when he was placed in the womb of a virgin named Mary, about two thousand years ago (Isaiah 7:14, Luke 1:30-35 — John 1:1-2,14, Hebrews 10:5, Psalm 2:7) For more information on that, read ONE GOD.  
He GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON THAT (So that) WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM… Whoever means anyone. No one is left out. WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM… To believe in Jesus takes action. James, the Lord’s brother, said, the devils also believe, and tremble (James 2:19). Just believing he exists is not enough, though. Jesus says you have to believe IN him or ON him. It’s the same thing. That means to trust him. We must allow him to be the Lord and Master of our lives. If you want a mechanic to work on your car, you have to give him the key. Believing involves trust. It also involves obedience. It requires action. It’s simple really. Rom 10:9 says, “if you will confess the Lord Jesus with your mouth, and believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, you shall be saved.
WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM SHOULD NOT PERISH Perish means just that, Perish. To die or be killed. To disappear or be destroyed: to cease to exist. (Webster’s Dictionary)
In the Strong’s Concordance, the definition of the Greek word which was translated into the English word PERISH is “to destroy completely.” That’s what will happen to everyone who refuses to accept the free gift of salvation God offers us. Not because he is evil, or vindictive, but because he must destroy sin. Everyone who chooses to hang on to sin will be destroyed along with it. (*)The wages of sin is death, and he loves us so much that he died in our place. He took our punishment so we wouldn’t have to. There was no other way. He has done all he can. Now it’s up to each individual to accept his substitute or reject it.
BUT HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE. In this verse, Everlasting means just what it sounds like. Everlasting; lasting forever. The same Greek word translated into the English word “Everlasting” in this verse, is the same word translated into the English word “Eternal” in verse 15. This is an example of the dictionary, built into the King James Bible, which I mentioned in the post called UNDERSTANDING BIBLE TRUTH. 
The Father loves us so much that he sent his only Son from heaven, down to this earth to suffer and die in our place so every one of us could have the opportunity to live with him for eternity. Jesus loves us so much that he was willing to do it. That’s love. It’s a love that humans can’t fully grasp, but knowing that he has that kind of love for us should make us love him back. In fact, in 1 John 4:9, John says that is why we love him. “Because he loved us first.”  That’s so amazing and life is so short. We must live one day at a time, but we need to prepare for the future as well. Not just our immediate future, but our eternal future. Our destination is in our hands. No one can choose for anyone else. The choice is ours alone. If you haven’t made it yet, I encourage you to do it today. Don’t put it off. Tomorrow may be too late.
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© 2016 Teddy Lynn – All Rights Reserved
My books are available in paperback and digital format on Amazon @ 
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January 24, 2016

POINTS TO PONDER


The Christian life should be one of joy and peace and happiness. I know things aren’t always good, but in Romans 8:28, the Bible says, “ALL things work together for good to those who love God.” Notice, it didn’t say all things are good, but that all things work together for good in the lives of those who love God.
The Bible also says in Philippians 4:13, “I can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens me.” These two promises should give us courage and strength for the journey home. There are hundreds of promises in the word of God that will bring us “joy unspeakable” if we will only lay hold on them (1 Peter 1:3-8).
We have been given the promise of eternal life and an eternal home with our LORD and Savior. Some day he will return in the clouds of glory to take us home, “And we will be with the Lord forever” (1 Thessalonians 4:17-18).
Think about that. Forever. That’s a long time. The pains and sorrows of this present age will soon be passed and we will live in a perfect place with our perfect glorified bodies, forever. No more crying, no more pain, no more death. There’s nothing in this world worth missing out on heaven.
There’s an English proverb that says, “Many things are lost for lack of asking.” James said the same thing in James 4:2. He said, “Ye have not because ye ask not.” In Matthew 7:7, Jesus said, “Ask, and you shall receive.” Ask. Prayer is the key to success in every situation, so always remember to ask God for what you want. “He will not withhold any good thing from those who walk upright” (Psalm 84:11).
Also, Philippians 4:6 says, “In everything, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God.”
Prayer is the breath of the soul. Prayer is two-way communion with the Creator. So, Communicate with the LORD, every day. Talk to him and listen to him. Make sure you thank him for the blessings he has already given you and share your blessings with others. God loves us and he loves to spend time with us, and our lives will be so much brighter when we let the light of the Lord shine on us.
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My Blogs
https://teddylynn.blogspot.com
https://teddylynn.wordpress.com
© 2016 Teddy Lynn – All Rights Reserved
My books are available in paperback and digital format on Amazon @ 
https://www.amazon.com/Teddy-Lynn/e/B01MZDB6L6

November 16, 2015

DREAMS FROM GOD


I’ve had many dreams in my lifetime. Some, I didn’t remember at all when I woke up, and some faded soon after I awoke, before I could think too much about them. But, many of them, I still remember, like it was yesterday.
I remember some dreams that I really don’t think meant anything, and I’ve had several where it was pretty clear why I dreamed them. I’ve had many dreams that I’m sure came straight from Satan, or at least from his evil forces, and I’ve had several dreams that I know for sure came straight from God.
If you’ve been following my blog you know that I was raised in church. When I was sixteen years old, I quit going to church and began a three-year romance with alcohol and drugs.
One night I had one of those dreams that I know came from God. I remember it in great detail. In the dream, it appeared to be mid-afternoon in late Spring or early Summer. It was a lovely day, and everything was so green and beautiful. The sun was bright and warm, but there was a nice calm breeze. I was standing outside near a big oak tree, next to a field connected to the wood line. The wind started blowing a bit harder and quickly grew. It soon became so windy that the big oak tree was being blown back and forth like a small bush.
I heard the long blast of a trumpet. At that point, I knew exactly what was happening. Jesus was returning for his people. As I looked up, the sky changed color, and I saw the Face of God filling the sky. Then I saw Jesus descending from heaven.
I fell on my knees and cried out to God. I said, “No! Please, not now, God! I’m not ready! I’m not ready!”
That’s where the dream ended. I’m sure no one needs a degree in dream interpretation to understand what God was telling me.
Then, one day cousin invited me to go to church with him, so I did. Later that year I met Jesus and gave my life to him, and then I received another dream from God.
This time the sky was clear and everything was calm and so quiet. I was walking over some big white rocks beside a body of water. Jesus was walking with me, holding my hand. I could feel his love for me, and I felt so peaceful and happy. It was the best feeling I had ever felt. That was the dream.
Many years have passed since I had that dream, and Jesus has never left me to walk alone. At times, I’ve let go of his hand, but he’s always been there to pick me up and dust me off when I’ve fallen. He’s always there for me; when things are going well, and when the road gets rough. Things are not perfect, and I know they never will be here in this sinful world, but someday the troubles of this world will be over, and we’ll live in a perfect world with no more tears, no more pain, and no more death. I’m longing for that time, more and more each day.
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© 2015 Teddy Lynn – All Rights Reserved
My books are available in paperback and digital format on Amazon @
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March 03, 2015

FEAR


It was four o’clock in the morning. We were startled from sleep by our four-year-old son who was scared. He said he had seen a huge mouse in the hall while on his way to the bathroom. “It looked like a Guinea Pig,” he said, with tears in his voice. I thought to myself, “That’s a big mouse.” I told him to go on to the bathroom. I said, “A mouse won’t hurt you. He’s as much afraid of you as you are of him.” I was wrong. As he started out the door he let out a horrifying scream. He turned and jumped from the door onto the bed. I’ve never seen anyone that small jump so far in my life. He was hysterical. My wife and I tried to calm him down. Just then, we heard our oldest son call from the living room that one of our hamsters was out. So, I got out of bed and started searching for the “huge mouse that looked like a Guinea Pig.” We finally found her in the bathroom and put her back in her cage. Then we all went back to sleep.
I’m sure the fear our son was experiencing was brought on by several different factors. I’m sure it came partially from his being so young and inexperienced, and from thinking there was an animal in his home that wasn’t supposed to be there. Some of our biggest fears come from a lack of knowledge; Fear of the unknown.
When we’re young we’re innocent and trusting. It doesn’t take long for fear to develop in us though. As we get older we learn not to fear certain things we once did, but at the same time, other fears develop in us. Life throws so many things at us and we can’t always dodge them all. But, as we learn to trust God, we begin to understand that he knows all, and he is watching over us and protecting us. Then, we can have peace and not be afraid when we find ourselves in situations we don’t understand. 2 Timothy 1:7 says “For God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”
The Bible says fear doesn’t come from God. Satan and his evil angels are the ones who cause us to be afraid. There is no limit to the different things they can use to accomplish their goals, but I think visual media is the number one way they put fear into the hearts of humans. TV, movies, and video games are among the top ways I see this happening, and people keep watching stories about ghosts, zombies, vampires, and demons and they have no clue that these things are opening doorways for demons to enter their lives. No wonder people have so much fear today. But it doesn’t have to be that way.
Psalm 118:6 says, “The LORD is on my side; I will not fear.” 
Isaiah 12:2 says, “Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid:”
We need a close, personal relationship with God. This doesn’t just happen. We have to be intentional about it, just like in a marriage. You have to work at any relationship. The Bible is clear that God wants a close relationship with us. Prayer, reading, and studying the Bible every day will help us to get to know Jesus as our friend, our Lord, and our Savior. When we allow him to live in our hearts, he will give us peace of mind and banish all fear from our lives.
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My Blogs
https://teddylynn.blogspot.com
https://teddylynn.wordpress.com
© 2015 Teddy Lynn – All Rights Reserved
My books are available in paperback and digital format on Amazon @
https://www.amazon.com/Teddy-Lynn/e/B01MZDB6L6