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Friday, April 07, 2006


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Native Folklore

An elderly Cherokee Native American was teaching his

grandchildren about life.

He said to them, "A fight is going on inside me, it is a

terrible fight and it is between two wolves. One wolf is

evil---he is fear, anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed,

arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies,

false pride, competition, superiority, and ego.

The other is good ---he is joy, peace, love, hope, sharing,

serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, friendship,

empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith.

This same fight is going on inside you, and inside every

other person, too."

They thought about it for a minute and then one child

asked his grandfather," Which wolf will win?"

The old Cherokee simply replied, "The one you feed."




I just read this today and it touched me. I guess because I am
having a hard time with fear and pain trying to conquer me. I
thought about it in the context of my life. Which one am I letting
win, well before I thought about it- it was the bad one. Now I have
to and will change that. If you think about everyday we go through
a struggle, and decisions have to be made as to what we are to do
about it. Do we take the positive road and move forth with the
grace of God or do we allow negativity to swallow us and drown in a
pit of our own self pity. I have decided that in order for me to
get closer with God, I must not allow to the devil to win battles
within me. Easier said that done- but from following his word and
seeking his face. I know what I needs to do.

My favorite artist (Matisyahu) has this exceptional verse in his
new CD cover that I must share;

Psalm 27;

THE LORD IS MY LIGHT AND MY LIFE. WHOM SHALL I FEAR? THE LORD IS
THE FOUNDATION OF MY LIFE, WHOM SHALL I DREAD? WHEN EVEIL-DOERS
COME UP AGAINST ME, MY HEART WILL NOT FEAR, THOUGH WAR SHOULD WAGE
UP AGAINST ME. EVEN THEN I WILL BE CONFIDENT, ONE THING I ASK OF
THE LORD ONLY THIS DO I SEEK: TO LIVE IN THE HOUSE OF THE LORD ALL
THE DAYS OF MY LIFE, TO BEHOLD THE GRACIOUSNESS OF THE LORD, TO
FREQUENT GOD’S TEMPLE. FOR YOU CONCEAL ME IN YOUR PAVILION ON THE
DAY OF EVIL. YOU HIDE ME IN THE COVERT OF YOUR TENT. YOU LIFT ME UP
ON A ROCK. AND NOW MY HEAD WILL BE LIFTED UP ABOVE MY ENEMIES ALL
AROUND ME. AND I WILL OFFER SACRIFICES IN YOUR TABERNACLE WITH THE
SOUND OF TRUMPETS. I WILLSING, YEA, I WILL SING PRAISES TO THE
LORD. LISTEM O GOD WHEN I CRY ALOUD. HAVE MERCY ON ME; ANSWERME. ON
YOUR BEHALF HAS MY HEART SAID "SEEK MY FACE." YOUR FACE, O GOD, DO
I SEEK. HIDE NOT YOUR FACE FROM ME. DO NOT PUT YOUR SERVANT OFF IN
ANGER. YOU ARE MY HELP. FORSAKE ME NOT, NOR ABANDAON ME, O GOD OF
MY SALVATION. FOR THOUGH MY FATHER AND MOTHER HAVE FORSAKEN ME, THE
LORD WILL LIFT ME UP. TEACH ME YOUR WAY O LORD, AND LEAD ME ON A
LEVEL PATH BECAUSE OF MY EVER WATCHFUL FOES. DELIVER ME NOT OVER
UNTO THE WILL OF MY ADVERSARIES. FOR FALSE WINESSESES HAVE RISEN UP
AGAINST ME AND THOSE WHO BREATHE VIOLENCE. IF I HAD NOT BELIVEVED
TO LOOK UPON THE GOODNESS OF GOD, IN THE LAND OF THE LIVING. Look
to the lord for hope, be strong and of good courage. Yea, wait for
the Lord.

Which do you posses?

Which do you posses, are you religious or do you have a relationship with God? What does being religious mean to you?

On this website
http://www.clarifyingchristianity.com/relationship.shtml it’s
spoken on this site many of things that I have asked myself about
being a Christian and having a relationship with God.
Here are some explanations of what Religion is…

Religion can be very different than having a Relationship with God
through Jesus Christ. Religions are man made, and are based on
trying to get to God through rules and regulations and works. Man
made religions all are based on people's efforts at reaching God
and being made right with Him through their own efforts. God's plan
for man's salvation and for being right with Him is told throughout
the Bible, in the Old Testament and the New Testament. God's plan
is not based on people's efforts and good works, but is based on
His amazing Love and amazing Grace for us; His plan involved His
precious Son Jesus paying the price and cost for our sins on the
cross. You need to put ALL of your trust and faith in Jesus and in
what He did for us on the cross, and not in any religion or in your
own efforts. Simply put all of your trust and faith in Jesus, and
accept His gift of salvation and eternal life, and experience the
joy of having a right RELATIONSHIP of love with God.



Religion (Self Effort, Works)

Goal: reach out to God, try to work your way into heaven

Means: diligent service & works, with hopes of a reward (heaven)

Power: good, honest effort through self-determination

Control: self-motivation and self control

Results: apathy, failure, chronic guilt, eternal separation from
God

Salvation Through Faith In Jesus Christ (Personal Relationship)

Goal: trust fully in Jesus, then live to please Him

Means: confess sins, repent, yield self to Jesus

Power: the Holy Spirit does God's work in and through us

Control: allow the Holy Spirit to control & direct our lives

Results: love, joy, peace, freedom, power eternal life in
heaven,...

"Man's way to reach God is religion; God's way to reach man is
Jesus."

"I (Jesus) am the way, the truth, and the life. No one may come to
the Father except through me."
- John 14:6

"For by grace are you saved, through faith; and this not of your
own, it is the gift of God. Not of works, lest any man should
boast." - Ephesians 2:8-9

I found this verse (below) through a friend and it showed what the
benefits are of having a relationship with God to me at least.


Jeremiah 29:11-14
11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans
to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a
future. 12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and
I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek
me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you," declares the
LORD, "and will bring you back from captivity. [b] I will gather
you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,"
declares the LORD, "and will bring you back to the place from which
I carried you into exile."