Carnality

I pulled this article from the website, www.timelesstruths.org. It really challenged me this morning, lest I think of myself to be something when I am nothing, I always have the Holy Spirit to remind me that there is constant work to be done on me. Constant shaving of myself and yielding to the spirit of God.



Symptoms of Carnality
The following are some of the symptoms of carnality. Reader, the Holy Spirit alone can interpret and apply this tract to your individual case. As you read, examine yourself, as if in the presence of God.

Do you ever feel:
l. A secret sense of pride; an exalted feeling in view of your success or your position; because of your good training and appearance; because of your natural gifts and abilities; an important, independent spirit; stiffness and preciseness?
2. Love of human praise; a secret fondness to be noticed; love of supremacy; drawing attention to self in conversation; a swelling out of self when you have had a free time speaking or praying?
3. The stirrings of anger or impatience—but worst of all you call it nervousness or holy indignation; a touchy, sensitive spirit; a disposition to resent and retaliate when reproved or contradicted: sharp, heated flings at one another?
4. Self-will: a stubborn, unteachable spirit; an arguing, talkative spirit; harsh, sarcastic expressions; an unyielding, head-strong attitude; a driving, commanding spirit; a disposition that loves to be coaxed and humored?
5. Carnal fear: a man-fearing spirit; a shrinking from reproach and duty; reasoning around the cross; a shrinking from doing your whole duty by those of wealth or position, a fearfulness that someone will get out of the Spirit and thus offend and drive some prominent person away; a compromising, holding-back tendency?
6. A jealous disposition; a secret spirit of envy shut up in your heart; an unpleasant sensation in view of the great prosperity and success of another; a disposition to speak of the faults and failings, rather than the gifts and virtues of those more talented and appreciated than yourself?
7. Lustful stirrings; unholy actions; a carnal yearning; undue affection and familiarity toward those of the opposite sex; wandering eyes; something in you that could not be trusted if sufficient opportunity presented itself?
8. A dishonest, deceitful disposition; evading and covering the truth, covering up your real faults; leaving a better impression of yourself than is strictly true; false humility; exaggeration; straining the truth?
9. Unbelief; a spirit of discouragement in times of pressure and opposition, lack of quietness and confidence in God, lack of faith and trust in God; a disposition to worry and complain in the midst of pain, poverty, or at the dispensations of Divine Providence; an over-anxious feeling whether everything will come out all right?
10. Formality and deadness; lack of concern for lost souls; dryness and indifference; lack of power with God; selfishness, love of ease; love of money?
11. Stinginess; being over-exacting with trifles; falling out with others over a few apples, chickens, or pigs; giving just enough to ease my conscience, and less than a poor laborer does for the furtherance of the Gospel at home or abroad; big meals when away from home, but cheap ones for wife and children who seldom get out?
12. Sectarianism; being narrow and bigoted in favor of my little crowd, cool and unlovely toward others who differ with me; ready to argue and take the contrary side instead of studiously avoiding those things that might break sweet fellowship; pulling to get members, even though I steal them from another congregation; sitting back with a critical and over-wise air, and failing to cooperate with others for the salvation of souls.



A Checklist
Do I become provoked and kick the cat or dog, slap the children in anger, or speak snappish to my loved ones?
Do I go up the miff tree when slighted, imposed upon, or rebuked? What am I like when taken to task by one in authority; when not put first; when not appreciated; when others are advanced over me? Do I ever have the pouts? The sulks?
How do I react when I cannot have my own way, or when others do better than I?
Is the praise of men sweet to my taste? Do I love to have my name head the list? Do I enjoy being flattered; being at the head of things? Am I gentle toward all men?
Down in the depths of my heart (though I may not say a word) do I feel the stirrings of anger? Of envy? Of jealousy? Of revenge? Of bitterness?
Do I enjoy having the best chair, the best apple in the dish, the best piece of pie on the plate—when others have what is left? Do I seek the easiest and most congenial tasks?


These are some of the traits which generally indicate a carnal heart. If one principle is lurking there, others may be also. Through prayer, confession and faith, hold your heart open to the searching light of God and ask the Holy Ghost to enable you to bring your “old man” to the death: “Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed [not suppressed], that henceforth we should not serve sin.”* (Romans 6:6) Do not patch over, but go to the bottom. It will pay.

Disturbed..

Ok, I'm disturbed! What woman would marry a man...

1.) that you've only been dating for 4 months?
2.) that's thirty years your senior?
3.) that's already been married 4 times?
4.) who's last two wives have misteriously died or disappeared?

Seriously!?!? With so much of your life ahead of you, why would you CHOOSE to enter into a relationship with this man?

A Reminder of God's Promises...

So yesterday, God reminded me of a passage of scripture that he had given me well over a year ago. I read it and was temporarily comforted, but soon all of my doubts, worries and fears seemed to rush in on me to get me to panic. So, this morning has been somewhat of a battle, but while listening to someone elses problems and attempting to uplift them, I was reminded once again about God's promise to take care of me. Luke 12:22 - 34 has been the bedrock of my salvation over the last 2-3 years, and of all the things I've learned during this time, I always have to remind myself that seeking God is the most important thing in this life.

22 And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on.
23 The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment.
24 Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls?
25 And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit?
26 If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest?
27 Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
28 If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith?
29 And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither F32 be ye of doubtful mind.
30 For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.
31 But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.
32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
33 Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.
34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

God's Tender One

The following passage of scripture was encouraging to me today...

Ezekiel 17:22-24

Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will also take of the highest branch of the high cedar, and will set it' I will crop off from the top of his young twigs a tender one, and will plant it upon an high mountain and eminent:
In the moutain of the height of Israel will I plant it: and it shall bring forth boughs, and bear fruit, and be a goodly cedar: and under it shall dwell all fowl of every wing; in the shadow of the branches thereof shall they dwell.
And all the trees of the field shall know That I the Lord have brought down the high tree, have exalted the low tree, have dried up the green tree, and have made the dry tree to flourish: I the Lord have spoken and have done it.

Hold On By Moses Hogan

Here is one of my favorite choral works, by one of my favorite choral arrangers/composers, "Hold On" as arranged by Moses Hogan. The conductor of the first choir is quite exciting to watch, however the second choir does a better job of actually singing the piece, especially at the end where the sopranos take the high, high "C" (one of the soloists reaches a high "F"). I also like the tenor solo on the second one, the guy is really SINGING this song. However I think it is a differences can be attributed to the the different levels of the choir, one a High School mass choir and the other a professional mature choir. Nonetheless, both renditions are simply excellent. And on that note, the music critic is heading to bed.

My Right To Vote...

On Tuesday, November 4th, I am going to the polls and will exercise my right to vote. It is a right that was denied my ancestors, even up until the last century, and I don't intend to let the opportunity pass.

So, this note is not about voicing my opinion as to who I'm voting for, and why, but instead I hope to express my mild frustration with the way people tend to act around election time.

I am a bit annoyed with people, Democrats and Republicans alike, who go around trying to strong arm others into feeling the way they do about certain canidates. It is really...rude behaviour when we get into name calling and just downright rude statements based upon the persons right to vote however they choose. Because I vote the way I do, I am not a bad person, a bad christian, a bad citizen, a terroist,a racist, an idiot, an elitist, or any such thing. I am a person, an American citizen (by birth) that is exercising my right to vote in a presidential election. I have my reasons for voting for whom I vote, and I can only assume that others vote based on their knowledge and values,be it spiritual, economic, social, etc... I certainly will not get into saying people are unsaved because they will/will not vote a certain way, that's not my call to make. I certainly will not undermine another person's intelligence or integrity because they choose not to vote for the person i'm voting for. Than's uncalled for, and in my opinion just downright not a good thing.

Let's cut out the foolishness, and move on. The important thing is that we vote, I do not care, do not want to know, and certainly need to know for whom a person is voting. But if I happen to know, I certainly will show the utmost respect to you as a human being. I am not going to base your entire character on who you decide to vote for. I only wish we could all have the same respect for each other. It will certainly cut down on a lot of unnecesary mess, hurt feelings and dis-unity.

Going after God in the wildernes...

Jeremiah 2:1-2

Moreover the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
Go and cry in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, Thus saith the LORD; I remember thee, the kindness of thy youth, the love of thine espousals, when thou wentest after me in the wilderness, in a land that was not sown.