Thanksgiving

by J. C. Corcoran

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving

and I have much to be thankful for; most notably the strength in my legs. For several years now, ever since my mini stroke in 2013, I have been unable to get up from the floor without help. If no one was around, I had to crawl to a chair or table and use my arms to push myself up.

But for several days now, I have been noticing a new strength in my legs. A few nights ago I knelt beside my bed to pray. usually I would sit at my desk or pray after I reclined on my bed. But this night, I felt compelled to get on my knees. I knew it was going to hurt but I felt strongly that this was what I needed to do. It hurt but not as bad as I had feared; and I was happy to see how much easier it was for me to get up.

So today, during my exercise, I decided to get down on the floor (flat on my back) and do some things to strengthen my legs and tummy muscles. When I finished, I layed there thinking – do I have to crawl over to that chair or do I dare to just stand up?

Well I dared and, amazingly, I just stood up using my legs only ( the first time in 2 years). And I sit here crying as I write this to think of God’s wonderful grace. He is renewing the strength in my legs according to his promise in Proverbs 3:7-8 “Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.”

Praise the Lord all you people and thank him for his goodness and grace. Obey his word and you too will receive a blessing(s). His word is truth and all you need do is trust him with all your heart.

Remember this, all of you who live by faith; God has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Can I hear an amen?

Why is Sexual Immorality So Rampant in the World Today?

J. C. Corcoran, a servant of Christ Jesus, to all who are loved by God.

God’s Wrath Against Sinful Humanity – Romans 1:18-32

“The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness,since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them.For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.

For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles.

Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.

Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error.

Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done. They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they have no understanding, no fidelity, no love, no mercy. Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.”

The word of God, directly from the Bible, is the only way I could answer this question. My hope and prayer is that God will give understanding to all those who read it, and lead those, who need it, to repentance.

To God be the glory. Amen
J. C.

A Lesson in Tithing

by John C. Corcoran

 

“My God will meet all of your needs” Philippians 4:19

I live on Social Security; a certain amount each month; it’s what I have to live on.

I needed to move so I began searching for an apartment that I could afford. Each one I looked at was more than I could afford. The lowest was at least half of my monthly income. That didn’t leave much for utilities, computer (which I need because of my writing), phone, and TV. How was I going to manage this?

I called on God and he answered. But, it was not what I really wanted to hear. God said, “Bring the whole tithe and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.”

I immediately began to argue; “God, I don’t have enough now; take away 10% and how can I possibly make it?” And he answered. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.” Proverb 3:5

“Well, Lord, I definitely don’t understand but I do trust you with all my heart.” So, I went on line and gave 10% of my income that month to Gleaners, which is an organization in Indianapolis that feeds the hungry. And God wants us to feed the hungry.

On October 27th, 2015, I went online again and gave another 10% to Gleaners. And on November 4th – just eight days later – I moved in to this cute little apartment from which I am writing this. All of my utilities were turned on (including a $100.00 deposit to the water Dept.) and my computer was on so I could work, and I have a phone; and I still have money left over. In fact, I have more than 10% of my check left. Yes, God has kept his word to provide my needs, plus some.

The only thing I don’t have is a TV but I am able to watch movies (dvd’s) on my computer, and I can go online to catch the news and weather. I would like to have a TV but I don’t really need a TV and the promise is; My God will meet all of my NEEDS.

However, God says, “I will pour out so much blessing that you will not have enough room for it.” So, I believe that if I continue to tithe, which is a blessing in itself, God will provide me with a vehicle and a TV.

Yes, it is a blessing to tithe – feeding hungry people makes me feel good and God says in Matthew 25:34-35; “Come, you who are blessed by the Father… for I was hungry and you gave me something to eat…”

He Loves Me Just because

by John C. Corcoran

 

My relationship with my earthly father was one that I would never wish on my worst enemy. I don’t know why, or what I ever did to my earthly father but I’ve always felt as though he hated me for some reason. I remember the many beatings I received from him; and I remember all the names he called me, i.e. “stupid”, “birdbrain”, and, excuse my language but, his favorite name for me was “shit for brains”. I cannot remember, one single time, ever hearing him tell me he loved me.

So, when I was told that God loved me, I had a whole lot of trouble accepting it. But now I can truly say that I know that I know that God, my heavenly Father loves me. Even with all the things I’ve done to be undeserving of His love. Like Saul of Tarsus, I’ve been a chief among sinners. I’ve broken every one of God’s laws several times over. And yet, He loves me so much that he allowed His only Son to die for me (John 3:16).

My earthly father never told me he loved me, but my heavenly Father tells me, and shows me, time after time, after time.

My earthly father called me terrible, filthy names but my heavenly Father calls me “good and faithful servant”.
I don’t know why my earthly father hated me so and he’s gone now so, I guess I’ll never know. But I know my heavenly Father loves me and He will go on forever, which means that love will go on forever. He promises to never leave me nor forsake me. He loves me unconditionally.
I tried and tried to gain my earthly father’s acceptance and it’s just the opposite with God, my heavenly Father. There is nothing I need to do, or can do, to receive His love. He loves me just because…..
Can you feel the love I’m talking about? Just go to Him. He’s knocking at the door of your heart. In Romans 10:9-10, He says “confess with your mouth Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead and you will be saved.” Believe me when I say He loves you just because.

The Scapegoat

The Scapegoat
By J. C. Corcoran
Back in Old Testament times they celebrated what was called the Day of Atonement. Atonement had to be made for all the people once a year. On that day, the priest would take the animals the people brought to him; usually a lamb or a goat, and he would slaughter all but one goat.
The blood from the slaughtered animals would then be poured out over the altar. Then he took the live goat, placed both hands on its head and confessed all the wickedness and sins of the people. Finally he sent the goat into the desert. The “scapegoat” carried their sins away.

Leviticus 16:20-22 tells us:  “When Aaron has finished making atonement for the Most Holy Place, the tent of meeting and the altar, he shall bring forward the live goat. ²¹ He is to lay both hands on the head of the live goat and confess over it all the wickedness and rebellion of the Israelites—all their sins—and put them on the goat’s head. He shall send the goat away into the wilderness in the care of someone appointed for the task. ²² The goat will carry on itself all their sins to a remote place; and the man shall release it in the wilderness.
All of this was a picture of Jesus Christ, who was called “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world.” John the Baptist made that declaration in John 1:29. Then we are told that John the Baptist baptized Jesus. All four Gospels tell us different parts of the story. But, when you put them all together, it looks like this:
I see John rest his hands on Jesus as He goes down into the water; just as the priest placed his hands on the head of the animal on the Day of Atonement. When Jesus came up from the water, Luke 1:12 tells us He headed out into the desert; just like the scapegoat on the Day of Atonement.
I believe at this point, Jesus took on the sins of the world; just like the scapegoat. But there is one big important difference. The priest slaughtered those animals and poured their blood out on the altar. The religious leaders of the New Testament had Jesus slaughtered. His flesh was torn apart by that terrible flogging.
The cross they hung Him on became the altar of sacrifice. His arms were outstretched; His hands were nailed to the cross; the blood from his arms and hands reached the corners of the cross. The thorns on His head caused His head to bleed, so the blood touched the top of the cross. His feet were nailed together so His blood covered the foot of the cross.
His entire body was a mass of blood so the entire cross (the altar) was covered; saturated; with the blood of the Lamb. The sacrificial Lamb had taken on all the sins of the world and carried them, Himself as the High Priest, to the altar.
Just before Jesus released His last breath of life, we are told in John 19:30 that Jesus said… “It is finished.”
The writer of the Book of Hebrews says in 9:22… “The law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness.”
And he says in verse 25 that Jesus did not enter heaven again and again, the way the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood that is not his own. Then Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But now He has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of Himself.”
And one final note:
The tabernacle in the Old Testament was furnished with a lampstand, table, and the altar (Exodus 25-40). There was no chair for the priest to sit down and rest. He didn’t have time to sit; he was always busy.
But Jesus, our High Priest, said, “It is finished.” Then God raised Him from the dead and He ascended into heaven where He “sat down at the right hand of God.” (Hebrews 10:12)
Jesus said “It is finished.” And all you have to do is “confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead and you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9). And when Peter was asked, “What must we do?” He answered, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 2:38)

Salvation is a free gift of God and the bible says “And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Acts 2:21

I did, many years ago; and I have never regretted it. Neither will you if you haven’t already.

The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you. My love to all of you in Christ Jesus. Amen

If you have a question or a comment on this or any of my posts, you can email me at: Yazzi6234@gmail.com

I promise to answer every one a.s.a.p. – if not sooner.