Unencumbered Living

Sleep Apnea

Are you feeling like you don’t get enough sleep even if you go to bed at a normal time & sleep for at least 8 hours a night? Do you wake up in the night? If you think you may have Sleep Apnea talk with your doctor right away.

Sleep Apnea can lead to different health problems. Besides being exhausted all the time, it can be hard to stay a wake during the day. It can effect your relations, education & or job. Your doctor can help you with setting you up with a sleep test study. It’s painless & can help the doctors know how to care for you better.

When I talked to my doctor about it, I was shocked at all that is connected with sleep & my health. The small warning signs that I over looked to the hello bigger signs. I thought I might have moderate Sleep Apnea. After talking with my doctor he said I was looking pretty severe with Sleep Apnea. Onward for the sleep testing & may have to do a study during the day too. All depends on how the sleep study test goes.

Pressure

Pontius Pilate had Jesus as a prisoner. Pontius Pilate had to make a choice, either Jesus was innocent & Pilate let Him go or find Jesus guilty & crucify Him. Pilate had tons of pressure from the religious leaders, the crowds (which the religious leaders were stirring up) & Rome (whom wanted peace in the territory) plus what his own gut was saying & his wife’s dream.   Talk about being surround by pressure from all sides!!!

Pontius Pilate tried to get Jesus to defend himself so Pilate did not have to make the choice. Jesus stood in silence.   Pilate then thought he would give the crowds a choice, to get away from the pressure of making the wrong choice. Pilate did not want to put an innocent man to death. Pilate brought out Barabbas, who was part of a rebellion against Rome & was a murderer, & Jesus. Pilate offered to release one of them. He thought the crowd would pick Jesus. But the religious leaders kept stirring the crowds.

Pontius Pilates wife had a dream that she shared with Pilate while he was sitting in the judgement seat, “Don’t have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him.” (Matthew 27:19 NIV). Pontius Pilates wife even had a dream to warn Pilate to stand against the pressure.

Pontius Pilate let the crowd pick. They picked Barabbas. Pilate released Barabbas & washed his hands from the innocent man’s blood. Pilate did not want to take responsibility for making the choice. He did not stand up to the pressure from the crowds, religious leaders & Rome.

Washing of the hands only gives a false sense of peace. Pilate was still responsible for his actions of not standing firm against the pressure of the crowds, religious leaders & Rome. When faced with right & wrong, we all get to pick & live with what comes next. There is no washing of the hands to keep yourself free from consequences.

When you are faced with peer pressure, or any choice of right & wrong, how do you handle it? Do you stand firm in your beliefs & what you know is right? Or do you fold under pressure?

Remember Peter thought he would never deny Jesus & stand against the pressures of knowing Jesus, but he fold too. (Matthew 26:69-75). Jesus still loved Peter.

How can you stand firm when faced with pressure?

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If a person is not strong in their own strength, how can they grow in their weakness?

Not looking to start a blame game of who did what or didn’t do for you. Let’s just get to the facts. If a person is not confident in what their strengths are , how are they to grow in their weaker area’s? If a person is weak in their strengths are, it would make sense to help them grow in the strengths before helping them grow in the weak area’s. Our strengths can help us in are weakest moments.

If you are trying to help someone in life with their weakness & they are hitting a wall & no fruit is to be seen, do some digging in their strengths where there is lack. Start by building their strengths up. They may need help finding their strengths. Dig deep, don’t just go for the sallow strength, easy pickings will not make for a good foundation. Find the strengths God put in there. Those will be more fruit giving, not just for that person but for anyone who comes into that persons life.

Look into their passions, dreams, goals, what comes to them easy in life. Theses are the areas you want to look into for the strengths. Also look at what might be blocking them from any of those just listed, that could be what is blocking growth.

Remember you are dealing with a person, not a machine. Take time, be gentle & loving. This person is a gift from God. Their deep beauty needs help unpacking, so the beauty can shine!!!

Does the blessings/curses from the Old Testament apply to us today?

How does the Old Testament Law apply to Christians today? The past post Adam & Eve, Submit, & Help Meet mix with this. The Old Testament Law was written for the chosen people of Israel, the Israelite’s, not the Gentiles.

The difference between Israelite’s & Gentiles (Christians): 1 Israel was picked for a purpose, see Genesis 12:1-3. Through them was God’s plan to save the world. Plan was to Jesus coming through from the Jewish race, then dying on the cross to cover man from our sins. 2. Christians are chosen because those who are in Christ by putting their trust in Him & believing who He is. This is how Christians are to be saved & will have salvation.

In the Book of Deuteronomy covers the The Covenant made between God & the Israel. Deuteronomy was the second time the law was given. The first time was in Exodus, when Moses went up to Mount Sinai. Moses passed the Law to Joshua before Moses died. The Covenant was an agreement between God & Israel. It was not an agreement God made with everyone.

Christians have a New Covenant with different responsibilities. The Old Covenant is no longer enforced. It has been replaced for everyone, Jews & Gentiles. The New Covenant is for everyone who puts their faith in Jesus.

We are under a New Covenant & must follow it, Love God with every part of you, Love your neighbor as yourself. Key point you must love God first, yourself & then your neighbor. Remember even your enemies.

The Old Covenant was based on obeying the laws t receive God’s blessing/curses. The New Covenant is based on grace. The grace we would not have if Jesus did not come. The Old Covenant is still in play for everyone to use as a foundation. The New Covenant commands us to live with moral principles ( the Old Covenant). The Ten Commandments are expressed in some way or another with the moral principles. See how it is all laying out!!!!

Make sure you understand all the laws in the Old Testament, for they are the base of moral principles that we all uses as our foundation. With the foundation laid, keep Jesus as your cornerstone.

To answer the question that I started with, I feel yes, the blessings/curses apply still today. But with Jesus we have a chance/ Hope/ away!!!

What’s In A Name?

Do you know what your name means? Are you named after a family member? Is it after a couple family members or a combo of names? Do you feel like you are living up to your name? Do you like your name? Do you know why your parents picked your name?

Did you know sometimes one name may have different means? It depends on the origins it came from. Some names may have different spellings. Example: Teressa has different was to spell it & different forms of it, Tessa & Tracy.

There are different ways to find out about your name, talking with family members, getting a baby name book that has names & meanings or checking it out on the web.

Some people have middle names. Middle names have meaning too. Sometimes they go together & meaning the same thing. Sometimes it is different. Don’t forget the last name. Check in to what your last name mean & what the maid name of your mom or grandmothers name means. How far back can you trace your family name?

Knowing more about your name can help you know who your are. How do you see your name? Do you want your name to be a legacy?

Here is a web site that talks about people hating their name. They even done a poll on who hates/dislikes their name. They even stated, “People with high self-esteem tend to like their name.” Check it out.
https://waltzingmorethanmatilda.com/2013/09/22/why-your-child-will-hate-their-name/

Rahab

Rahab was labeled as a prostitute, some say she was not a prostitute but an innkeeper, single business woman & some even say she was an ancestor to Jesus. This is not a debate on any of that. You can do your own digging on that & make your own opinion on that.

Rahab was a Canaanite woman, that lived in the city wall in Jericho.   The Book of Joshua tells the story about her. Canaanites practiced many things that did not line u with God. God was sending Joshua & an army to Jericho. Joshua sent 2 spies to the city to look it over.

The stories of what God did in Egypt & through the desert the people of Jericho heard & were very afraid.   The Canaanites did not believe in God, they had their own beliefs.   But the believed what was told to them on what had happen.

When the King of Jericho heard about the spies staying at Rahab’s, he sent messengers to Rahab. The King wanted the men to be brought out. Rahab hid the spies, told the messengers that they missed the spies & they went out of the city & she gave false directions to them.

Rahab went to the 2 spies & plead for her life & her families life for helping the spies. The spies agreed to show her & her family kindly & faithful when the Lord gives them the land. Rahab helped them out of the city & told them which way to go to avoid the ones who are pursing them.

Rahab, Canaanite woman, had her own beliefs, religion & rituals that she & her family followed. The only time she heard of God is the stories from Egypt, she did not know of God’s law or love. But when she heard of the stories what God could do, she was in fear of God & believed in His power. Rahab believed in God without knowing Him. Rahab moved on faith that she need to plea for herself & her family lives.

God remembered Rahab for for faith & not her profession. God often uses people with simple faith to accomplish His great purpose. No matter your past, God is not holding you down because of it. Don’t let your past stop you now. God can & will use you in His perfect plans. Rahab didn’t let her past stop her from being apart of God’s plan.

Making Sure

Now we got the Elementary Principles, we know what the next step is, let’s make sure we are headed in the right direction & how can we tell we are headed in the right direction. In 2 Peter 1:3-12 helps us with that.
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+peter+1%3A3-12&version=NIV

Step 1: we need to have knowledge of Jesus Christ who has called us to his own glory & excellence

Step 2: After step one, we can then be partakers of the divine nature. This really points out that it is not “our call” or “our mission”, but we are joining Jesus in his. For it is all for the glory of God.

Step 3: We are to continue to added to our faith goodness, from goodness knowledge & to knowledge ,self-control, from self-control, perseverance, from perseverance, godliness & to godliness, mutual affection & from mutual affection , love.

Step 4: Be firmly established in truth.

Possessing these qualities in increasing the measure of them, these qualities will keep you from being ineffective & unproductive in your knowledge of Jesus Christ.

After the Elementary Princples

After the elementary principles we need to move to the next step. What does the next step look like?
In 1 Peter 4:7-11 gives us what the next step looks like.
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+peter+4%3A7-11&version=NIV

Step 1: self-control & sober-minded, for the sake of your prayers.

Step 2: keep loving one another, love covers a multitude of sins.

Step 3: show hospitality to one another without grumbling,
hospitality with a joyful heart.

Step 4: each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, not to build self up.

Step 5: May God be glorified through all that you do.

These look like simple steps. So why are so many missing it? It could have been many were stuck at the Elementary Principles & did not know there is a next step. I hope this help shed more light on it.

Christians are Stuck

Christians need to know the elementary principles which are covered in 1Timothy 5:21 &
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+timothy+5%3A21&version=NIV
then move to be mature Christians as it speaks about in Hebrew 5:12. Christians are to do that

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+5%3A12&version=NIV
till the day Jesus returns as in Revelation or they die. Keeping what God command us to do,
Matthew 22:37-40.
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+22%3A37-40&version=NIV

The elementary principles are the foundation to being a Christian. We are to learn them & then build from there & grow to maturity. Most Christians know the elementary principles that 1 Timothy 5:21 covers. But that is where most Christians get stuck at that level. We are called to grow to maturity & to help others. How do we grow, if we don’t know we are stuck? Or do you know you are stuck & want to grow to maturity & don’t know how?

Christians are humans & can become comfortable & move towards convenient. Instead of facing growth & moving towards maturity & helping others. Some of what holds you back is how you are brought up. We learn from our parents & the family around us. They teach us our values/morals/principles. That is our foundation. Our parents sculpt the way we think.

Our parents want what is best for us. We have to be careful not to move towards stuff that is convenient & comfortable. That’s where we can get stuck. If you are stuck how do you get unstuck & move towards maturity?

We are not to move away from the elementary principles, but grow from there. In Hebrews 6:1-6 lays it out for us.
Hebrews 6:1-6 (NIV)

“Therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, instruction about cleansing rites,the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. And God permitting, we will do so.

It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age and who have fallen away, to be brought back to repentance. To their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace.”

We as Christians need to dig deeper to grow deeper to be able to mature as Christians. We sometimes loose track of the digging deeper to mature & get stuck at the elementary principles.
Are you ready to move towards maturity?

A Woman’s position in Relation to Man

This is a summary of Adam &Eve/Submit/Help Meet. God said it was not good for man to be by alone, God made a help meet who was fit/suitable for him. God created Eve to be Adam’s help meet. Eve was created for a pacific purpose. Eve was not created for to rule but be a help meet.

God placed Adam in the garden which was crated by God. God put Adam in a deep sleep, took a rib. From the rib from man, God created woman (Eve) & brought her to Adam. When Adam a woke he received her & proclaimed they were one flesh. They were “married” at that point.

In 1 Corinthians 11:7-12, gives us more of a description of one flesh, we wives are one flesh with our husbands & are help meets to them.
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+11%3A7-12&version=NIV
-Man is made in the image & glory of God, women is the glory of man.
-man was not made from woman, but woman from man.
-man was not created for woman, but woman was created for man.
-woman is not independent of man nor man of woman.

Women have been referred to as the weaker one in the relationship. Some may not agree with that & feel that women can do what ever men can do. I feel when that statement is used, it’s only said when someone has been hurt. If woman was as strong as man, then why did the serpent go temp Eve instead of Adam?

Let’s look at the weaker for a moment. In 1 Peter 3:7, it states wives are weaker vessels, that need to be treated with respect. Not to walk over the wives & push them around. 1 Peter 3:7 (NIV)
^”Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.”

1 Thessalonians 4:4 tells husbands they need to learn to live with their wives, the weaker vessel. Key words learn to live with, as to take care of, not to control. Remember women are a gift from God not a property. A gift you care for. In the garden Eve shown she was the weaker vessel. God put Adam over Eve to help lead, protect & provide for.
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Thessalonians+4%3A4&version=NIV

We as wives should submit to our husbands, with a servant heart. We wives need to be life giving to our husbands. A servant heart is joyful & not groaning. How are you in your position in relations to man? Do you have a servants heart & are life giving?