House2HouseMD

Dear Saints,   I have a friend who has been married for some time now. She was very excited about her wedding. She has been living with her husband happily. With her husband’s support, she has overcome some life challenges. I met her husband. He is very kind, gentle, and a great provider. He would do anything for anyone. Honestly, no one has a better husband than this bride.   There’s, however, a significant problem in the relationship. You see, this wife is only excited about her husband in her house and when she goes to church. Most of their neighbors don’t know that she is married. She has not consciously tried to introduce her husband to the neighbors and the many others she meets.   When she goes out, she mainly talks about everything except mentioning that she’s happily married to a wonderful husband. As a result, many think she’s single, and often other men make unwanted advances to her.   She spends more time outside their home shopping and buying things that...

  Dear Saints, The God of all Grace Will Do It. Do what?   As we almost reach the end of studying 1 Peter, apostle Peter reminds and encourages the suffering pilgrims to hang in there and look to the One who called them to Himself and the destination. He will surely do it.   Let’s read and listen to Peter:   “But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.” 1 Peter 5:10-11.   Everyone is suffering, not just Christians, because of the sin that entered this world. There’s hope for those in Christ. What about the unbelieving, though I prefer “yet-to-believe”?   This past Tuesday, 1/31, I met a “yet-to-believe” at a hotel in New Jersey. I traveled to be with my friend and his family during his mother’s funeral. I came down for the hotel’s complimentary breakfast. I sat facing a middle age...

  Dear Saints, Stop Blaming Satan. Resist him. God knows whatever you are going through right now and knew it before you were born. Please read Psalm 139, one of my favorites. We act as if our struggles in life are surprises to God. Is He the Father or not? Is He God or not? Are you giving too much credit to Satan than he deserves? Satan is a being created by God. If we do not have the proper perspective of our Father God, we may think everything of pain that comes our way is from Satan. Some of us are chasing/binding/casting Satan from morning till night. Can we give much of this airtime in thanksgiving and praise to God instead of Satan? Our Father God loves us too much and can discipline us even with things that are painful for our good and for His glory. Is there Satan in this world? Yes for now until bound up - Revelation 20. Jesus talked about him and his job description is to “kill, steal and destroy.” Satan was totally defeated by Jesus on the cross. “Having disarmed princi...

Dear  Saints, Humility is the best Cloth to wear. It is said that if you can describe how humble you are to people, you are probably not humble. Humility is the opposite of pride. Pride is the original number one sin against God and people. The best way to recognize humility and live humbly is to understand pride. To know and recognize the true dollar bill you must study and know fake counterfeit dollar. Pride got Lucifer (aka Satan) in trouble with God. Pride says I can be equal and even better than God; and do my own thing. Pride actually says that God does not have as much power and authority He claims to have. Pride is idolatry, the worship of anything less than the true God - the maker of heaven and earth and all humans. You know we all have some air of arrogance, that is pride. We often compare ourselves to others and often conclude “I am better than him or her”. God hates pride. God calls pride an “abomination.” Proverbs 6:16-17. Also “pride goeth before destruction, a haugh...

Dear Saints, Today, as we celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr (MLK) Day, it is worth reflecting on the qualities of a good and bad elder, shepherd/pastor or overseer. MLK Jr, though not perfect like of us displayed for the world, good qualities of a good shepherd who even paid a high price for some of the freedoms we enjoy today in America. We need more MLKs in and outside the church. Have you considered yourself an elder, pastor, or shepherd? We can wear these labels depending on where we are and what God has assigned us to do. Elder does not necessarily mean older but one seasoned/matured with God’s wisdom. Elder, overseer or shepherd are supervising, caring, nurturing and disciplining responsibilities.   We are continuing our study of 1 Peter to learn about good and bad qualities of the elder/pastor/shepherd. Let us listen as Peter speaks to the suffering pilgrims:   “The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and ...

Dear Saints, In the context of suffering for Christ, Apostle Peter says to the pilgrims: “ For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God;  and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18 Now, “If the righteous one is scarcely saved,   Where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?” 19 Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.” 1 Peter 4:17-19. What exactly is Peter saying to these suffering pilgrims? Will believers in Christ receive the same judgment as those who do not believe and obey the gospel? Peter had previously established and stated some facts that Jesus suffered for sinners; whosoever believes in Christ will be saved from God’s judgment. Also, see Romans 8:1, for there is no condemnation for all that believe and trust in Christ. Therefore, Peter must be referring to a different type of judgment. ...

Dear Saints,   Are you suffering for Christ or just suffering? These two are different. We can suffer for our own making, like being a “busybody in other people's business.” For example, you saw your neighbor’s new car. You bought yours, and now you can barely pay for it, and you are working two jobs and can’t sleep.   When do we suffer for Christ, and why?   We continue our study of 1 Peter. Apostle Peter encourages the suffering pilgrims and us as follows:   “Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; 13 but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. 14 If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.   On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified. 15 But let none of you suffer as a murd...

Dear Saints, Even the unbelieving in Christ are asking the same question. Is the world coming to an end? What are we supposed to be doing, and how will we live?   Continuing Covid-19’s devastation, natural disasters, wars and real threats of nuclear catastrophe, increased violence, etc., are causing people to ask, is the end here?   Have you considered that the Jewish people were scattered worldwide for thousands of years? They now exist since 1948 as a nation of Israel. This fulfills God’s promise to bring them back to His land. Israel as a country is very significant in God’s timeline.   Continuing our study of 1 Peter, apostle Peter states as follows:   “But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers. 8 And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.” 9 Be hospitable to one another without grumbling. 10 As each one has received a gift, minister it to one anoth...