Repaying kindness – After a life of charity, she died without even money for a burial; now loved ones hope to raise enough for a service to pay respects – By MIKE TOLSON, HOUSTON CHRONICLE, Jan. 30, 2010, 7:21AM

If you have been in any Christian Churches, chances are you have heard the term “walking in love.” But what does it mean to walk in love? Where have we received the definition for it? And do we really know love? According to God’s Word, God IS love – 1 John 4:7-9 says:

See, the problem is that we have looked to the world and all that is in it for love that satisfies emotional and physical needs. We have watched movies and TV shows or read fictitious books that have tried to layout good love and romance scenes that definitely appeal to the emotions and flesh, but never seem to measure up in real life – why?

The truth about a real love walk – one that fits into a man and woman relationship or into walking in love toward other people – has no basis in emotion or flesh/physical. Real love starts when our hearts are changed and transformed by what God created love for – it’s why He is love! The great thing is that when you read about Sister Maggie’s life story, what jumps out is that she knew or at least must have know about this love walk that God has ordained for us because of the perfect example she set by her work. 1 Corinthians 13:3, says:

See, Sister Maggie could have done all the works that she did and gave all she had to take care of those less fortunate or needing whatever she had to give, but without love – the Love of God – I honestly do not believe we would have heard of her or seen this article. Why? Lack of love does not compel others to step forward and call to give a person like her a proper, respectful and paid in full burial. If she did all that she did and did not have love, no one would have done anything this respectful. The State or local government could have handled things and there would be no one there to pay respect to her – she would have been just another person that no one had anyway to contact family to let them know of her passing. But Sister Maggie was different! She had the Love of God! What does that look like? 1 Corinthians 13 goes on in vv. 4-8 to say:

Look at v.4 – it says, “Love suffers long and is kind….” The first step to walking in the Love of God is exactly where Sister Maggie would start – suffering long and being kind! Suffering many times is associated with dealing with the negative, but in God’s Word it means and comes from a root meaning to forbear or to have fortitude, being patiently enduring. What is the old saying…good things come to those that wait! And kind here really does not need defining, but God’s Word says that to be kind is to show oneself as useful in a manner or morals of goodness, gracious and being kind. The act of being patiently enduring and showing oneself as useful in a manner was exactly what was described here in Mike Tolson’s article. Its positive proof that Sister Maggie had the love walk working in her. And if she had this love walk working in her, then we know that it was God who was working in her. Why? Remember what 1 John 4 said? Well, if God is love, then it’s obvious that we could place God’s name everywhere in 1 Corinthians 13 that the word “love” appears – so it would read:

What wonderful Truth we receive when our hearts get full of this! When we realize that our loving, Heavenly Father is love and that He is all that 1 Corinthians 13 says He is, its hard NOT to walk in love toward anyone, especially if He lives in and through you, by the gift of our Lord and Savior Jesus, through the Holy Ghost! And look at the awesome, mighty promise, that we can ALWAYS lean on no matter what, in verse 8 – “GOD NEVER FAILS!” If He never fails and we have love in us, then He is in us! And that means we never fail! Sister Maggie never failed in her walk because she had love living in and through her. It was her calling and the calling of all those that are Christians!

We should be encouraged and take time to meditate on those things accomplished by God through Sister Maggie who was yielding and walking in the love of God. We do this by walking out and allowing God to perfect and deliver His love through us as detailed by 1 Corinthians 13:4-8. If you are a Christian, then just pray over yourself that the love of God, as designed by God and detailed in His Word, would work in and through you every day. As you do this the fruit of love will shine through in all that you are called to do. It all begins with the first step in your love walk.

And that is The Truth!
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Many Americans haunted by ghosts, look to astrology – REUTERS By Ed Stoddard – Thu Dec 10, 9:23 am ET

I’ve always been a Christian. I grew up Catholic but I’m now just a Christian. Many people call it non-denominational, but it’s no different. A Christian is a Christian. Right?

To add to this, I grew up with both of my parents being born and raised in South Louisiana – Cajun Country. There is a rich heritage of food, music and beliefs. Beliefs such as Traiteurs (treaters or healers) and that someone could put the Gris-Gris (pronounced Gree-Gree) or a type of voodoo curse on you. So while I was a Christian – Catholic – I also believed in these things too, some almost as strongly as the Catholic faith.

While reading through this article it reminded me of that time. How confusing and odd it was for me. To believe that I served THE God who created the universe yet believe that someone could put a curse on me and God would not or could not do anything was completely opposite of what I was supposed to believe. As you read through the article you notice the numbers and percentages of people that have beliefs in everything from astrology, to ghost, to even mixing in Eastern and New Age religions. Yet, we are clearly instructed and told in Exodus 20:3-6:

Anything that is not of God, His Word, His Son, or His Spirit that is obeyed and yielded to is disobedience and ultimately sin. The most disturbing statement in this article is the quote from Pew researcher Alan Cooperman, where he states, “American religious folks hold a variety of views and there is overlap among their beliefs and practices. Many do not fit into simple boxes.” While I understand that “religious folks” can cover a multitude of views and beliefs in America, the article is directly siting Americans who are Christian or have a more dominant tendency toward Christianity – that just sounds weird.

Look, it’s as simple as this – either you are a Christian or your not. You can’t be a little Christian and a little New Age and a little of this and that. There is no place for it…God’s Word is clear. Jesus said in John 14:6:

Being a Christian means you believe in Jesus as your Lord and Savior and you become, as the word Christian means – a little Christ. You are supposed to reflect Him, 100%, not the other religions and beliefs and views. Getting into agreement or even having a belief other than what His Word says compromises the very things that He died for on your behalf! In fact, it nulls and voids it, hence why in Exodus it says that you and your children for generations to come will not be blessed just simply for allowing that sin in and then passing it on to your children.

Our Pastor taught us about something earlier this year that bears sharing here. In Genesis 47 we read the account of Joseph and the famine that came upon all the lands surrounding Egypt. Joseph had received favor (Godly favor) in the sight of pharaoh and when Joseph’s family (the nation of Israel) came to him asking for helping, pharaoh granted them to live, dwell and have the land of Goshen in Egypt. What’s interesting is that if you study this chapter and the next chapters, through the beginning of Exodus, out, you will notice that while the rest of the people both in and outside of Egypt were dealing with a famine, the people who served God and only his direction, (the Word of God) living in the land of Goshen, flourished! Genesis 47:27 says:

Now while that is great and definitely what we want, what you see is that the people of Israel grew and multiplied so much that they began to intermingle with the Egyptians. As they did, they of course still believed in God and His Word, but they started adopting and beginning to believe some of the Egyptian ways and beliefs. If you don’t believe that, just look at what they did when it took days for Moses to come down from the mountain where he was receiving the 10 Commandments – what did the people of Israel do? They created golden calves and golden gods to begin worshiping, assuming that either Moses left them behind or was killed by God. Now where did they learn that? These were supposed to be the people of God! The ones who were made in the image and likeness of God. Yet here they are making gods and worshiping them, knowing their core beliefs?

Christians, the time has come to stop intermingling our belief with other non-Bible beliefs! We wonder why people have a hard time believing in Christ or Christianity? What have we given this world and those looking for Him? Confusion? Misguidance? Yet we were told to be a witness and preach the Gospel. What is the Gospel? That Jesus Christ is THE way, THE truth, and THE life and that NO ONE and NOTHING provides you access to God, our heavenly Father – PERIOD! So what do you do if you have been a Christian who picked up some things from Egypt and intermingled them with your beliefs?

First, stop it and get rid of it – ditch those beliefs and things you have picked up along the way that replace or displace God, Jesus and His Word.

Second, repent and turn away from that belief – God gave us THE way through His Son, Jesus, and if we heartfully repent and turn away from those things, He is faithful to forgive us and bring us back into right standing with Him.

Third, pickup and build up your relationship with God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit – read the Bible and begin placing God’s Word (His Will, Beliefs, direction, guidance, and life) back inside you. Stay focused on Jesus – let Him be first in all things…give Him the preeminence and do not let any other gods go before Him. As you do this, you begin to love God and His Word which positions you for a full return of His love and blessings that will extend to generations of your family, because the right things will be passed down. We just have to start with asking ourselves, “What do I believe? And who am I according to the Bible?”

And that is The Truth!
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Consumers Unlikely to Keep Pace

Romans 13:8 says:

The Greek present tense of this verse may be translated as: “Don’t continue owing anything to anybody…”

What kind of attitude do you, as a Christian, have toward indebtedness? Are you like the rest of the people in the world that think indebtedness is just a part of living? Are you content with being in debt or thinking that debt is normal? On average, 72% of people (all people, not just Christians) believe that carrying some debt is just part of modern life and that it is tough for anyone to avoid. Today’s consumer has a total of 13 debt obligations on record at a credit bureau.

While the Word of God does not forbid all debt, it certainly forbids an attitude of contentment with debt or thinking that debt is “normal.” The fact of the matter is that placing things on credit or debt is really banking on and trusting in the future. You are saying that you trust in your job, your employer, your boss, you personally and anyone and anything else as having the ability to provide for you to pay for that debt at any time in the future. The Truth (the Word of God) states that we are not to bank on the future and all these things (job, employer, boss, etc.) but instead, Trust in our Lord as our provider. It says in Philippians 4:19:

Let’s be clear – the Word says nothing about it being wrong to take a loan out, have credit cards, or even take on some debt. But when it comes down to it, the Word does place a demand on the Christian Believer to have Faith and believe and trust God for everything! Deuteronomy 28:12 says:

Obedience in believing – having Faith – in His Word that He shall do what He promises, through Christ who lives in you, is key. It’s the promises that have come through the Seed of Abraham down to you and it will not return void as He sees to His Word that it is performed according to what He has said. It just requires you to believe and having done all, stand and do not stop believing, regardless of the circumstances!

I want to encourage you – don’t be condemned if you are in debt right now. There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Start today banking on the certain riches and future you have in God. He is your heavenly Father who has provided all for you and He will never leave you nor forsake you. Stop banking on the uncertain future and get supplied by His riches in glory by Christ Jesus for all things today!

And that is The Truth!
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I just Praise God and thank Him and the Holy Ghost for all He has done in and through me. I’m humbled and amazed that The Father, The God of the Universe, would use someone like me to bring something like this to you and the ends of the earth! So I just lean not on me or my abilities but look to the Holy Ghost, Jesus and the Word of God to deliver to you, the reader, The Truth.

Being an engineer and, as my wife calls me, computer nerd, by formal University education, it seems odd that He would call me into a ministry such as this. But I trust God and the Holy Ghost and understand that this is not about me or any individual’s ability – it’s all about Jesus!

For far too long both God’s people and the people of the world have been subjected to media, newspaper, T.V., opinions and various other sources telling them “the facts” but always leaving them questioning “the truth” of the matter. I’ll say it just like the Holy Ghost said to me…..”what the world needs now is to know The Truth in all things. They are hungry for The Truth and are waiting for someone to show them and tell them The Truth.” In a nutshell, that is exactly what “Herald of The Truth” is all about!

I’m not really sure where this will go or what the Holy Ghost has in store, but I do know that as I step out and do as I’ve been instructed that The Truth that the Holy Ghost was referring to will be delivered and known! What you can expect from this site is nothing but The Truth of God’s Word, Jesus, and the Holy Ghost delivering resp0nses to headlines, news topics, and various subjects that lack The Truth. These responses will be delivered by mighty men and women of God who know and are just as eager to share The Truth with you!

Feel free to submit e-mails and comments suggesting or asking for The Truth about any news article, topic or media source that you need to hear The Truth about. We will be more than happy to allow The Truth to come out!

We hope you enjoy this site – please subscribe and visit often as we know that God will reveal Himself, His Son, the Holy Ghost and most importantly, The Truth to you personally!

Be blessed always!
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