Today’s Devotional – January 21st (A Christian Lobotomy)

By admin On January 21st, 2014

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Today’s Devotional – January 21st

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A Christian Lobotomy!

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“That this is a rebellious people, lying children,

children that will not hear the law of the LORD:

Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets,

Prophesy not unto us right things,

speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits:”

Isaiah 30:9, 10

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There’s an old song which goes…

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“Grab your coat and get your hat
Leave your worry on the doorstep
Just direct your feet
To the sunny side of the street…”

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Nice song! Wonderful sentiment! And it’s true that people should try to look for good things to lift their spirit!

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But there are many unhappy things in this godless world. And should we try to ignore them? Maybe pretend they don’t exist?

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Oh yes, on the other hand, there are many persons who are totally inundated by negative thoughts! And there have been many who have been driven even to the point of suicide by uncontrollable thoughts of hopelessness!

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Yes, Satan is a very busy devil! And he loves to see some people drown in hopelessness!

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Happy face svg – Wikimedia – public domain

Sad face – Wikimedia – public domain

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THE LOBOTOMY

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During the last century, there arose a popular medical procedure known as having a Lobotomy.

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This operation was performed on individuals who could no longer handle the sadness and stresses of life. And it was believed (for a time) by doctors, that by removing the frontal lobes of the brain, then that individual might be finally cured of all negative thoughts. Well, obviously this hypothesis didn’t work! And eventually this horrible procedure was finally stopped!

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Doctors ultimately renounced this hideous practice, saying such things as… “the procedure was “contrary to the principles of humanity”, and, “‘through lobotomy’ an insane person is changed into an idiot.”^[135]” (Wikipedia on “Lobotomy”)

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Reviews lobotomy courtesy Discover magazine Jan-2007 – Wikipedia – GNU-user-license

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MANY NEGATIVE THINGS

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The Bible is a book that has many things to say, some happy and some sad.

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For instance, the Book of Psalms has about one-third happy things, one-third unhappy, and one-third neutral. But also, the books of the prophets were largely concerning unhappy issues.

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The New Testament is also filled with both happy and unhappy truths.

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Holy bible – cropped image – Wikimedia – Creative Commons lic.

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MANY UNHAPPY THINGS

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God has many rebukes in Scripture, concerning the behavior of His people.

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There are also many warnings in the Bible, as well. And there are likewise, many prophecies concerning both happy, as well as unhappy future events. God, in His infinite wisdom knows that sadness is necessary! At least, in this world, sadness is necessary.

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Listen… “Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better.” Ecclesiastes 7:3

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Holy bible – cropped image – Wikimedia – Creative Commons lic.

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“PROPHESY SMOOTH THINGS”

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Well, back to the subject of lobotomies.

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You see, the secular world isn’t the only place which tries to eliminate all negativity.

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No, and this idea of a happy-faced-lobotomy is nothing new! Even God’s very own people, during the days of Jeremiah and Isaiah were desperately searching for such a lobotomized gospel!

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Listen to Isaiah… “That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the LORD: Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits:” Isaiah 30:9, 10

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Yes, these professed people of God didn’t want to hear all the negativity which God’s prophets had to say! They wanted only “smooth things”.

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**They wanted a lobotomized gospel!**

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joshua 24 Parting Advice www.thebiblerevival.org public domain

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LOBOTOMIZED GOSPELS TODAY

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“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” 2nd Tim. 3, 4

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Well, you would think that things would have progressed since the days of Isaiah.

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But just look around today and you will find preachers willing to preach peace and earthly prosperity! In their gospel, God is smiling down on His people, willing to give earthly riches and peace and all the good things this world has to offer.

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Yes, it’s almost as if these happy-faced gospels are trying to become lobotomized. They almost seem as if they want to eliminate any of the negativity in the Bible. It reminds one of that “power of positive thinking” ideology which has blown back and forth through the church-world for the last 60 years or more.

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**Perhaps you could say that we’ve reached that time in which “itching ears” gospels are abounding, as the above passage foretells. Listen again…**

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“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” 2nd Timothy 4:3, 4

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Audience hands – cropped & altered – Wikimedia – Universal Public Domain

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JESUS, A MAN OF SORROWS

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But listen to this description of Jesus… “He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief” Isaiah 53:3.

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Being born into this world of sin became a trial for the Sinless One from Heaven. And His constant encounter with the hatred and rebelliousness of His very own professed people, would daily take its toll upon the Savior.

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But make no mistake! Jesus had an inner joy which shone out from His eyes. And yet, it was tempered by the sadness and grief He felt for the fallen human condition.

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It is written… “Jesus wept.” John 11:35.

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Jesus was weeping here for the great unbelief He saw in His Elect! And He weeps over our sorrows too!

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Listen…“Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.” Romans 12:15

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Yes, our great God even rejoices with us, but also weeps with us as well!

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La Bible, Notre-Dame – cropped image – Wikimedia – Share-Alike License

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SAME SPIRIT IN CHRISTIANS

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When a person is filled with God’s Spirit, there is a duality of emotions, quite often.

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Listen to Paul, as he describes the Christian life… “…As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing…” 2nd Cor. 6:10.

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Yes, because God is very complex, so also is that same complexity experienced by the Christian, howbeit to a much less degree.

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Along the pathway of the Christian, there are times of peace and joy, but also there are times of sorrow. There are times of victory, but also times of defeat. And there are many times when the Christian must weep at the foot of the Cross for his or her sins.

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So it should be understood that, just as Scripture reveals, sorrow is sometimes a necessary thing… “Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He shall lift you up.” James 4:8-10.

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**Yes, as the Christian strives to crucify the “Old Man”, with his lusts and affections, there will be many sad times.**

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And as he reads the Bible, God has many sorrowful things to say, but also many joyful promises as well.

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Braet von Überfeldt – woman with bible 1866 – Wikipedia – US-public-domain

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BUT WHY ALL THE SADNESS?

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“Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better.” Ecclesiastes 7:3

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But why would God want us sad? Why not just give us nothing but happy times, along that upward pathway? Why not just give us the lobotomized, peace-n-prosperity gospels which are so often being preached today?

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Well, this above passage reveals God’s true motives (“…for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better.”). God knows that sadness is His necessary “cleansing agent” to help remove the stain of sin from one’s heart. No, God does not enjoy causing grief. But this has been His chosen means of purifying for Himself, a set-apart people who will reflect the character of Christ to the world.

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Just listen to this next passage… “For the Lord will not cast off for ever: But though He cause grief, yet will He have compassion according to the multitude of His mercies. For He doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men. To crush under His feet all the prisoners of the earth…Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the LORD. Let us lift up our heart with our hands unto God in the heavens.” Lamentations 3:31-34, 40, 41.

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**So here is the answer, smack-dab in the middle of the saddest book of the Bible, Lamentations. Yes, this passage reveals that God takes no pleasure in inflicting pain or sorrow!**

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**But our “many light afflictions” will ultimately cause us to turn back to God, with greater zeal and deeper devotion!**

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David’s sorrow www.wikigallery.org public domain

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JOY COMETH IN THE MORNING!

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“For His anger endures but a moment; in His favor is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” Psalm 30:5

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But there is coming a day in which all tears will be wiped away! Yes, one of these days soon, God will lift us up and put a new song in our mouth! And on that day, it will be said… “And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.” Isaiah 35:10

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And so, with such promises as this, the Christian takes heart, and continues to allow God to work in him, changing his heart into the image of Christ; all the while knowing, that there is soon coming a day, when that often-difficult work of transformation will be completed!

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And then will God’s perfected people fully reflect the character of Christ.

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Sunrise from Burrow Mump, Burrowbridge, Somerset – cropped image – wikimedia share-alike license

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Below is a poem that speaks more eloquently on this subject…

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THE MASTER WEAVER’S PLAN

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My life is but a weaving, Between the Lord and me; I may not choose the colors– He knows what they should be.

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For He can view the pattern, Upon the upper side, While I can see it only, On this, the under side.

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Sometimes He weaves in sorrow, Which seems so strange to me; But I will trust His judgment, And work on faithfully.

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‘Tis He who fills the shuttle, And He knows what is best; So I shall weave in earnest, And leave to Him the rest.

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Not ’til the loom is silent, And the shuttles cease to fly, Shall God unroll the canvas, And explain the reason why.

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The dark threads are as needed, In the Weaver’s skillful hand, As the threads of gold and silver, In the pattern He has planned.

~ Benjamin Malachi Franklin

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Tapestry – Adoration of the Magi Tapestry – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, Please help me to love Thy Word, both the happy as well as the sad…

Woman Praying – cropped image – Wikimedia – Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license

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THE END

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TODAY’S FEATURED HEAVENLY SIGN

Info & pics of constellations on this site from Wikipedia & International Astronomical Union (click here)

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THE HOLY GHOST RIDER CONSTELLATION

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This newest Signs Of Heaven Constellation (Fall, 2013) is by far the faintest of constellations, but is a very incredible and awesome in a number of ways (which this article will explain).

Holy Ghost Rider (above western horizon)

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It is primarily comprised of the Camelopardalis Constellation (head and upper back), plus about 5 stars from the Cassiopeia Constellation (his leg), plus some random stars. It appears as an outline of a rider. Only the back of his head is detailed. And his back and the back of his legs are also detailed. Both sides of his arm are visible, and his hand is gripping the horse’s mane, and that is detailed by three stars (which are also part of the horse’s mane). The rider is in a position vaguely similar to a race-horse jockey. The two brightest stars in this constellation, are from the Cassiopeia Constellation, and are part of his leg. All the rest of the stars are very faint, and must be viewed on a very starry night.

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Since this constellation has just been revealed, there may be more to this constellation in the coming months. But if you can locate the Goodly Horse in Battle Constellation, then you shouldn’t have too much trouble locating this Rider Constellation.

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TOMORROW:

January 22nd (“He That Keepeth His Mouth…”)

Duct Tape Mouth – Wikimedia – Share-alike license

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20 MINUTE+ AUDIO STUDY IN JEREMIAH

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ALL ‘NOBLE BEREANS’ (open-minded Bible truth-seekers) ARE ENCOURAGED TO BEGIN FOLLOWING THIS 650+ AUDIO BIBLE STUDY THROUGH THE BOOK OF JEREMIAH EACH DAY ON THIS DAILY DEVOTIONAL.

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THIS IS STUDY #21 IS PRESENTED BY THE LATE HAROLD CAMPING, FORMER CEO OF FAMILY RADIO…

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above picture: Prophet Jeremiah – www.christianimagesource.org – Public Domain

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