I came across this website and in my own mind have often wondered this question myself. I believe this article strengthens my beliefs. What do you think?

 

Claims: What did Jesus Christ have to say about himself?

Is Jesus Christ a Legend, Lunatic, Liar, or Lord and GOD?

In his famous book Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis makes this statement, "A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic--on the level with a man who says he is a poached egg--or he would be the devil of hell. You must take your choice. Either this was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God. But let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us.(emphasis: web author)"
Jesus could only have been one of four things: a legend, a liar, a lunatic--or Lord and God. There is so much historical and archeological evidence to support his existence that every reputable historian agrees he was not just a legend. If Jesus were a liar, why would he die for his claim, when he could easily have avoided such a cruel death with a few choice words? And, if he were a lunatic, how did he engage in intelligent debates with his opponents or handle the stress of his betrayal and crucifixion while continuing to show a deep love for his antagonists? Christ said he was Lord and God. The evidence supports that claim.
Here are some of the key claims Jesus made about himself.

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The Claims of Jesus

Christ claimed to live a sinless life

Jesus could look at a crowd of people angry at his claims to share God's nature and ask, "Which of you can point to anything wrong in my life?" Even more amazing is that none of them could give a reply! No human being has ever lived a sinless life, except for Jesus Christ.
John 8:28-29 "So Jesus said, 'When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know who I am and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me. The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him.'"
John 8:46-47 "Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don't you believe me? He who belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God."

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Jesus Christ claimed to be the ONLY way to God

Not one of several ways, but the one and only way. Not to teach the way, but to be the way to God. Nobody has ever made claims like that before and backed them, but Jesus did through his love, balanced life, and miracles.
John 14:6 "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father but by me."
Matthew 11:27 "All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him."
Note: No other world religious leader, such as Buddha, Confucius, or Mohammed ever made this claim.

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Christ claimed to have shared the glory of God in Heaven

Jesus claimed to have pre-existed the people he spoke with. The apostle John--who shared bread with Jesus--wrote that Jesus was with God in the very beginning, and that "all things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being." (John 1:1-5)
John 17:5 "And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began."
This is a claim distorted by groups like the Mormons or Jehovah's Witnesses.

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Jesus Christ claimed to be able to forgive sins

One of the reasons that the Jewish leaders were so angry with Jesus was his continual practice of forgiving people's sins. The religious leaders understood clearly that since sins were rebellion against God Himself, only God could forgive sins.
Luke 5:20-21 "When Jesus saw their faith, he said, 'Friend, your sins are forgiven.' The Pharisees and the teachers of the law began thinking to themselves, 'Who is this fellow who speaks blasphemy? Who can forgive sins but God alone?'"(emphasis: web author)
Luke 7:48-49 "Then Jesus said to her, 'Your sins are forgiven.' The other guests began to say among themselves, 'Who is this who even forgives sins?'"

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Christ claimed to be a Heavenly king

Luke 22:69 "But from now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the mighty God."
Luke 23:1-3 "Then the whole assembly rose and led him off to Pilate. And they began to accuse him, saying, 'We have found this man subverting our nation. He opposes payment of taxes to Caesar and claims to be Christ, a king.' So Pilate asked Jesus, 'Are you the king of the Jews?' 'Yes, it is as you say,' Jesus replied."
John 18:36-37 "Jesus said, 'My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place.' 'You are a king, then!' said Pilate. Jesus answered, 'You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.'"

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Christ claimed to be able to give everlasting life

Jesus didn't just tell people how they could find everlasting life, or deepen their own life experience. He actually claimed to give life himself.
John 6:40 "For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day."
John 6:47 "I tell you the truth, he who believes has everlasting life."
John 10:28-30 "I give [my followers] eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand. I and the Father are one."
John 11:25 "Jesus said to her, 'I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die...'"

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Jesus claimed that he would die and come back to life

John 10:17 "Just as the Father knows me and I know the Father--and I lay down my life for the sheep. The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life--only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father."
John 12:32-33 "'But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself.' He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die."
John 16:16 "In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me."
Luke 18:31-33 "Jesus took the Twelve aside and told them, 'We are going up into Jerusalem, and everything that is written by the prophets about the Son of Man will be fulfilled. He will be handed over to the Gentiles. They will mock him, insult him, spit on him, flog him and kill him. On the third day he will rise again.'"

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Christ claimed that he would return again to judge the world

Matthew 24:27-30 "So as the lightening comes from the east and flashes to the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man... At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory."
Matthew 25:31-32 "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep and the goats."
Mark 14:61-62 "Again the high priest asked him, 'Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?' 'I am,' said Jesus. 'And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.'"
Jesus clearly claimed to be both God and Messiah.

Off and running today. I will be back with more great information tomorrow! Maybe God bless you in your travels today and keep you safe. Make today a perfect day, do something wonderful for yourself and your children.

I want you to realize that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God. (1 Corinthians 11:3)
“Submission is a key element in the smooth functioning of any business, government, or family. God ordained submission in certain relationships to prevent chaos. It’s essential to understand that submission is not surrender, withdrawal, or apathy. It doesn’t mean inferiority, because God created all people in his image and because all have equal value. Submission is mutual commitment and cooperation.
“Thus God calls for submission among equals. He didn’t make the man superior; he made a way for the man and woman to work together. Jesus Christ, although equal with God the Father, submitted to him to carry out the plan for salvation. Likewise, although equal to man under God, the wife should submit to her husband for the sake of their marriage and family. Submission between equals is submission by choice, not by force. We serve God in these relationships by willingly submitting to others in our church, to our spouses, and to our government leaders.” (Commentary from the New Life Application Bible)  This paragraph was borrowed from Marriage Missions International


Does this not speak mountains? Christians alike have thought and have had the notion that God expects women especially to be subservient to their husbands. This is not the case at all. Submission can also be described as sitting down at a table and discussing, calmly, the decisions needed in a family or partnership. When agreements are hard to come by on a subject, it is listening to each other and working out a compromise that is beneficial to all. Don't ever let anyone make you subservient by force. This is not living, this is not what God wanted for you. 

Getting the children back to school has proved to be exhausting when not a single one wants to go back. They love being home with Mom that much! lol

Ok so now the info you all have been waiting for times two!

- 2 reasons per day of why you should be celebrating your life.
- 2 Inspirational messages
- 2 Scripture passages of gratitude
- 2 Tips for receiving help on how to get safe!
- 1 New featured product from our online gift store each day

Why celebrate your life when you feel your at the end of your rope; when your feeling trapped, depressed, anger for a life you didn't ask for?

1) Today is a new day, what can happen is only limited by your own fears or stops. You want a free life, you want friends and family that have been alienated back in your life. Today celebrate and make that first move to bring your desires into action.
2) Celebrate because even when the rest of the world seems so far away from you, Jesus is always in arms reach. You just have to speak to him, pray, ask him to help you because with out him, nothing is possible.
3)Celebrate life because you breathe. If you would rather be gone from this life becuase you just don't feel there is anything worth while living for, it is time to reach out for help. There are organizations all over that can help you my friend. They can change your life around for the better.
4) Celebrate life if you have children. Children have a way of keeping us young, they teach us lessons about ourselves, they are not the burden, the way you live your life is the burden if you blame them. They came into this life expecting you to protect them, love them, and nourish them. Do something out of the love you have for them to change your situation today!

Inspirational Messages for today!

1) When the world beats you down, get back up and dust off. Your the only one that can let the world do this to you.

2)Seasons change, people change, lives change, everything around us changes. The only thing that does not change is the core of who we are. If you have tendencies to harm others you will always carry those tendencies. They don't just go away. Extensive help, counseling, determination to be different is the only way you will see a change. So what does this tell you about your abuser? Are they getting help? Are they determined to change? Or do you just see empty promises and many "I am sorry". "It won't happen again"  until the next time comes........  See the red flags and listen to them. God is trying to tell you to be safe and live life the way he wanted you too. Your breaking his heart by staying in a relationship that evil exists. Make today the day you promise God with his help to find a way out.

3)  All violence, all that is dreary and repels is not power, it is the absence of power. This statement said by Ralph Emerson is thought provoking. It is true if you look at the abuser. He/She tries to manipulate their partner, have power over them for the simple reason I can guarantee, they lack power in the rest of their lives. They feel out of control, unhappy, addicted to some kind of drug or alcohol, they are unhappy with themselves....... They lack power of oneself. Is it the abused persons fault? Of course not. Then why do you allow yourself to stay in this situation?

4) There is violence that liberates, and a violence that enslaves, there is a violence that is moral and a violence that is immoral.  - Benito Mussolini


Scripture passages: I hope God will forgive me for not listing Scripture today, but I believe there is an important message that he would like you to see instead. Some very profound statements that you need to think about in your own relationship.

1) Marriage is for committed lovers, not hostages. Marriage is sacred and is for two people that are very much spiritually complete with each other. It requires sacrificial service but not martyrdom.

2) In every abusive relationship violence usually occurs in cycles. The cycle begins with tension building, anger, blaming and irritation. The violent stage comes next and it's point is to afflict physical hurt, pain by hitting, slapping, pulling hair, kicking, throwing things etc.... After the physical has quieted down the abuser than feels remorse and will promise never to do this again. This is often called the honeymoon stage because they will seem overly loving, considerate as in the beginning of a relationship. They will sweet talk you but again, the cycle will continue another day. If you view this pattern happening often, you need to get out! It doesn't get better without any intervention. You are in danger and your children may be as well.

3) How to know if someone has truly changed and is really going to stop the abusive behaviors: Look for these signs, Look for consistency every single day, he shows you that he values and appreciates you, you mean something important to him. He listens now without making you feel tensed. He can show compassion and cares how you feel even if you do not agree with him. He respects you as an equal and doesn't try to control you or dismiss you based on your opinions. He shows affection without having to go to sex. He understands that his guilt, shame, anxiety, anger, are his own and not to be blamed on you.

4) Seek wisdom and talk to someone who can give you a clear unbiased viewpoint on whether or not you should try to reconcile your relationship. You must make sure your abuser has demonstrated strong accountability and really has changed. In order to reconcile, you must feel stronger, secure, not have fear to voice your opinions in the relationship any longer. You absolutely must feel valued. If you do not, this relationship is not ready for reconciliation and more help is needed.
Most of all, pray to God and the Holy Spirit to help you, guide you, and give you the wisdom, strength, and courage you need to make these decisions.


HOW TO BE SAFE!

Money - You must stash some money away. Pawn, sell, anything you can to get a bit of money saved up. Collect change from his pockets. Save some extra money from grocery shopping. Every quarter, dollar adds up and your going to need money to survive on your own. This will make the transition easier. Just what ever you do, keep it secret, keep it at a friends house or in the bank account you should have opened. Make sure he does not find out about it though, it could send him into an abusive cycle again.









Credit in your name - This can be done even if you don't have credit or bad credit. You can place 200.00 in a bank account that can't be touched. Get a secured credit card from your bank on this and ask a friend or relative to co-sign for you. Be financially responsible though! This is a matter of your life. In order to establish good credit, you must use the card to make small purchases and pay if off in the same month. Once this has been done for approximately a six month period, go to a department store and get a card in your name. Again do the same thing. Make small purchases that you know can be paid of that month. You want to establish at least three good lines of credit.







Protect your new accounts - Instruct your financial institutions to replace your social security with a password that only you know. Change your account numbers. You can do this even though they don't advertise it.

Department of Motor Vehicles -  Do you have a vehicle to take with you? Is it registered in your name only? Wonderful if it is. Do you have a vehicle that the title states his name OR your name? You can take his name off the title and I would absolutely do this! If it states husbands name AND your name on the title it will require his signature in order to turn the vehicle over to you. I would suggest getting another vehicle.






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