Trinity Ministries

02/16/2023

Things like this help to understand.

There was a moment when Moses had asked God what his name is. God was gracious enough to answer, and the name he gave is recorded in the original Hebrew as YHWH.
Over time we’ve arbitrarily added an “a” and an “e” in there to get YaHWeH, presumably because we have a preference for vowels. But scholars and rabis have noted that the letters YHWH represent breathing sounds, or aspirated consonants. When pronounced without intervening vowels, it actually sounds like breathing. YH (inhale): WH (exhale).

So a baby’s first cry, his first breath, speaks the name of God. A deep sigh calls His name – or a groan or gasp that is too heavy for mere words. Even an atheist would speak His name unaware that their very breathe is giving constant acknowledgment to God. Likewise, a person leaves this earth with their last breath, when God’s name is no longer filing their lungs.

So when I can’t utter anything else, is my cry calling out His name?
Being alive means I speak His name constantly. Is it heard the loudest when I’m the quietest?
In sadness, we breathe heavy sighs. In joy, our lungs feel almost like they will burst. In fear we hold our breath and have to be told to breathe slowly to help us calm down. When we’re about to do something hard, we take a deep breath to find our courage.

When I think about it, breathing is giving him praise. Even in the hardest moments!
This is so beautiful and fills me with emotion every time I grasp the thought. God chose to give himself a name that we can’t help but speak every moment we’re alive. All of us, always, everywhere. Waking, sleeping, breathing, with the name of God on our lips. (Psalms 150

05/25/2022

As parents, we need to be ready for these conversations. Here are four talking points to consider when your kids ask questions about mass shootings.

1. Sin and evil are real.
Mass shootings are harrowing symptoms of a world infected with sin. We cannot ignore the real presence of sin and evil in these moments. While young children might not need to know about every tragedy in the headlines, sheltering older kids from harsh reality isn’t caring for them—it’s only forcing them to find answers elsewhere.

Mass shootings ignite much-needed discussion about gun laws, public safety, and how to better protect our society. I am not at all liberal, but discussions have their place. But we’re better served spending our time talking with our children about the root issue behind why someone would want to kill innocent people.

We cannot ignore the real presence of sin and evil in these moments. Sheltering kids from harsh reality isn’t caring for them—it’s only forcing them to find answers elsewhere.

Our God-given role as parents isn’t to debate gun laws nearly as much as it is to guide our children’s hearts to the message of Jesus in light of our collective sin. Yes, have open, honest conversations with your children about guns. Yes, talk about a more responsible future for our society and what may need to change. But more than anything else, talk about the real-life battle between good and evil that mass shootings so vividly illustrate.

2. Murder is a stain on God’s creation.
God etched this command to Moses on Mount Sinai: “You shall not murder” (Ex. 20:13) This was the law in ancient Israel for centuries before Jesus came to remove the infection of sin. Jesus said, “I have not come to abolish [the Law of Moses or the Prophets] but to fulfill them.” (Matt. 5:17) It was Jesus who called his disciples—and us—to fulfill the second greatest commandment, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Mark 12:28–31).

Murdering another human rejects God’s role as the giver of life and defies the command to love others as we love ourselves. No matter the motive or circumstances, murder is an abomination in the eyes of God.

How should parents and children respond to such a loveless act as a mass shooting? With love. Encourage your kids to reach out to those who are hurting, angry, confused, or lost. Encourage them to offer a listening ear or a gentle hug to those suffering because of this evil. Encourage them to respond to the existence of such selfish hatred in the world by doubling down on a life of Christlike, sacrificial love.

3. God is still sovereign over evil.
Creation reminds us there are no maverick molecules in the universe outside of God’s control. And yet, in the stinging moment of hot tears in our eyes, sickness in our stomachs, it’s easy to forget God’s sovereignty. And yet God’s sovereignty is also the hope we have: God works all things together for our good, for his ultimate glory and plan. We just do not understand not are we meant to.

Encourage your children to respond to the existence of such selfish hatred in the world by doubling down on a life of Christlike, sacrificial love.

As followers of Jesus, we lean on God’s sovereignty. While this doesn’t diminish the pain and shock of the depravity we see in the world, especially in Texas in which we should cry and feel sick.

Chatter, News and commentary about the school shootings in Texas and other violence have likely shown up on your kids’ computer, TV, and cell phone screens. They may be asking, “God, what is going on?"

Remind them that good and evil are not new, and they aren’t surprising to God. He is in control. And only a God in control can help us find meaning or hope amid tragedies.

4. Pray and share hope.
“Thoughts and prayers” are often ridiculed in the wake of a mass shooting, but that shouldn’t deter believers from coming to God in prayer. We need to pray: for the victims and their families, for the first responders, the medical personnel, law enforcement, administrators, and leaders in the community. We need to pray for God to change people’s hearts, causing them to love good and hate evil; and we need to pray for God-honoring societal changes which might reduce, if not eliminate, mass shootings. We need to pray that God would bring justice to those who would wreak such chaos.

In the face of mass shootings, our kids are likely to be fearful, angry, and sad. These are emotions God created, and they don’t need to be avoided. But we can also point our children to hope beyond ourselves and the God of resurrection who has sustained his people through all manner of horrific tragedies. In such moments, this is the true hope both parents and kids need. Father James ✝️

05/24/2022

It's hard. Life gets in the way. Or is put in your way. Sometimes it's a struggle to carry on like you are supposed to. God has a way of throwing you headlong back into your job, realizing your shortcomings. God has a way of planting his foot in your rear. The last two weeks have shown me. Send prayers as I do his will.

07/12/2021

There is no addiction that is easy. It takes a toll of yourself and others around you. You may want to quit and continue to fail. Their is a way out and a light at the end of the tunnel. Drugs, po*******hy, or just common sins, like not treating a neighbor as yourself or loving those who persecute you. Or reacting with unrighteous anger. Any of the ten commandments. God will forgive any of these sins that you commit. Any one of these can become an addiction. As folks would say "out of habit." From the strongest drug or alcohol addiction, through the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ these can be broken even if you have tried many times and failed on your own. He loves you and wants to help you.

07/02/2021

06/30/2021

Here is another one..wow

06/30/2021

I've always loved Evanescence, and have never noticed this. I'm so happy that lifestartshere_fire noticed it. It gave me cold chills the first time I heard and saw this....Bless Amy Lee.

05/25/2021

I went to a ballgame tonight without my family except my son was playing in. Looking around at all of the people I think the Lord spoke to me about different things going on in all those people's lives. He impressed me that a prayer for everyone was needed on this day. I truly hope the ones needing this read it. God Bless, Father Lewis ✝️

05/12/2021

It is sad. No matter how it was incited. I took a pause today to look at people's responses to the Gas Shortage and COVID Relief with Unemployment. No matter your belief or view, when expressing those views or getting some gas, did you notice any hate outmof yourself from that. We are truly in the End Times. Closer to the Return of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I am glad the Rapture will happen before the Lord gives folks over to a debased mind. If this is the beginning, we need to pray really hard and set our life right with God. God Bless, Father James ✝️

05/11/2021

As time is coming when the dispensation of grace is ending.

04/04/2021

Jesus' body was hastily placed in a tomb on Friday afternoon. There was no time to properly prepare the body for burial with spices and ointments according to Jewish customs. No work could be done on the Sabbath, so that task had to wait until Sunday.

Early Sunday morning, Mary Magdalene and several other women went to the tomb with the spices they had prepared. When they arrived, they found the tomb had been opened already. When they went in, they did not find Jesus' body, and they wondered what had happened.

Suddenly, two angels in dazzling white clothes were there. The women were terrified, but the angels said to them, "Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; He has risen! Remember how He told you that He would be turned over to sinful men, be crucified, and rise again on the third day!"

The women ran back to tell Jesus' apostles what they had seen. Peter and one other apostle went to the tomb to see for themselves. They looked in and saw the linen cloths that Jesus' body had been wrapped in but nothing else. Then they went home, amazed and confused. Happy Easter may the Lord Bless and Keep You
Father James✝️