Conversations with Ray Martinez

Have you ever had a conversation and then all of a sudden, both of you are quiet…that sound of silence…what’s going on during that silent conversation?  Oswald Chambers talks about, His silence. He notes that God has trusted you with His silence – a silence that has great meaning. God will give you the very blessings you ask if you refuse to go any further without them, but his silence is the sign that he is bringing you into it, and even more wonderful understanding of himself. If God has given you a silence, then praise him—he is bringing you into the mainstream of his purposes .  Let's learn more today by listening in.

One of our greatest needs is to know that we are loved. Each one of us has to feel certain, deep down in our hearts that someone loves us, cares for us and has our best interests at heart. Intimacy in a relationship is a feeling of being close, and emotionally connected and supported. It means being able to share a whole range of thoughts, feelings and experiences that we have as human beings. That is how God designed us. He wants us to know that he loves every one of us with a passionate intensity too deep for words. Listen in for more insight on how God wants our love, and He gives us His love from the day we are born.  Will we accept His Love?

Being alone and being lonely are two different things. One can be alone without being lonely, and one can be lonely in a crowded room. Loneliness is a state of mind, an emotion brought on by feelings of separation from other human beings. When we are lonely, we lose the sense of “will”.  We wonder what our purpose is in life. We can become bitter against the world. Lonely people tend to argue about the littlest things in life. Everything is wrong or against me. Some lonely people lose their appetite for food, entertainment, and yes, even wanting to be around people.  They just want to be left alone. The loneliness has a tumble affect of moving away from our surroundings and living in isolation. King David knew this all too well.  David’s sins oppressed him, his enemies had enlarged his troubles and were multiplied, increasing in hate and violence.  Listen in today for more insight and God's rescue plan.

Twenty foolish advisors are no better than one, so the kind of counselors one seeks makes all the difference in the outcome. The bible gives many examples of people that received bad advice and reaped disastrous results. Saul died because he was unfaithful to the LORD.  He even consulted a medium instead of asking the LORD for guidance. Human beings are fallible. No one gets it right 100 percent of the time. The wisest and most godly among us are still subject to human error. Having a multitude of counselors is valuable because hearing varied viewpoints gives us a healthier foundation upon which to form opinions. 

Today, our discussion is about the five fold use of Scrpture. 1. Reproof, 2. Teaching (Eph 4:14), 3. Correction, 4. Training in righteousness (Col 3:16), 5. Consultation (Rom 15:4). Jesus used two teaching methods—storytelling and a teachable moment—to illustrate and summarize this truth into three words: The Good Samaritan. These three words bring to memory an example of what it takes to be a good neighbor and shows an example of love. We can think of God’s Word as a spiritual trainer or loving parent who only wants what’s best for us. We can immerse ourselves in God’s Word and rely on the Holy Spirit to reveal its truth to us (John 16:13). For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword. We may feel weak and vulnerable when Jesus makes obvious our weakness, however he doesn’t do it to hurt us, but instead it is intended to build us up! Listen in for more insight for living.

The Muslim and Christian views of God have some similarities. Christians believe in one eternal God Who created the universe, and Muslims apply these attributes to Allah. Both view God as all-powerful, all-knowing, and all-present. Christians believe that Jesus was the incarnated Son of God, divine, and sinless.  Islam teaches that Jesus was one of the most important prophets of God, but not the Son of God, not divine, and not part of the Trinity. Rather, Muslims believe the creation of Jesus was similar to the creation of Adam.  Listen in for more detailed discussion.

What is a sin of omission?   It is generally used in contrast with the corresponding phrase “the sin of commission,” or sins that a person actively commits. Paul contrasts the two concepts in Romans 7:14-20 . He decries his tendency toward both types of sin. He does what he doesn’t want to do and knows is wrong—the sin of commission—and he doesn’t do what he knows he should do and really wants to do—the sin of omission. This is a picture of the nature of Christ and our own nature that is in conflict with the flesh in which it dwells.  This is a relationship battle.
 Listen in for more details in our study today.

Today is an everyday event. So we must treat it accordingly and try to do the things of God today and everyday.  Heb 3:13 You must warn each other every day, while it is still “today,” so that none of you will be deceived by sin and hardened against God. “Don't put off till tomorrow what you can do today.” I love this quote from Benjamin Franklin, it encourages me to seize the day, life and opportunities that Christ has placed in front of me. Peace lives in the present….peace today is the meaning of life.  We should be able to live in peace daily with Christ for the rest of our life.  Listen in and learn more about what the bible says about today.

Stewardship defines our practical obedience in the administration of everything under our control, everything entrusted to us. It is the consecration of one’s self and possessions to God's service. Stewardship acknowledges in practice that we do not have the right of control over ourselves or our property—God has that control. It means as stewards of God we are managers of that which belongs to God, and we are under His constant authority as we administer His affairs. The ultimate question, then, is this: Am I the lord of my life, or is Christ the Lord of my life?  In essence, stewardship expresses our total obedience to God and our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.