Crosstarfix Ministry and Music

30/11/2024

'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, therefore, a state of mind, an emotion brought on by feelings of separation from other human beings. The sense of isolation is very deeply felt by those who are lonely. The Hebrew word translated “desolate” or “lonely” in the Old Testament means “one alone, only; one who is solitary, forsaken, wretched.” There is no deeper sadness that ever comes over the mind than the idea that we are alone in the world, that we do not have a friend, that no one cares for us, that no one is concerned about anything that might happen to us, that no one would care if we were to die or shed a tear over our grave.

No one felt loneliness more keenly than David. In a series of earnest, heartfelt appeals to God, David cried out in his loneliness and despair. His own son had risen up against him, the men of Israel went after him, and he was forced to flee from the city, and leave his house and family. Lonely and afflicted (Psalm 25:16), his only recourse was to turn to God and plead for mercy and God’s intervention (Psalm 25:21) because his only hope was in God. It is interesting to note that the word “lonely” is never used in the New Testament to describe people. In the New Testament, the word “lonely” only occurs twice and both times refers to desolate places (Mark 1:45; Luke 5:16), where Jesus moved off into the wilderness to be alone.

Whatever the cause of loneliness, for the Christian the cure is always the same—the comforting fellowship of Christ. That loving relationship with our Master has reassured and encouraged countless thousands who languished in prisons and even went to their deaths for His sake. He is the friend who “sticks closer than a brother” (Proverbs 18:24), who lays down His life for His friends (John 15:13-15), and who has promised never to leave us or forsake us but to be with us until the end of the age (Matthew 28:20). We can take comfort in the words of the old hymn that says it best: “Friends may fail me, foes assail me, He is with me to the end. Hallelujah, what a Savior!”

30/11/2024

:Faith
What are some things that make a good friend?
What is the purpose of friendship? Friends walk beside us in life, helping to strengthen us and encourage us.

As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.
— Proverbs 27:17,

A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity.
— Proverbs 17:17,

Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart, and the pleasantness of a friend springs from their heartfelt advice.
— Proverbs 27:9,

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up.
— Ecclesiastes 4:9-10,

Bible Verses About Friendship
God loves friendship, and his Word reflects that! Learn what the Bible says about friendship, including the purpose of friends and how to be a good one.

What Is Friendship?
Friendship is a bond of mutual affection between two people. Our friends are special, sticking by our side when we suffer and laughing alongside us when we experience joy.

The Bible is full of examples of people who held a special bond with each other and whose relationships were filled with warmth and affection. After all, God created us with a need for community and a desire for connection.

The LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.

— Genesis 2:18,
Here, we dive into God’s word to discover the truth about friendship. You’ll find many Bible verses about friendship, including those about the importance of friends and how to be a good friend to others.

28/11/2024

Loneliness will creep into most lives at some point. However, as believers, we are never truly alone because God has given us an unfailing companion --the Holy Spirit.
None of us can truthfully promise always to be available; the realities of time, distance, and even death can separate people. Thankfully, by sending the Holy Spirit to live inside us, Jesus keeps His promise to never leave or forsake us (Heb.13:5)
Human beings were never meant to live alone. God designed us to be complete only when we are indwelt by His Spirit, which occurs upon our salvation. We can, however, choose to ignore the Holy Spirit. For example, some people stubbornly attempt to live the Christian life in their own strength or skip Bible reading when they find meditating on the Word inconvenient. That kind of life is marked by discontent: Peace will be fleeting, and loneliness will feel like the heart's permanent resident.
The Holy Spirit is our parakletos, or companion who "walks beside." If we hold Him at arm's length, we distance ourselves from the Father as well. But if we ask the Spirit to guide our steps and open our mind to God's plans, He will support and encourage us in ways we never imagined. ✞ 🕊️

:16-18
-22 💛

17/09/2024

17/09/2024

Brokenhearted and Crushed In Spirit.. ✞ ✨
(Psalm 34:18) 🕊️

02/07/2024

"In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16) 🕊️ 💖
'Light is meant to be seen by those in the darkness. It has no value if covered up and hidden. This verse provides the practical application of Jesus' teaching about being "the light of the world." Disciples display the light of Jesus by doing the good works which God intends for them.'
To walk in his goodness and grace, and to shine to others, showing all you encounter through God's bright light of hope and everlasting life.
Jesus said, “Let your light shine before others” (Matthew 5:16). He explained that no one lights a lamp just to hide it under a basket. A lamp is meant to be placed on a stand to give light to everything around it.
Love, holiness, goodness, knowledge, wisdom, grace, hope, and God's revelation.
For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God's glory displayed in the face of Christ Jesus!💝

☝🏻🙌🏻

03/04/2024

✨ Have a Joyful Risen Day of Christ Jesus Our LORD and Savior King! 🕊️ 💖

01/04/2024

Blessed Risen Day of Christ Our Lord Jesus! 🕊️ 💖

15/02/2024

Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent. Its official name is “Day of Ashes,” so called because of the practice of rubbing ashes on one’s forehead in the sign of a cross. Since it is exactly 40 days (excluding Sundays) before Easter Sunday, it will always fall on a Wednesday—there cannot be an “Ash Thursday” or “Ash Monday.” The Bible never mentions Ash Wednesday—for that matter, it never mentions Lent.

Lent is intended to be a time of self-denial, moderation, fasting, and the forsaking of sinful activities and habits. Ash Wednesday commences this period of spiritual discipline. Ash Wednesday and Lent are observed by most Catholics and some Protestant denominations. The Eastern Orthodox Church does not observe Ash Wednesday; instead, they start Lent on “Clean Monday.”

While the Bible does not mention Ash Wednesday, it does record accounts of people in the Old Testament using dust and ashes as symbols of repentance and/or mourning (2 Samuel 13:19; Esther 4:1; Job 2:8; Daniel 9:3). The modern tradition of rubbing a cross on a person’s forehead supposedly identifies that person with Jesus Christ.

Should a Christian observe Ash Wednesday? Since the Bible nowhere explicitly commands or condemns such a practice, Christians are at liberty to prayerfully decide whether or not to observe Ash Wednesday.

If a Christian decides to observe Ash Wednesday and/or Lent, it is important to have a biblical perspective. Jesus warned us against making a show of our fasting: “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen” (Matthew 6:16-18). We must not allow spiritual discipline to become spiritual pride.

It is a good thing to repent of sinful activities, but that’s something Christians should do every day, not just during Lent. It’s a good thing to clearly identify oneself as a Christian, but, again, this should be an everyday identification. And it is good to remember that no ritual can make one’s heart right with God.



https://www.gotquestions.org/Ash-Wednesday.html

15/02/2024

“In 1986, The American Medical Association published an article titled "The Physical Death of Jesus Christ". It details the entire process of Jesus' trial to His death on the cross. In Luke 22, before Jesus is arrested, it is written that He was in great distress & sweating blood. Although rare, it is recognized as Hematidrosis, caused by high amounts of stress.

At the time, the crucifixion was considered the worst death for the worst of criminals. But this is not all Jesus faced. He endured whipping so severe that it tore the flesh from His body. He was beaten so horrific that His face was torn & His beard ripped. A crown of thorns, 2-3 inches long cut deeply into His scalp. The leather whip used to flog Him had tiny iron balls & sharp bones. The balls caused internal injuries while the sharp bones ripped open His flesh. His skeletal muscles, veins, & bowels we're exposed, causing major blood loss. Most men do not survive this kind of torture. After Jesus was severely flogged, He was forced to carry His own cross while people mocked & spat on Him.

Crucifixion was a process meant to instill excruciating pain, creating a slow & agonizing death. Nails as long as 8 inches were driven into Jesus' wrists & feet. The Roman soldiers knew the tendon in the wrists would tear & break, forcing Jesus to use His back muscles to support Himself to breathe. Imagine the struggle, the pain, the courage..Jesus endured this reality for 3 hours!

The Gospel of John writes that after Jesus' death, a Roman soldier pierced His side with a spear & blood & water came out. Scientists explain that from hypovolemic shock, the rapid heartrate causes fluid to gather in the sack around the lungs & heart. The gathering of fluid in the membrane around the heart is called Pericardial effusion & the lungs, Pleural effusion.

To the world, Christianity is as foolish as it can get. They believe it's for the weak. But when you are confronted by the reality of the cross, it's clearly not a pretty sight. It is brutal & horrific. This is the weight Jesus carried. The weight of the sins of the world, all so that we can live. God's wrath is fully satisfied in Jesus. This is what it took. Repent & believe! Jesus is “God among us” in the flesh. Jesus is our Savior. Jesus loves you so much, He went through this spiritual and physical punishment for your sins and mine. Jesus is Lord, Almighty God, Everlasting Father.”
~ Rena Parsons

Article with more graphics & info:
https://g3min.org/medical-report-the-physical-death-of-jesus-christ/