RSS
 

Archive for February, 2011

God Doesn’t Want Us To Sin, Seriously

15 Feb

We don’t take this serious enough in our day and age.  One of the real problems is the church is trying to reach out to people and get them saved, but don’t put too much pressure on them to turn away from sin or they might not return back next week.  Unfortunately this is reality today and many don’t return.  They would rather attend a service that states you do whatever you want to do, you’re saved.

God hates sin.  The world currently has people believing you should always keep your faith or opinions to yourself.  Of course it does.  The darkness hates light and doesn’t want any light interfering with it.  Anymore if you take a stand for the Lord, you’re a right wing fanatical fundamentalist.  Rest assured if you own that title, you must be doing something right.  That something, is believing the Word of God, taking time to actually read it, and sharing it with others.

1 Peter 4:1-6 – 1 Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin. 2 As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God. 3 For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do—living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry. 4 They think it strange that you do not plunge with them into the same flood of dissipation, and they heap abuse on you. 5 But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. 6 For this is the reason the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead, so that they might be judged according to men in regard to the body, but live according to God in regard to the spirit.

As a new creation in Christ we need to be done with the desires of the world.  In verse 5 it says they will have to give an account to Him.  How much more for a child of God who chooses to continue living as a pagan?

Too many people think that if I just acknowledge God exists, He’ll be thrilled about that in the day and age we live in.

Wrong.  The Word of God doesn’t indicate that at all.  The Word of God states the Lord wants His children to turn from their wicked ways and seek Him whole heartedly.

Choose Jesus and leave the world behind.  It has nothing to offer but temporary encounters in what will be your eternal life.  However, those decisions will be evaluated and accountability will be addressed.

 
No Comments

Posted in Inspiration, Motivation

 

My Wife’s Favorite Psalm

14 Feb

Psalm 1:1-6 –

Psalm 1:1 – 1 Blessed is the one
   who does not walk in step with the wicked
or stand in the way that sinners take
   or sit in the company of mockers,

2 but whose delight is in the law of the LORD,
   and who meditates on his law day and night.
3 That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,
   which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither—
   whatever they do prospers.

 4 Not so the wicked!
   They are like chaff
   that the wind blows away.
5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
   nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.

 6 For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous,
   but the way of the wicked leads to destruction.

No Compromise!  That’s been my wife’s motto.  I’m grateful for it.  She’s been a blessing to me in more ways than a hundred.  But this is definitely one.  Women stand strong.  You don’t have to be the head of the home to help lead it.  Most of you know that already.  The heart of the home pulls most of the strings.

That’s why one of the truest sayings of all time is, “behind every great man is a great woman.”  Also it’s not hard to understand that when we read of an evil woman in the Bible, destruction and evil are rampant.

My mother didn’t wait around till my father was willing to go with us to church.  I’m grateful for it and blessed because of it.  My mom’s obedience won’t go unrecognized when it’s time to stand in front of the Lord.

It doesn’t go unrecognized by this writer of how much God loves him that He blessed me with such wonderful women.  Thanks Lord.

 
No Comments

Posted in Encouragement, Inspiration, Reflections

 

Quote – Billy Graham

13 Feb

God is more interested in your future and your relationships than you are.
Billy Graham

Wow, upon observation over time, isn’t that the truth.

Just watch ourselves and others carefully.  We are sinful fallen creatures and are making decisions that are poor daily.  Some are making more than others.  Most of the time it is a result of one selfishly chasing after the flesh rather than God.

Who one is going to marry and make a vow to on being with them for the rest of their lives, is the second most important decision one can make (choosing Christ as Savior is first).  Yet our world is full of people not making good decisions. 

God cares about our future and relationships more than we do.  Great quote above by Billy Graham.

A good way to start caring about our eternal future is to read the Word and allow God to shape those decisions for us.

 
No Comments

Posted in Quotes, Reflections

 

More Than Conquerors – Part 5

11 Feb

Romans 8:31-39 – 31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written:  “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”

 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Continuing on with this series we are now on verse 5.

Romans 8:35 – 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?

If we truly love the Lord and accept Him as Lord, nobody will separate us from the love of Christ.

That brings us to the things in the second sentence of this scripture.  Shall trouble or hardship bring us further away from Christ?  Only if one lets it, but those things usually push the believer to rely more on Christ and God.  Persecution is usually coming at someone, because they are taking a stand or are characterized by something.  When Christians are being persecuted, it is because they continue to take a stand for the Lord.  That certainly won’t separate us from the love of Christ. 

Will famine, nakedness, physical dangers or death separate us from the Lord?  On the contrary as a believer, it’s in these times that we realize the only sure thing we have is our Lord.

No one, no thing, no circumstance, no trouble, can separate us from the Love of Christ.  He is right there, in good and bad.  However, when things are going good we have more of a tendency to drift.

We always here people struggle with why bad things happen to good people.  God knows how important eternity is with Him, or without Him, even if we can’t seem to get it.  If some life changing uncomfortable encounters are what it takes to bring more people towards Him, it needs to happen.  Sadly enough some people will never turn towards God, good, bad, or whatever happens in their life.

If you make the decision that He is your Lord and look towards Him, nothing can separate you from Christ.  He conquered the grave, so we could be more than conquerors.  We can be the bride of our loving Lord and Savior.  How cool is that?  People look at the church and don’t think a whole lot about it, but those who choose Christ in the church age get to be part of the bride of Christ.

When one has concluded their time on this earth, it will sink in just how important this is.  So if we can fathom this now, we need to live like it now.  We need to live for Him now, not ourselves.  More than conquerors.  He conquered and we need to choose Him.

 
No Comments

Posted in Uncategorized

 

The Gospel Of The Kingdom Will Preached Throughout The Whole World And ………

10 Feb

Matthew 24:14 – 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

One of the end time’s prophecies is that this gospel, God’s Word, will be preached throughout the whole world.  We’re pretty much there now.  It has taken resources, technology, translating, etc., to get it to this point.

Satellite dishes now can send and pick up signals and carry the messages into parts of the earth that couldn’t have been imagined not all that long ago.  In fact man fighting against the freedom to be allowed to hear the Gospel, has been a bigger problem than any on getting the Word out. 

Millions are getting saved on a regular basis throughout the world.  One report states that around 125,000 are accepting Jesus every day.  When you realize that God doesn’t want anyone to perish, it’s easy to understand that he is waiting to pull the trigger on the rapture.  However, there will be a day and someday soon when it will be time. 

With the world moving towards the spirit of antichrist it’s hard to remember that so many away from the civilizations like our own or Europe, are open to the gospel and they are growing.  The rapture will be the end of the official Church Age.  That doesn’t mean people will cease to get saved, it just means the period of time known as the Church Age will have concluded.

It says the end will come.  The end of what?  The world?  Not at all.

Matthew 6:9-13 – 9 “This, then, is how you should pray:
   “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, 10 your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.  11 Give us today our daily bread.  12 Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.  13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.

It’s the end of the age, not of the world.  God’s Kingdom is coming to earth.  Jesus is going to rule for a thousand years, also known as the millennium.  For those who think it’s here already?  You certainly don’t set your bar very high for God’s Kingdom.  No, overall this world is out of control and chaotic.  Once the rapture happens and God allows those who don’t want Him to get their wish it will be in a sense hell on earth.  Then Jesus will come back with His army at Armageddon and take charge.

The Gospel of the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world and then it’s “King Jesus on the throne of David” time.  That will be a time of peace as the King will demand it.  That time is not that far away, as the ability to preach to the whole world is amongst us.

 
No Comments

Posted in Bible Prophecy, End Time Prophecies, Motivation

 

He Will Never Leave Or Forsake “His Children”

09 Feb

Hebrews 13:5 –Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said,

   “Never will I leave you;
   never will I forsake you.”

Who’s God talking to?  Everyone?

God first told this to the Jews in Deuteronomy. 

Deuteronomy 31:6 – 6 Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”

So Moses was letting the Jews know who were getting ready to take the Promised Land, God would be with them.  Why?  Because this is the generation that was ready to serve Him, after the last one had died in the desert for their disobedience. 

God is not telling just anyone that He will never forsake them, just those who are His children.  Being Jewish clearly didn’t count for being His children, because a generation died out in the desert.  Not only that, but only ten verses later after verse six He tells Moses that the Israelites are going to rebel.

Deuteronomy 31:16-18 – 16 And the LORD said to Moses: “You are going to rest with your ancestors, and these people will soon prostitute themselves to the foreign gods of the land they are entering. They will forsake me and break the covenant I made with them. 17 And in that day I will become angry with them and forsake them; I will hide my face from them, and they will be destroyed. Many disasters and calamities will come on them, and in that day they will ask, ‘Have not these disasters come on us because our God is not with us?’ 18 And I will certainly hide my face in that day because of all their wickedness in turning to other gods.

Contradiction? 

No.  It concludes a very important fact.  The people who took the Promised Land as a whole knew the Lord and He wasn’t going to leave them or forsake them.  The future generations after them are not the same people. 

God will not leave or forsake those who have chosen Him.  He will not forsake His children.

What if you’re not His child?  In verse 17 it indicates if you don’t know Him, He’ll hide His face from those people and they will be forsaken.

The message for us is be God’s child.  We are in the church age and we are to accept Jesus as our Savior to be His child.  If we become His children, He will not leave or forsake us.  It has nothing to do with works or even poorly serving Him.  This is about being His child.  The problem with many people is they are serving a God that’s not the God of the Bible.  The Israelites later on were prostituting themselves off to other Gods.  God hid his face from them.

Seek the one true God and His Son.  The one you read about in the Bible.  Then He will never leave you or forsake you.

 
No Comments

Posted in Encouragement, Inspiration

 

Check The Ego At The Door

08 Feb

Paul constantly knew that he needed to remain humble and give glory to God throughout his whole ministry.  Paul conversed with Christ.  He was given prophecy to share.  I believe he knew how important his role was to the spreading of the Gospel.

One thing he never lost focus of was Jesus.  He knew who the Lord was starting with his encounter on his way to Damascus.  It only grew from there.   

Galatians 6:14 – 14 May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

As members of the body of Christ we need to remember to remain humble.  Our victory comes from Jesus and nothing of ourselves.

Proverbs 16:18 – 18 Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.

The Old Testament talks on pride a lot and it isn’t good. 

Is it a proud man that apologizes to others, or a humble man?  Is it a proud man that seeks forgiveness or a humble one? 

The proud man hasn’t got room in his heart for God.  The proud man won’t move over and allow God to work through him, because he feels he has the situation under control.

Check the ego at the cross and humbly bow to the Lord.  We are lost without Him literally and figuratively.  Boast about what Christ has done for you to others, not about how great you are.

 
No Comments

Posted in Inspiration, Motivation

 

If You Say It’s Okay Lord, Then It’s Okay

07 Feb

The first time I remember I really allowed this to get in my spirit was after I lost my brother to congestive heart failure almost 9 years ago.

It’s those times that remind someone that ultimately we’re not in charge.

Matthew 6:27 – 27 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

I believe the Lord loves us so much and only He sees the future.  He knows when to be able to do things in our lives when they need to be there.  We may not always understand at the time what is going on and that is why we need to trust Him.

Psalm 40:4-5 – 4 Blessed is the man who makes the LORD his trust, who does not look to the proud, to those who turn aside to false gods.  5 Many, O LORD my God, are the wonders you have done.  The things you planned for us no one can recount to you; were I to speak and tell of them, they would be too many to declare.

Proverbs 16:20 – 20 Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers, and blessed is he who trusts in the LORD.

Ultimately He has our back.  We can still affect the decisions He makes as we have freewill to choose the things we do, but as His children I believe He still has our back.  He doesn’t allow us to get away from Him if our hearts truly love Him.

Deuteronomy 31:8 – 8 The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”

I don’t believe He’ll allow us to be put in a situation or temptation we can’t face.

1 Corinthians 10:13 – 13 No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

To be forgiven and a redeemed child of God, we have ultimate victory because of our loving Lord.  However, we need to accept that free gift He has offered.  We need to accept Him as Lord. 

We need to realize that if God says its okay, then for the purpose of the Kingdom of God, its okay.  He loves us and will not forsake us.  If we can’t trust God, who are you going to trust?

You can trust God.

 
No Comments

Posted in Encouragement, Inspiration

 

Quote – Martin Luther

05 Feb

They gave our Master a crown of thorns. Why do we hope for a crown of roses?
Martin Luther

 

There is one thing right off the bat that this quote reminds me of:

John 15:20 – 20 Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master. If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also.

One comfort we can take comfort in though, is when we are being persecuted because of Christ, it doesn’t go unnoticed before the King.

Matthew 5:9-13 – 10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.   11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

 
No Comments

Posted in Quotes, Reflections

 

Is Human Perception God’s Perception?

04 Feb

Super Bowl XLV is on Sunday.  It cost $6 to go to Super Bowl I back in 1966.

The latest after market ticket price today for Sunday’s game is right around $5,000.00 apiece.

No big deal to God?

A well can be dug for $5,000 in a community that is dying because it can’t get good water over in some African countries. 

Think God doesn’t care?  You think God doesn’t care how we live our lives and how we use our resources and talents?

Matthew 25:14-30 –

The Parable of the Talents

    14 “Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them. 15 To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. 16 The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more. 17 So also, the one with the two talents gained two more. 18 But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.

   19 “After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. 20 The man who had received the five talents brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.’

   21 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’

   22 “The man with the two talents also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two talents; see, I have gained two more.’

   23 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’

   24 “Then the man who had received the one talent came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’

   26 “His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? 27 Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.

   28 “‘Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. 29 For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. 30 And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

If you think he doesn’t, what does God care about?

I’ll tell you what I think He cares about.  I think He cares about everything.  He cares when someone needs help and someone doesn’t help them.  I think He cares about how we either love others or don’t love others.  I think He cares about when a community is completely evil and is ready for judgment.  I think He cares when they are Godly and He enjoys blessing them.

If he knows the number of hairs on your head, he cares if people are dying and others aren’t trying to help them.

Matthew 10:30 – 30 And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.

He cares if people aren’t finding Him and if His children that do know Him are trying to reach others.

He cares if you have a loving relationship with Him or if you don’t give Him the time of day. 

God cares about everything and He cares if you care.  Its best if we make it a point to learn God’s Word and get a better idea what He cares about, rather than our own opinions or best guesses.

Isaiah 55:8 –  8 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
   neither are your ways my ways,”
            declares the LORD.

 
No Comments

Posted in Inspiration, Motivation, Opinion, Reflections

 
« Older Entries
Newer Entries »