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Archive for the ‘Reflections’ Category

This Is Our Spiritual Act Of Worship

15 Jun

Romans 12:1-2 –1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. 2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

The above scripture is what God has been putting on my heart since I started my blog.  Most of the inspiration portion of my blog is based on one way or another these two verses.

Why has God put this on my heart?  Because, especially in America and in our time period, most of the church has even fallen off the wagon.   If we can get the verses above to be our guide, we will be seeking God on a daily basis.

 
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Posted in Encouragement, Inspiration, Motivation, Reflections

 

He Knows If You’ve Been Bad Or Good

14 Jun

Nope, not Santa.

Proverbs 5:21 –21 For a man’s ways are in full view of the LORD, and he examines all his paths.

You’re not only being viewed at all times by someone who can view everyone at once, but I have no doubt like a computer it’s all recorded and on record.

Don’t worry, I don’t think there is too many people out there to excited about that since we are all sinners.

However, we need to view our own lives under a microscope and realize that life here isn’t just about selfishly pleasing one’s self before cashing it in.  On the contrary I don’t think anyone would want to sit in front of that home movie when it’s time for us to present it to the Lord.

He knows the number of hairs on your head.

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

He is all seeing and all knowing.  Even before you do it. 

We need to care about what God thinks of our lives.  I know, most people drown that out.  Satan does a good job of telling us to do that.

Today is a new day to live your life for your Lord.

 
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Quote- Martin Luther

12 Jun

To be a Christian without prayer is no more possible than to be alive without breathing.
Martin Luther

Prayer is our communication with the Lord.

Prayer isn’t always a formal gathering.  The nice thing about those is when 2 or more are gathered it says the Lord is there with them.

Matthew 18:20 – 20 For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.”

However, we should be praying all the time to our LORD.  It’s our communication line that we can praise Him, thank Him, request to Him, ask Him to answer questions, ask Him for understanding, ask Him for strength, etc.

A relationship without communication; is what kind of relationship?

I’ll let you answer that one.

How often should we pray?

1Thessalonians 5:17 –  17Pray without ceasing.

 
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Posted in Quotes, Reflections

 

Intervention

09 Jun

Matthew 2:12 – 12 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.

Who has the ultimate upper hand?

That’s right God does.

The devil knew that the best time to try and kill Jesus was when he was a baby.  Satan knew he was coming into the world.  However, he needed to have the evil people who were willing to get the job done available.  In this case it was Herod.  Herod was king and one put into position by the Roman government.  His motivation was that there was only room for one king and that was him.  Enough so that he ended up going and killing the male Jewish babies that could have possibly have been Jesus.

Wow.  That’s evil.  We’ve seen many evil people in the history of the world.  They’re all listening to the wrong voice.

God is good.  So what is evil?  The further away you get from God (good), the more evil you become.

There is only one God in three Persons.  Only He knows the future and can intervene concerning time.  That’s pretty powerful.  Actually it’s beyond full comprehension.  That’s why only God can one hundred percent predict the future in prophecy he has shared. 

What are some on the intervening things that happen?  In the past we have heard of people not being able to visibly see others that they are hunting down.  Then there is the warning dream like we read above.  Also there is the angel that can be a messenger.

I have no doubt that God who knows the future, intervenes at times for things that could have happen.  How easy is it to throw off a continuous motion and disrupt time?  You’re lying in bed and the fire alarm goes off.  It stops after about 15 seconds and there is no sign of any fire or smoke.  Your timeline has just been changed compared if it had not gone off.

It doesn’t take much, but God is in control.

What’s He not in control of?  Evil thinking people.  They are out of control for the most part.  Some way more than others.

Intervening.  Mind boggling stuff and really none of us probably understand it past a small extent, but we do see it.  If we pay attention and keep our eyes open and hearts on God, it happens to us all.

Prayer is so important.  Continually pray for yourself, your loved ones, and anything else the Lord puts on your heart, because there is power in prayer.  No selfish power, but God loving power.

 
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Posted in Encouragement, Inspiration, Opinion, Reflections

 

Psalm 24:1

08 Jun

Psalm 24:1 –  1 The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it;

Do you think there are many people living in America that would have a problem with this verse?

Oh yeah, this country is full of people that have a problem with that verse. 

Why?

Because they have allowed their hearts to become hard.  They have bought the lie that they don’t have to answer to God and that God has no right to be able to tell them what to do or how they should live.

God created the earth.  God created us. 

Yet because the fall and pride, man’s heart either is going to accept Him as Lord, or they will reject Him.

Ultimately there will be no excuse, because if they seek Him, they will find Him.

Matthew 7:7-8 –   7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

We were created by God.  The whole universe was created by God.

Who do you think is in charge?  Who would it be wise to listen to?

 
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Love Each Other Deeply

06 Jun

1 Peter 4:8 – 8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.

So what is love?  Ah, I see some of you shimmying your heads sideways.  C’mon, don’t hurt me.  No more. 

Love isn’t just telling everybody what they want to hear.  Love isn’t agreeing with what everyone has to say. 

Love is about truly about caring for others in a way that causes you to go out of your way to make sure they are taken care of.  It’s about looking out for their well being.

I look up to people who are strong at this.  Probably because I have to work at it with people I’m not really close to.  It’s easy for me to Love others I’m close to, but the Lord wants us to love our neighbor.  He wants us to show love and kindness to those that it doesn’t come natural. 

Think about those people.  We all know a few.  Their love because of God shines through and it’s genuine.  God’s love is powerful.  Who are we close to?  I know I’m drawn to people who look out for me, love me, and we have things in common.

Above all, love isn’t about letting people slip into eternity into Hell without sharing the Gospel and Jesus as much as you can while you or the others are still alive.  A little here and little there is all it can take.  Understandably there are those who will never accept Him, but we don’t ever want it because we never shared it enough.

The devil loves to have people take the attitude that their faith is a personal thing and they don’t need to share it.  Wow!  Someone share that verse with me?  We’re to be a light on a hill.  Salt that loses its saltiness is only good for throwing in the river.

Matthew 5:13-16-13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.

   14 “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

We need to let our light shine and love each other deeply!

I had a reflection that came to my mind when reading the last part of 1 Peter 4:8.  We know that it is the blood of Jesus that covers our sins.  The thing that I got from the fact love covers over a multitude of sins is much sin comes from our selfish desires.  If one loves deeply for others and concentrates on that, they are probably staying away from more areas that lead to sin.  That’s not a breakdown from the concordance or anything, but just something that came to my mind.

To end this post;

 Jesus feels that loving God and your neighbor are pretty important.

Matthew 22:36-40-   36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”

 37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

 
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Quote – Keith Green

05 Jun

If your heart takes more pleasure in reading novels, or watching TV, or going to the movies, or talking to friends, rather than just sitting alone with God and embracing Him, sharing His cares and His burdens, weeping and rejoicing with Him, then how are you going to handle forever and ever in His presence…? You’d be bored to tears in heaven, if you’re not ecstatic about God now!
Keith Green

I would like to add that the fast paced, pleasure seeking country we live in has really brought this quote to life.

If God made this earth and everything that is in it, including us, how can man feel this way that Keith was referring to? 

I see most people feeling this way and that’s why they are chasing after this world. 

To think that the world would have more to offer than our Lord is just a matter of not seeking Him.  I can look back on my own life and before I turned the reigns over to Him, I made things unhappy, stressful, and my life was nowhere mess. 

Don’t buy the lie.  The lie has been for sale for 6,000 years.  The serpent and Devil has been selling this untruth for anyone willing to buy.

What are going to seek?  The other lie is that you can live one way and still be fine in the other.  The New Testament warnings do not indicate that.  Either to not know Him at all;

Matthew 7:21-13 –  21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

or to be saved, but all works burnt up, can’t be the goal Christians will want to have come the Judgment.

1 Corinthians 3:11-15 – 11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13 his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man’s work. 14 If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. 15 If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.

Seek the Lord!  You will find that the more you seek Him and truly know Him better, the more you will understand what Keith Green is saying.  You will also find the true reason you were created and will get back on the path God had intended for you.

If you take time to seek Him, he’ll still give you some time to enjoy those special things you enjoy.  You just won’t be making them the priority of your life and forgetting the most important.

 
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Posted in Encouragement, Quotes, Reflections

 

Reflection Of A Song

31 May

Today I just want to reflect on the song that was copyright by Brian Doerksen in 1998.

Come, now is the time to worship.

What an awesome song.  The lyrics are only 8 lines long and yet they tell a story.

We are encouraged to come and worship the Lord now.  We are also encouraged to give our heart over to Him.  Just as we are, we need to come and worship our God.

We then are reminded of the scriptures Philippians 2:10-11.

Philippians 2:10-11- 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
   in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
   to the glory of God the Father.

It finishes with encouraging us that rewards and treasures are given to those who love and obey and gladly choose Him now.   Gladly is a very important word.  He needs to be our first love.  Now is the time worship.

Rather than put a link to one of the versions of the song I want you to encourage you to Google the song and listen to it.

 
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Quote – Dwight L Moody

30 May

Faith takes God without any ifs.
Dwight L. Moody

 

It means complete TRUST.  We need to trust the Lord that He knows what is best for us, more than we think we know what’s best for us.

That trust happens by letting go and following God!

How do we know which way the Lord wants us to go? 

Read the Word and seek His truth.  The Holy Spirit then guides you from there.

There’s only two ways to run your life.  There’s your way and then there’s God’s way.

Proverbs 14:12 – 12 There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.

Psalm 18:30 –  30 As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is flawless.  He is a shield for all who take refuge in him.

 
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Memorial Day

29 May

Monday is a day to remember all those who have given the ultimate price for their country.  It is truly a wonderful sacrifice for their generation and those who have enjoyed the freedoms we have today.

I want to also remember the ultimate sacrifice that has allowed us the opportunity to live our Lord forever.  Thank you Jesus for dying for us all.  It’s because of that sacrifice that allows all who accept it to never perish.

John 15:13 – 13 Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.

 
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