RSS
 

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

 

Mark Of The Beast Technology

03 Feb

What is the Mark of the Beast that we hear about in society so much?

Revelation 13:15-17 –  15 The second beast was given power to give breath to the image of the first beast, so that the image could speak and cause all who refused to worship the image to be killed. 16 It also forced all people, great and small, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hands or on their foreheads, 17 so that they could not buy or sell unless they had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of its name.

The beast is the antichrist.  The other beast is known as the false prophet.  If people don’t worship the antichrist they will be killed.  Makes sense when you realize the antichrist is now the devil the second half of the tribulation, once he raises the antichrist from his fatal wound.  The devil has always wanted to be like the Most High God and be worshipped.

Daniel 11:36-38 – 36 “The king will do as he pleases. He will exalt and magnify himself above every god and will say unheard-of things against the God of gods. He will be successful until the time of wrath is completed, for what has been determined must take place. 37 He will show no regard for the gods of his ancestors or for the one desired by women, nor will he regard any god, but will exalt himself above them all. 38 Instead of them, he will honor a god of fortresses; a god unknown to his ancestors he will honor with gold and silver, with precious stones and costly gifts.

The king mentioned in Daniels 11th chapter is Satan or the antichrist.

So what is the Mark of the Beast?  One will have it in their right hand or forehead to buy or sell.

Today you can have your animal or pet chipped.  It is a passive device that can hold information and when the decoder is shot at it a signal identifier comes back and identifies the animal.

That technology is really yesterday’s technology and with the problems of identity theft, theft, etc., a new type of device will be able to have much more important stuff in it.  Medical, finances, you name it, it will be a complete wallet or purse in a grain of rice sized chip.  Now is that technology bad?  No.  Actually in the name of convenience many people will be happy to have it.

Make no qualms about it.  The Mark of the Beast will not be a credit card under skin.  The devil is going to let you know you’re making the choice to worship him.  This won’t be an accident.  It’s serious business to God also, so there will be no mistake when you accept the 666 in the chip.

Revelation 13:18 – 18 This calls for wisdom. Let the person who has insight calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man. That number is 666.

Here is how plain God makes it for those who accept the Mark.

Revelation 14:9 -12- 9 A third angel followed them and said in a loud voice: “If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives its mark on their forehead or on their hand, 10 they, too, will drink the wine of God’s fury, which has been poured full strength into the cup of his wrath. They will be tormented with burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb. 11 And the smoke of their torment will rise for ever and ever. There will be no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and its image, or for anyone who receives the mark of its name.” 12 This calls for patient endurance on the part of the people of God who keep his commands and remain faithful to Jesus.

By 2017 it is the goal of the one world government groups to have the whole world chipped. 

As a Pre-Trib rapture believer, I don’t expect that the people who have made Jesus Lord will have to go through this.  However, for those left on earth, they will be faced with this decision.  If you haven’t accepted as Lord, please do so now.  Up in the right hand side under pages you may click on that and it will run you through.

 
No Comments

Posted in Bible Prophecy, End Time Prophecies

 

Absolutes Are Fine In Everything But Faith?

02 Feb

I was listening to Dave Hunt the other day.  He was speaking on how ridiculous it is that we have absolutes and rules all around us that need to be followed or chaos erupts.  Still there are people everywhere who want to believe when it comes to God, there are no absolutes, no expectations from God, no rules, it’s just a free for all on whatever you want to think and that leads to Heaven along with every other approach.

It was one of those things where your listening and thinking, wow, isn’t that the truth.  Man has the audacity to say that everyone needs to be tolerant of everybody’s viewpoint; after all we all serve the same God.  The Hindus serve 300 million Gods, none of which are mine or they wouldn’t be Hindu.  The witch doctor doesn’t serve my God.  The New Ager that thinks he’s god, doesn’t serve my God.  How can anyone think that all roads lead to Rome?

When a baseball game is being played, it has rules.  If you don’t follow the rules, you have chaos.  So in as something as simple as a baseball game if you don’t abide by some absolutes, the situation breaks down, but in Faith we don’t need any absolutes?

My God tells me I am a sinner.  I can look at myself on how I think and do things and tell you that.  I can look at other people and tell you there is something drastically wrong with the human race.  With that information I now need a faith that at least explains this.  I know I desire love.  I know love is one of the most wonderful things in life when it’s real.  

It is said that Allah has 99 characteristics and not one is love.  The God in the Bible is love.

1 John 4:8 – 8He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.  KJV

It can’t be the same God.  The Koran states to kill the infidel.  Kill the Jew and the Christian if they won’t submit to Islam.  Does this sound like the same God?  So how can all roads be the same or lead to Heaven? 

Jesus says He is the only way. 

John 14:6 – 6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

People just can’t come to grips that a majority of people could end up choosing hell.

Matthew 7:13- 13 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 

It’s easier to sit back and think, whatever anyone wants to think will just be fine for God.  ????  Does that make any sense even in the world we live in today?

Today if you decide that I don’t want to obey the law or I don’t want to pay my bills, will nothing happen?  Do you think people will sit back and say, well you can believe however you want and it’s just fine, I’ll role with that?   Do you think you can take a test and answer anyway you want and the answer will be fine and you will score an A?  Of course not!  Yet when it comes to however you want to view God, you’re right.  Absolutely ridiculous! 

To study all religions out there is not a hard task.  If someone seeks truth, they will find the one true God.  The other false religions expose themselves quickly.  That’s why I know that we will all be held accountable, because if we seek for truth or the true God at all, instead of our own desires, we will find Him.  We are built that way.

 
No Comments

Posted in Inspiration, Motivation

 

Doers Of The Word, Not Just Hearers

01 Feb

James 1:22 – 22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.

Many today are not even hearers of the Word.  Most don’t go to church.  Most don’t listen to Christian television or radio.  The dangers of this are making God whatever suits your fancy.

Is there a problem with this?

It’s a hard argument to make in front of God that you’re loving Him with all your heart, soul, and strength.

Deuteronomy 6:5 – 5 Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.

Jesus throws in your mind in His words.

Matthew 12:30 – 30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.

Hearers of the Word is the first part that many Christians aren’t even taking the time to do.  So if we’re not hearing, were certainly not doing.

Here is something to reflect on:

If you’re doing what’s right in the Word of God, you’re being a doer.  If you’re purposely avoiding or not doing what is wrong, you’re still a doer.  Both take effort and action.  Taking a stand for the Word of God is being a doer.

What if Abraham just listened to God, when he was told I am giving you this land and he didn’t act on it?  What would have happened if he didn’t listen to God, when he told him to take Isaac up to have him sacrificed?  He wouldn’t have been the father of the Jewish people and his descendant’s wouldn’t be inheriting the promise of the Holy Land.

What if Noah had heard God’s voice and didn’t build the ark?  Well he and his family would have perished like all the rest and if he was truly the only righteous one left, who knows what would have happened concerning the future of man.

What if Moses hadn’t listened?  No first five books of the Bible.  Jews don’t leave Egypt.

These men were doers, not just listeners.  The one’s I mentioned are popular biblical figures, but there have been many doers that have preserved the Word of God, by carefully copying it from scroll to scroll.  Others stepped out on faith such as Martin Luther and William Tyndale so we may all have the Word of God.  Paul spread the Word in the beginning as our most notable missionary.  Could you imagine what would have happened if he hadn’t have been a doer after his engagement with the Lord?

Now understand that God knew the actions of these men before they even did the things they did.  It’s the same reason God can have men write down prophecy and even though they do, it still happens.  God is not restricted to seeing things the way we do.  Never-the-less these men were human and had to step out on faith and were doers. 

Do things for the Lord.  Be doers of good and be doers by not doing things that are against God.  It pleases Him and is there anyone else you would want to please more?

 
No Comments

Posted in Inspiration, Motivation

 

Do Not Worry About Tomorrow

31 Jan

What do worldly responsible people do?  They worry about tomorrow.  I have always been a responsible person.  Take care of yourself so others don’t have the burden of taking care of you.  Put away enough so in the future you have it taken care of. 

I have seen enough people squander all they have on nothing and are broke until the next paycheck.  I was in the military for 4 years, I saw this a lot.  I see others declaring bankruptcy for reckless, I have to have it now spending.  So responsible is good, right?  In a worldly sense, it’s top notch.  In a spiritual sense?  Let’s read further.

Matthew 6:25-34 –  25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

   28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Are these verses telling us to be reckless or irresponsible.  No.  These verses are telling us to Trust in God.  Don’t mistake the casual words of eat, drink, or wear.  These are just the things 100% of us have to do in society.  Many put a lot into all three.  I used to put a lot into the first one.  I was well known for that.  The funny thing is; I knew that.  Many that knew that about me didn’t realize they struggled with one of the other two, or possibly more than one.

This isn’t just don’t worry about eating, drinking, and clothes.  This is about trusting God first.  Seek first the Kingdom of God, then you won’t have to worry about the rest of these things.  Seek first the Kingdom of God, don’t be worrying about building bigger barns.  Verse 27- “Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?”

Were supposed to live for God today and tomorrow will take care of itself, but that’s not how we have been taught by our advisor’s is it?  No we’ve taught to plan for tomorrow.  Work today for that and put God on the back burner for later.  Pretty good scheming by the devil, huh.  I’ve bought into for many years in the name of responsibility. 

Here is the reality after all that worldly advice we got.  Our Country is broke.  It’s leaders are pushing us towards a one world socialism.  It’s trying to get rid of all the have and have nots, while pushing us towards a bunch of we needs.  It’s easy for government to lead those kinds of people.

If were seeking God first, not worrying about tomorrow, and have been for the last 10, 20, 30+ years, then retirement is looking pretty fulfilling.  You have been doing what the Lord has commanded.  If you have been putting the right amount in your 401k and it all collapses like it has and is in jeopardy of doing it again, you’ve responsibly in a worldly way have banked yourself into an empty plan.

Truth is, even if it works out correctly and you sought the world first instead of the Kingdom of God, we’ll find out that the Word of God warned us against that kind of investment.

Don’t worry about tomorrow, God has that covered as long as you’re seeking the Kingdom first today.

 
1 Comment

Posted in Inspiration, Motivation

 

Quote – Charles Stanley

30 Jan

We are either in the process of resisting God’s truth or in the process of being shaped and molded by his truth.
Charles Stanley

It’s the old adage of if you’re not walking forward you’re walking backwards.

1 John 2:4 – 4 Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person.

I picture an analogy of two people standing outside and one has rain hitting that person and it soaks in.  The other stands and has small hail stones bouncing off of them and they hit the ground and melt. 

We have to let the Lord in.  Many hear the voice and tune it in for better reception, others tune it out.  It won’t be just a choice we made when it’s time to stand in front of the Lord, but a decision that will affect your eternity.

 
No Comments

Posted in Quotes, Reflections

 

Wisdom Will Protect You And Change Your Life

28 Jan

Proverbs 2:10-20 – 10 For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.
11 Discretion will protect you, and understanding will guard you.   12 Wisdom will save you from the ways of wicked men, from men whose words are perverse, 13 who have left the straight paths to walk in dark ways, 14 who delight in doing wrong and rejoice in the perverseness of evil, 15 whose paths are crooked and who are devious in their ways.

 16 Wisdom will save you also from the adulterous woman, from the wayward woman with her seductive words, 17 who has left the partner of her youth and ignored the covenant she made before God.  18 Surely her house leads down to death and her paths to the spirits of the dead.  19 None who go to her return or attain the paths of life.  20 Thus you will walk in the ways of the good and keep to the paths of the righteous. 

People are so quick to rush into evil or to chase after it.  We see it all around us and it can be mind blowing at times.  It makes sense though, when you realize that wisdom comes from the Lord and without out it we becomes easy pickens for the evil one.

Proverbs 2:6 – 6 For the LORD gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.

We have always heard the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.  It is repeatedly in the bible.
Job 28:8, Psalm 111:10, Proverbs 1:7, Proverbs 9:10, Proverbs 15:33, Isaiah 11:2, Isaiah 33:6, & Micah 6:9.

What I have found amazing is the more you seek God and His wisdom, the less you fear.  Obviously we are to have a reverent respectable fear.  Not an impersonal scary or else fear.  God wants you to love, obey and respect Him like a Father, not fear Him like prison guard. 

The more you seek Him, the more wisdom you get.  The more wisdom you get, the more you understand Him.  The more you understand Him, the more you understand you and all the fallen problems that surround you.

Seeking God finds wisdom. 

Matthew 6:33 – 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

I always looked at this verse as make God first and all the things that humans chase after and worry about will be there anyway.  Make no mistake the verses leading up to 33 indicate that very well, but it now means even more to me.  Seeking the wisdom and Kingdom first not only pleases God and He provides our needs, Glory be to God as I vouch He always does, but it brings with it the comfort of knowing what’s important and what’s not also.

I don’t have the desire to completely chase after the world anymore, because of the wisdom God has shared with me, not just because it exists on the don’t list.  Seeking the wisdom of Truth, led me to Jesus.  Finding Jesus and God, has led me from seeking me to seeking Him.  Wow.  When we seek ourselves is does some serious spiritual blindness, I will vouch for that.  Seeking God first and not yourself is the only eye salve that works on that blindness.

 
No Comments

Posted in Encouragement, Inspiration, Motivation

 
« Older Entries
Newer Entries »