Take a weekend off, relax, enjoy, and just be thankful!

As you begin this weekend, think on all the great things, and family you have in your life. Stop and take a breath, work less, relax more, God has given you a golden opportunity, praise Him for this gift (Psalm 100:1-2)! The psalmist was expressing a heart of gratitude here, just taking time to be thankful. With that comes rest and relaxation.

I feel, if we would just take some self time, stop and take a look around us and see what we have truly gained, we would view weekends much differently than we do. They are not always times to work harder, but times to breath and enjoy the pleasures God has given us. A time to look to Him and say thank you, a time to spend with Him, enjoying His creation.

When was the last time you made a joyful shout as the psalmist wrote? When was the last time you just bursted forth in songs of thanksgiving? When was the last time you really had a good time with your weekend? If you have to stop and think about it, you haven't! But it is not to late to start fresh, if you are reading this you are still alive, so live!

Let God lift you up, come before His presence with thanksgiving, sets your sights above your circumstances. Burst forth in song, shout it out from the mountain tops, or even from the valley you may be in, He is right there with you! He has promised He will never leave you or forsake you. Mountain top, valley low, where ever you, are He is there!

So take a weekend off, you deserve it! Relax, enjoy, refresh and just be thankful. See if this does not enhance your worship in church this Sunday!! Praise God for all He has done and given us!

We are as successful as those around us!

How do you measure success? Look at the people you surround yourself with. Are they encouraging, or agreeing, there is a difference! (Proverbs 1:5) I have read that Walt Disney was a man who felt, if you always agreed with him, you had no vision! If you always agree you would go no further than where you are! That does make perfect sense to me if you really think about it.

No one is always right, including ourselves, but if we have people around us who always agree with us, we can easily be convinced we are. We do not need that in our lives, we need to be challenged to take the next step. We need people around us who do not just settle because it feels good or comfortable! I like what it says in Proverbs 1:5-A wise man will hear and increase learning, and a man of understanding will attain wise counsel.

Well wise counsel does not always agree with what we are doing or the direction we are going in. What wise counsel tells you, you need to go against the grain! You need to, at the very least, make an effort to go after a goal, not many goals. If you cannot achieve the one goal why in the world set many goals? Because one does not agree, does not mean they are against you either. It very well may mean, they are more for you than those who agree with you always!

Yes there are times when people need to agree with you, yet there needs to be balance in your life, so you also need those who do not. If we are not being encouraged to be better, if we are not being encouraged to go after the ring again, even if we miss it a time or two. Than we may need to look at some of those folks we surround ourselves with?

We need to ask the tough question, what do I really need to hear right now, I am right, or I am wrong? Whatever it takes to move ahead, and not just settle, that is success. We need to have people around us pushing a little harder, challenging a little stronger. We need those around us who will dig us out of a rut, and not jump in it with us!

If the blind will lead the blind, they both will fall in the ditch (Matthew 15:14). We need people around us that see a bigger picture, a clearer picture. People that just plain see, that we have some success in us and are able to pull it out, especially when we cannot. Do not get stuck in agreement mode, do not settle for the mediocre, surround yourselves with people who are successful. Don't confuse wealth with success!

Wealth can be part of success. But wealth alone does not make us successful. If we cannot manage wealth because it manages us we have fallen short of the mark. Success is measured in how we are able to handle wealth. Many successful people are wealthy, yet you would never know it, because they do not wear their wealth on their sleeves. When you know who you are, you do not have to prove who you are! That is success.

First thoughts, success or defeat?

What was the first thought on your mind this morning? That could be the difference, between a day of success, or a day of disappointment (Psalm 1:1-6)! We really need to stop and think about our thought life. What we may come to realize, just how defeating we are to ourselves in many ways. When we set our thinking above and before God, who wants us to be successful, we tend to miss the boat!

What I am trying to say here is this, we need to start seeing a bigger picture, one that is bigger than ourselves. We need to redevelop a right relationship with the One who will guide us on the road to true success. Not as we see in the world, or how the world measures success, but how God deems success! That begins with our thought life. How we begin, and end the day, if we start and finish with God, we will be amazed at how different our life can be.

The Psalmist wrote," But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night" (Psalm 1:2). The writer here put all his thought life into the Lord and His precepts. He sought the Lord day and night, and set his heart on all the Lord had to offer him. It brought him a delight and joy, he continues to share the results of this kind of thought life, and a life dedicated to God.

"He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf shall not wither; and whatsoever he does will prosper." (Psalm 1:3). Wow! Now that is the way you should want to start your day. A day starting and closing with your thoughts on God and His promises. Knowing that God is faithful and will provide all He promises, as we are obedient and faithful to His word!

When we do this, we will be planted and nourished, we will be fruitful. Lives will be changed as a result of our faithful living. Our life shall show prosperity in all ways, spiritually first, our cup will run over, in all other things we will be successful, why? Because we start and finish with God. We give it all to Him at the start of the day, and whatever we set our hands to do He will make it successful,  at the end of our day rest from fruitful labor! A rest we cannot seem to grasp on our own, and in our own way.

How you start and finish your day can make all the difference in how you view your relationship with God. How you develop relationships with others, and how you will perform at what you do for a living. If you are not viewing your life as a success, stop and review how your day started. What was your very first thought of the day, success, or defeat? Think about it!

A little balance job could make a big difference!

Our life is just like a car tire, when it wobbles we get a little stressed, when all it may need is a little balance! Yet if ignored, can cause a worn out life, facing an unnecessary blow out (I Peter 1:13)! What we have to do many times is go to the garage for a little repair. The problem we run into though, we feel it is not that big a deal, and hope it will work itself out!

What happens usually is a bigger and more costly problem, leaving us wishing we had dealt with it sooner! Causing us to scramble looking around for the best way to handle the situation. This is when we need to stop and reevaluate the whole picture, we need to clear our minds and refocus. We need to get back to the repairman of our lives, Jesus!

Once we have gotten our thoughts together, get some control back, and refocused on our relationship with Jesus, we can get a plan of repair. We can stop stressing, and get to work on the wobble no matter how bad it has gotten. We can get our lives back on the road and smoothed out, and experiencing God's grace once more.

I Peter 1:13 says, Therefore gird up the loins of you mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. We have so much more to look forward to, than to get caught up with wobbles! Even if the wobbles of life get neglected and become to big for us to handle, God wants them. He does not want us distracted with the cares of this world.

He knows that it is hard to come to the garage. He knows that there are times we let things get out of hand. Yet, He is there waiting patiently for us, wanting our repairs wanting us to give them to His Son Jesus, who took our place in the repair line! We need at times to be reminded of this. So when the tires of our life begin to wobble, we come directly to Him.

His garage, the church, a place we can bring that wobbly tire of life for balancing. A place we can be reminded of His unfailing love and grace. A place where we can leave that wobble at His throne of grace, and leave with some balance of mercy, and help, and peace of mind, that will help us down that road of life and keep us between the lines.  

Who do I love most?

As a Pastor my first love has to be Jesus, when I love Him as I should, my love just overflows to others, and it's genuine (Matthew 22:36-40)! If we as Pastors are going to reflect Christ to others, then we need to reflect Christ's love to others! To do that we need to be reminded, as was the Pharisees, you have to love God in a certain way.

You have to love Him with everything you have, and before everything you have. What that means, is the love you have for God has to exceed the love of family, church, and even self. When we can do this, and strive to do this, we will see greater things and our love will be overwhelming! When we love God, with all our all our heart, soul, and mind, everything around us cannot help but benefit.

That includes Pastor's. When  Pastor's give themselves to Jesus, loving Him with their all, they will give their all to everything around them, including themselves. When we as Pastor's come before the throne of grace, we need to first and foremost fall in love with God all over again. When we do this it is humility, and God loves that.

God wants to have that love relationship with everyone, and when people can see that love flowing from their Pastor, they also tend to follow suit. They tend to ask what is going on with the Pastor? The answer that needs to be given, I have fallen in love with Jesus all over again! Agape love, the love that flows from God to us, and from us to God, and to all those around us.

When we can love God like this, when we can love our families, our church, and even ourselves, we will see the power of the Holy Spirit take off like never before! When asked what the greatest commandment was, Jesus replied, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind". This is the first and greatest commandment. "And the second is like it: you shall love your neighbor as yourself.' On these two commandments hang all the law and the Prophets."

We need to fall in love with Jesus again. A lost and dying world is searching for true love. They need to see it in us, and if not in us then who?

The right could be wrong?

When you insist on being right, beware, because something wrong, is just around the corner! Admission of wrong, is always easier in the beginning than the end (Proverbs 30:32-33)! Sometimes our forcefulness to be right can cause a great deal of harm! One thing we must always remember, there is only one who is right always, God!

I think we forget, especially when we do not measure our correctness with God and His word. Most times we end up apologizing much more than we should. We lose ground when we do this. We lose credibility with those around us, and most sadly with the lost world! When we have to be so right, when we try and force feed people with our opinion, it makes us so very wrong!

Being right always is a type of self exulting as spoken in Proverbs, If you have been foolish in exalting yourself, or if you have devised evil, put your hand to your mouth. We need to thing before we speak, we need to think it through, and search the word of God for confirmation. We need to evaluate whether we are adding to God's word or taking away from it!

Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him. Do not add to His words, lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar (Proverbs 30:5-6). It is so much better being right with God's backing, than it is, thinking we are doing God a favor! He does not need our help, he needs our obedience, to Him and His word. When we truly understand this concept, it becomes less important being right, and more important being the right example!

People in the world have been hearing more about change, but seeing it less in the life of the believer! We need to show as much by deed as we do word, even when the word seems easier. Words alone are never enough, the world needs to see consistency in the life of the believer! Our many words need to match our walk, and our walk needs, most importantly to reflect Jesus!

President Harry S. Truman knew how to use words, yet he also knew how they needed to reflect in his life, if he were to be an effective leader. He said it all with a saying displayed on his desk, "The buck stops here". A sign that remained on his desk always. Sometimes actions speak much larger than words. He lived out these words always, by taking responsibility to every word or decision he made, right or wrong! (Truman library and Museum)

Dr. Martin Luther King, would never admit to be perfect, he was just a man on a mission. The one thing people have to admit here is, he not only spoke memorable words, but he also lived out those words! He never walked behind the crowd he was encouraging. He walked up front and lead the way, many times not saying a word! (Selma to Montgomery marches)

So the next time we are so adamant about how right we may be, are we just as adamant about being the living example we should be? Are we as willing to admit we could be wrong? We may have missed God, or added a little more of us than we should have? Are we as quick to search the scriptures, to make sure and to be clear we are right? It is never about us, but it should always be about Him (Matthew 5:13-16)!

Our true best gets results!

When we have the best to offer, and do not give it our best, should we expect the best from everyone else? We miss so much when we half step life (Proverbs 15:19). If your best does not come out, if we are not good enough to give it our all, why do we think anyone owes us, or why do we think any less of others when we do not get their best?

Proverbs tells us, the way of the lazy man is like a hedge of thorns, meaning when we do not put forth the effort needed to accomplish life, we are hindered by many distractions. The rest of that verses tells us, but the way of the upright is a highway. meaning, when we give our all, the possibilities are endless. I kinda like that second part.

What we expect out of others and even God, is usually something we ourselves are not willing to do. It is always easier, to put expectations on folks, more than ourselves, because working at life is hard. We want the easy way, yet we will not allow others that same choice. What we put forth out of our own life, is what we most generally get. Usually those thorns that hold us back, that distract us from achieving Gods best in life!

What is holding you back today from giving it your all? What you expect from others, are you willing to step up and give it what it takes? If not, are you willing to stop, take a look, reevaluate your own life before being so hard on others? Are you stuck in the thorn bush of distraction? Get those spiritual hedge shears out and start cutting away.

Clear your path to the highway of possibilities! Don't be lazy. Don't get caught up with distractions. Do not hold back. Give it your all! The best you can, even when you think you cannot. That is when we ask God to give us what we need, at just the right time, strength, power, and His might (Eph. 6:10)! We are not alone, nor do we have to do it on our own!

When we give it our best, when we do all to help others be successful, we find the possibilities are endless. We will find that most folks, will not even have to be prodded, if we lead the way by example. Why half step life, when we can travel down the highway of the best life has to offer? With us all things are impossible, but with God all things are possible!

Always something better to do!

When you think you have nothing better to do, you need to think, because there is always something better you could be doing (Jame 1:27). When we get in this thinking mode, we need to start looking beyond ourselves and to others. Usually we are stuck with the idea, it cannot get any better, well it can if we look harder. When we think we have nothing better to offer, we won't!

Our thinking gets hung up here, when it does, it is time to get out of ourselves and focus on life around us. James tells us, Pure and undefiled  religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world. Wow, just when we thought we could do nothing better, God gives us something to do.

We can always find something better to do, it's all around us, even in our own families! We sometimes get so busy doing what we think God wants us to do, we miss golden opportunities right in front of us. When we get too busy to stop and share Jesus, in a loving, time giving way, we are too busy. We get worn down and our power seems to drain. That is why the thinking, nothing better to do.

On our own, that is true, yet when we seek the power of the Holy Spirit, when we are strong in the Lord and the power of His might (Eph. 6:10) there is nothing we cannot do. It does get better because we are seeking to do the true will of God. We do not get stuck in thinking there is nothing better to do, because the precious time with God is showing us different.

When we think there is nothing better, stop, spend time in fellowship with God. Ask Him what it is He would have you do, be still, be quiet, know He is God. HE will show you there is always something better, exciting, and powerful you can be doing for Him. You will have the energy, wisdom, and compassion you need to reach out to those with no hope. Focus on Jesus and you will always have something better to do

Our thought life makes a day right or wrong!

If today seems like it is not starting well, what is the one thing you are thinking about most (Philippians 4:8). Many people do not believe it, but our thought life has a lot to do with our daily living. What we think about, can very much control how our day, and contacts with people go. Sometimes we just need to do a little personal inventory, and clean out some junk.

There are a couple types of thought here, one, we are right, two, they are right, and three, no one is right! I know that sounds funny, yet when you really think on it, we get stuck on one of those. What we need to do, or try and do, is a little self searching and a little back porch cleaning, so to speak. We need to change the attitude we have toward ourselves, our situations, and others.

Philippians is a good place to start this process, it says to think one right things and right motives. Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of a good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy--meditate on these things.

Wow, what a challenge to change our thought life, to see more clearly, and to see more correctly. I believe, and I struggle here also, if we would stop and think more about what is in our thinking, we would spend less time in bad moods. We would spend less time angry, or finding fault, and even maybe being less critical of those around us, even our Lord!

Think about it, where is your thought life right now, in the basement, attic, or is it in the hands of the One who can change your thinking, as He changed your life. As the word says meditate on these things, truth, honor, fairness, purity, beauty, good and right, and praise God for a great thought life. 

Learning from Disagreement!

One thing we are going to learn in life, if we always agree, we are not being truly honest! Learning comes from disagreement, seeing the other side even when we do not want to (Acts 5:33-39). One thing we have to learn is agreeing to disagree. Why? Because that is when we truly can learn and grow, and come to understand others ideas, though not matching ours, can indeed teach us.

When we learn to listen, when we learn to communicate, in a way that does not discourage others, even  though we are not seeing eye to eye. We are keeping an open door to dialog, we are not shutting people down, we are lifting them up. We are telling them that they are still important and their ideas matter. Even when ideas are in conflict with one another.

The important thing to always remember, we may not agree, but if we are adamant about how right we are, it may keep that person from ever sharing ideas again! We never want to do that! We never want to keep a person, or imply, that the person we do not agree with, will never have anything to add. We want to keep the doors of communication open always. 

The best way to do that, we need to learn to disagree agreeably. The fact of the matter, when we can learn to do this, we may find we are the ones who may have been mistaken. When we can humbly admit  mistakes to someone we have had a disagreement with, that opens doors to a stronger more trusting relationship. Admitting a wrong does not make us wrong, it just means we need to rethink some things.

Gamaliel was a religious man, a pharisee to be exact, they did not want the disciples of Jesus to continue preaching the gospel. They were trying to figure a way to stop them, even kill them if they had too. Gamaliel did not agree to this approach, instead, he used some facts about past events to get their ears. They may not have agreed with him on his approach, but that had to agree on the facts.

The council wanted to get rid of what they thought their problem was right now! No waiting! Gamaliel suggested just the opposite, they needed to wait. If they move to soon it could be a big mistake. They needed to let God take care of this situation. if this idea was of man it will fall short, but if it is truly of God, they would be fighting Him, a challenge they did not want to undertake.

So while we may not agree on all points, are we willing to listen and learn from what we may not agree on? Are we willing to weigh in on the facts more than opinions? It pays to listen, it pays to not jump the gun, it pays to learn from our disagreements, rather than cause unnecessary stress and confusion trying to prove a point! Pray, pray, and pray that we may learn to disagree, agreeably, and learn!

IRON FAITH FELLOWSHIP CHURCH: Who makes the day, is the difference a day could make!

IRON FAITH FELLOWSHIP CHURCH: Who makes the day, is the difference a day could make!

Who makes the day, is the difference a day could make!

You can make this day special, or you can make this day regretful, it's all in how you view it (Psalm 118:24). How we start any day can be the difference, and be a picture of who, or what makes our day. When we expect, people, place, and things, to bring happiness we are setting ourselves up for disappointment for sure! We need to see the bigger picture here, and reach far beyond ourselves to our Creator!

The psalmist did just that, he knew who to set his sights on, and that his joy came completely by trusting God for that need! It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man (Psalm 118:8). That is why the excitement in proclaiming, this is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.(Psalm 118:24).
If we set our sights on us, all the happenings around us, we are trusting in man for that Joy.

We need to set our sights on our heavenly home, we need to understand that everything here is temporary. We need to know, that God has something better to offer than what is perishing away. You are special, you are special in His sight, if you know and believe that, why do you make your days any less special? Make that vertical relationship strong, and guess what? The horizontal will work itself out just fine!

Than you will truly understand, why the psalmist was so rejoicing, so happy, and so willing to make his day special. Who makes the day, is the difference a day could make! Rejoice in the Lord today, if you do not know Him it is not too late.

Just say a simple prayer, Lord You know I am empty, I have done things my way, it has brought me nothing but confusion, a life of struggle, looking for happiness in all the wrong people and places, and things,.Yes I am a sinner who has rejected You, now I turn my life over, take it and transform me as only You can, Jesus take me I am Yours, I am confessing with my mouth and believing in my heart, In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

Things go wrong!

Things go wrong, not to punish us as we may think, things go wrong so we can learn to deal with reality, and when things go right, we are much more grateful! John 9:1-3

Why not let God?

Worry does not come to help, worry comes to take what it can. Worry is believing you cannot, faith in God is knowing He can!! (Matthew 6:30-34). So many of us right now, are caught up with tomorrows, instead of living for right now. Paying the bills, proms, graduations, vacations, all these things we worry about, we try to handle it all. Why not let God?

Believe it or not, these things God wants to handle for you also. Whenever we worry about, what, where, who and how, and when, this all distracts us from the fact God wants to handle it! When we try to do it all, all it does to us, is cause worry frustration and distress! This is nothing but the devil wanting to keep you from prayer and fellowship with God!

In these last days, Satan is working just as hard, and stays just as busy seeking to devour (I Peter 5:8). We need to put on the whole armor of God, stop doing it ourselves, start turning it all over to our God, who wants to carry our burdens so much that He reminds us in His word (I Peter 5;6-7). So many places He reminds us that He is there for us and will never forsake us!

Worry robs us of heath, wealth, and joy. All those things God wants us to have in our spirit. Healthy by being strong in the Lord and the power of His might (Ephesian 6:10). Wealthy in many ways, not just materially, My God shall supply all your needs according to His riches and glory in Christ Jesus ( Philippians 4:19).
He wants us to experience His joy without all worldly distractions.

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your request be known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:6-7). Give it to Jesus more today than ever, as the days are waxing worse! Why not let God?

You were warned!

Whatever you choose to do, whatever choice you make, is your responsibility. Do not complain if the outcome turns on you! (Romans 1:16-19). I have heard many people complain that they are broke. Yet they continue to spend, go on vacations, buy cars, clothes, etc.. When they have no money to pay bills, they complain, and cannot seem to grasp how it happened. Usually the blame lies on the company they work for, not giving them enough money or the raises they deserve.

People always complain, they get into trouble. When they drink, take drugs, hang around certain people, knowing this they still do it. When they do this, make these choices, it always seems to be someone else's fault. They never want to take the responsibility for the choice they made. When the warning signs are there and we do not heed them why do we complain of the outcome?

As children we were raised to follow rules, and if we did not there was a consequence. Usually a spanking, a grounding, or a taking away of privileges. Why should it be any different as an adult? Why do we think it strange when life does not go our way. When we choose to go the wrong direction? Believe it or not, what we were taught as children went to the wayside, what we were taught we threw out the window.

In Romans it tell us that in our very nature, are the attributes of God, so we are without excuse! (Romans 1:20). Inside us we know, yet we make choices that go against what our very nature tells us is right and wrong. The one usually to blame here is God. He made me like this, He caused me to be like I am! Wrong answer! God gave us the ability to choose between right and wrong, and gave us either the blessing, or the curse that may accompany those choices!

In closing this blog, let me share what my father always told me because I would not listen! He said son, you will not do what you are told, so you are going to just have to learn the hard way! Boy did I! Did I really have to learn the hard way? Absolutely not, I made a choice to be rebellious, I made a choice to live my life the way I wanted, and wow did it ever cost me! It does not have to be so with you!

Jesus came that we may have life and have it more abundantly (John 10:10). Come unto Jesus, give Him your life Today, and see how that choice can make the true difference in your life to last an eternity! Remember you were warned, you have been given a choice, now it's up to you!

If I am right is God wrong?

I never want to be so right in my own eyes, that I think I know more, and care more than God (Romans 6:23). God laid out a plan of life for us to follow, and those who did their best for Him, He never let down. These rules for living were put in place to reveal wrong and how to avoid it. Not only that, but after writing and giving these rules for quality life, He gave the consequences for going against them!

Now to some people, they feel this is not fair. But to us who have lived a life of breaking the rules,living with the consequences, I have found God was pretty fair! Everyone, even those who do not believe, have taken scripture and tried to use it to their advantage. That is not why it was given to us. It was given as a road map back to God and the blessings He wants to give us.

There is our way, and there is Gods way. I have seen through the years how our way just has not worked. Even with that, people still do not see that God's way was the best. Reason, rules, people do not like rules, yet they do not like the consequences for breaking those rules. This is the ongoing battle we see here. People just do not want to follow rules.

If they can make everything look, as if it is a good thing, it is the right thing just because they think so, they are taking on the role of God! Believers and nonbelievers do this much to the confusion and dismay of many. As believers, we need to break down the wall of confusion, strengthening our faith daily, being in His word and prayer. We need to be the example of this faith, that nonbelievers see and want some of! Not the opposite!

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. If everything was right and there is no wrong, why than did God send the gift of his Son for us? Why did He have to die for the sins of many if there is no wrong? I think God knew best. I think God knows our hearts better than we do. I think we are not as smart as we feel we are.

The sad part here, because we as Christians have been so wishy, washy, in our walk with the Lord, folks have no reason to believe. Our faith has not been that shining light, the world of darkness needs to see, and give God glory. Instead, being so smart as we are, we have taken the role of god, professing godliness, yet casting doubt all the time! This should not be, we will all one day stand before God and give an account of our rights!!

Changing history is just proving the Bible true!

People think they are changing history. All they are really doing, is proving God's word is true! (II Timothy 3:1-7). There is no mistake at all to what is happening in the world today! Yet we as Christians seem to be very amazed at the happenings, the way the world is going. This should not surprise us either, because the word, The Bible, says these things must happen!

In the last days these things must come to pass, calling evil good, and good evil. II Timothy tells us, that perilous times will come. We are warned in numerous scriptures about last days events. Christians seem caught by surprise, as if something strange is taking place, or prayers are not being answered! We as believers, need to start getting back to the word, and back to prayers for souls!

We cannot just agree for the purpose of agreeing, as if this will change things! Times are not going to get better, and the church compromising in these times are not helping! We need to stand on faith that God's word is true! The book we claim so much faith in! We need to be praying for the souls of our friends and family! We need to be getting the gospel out there more than ever!

Professing believers are going the way of the world, because they feel they are not loving as they should. They are not being like Jesus! Wrong thinking, no where in scripture does it ever say we need to do it the world's way! On the contrary, it says just the opposite. The world will not love us, because it does not love Jesus.(John 15:18). We need to be a light in a world of darkness, a pathway to Jesus clearly marked.

Remember, because things may go opposite to how we are praying, does not mean God is not answering! He is trying to show us that prayer is right where He wants us, at His feet in times like these! Do not give up or give in, do not confuse the love of the world as the love of God! We need to get back to basics. We need to get back to preaching the gospel, that souls will be saved, before it is everlasting to late!

The world is going the way Jesus taught, it is going the way of sin. It is going the way of it's own desires and delights! That is exactly why He will return one day soon to take His bride, the church out, and bring judgement on this world! It has to be that way, and that is exactly why things are going the way they are. God's word is true, and Satan is winning the deception battle. Not only with the lost, but with those who profess godliness!

Wars and rumors of wars must happen, but this is just the beginning Jesus said. This is a time that we as Christians need to use the word of God as a road map, back to Him. We need to use the word and compare it with the happenings taking place here, Jerusalem, and all over the world! Do not get in debates, just stand on the word. We are not going to change the world. It's end is promised! Souls saved, is the only change we can make!

Stuck or free it's up to me!

We are as stuck as we choose to be, and as free as we try to be, Jesus said He would set us free! (John 8:31-36). The choices we make in our lives, determine just how free or trapped we can be to anything! We can desire freedom, yet get trapped in all the ways to get there. There are so many books, so many plans and blue prints it can drive us crazy!

We who try to write, need to be pointing folks to the one who can  truly bring a freedom. We need to do it with less words, and take up less time! I can remember when there was not as many books, and ideas, and ways, to point people to Jesus. We are trying to create new ideas, less obtrusive ways, less offensive, and less forceful ways, that we forget it is simpler than that!

We need to share more testimony than opinion. We need to show more changed lives, than suggestions on how to change! People need to see change as much as they hear about change! They need to see the freedom that comes with knowing Jesus. We being His disciples need to live a life that explodes with freedom!

We need to share the hard times as well as the good. We need to be real. We need to share more Jesus than us! We all get this freedom from Jesus, so why complicate it with more words than illustrations? The bible says, let your light so shine before men, that they may see you good works and glorify your Father in heaven.(Matthew 5:16).

Jesus said, "Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave to sin. And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed".

Stuck in your way, or free, Jesus' way? You have a choice. If your way has not worked, what have you to lose? think about it? All who call upon the name of the Lord will be saved.

Sneaky faith or proudly proclaim?

If you want something done, and you think it is so important, and you think your so right, you should be able to get it done without lying, or being sneaky! If you cannot proclaim it from the mountain tops for all to see, then it may truly not be for you and me! (Ephesians 4:25-32) These verses speak to just this subject, telling us to lie no more and to speak truth to our neighbor!

We as believers should never try and sneak the gospel in anywhere. We should be shouting from the roof tops, Jesus is Lord, and Savior of our lives! We should never use the world's ways to proclaim the Gospel message in any way shape or form. When we do this, what we are telling a lost and dying world, our Lord is not able, so we are slipping this idea in to reach you for Christ! They know, they see!

If we believe the word of God, than we need to preach and teach it all, if we do not, if we pick and choose what suites us, are we not being deceitful  We need to ask ourselves, how do we truly feel when someone lies to us, when a marketer calls on the phone and blindsides us telling us one thing and selling us another! You know what I am talking about here?

How does that make you feel? Angry, time wasted, if they want something why can't they just come out and ask? Upsetting huh? Well think about that when, the next time you have an issue, or an idea, but you feel it will not get a good reception, so you sidestep people with half truths. People like truth, they like it when people come forward with a clear and honest picture of what they truly want, even if they disagree!

We as Christians, have been battling and getting angry at how the world is trying to sneak issues past us, by lying and deception. Are we not doing the same, if we do not stand on the whole teaching of scripture? If we are only screaming and yelling at those times alone, when the world is slipping something by we do not agree with, and quiet the rest of the time is that not deceptive?

We as believers need to walk, talk, and live our faith out everyday, not just when certain issues come up. We need to get back to calling sin, sin, not judging that sin, but leading them to the One who can deliver them from that sin. We need to be hung up on the issues of where they will spend eternity, and not hung up on the one issue of the moment! 

Christians should never come out of the woodwork, on issues of same sex marriage, and abortion only! They should be coming out of the woodwork against what causes these issues, sin! That encompasses many areas, Adultery, drunkenness, sex outside of marriage, lying, cheating, stealing, homosexuality, sodomy, should I go on? Hope you are getting the point?  

We do not gather them in because we are not dealing with all sin! Jesus came and died for our sin that we may live, that is the Gospel message, we are to be fishers, and not cleaners of men! We need to stop giving the world an excuse to point a finger at us for our hypocracy, if we would judge ourselves as we judge others, we as Christians could stop sneaking around and with all the confidence that the Holy Spirit would give us, lives would be changed forever! Even our own! 

The best reward?

The best way to help someone, is not let them know you are helping! (Matthew 6:3) But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. The greatest reward is the one you do not seek, the one you get when you do not expect, or feel you deserve it. The reward is in just doing something for someone in need.

I love watching the news, when someone has done something heroic, how they do not even want to be interviewed. They just did what they felt anyone would have done in the same situation. They just do not want any credit publicly, the smile and appreciation is enough for them! Wow, what if we all felt that way? What if we just helped to help, with no expectation, or cheering from the crowd?

I remember a story of some soldiers who stopped to assist folks in a car accident. They stabilized who they could, and as the EMT's approached they left. They did what they do and wanted no credit! How about us, do we need credit for what we do for people? Do we ask ourselves, why we need the pat on the back, why we need the credit for helping?

God's word says, if we do things in secret, if we do not let our left hand know what our right hand is doing. Matthew 6:4, gives us the rest of the story, that your charitable deeds may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly. You cannot ask for better rewards than that, God wants to bless us for being a blessing!

When you are lost.

When you cannot find your way, when you have lost direction, turn too Jesus He is ready to point you in the right direction, and help you find your way. (John 14:1-6).You know, when we are lost on a trip, we stop and ask direction. When we get to our general location, yet cannot find the exact way to go, we stop and ask.

Even with today's technology, gps, maps, onstar etc., we still can get the wrong information, or even have to take a longer route to get to where we are going. There is no simple way, even with these devices, At times, they take us out of the way. It is the same with our lives. We have all kinds of information out there, all kinds of self-help books and programs, to get us back on the right path.

Yet, even with these helps we can get turned around, get confused, get lost. In Proverbs it says there is wisdom in much counsel, yet if too much counsel is taking you around the barn to get to the house, we need to rethink some things. We need to stop and ask for directions. We need to stop and consider the way we are traveling and maybe turn around.

When all else fails, when the devices and methods are not  getting you on the right road, it may be time to re-boot, trade-in, reconfigure, and even try some new equipment. It may be the time you need to turn to Jesus. He said, He is the way, the truth, and the life. He will not disappoint. He is the road map to life. He is the GPS to God. There is no long way around the barn to get to Jesus, you go straight to Him, and He will get you there.

We as believers, need to be that gps to Him. We need to be that book they want to read. A book, that has in it the illustrations of a lost life that has been found, a life whose direction has been changed. A life that had to stop and ask for the right direction to go, as all the detours of living were keeping us lost, and taking us always in directions we never wanted to go.

We need to be that onstar to God, talking to people, and leading them to that voice of comfort. Helping them to know that He is always there for them when they have needs. Getting them from lost to found, helping them unlock the truths they need in their lives, and help them go in the right direction because now they have seen the right way!