🎬Contend🏁

Focus on standing up for your beliefs, facing your challenges, and debating ideas without anger.

Jude 1:3 (KJV) Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.

I have read that verse many times but today it jumped out at me. Maybe because of some recent things that just happened to an outstanding Pastor that just blew my mind as it shook the Christian Community that knew of him.  Are you ready, this is what jumped out at me “it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith.” When I heard the bad news my heart sink my mind couldn’t understand what I was hearing. This Pastor who has reached more people than I ever will fell into sin. 

I needed encouragement and a moment to gather my thoughts, I first looked around and asked myself do we as a Christian people fear God? I have seen the day where you couldn’t get in the Church house. People at the altars with tears running down their cheeks and many asking Christ to come into their heart and forgive them of their sins. The uplifting music about our wonderful savior and this without padded pew, sound systems, FB, Youtube or any other electronic device. I lived when there was nothing open on Sundays, no shopping, no amusement parks, no youth baseball tournaments. I wasn’t brought up in a strong Christian home; what I mean is we didn't read the Bible as a family nor pray as a family. My dad would say prayers with each of us boys as we lay down for the night. We went to Church and Sunday was a special day given to the Lord. I can’t remember Ever seeing anyone get saved or can I remember ever hearing about Salvation. Then in 1968 off to the military I went and that changed my life forever. It wasn’t all bad. I learned a lot real fast and I grew up quicker than most, which helped me greatly. When I got discharged I came home with a bunch of mental  baggage. It wasn’t hard for me to see I was a sinner and in less than 6 months I had given my heart to the Lord and was saved.

Back to the contending for the Faith. Contend means to “continue” . I need to know that I can’t help nor undo what others do. Just because their FAITH got weak and their FEAR level got low and they became a wash out as far as people are concerned; I didn’t say God but people. Paul said to examine your faith. 

2 Corinthians 13:5 (KJV) Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

Examine who? “yourselves” and see where my faith level is. If I were in court and questions were asked could I prove myself without question? How do I know Christ is in me? What’s the proof? Why do you know that? I’m glad I asked myself that question and here is why. 

2 Corinthians 5:17 (KJV) Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

• Did anything change the day I asked Christ to forgive my sins? 
• Has anything  continued since that day? 
• If so, why what made the difference? 

I asked Jesus to forgive me of my sins which were many.  Romans 10:9 (KJV) That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 

Although no one showed me that verse that morning, that is what I did. I didn’t leave that Church feeling like a rocket scientist but I did know something happened to me. 

• What was that? 

I was now in Christ and Christ was now in me. 

• How did I know 

because the old things began to pass away and my desires changed and I started walking in a new way with a new mind. Is it real? You better know it is. What happened to that Pastor? Two things, 

• his faith weakened and 
• his fear level of what would happen for his disobedience diminished. 

That is what happens when my or anybody else's self level gets to the point of selfishness. One might say that “God made me this way.” That’s half right because we are all sinners but sin is not to have dominion over us. Romans 6:14 (KJV) For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

Don’t let sin captive us.

2 Corinthians 10:5 (KJV) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

How does one keep from being “captivity?” One must have the “the knowledge of God” how does one get that? Proverbs 1:7 (KJV) The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

I just believe I will keep contending for the Faith that was once delivered unto the saints. I know what Jesus Christ did for me; do you? Never forget that God hates sin but also that God loves the sinner and there is forgiveness for our sins. Never let anyone tell you or try to teach you that God won’t forgive you of your sins. Because He will and the proof is in God sending Jesus into this sin cursed world to do just that which he gladly did.  

Hebrews 12:2 (KJV) Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

🏃🏿‍♀️‍➡️So Fast💨

How we think determines how wisely we choose.

Proverbs 29:1 (KJV) He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.

One that has been warned many time yet refuse to be corrected will suddenly understand when it’s to late and no remedy is available. 

Have you ever heard a similar conversation? "I told them numerous times and they didn’t believe me.” They were set in doing things their own way. Doing things our own way which brings me to my thought. If one person tells another about Jesus and His death for their sins. All they have to do to go to heaven is believe and trust that Jesus Christ is the their redeemer. Simple but what if a person was told that numerous times by more than one person and they never trust Jesus as their savior what would be the results? Destroyed without remedy? This is an interesting question. Is the Bible with or without errors? As one man said; “writing about an occurrence long after it happened depended on memory and word of mouth, which we know to be unreliable at least some of the time.” That sounds reasonable until you read this 2 Peter 1:21 (KJV) For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.  Which am I going to believe? If God can’t remember and can’t get His own wording correct then I have to ask myself what is true and what isn’t? How can I possibly know that? I can’t. Then who will? Think if God can’t get it right why in the world would I even begin to believe one of us could? Goes back to where we first started “He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck. The results “suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.” Something happened to me that no one can explain outside of God saving me. Life changed instantly; read you Bible and you’ll read about the blind, the lame, the diseased and many more. What you read every time is when Jesus touched them they were healed immediately. That day when I asked Jesus to save me He did right there and right then. I left different, I left changed for ever. My walk changed, my talk changed, my actions changed for I had been changed for eternity by the Master, Jesus Christ. What happens at death? I don’t know fully but I do know what the Apostle Paul said. 

2 Corinthians 5:8 (KJV) We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

I can say that I have seen more die than I would like too. Some left peacefully and some left terrified. Some left smiling and hands in the air and others left trying to hold on to anything they could. My Pastor James A Peppers said this and I have never forgotten it. “Know why we don’t hear dying people yelling and begging not to go to hell anymore?” “Becasue now they are all drugged up leaving for hell and they don’t realize it to they are already there.” Could it be they were often told but they refused to listen until it suddenly was too late. Oh I’ll wait when the time is near and when will that be? You nor I know the day nor the hour. Wait you say; well morphine may not let you realize what time it is. Death may come unexpectedly in the way of an accident, real fast; then what are you going to do? Remember today, why? 

Hebrews 2:3 (KJV) How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;

Hebrews 9:28 (KJV) So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

If we can be suddenly destroyed we can be suddenly saved from sin. 

🥺Who Am I🧐

It’s where thoughts take shape and where we make choices. Therefore, we must know how to guard it, for it’s crucial.

Have you ever asked the question who am I? Or maybe a similar one like it. We might have taken a questionnaire to know what we were best suited for so we might know how to better be equipped. Casting Crown came out with a song in 2004 named “Who am I.”

At the beginning of the song they say 

“Who am I, that the Lord of all the earth

Would care to know my name

Would care to feel my hurt?”

We all may have felt like that at times when we are asking ourselves questions like why did I say that, or do that? Why did I make that mistake again? I told myself I would never do that again? Why would the Lord want to know me or my name let alone my hurt? The Bible says this in Isaiah 26:3 (KJV) Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.

Here we are told about the mind. Steve Curington always said “before you do it you thought it?” In the book of Proverbs chapter 24 and verse 9 we read 

“The thought of foolishness is sin:” The, What? “The thought” it’s not only the doing, oh no it is sin when we think about it. Isaiah is saying in order to keep wrongful thinking out then we are to keep our minds on the Lord. I know that is not the easiest thing to do but look at it this way. If you see your thinking is going in the wrong direction don’t you think it would be good to change it?  Before you said or did something you later wished you hadn’t? Maybe that is why the Apostle Paul wrote 

Colossians 3:16 (KJV) Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

So we have to change the way we are thinking. With the Lord’s help we can take control of our minds. Why is that so important? Because that is where our enemy the devil is going to attack, therefore we must guard it. 

You are the keeper of the keys

You are the Guard at the Gate

Waiting in line to go through that door

Is LOVE. And also HATE.

In line to enter is GENTLE PEACE.

And also VIOLENT WAR.

You must choose who may, and who

May not come through the door.

INTOLERANCE tries to sneak on through

On wings of FEAR, or PRIDE.

It hides behind DREAMS of BELONGING,

And tries to sneak inside.

Oh! Be alert! You’re the Guard who decides

Who GOES and who may STAY

You are The Keeper of the Keys to your Mind.

WHO WILL YOU LET IN TODAY?

Don’t keep thinking the devil is a red figure with a pitchfork in his hand. While on the other hand we are welcoming him in with open arms into our mind. 

You are the keeper of the keys! 

👩‍🎨Enthusiasm The Passion of Excitement 🌄

What is that? “violent passion or excitement of the mind, in pursuit of some object, inspiring extravagant hope and confidence of success.”

Have you ever heard words of discouragement? I will answer that for you, yes. I have heard those words all my life. My drill Sargent told me I would never amount to anything. I can’t count the times I heard the words you will never be able to that. What is sad about all I just have written and more is that I believed it wasn’t possible for me to do those things. One day I heard a good friend of mine say somethings that changed the way I thought. My friend wasn’t even talking to me he was talking about himself. Oh but what he said greatly impacted my life. This is what he said “I may never have what Ted Turner has but I can have a little bit of what he has.” Think about what he said; not the Ted Turner part but the rest of what he said. I stop trying to be someone else and started being myself becasue it is easy to be yourself. One of my good friends talked to anyone that would listen about Jesus Christ. I wanted so much to have what he had but I wasn’t him. You know what? I can’t have what he had, but I can have a little bit of what he has. Off I went not trying to be my good friend but just be me. It may take me longer but I have learned over the years just what the Apostle Paul said in Philippians 4:13 (KJV) I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Paul said “I can do” but Paul also knew he could not do it by himself “through Christ which strengtheneth me.”  

Calvin Coolidge said it well when he said this “Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.” If I am excited about something there is a reason why.  I must quit telling myself you can’t and start telling myself you can. I remember a sign at a church one day as I drove by. It read “A farmer never harvests a field he first didn’t sow a seed.” I may never have what others have but I can have a little bit of what others have. That goes for anything. Let’s pursue the object with the attitude like the Apostle Paul “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”

👵Good Old Age🧓

Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at 20 or 80. Anyone who keeps learning stays young.” —Henry Ford

Genesis 15:15 (KJV) And thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace; thou shalt be buried in a good old age.

Is that not what we all want? To live to a good old age? Here in Genesis chapter 15 we read for the first time in our Bibles the word “age.” God tells Abraham that he would be buried in a good old age. I know what question is in your mind, the same one that was in mine. What is a good old age? We'll have to read 10 more chapters to find the answer to that question. Genesis 25:7 (KJV) And these are the days of the years of Abraham's life which he lived, an hundred threescore and fifteen years.

A good old age is 175 years. Not only did God promise Abraham that he would live to a good old age; God also said that Abraham would die in peace. First of all no one I have ever known jumped at the opportunity to die for we are too busy living. Not one person that got into a Huey helicopter and was told they were on their way to a hot LZ was excited jumping for joy. Why? They were about to jump out of a helicopter with hot rounds going off and this was no walk in the park. Death was on the ground and it was all around.  No one said I’m so excited I might get shot and killed today. We spend a lot of time and money trying to stay healthy; eat the right foods, exercise, and get enough sleep. Why, we have smart watches that let us know what's going on in our body; blood pressure, heart rate, steps taken, rest time, good sleep time and who knows what else. Do all you can do and you still will not live to be 175. What is a good old age? 

Psalms 90:10 (KJV) The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.

Our years are 70 and if your strength is good then 80 years and you could live longer. Now that being said don’t count on any of that because that is something out of your control. Something or somebody might take your life much earlier. Remember the helicopter? Everyday you and I are in a hot zone. The oncoming driver might fall asleep and hit you head on at 60 or 70 miles per hour. Or at work someone might do something that costs you dearly. There is no guarantee that we will live to 70 or beyond that is why today is so important for it may be the last one we have. In the book of Amos chapter 4 and verse 12 we read these words “prepare to meet God.” We prepare for a retirement we may never get to enjoy. We prepare for vacations we may never get to take. We even prepare a bucket list that may never be fulfilled. While God is telling us that we must prepare to meet him. You know what? That day is fastly approaching and faster than we know. Why it was just yesterday I passed the driving test and got my driving license and took my first solo drive. Wait, that’s not true it has been awhile now but in my mind it’s like yesterday. The clock on the wall is ticking and the days on the calendar are flying off the page. How in the world can I slow them down? I can’t, I’m moving closer and closer to a day that I must ask myself am I prepared for that day? How can one prepare for that day? The only thing we are going to need on that day is have we ever asked Jesus to save us from our sin? If the answer is yes that is wonderful but if not we need to get busy preparing. Psalms 90 verse 10 closes with these words “for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.” Warning, warning Soon! In the book of James we read this; James 4:14 (KJV) Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. A little time!

😨Errors 😰

The way we live often speaks far louder than our words. Billy Graham 

Well I looked and nowhere could I find written in my Bible the word “Mistake.” Out of 783,187 words used in the KJV not one time will you read the word “Mistake.” As I looked more closely I found some errors in my Bible.😱Errors? Unfortunately, yes errors. You may say that’s impossible. I know but let me show you and then you can decide for yourself. I think you will agree with me. I’ll not expose all of the 13 errors I found but I will look at one that is found in the book of Jude.

Jude 1:11 (KJV) Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.

In order to understand the error we must first know a little something about Cain, Balaam and Core. Who were these men? Cain was the brother of Abel and Cain envied the acceptance of his brother's gift. So we see envy is an error. Then there was Balaam; he went astray; it seems that he loved unrighteousness.  

2 Peter 2:15 (KJV) Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;

Then Core went off in the wrong direction by getting others to turn on Mose. I have learned to stay clear of those who want to get you on their side. I know of some who were so upset with their Pastor that they got signatures against his leadership. That my friend is dangerous ground. Think before you sign or get on the side of wrong doing. Core was so convincing that he got a lot of people on his side. His error cost not only himself but those he convinced. Read it for yourselves in Numbers chapter 16. 

You may have thought I was going to reveal errors in the Bible and I did but maybe not like you were thinking. I did write that I didn’t find the word “Mistake” in the Bible. Could the reason be that there may not be any mistakes? On the other hand you and I have made a bunch of errors just like those we read about in our Bibles. We have all made errors. Just the other day my wife and I were on our way home. When all of a sudden a car passed us on a double line in a curve. Why did they do that? I really don’t know. Maybe because I was going the speed limit and he was in a hurry? What I do know is that his impatiences could have caused a major problem in the lives of others. We all make errors and our errors usually affect others. If we spent as much time looking for errors in our own life. As we do others our world would be a much better place. Judas said that he had sinned. Matthew 27:4 (KJV) Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that.

⁉️Just Asked The Thief 🙋‍♂️

 

Ask and it shall be given you, seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.

It was just another day at the rock; the place called Calvary or Golgotha. Men were being punished for their crimes and today might have gone unnoticed except for one man, the man Christ Jesus. He had spent the last 3 plus years helping and feeding people, healing diseases, giving life to those who had no hope or were already dead. Today, this day will go down in history as we read of a common thief who would not just hear words spoken by Jesus but received the gift of eternal life. How could this be? This thief has now been convicted and the courts system of that day said you must die for your crimes. No fast talking lawyer was going to be able to get it reduced to a slap on the hand. Don't let this happen anymore. No he is placed on a cross, on a hillside to die with 2 others. Can you hear the noise? The hateful, hurtful words spoken by the crowd as they cried out. On that day that thief who we don’t even know his name got to do what many think they will get to do; ask for forgiveness at the very last moment. You may not say it but you have thought it, I did. I said when that day comes I will then say “Lord I’m sorry, I didn’t know.” Sounds good but I never thought of how I might die. In a car going off the side of a mountain would I be thinking of dying or would I be too busy trying to stay alive? Never thought I would be driving down the highway and out of nowhere an 18 wheeler hits me going 70 miles an hour. There are many more ways I didn’t give thought to. Oh lucky day for this thief. That day for him was no different than it was for his friend; remember there were 2 thieves. His friend kept on being blind to the fact he was dying and looking for a way to escape. He must have not understood there was no escaping. One of these unnamed thieves turned to Jesus in all the shouting and other noise that day and said; here read it for yourself. 

Luke 23:39 (KJV) And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.

Luke 23:40 (KJV) But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?

Luke 23:41 (KJV)   And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.

Luke 23:42 (KJV)   And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.

I can hear Jesus saying “you got to be kidding.” Oh no that is not what Jesus said read it.

Luke 23:43 (KJV)   And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.

What! This can’t be right, it must be a misprint. Why can’t it? Here is the answer and it’s simple

Luke 19:10 (KJV) For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

That thief might have had a praying mom, dad, grandparents, uncle, aunt or just a good friend that had been praying for him. On that day that thief realized he was about to go to hell and said these words “Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy.” Jesus said TODAY you will be with me in paradise. On that day that thief closed his eyes on a cross outside the city and opened them in another city called paradise, a place he didn’t deserve. Stop and do your own thinking and ask yourself do I deserve paradise? No, none of us do not even that guy next door or that one in the break room reading his bible that is so big he can’t hardly carry it. Why? We are all sinners and sinners need a Savior. Oh but I keep the law! You think? Read what Jesus said. John 7:19  Did not Moses give you the law, and yet none of you keepeth the law?  

We aren’t doing a good job with keeping the law either. Breaking the law and punishment for doing so is on its way. Just asked the thief. Ask the right one for forgiveness and forgiveness is given. Once again asked the thief.