🥺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. 

 

🪏Fallow Ground🏜️

I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding; And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down.

Fallow ground is land left to itself, nothing fruitful grows there.  There was a piece of property that at one time was a farm. Now the family that had worked the farm something happened. Now this farm that at one time was producing, has now been left to itself and now it is so thick that you can’t walk over it. What happened? Not sure, maybe the children went off to school, got married and it was just more than Mom and Dad could take care of. What I know is that over time and little by little it was neglected.  Now the same will happen to us if we let neglect come into your lives. Our Bibles teach us to listen to others, learn from others. 

Proverbs 12:1 (KJV) Whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledge: but he that hateth reproof is brutish.

Proverbs 11:2 (KJV) When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom.

Neglect doesn’t show up right away; it takes time. Call it what you want, not showing up, putting it off, not putting your hand to the plow. Just keep it up and before long it will show up; neglect. Neglect Sunday School, neglect Church, neglect praying, neglect reading your Bible, neglect asking questions, neglect not telling others you love them, neglect putting off time spending with loved ones. I think you get the idea, keep neglecting what is important and the distance grows. My Pastor and mentor James A Peppers taught me that one doesn’t take off and not put something else on. When you stop doing that which is important you allow that which is not important to grow. Keep letting it grow and before long you will not recognize it. Why is that? Because you don’t think it’s all that important anymore. Neglect may not cost you but it will cost the one who wants to restore. When I was young my mom and dad took me and my brothers to Church. My dad said prayers with us, corrected our language, taught us to respect others, yes sir, no sir, yes ma'am no ma’am. At 18 I went into the military and my prayer life stopped, my language changed for the worse; so bad my dad had to correct me. Neglect set in and it wasn’t long before the weeds began to grow, not only did they grow but they flourish. I can’t blame all that on the military because it was coming out of my mouth and I had control. I just let neglect of what is right enter in and it is not long before the weeds come.  

The weeds of words, the weeds of attitudes, the weeds of wrong actions. Fallow ground must be plowed and one Sunday morning it was. On that Sunday morning I saw that my life had become a real mess and needed a change. I heard for the first time that Jesus came to save sinners. Was I a sinner? All I had to do was listen to myself talk. The awful words that came out. Anyone including me would have to say yes. I bowed my head and heart and asked Jesus to forgive me and you know what? Jesus did just that. Why? Because that’s what Jesus came to do

 1 Timothy 1:15 (KJV) This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.

On that day I didn’t say I’m not that bad. Many may say that, so what are they saying? Are they saying that they are good sinners, not bad? If we have ever lied then we are sinners. If we have ever stolen anything, no matter how small or big we are sinners. Just those two things make us sinners and we have done much more than that. Oh, speak for yourself. Therein lies the problem; “he that hateth reproof is brutish.”  

 

🪎Treasures🌈

The biggest treasures in life are the people that surround us. Our friends and family are the gems that fill life’s treasure chest.

When I was a kid I always heard that there was a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Now being a kid and hearing adults talk about a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow; well it must be true. Well one day after a short rain and the sun wasn’t behind any dark clouds. I saw my opportunity for just about a 100 yards in front of me there was a rainbow which looked like the end. My heart filled with?? I don’t know, maybe greed? Anyways I took off to my pot of gold, hoping to be the first there. All looked good for it looked like I would be the first because there was no one in the race to get that pot of gold but me. How wonderful! My mom and dad would be so proud of me when I walked through the front door with a pot of gold. As I ran I noticed that instead of the end of that rainbow getting closer it was getting further away. So I ran faster and no matter how fast I ran the end kept getting further and further away. I soon stopped and went home and found out that there was no pot of gold at the end of a rainbow. I also discovered about chasing what you cannot have, because the rainbow is always just one step further.   

I laugh now but I did learn my lesson. Oh it wasn’t rainbows I was chasing it was something else but it was like chasing that rainbow. Because the more I pursued after it. The more I chased it the further it kept getting ahead and I never got close enough to touch it. This time I wasn’t wise enough to stop and the cost was great in the loss I suffered. Reminds me of the farmer in Luke chapter 12. He saw an opportunity and like me he pursued it only to find out that it was only an unreachable dream of happiness. 

Luke 12:18 (KJV) And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.

Luke 12:19 (KJV) And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.

What this farmer didn’t know was how close he was to eternity and neither do we. The Lord only gives us one day at a time. Why can’t we learn to enjoy the day we have? Too many times we spend too much time planning for the future we may never have. Oh I’m not saying don’t plan at all for the future that would not be wise. We must never forget that the future may never be ours to have.  Never let tomorrow be more important than today. Why? Because tomorrow never comes.   

James 4:13 (KJV) Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain:

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.            

James 4:15 (KJV)  For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.

Plan yes but live today for that’s all we have; today!