Friend

There are something's we do not get to choose. We do not get to choose our mother or our father. We don't get to choose our brothers or sisters or our sons and daughters these are relationships we do not get to choose. But there is one relationship we get to choose and that is, we choose our friends. It matters not if they choose us but we have chosen them to be our friends. If I am your friend, I chose to be your friend. If you are my friend you chose to be my friend. The child needs the parent and in later years the parent needs the child. The husband needs the wife and the wife needs the husband. But when we chose to be someone's friend we chose to give and not to receive. We chose to help and not to be helped. We chose to love and not to be loved. We chose to care and not to be cared for. A friend is the only relationship I know of that does not require another's acceptance. To be a husband means that another must accept the proposal. To be a wife means that there must be a proposal by another. But friendship is not that way; I can be your friend even if you aren't my friend. As I say that I am reminded of what Jesus told His disciples in
John 15:16
Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.
Jesus chose Judas to be His friend but Judas chose not to be Jesus' friend
Matthew 26:50
And Jesus said unto him, Friend, wherefore art thou come? Then came they, and laid hands on Jesus, and took him. Judas could have been Jesus friend but he chose not to; may I say that was a poor choice on his part. The bible tells us that the friendlier we are the more friends we will have
Proverbs 18:24 A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother. Did you see it "A man that hath FRIENDS?" But we can show ourselves unfriendly and have fewer friends and we can be like Judas and refuse to be a friend of Jesus and that will be a bad choice just as it was for Judas. So today why not be a bit friendlier, who knows you may make a friend for life now that would be nice wouldn't it?

 

P.S. Next week I will be in Rockford, Illinois at the Reformers National Conference so I will not be writing. I would like to request your prayers for my wife and I, as we will be teaching in the conference along with our Pastor and his wife and our Assistant RU director and his wife. We will be back late Thursday night ready for our RU meeting on Friday night. Also please pray for me in the morning I will be talking to some tenth graders about drug addictions and the cure from a Biblical point of view. God bless until October 5!

 

Tattoos & Piercing

"If I had a dime for every time I had actually earned God's love, I would be short a dime!" Steve Curington wrote that in his E-vos for my De-vos on Tuesday of this week. The Reformers Unanimous {RU} is a very rewarding ministry for many reasons. Every Friday night I see men and women from all walks of life as they come to the RU meeting; there are those who have no job to those who have good jobs to those who have real good jobs. But they all meet together to help each other. These people did not come to necessarily get their live right with God. Although without that they may never overcome what brought them to the RU meeting for this is more than likely not the first place they have been to get help from there strongholds. So I don't need to spend the night telling them where they may or may not have gone wrong. I don't need to talk about their tattoos, piercing or the way they are dressed that's not my job that's God's Job. I must never forget I am now fighting on the front lines and I must be careful that I don't shoot myself in the foot for this kind of talk may run them off forever. I must never forget what the Bible says 1Corinthains 6:11
And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. Do What? Yes that's right it says "YOU." We seem to somehow forget that. How would you have acted if you enter a program for help and all of a sudden someone jumped you about your hair, dress, tattoos, and everything else they notice wrong in your life? We can't do that we need to let God do it Romans 12:1
I beseech you therefore, brethren, {Those born of the same womb} by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

Romans 12:2
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. I assure you God will do that; He did it in my life and He will do it in their life too. Did you notice it takes a "renewing of the mind" and when these good people come through the doors we need to point them to the one that can and will help them that being Jesus Christ. When we try to help those we must do it out of a heart of love from a compassionate heart not trying to earn God's Love? We already have God's Love

John 3:16
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. Romans 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Before we loved Him He was in love with us; so therefore we cannot earn His love. My children have my love they don't have to earn it, they do things for their mother and I because they love us and even if they didn't do a thing we would still love them. We loved them before they were ever born and I couldn't imagine life without them; they don't have to earn our love they have it already and so it is with God we don't have to earn what we already have. So if we try to earn God's love we will fail because 1John 4:8….. for God is love.

 

 

Time

Define Time? Ecclesiastes 3:1
To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: Then we are told there is a time to be born, die, plant, pluck that which was planted; to kill, to heal, to break, sow and a time to build up; time to weep, laugh, mourn, to dance; to case stones, gather stones, to embrace, to refrain from embracing; and on and on we could go. But what is time? Time is a gift given by God and we can do whatever we wish with the time God has allotted each of us. We can waste it if we so wish or we can use it wisely; it is up to each of us. But once the time that we have been allotted is gone it's gone and can never be recalled. That is why it is so important to use it wisely
Psalms 89:47
Remember how short my time is: Time flies, one day you are wishing for a certain day to arrive as you say I can't wait until…and before long you look around and your children are on their own with children of their own; I must say time flies. Boy, that is negative thinking; need to get away from that. Time is all you and I have that we can give away! If I give you my time, I am giving you my life, for that's what life is time. If I spend time with you I am giving you a gift that can only be given by me! Every event in life uses up a little more of the most precious commodity that you and I have on this earth, time= life. Be careful how you spend your life for it consists of time and we only have so much. Don't spend all your time on your career for if you do you will have missed some of the most important times of your life; time at home with your family, time alone with your children, time with your grandchildren and time with you wife. Take more time to love your family and less time to love your career. If you are allowed to finish this day you have 24 hours of time; your life use it wisely.

 

She Was a Nut

When I was 12 there was a lady that lived four doors down and every time I would see her she would be talking to herself. It made no difference, I could see her driving down the road and she was just a talking and there was no one in the car with her. One day I went to her front door to see if her son was home and she was in the kitchen just a talking, but there was no one there but her. I always thought she was a nut and so did all the other kids on the block. But I was reading my Bible on yesterday morning and I discovered something that brought her to my mind; and I haven't thought about her talking to herself in years. But the Bible tells us to talk to ourselves; that's right it does! Ephesians 5:19
Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; It doesn't just say Speaking to yourselves it also tells us to Sing to ourselves. What will speaking and singing to ourselves produce? Melody in our hearts! That word "melody" is an interesting word Webster says it means an agreeable succession of sounds; a succession of sounds so regulated and modulated as to please the ear. Melody differs from harmony; harmony consists in the accordance of different voices or sounds. Melody is agreeable succession and modulation of sounds by a single voice. That means I can be riding down the highway speaking to myself and singing to myself and at the same time no matter how awful I sound or how crazy I look I am making melody in my heart unto the Lord. Who said I couldn't sing? It doesn't matter as long as I am making melody to the Lord with my heart. You did notice that didn't you? It said heart and not head or mind. The Lord wanted us to get this concept because He told us twice read Colossians 3:16 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. If you get melody in your heart you know what else that will produce? "A Merry Heart" and you know a merry heart will do good like a medicine Proverbs 17:22
A merry heart doeth good like a medicine:
Sad to say that the verse doesn't stop there it tells us what will happen to us if we don't have a merry heart..
but a broken spirit drieth the bones. {Depression drains one's strength}
When things go wrong and they will, just start talking to yourself in psalms and hymn and spiritual songs and then before long you will find yourself singing to yourself and before long the sweet melody will come. Before you know it your heart will be merry and your troubles will have left because you are not focused on you and your problems you are now focused on the Lord and His greatness and in Him there is happiness.

I Know Her Best

On Monday and Tuesday of last week I wrote about worship and the more I look at this area I am finding out that this may be an area that we must look further into. I would like to look at what the meaning of worship is. First I would like to give an illustration that maybe will help us.

A building was on fire on the top story, a young woman was seen standing at the window crying for help; her case was hopeless. A young fireman sees and hears her cries mounted a ladder and at the risk of his own life, brought her to safety. In all the excitement the young lady forgot to thank her rescuer for his act of bravery. On the next day she called him to thank him for what he had done. Soon a friendship developed and ripened into love, to which an engagement followed and one day they both stood before a marriage altar and were married. Now this lady never allowed herself to forget that this fireman was her savior and that, not for him, she might have been burned to death; but he was now much more to her than a savior: he was her husband, her lover, her companion through all her troubles and her all in all.

In a way Worship is much similar to that of this young lady. One day we see our need for a Savior and we ask for forgiveness of our sin and He forgives us. But we need more than that and we get that by spending time in our Bibles and allowing the Lord to speak to us so we might get to know Him. That is what the Apostle Paul was saying in Philippians 3:10
That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; This is what David was saying in Psalm 119:9
Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto according to thy word.

Psalm 119:10
With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.

Psalm 119:11
Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

The better we know Him the better we understand. Think about it for a moment from a human stand point. I have been married to the same woman for almost 40 years. Let's say that you were introduced to her today for the first time; who do you think would know her best? You would say that I would of course. Well, why do you think that would be? It would be because I know her and over the last 39 years have been studying her and spending time with her. I know her favorite color, her favorite place to eat, what she likes to do and the places she enjoys going to just to name a few. The reason we don't know much about Jesus is that we just don't spend much time learning about Him. I have discovered that many are pretty sure that they are on their way to heaven but there still remains a small amount of doubt. That can't be we must know for sure and the Bible says we can 1John 5:12
He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.

1John 5:13
These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

1John 5:14
And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: Do you understand? Do you have the Son? "ye may know that ye have eternal life" "and this is the confidence that we that we have in him." There is no room for any doubt, this you must be sure of. I enjoy knowing more about the one I love so I spend time in my Bible and Pray and I have learned how I might know Him better. How well do you know Him {Jesus}?

#1-Prayer -is the occupation of the soul with it needs. {Lord, save my soul}

#2-Praise- is the occupation of the soul with its blessings. {Thank you, Lord, for saving my soul}

#3-Worship- is the occupation of the soul with God Himself. {Thank you, Lord, for what Thou art}

Things Passed Away

Has anyone ever asked you this question "has there ever been a time in your life where you life changed completely?" I can tell you about the time and I can take you to the place when that happened in my life. The time was April 1973; the place was Eastland Heights Baptist Church in Atlanta, Ga. What happened on that day? Old Things passed away when I saw, I was guilty, when I knew that there was a judgment to come and I was far from being ready. My church membership was no good and I needed much more than that. I can and will give you a Bible Verse 2 Corinthians 5:17- Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. The day will come and we do not know when, this life's race will be over and I can assure you the things you think are most important now will not be what is important then. Learn to spend time with Jesus and know Him.

Get excited, for we are rich in Christ Jesus and our Bibles are a Love letter from a Father to His children. If you and I are to know who Jesus is then we must listen to those who know Him; read with me what Paul has to say Galatians 2:20- I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

The new life is lived on the principle of faith in Christ rather than on that of legal obedience. Galatians 2:16- Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

Faith builds on the fact of a personal love of the Savior. Ephesians 5:2- And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savour.

Righteousness cannot be obtained by the law if it could then there would have been no need for the death of Christ. Is the law useless to us? No! Let me show you why. Paul said in Romans 7:7- What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet

Paul said that he would have never known sin if it were not for the law. What law? Paul talked about a Law that said "Thou shalt not covet." Is there such a law?

Exodus 20:17-
Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's

Deuteronomy 5:21- Neither shalt thou desire thy neighbour's wife, neither shalt thou covet thy neighbour's house, his field, or his manservant, or his maidservant, his ox, or his ass, or any thing that is thy neighbour's.

Paul later tells us that it was the law that was his teacher

Galatians 3:24- Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
Do you know Him or just about Him? May the Lord bless each and every one of you this weekend and please don't be a stranger at your Church.

 

Is Jesus Enough

I recently talked with a friend who told me they had just had a big day at their Church. He said it was all great except for one thing and that was that they ran out of food. It does not matter whether at Church or at home we seem to run out of things no matter what it is; food, money, time, luck…… As I was thinking about running out the Lord brought this fact to my mind. You will quickly remember the time where Jesus fed 5000 plus people with 2 small fish and 5 barley loaves and then had 12 baskets full left. Which brings to mind that Jesus is enough no matter what? But there are some interesting facts that you don't hear preached about. Have you ever stopped to realize that there are 4 versions of this event; one in each of the four Gospels. What is strange about that is that this is true of no other of our Savior's miracles. We have not four records of Christ's birth, or of His baptism, temptation, transfiguration, or ascension, or of a single one of His parables, prayers, or discourse. We do have four records of His agony in the garden, His trail and condemnation, His death, burial, and resurrection, and His Great Commission. What is so amazing is that Jesus takes so little and makes so much; beyond those disciples wildest imagination. Jesus did three things

#1- He Saw Mark 6:34
And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people,

When Jesus saw much people, He also saw their needs. Many things go on in our lives and we don't know how it will all work out and the natural thing is for us to work it out ourselves, and if we can't…well we can always ask God to. Is that the way it is supposed to be?
Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. Too many times we trust in self instead of our Savior.

#2- He felt and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things.

Not only did Jesus see He also felt what these people were experiencing, but He felt deeper because He knew they had no shepherd. What does a Shepherd do? He leads his sheep! Now why were these people here? John 6:2
And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased. These people were following Jesus in hopes they would see Him do something on a blind man or lame man or whatever but none the less Jesus loved them, for He knew what they needed. It was not to see Him perform another miracle but it was to have Him the great High Shepherd in their lives.

#3- He Acted Mark 6:37
He answered and said unto them, Give ye them to eat.
He gave them something to eat for He knew you can't teach hungry people spiritual things when all they are thinking is where and when we are going to eat. It would have been a miracle if each one of those people got just one bite; but Jesus went much further than that. These people had all they could eat John 6:12 When they were filled There was plenty he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost.

John 6:13
Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten.
Can I tell you that Jesus is more than enough. The problem is not with Jesus but with you and I. Too many time we do like Philip and Andrew John 6:7
Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little.

John 6:8
One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, saith unto him,

John 6:9
There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?
We look at our resources {two hundred pennyworth and five barley loaves and two small fishes} and say it is just not enough. But what we fail to do is pray and watch God work. When we do that there will not only be plenty but there will be leftovers.

The Power of Anger

What is anger? Webster says it means "A violent passion of the mind excited by a real or supposed injury." So what can anger do? It can destroy long time friendships, destroy homes and distance family members. Anger can and will wreck our health because anger just doesn't stay anger it turns into unforgiveness and then bitterness sets in. Now we are not willing to even talk or even want to see that person we are angry with. I learned something that has been very helpful to me; I guess it would be fair to say we all get angry from time to time. Many times we will even convince ourselves that we know what the other person is thinking about us. That is where the word suppose comes in you see we assume we know, when we have no idea what the other person is thinking. So I use the three day rule which is when I get confused about the way something happens or feel I have been mistreated I wait three days. I don't talk to anyone about it, I don't ask for anyone else's opinion and I have found out that in three days things look a whole lot different and now without anger I am able to talk to the person if I need to. The Bible has much to say about anger; here are few verses that have helped me, may they help you too.

Proverbs 14:17
He that is soon angry dealeth foolishly:

Proverbs 15:1
A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger. {We all know how to defend ourselves}

Proverbs 15:2
The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness.

Proverbs 16:32
He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit {Better to be even-tempered} than he that taketh a city.

Ephesians 4:26
Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: {don't go to bed angry}

Too many husbands and wives go to bed angry at each other; they have a wrong attitude and hurt feelings. Why is it so important to make things right with your mate before you go to bed? You will sleep better that is for sure but the main reason is you don't want to give the devil any opportunity to work. Where do I get that? In the next verse Ephesians 4:27
Neither give place to the devil. You give him place and he will be like the camel that was so cold that he asked his master if he could just stick his nose in his warm tent. His master allowed him to and then the camel asked if he could stick one leg in his nice warm tent to which his master agreed. The camel kept asking and asking until he was in the tent completely and his master was out in the cold. Keep giving the enemy opportunity and before long your life will be wrecked. So learn today how to start controlling your anger before your anger controls you and leads to an unforgiving spirit to which many have never returned. It would be sad for your mother, dad, brother or sister to die and you still be holding on to a grudge from way back when; with no opportunity to give or ask for forgiveness ever. That's what the enemy wants; don't give him the privilege.

Worship #2

On yesterday I wrote about Worship and I would like today to write a bit more about Worship. We said on yesterday that Worship was the overflow of a grateful heart. Worship is also a heart that is overflowing and Glorifying God because of it. The word "Glorify" Webster tells us means to praise; to magnify and honor. I took a little time and looked up some verses about when a good time would be to Glorify God and here is what I found!

#1- Glorify God in the day of Trouble
Psalms 50:15
And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.

#2- As a Nation we should
Psalms 86:9
All nations whom thou hast made shall come and worship before thee, O Lord; and shall glorify thy name.

#3- With all our hearts
Psalms 86:12
I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify thy name for evermore.

#4- Glorifying is a sign of Strength
Isaiah 25:3
Therefore shall the strong people glorify thee, the city of the terrible nations shall fear thee.

#5- What we do should Glorify Him Matthew 5:16
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

#6- We should Glorify Him with our bodies
1Corinthains 6:20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

What hinders us from all this? I think the answer is found in Genesis 22:5
And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you. I think these two young men give us a picture of how our Worship can be hindered. Just as Abraham did, so must you and I; we must say "abide ye here" business affairs, hobbies, home care, problems and anything else that will intrude my thoughts and divert my mind from time with God. By being Distracted we stay busy and keep our minds occupied with other things. We stay busy listening to the Radio, CD players, T.V., DVD's and our P.C.'s not to mention our cell phones. No time for Worship for we are Busy, Busy, Busy. Look what the word busy could mean.

B    eing

U    under

S    atan's

Y    oke

We must come before God.

Hebrews 10:21
And having an high priest over the house of God;

Hebrews 10:22
Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

Our Privilege "having an high priest "

Our Responsibility "Let us draw near "

What a Privilege we have that anyone of us can came boldly Hebrew 4:16
Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Have you taken the time to draw near? Don't allow the beeps, rings, buzzing and the sound of your favor group keep you from it, for it is a privilege we have, take full advantage of it.

 

Worship

Worship, what is it? Is it going to Church, singing songs, giving tithes & offerings, learning more of and about God through Sunday school and preaching of the Bible? Sure, we do Worship when we do these things. But, doing them does not mean we are worshiping the way God wants or as often as God wants. Worship must be experienced rather than described; if I were to tell you that this perfume smells like a rose or if I told you this food tasted much like honey you would have to have experienced them both before you would understand and know what I was talking about. Worship is the overflow of a grateful heart. Psalms 45:1
My heart is inditing (to gush) a good matter: (overflowing with good news) I speak of the things which I have made touching the king: my tongue is the pen of a ready (skillful) writer.
David said in Psalms 23:5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. How could David say that his cup was running over in the presence of his enemy? Could it be that David had more confidence in what God could do than what his enemies could do to him? If I were to ask you which attitude would be best, a pessimist attitude or an optimistic attitude, which would you say? Most would say an optimistic attitude; you may have even said that. Now read this and see if you would change your mind. James Stockdale was a prisoner of war for 8 years during the Vietnam War. After Stockdale's release he was asked how in the world he survived 8 years in a prisoner-of-war camp. He replied, "I never lost faith in the end of the story. I never doubted, not only that I would get out, but also that I would prevail in the end and turn the experience into the defining event of my life, which, in retrospect, I would not trade." He was then asked about those who didn't make it out and if he could tell them the reason why. Stockdale replied, that's easy; the optimists…they were the ones who said," We're going to be out by Christmas." And Christmas would come and go. Then they'd say, "We're going to be out by Easter." And Easter would come, and Easter would go. And then Thanksgiving, and then it too would come and go and then it would be Christmas again. And they died of a broken heart. Real courage embraces the twin realities of current difficulty and ultimate triumph. If you read Hebrews chapter 11 you will quickly see it's a chapter about faith; it starts off that way. Hebrews 11:1
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Then we are introduced to 3-men Abel, Enoch and Noah. Notice

 

Abel
speaks of Worship by sacrifice Hebrews 11:4
By
faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh. Worship will cost you some of your time; but who does time belong to anyways?

 

Enoch speaks of fellowship by a walk and Hebrews 11:5
By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. You get to know God by spending time with Him.

 

Noah speaks of Worship by Work by a revelation from God. From this we understand that Worship is more than going to Church and singing and hearing sermons. Hebrews 11:7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith. By taking the time to spend time with God you will then want to do something for Him. Noah built an ark. If you and I take time to spend with God we too will have a desire to do something and God will bless it beyond your wildest dreams. That's why I write every day, for I want to share what God has shown me in the time I have spent with Him and He then uses it to bless you.; isn't God good!

Freedom

Commitment is an agreement or pledge to do something. Commitments can be easily made; but it takes more than words to make a commitment come true. It takes work. Many have stood at and altar and made commitments that they never kept. Many have made financial commitments that they never kept. Others have committed to doing things they never finished. I like what the Apostle Paul wrote in 1Timothy 1:15
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.

1Timothy 1:16
Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting. Paul is telling us that he was an awful sinner but God still showed him mercy and because of what Christ had done for him that Paul was committed to serving the Lord Jesus. Paul's commitment would be seen by others, and others will see that Christ will save anyone. The pattern is seen in Paul and his love for his Lord and Savior and his commitment. I am afraid that there are too many half-hearted so called commitments. They fooled themselves about following Christ and as Paul wrote in 1Timothy 1:19
Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck: They put away their faith and by doing so they shipwrecked. There have always been half hearted commitments; Jesus had something to say about them. Luke 6:46
And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?

Jesus challenged people to be wholehearted about their commitment, counting the cost of following him beforehand. Why is it important to walk wholehearted? It's too easy to end up committed to a Christian program or church rather than being committed to Christ. It's too easy to commit to following "rules" of Christianity rather than being committed to Christ. Following "rules" can become confining and confusing. Following Jesus is about relationship not rules. Following Jesus brings freedom and life. Following Jesus is a matter of choice made on a daily basis; but I must warn you that if you make that choice to follow it will not be the easiest road to take. Follow the life of Paul and you will see he spent a lot of time behind bars he was beaten and left for dead. It would have been easy for him to quit; he could tell himself this is more than I can bear, but he didn't and because he didn't we have a pattern. If someone were to look at my life what would they say? Would they say I was committed to Christ? Am I setting a pattern? What would others say about you?

Eating Worms

What would you say to a man who sat in a candle lit room and began to eat dates; as he bit into the first he saw a worm and he threw it away. He picked up another only to find the same. He then blew out the candle and ate the rest of the dates. I would say that, that man chose to live in the dark. Too many are choosing living in the dark when Jesus said He was the light. John 8:12
Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. 1John 1:5
This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. In the very first book of the bible we find God separating the light from the darkness. He calls the light "good" but darkness is not a good thing. On the cross, during the middle of the day, darkness compassed the earth, demonstrating the bleakness of the power of sin that Jesus was conquering. Darkness is always a symbol of impurity, ignorance, being lost and evil. Now, that should be a clue to us about how we should live. We can see the worms and do something about them or we can turn off the lights and enjoy the dates. If Jesus is the light {and He is} then you and I need to live in the light of His word and the way we do that is by turning the light on by opening up our Bibles and reading them. As long as our Bibles stay closed then darkness will prevail. 1John 1:7
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. If we walk! What is walking? It is putting one foot in front of the other to make progress. If we open our Bibles and begin to read we are walking and over a period of time as we walk in the light we will grow. Light dispels darkness so we need to get as much light as we possibly can. Are you walking in light because of the light you've been given from God's Word today or are you in darkness? In darkness you will stumble. John 11:9 Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world.

John 11:10
But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him.

 

What is Death

This past weekend I went to a walk through Reality Theater which was designed for teen to show then what could happen to them it they made wrong choices. I must say it was very impressive and it dealt with death from car wrecks to suicides and drug use how young lives are wrecked. So what is death any ways? Aristotle called death the thing to be feared most because it appears to be the end of everything. That is sad depressing language! If death is nothing more than the end of everything what is the possibility of dying bravely? Suppose death is different less a curse and more a passageway, not a crisis to be avoided but a corner to be turned? So if death is the end of everything what in the world was Jesus talking about when He said these words.

John 14:1
Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.

John 14:2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so,
I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

John 14:3
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am,
there ye may be also.
You are going to do what Jesus did; return from the dead and recue your followers. Not only did Jesus promise an afterlife, but a better life. I remember my friend he was a hard man he had almost killed a man in a fight. His health was failing him and when I went by his home it was to invite him to Church. He was kind but said no thanks. That day I made up in my mind that I was going to reach this man for Christ. So I began going by his home often and we talked about everything but Christ and Church. We soon became friends over a period of time and after a long time he came to Church and then one day he walked forward and asked the Lord to forgive him of sins. I saw an immediate change in him and we became even closer friends. I liked him for we were good enough friends that even when he was mad at me he was over it in about 5 no more than 10 minutes. He went to the doctor and the doctor told him he was going to have to have another open heart surgery. I remembered the morning he was to operated on I was at the hospital at 5:30 AM he arrived about 6:00 AM. I will never forget those hours we spent before they took him for his operation. We laughed and joked and then it was time; I walked with him as far as I could. He then looked me in the eyes and with a big smile on his face he said see you in a few hours. I then said are you not fearful? He said about what? If things go wrong I'll be better off, just remember all is in God's hands. I then bent over and kissed him on the check and told him I loved him. He made it through the operation just fine and he lived a good many more years in great health. Then one day he went to the bathroom and shut the door and went home to be with the Lord. He was not fearful of facing death. I went by his grave the other day he has been gone 5 years now and I can still hear his laugh and his concern for others that they might have the joy that he was experiencing. I spent much time with him and we never went anywhere that he did share his faith with whoever would listen. Didn't matter who or where he told everyone. He taught me much and when it came to death there was no fear he knew in who he had believed. I would have missed out had I given up on him; it just goes to show God can and is willing to forgive anyone who comes to him. So if you have been forgiven don't be fearful of death for you are headed to a far better place. Jesus said so!

 

The Bogeyman

Did you ever have trouble when you were younger with maybe the bogeyman and things that go bump in the night? I remember one night when I was about 12 years old my brother, my dad, my uncle and a bunch of others were sitting around a camp fire; when my uncle told me that he would give me $100.00 if I would go to the creek and get a hand full of wet sand. Now the creek was maybe 500 yards from where we were; and I sure would like to have a $100. But between me and that creek was nothing but darkness. As bad as I hated it I had to recline for I wanted to keep my life safe from the monsters that may be just leering around who knows what tree or valley. Now today I wouldn't even give that a second thought I would say "I'll take that in cash please and I'll be right back with a bucket of wet sand." I am sure we all had some childhood fears at one time or another and as adults we can laugh off those fears that seemed so real as a child. But the fact is that many adults experience something very similar. After the lights go out and the sound of silence fills the room, we are forced to face things that hid themselves in our busy day. No not the monsters of our childhood but the grown up monsters of deadlines, pressure at work, addictions, abuse, declining health, unemployment or the fact that tomorrow you may be asked to clean out your deck. Fear invades your sleep and if you let it, it will soon zap your strength. So what does our heavenly Father have to say about fear? 2Timothy 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. If fear does not come from God would you like to take a guess then where it comes from?

1John 4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

Psalms 118:6 The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?

1Corintains 14:33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.

Wow! Did you get all that? Fear will torment you if you let it. It has the possibility of taking away your sound thinking. But wait God has not given us the spirit of fear, but He has given us the power to have a sound mind. His love will case out fears {did you get that "FEARS"}! That's plural meaning more than one. Did you understand that the Lord is on your side and because of that we are not to have fear! For God is not the author of confusion but of peace so if He is not the author of confusion who pray tell do you think is? Let me close with this Psalms 23:1
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

Psalms 23:2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

Psalms 23:3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

Psalms 23:4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

Psalms 23:5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

Psalms 23:6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

Opportunity to be Great

Have you ever missed an opportunity to be great? I think we would all like to be great in our children's lives, our wives eyes. There is a man I go to Church with and every time he is talking and his wife is by his side she has this look that says "my man knows what he is talking about you better listen." I have watched her many times and to tell you the truth I am not so much listening to him as I am watching her expressions. She has the opportunity and she takes advantage of it. I read this story I want to share with you; I wonder how many times I missed being great? It was in the Oklahoma City airport when a man saw a woman walking along with three little girls. They were skipping and singing, "Daddy's coming home on a big jet! Daddy's coming home on a big jet!" All excited! Eyes lit up like diamonds! Wild anticipation! They had never before met Daddy coming home on a jet. Their mother was so proud of them. You could see it in her eyes. Then the plane arrived, the door opened and the passengers streamed in. You didn't have to ask which one was Daddy. The girls' eyes were glued on him. But his first look was for his wife. Seeing her, he yelled, "Why in the heck didn't you bring my top coat?" and walked right past his adoring daughters. You see, here was a man who had an opportunity to be great, and he didn't recognize it. I wonder how many times a day or a week, a month do we have the opportunity to be great, and not even know it? The apostle Paul say in Galatians 6:10
As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith. It may be with just our looks and talk when our children show us something or as they dash across the room and grab us around our legs and make us almost fall. If we get angry we just missed an opportunity to be great. If we arrive home and our wife has not so much as fixed your supper you have a choice you can blow up and tell her how sorry she is or you can jump in and fix her something to eat. She may have had an awful day, or may not be feeling well herself. It's up to you! I had rather hear her telling someone how wonderful I am than hearing her telling someone how I acted with no consideration of how she felt. Take the opportunities to be great and watch for that opportunity to reveal itself. One day I will be gone and I want my children to have good memories of me in their heart. How much I loved them and showed them. My wife how much I loved her and the memories I want to be endless. I have missed times that I could have been great and have become like the man in the airport but I want them to be far and few between and if possible never. So why not today let's go see if we can be great in someone's life; look for the opportunity.

Satisfied with Yourself

It's seems we live in a day when many are not satisfied with themselves. Their hair is not the right color so they dye it. They are too tall or too small, their teeth are not white enough, their job is not what they want and on and on we could go. But stop for a minute and read this verse with me Psa 139:14
I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; (I have been so amazingly and miraculously made). and that my soul knoweth right well. The very first word out of the mouth of the Psalmist is praise he is praising God because he is different and was made that way. We can't do much to change the way God made us but we can change our reactions about how we feel. You may never have heard of the name Tom Sullivan; no he wasn't related to Ed. But he was a world class athlete with two national championship records in wrestling. He was on the 1958 Olympic wrestling team. He earned a degree at Harvard in clinical psychology. He's an author. He's a sports enthusiast. He runs six miles every day. He swims. He even skydives and has 37 jumps to his credit and all this is good and even great but the best part is that Tom is blind. Amazing man! So you have a disadvantage well take advantage of it for you were made that way by God. Who wants to be like everyone else anyways? This is what sets you apart and makes you distinct and different. I am afraid we beat ourselves up with discouragement and self pity instead of looking at things differently. I want you to remember two things #1- We are in God's School
Job 36:22
God does great things by his power. Is there any teacher like him? In God's school we learn through the heart instead of the head, and by faith rather than by logic. #2- We have been bought with a price 1Corinthians 6:20
For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.
1Corinthians 7:23 Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men. Why do you want to be just like everybody else? Be all that God made you be, what He wants you to be. Look to Him for leadership because He made you and He bought you so therefore He knows what is best for you so quit trying to be something or someone you're not! Praise Him and thank Him for His great creation; you!

 

Priceless Opportunity

If God knew that man would sin, why did He create him? That is a negative approach. The positive approach is If God knew that millions would find and enjoy eternal happiness, would He have been justified in not creating man. There are two sides to every picture. We have a free will. Varying circumstances may influence us; strong pressures may bear upon us; but we always have the power to choose.

Hebrews 11:7
By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith. Noah was asked by God to build a ship, the question is was he a fool? He worked without wages for many years. He served an employer who never came to see the job or send money to the worker. That's the way it looked but Noah kept working. When he did take time off he preached. The people listened to this old man and many must have decided he was good fun! When he rebuked their sinfulness they tolerated him; when he spoke of the holiness of God, they probably frowned and denied their sinfulness. When he told them the time of punishment was at hand they undoubtedly laughed at him. When Noah's predictions came true, they were dumbfounded. Yet they let the last seven days of priceless opportunity pass by. At anytime during that period, if any had walked through the door they would have been admitted. They let the opportunity go by. Have you ever stopped to think why? I mean out of all those people no one believed what Noah was saying; not one person. Were these people content with things the way they were? Was what Noah was saying so unbelievable? Then we read about another group in Matthew 25 we are told that there were ten virgins who all planned on meeting the bridegroom. In verse 2 we read
And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.
There were five wise and five foolish. What amazes me about the five foolish is that they were content and at ease. They were not fussy or fearful they fully expected to be there. Then we read Matthew 25:6
And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. (They thought they had plenty of time; they were wrong)

Matthew 25:7
Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.

Matthew 25:8
And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.

Matthew 25:9
But the wise answered, saying, not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.

Matthew 25:10
And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.

Matthew 25:11
Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.

Matthew 25:12
But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.

These five virgins had let some very important details slide. You might ask what? I think it was readiness. They came they knocked but it was too late. When they had time they took it easy they were sleeping. Then the Lord tells us Matthew 25:13
Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.
We must be ready for when that day comes we will not have time to get ready! 1Corinthians 15:52
In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. Think you'll have time? Don't be fooled you will not if you are not ready get ready now don't delay.

That’s the same way Jesus felt

Like I promised on yesterday; how did Jesus' disciples handle the fear that was to be upon them?

Matthew 8:23
And when he (Jesus) was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him.

Now finally they are safe and have entered into the ship with Jesus; you couldn't be any saver could you? But as we read the next verse notice what it doesn't say "and behold a great rainbow was seen in the sky, a flock of doves were in happy formation, the sea like glass calm as a cruise on the Caribbean. No that's not what we are told. That's how many think; now that I am saved, one of God's children things will be great never another heart break, always money in the bank account never ever will there be unhappiness in my life. Wait, wait before you get to carried way thinking nothing ever again will go wrong in my life read John 16:33
These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
James 1:2
My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Christians have heart attacks, Battle addictions, Bury their Children, we have incurable diseases and we face fears, and we also die! Here these disciples are and all is well until we read the next verse Mat 8:24
And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep.
What was it, a "Great Tempest?" Remember this tempest is at earthquake proportions this ship was being agitated from side to side to and fro up and down. Are you getting the picture? Water is coming on board things look real bad; Then comes the question where is Jesus? Know where they find Him? Asleep! Then with a voice to get over all the sounds at sea, the storm and the screaming of the disciples this is what we read. Mat 8:25 And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord,
save us:
we perish. They don't ask Jesus for Strength; they don't ask Him to still the storm; they don't ask Him for Knowledge or Wisdom; they don't ask if He is aware of the Storm. No! No! They now have doubts about Jesus and His character: Don't you care we are going to perish. That is what Fear Does- it clouds our confidence in the Goodness of God, It confuses our control "Do something, Do something, will somebody please do something! Fear dulls our Miracle Memory! These disciples have let what they saw and heard before the storm slip from their minds it's now Lord, Save us, we perish. As I read that I wonder how many times I have let the fears of today rob me of the blessing I had on yesterday and the day before that. Fear can cause us not to remember the past and focus on the present. I am reminded of what John 10:10
tells me The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I must say he does a great job at it but you and I must not forget the rest of that verse for it says something of much importance I (Jesus) am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. Jesus had control during the storm just as He will have during our storms. Mat 8:26
And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm. I don't want you to think that fear does not have a purpose, for it does. Signs, read Danger high voltage, No smoking while you are pumping gas, stay away from the edge, swift currents, rip tides…. Fear is not sin; but it can lead to sin. Too many medicate fear with anger, Alcohol, self starvation, drugs; unhealthy fear is not from God 2Timothy 1:7
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. Fear will always be around don't you invite it in. When I was about 10 years old I went with a bunch of neighborhood boys to the theater to see a movie about Frankenstein and that afternoon I allowed fear to enter in. Life for years to come would never be the same. I become afraid of the dark, the man in Red, and any one that was dead. And just as you're thinking right now "that's crazy, why were you so fearful of something that was nothing. That's the same way Jesus felt toward His disciples and He said so "Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith?
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