🏃‍♂️‍➡️I’m going to 🏃‍♂️‍Eat well 🍲 and live long🧌 Wrong Plan❗️

My hope does not rest in the affairs of this world. It rests in Christ who is coming again. — Billy Graham —

Colossians 3:20 (KJV) Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.

Children are very vulnerable. When I was a kid some Saturday’s my brother, me and some friends would jump on our bikes and take off. We might go miles from home and wouldn’t come back for hours and some day not until late afternoon. That wasn’t a problem back in those days but today things are much different and I have to ask myself why? Now I agree we went to places that mom and dad told us not to go. One place was Carol’s Lake. It was a lake off the road and down in the woods about 3 or so miles from the house. It wasn’t a public lake but a private lake where no adults were present. It could be very dangerous thankfully no one ever drowned there that I know of. Nonetheless, we disobeying our parents by going there. The Bible is plain “Children, obey your parents” that would be honoring. God told us to honor our parents 

Exodus 20:12 (KJV) Honour thy father and thy mother: It’s the only commandment with a promise from God if you do so. “that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.” Who doesn’t want a long life? I read a story of a young man in his late 20’s that was going on a trip with his friends. This young man’s mother asked him not to go because she didn’t feel comfortable about it. The young man talked with his mother trying to get her to change her mind but she would not. His friends put the peer pressure on him  calling him a mother’s boy and other little names trying to get him to go but they couldn’t. The day came for the trip and his friends boarded a plane and took off on their trip. About 45 minutes into their trip the plane began to have problems and soon crashed in the ocean killing everyone on board except the young man who obeyed his mother who wasn’t on that plane. I know that’s a simple story but it shows the promise of what God said. If we honor our mother and dad our days will be long upon the land more so than diet and exercise. That’s A Written Promise From God Himself. 

Psalms 119:140 (KJV) Thy word is very pure: therefore thy servant loveth it. Don’t you just love God's Word?

💃To Intoxicate To Care🙈

We hurt people by being too busy. Too busy to notice their needs. Too busy to drop that note of comfort or encouragement or assurance of love. Too busy to listen when someone needs to talk. Too busy to care.   — Billy Graham —

Colossians 3:18 (KJV) Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.

 Wait a minute is the wife being told or asked to be submissive in all things?? Of course not and here’s two reasons why. Wives submit yourselves “as it is fit in the Lord.” Then in verse 19 we read 

Colossians 3:19 (KJV) Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.

“Husbands, love your wives” a loving husband is not going to ask his wife to do what’s not fitting with the Lord. We read of a King in the book of Esther chapter 1 by the name of  Ahasuerus as we began to read. We read that King Ahasuerus made a feast and invited other leaders to come.  Now on the seventh day; can you imagine food and wine, all you could eat and drink and now on day 7, oh my this isn’t going to end well. 

Esther 1:10 (KJV) On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, and Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas, the seven chamberlains that served in the presence of Ahasuerus the king,

I just don’t think this is going to end well!! What did the King command? Read it for yourselves.

Esther 1:11 (KJV) To bring Vashti the queen before the king with the crown royal, to shew the people and the princes her beauty: for she was fair to look on.

No loving husband would do such. Alcohol makes you do wrong things. The King sends for his wife and he wants her to do what? I think you get the picture here. Her beauty was not just in her facial features, remember the King is asking to bring his wife into a room of men who have been drinking for a week. Now is she to be submissive to her husband's wishes? Let’s read how his wife Vashti responded to his request.

Esther 1:12 (KJV) But the queen Vashti refused to come at the king's commandment by his chamberlains: Oh my this is an awful request and the results of refusing not just her husband but the King could end in death. How did the King feel about this rejection in front of not just men but leaders? He too had been drinking for a week therefore was the king very wroth, and his anger burned in him. The point I am making is that a husband that loves his wife is not going to ask her to do such. Wait a minute I might be wrong, just the other day I saw a husband and wife and she was dressed so your eyes didn’t see her face. That was worse than King Ahasuerus was asking his wife to do. Oh that’s different, yeah I guess it is that man wasn’t drunk he knew what he was doing.

❤️‍🔥One Night of Selfish Pleasure🚼

 It is not the temptations you have, but the decision you make about them that counts. — Billy Graham —

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.

there it is again “Let the” in verse 15 we read “let the peace of God rule” here in verse 16 it’s “Let the word of Christ dwell” for anything to dwell  it abide as a permanent resident. I live or dwell at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. To let the Word of God dwell you first have to have the Word of God. In Psalms 119:11  We read this “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” in order to let the Word of God dwell, you have to be doing something to know how to let it dwell. Have you ever hid anything? One can’t hide something if they don’t first have it to hide. David’s purpose was to keep himself from sinning. Wait! Wait a minute, is this not the David that became King of Israel? The one that had the affair with Bathsheba, the wife of  Urias? The same David that had the main part in Urias’s death? Yes it's all true. But let us not forget David even though he was a King appointed by God he was still a sinner. I would say it was set up by none other than satan himself. Like the fruit in the garden with Eve. The anger of Cain, the alcohol of Noah, the disobedience of Abraham, and on and on we read of great men and women failing God. Don’t just read and remember the failures, oh no these men and women personally asked God for forgiveness. And God used them greatly.Temptations come into our lives and many but not all are by our enemy the devil. I like what Billy Graham said “It is not the temptations you have, but the decision you make about them that counts.” Yes King David saw, then he looked and the look lingered and then he partook of that which was not his. One night of selfish pleasure cost him a lifetime of regret. We all are sinners, we can't help that. We will fight sin all our lives, that's a fact. The problem comes when our sin doesn’t trouble us. When we like David, work to cover up what we have done. If our known sin does trouble us we then must ask ourselves this question, why not?

🆕Put On Charity♥️

Don't worry about what you can't do; focus instead on what you can do... and then do it.

— Billy Graham —

Colossians 3:12 (KJV) Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;

Colossians 3:13 (KJV) Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.

“Put on” We read that phrase 3 times in this chapter. In verse 10 we read put on a new man. Then in verse 12 we read that after we have put on the new man it bring mercy, kindness, humbleness, meekness, long suffering. Then we read “forgiving one another” and then the example of forgiving “as Christ forgave you” But you don’t know what they did! No, but I know what Jesus Christ did and if anyone should be unforgiving it should be Jesus for what you and I did to Him. We don’t own enough paper and pens to write that down. Then in verse 14 we read Colossians 3:14 (KJV) And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. Don’t you just love it “above all these”  Don’t do all the above out of a "I have too attitude but instead do it out of a loving attitude. Because it is out of the bond we have in Christ Jesus and He is perfect. Remember the saying “what would Jesus do?” In order to know what Jesus would do we first have to have a bond with Christ Jesus. That word “bond” jointed together, cements together. ¡Put on “charity”!

🫣See You At The Party💨🎂

 Colossians 3:9 (KJV) Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;

As Colombo would say “there’s just one more thing.” “Lie not one to another” That’s a very hard thing for us to do. We just have to from time to time, everybody does it. I understand. Let’s say you are planning a surprise birthday party for your wife. On the way home from work you stop at a bakery to order the cake. It takes a lot longer than you had expected it to. Which puts you later getting home. As you walk in the door your wife asked the question you were hoping she wouldn’t. Why are you so late? What’s your answer? Depending on how inquisitive your wife is to how your answer would be. If not too inquisitive “oh I stopped to check on something.” But if she is really inquisitive I can’t see how you aren’t going to have to lie here. I’m sorry I’m not going to be much help here because my wife is inquisitive. The reason we aren’t to lie one to another is because? “ye have put off the old man with his deeds;”  I’m glad for that word in verse 5 Mortify; put to death. To be truthful with you I’m still putting to death lying. Because if my wife would have asked me why I was so late (and she would have) I would have told her a lie. You might say I can’t believe you would do such a thing? Well what was I supposed to tell her? That I had stopped by the bakery to order a birthday cake for your surprise party this coming Saturday at 2 o’clock. I’m sorry I don’t know the answer to that. I’ll. Ask my Pastor this morning and I’ll let you know what he says. Well this thought of lying with the question above has intrigued me. I talked with 3 individuals and one said well that’s different. I was not really satisfied with that answer. Another said yes that would be lying. Once again I wasn’t really sure either. I asked one last person and this is what they said no that would not be lying because a lye is the act to deceive. Then I thought I would see what Webster had to say. Webster “To utter falsehood with an intention to deceive”  The above question was not to deceive but to temporarily hide. You’ll have to decide I’m still not sure. I can hear my kids saying thanks a lot for ruining mom's surprise. Here’s the answer, you kids pick up the cake.  Now I’m off the hook for you see 

 “Lie not one to another” see you at the party.

📴Putting Off ✴️

The more one walks in the wrong direction the further away they get from that which is right.

Colossians 3:8 (KJV) But now ye also put off all these; anger, wraft, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.

We’ll have you? “put off” As my Pastor said “one never takes off, that he doesn’t put on.” In verse 10 we read just that. Colossians 3:10 (KJV) And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: In verse 8 we read what’s being removed. First thing “anger” have you or are you working at putting off your anger??? Maybe you have allowed your anger to get out of hand. That’s what “wraft” is: violent anger. What about “malice” injuring others without a cause? Do we think before we speak about others?  My mother used to say to us “sticks and stones may break my bones but words can never hurt me.” Nice saying for a kid but in real life words others speak can and do hurt. You don’t have the time to read what others have said about me that really hurt. You know what? The same is true with you my reader. Bottom line, words do hurt and do real damage at times. How about “blasphemy” an injury offered to God by words or writing that are reproachful, denying that which is due and belonging to God or attributing to God that which is not agreeable to His nature. Is the next word after blasphemy a coincidence or on purpose? I think the next word “filthy communication” which comes “out of your mouth” is right on target. Angry words, violent words, injuring words, denying words which most likely will result in filthy words.

🤬Filthy Words👂

You don’t have to know much when you come to Christ. You don’t have to know the whole Gospel. You don’t have to know the Bible. You just come like you are.   Billy Graham

Colossians 3:7 (KJV) In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.

We just wrote about “when ye lived in them” our lifestyle, how we were living. But there’s more “In the which ye also walked” walking is the art of moving forward, gaining ground so to speak. A progression, if you will. The journey of 1000 miles began with the first step. I, like you, have read of a person being caught embezzling money from a corporation and over time it be came a large amount. Why didn’t that person stop with the first embezzlement? The same reason many can’t stop with the first drink, taking the first drug, the first whatever? Maybe because they think they got away with it or they liked it. Whatever the reason it was a moving forward of their walk in doing wrong. The more one walks in the wrong direction the further away they get from that which is right. Did you notice the way that verse was written? It uses the past tense “walked” that would refer to a way one used to walk, not the way they are walking now. What changed their walk? We read why in verse 4 of chapter 3 when Christ who is or became our life, that’s what made the difference. It wasn’t us trying to do better, live better or even walk better. No we have all tried to do that ourselves, it all had to do with Christ in our life. When you use bad language how does that make you feel? We can justify it or we can by the help of our Lord stop using it. Ephesians 4:29 (KJV) Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. We can’t talk out of both sides of our mouth. We can’t say glory hallelujah on Sunday and then on Monday say go to_ _ _ _ to others.  James 3:12 (KJV) Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.

In Colossians 3 we read past tense “walked” and   “when ye lived in them” not both, when we want to fit in. Past tense,  when we used to do that but not anymore. Like The Apostle Paul said we have hearers and that bad language doesn’t build up others. All it will do is confuse and break down.

⏳When Ye Lived 🌃

Don’t worry about what you can’t do; focus instead on what you can do and then do it. ~Billy Graham~

Colossians 3:7 (KJV) In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.

That is exactly what you would expect. If somehow a person came into a lot of wealth what would you expect to see? Do you think Bill Gates lives in a really nice double-wide? I don’t think so. Oh know we are reading about living in them.  In what? A life of sexual sins. Oh, I’m not doing any of that so I’m good. Think so? Well does any of these fit your lifestyle? 1 Corinthians 6:9 (KJV) Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,

1 Corinthians 6:10 (KJV) Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.

Then notice what the Apostle writes next.

1 Corinthians 6:11 (KJV) 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.

And such were some of you? Sounds like those words in Colossians 3:7 “when ye lived in them” something changed, what was it and how. One can’t live what they don’t have. I can’t live like a billionaire nor like a millionaire. Know why I can’t? Because I’m not. Paul is saying that something wonderful has happened. At one time you were doing sexual sins, you were a thief, a drunk, greedy, you used abusive language, but not anymore. Paul says here’s what made the difference: “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.” You are “washed” made clean; You are “sanctified” made holy; you are “justified” just as if none of those awful things ever happened; How Can this be? “in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.” If you were given a check today for 62 million dollars your lifestyle would change. Oh but in Christ your lifestyle will also change. Here’s the difference the 62 million dollars no matter how well you keep it growing when you are dead it’s all gone. Now in Christ you never lose, you only gain. Wealth in this life and in the next too. 

 

🪡Made Right👕

 You will never understand who you are until you understand who God Is. ~Billy Graham~

Colossians 3:6 (KJV) For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:

Who are you really? How would someone describe you? Like those we read of in verse 5 they just keep watering the wrong thing because there was no real change in their lives and now the wrath of God. A while back I went back to the Church I was saved in. It was a Saturday and my oldest son and I drove to Atlanta. I had in the car a picture of me and my son standing in front of the Church bus I used to drive. My son was about 4 years old and I was much younger myself. The Church was having an open house. When we arrived he and I went into the lower part of the Church where they had a table set up. I began talking with the man sitting at the table. I asked if he was the Pastor? He said no and just about that time the Pastor walked up. I began to tell him why we were there. He asked if we would like to go up to the sanctuary? I said yes. As we entered the doors I could see little had changed. My mind raced back 50 years and memories rushed back into my mind. I began to tell the Pastor of the day the Lord Saved Me. I went to the pew where I was sitting that morning. Then back to the pulpit where the preacher was preaching. Then I repeated what the preacher said then I went back to the pew and walked out just as I did that Sunday morning long ago. I went to the place where the preacher was standing and repeated what he said to me. He said “are you a sinner” I said yes; it didn’t take much thinking to answer that question. I asked the Lord to Save me and He did. That day my life changed for eternity and I began to put to death the things I knew were wrong. Here’s the strange thing: I didn't do that because they were wrong, why I already knew that. I began to put them to death because of my love for the Lord and what He had already done for me. In verse 5 we read of all those sexual sins

Adultery, perversion, passion, lust. Then we read verse 6 For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:

The wrath of God? Oh my 😳the Lord doesn’t  like those sexual sins. They may be enjoyable today but there’s a payday coming. I’m glad that the Lord changed my life and eternal direction from children of disobedience to a child of God. John 1:12 (KJV) But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

That day the Lord saved me from many, many things, but that’s what the Lord does, doesn’t He? Don’t let time erase those memories. If you don’t have any memories of the day the Lord saved you. Well, start your memories today you’ll never regret nor forget.

Since then I walk in forgiveness

All of my guilt was erased

The chains of the past

Are broken at last

I got saved

Oh, I got saved

I'm undone by the mercy of Jesus

I'm undone by the goodness of the Lord

I'm restored and made right

He got a hold of my life

I've got Jesus

How could I want more

👺Why Evil❓

God will never send anybody to hell. If mangoes to hell, he goes by his own free choice.  ~Bill Graham~

Colossians 3:5 (KJV) Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:

Mortify, that word means to destroy, be dead. Look what the Apostle Paul is saying to his readers, put to death; “your members which are upon the earth” Not someone else’s but “your members”.

“fornication” your sexual sin”uncleanness” your perversion ”inordinate affection” your passion

“evil concupiscence” your lust “covetousness” your greed “which is idolatry”? Your worship of idols, images, or anything made by hands, or which is not God. Look what Paul is telling those at Colosse to put to death the things that are not pleasing to God. Why Paul? Because they are hurting your relationship with God. We are to put them away why? Because of our Love for our Heavenly Father. Love has become a cheap word in our day. Real love is giving without expecting anything in return. Real love will come out in us when there is trouble in that which we love. I have heard my wife say that she loves the beach. What she really means is that she likes the beach. How do I know that? Because never, not one time has she said after a hurricane has destroyed the beach we need to go help those fix the beach. One might say they love Pizza. What they really mean is they like pizza because you never give your time or money to the Pizza organization. One might hear if God really loves us the way He says He does then why is there so much evil in this world? Great question. Love is one thing we give to another. Love is not bought nor is it sold nor can it be made. Love is something we give of our own free will. I have given my wife my love. I do things for her I don’t do for others. I give her things I won’t give to others. But in no way can I make her love me. She has to also given me her love and she can’t make me love her. Why is there so much evil in this world if God so loves this world? Rewind back to the book of Genesis at the beginning and start reading. There you will read about God creating and then you’ll read about God creating male and female.  God loved Adam and Eve but God could not make Adam and Eve love Him. I don’t want to make my wife love me, I don’t want to make my children love me nor my grandchildren love me. Oh no I want them to love me because I love them?  

1 John 4:19 (KJV) We love him, because he first loved us. Adam and Eve followed wrong advice from the serpent (satan) and because of their following sin entered the world. When Adam and Eve had children Cain and Abel they too were born sinners and all went well until they had a disagreement in the field one day. Genesis 4:8 (KJV) And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him. Why is there evil? Because of sin but one day there will be no more sin Revelation 22:3 (KJV) And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: We can’t serve God doing sexual sinful lustful acts that God has already said He does like and are wrong. But God still loves you and I just as we love our children when they do wrong and go against our will and wishes. We as parents had to discipline our children and we did so because we loved them.

🪽Appear🕊️

 My hope does not rest in the affairs of this world. It trust in Christ who is coming again. ~Billy Graham~

Colossians 3:4 (KJV) When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

So all this born again business I have been writing about is about life. Where did this come from? Great question.  

John 1:4 (KJV) In him (Jesus) was life; and the life was the light of men.

John 3:15 (KJV) That whosoever believeth in him(Jesus)

 should not perish, but have eternal life.

John 5:24 (KJV) Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him(God)

 that sent me,(Jesus) hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

John 5:39 (KJV) Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.(Jesus)

Colossians 3:4 (KJV) When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

When what? “who is our life” think that would be Jesus? I think so according to the verses I wrote above. In Jesus was life. Oh that’s what it said; but then we read “shall appear” wait a minute Jesus isn’t here He is gone, Jesus had already been crucified, how is Jesus going to appear? I’m sure you have seen signs that read “Jesus is coming again” or ”Jesus is coming soon.” No those signs were not written by some former person who has taken drugs for the last 30 years and is delusional. Oh no!  

Acts 1:11 (KJV) Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

1 Thessalonians 4:15 (KJV) For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. (Dead)

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.

There’s a lot of people looking for Jesus' return, but there’s many who aren’t. I truly believe it won’t be long. As I listen and see what is going on around us in the hour we live. One would have to be blind not seeing things getting worse day by day. Our leaders don’t fear God, maybe because they think they are in charge. They aren’t and one day when God has had enough He will return. God had enough in Noah’s day and God had enough in Lot’s day. What do you think?? Luke 17:26 (KJV) And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.

Luke 17:28 (KJV) Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded;

Luke 17:30 (KJV) Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.

If you take the time to see what was happening in those time periods you might find that those same things are happening now. I’m not gloom and doom by no means but you would have to agree we are closer today than yesterday of the Lord's return.