🌥️Light That Shines🌤️

Darkness only leaves when the light is turned on.

I am a flashlight person. I carry one with me at all times. Over the years flashlights have gotten smaller and brighter. I have one now that is my favorite. It was given to me as a gift from my grandson and his fiancèe. It is a square one with magnets and it also has a red light if I need infrared. Now here is the coolest thing. Not only is it bright but just the other day I found out that if I hold the switch down it will become super bright and hold its brightness for maybe a minute. Is that not cool! When I can’t see what I would like too, I whip out my flashlight and put some light on the subject. Just the other day I was reading Genesis chapter one which I have read many times. Well I had missed or not been paying attention to what I was reading when the Lord showed me something of great importance. In verse one we read in the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. Then in verse two we read that the earth was without form and void and there was darkness. Then comes the flashlight of verse three.  

Genesis 1:3 (KJV) And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. This is the first Mention of light

Light  is what Jesus said He was.

John 8:12 (KJV) 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.

In order to see one needs light. One afternoon I opened the door to our sanctuary and it was dark. To get the lights on I would have to go to another place. I was just making myself a short cut to get to another hallway. I then had this thought, it seemed good at the time. I told myself you don’t need any light you have been in this room 100”s of times you know the way so go for it. I did, door shuts, darkness covers the room and I’m on my way; the smart thing to have done would have used  my flashlight. All was fine until I stumbled over something and almost failed flat on my face. Someone was getting ready for something and had a pile of whatever in my pathway. It never should have been there in the first place or should it? You see I blamed the problem on someone else for my near fall. Was that the real problem? NO! The real problem was me. I should have turned on the lights or used my flashlight which would have prevented my near killer fall. That is what God was telling us in Genesis one verse three: let's turn on the lights so we can see. Just like I did many are doing today, they are running here and there doing this and that stumbling over this and that never stopping to think about turning on Jesus the light of this world. 

John 9:5 (KJV) As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.

Oh no there is the problem, we are too busy turning off the lights when we should be turning them on.  

In the book of Matthew Chapter 4 verse 16 we read the word light for the first time in the NT.

Matthew 4:16 (KJV) The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.

Notice where the people were seating”in darkness” what did they need “great light” How are the people going to see a great light? 

By Preaching:

Matthew 4:17 (KJV) From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

1 Corinthians 1:21 (KJV) For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

Who needs this Preaching?

People In Darkness:

“The people which sat in darkness ”

Then in Matthew 4:18 Jesus started calling men to Preach and Teach the Gospel. Men who knew nothing about PREACHING! Isn't  it great that Jesus sees things in us that we don’t see in ourselves.

Jesus didn’t leave it up to them:

Matthew 4:19 (KJV) And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.

Not Men, not Schools, not Colleges but Jesus said I will Make you, not you make you. When Peter and Andrew understood and believed they followed Matthew 4:20 (KJV) And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.

 Matthew 5:2 (KJV) And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,

He taught them never to forget:

Matthew 5:13 (KJV) Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.

But they weren’t just salt they were to be light.

Matthew 5:14 (KJV) Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

Ye are to be Light that shines out not hid.

Matthew 5:15 (KJV) Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. So are we today to be lights that are seen and not hidden because no one can see that which is hidden. If mine and your life are to have an affect on others then it is a must that we let our light shine for Jesus.  

🛅Left Stranded⛓️‍💥

They left their nets and followed Him.

A serpentine belt is a single, continuous rubber belt that winds through multiple engine pulleys to power essential accessories like the alternator, power steering pump, water pump, and air conditioning compressor. This is something that we shouldn’t ignore. Manufacturers tell us to  make regular inspections every 10,000 miles. They don’t last forever replace every 60,000-100,000 miles

The tension and pulleys should be inspected. Watch out for leaks to prevent contamination. If the serpentine belt breaks stop the car because it can’t continue without causing serious damage. That’s good news to hear but if we ignore it there will be major problems. We might say this is an automobile commandment. Now that brings me to my point. The word commandment is mentioned in our Bibles a total of 177 times. There are only 10 commandments and that sounds simple enough. The problem is we can’t keep them. So why are they there? Could it be to show us we can’t keep them. 

Romans 7:8 (KJV) But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead.

Without the commandments sin has the opportunity for me to do all kinds of wrong doings. Without the commandments then there would be no wrongs. The fight is to get rid of these commandments by ripping them off our structures, hiding them from our sight and please don’t say anything about them to our children. Removing them so we will not see them does not do away with them? Just because you don’t see the speed limit sign does not do away with it. Use your own judgement and drive 60 mph in a 45 mph zone and you will get stopped by the local police. No matter what you say, it will not do away with the broken law and there will be a penalty. The same is true with the commandments of God. Remember the commandments were not written to hurt us but to help us. You and I are sinners because of Adam and Eve. Adam and Eve had one commandment and they couldn’t keep it. When they broke God’s one commandment there was a penalty that had to be paid. If Adam and Eve couldn’t keep one commandment what makes you and I think we can keep 10? We can’t! In John chapter 7 verse 19 we read Did not Moses give you the law, and yet none of you keepeth the law?  The Apostle Paul said it was by the law that he saw he was a sinner. 

Romans 3:20 (KJV) Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

Romans 7:7 (KJV) 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.

Ignore the law and we may not understand what sin is therefore we will never be sinners. If we are never sinners then we will never know who Jesus Christ is. Why do I say that? 

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

It’s like the serpentine belt on my car. If I ignore it it will leave me stranded no matter how much I paid for the car. Ignore that we are sinners and we will be left stranded no matter how good we thought we were. Deuteronomy 8:11 (KJV) Beware that thou forget not the LORD thy God, in not keeping his commandments, and his judgments, and his statutes, which I command thee this day:

🐪 WE CAME WE LEFT 🐫

 🐪Come as you are wonderful. But do not stay as you are. 🐫

Everywhere we go we either leave something or take away something. I was watching a crime show one day and one of the detectives made this statement “ A person never comes to a place that he doesn’t either leave or pick up something. It may be the smallest thing, a hair, a piece of thread but they never come or leave without picking something up or leaving with something.” When we find that we have found the missing piece to the puzzle. I have no reason not to believe what was said. So would it not be just as true to those who say they have given their lives to Jesus Chist?                             2 Corinthians 5:17 (KJV) Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. The principle is the same, one leaves the way they were living with a new life which is altogether different. That is the way it should be. Sad to say that many never change. They have the same old talk, same old actions, go and do the same old things. There is no noticeable change in their life. If today you went to your mailbox and there was a letter addressed to you. When you opened it you saw a check made out to you for 2 million dollars; how would that change your life? To the person who asked God to forgive them of their sins. I say you got more than 2 million dollars; life eternal, priceless. How has that changed your life? Is there a noticeable change? You might say I did ask God to Save me, but life happened. That may very well be so. Let’s do as the Apostle Paul advises.                                               2 Corinthians 13:5 (KJV) Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? Inspect yourself carefully to see if what you say you have you have. Is the proof there that backs up what you say? You know if there was ever a long lasting change. Is Jesus Christ in you? That is what has to be determined or was it just a feeling at one time. You see feelings don’t last but faith in Jesus Christ does. No one can answer that for you. Has your Bible become a book on the shelf you know kinda like the elf on the shelf. It’s nice to have and look at from time to time but reading it, well you just can’t find the time. If that 2 million dollars was in the bank would you have time to spend it? Tell others about it? How that one day you went to the mailbox. The same is true about our salvation. One day I bowed and I asked Jesus Christ to forgive me my sins and He did. Oh what a day that changed my life forever. Oh yeah did I ever tell you about what God has done with and in my life since that day? 

There is coming a day

When no heartache shall come

No more clouds in the sky

No more tears to dim the eye

All is peace forever more

On that happy golden shore

What a day, glorious day that will be.

What a day that will be

When my Jesus I shall see

And I look upon His face

The One who saved my by His grace

When He takes me by the hand

And leads me through the Promised Land

What a day, glorious day that will be.

🏁The Mitu🏎️

Don’t fear the enemy that attacks you, but the fake friend that hugs you.

The other morning I was on my way to work. It was just like any other morning. Triffic was moving and it was just another day. Then this mitu came out of nowhere and with only inches to spare changed lanes in front of me. I just knew I was about to be in a bad accident. No he made it, how I don’t know. Down the road they went at high speeds. The light ahead was red, cars were stopped but that didn't stop this person. Over in the turn lane and once again with only inches, not feet, inches to spare they ran the red light and dodged the oncoming cars. So what’s a mitu? It is an acronym that I made up that stands for More Important Than You. As my granddad used to say “if you had left early you wouldn’t have to drive like that.” I learned something very valuable early in my life and that is we are our brothers' keeper. What I do does affect others. That person doing all that so-called fancy driving not only has his life in his hands but also the lives of others he didn't even know.  What you and I do affects others in two ways: good or bad and we get to make the choice ourselves. I have the power of the words coming from my mouth therefore I must think before I release those words. Words spoken can never be taken back for our life has no reverse. Have you ever said “my dad used to say?” Or “I can still hear those words from….” “Those words remind me of my???” In 1901 a young lady passed away and I can’t remember her first name but her last name was Brooks. She left me a message and I wouldn't get that message for almost a 100 years. It was chiseled in her tombstone and it read “where you stand I once stood, where I am you will soon be, prepare to meet God.” Her words are still leaving and impacting the lives of others. Jesus Christ had that same type of impact and His words are still powerful.

Matthew 24:35 (KJV) Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

Heaven and earth will pass away, not maybe or might, but “shall pass away.” Then Jesus goes on to say but “my words shall not pass away.” David said I am going to hide God's Word in my heart. 

Psalms 119:11 (KJV) Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

For what purpose? To cleanse our way.

Psalms 119:9 (KJV) Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.

The little phrase “thy word” is mentioned 36 times in the book of Psalms. It would do us good to read Psalms 119 and pay attention to that phrase “thy word” for out of those 36 times it is mentioned 35 times in that one chapter. Here are a few things that God’s Word will do.

1. Cleanse 
2. Keep us from sin
3. Bring delight to our souls
4. Gives us strength 
5. Brings Salvation
6. Comfort
7. Keep us from evil
8. Give us light
9. Show how to walk in this world
10. Show us truth
11. Give us understanding
12. Bring deliverance 

Just to name a few. Our words are powerful too. Have you told anyone you love them lately? Have you used your words to encourage someone? Have you used words to lift someone up lately? One of my daily prayers is to ask my Heavenly Father to help me to encourage others. I think that giving to others is important and kind words cannot be purchased. A man called me one day and said these words to me that I had never heard. He said “thank you for your service.” It was 38 years after being discharged before I heard those words. Today I still remember how it made me feel. Our words have a great impact on others so use them wisely. 

🎆Without Limits👀

The greatest gift that one can give to another is unconditional love.

What if someone came to you and said “ I want you to make your life better so from here on out spend without limits.” Just think of what you would be able to do? Pay your home off, get rid of that old car that you have been keeping on the road for years. Leave for a vacation and go where you have always wanted to go, stay as long as you like . See the sights you have only seen in pictures. Live life to its fullest, so to speak. Wouldn’t that be great if it involved money no problem. Just thinking of that sounds so wonderful doesn’t it? Don’t get too excited that isn’t going to happen because what I have seen in life is that no one can have enough wealth. As one lady told me how much is enough just one more. As I read my Bible about Jesus Christ the Savior of mankind I find that His love is unlimited, His love was unconditional. It didn’t matter who you were, poor or rich, sick or healthy, overweight or underweight. It mattered not what color you were, what language you spoke, what attitude you had or what disability you have lame, blind, deaf none of that mattered. This man Jesus didn’t just talk. He displayed His love everywhere He went. That day on the cross after being slapped, spit on, talked to with unkind words, beaten almost to death and more than we know.  He only had words of kindness and love. In pain while the crowd of people who had gathered that day at the cross yelled, Jesus looked down and said “Father forgive them for they know not what they do.” 

Luke 23:34 (KJV) Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. What would you or I have said? Did we pray this day and ask our Heavenly Father to give us a heart of unconditional love? There are parents who won’t forgive their own children and grandchildren for mistakes that they made or words that they spoke in anger. We may try to be the best at our profession and we work hard to get to that place. Oh but are we working hard to love others? It matters not how well we do, make one mistake and you live with it the rest of your life. Why is that? 

John 3:19 (KJV) And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

People love to remember the evil deeds we have done. Get a record with the court systems and it will be there forever. Here is what Jesus taught John 13:34 (KJV) A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

Jesus didn’t just say "love one another He said do like I do” “as I have loved you” how did Jesus love you? Unconditionally! Just this week I heard a man tell about his dad as he spoke at his funeral. He first said my dad loved me even when I made bad choices he never quit loving me. Then he used these words: my dad loved me unconditionally. As this man spoke his voice got weak as the tear flowed from his eyes and dripped off his cheeks. His dad was 83 and his son was in his late 50’s or early 60’s. His last words before he stepped down were “I love you dad and I’m going to miss you.” Then he said “but I know I’ll see you again.” Do you and I strive at having unconditional love for others? We might be the only person that has shown them any love in a long time. Luke 15 tells of a son who left home and went out and made bad choices. When he decided to come back home his father ran out to meet him with loving arms and an unconditional love. Now his brother did not have that unconditional love. I have often asked myself which one am I? The father or the brother? 

😇No Exception🙁

There are no exceptions to the rule but we all like to think we are an exception to the rule. 

Have you ever thought or felt like there should have been an exception for you? I’m sure we all have felt like that at one time or another. I know I have. Years ago my son bought himself a motorcycle. I thought if I were to get one too then we could  spend more time together riding. As a dad I was always looking for ways to spend more time with my children; not sure I did the best job at it for sure. I’m not sure any parent feels like they spend enough time with their children. Anyways I bought myself a motorcycle. Now you have to have another license to ride a motorcycle. No problem, I'll go get one. All I had to do was take a written test and then a driving test on my motorcycle. No problem, I passed the written test without even studying for it. Now the driving test, here is where things changed. There were only certain places you could go to do that test. The first place me and my son went was a good way off, I guess about 60 miles away. Best I can remember it was open on Saturday. We went to take the test, I drove my motorcycle and he drove his car. The test track was outside the patrol station. The one giving me the test told me when I come to the fork pay attention to the light and it would tell me which way to go. Off I went when I got to the light it was neither flashing right or left but it was flashing yellow. I had to go one way or the other; I had no idea what to do and still don’t to this day. Whatever I did was wrong, although I don’t know what was the right thing to do. That one thing caused me to fail the test. When I finished and found out the results, I didn’t pass. I went back and was standing with my son when those officers waved for my son to come take the test. I thought they were waving for me to come back. Somehow in my little tin cup mind I thought they were going to make an exception for me. Wrong! They were waving for my son which he passed. No flashing yellow lights for him. Life is short. You hear of someone living well into their 80’s and that sounds like a long time but I assure you it’s not it will be here before you know it. James warned us of that. 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 gives us a word picture of how long our life is, a vapor. When I read that my mind takes me back to my childhood days. I would come into the kitchen where my mother was cooking and vapors would be coming off the pots on the stove and would soon vanish into the air. Life moves at a fast speed. Don’t be caught off guard. 

Hebrews 3:7 (KJV) Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice,

Hebrews 3:8 (KJV) Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness:

Provocation which simply means “Any thing that excites anger; the cause of resentment.”

Then the example is given “in the day of temptation in the wilderness:” In the wilderness God’s people provoked Him by their unbelief, murmurings, ingratitude, and idolatry; and they tempted God by distrusting his power and goodness. The warning to all of us is Don’t let our Heart become Hard. The easiest thing to do is do nothing. Don’t guard our heart and evil slips in. Don’t guard our talk and evil talk slips out. If we allow unbelief it will soon bring complaining and grumbling. Then ingratitude will show up and then distrust in God and His Power to do good. Then we will start to question God. We will ask questions like “why me God?” “If you love me the way you say, then why, I don’t understand.” God never changes. He is always the same. 

Malachi 3:6 (KJV) For I am the LORD, I change not;  

Hebrews 13:8 (KJV) Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

The yellow lights are flashing, proceed with caution, for there are no exceptions.