Not Our Home

Colossians 3

New King James Version (NKJV)

3 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. ² Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. ³ For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. ⁴ When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.

Thank God that this fallen earth is not my home.   

It is so easy to get caught up in the "things of this world" especially and unfortunately during the holiday season.  That is why it is a good thing to look at God's word for a reminder that this is not our home. We are called to store up treasures in Heaven and to seek the things above and not the things on the earth.  You are a child of God and your life is hidden in Christ.  Rejoice again I say rejoice. 

 

Stay In the Fight

2 Samuel 11:1

New King James Version (NKJV)

David, Bathsheba, and Uriah

11 It happened in the spring of the year, at the time when kings go out to battle, that David sent Joab and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the people of Ammon and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem.

     David was not where he should have been, and not doing what he should have been doing; that decision cost him dearly.  David was perhaps the most manliest man there was, aside from Jesus of course.  He was considered a man after God's own heart. As the king and leader he should have been in battle, he should have stayed in the fight. Instead he chose comfort and pleasure.  

    Drudgery and success can bring the temptation to let down our guard and forget that there is an enemy to fight. It is easy to get caught up in the day to day living on earth. Work, home, hobbies and the like threaten to choke out the word of God that has been planted in the heart. Matthew 13:22

²² Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful. 


   God has called His children to be fruitful; bearing the fruit of the Spirit, encouraging and edifying the body of Christ.  This is our fight. We are no longer orphans.  We are now a royal priesthood.  Kings that are called to go out to battle.  Loving, praying, singing and making melody in our hearts.  For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but strong and mighty in God for the pulling down of strongholds.  You are a child of the kingdom stay in the fight! 

What is Man Made For

 Have you ever heard a someone say "you have a great destiny" or "God has a purpose for your life"?
Sounds good doesn't it?  Don't we all like to have a since of purpose and destiny? While these statements have some truth to them, they also hold a bit of danger. Let me explain.  Often times there are preachers that use the gospel of Jesus Christ to manipulate people.  They preach that "godliness is a means of gain" Philippians 4 all to fill their on bellies.  They tell people what they want to hear and just as satan did with Eve they use a bit of truth.

 The truth is man is made for God not the other way around.  Your destiny and purpose is all tied to glorifying Jesus Christ not to build your own kingdom or get that new car or house or job or ministry.  When man has an earthly perspective on things hard times come and they curse God.  Don't get me wrong.  God is a good God and gives good gifts to men; however, He is more interested in being glorified not being a Santa Clause.  

 Your purpose here on earth is to glorify Him and enjoy Him forever.  Don't be trapped by things that moth and rust will destroy.

Colossians 1:15-18

New King James Version (NKJV)

¹⁵ He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. ¹⁶ For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. ¹⁷ And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. ¹⁸ And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.

Let the Pain Do Its Work

Romans 12:12

New King James Version (NKJV)

¹² rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; 

We go through times as believers when heaven seems shut up and there is no end in sight of the pain and suffering we experience.  There are days when we don't even want to get out of bed and we began to question God and our faith.   Paul tells us here in Romans to be patient in tribulation.  This is no easy task as weeks and months and years pass. 

  Paul was no stranger to suffering. (see 2 Corinthians 11:24-33) He knew pain so deep he even despaired of life 2 Corinthians 1:8.  So the question his how and why did this godly man suffer so much and how did he make it through to receive his crown?

   First Paul desired to know Jesus above all else:

Philippians 3:10  that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, 

  Second with Paul's great calling came with great revelation with this came great suffering to keep him humble.  2 Corinthians 12:7-10. 

  Finally Paul knew his suffering was not in vain.  

Romans 5

New King James Version (NKJV)

5 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have^[a] peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, ² through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. ³ And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; ⁴ and perseverance, character; and character, hope. ⁵ Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

Take heart your suffering like Paul's is not in vain.  Let it do its work in your life that God has intended.  You will be bless and receive a crown.  

Just Dust

Psalm 103:13

New King James Version (NKJV)

¹³ As a father pities his children,
So the Lord pities those who fear Him.
¹⁴ For He knows our frame;
He remembers that we are dust.

At times we feel so inadequate for life's expectations.  I am a husband, a dad, a home-school parent, a friend, a son, an employee, the list goes on.  At various times I feel that I can not measure up and do the things I know God would have me to do and do them well. It is easy to get caught up in performance and think that God can love us less or is disappointed in us. 

The verse above should encourage you.  See you can only be disappointed in someone or something if your expectation is high or misplaced.  God knows that we are just dust and so His expectation of us is that we are needy and unable to do anything without Him. Just as a new born babe depends on it's parents so we must depend on our Father. 

John 15:5

New King James Version (NKJV)

⁵ “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.

This I Know

We go through many heartaches and troubles; it is what the Lord Jesus promised us.  He said "in this world you will have trouble".  Loss of loved ones, betrayal, slander, mocking, and sometimes these are done by the people we would least expect, sickness, loss of house, jobs and income.  Truly we are being lead as sheep to the slaughter.  The temptation is to doubt, to be angry and to lash out at others and at God.

Take this encouragement, everything is for your good. Trust in the perfect love of God.  Trust that He knows exactly what you need to make you more like Him.  To conform you to the image of His son.  Just as He is the express image of the Father. You will become the express image of the Son.  Learn to trust Him in your circumstances and in your relationships. Surrender to His will just as Jesus did, accepting suffering and ridicule, betrayal and false accusation as from the Fathers hand.  You will then be able to proclaim this I know that JESUS LOVES ME SO.   Jesus trusted in the Fathers love and His will, let us do the same.

Holy Endevor

Ephesians 4:3

³ endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 

As a believer are you endeavoring (striving, trying hard) to keep the unity of the Spirit.  Paul exhorts the church to make every effort in keeping unity.  This means humbling yourself Philippians 2 and not thinking highly of yourself. It also means loving which covers a multitude of sins. 

Jesus has called us to be one just as He and the Father are one; to love one another just as He loved us. So I ask you are you striving to keep your own rights, build your own kingdom or are you striving to do the Fathers will, even if it means you have to die. 

In Christ 
Angus

He Wil Bring Rest

Zephaniah 3:17

New King James Version (NKJV)

¹⁷ The Lord your God in your midst,
The Mighty One, will save;
He will rejoice over you with gladness,
He will quiet you with His love,
He will rejoice over you with singing.”

Jesus, Immanuel, God with us.  Believer God is in your midst.  He will save you from your current situation.  He rejoices over you (not just loving you but delighting in you).  He will quiet you with His love and He will sing over you. 

Take heart, God has not abandon you to yourself or your situation.  Trust and obey for He is in your Midst. 

Remembering the Basics

I was a sprinter in school. The 100 and 200 meter dash were my specialties, if you can call them that.  I can remember one track meet that our team was down a man and the coach asked me to run the 400 meter.  I was all in.  I lined up like it was a 200 meter and my mind was already on the finish line.  It didn't take long, about 200 yards, to realize I did not know what I was doing.   I started out beating everyone but at about the 200 mark I ran out of gas.  I finished last. I had attempted to run a race I had never trained for and failed.  Had I had any training I could have paced my start and finished a lot better than last. 

Our christian walk can seem like a race that we had not prepared for.  We have times when we are on fire and times when we seem to run out of gas.  This can make us feel or believe that we have failed and are loosing the race.  You RELATIONSHIP with the living God is not a sprint, it is a marathon.  Jesus is in your life for the long haul.  I am not talking about a run on asphalt or a nice rubberized track.  I am talking cross country, full of potholes and other obstacles; that if you are not aware of, you could be injured. 

In the times when you feel like you are running out of gas for this race or that you have hit a wall it is important to remember the basics:

1. Jesus is the savior.  You are not saving yourself or securing your own righteousness. 
2. It is for His glory.  We are not saved to fulfill all our earthly dreams.  We are saved to the glory of His grace. (Ephesians 1) 
3. God does not quit.  Paul tells us in Philippians 1:6, that God is able to complete the good work He started. 
4. He loves you and love never fails.   1 Corinthians 13. 

 Keep you eyes on Jesus and you will finish the race. 

Who is your God?

Are you filled with the fullness of Jesus Christ or are you looking to some other source for your God given needs.  Even as believers we can and will be tempted to set up idols for ourselves. Things that we turn to in hopes to find what we need.   Let me give you just a few examples:


When I am prideful, I lack acceptance. I've been given the right to be His child. John 1:12
When I am lustful, I lack intimacy. Closeness with Christ. My life is hidden in Him. John 14:23
When I am angry, I lack peace.   John 14:27

 The Gospel does not end with your ticket to heaven.  It is a continual sanctification of  your soul unto God through Jesus Christ.  Often we waste our time on our human efforts to fulfill the needs in our life when we only need to look to Jesus.  Remember that He is life.  He is our righteousness.  He is our peace.  He is our best Friend.  He will glorify Himself in us and through us.





 

Knowing the Will of God

Colossians 1

New King James Version (NKJV)

⁹ For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; ¹⁰ that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; ¹¹ strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; ¹² giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light.

Paul prays first that the Colossians will filled with the knowledge of God's will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding. Many search for the will of God for their lives and indeed it is a great need today not only in the world but in the Church of Christ, which is His body.  It was no different in Paul's time.  He desired that believers would know the will of God (Romans 12, Colossians 1).  For the church at Colosse he prays that they would "know the will of God with all wisdom and spiritual understanding".  

Knowing the will of God is not as difficult as it may seem.  One only needs to search the scriptures to find what God desires for your life.  For example Colossians chapter 3 tells us the following:

1. put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness,
2.  put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. ⁹ Do not lie to one another
3. put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 
4. bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, 
5.  Wives, submit to your own husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.
6.  Husbands, love your wives and do not be bitter toward them 
7. Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord.
8. Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.
9. Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eye-service, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God. And whatever you do, do it heartily,

The will of God is not as mysterious as we would think. I speak as to those who already have faith in Jesus.  Without faith it is impossible to please God and in order to walk in His will we must start with faith in Jesus Christ.

Paul asked for a little more than them knowing God's will; however,  he asked that they would know it with all wisdom and spiritual understanding.  It is not enough to know God's will if you are unwilling to act on it.  Charles Spurgeon once said "wisdom is the use of knowledge".  So we can know God's will that is have knowledge of God's will but not have wisdom.  We must walk in His will.

Furthermore we must have a spiritual understanding of His will.  Realize that we do not war against flesh and blood and that the weapons of our warfare are strong and mighty in God able to pull down strong holds.  2 Corinthians 10:4.

When we as believers walk in God's will with wisdom then we :
 "walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;"
and
 we are "strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy;"


Make Paul's prayer your own for yourself, your family and the church.  God bless.


Just a quick note.  I have not been posting as frequently because I don't want to post just for the sake of posting.  I hope you are encouraged by what you read and share it with others.   Please leave a comment and become a follower.  I would love to hear from you.

Love and Trust

I am reading a book by Norm Wakefield called Equipped to Love. I highly recommend it.  I wanted to share one of the quotes from the book. The quote is from Jerry White "Every relationship is an opportunity to love and every situation is an opportunity to trust." 

I am not going to share what Mr. Wakefield had to say. You'll have to get the book.   I will say that this should be a mantra of every believer alive today.  Look at your current situation and current relationships and ask yourself if you are loving the people and are you trusting God with the situation. 

Just some food for thought. 

I've added a new feature on the blog, if you are interested. I have added a link Sermon Audio where you can download my sermons.  I hope you are encouraged and blessed by them. 

Where Do You Live?

John 15:4

New King James Version (NKJV)

⁴ Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.

Here Jesus exhorts the disciples to abide in Him so that they may bear fruit.  The message is the same for us today.  We can do nothing unless we abide in Christ. We can only bear fruit if we abide in Christ. Too many times we try and depend on our own efforts to bear fruit. We strive and get discouraged. We work hard and we fail. It is at times like these when we need to return to the Word of God and be reminded that we can do NOTHING apart from Christ.  You can not be a godly husband outside of Christ.  You can not be a godly mother outside of Christ.  You can not honor your father and mother outside of Christ.  You can not be a witness outside of Christ.  

A branch does not bear fruit by striving.  I've spent time in wine vineyards and I never heard one straining or grunting with effort, trying to grow grapes.  The branch rest attached to the vine.  The vine sends the nutrients to the branches and the fruit comes forth.  Let us rest in the Vine and allow the Vine to produce fruit in us.

HOW DO YOU ABIDE IN CHRIST ?

When we obey Jesus' commands then we are truly abiding in Him.  
Believe.   All of our works must come from faith and not the other way around. We do not work for salvation, but because salvation is ours. 

Love.  Love is an act of the will not a feeling as the world would have you believe. It is also a fruit of the Spirit Galatians 5.   When we abide in Christ we can bear the fruit of love!

 
 

How I Love Thee

John 19:28-30

New King James Version (NKJV)

²⁸ After this, Jesus, knowing^[a] that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, “I thirst!” ²⁹ Now a vessel full of sour wine was sitting there; and they filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on hyssop, and put it to His mouth. ³⁰ So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.
 
Let us once again look to the cross, for on it is the greatest display of love the world has ever known.  While Muslims deny that Jesus gave his life and other religions look to self to satisfy God's wrath and some even say that the cross was not enough, but works are needed in addition to the cross; we look to Jesus who said "It is finished".  The work that the Father had sent Him to do was completed, all our sins were laid upon Him. All the sacrifices and burnt offerings, all the scape goats and passover feasts all pointed to this one moment when the Lamb of God took away the sins of the world.  

Accept Jesus finished work on the cross for all your sins; past, present and future. Remember once again and rejoice for in Him your sins are forgiven.  You have been set free from sin! You are no longer God's enemy if you believe.  You are now His child and His friend for He died for you. 

John 15:13

New King James Version (NKJV)

¹³ Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. 

1 John 3:1

New King James Version (NKJV)

3 Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.

How To Take the Teeth Out of Temptation

1 Corinthians 10:13

New King James Version (NKJV)

¹³ No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

You do not have to be a follower of Jesus Christ very long to experience temptations. Let's face it even though our old self is dead and buried with Christ (Romans 6:8) , it can put up one heck of a fight.  We can get overwhelmed with the battle sometimes and then another temptation presents itself and that is to give in.  

There are a few things that I hope will help you as they have helped me. 

1. Temptation is not a sin.  Just because you are tempted does not mean you are committing a sin. It is when we let our earthly desires draw us away in our minds (we can sin with our thoughts) or physically that is when we commit the sin.

2. Bring your thoughts captive. 2 Corinthians 10:5.  You see a good looking woman you have a choice to dwell on her looks and walk right into sin or you there is a man that is not your husband. He is kind and sweet and shows you attention that you do not get at home.  You have had a very stressful day you just want to rest and recharge or check out; you think about taking just one drink, just to relax a bit or you think about looking at some material on the internet or in your night stand.  You get the point.  Our temptations begin in our minds and we have the ability through Christ to stop them their before they become sin.  How? Scripture began to quote scripture like our Savior did. Sing some praise music or a hymn or a psalm.  These will help in getting you to think on.  Colossians 3:13 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 

3. Bring it into the light.  Sometimes our flesh gets nasty when it does not get it's way and no matter how many scriptures you throw at it or how many songs you remember it still insist on being gratified.   It is at these times when you need to call in for back up.  Tell your spouse about the temptation or a close brother or sister in the Lord or your pastor.  When we bring these things into the light the darkness is dispelled and looses it's power over you.  

I hope this helps.  I would like to hear from some of you if you get a chance.  God bless!

Romans 8:37

New King James Version (NKJV)

³⁷ Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 

You Are Not Alone

John 14:15-17

¹⁵ “If you love Me, keep My commandments. ¹⁶ And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— ¹⁷ the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.

Have you ever felt like you have been abandoned in your Christian walk or like you just can live the life that God has called you too?  Have you ever thought that God saved you but now He has left you to make it on your own?  Good news! Jesus' promises that we, who are His children, who have placed our faith in Him have been given a helper that lives with us and in us.  It is by His power that we can keep Jesus' commandments.  It is by His power that we can love others as He has loved us. It is by His power that we can be light and salt in a dark world.  

Dear Jesus, I place my trust in you.  Help me to love you with the love that You have poured out into my heart and to love others with the same love that You have loved me. There truly is none like you. Conform me to Your image that I may bear fruit and the Father be glorified.  I love you Jesus. 

Romans 5

⁵ Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

 

A Cross to Bear

Matthew 16:24-26

New King James Version (NKJV)

²⁴ Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. ²⁵ For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. ²⁶ For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?

Luke 9:23

New King James Version (NKJV)

²³ Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.

Ask yourself a question; what kingdom are you building? 

I have to asked this question of myself constantly.  I find that even when I try to do good I fall into the trap of "look at me" rather than not letting my right hand know what my left is doing. It is so easy to go from love of God and others to love of self.  I have to remind myself daily, indeed many times a day that my life is no longer about me.  When I love my wife it is to the glory of God not angus. When I love my children it is to the glory of God not angus.  When I serve and love others or author a blog it is to the glory of God and not angus.  

The temptation is to think that when I perform some good that God owes me or that God belongs to me like some cosmic genie in a bottle awaiting my wish or command.  The truth is I belong to God and I am His servant, created to do His will.

Dear Lord I find it hard to die to myself daily, to take up my cross and follow you. Quicken me Lord for indeed my spirit is willing but my flesh is weak.  I want to love you and others from a sincere faith. Let my heart break for what breaks Yours and let my heart rejoice in what You rejoice in.  Break me Lord.  Make me more like you no matter the cost.  You are my great reward, this world has nothing for me. In Jesus name amen. 

John 3:30

New King James Version (NKJV)

³⁰ He must increase, but I must decrease. 

But God

Ephesians 2:4-10

New King James Version (NKJV)

⁴ But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, ⁵ even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), ⁶ and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, ⁷ that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. ⁸ For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, ⁹ not of works, lest anyone should boast. ¹⁰ For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.


But God. 
I should have been a statistic according to the world.   Son of an alcoholic dad. I should have followed in his foot steps, but God.  Dad murdered when I was 13 and raised by a single mother, I should have ended up in jail, but God. Married at 19 full of lust and an adulterous heart, I should have been divorced, but God. 

I don't care what the world says you should be or how you should act; you too can say "but God" if you place your faith in Jesus Christ.  He is rich in mercy and can give you beauty for the ashes in your life and joy and gladness for mourning.  You can overcome all things with Christ who loves you. 

Share your testimony of your "but God" in the comments. 

Revelation 12:11

New King James Version (NKJV)

¹¹ And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.

Do You Love God?

John 14:15-18

¹⁵ “If you love Me, keep My commandments. ¹⁶ And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— ¹⁷ the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. ¹⁸ I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.

 

 

It is always good to examine ourselves to see that we are in the faith.  One of the determining factors is our willingness to obey God.  Lots of people say the love God but they are unwilling to obey His commands.  We don't obey because we desire the salvation of our souls, but because we have been saved.  Then we display our salvation by our obedience to God. A person who loves God has a willingness to forgive, a love for other followers of Jesus, and a desire to obey all that the Lord has commanded.  

With our willingness and love for God comes help.  It doesn't take long to realize that we are powerless to do all that God has commanded when we rely on ourselves.  The good news is that Jesus promised He would send help and He has for those who have put their faith in Him and placed their love upon Him. The help is God Himself, namely the Holy Spirit.  He is our Help not only is He with us, but He is also in us.  PRAISE HIM. We have not been left orphans. 

John 15:12

New King James Version (NKJV)

¹² This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 

Matthew 28:18-20

New King James Version (NKJV)

¹⁸ And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. ¹⁹ Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

The Heart Of God

John 3:16

New King James Version (NKJV)

¹⁶ For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 


One of my prayers lately has been God give me a heart that breaks for what breaks yours and rejoices for what yours rejoices over.  I am seeing that God's heart is truly for people; your neighbor, the clerk at the store, the person on the street and the president of the fortune 500 company.  He loves them all enough to leave the comfort of heaven, suffer and die and rise again.  He also loves them so much that He now sends His church with His Spirit to show the same love and sacrifice.  Rise up church and seek the lost.  Go into the highways and byways and invite them to the Lord's wedding feast. 

Philippians 2:5

New King James Version (NKJV)

⁵ Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,

  

Matthew 9:36

New King James Version (NKJV)

³⁶ But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary^[a] and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.

God Forgives

Luke 7:36-50

New King James Version (NKJV)

⁴⁸ Then He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” ⁴⁹ And those who sat at the table with Him began to say to themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”
⁵⁰ Then He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.”


Oh that I had the heart of God.  That I could extend forgiveness and mercy.  That I would see the value of people like He does.  You truly are a great GOD!!

God's love. I had a discussion about forgiveness and how much God loves us and an illustration came to mind. My dad was killed when I was young, it hurt deeply.  The killer is in jail now for life.  In my heart I have forgiven him and I pray that he too would put his faith and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ.  God's forgiveness and mercy goes so much farther than I could ever do.  You see His forgiveness would be like me taking my son to prison and exchanging him for the man who killed my dad and who hates me. Bring him to my home, clothe him, feed him and take care of him as if he were my son. Giving him all the privilege my son has. 

Understanding this helps me to begin to understand the depths of the love of Christ Jesus.  There is no one like our God. 

Romans 5:6-11

New King James Version (NKJV)

⁶ For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. ⁷ For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. ⁸ But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. ⁹ Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. ¹⁰ For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. ¹¹ And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.

A House Of God

John 14:23-24

New King James Version (NKJV)

²³ Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.  


^{Your faith in Jesus has made you a temple of the living God.} 
Live your life like God is in you.

 ^{Not sure if anything else needs to be said.} 

 

2 Corinthians 6:16

New King James Version (NKJV)

¹⁶ And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said:

“I will dwell in them
And walk among them.
I will be their God,
And they shall be My people.”

 

God Is Listening

Psalm 34:4

New King James Version (NKJV)

⁴ I sought the Lord, and He heard me,
And delivered me from all my fears.

Christians we do not serve idols that can not hear.  We do not serve a god who does not take part in the affairs of men.  Nor do we serve a god who sits idly by while His children are hurting and in need.  Our God is a good God full of mercy and love.  His love knows no bounds and His mercy endures forever.  He spoke the world into existence. He parted the Red Sea.  He executed justice to the multitudes.  He provided for Himself a sacrifice for sin.  

When we were His enemies, He loved us still.  When we were lost in darkness, He provided a light.  When this world comes to an end He will take us home.   Praise be to the God who hears.  Praise be to Jesus Christ from everlasting to everlasting. 

Psalm 103

New King James Version (NKJV)

103 Bless the Lord, O my soul;
And all that is within me, bless His holy name!
² Bless the Lord, O my soul,
And forget not all His benefits:
³ Who forgives all your iniquities,
Who heals all your diseases,
⁴ Who redeems your life from destruction,
Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,
⁵ Who satisfies your mouth with good things,
So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

⁶ The Lord executes righteousness
And justice for all who are oppressed.
⁷ He made known His ways to Moses,
His acts to the children of Israel.
⁸ The Lord is merciful and gracious,
Slow to anger, and abounding in mercy.
⁹ He will not always strive with us,
Nor will He keep His anger forever.
¹⁰ He has not dealt with us according to our sins,
Nor punished us according to our iniquities.

¹¹ For as the heavens are high above the earth,
So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him;
¹² As far as the east is from the west,
So far has He removed our transgressions from us.
¹³ As a father pities his children,
So the Lord pities those who fear Him.
¹⁴ For He knows our frame;
He remembers that we are dust.

¹⁵ As for man, his days are like grass;
As a flower of the field, so he flourishes.
¹⁶ For the wind passes over it, and it is gone,
And its place remembers it no more.
¹⁷ But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting
On those who fear Him,
And His righteousness to children’s children,
¹⁸ To such as keep His covenant,
And to those who remember His commandments to do them.

¹⁹ The Lord has established His throne in heaven,
And His kingdom rules over all.

²⁰ Bless the Lord, you His angels,
Who excel in strength, who do His word,
Heeding the voice of His word.
²¹ Bless the Lord, all you His hosts,
You ministers of His, who do His pleasure.
²² Bless the Lord, all His works,
In all places of His dominion.

Bless the Lord, O my soul!

Free At Last

Romans 8:1

New King James Version (NKJV)

8 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus,who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.

Hallelujah.  

We are often tossed and driven by life and circumstances and one of the temptations is to look at ourselves and how we continually fall short.  We hang our heads and feel as though we no longer have access to the thrown of grace because of our feelings of unworthiness.  The enemy of our souls also known as the accuser of the brethren is ready to pounce on any he can devour in a moments notice. 

It is important to know and believe that the work Christ did was a complete work.  We are no longer bound by sin. And when we sin we have an advocate who's blood was sufficient for all of our sin.  You are not condemned nor can you be.  The veil has been torn and there is nothing that can separate you from the love of God.   Have all confidence that you can approach the thrown of God, not in pride for the works you completed but in thankfulness and humility accepting the work that Christ has completed for you. 

Hebrews 4:16

New King James Version (NKJV)

¹⁶ Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

True Rest

Romans 13:14

New King James Version (NKJV)

¹⁴ But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.

 Ephesians 5:17-19

New King James Version (NKJV)

¹⁷ Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. ¹⁸ And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, ¹⁹ speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, 

Life can be taxing. Many times I have sought rest on my own, movies, fishing reading a book and all the while neglecting the true rest, Jesus.  Many things threaten to choke out the Word of God in our hearts and cause us to be unfruitful. We are often drawn away by things that satisfy our flesh, but do nothing to bolster our spirits.  When we indulge our flesh, we feel no more rested, refreshed or filled then when we first started. Often times as we feed our flesh it becomes hungry for more. 

Paul exhorts the church in Ephesus to be filled with the Spirit.  This is what our spirits truly long for communion with God.  He is our rest our Sabbath. Wait on Him let Him fill you and refresh you and: 

Isaiah 40:31

New King James Version (NKJV)

³¹ But those who wait on the Lord
Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint.

Kingdom Living

Matthew 6:33

New King James Version (NKJV)

³³ But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 

Jesus preached the kingdom of God.  He showed by example what the kingdom of God was truly like.  He commanded His followers to go and do the same.   He gave power to them to do so. 

My question to you is this: are you doing it?

Are you obeying the Lords command? Are you building His kingdom or your own?

Matthew 28:19

New King James Version (NKJV)

¹⁹ Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

Soul Winning

Romans 2:4-6

New King James Version (NKJV)

⁴ Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and long-suffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?

Dear saints we are indeed called to stand for righteousness, truth and justice without compromise; however, we are to do it in love.  For these things all stem from love and in turn from God.  The world doesn't need us cursing the darkness, but spreading the light. 

Jesus prayed to the following to the Father: 

John 17:23

New King James Version (NKJV)

²³ I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.

The world (people) need us to display the love of the Father for them (John 3:16) and the love of the Father for each other (John 15:11-13).  

Show the kindness of God and let's win souls for the Kingdom. 

John 15:11-13

New King James Version (NKJV)

¹¹ “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. ¹² This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. ¹³ Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.

God Has No Equals

Genesis 1:1

New King James Version (NKJV)

1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 

God created all things. Heaven and Earth and all that is in them. Unfortunately there is a belief that satan is equal with God and that they are caught in a balance of power. Some religions even teach that satan was Jesus' brother.  This is nothing short of heresy. 

God created satan. Can the thing created be greater than its creator? Certainly not! While there is a battle for the souls of men in the end the victor has been declared.  satan will be cast into a lake of fire and all of God's enemies will be defeated with a word. 

Have no doubt there is none like our God. Victory is His! 

 

Romans 8:31

New King James Version (NKJV)

³¹ What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

What's Holding You Back?

Ephesians 1:3-6

New King James Version (NKJV)

³ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, ⁴ just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, ⁵ having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, ⁶ to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.

In the passage above Paul tells the followers of Jesus in Ephesus that they have been adopted and every spiritual blessing is theirs and that it was to Gods pleasure to do so. The Ephesians needed this exhortation and I believe the Church still needs it today. 

We as believers don't often live as we are called because we forget who we are and the work that God has already completed in us, through us and for us.  We are new creations, something the world has never seen before.  It is up to us to live like it.  LIVE LIKE YOU ARE A CHILD OF GOD WHO HAS BEEN BLESSED WITH EVERY SPIRITUAL BLESSING AND CHOSEN OF GOD AND ACCEPTED. You need not fear or be dismayed.  God has saved you all to His pleasure and His glory.  Live not because you want God's favor, but because you are His child and have His favor in Christ. 

A Great Treasure

James 4:8

New King James Version (NKJV)

⁸ Draw near to God and He will draw near to you...

As a husband and father I find that my time (really the Lord's time) seems to be spoken for even before I wake up. Working, investing in my marriage and investing in my children, spending time with other believers and reaching out to the lost does not leave much time in the day. 

I find that there is a danger here in the business of life.  Things that are important and justified even commanded of by the Word of God can distract me from what is most important and that is the Lord Himself.

Look at the church in Ephesus: 

Revelation 2:4

New King James Version (NKJV)

⁴ Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love.

Good works are important and every believer should be concerned with doing the works that God has ordain for us to do; however, our eternal motive must be a love for God.  He is our great reward. Draw near to Him. 

Father in Heaven

Matthew 6:9

New King James Version (NKJV)

⁹ In this manner, therefore, pray:

Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.

It is no small thing that when Jesus taught the disciples how to pray He began with our Father. We believers in Jesus as the Messiah have been adopted and are now sons and daughters of God.  Unfortunately for many the thought of God as a father is foreign to them or even scary, because of the relationship or lack of relationship they have or had with their earthly father. 

Whether your father was the best father in the world or whether he was the biggest jerk or if he was just plain absent he is nothing like our Father in heaven.  We only need to look at Jesus to see the truth about our Father in heaven. 

The life of Jesus shows us exactly what the Father is like. Study it. Meditate on it and know the Father's love.  He is with you always. He will never leave nor forsake you.  There is no condemnation in Him.  He is a God who gives. He will not abuse you our use you.  Trust Him. 

Something to Boast About

2 Corinthians 12:9

New King James Version (NKJV)

⁹ And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 

There are many days where I just feel I can't make it.  Where temptations threaten to overwhelm me. No matter how hard I try to resist the devil or flee from lust they bombard me on every side.  Days I don't FEEL joyful and I don't FEEL at peace or I don't FEEL like rejoicing or being kind or loving or patient. The cares of this world threaten to choke out the very Word that has been planted in my heart. 

Then God's truth steps in.  His Spirit brings to remembrance the verse above and what joy feels my heart. He reminds me that I have a High Priest who can sympathize (Hebrews 4:15). All I need to do is wait on Him and He will strengthen me. He will deliver me. He will give me peace. I can walk in the Spirit and bear fruit worthy of repentance.  He is good and His mercy endures forever.

A Life Worth Imitating

John 5:19

New King James Version (NKJV)

¹⁹ Then Jesus answered and said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner.


Jesus, our Lord and example, knew exactly who He was and what authority was given to Him. Yet He always kept His eyes on the Father mimicking Him as a child does a parent.  We can do no less.  God desires us to see what He is doing and do that.  Watch the Son through the gospels. See how He deals with the poor, the sick the lame.  See how He disciples His followers, teaching them the word, showing them through example, listening to their questions.   See how He deals with the religious leaders and those who oppress others.  Imitate Christ dear saint. 

  

Shared Passion

Hebrews 12:2

New King James Version (NKJV)

² looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

The writer of Hebrews encourages believers to look to Jesus, the express image of God the Father.  I would like to draw to your attention His passion for people.  His endurance of the cross was because of His great love for us. (see John 3:16).  His life was given for all men that they may know His love. Because of His love and passion He endured, not just the pain and suffering of the cross, but rejection, shame, ridicule, beating, sleeplessness, the loss of comfort and persecution.  He believed that you and I were worth the suffering. He believed that the value of one soul was worth it. 

As believers God desires us to share the same passion and care for the loss.  He desires us to forgo our comfort and be willing to endure ridicule, rejection, shame and persecution for others.  Share in the passion of Christ my brother, my sister and preach the gospel.  The lost person is worth more than anything you might experience as a result of sharing your faith.  

Because of His great love for you, love others.  

1 Thessalonians 3:12

New King James Version (NKJV)

¹² And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all, just as we do to you,

A God Who Weeps

Luke 19:41-44

New King James Version (NKJV)

⁴¹ Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it,

There are so many religions out there, but there is only one true God.  His name is Jesus.  In this passage of scripture we see the true heart of God.  He is not a distant being unable or unwilling to engage in human affairs.  He is not a God that is not concerned with the plight of men.  He is a God who looks at the condition men and weeps. 

But unlike the powerless gods that are worshiped all over the world, gods that make man fix himself and work to clean themselves up and earn their love; Jesus paid the price for our sins, because of His love.  While we were His enemies he died for us.  He is a God ever moved with compassion. GOD loves!



Thank you for your prayers saints.  I had the privilege of sharing the gospel while in the hospital and I am recovering well.  All love in CHRIST JESUS our LORD!

Encounter with God

John 4:10

New King James Version (NKJV)

¹⁰ Jesus answered and said to her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.”

I would encourage you to revisit this chapter of John.  Think about the life of this woman.  Her life is not unlike many women today. I know some of what I have to say is speculation, so please bear with me. 
  
She may have been like my wife and come from an abusive home. Learning by abuse of her father or family friend that many men just want to take.  Her father could have left her and her mother alone to fend for themselves and become a scourge to society. Make no mistake thinking that the times then were much different than today.  The tragedy of men using women and then leaving them was very real then. I could easily imagine that this poor woman eventually believed that being in the arms of a man was the only way she found any value.

Maybe her first husband died and left her a widow. A first love that she kept looking for in other men.  Then husband two comes along and he is as abusive as her father and leaves her.  At this point she feels she has no worth, that men just want to take. There is no love in the world only sorrow and pain with occasional highlights of joy that soon fade.  

I know I paint a bleak picture here, but you can be assured that this happened then and is happening now in our age.  

Then Jesus comes along.  Her first response was this is another man that wants to take from me. But as they speak she finds something different in Him. Childhood stories of a Messiah awaken in her spirit.  Then He confirms her suspicions.  "I am He." 

For once in her life here is a Man that is going to give.  Jesus shows the truth about God. While the enemy of our souls and other men came to take;  He came to give. He gives beauty for ashes, gladness for mourning, life for death, joy for pain and peace.  It is the same for you, God does not come in your life to take but to give.

John 10:10

New King James Version (NKJV)

¹⁰ The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

I have had some complications with my surgery and will be heading to the hospital today.  I should be back soon until then. GOD IS THE GREAT BIG BEAUTIFUL GOD!!! all love in CHRIST JESUS OUR LORD.  I was thinking also there may be some nurses or doctors or others in the hospital that need the gospel or prayer so pray that I might have utterance to speak the gospel boldly and power to be a witness there.  Pray that I have an opportunity to share the gospel.

What do you seek after?

Hebrews 11:6

New King James Version (NKJV)

⁶ But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

We seek a lot of things in this world.  Food, comfort, shelter, fame, the list goes on and on. Jesus tells us to seek ye first the kingdom of God and the writer of Hebrews tells us to diligently seek God and He will reward us.  

I find in my life that I may seek God but not diligently.  Some times my prayers are short and to the point, but not much seeking going on.  I am learning that diligence takes time, effort and purpose.  

I exhort you to seek the Lord with all your heart. 
 

Nothing for Me

Hebrews 11:24-27

New King James Version (NKJV)

²⁴ By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, ²⁵ choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, ²⁶ esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward.

I look back on life with not a little regret.  As I believe that I am drawing nearer to God and He in turn is drawing near to me; I feel that I have wasted a lot of time.  There is a world that is hurting, lost like sheep having no shepherd and God has commanded us to make them disciples.  He has empowered us to do so!
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, let us make Moses our example and forsake the cares and riches of this world and seek true heavenly riches.  Let us like Jesus look on the multitudes with compassion and be moved.  

Hebrews 12:1-2

New King James Version (NKJV)

12 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, ² looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.