Psalm 25:8 (KJV) Says "Good and upright is the Lord: therefore will He teach sinners in the way." John 8:3-11(KJV) Says "And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto Him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had sat her in the midst, They say unto Him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou? This they said, tempting Him, that they might have to accuse Him. But Jesus stooped down, and with His finger wrote on the ground, as though He heard them not. So when they continued asking Him, he lifted up Himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. And again, He stooped down, and wrote on the ground. And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. When Jesus had lifted up Himself, and saw none but the woman, He said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more." Matthew 9:11-12 (KJV) Says, "And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto His disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners? But when Jesus heard that, He said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick."
The above passages of scripture discuss methods used by Jesus when dealing with sinners. In the first example taken from Psalm we see that the Lord is good, and upright, and that He teaches sinners or educates them on what they need to do, if they desire to live righteously. In the passage of scripture taken from Matthew the woman accused of committing adultery was caught in the very act so there was no doubt she was guilty, yet notice how Jesus handled the situation. He calmly ask who among her accusers was without sin, and instructed that person to throw the first stone. Jesus being all knowing was well aware they had all sinned, and that no one there could throw the first stone. Notice that when the woman was left alone with Jesus, that Jesus said only these few words to her after asking her the whereabouts of her condemners, He said "Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more." He didn't scream, yell, lecture her for an hour, nor did He attempt to make her feel as bad about herself as possible. He handled the situation with those few words. Finally, in Matthew notice that Jesus says that it is not the whole or those who already know Him that need help, but the sick or lost sinners, and that is why He is eating among them. With that said there are many Christians today who don't bother to take the time to witness to lost souls, but instead opt to stay within the comfort zone of their Christian friends, and keep the good news to themselves.
We can learn a great deal from the way Jesus dealt with people, and the issues that arose throughout scripture. He sat down with the sinners, ate with them, and talked with them. He didn't sit down with the Pharisees, and say things like look at that guy sitting at the end of the sinners table, with the marking on his arm, that marking is an abomination, and he could go to hell for that. He didn't sit down with the sinners, and start pointing out things about their outward appearance that he found sinful. My point is I actually had a young man say to me that he attended a new Church where one of the members came up to him during a welcoming period prior to the service, and all but condemned him to hell because he had a tattoo. What do you think was the next thing this young man said to me? He said "That is why I don't go to Church, Christians are so judgmental, and I'll never go back." Now this guy had gone to Church to hear God's word only to be convinced within the first minute or two of his arrival that he had made a terrible mistake in choosing to do so. He should have been welcomed, and encouraged to return, but that didn't happen. What a shame!
A few years ago I attended a Church for the first time where I had four or five members of their congregation seated to my right on the pew. They could not wait to inform me that they would love to take out a pair of scissors, and give the young man sitting in front of me a haircut. His hair was long, but I thought wow really? I couldn't help but wonder if these scissor happy individuals got as passionate about the message being delivered as they did the length of that young man's hair. I mean they were ready to take action. The way I saw it I had two choices, one I could join in the critiquing and point out the guy to my left with the nose ring, or I could politely say to the scissor club that I was just happy to see young people attending church. I went with the latter of course, and that resulted in dead silence to my right. My point is I could have led this conversation in two directions. I could have got on board with them, and directed their attention to the guy on my left with the nose ring adding fuel to their fire, or I could have politely added something to the conversation to make them think about what they were saying, which is what I chose to do. When I told them I was just happy to see young people in church, that did two things it prevented that young man from possibly overhearing them, and hopefully it made them pause and think about their behavior. No where in scripture does Jesus say to those He is about to teach that they must first receive an emergency haircut. I've also heard people, firsthand, talking about the make-up some girls wear to church, and the length of their dresses. For the record, I can't find it documented anywhere in scripture that Jesus sized up the outfits of the sinners he was dining with prior to teaching them His Word either.
We have far too many people wanting to lecture others with regards to their sins. While we do need to share the truth of God's word, timing, method, and approach are everything. With the wrong timing, method, and approach we can run people away from the Lord which is the polar opposite of what we as Christians should be attempting to accomplish.While here on earth, Jesus set an example for us on how to approach people as witnesses, and that example involved love, patience, kindness, understanding, and the desire in our hearts for them to come to know God. Not once did it involve condemnation, shallow critiquing of outward appearances, and like things. Ask yourself as a witness for the Lord are you leading people to Him with your behavior? or Are you pushing them further away?
If you have a prayer request and would like me to pray for you, leave me a message and I will be more than happy to do so. May God bless you.
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Advice
Proverbs 12:15 (KJV) Says, "The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise." Proverbs 19:20 (KJV) Says, "Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end." Proverbs 6:20-22 (KJV) Says, "My son, keep thy father's commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother. Bind them continually upon thine heart, and tie them about thy neck. When thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee."
The above verses of scripture are just a few of many in which we are instructed to seek, remember, and heed good advice. Since no one person knows all there is to know about all things, then it stands to reason that each of us must seek advice on occasion. With that said, we must be careful who we seek advice from. The first route we should take in seeking advice is going to God in prayer and seeking it from Him. Secondly, if you have been blessed with Godly, loving parents, they are a great avenue for advice. Most parents love their children unconditionally, and have their best interest at heart. If your parents have gone home to be with the Lord, recall from memory all they taught you, then seek advice from other family members who love you, and want what is best for you. Another good source of advice is a friend or friends that have been in your life for a long period of time, and have shown themselves to be trustworthy. If you can't find the answers you need within your family, your inner circle of friends, or your Church family, then go to a professional who is experienced in the field for which you need advice. Do your research to be certain the professional you are seeking advice from has a Godly reputation, and don't be afraid to get more than one opinion as the above scripture includes the word counsel which can be made up of more than one individual.
The above scripture tells us it is wise to seek advice regarding things we are unsure about or inexperienced at, and that it is foolish not to. Let's say you are about to do something for the first time that your parents have done in the past, and are experienced at. Are you going to head out with an I've got this attitude, and do it on your own? Or are you going to seek their advice? If you're doing something for the first time that your older sibling did a few years ago, are you going to ask their advice on what you are about to experience? If you have a group of co-workers who just returned from the same business trip that you are about to take, are you going to ask them for any advice that may make your trip go smoother? If you need to make a business decision or create a business plan that normally requires a professional, are you going to go it on your own or are you going to pray about it and do your research?
Many people would respond to the above questions by stating they would rely on their own discretion in lieu of seeking advice from others. There are three main reasons that people choose this route of independence, and the most common is pride. Some people are unwilling to admit that there is something they need assistance with because they view needing help as a sign of weakness. The second reason is stubbornness. Some people would rather take the trial and error route than admit there are some areas they lack knowledge in. Finally, many people won't seek advice because of a generation gap. An elder may not want to seek advice from someone younger because they have a "what do they know they are so young?" attitude, and a younger person may not seek the advice of an elder because of their ""what could they know they are old?" mentality. Different generations could learn from one another, if we omitted this manner of thinking. When we refuse to seek advice from others for one of the reasons I mentioned, or any other, we are asking for trouble. We may miss a step we need to take, or take a step we didn't need to take, we may cause our self grief that could have been avoided, we may take a great deal longer to accomplish something than was necessary, and the list goes on and on.
I want to encourage you today to follow the instructions given us in the word of God, and seek advice when you know you need it. Don't let pride, and stubbornness stand in the way of you doing what God's word tells you is wise. Don't be one of those people who refuses to seek advice, and later realize that decision was foolish. We can learn a great deal from others and avoid numerous mistakes, if we will only opt to do so.
If you have a prayer request and would like me to pray for you, leave me a message and I will be more than happy to do so. May God bless you.
The above verses of scripture are just a few of many in which we are instructed to seek, remember, and heed good advice. Since no one person knows all there is to know about all things, then it stands to reason that each of us must seek advice on occasion. With that said, we must be careful who we seek advice from. The first route we should take in seeking advice is going to God in prayer and seeking it from Him. Secondly, if you have been blessed with Godly, loving parents, they are a great avenue for advice. Most parents love their children unconditionally, and have their best interest at heart. If your parents have gone home to be with the Lord, recall from memory all they taught you, then seek advice from other family members who love you, and want what is best for you. Another good source of advice is a friend or friends that have been in your life for a long period of time, and have shown themselves to be trustworthy. If you can't find the answers you need within your family, your inner circle of friends, or your Church family, then go to a professional who is experienced in the field for which you need advice. Do your research to be certain the professional you are seeking advice from has a Godly reputation, and don't be afraid to get more than one opinion as the above scripture includes the word counsel which can be made up of more than one individual.
The above scripture tells us it is wise to seek advice regarding things we are unsure about or inexperienced at, and that it is foolish not to. Let's say you are about to do something for the first time that your parents have done in the past, and are experienced at. Are you going to head out with an I've got this attitude, and do it on your own? Or are you going to seek their advice? If you're doing something for the first time that your older sibling did a few years ago, are you going to ask their advice on what you are about to experience? If you have a group of co-workers who just returned from the same business trip that you are about to take, are you going to ask them for any advice that may make your trip go smoother? If you need to make a business decision or create a business plan that normally requires a professional, are you going to go it on your own or are you going to pray about it and do your research?
Many people would respond to the above questions by stating they would rely on their own discretion in lieu of seeking advice from others. There are three main reasons that people choose this route of independence, and the most common is pride. Some people are unwilling to admit that there is something they need assistance with because they view needing help as a sign of weakness. The second reason is stubbornness. Some people would rather take the trial and error route than admit there are some areas they lack knowledge in. Finally, many people won't seek advice because of a generation gap. An elder may not want to seek advice from someone younger because they have a "what do they know they are so young?" attitude, and a younger person may not seek the advice of an elder because of their ""what could they know they are old?" mentality. Different generations could learn from one another, if we omitted this manner of thinking. When we refuse to seek advice from others for one of the reasons I mentioned, or any other, we are asking for trouble. We may miss a step we need to take, or take a step we didn't need to take, we may cause our self grief that could have been avoided, we may take a great deal longer to accomplish something than was necessary, and the list goes on and on.
I want to encourage you today to follow the instructions given us in the word of God, and seek advice when you know you need it. Don't let pride, and stubbornness stand in the way of you doing what God's word tells you is wise. Don't be one of those people who refuses to seek advice, and later realize that decision was foolish. We can learn a great deal from others and avoid numerous mistakes, if we will only opt to do so.
If you have a prayer request and would like me to pray for you, leave me a message and I will be more than happy to do so. May God bless you.
Sunday, January 20, 2013
A Child of God
Jeremiah 7:23-24 (KJV) Says, "But this thing commanded I them, saying, Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people: and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well unto you. But they hearkened not, nor inclined their ear, but walked in the counsels and in the imagination of their evil heart, and went backward, and not forward." Jeremiah 9:9 (KJV) Says, "Shall I not visit them for these things? saith the Lord: shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this."
In the book of Jeremiah, the Lord instructs Jeremiah to warn the inhabitants of Judah that they faced punishment as a consequence for their disobedience to Him. The Lord also instructed Jeremiah to inform the inhabitants of Judah that if they would repent of their sins and turn back to Him He would bless them.
Many people look at God as judgmental, harsh, and condemning. They are of the opinion that living a Christian life would be constraining, boring, and miserable. Nothing could be further from the truth. First off, God is loving, kind, merciful, understanding, forgiving, patient, and all things good. We are his children, and He, like most parents, wants nothing more than for His children to have blessed lives full of contentment, divine peace, and joy.
I think we can all understand exactly where God is coming from if we look at it this way: He is our Father, and He has given us clear instructions in His word, on how to live in obedience to Him, and the blessings we will receive for doing so. This is not unlike all parents who have set rules for their children. They expect them to abide by these rules, and to live in obedience to them. Do you think God set the statues and commandments that He set for us to follow in order to make our lives miserable? If so, then do parents set rules and regulations for their children to follow because they want them to be miserable? God gives us instructions on how to live in obedience to Him, because he wants us to have the best life possible. He knows that living in disobedience to Him will result in the same sort of chaos that children would find themselves in, if their parents set no rules for them to follow. We please God when we walk in obedience to Him, just as children please their parents when they obey them. God will bless us for obeying him, just as some parents reward their children for good behavior.
My parents would warn me if I was being disobedient in the hope that I would heed their warning and avoid having to face consequences for my disobedient behavior. God does the same thing through the Holy Spirit within those of us who have be saved. When we are about to do something that is in disobedience to God, the Holy Spirit gives us a nudge that causes us to pause. If we ignore the nudge, and proceed with our disobedient behavior that is not unlike being warned by our parents not to do something, and then doing it anyway.With that said, as a child I never saw the logic in my parents rules. I got upset when they told me not to do something, told me I couldn't have something, or wouldn't allow me to go certain places. I thought they were being mean, unfair, unreasonable, and difficult. I could not understand the necessity of their rules. As an adult, however, I came to realize that their rules were set because they loved me, wanted what was best for me, and they were far wiser than I was. They could see the possible consequences I would face had they given me free reign, and they loved me to much to allow that. If they said not to jump on the bed for instance, it was because they saw the possibility that I could fall off, and hurt myself. I being a child did not look that far ahead, and the possibility of sustaining an injury from jumping on the bed never crossed my mind. Another example would be my asking them to purchase something they felt was dangerous and could result in my being harmed. Again, when they refused, I found them unreasonable, never seeing the potential for the item to be dangerous. As a teenager, if I requested to go to a party where my parents knew no adults would be present, I got upset with them when they said I couldn't go. I felt they were being difficult, and simply didn't want me to have fun. After all I was a teenager, which meant I was practically grown, and all the other kids were doing it. I grew to realize, of course, that this was not the case, and that my parents could see that an unsupervised party of teenagers registered high on the risk meter.
Just as children see their parents rules as unreasonable, many people view God's statues and commandments in the same light. Some people grumble and complain about things that are going on in their life, and the difficulties they are facing. Many state they have no clue as to why things are going the way they are, and they chalk their difficulties up to bad luck. They may ask why God is allowing certain things, why they can't get a job, why they are having financial difficulty, why they are having marital problems, and numerous other questions concerning where God is in all of their issues. Many will say I've prayed about it, and I ask God to help me with my finances, help me find a job, or whatever their need is, and then they'll ask: Why isn't he helping me? They'll make proclamations like God doesn't listen to me! or I don't think he hears me! The question they should be asking is: Am I living in obedience to God? If one of your children disobeyed your rules by sneaking out of the house to go to a party they had been instructed they could not attend, would you be standing ready to reward them, when they returned home? Or, Would they face consequences for their behavior? It works the same way with our Heavenly Father.
Not all of the trials, and tribulations we face in our lives are consequences of our living in disobedience to God. Some are tests of our faith, and some we may understand later in life as we see them line up with God's plan for us. Some we may never understand, or they may become clear when we go home to be with the Lord. One thing is certain, however, and that is when we live in disobedience to God there are consequences for it. When we take charge of our lives, and leave God out of all things then we are bound to make mistakes that could have been prevented had we sought His guidance, and direction. It is time we stop questioning God about some of the issues we are facing before we take a good look at ourselves, and how we are living our lives. We all sin because none of us are perfect, and God understands that. We should, however, strive to be obedient to God, and to grow in our relationship with Him each day. Do you ask forgiveness for your sins, and work on becoming more obedient to God? Or, Do you continue on your own course leaving God out of all things until you need Him to rescue you from the consequences of a poor choice you've made?
I encourage you to walk in obedience to God, just as you would have your children obey you. Do so knowing that He loves you and wants what is best for you just as you want what is best for your children. Take a good look at your life, and identify the areas that need work. Begin work on those areas, one at a time if necessary, until you have corrected them. Go to God in prayer, and ask Him to help you make the changes you need to make in your life in order for your words and actions to line up with who you are in Him. God wants us to have a life full of divine peace, contentment, and joy just as you want that for your children. Consider how much you love your children, remember you are a child of God, and He loves you in the same manner.
If you have a prayer request and would like me to pray for you, leave me a message and I will be more than happy to do so. May God bless you.
In the book of Jeremiah, the Lord instructs Jeremiah to warn the inhabitants of Judah that they faced punishment as a consequence for their disobedience to Him. The Lord also instructed Jeremiah to inform the inhabitants of Judah that if they would repent of their sins and turn back to Him He would bless them.
Many people look at God as judgmental, harsh, and condemning. They are of the opinion that living a Christian life would be constraining, boring, and miserable. Nothing could be further from the truth. First off, God is loving, kind, merciful, understanding, forgiving, patient, and all things good. We are his children, and He, like most parents, wants nothing more than for His children to have blessed lives full of contentment, divine peace, and joy.
I think we can all understand exactly where God is coming from if we look at it this way: He is our Father, and He has given us clear instructions in His word, on how to live in obedience to Him, and the blessings we will receive for doing so. This is not unlike all parents who have set rules for their children. They expect them to abide by these rules, and to live in obedience to them. Do you think God set the statues and commandments that He set for us to follow in order to make our lives miserable? If so, then do parents set rules and regulations for their children to follow because they want them to be miserable? God gives us instructions on how to live in obedience to Him, because he wants us to have the best life possible. He knows that living in disobedience to Him will result in the same sort of chaos that children would find themselves in, if their parents set no rules for them to follow. We please God when we walk in obedience to Him, just as children please their parents when they obey them. God will bless us for obeying him, just as some parents reward their children for good behavior.
My parents would warn me if I was being disobedient in the hope that I would heed their warning and avoid having to face consequences for my disobedient behavior. God does the same thing through the Holy Spirit within those of us who have be saved. When we are about to do something that is in disobedience to God, the Holy Spirit gives us a nudge that causes us to pause. If we ignore the nudge, and proceed with our disobedient behavior that is not unlike being warned by our parents not to do something, and then doing it anyway.With that said, as a child I never saw the logic in my parents rules. I got upset when they told me not to do something, told me I couldn't have something, or wouldn't allow me to go certain places. I thought they were being mean, unfair, unreasonable, and difficult. I could not understand the necessity of their rules. As an adult, however, I came to realize that their rules were set because they loved me, wanted what was best for me, and they were far wiser than I was. They could see the possible consequences I would face had they given me free reign, and they loved me to much to allow that. If they said not to jump on the bed for instance, it was because they saw the possibility that I could fall off, and hurt myself. I being a child did not look that far ahead, and the possibility of sustaining an injury from jumping on the bed never crossed my mind. Another example would be my asking them to purchase something they felt was dangerous and could result in my being harmed. Again, when they refused, I found them unreasonable, never seeing the potential for the item to be dangerous. As a teenager, if I requested to go to a party where my parents knew no adults would be present, I got upset with them when they said I couldn't go. I felt they were being difficult, and simply didn't want me to have fun. After all I was a teenager, which meant I was practically grown, and all the other kids were doing it. I grew to realize, of course, that this was not the case, and that my parents could see that an unsupervised party of teenagers registered high on the risk meter.
Just as children see their parents rules as unreasonable, many people view God's statues and commandments in the same light. Some people grumble and complain about things that are going on in their life, and the difficulties they are facing. Many state they have no clue as to why things are going the way they are, and they chalk their difficulties up to bad luck. They may ask why God is allowing certain things, why they can't get a job, why they are having financial difficulty, why they are having marital problems, and numerous other questions concerning where God is in all of their issues. Many will say I've prayed about it, and I ask God to help me with my finances, help me find a job, or whatever their need is, and then they'll ask: Why isn't he helping me? They'll make proclamations like God doesn't listen to me! or I don't think he hears me! The question they should be asking is: Am I living in obedience to God? If one of your children disobeyed your rules by sneaking out of the house to go to a party they had been instructed they could not attend, would you be standing ready to reward them, when they returned home? Or, Would they face consequences for their behavior? It works the same way with our Heavenly Father.
Not all of the trials, and tribulations we face in our lives are consequences of our living in disobedience to God. Some are tests of our faith, and some we may understand later in life as we see them line up with God's plan for us. Some we may never understand, or they may become clear when we go home to be with the Lord. One thing is certain, however, and that is when we live in disobedience to God there are consequences for it. When we take charge of our lives, and leave God out of all things then we are bound to make mistakes that could have been prevented had we sought His guidance, and direction. It is time we stop questioning God about some of the issues we are facing before we take a good look at ourselves, and how we are living our lives. We all sin because none of us are perfect, and God understands that. We should, however, strive to be obedient to God, and to grow in our relationship with Him each day. Do you ask forgiveness for your sins, and work on becoming more obedient to God? Or, Do you continue on your own course leaving God out of all things until you need Him to rescue you from the consequences of a poor choice you've made?
I encourage you to walk in obedience to God, just as you would have your children obey you. Do so knowing that He loves you and wants what is best for you just as you want what is best for your children. Take a good look at your life, and identify the areas that need work. Begin work on those areas, one at a time if necessary, until you have corrected them. Go to God in prayer, and ask Him to help you make the changes you need to make in your life in order for your words and actions to line up with who you are in Him. God wants us to have a life full of divine peace, contentment, and joy just as you want that for your children. Consider how much you love your children, remember you are a child of God, and He loves you in the same manner.
If you have a prayer request and would like me to pray for you, leave me a message and I will be more than happy to do so. May God bless you.
Consider The Possibility
Jonah 1:1-3 (KJV) Says, "Now the word of the Lord came unto Jonah the son of Amittai saying, Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me. But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the Lord, and went down to Joppa; and he found a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the Lord."
In the above scripture God calls Jonah to go to Nineveh to warn the people that God is displeased with them because of their disobedience to Him. Jonah ignores God's instruction, and sets sail for Tarshish instead. For those who aren't familiar with the story, after Jonah boards the ship a great storm comes up, and the sea becomes extremely rough. Jonah knows that the storm is from God because he opted to run from Him. Jonah advises the other men on the ship that they must throw him overboard in order to calm the storm because it is him that God is after. They throw him overboard, the sea calms, and Jonah is swallowed by a whale that God had prepared for that purpose. Jonah ends up agreeing to do as God instructed him to do, the whale spits him out, and keeping his word he heads to Nineveh.
God was talking to Jonah, and in lieu of listening to Him and following his instruction, Jonah opts to run. Have you ever ran from God? Do you avoid talking about God? Are you one of those people who goes to Church only on special occasions because you want to avoid the feeling that God is trying to tell you something? When you do go because you have a relative singing a solo, a friend in the Christmas play, or you're going to see someone baptized, do you begin feeling uncomfortable, out of place, and even a little nervous as soon as you enter the building? Does relief wash over you when you finally reach a pew and sit down? Does the preacher come out seconds later, begin his sermon, and aim it directly at you? Does he look straight at you the whole time he's delivering it? Does that happen every time you're in attendance? If they have an alter call at the end of the service that makes you a bit emotional instead of heading for the alter do you head out the front door? If this describes you then you may want to consider the possibility that you are running like Jonah.
Believers and non-believers alike can experience the feelings I've described in the above paragraph, and the truth is when we do we are under conviction from God. If you experience them and you haven't accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, then you may be under conviction to do so. If you have been saved, but you haven't been living in obedience to God, then you may be experiencing these feelings because God is trying to tug at your heart strings, and get you back on the right path. Let's face it, the preacher doesn't know when you are coming to Church, or what you've been doing in order to prepare a sermon specifically for you. God may have put the sermon on his heart for your benefit, but the preacher isn't picking on you. The preacher is not looking straight at you while delivering the sermon, it just seems that way. I can tell you this because I've experienced all of these feelings personally. There was a time when I had strayed from my walk with the Lord, and He put me under conviction, and I remained under conviction until I stopped running. One of the things we can learn from the story of Jonah is that you cannot run from God. Looking back I don't know why I ever tried to. I was running from the greatest life possible, and that is the one God has planned for me. Accepting Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior, and surrendering my life to him is the greatest decision I have ever made. If you've been saved, but have strayed from God, then I urge you to go to him in prayer, and get back on track. If you haven't accepted Jesus Christ as you Lord and Savior, but you have the desire to do so then I urge you to go to God in prayer, ask him to forgive you of all your sins, tell him you believe that Jesus was born, that He died on the cross for you sins, and that He rose again. Ask Him to come into your heart, and tell Him you want to make Him your personal Lord and Savior. Surrendering your Life to Christ will bring you a divine peace, joy, and contentment like you have never before known.
If you have a prayer request and would like me to pray for you, leave me a message and I will be more than happy to do so. May God bless you.
In the above scripture God calls Jonah to go to Nineveh to warn the people that God is displeased with them because of their disobedience to Him. Jonah ignores God's instruction, and sets sail for Tarshish instead. For those who aren't familiar with the story, after Jonah boards the ship a great storm comes up, and the sea becomes extremely rough. Jonah knows that the storm is from God because he opted to run from Him. Jonah advises the other men on the ship that they must throw him overboard in order to calm the storm because it is him that God is after. They throw him overboard, the sea calms, and Jonah is swallowed by a whale that God had prepared for that purpose. Jonah ends up agreeing to do as God instructed him to do, the whale spits him out, and keeping his word he heads to Nineveh.
God was talking to Jonah, and in lieu of listening to Him and following his instruction, Jonah opts to run. Have you ever ran from God? Do you avoid talking about God? Are you one of those people who goes to Church only on special occasions because you want to avoid the feeling that God is trying to tell you something? When you do go because you have a relative singing a solo, a friend in the Christmas play, or you're going to see someone baptized, do you begin feeling uncomfortable, out of place, and even a little nervous as soon as you enter the building? Does relief wash over you when you finally reach a pew and sit down? Does the preacher come out seconds later, begin his sermon, and aim it directly at you? Does he look straight at you the whole time he's delivering it? Does that happen every time you're in attendance? If they have an alter call at the end of the service that makes you a bit emotional instead of heading for the alter do you head out the front door? If this describes you then you may want to consider the possibility that you are running like Jonah.
Believers and non-believers alike can experience the feelings I've described in the above paragraph, and the truth is when we do we are under conviction from God. If you experience them and you haven't accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, then you may be under conviction to do so. If you have been saved, but you haven't been living in obedience to God, then you may be experiencing these feelings because God is trying to tug at your heart strings, and get you back on the right path. Let's face it, the preacher doesn't know when you are coming to Church, or what you've been doing in order to prepare a sermon specifically for you. God may have put the sermon on his heart for your benefit, but the preacher isn't picking on you. The preacher is not looking straight at you while delivering the sermon, it just seems that way. I can tell you this because I've experienced all of these feelings personally. There was a time when I had strayed from my walk with the Lord, and He put me under conviction, and I remained under conviction until I stopped running. One of the things we can learn from the story of Jonah is that you cannot run from God. Looking back I don't know why I ever tried to. I was running from the greatest life possible, and that is the one God has planned for me. Accepting Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior, and surrendering my life to him is the greatest decision I have ever made. If you've been saved, but have strayed from God, then I urge you to go to him in prayer, and get back on track. If you haven't accepted Jesus Christ as you Lord and Savior, but you have the desire to do so then I urge you to go to God in prayer, ask him to forgive you of all your sins, tell him you believe that Jesus was born, that He died on the cross for you sins, and that He rose again. Ask Him to come into your heart, and tell Him you want to make Him your personal Lord and Savior. Surrendering your Life to Christ will bring you a divine peace, joy, and contentment like you have never before known.
If you have a prayer request and would like me to pray for you, leave me a message and I will be more than happy to do so. May God bless you.
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
A Sign of Weakness / A Personal Story
Luke 6:12 (KJV) Says, "And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God." John 17:1 (KJV) Says, "These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come, glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee."
The above scripture gives us a couple of examples where Jesus himself went to God in prayer. In the scripture taken from Luke, not only did Jesus go to God in prayer, but he prayed all night long. We, and I mean every one of us, believers and non-believers alike, are afforded this same privilege, and what a privilege it is. Take a moment to consider that Almighty God, creator of all, will take the time to listen to us, anytime we choose to go to him in prayer. What a tremendous blessing that is.
With that said, instead of looking at it as the great privilege it is, some view going to God in prayer as a weakness. Some are ashamed to admit they pray, and some simply don't do it. To be given the blessing of an open line of communication with our heavenly father twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, and being embarrassed to admit we take advantage of it, or failing to utilize it, is to deny ourselves so much that it would be impossible to list it all here. Many people think that if they admit they pray, or express their love for the Lord openly, it would harm their tough, cool, swag-like image, making them appear vulnerable, and causing them to seem weak in some way. That could not be further from the truth. There is nothing that could make an individual stronger than forming a close personal relationship with God through prayer and the knowledge of his word.
I'll share a personal story with you that demonstrates God's mighty power, as well as the miracles, blessings, and strength he can pour out on us, if we will seek him in prayer. My brother, who is a couple of years younger than I am, is a 6'4" 210 lb. man who is not in the least bit weak. He is a hard working man who prays when things are going well in his life, and prays when he's facing struggles. My brother, and his wife have one child, a daughter, my niece, who became involved in barrel racing a few years back, and she grew quite skilled at it, winning a few competitions at the state level. For those of you who are not familiar with barrel racing, it is an event where one at a time the participants race around barrels on horseback with the winner being the one who finishes with the fastest time.
One Saturday, I attended one of my niece's competitions, and watched her compete in several races throughout the day. She had one race left, and it was going to be a while before that race was set to take place. It was getting late and I still had to cook dinner, so I left the competition and headed home. I prepared dinner and had just sat down at the table, when a 911 message scrolled across my pager. My niece's horse had slipped and fell during her last ride. The impact of the blow to my niece's head secondary to speed, and the weight of the horse as they hit the ground resulted in my niece sustaining a serious head injury. She was being rushed to the local emergency room via rescue. I love my niece tremendously, and I was visibly shaken by the message I had received so a friend offered to drive me to the hospital. I took her up on her offer, and we headed out right away. Upon our arrival, we were given the news that an emergency CT scan was done, which revealed a large bleed on my niece's brain. The doctor confirmed to my brother and sister-n-law that my niece's injury was serious, and most definitely could be life threatening. It was ordered that my niece be life flighted to the children's hospital immediately, where she would be met by a physician who specialized in pediatric neurology. My brother pleaded for permission to fly in the med vac helicopter with my niece, but space would not allow it. He followed the gurney onto the heliport pad, and stood there until the helicopter lifted. The next second my 6'4" brother dropped to his knees on that heliport pad weeping, praying, and pleading with God not to take his daughter. He then mustered the strength to stand up, he and my sister-n-law ran to my younger brother's truck, and my younger brother drove them to the next hospital. For any of you who are of the opinion that praying makes you appear weak, let me tell you that's not the case. As I watched my brother pray that day while doctors, nurses and many others looked on he had never appeared stronger. He and his wife displayed a strength so great that day it could only have come from God.
All family members headed to the children's hospital, each one of us praying all the way. My younger sister and my brother-in-law had been at my nephews baseball game, and they had my niece, my nephew, and two or three of the other baseball players from the team with them in their vehicle. Without instruction from anyone those children joined hands, and prayed also. Everyone knew we needed to pray. Having worked for a neurologist myself for several years I was aware that my niece could face brain swelling, seizures, she could require drainage tubes, surgery, and that there were many complications which could arise secondary to her head injury. My mind raced through them all.
Upon arrival at the children's hospital, my niece was given a complete evaluation, and placed in intensive care to be closely monitored. We were each allowed just a moment to visit with her, and then directed to a waiting room outside the unit where our prayers continued. Over the next few days my niece's condition began to improve, and did so day after day, month after month, without one surgery, and without one complication. She suffered a bit of memory loss that slowly returned, and the road to a full recovery was a long one, but she got there. Praise God!! Let me also say for any who are wondering about the horse, that my niece is a huge animal lover, and as soon as she was able she was asking if her horse was injured. We were glad to report to her that her horse had suffered no injuries, and was perfectly healthy. She still had concerns that the horse was injured and she was being protected from the news, so as soon as she was released from the hospital my brother brought the horse in a horse trailer to the house so she could see with her own eyes that it was indeed unharmed.
I saw my niece's CT scan with my own eyes the day she was injured, and the bleed on her brain was a large one. I witnessed her make a full recovery which required only time, and for me there is no doubt whatsoever that God answered our prayers. He performed a miracle, blessed us with strength, and sustained each of us throughout this horrific ordeal. So you see, I know firsthand that praying in no way demonstrates weakness, but rather quite the opposite is true. There is not an ounce of weakness found in prayer only power, strength, miracles, and blessings, from Almighty God.
If you have a prayer request and would like me to pray for you, leave me a message and I will be more than happy to do so. May God bless you.
The above scripture gives us a couple of examples where Jesus himself went to God in prayer. In the scripture taken from Luke, not only did Jesus go to God in prayer, but he prayed all night long. We, and I mean every one of us, believers and non-believers alike, are afforded this same privilege, and what a privilege it is. Take a moment to consider that Almighty God, creator of all, will take the time to listen to us, anytime we choose to go to him in prayer. What a tremendous blessing that is.
With that said, instead of looking at it as the great privilege it is, some view going to God in prayer as a weakness. Some are ashamed to admit they pray, and some simply don't do it. To be given the blessing of an open line of communication with our heavenly father twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, and being embarrassed to admit we take advantage of it, or failing to utilize it, is to deny ourselves so much that it would be impossible to list it all here. Many people think that if they admit they pray, or express their love for the Lord openly, it would harm their tough, cool, swag-like image, making them appear vulnerable, and causing them to seem weak in some way. That could not be further from the truth. There is nothing that could make an individual stronger than forming a close personal relationship with God through prayer and the knowledge of his word.
I'll share a personal story with you that demonstrates God's mighty power, as well as the miracles, blessings, and strength he can pour out on us, if we will seek him in prayer. My brother, who is a couple of years younger than I am, is a 6'4" 210 lb. man who is not in the least bit weak. He is a hard working man who prays when things are going well in his life, and prays when he's facing struggles. My brother, and his wife have one child, a daughter, my niece, who became involved in barrel racing a few years back, and she grew quite skilled at it, winning a few competitions at the state level. For those of you who are not familiar with barrel racing, it is an event where one at a time the participants race around barrels on horseback with the winner being the one who finishes with the fastest time.
One Saturday, I attended one of my niece's competitions, and watched her compete in several races throughout the day. She had one race left, and it was going to be a while before that race was set to take place. It was getting late and I still had to cook dinner, so I left the competition and headed home. I prepared dinner and had just sat down at the table, when a 911 message scrolled across my pager. My niece's horse had slipped and fell during her last ride. The impact of the blow to my niece's head secondary to speed, and the weight of the horse as they hit the ground resulted in my niece sustaining a serious head injury. She was being rushed to the local emergency room via rescue. I love my niece tremendously, and I was visibly shaken by the message I had received so a friend offered to drive me to the hospital. I took her up on her offer, and we headed out right away. Upon our arrival, we were given the news that an emergency CT scan was done, which revealed a large bleed on my niece's brain. The doctor confirmed to my brother and sister-n-law that my niece's injury was serious, and most definitely could be life threatening. It was ordered that my niece be life flighted to the children's hospital immediately, where she would be met by a physician who specialized in pediatric neurology. My brother pleaded for permission to fly in the med vac helicopter with my niece, but space would not allow it. He followed the gurney onto the heliport pad, and stood there until the helicopter lifted. The next second my 6'4" brother dropped to his knees on that heliport pad weeping, praying, and pleading with God not to take his daughter. He then mustered the strength to stand up, he and my sister-n-law ran to my younger brother's truck, and my younger brother drove them to the next hospital. For any of you who are of the opinion that praying makes you appear weak, let me tell you that's not the case. As I watched my brother pray that day while doctors, nurses and many others looked on he had never appeared stronger. He and his wife displayed a strength so great that day it could only have come from God.
All family members headed to the children's hospital, each one of us praying all the way. My younger sister and my brother-in-law had been at my nephews baseball game, and they had my niece, my nephew, and two or three of the other baseball players from the team with them in their vehicle. Without instruction from anyone those children joined hands, and prayed also. Everyone knew we needed to pray. Having worked for a neurologist myself for several years I was aware that my niece could face brain swelling, seizures, she could require drainage tubes, surgery, and that there were many complications which could arise secondary to her head injury. My mind raced through them all.
Upon arrival at the children's hospital, my niece was given a complete evaluation, and placed in intensive care to be closely monitored. We were each allowed just a moment to visit with her, and then directed to a waiting room outside the unit where our prayers continued. Over the next few days my niece's condition began to improve, and did so day after day, month after month, without one surgery, and without one complication. She suffered a bit of memory loss that slowly returned, and the road to a full recovery was a long one, but she got there. Praise God!! Let me also say for any who are wondering about the horse, that my niece is a huge animal lover, and as soon as she was able she was asking if her horse was injured. We were glad to report to her that her horse had suffered no injuries, and was perfectly healthy. She still had concerns that the horse was injured and she was being protected from the news, so as soon as she was released from the hospital my brother brought the horse in a horse trailer to the house so she could see with her own eyes that it was indeed unharmed.
I saw my niece's CT scan with my own eyes the day she was injured, and the bleed on her brain was a large one. I witnessed her make a full recovery which required only time, and for me there is no doubt whatsoever that God answered our prayers. He performed a miracle, blessed us with strength, and sustained each of us throughout this horrific ordeal. So you see, I know firsthand that praying in no way demonstrates weakness, but rather quite the opposite is true. There is not an ounce of weakness found in prayer only power, strength, miracles, and blessings, from Almighty God.
If you have a prayer request and would like me to pray for you, leave me a message and I will be more than happy to do so. May God bless you.
Sunday, January 13, 2013
Spread The Word
II Timothy 3:12 (KJV) Says "Yea, and all that will live Godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution." I Thessalonians 5:2 (KJV) Says "For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night."
Do you ever become discouraged or feel rejected and alone because you have chosen to accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, and to be a witness for Him? As the above scripture from II Timothy tells us, when we choose to live Godly lives we will be persecuted. Please note it doesn't say that this is a possibility, but rather that it is certain. There have always been people in the world who persecute believers in Christ. Remember when you are persecuted for His name's sake that Jesus himself was persecuted, and He says in Matthew 5:11-12 (KJV) "Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you." We cannot allow ourselves to be silenced due to rejection, and persecution. As believers, and witnesses for Christ we must continue to spread the Word of God.
The Bible is filled with scripture that will uplift and encourage us as we go about witnessing for Christ. Jesus also says in Luke 10:16 (KJV) "He that heareth you heareth me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me; and he that despiseth me despiseth Him that sent me." Those who reject and persecute you for spreading the Word of God are not just rejecting you as a witness for Christ, but they are persecuting and rejecting Christ who lives in you. There are non-believers who will reject you, and there are believers who will not want to be around you. Non-believers because they are not yet ready to hear God's word, and believers, because they know the truth already and feel convicted if they are not living it. Then there are some who opt not to be around you because they feel they must be on constant guard of their words and actions in order not to offend you in some manner. Jesus says in Matthew 10:14 (KJV) "And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet." If your witnessing is not well received and that is made clear to you, then leave knowing you've done what you could.
On a personal note I have experienced a great deal of rejection secondary to answering God's call on my life. There are people who in the past would call me and talk for hours, and now calls from these individuals are non-existent. On rare occasions I may receive a text from one of them, but to call me for a chat, well lets just say that rarely happens. Needless to say social invitations from this circle are as scarce as the phone calls, and I can assure you I have experienced a great deal of loneliness. I have walked into rooms where the conversation immediately ceased, and if I ask what was is being discussed I get the response of "nothing." I have been in situations where it is obvious people are very uncomfortable with my presence and feel as though for some reason they can't be themselves. If you have experienced things like this and are feeling lonely, hang on because God is always with you, and He will send people into your life that enjoy being around you, and that are drawn to you because of your faith in Him. With that said, I would not change my decision to follow God, and I've never been more at peace in my life. When we opt to accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior and live our lives in obedience to Him we gain a divine peace and experience a level of comfort like none other.
Friends, I want to encourage you to continue to spread the word of God. Let the way you live your life, and the choices you make serve as a witness for Him also. Don't be disheartened and feel defeated due to persecution, and rejection. Remember the above scripture, and draw from it the strength you need to carry on. Don't go around condemning and "Bible Thumping" as they say, displaying a "Holier Than Thou" attitude, but rather by love, kindness, forgiveness, understanding, and by good example be a witness for Christ. Conducting ourselves in a condemning, judgmental, fire and brimstone manner only serves to run people away from the Lord, and that is the exact opposite of what we want to accomplish. Remain humble in all you do, remembering that Jesus Himself washed the disciples feet.
Remain steadfast in your faith, continue to be a witness to others, knowing that time is precious.The world is full of lost souls that desperately need to come to know Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior. As the above scripture tells us in I Thessalonians, Jesus will return like a thief in the night. No one knows when a thief is coming. He makes no announcement or phone call telling you when to expect him. He comes in an instant and catches people off guard. Don't be one of those people. Don't be caught off guard. I am pleading with you to be prepared. If you haven't accepted Jesus Christ into your heart, and you have the desire to do so, go to him in prayer immediately, right where you are, ask him to forgive you of all your sins, tell him you believe that he was born, that he died on the cross for your sins, and that he rose again. Ask him to come into your heart, and be your Lord and Savior. It is the greatest decision you will ever make.
If you have a prayer request and would like me to pray for you, leave me a message and I will be more than happy to do so. May God bless you.
Do you ever become discouraged or feel rejected and alone because you have chosen to accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, and to be a witness for Him? As the above scripture from II Timothy tells us, when we choose to live Godly lives we will be persecuted. Please note it doesn't say that this is a possibility, but rather that it is certain. There have always been people in the world who persecute believers in Christ. Remember when you are persecuted for His name's sake that Jesus himself was persecuted, and He says in Matthew 5:11-12 (KJV) "Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you." We cannot allow ourselves to be silenced due to rejection, and persecution. As believers, and witnesses for Christ we must continue to spread the Word of God.
The Bible is filled with scripture that will uplift and encourage us as we go about witnessing for Christ. Jesus also says in Luke 10:16 (KJV) "He that heareth you heareth me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me; and he that despiseth me despiseth Him that sent me." Those who reject and persecute you for spreading the Word of God are not just rejecting you as a witness for Christ, but they are persecuting and rejecting Christ who lives in you. There are non-believers who will reject you, and there are believers who will not want to be around you. Non-believers because they are not yet ready to hear God's word, and believers, because they know the truth already and feel convicted if they are not living it. Then there are some who opt not to be around you because they feel they must be on constant guard of their words and actions in order not to offend you in some manner. Jesus says in Matthew 10:14 (KJV) "And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet." If your witnessing is not well received and that is made clear to you, then leave knowing you've done what you could.
On a personal note I have experienced a great deal of rejection secondary to answering God's call on my life. There are people who in the past would call me and talk for hours, and now calls from these individuals are non-existent. On rare occasions I may receive a text from one of them, but to call me for a chat, well lets just say that rarely happens. Needless to say social invitations from this circle are as scarce as the phone calls, and I can assure you I have experienced a great deal of loneliness. I have walked into rooms where the conversation immediately ceased, and if I ask what was is being discussed I get the response of "nothing." I have been in situations where it is obvious people are very uncomfortable with my presence and feel as though for some reason they can't be themselves. If you have experienced things like this and are feeling lonely, hang on because God is always with you, and He will send people into your life that enjoy being around you, and that are drawn to you because of your faith in Him. With that said, I would not change my decision to follow God, and I've never been more at peace in my life. When we opt to accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior and live our lives in obedience to Him we gain a divine peace and experience a level of comfort like none other.
Friends, I want to encourage you to continue to spread the word of God. Let the way you live your life, and the choices you make serve as a witness for Him also. Don't be disheartened and feel defeated due to persecution, and rejection. Remember the above scripture, and draw from it the strength you need to carry on. Don't go around condemning and "Bible Thumping" as they say, displaying a "Holier Than Thou" attitude, but rather by love, kindness, forgiveness, understanding, and by good example be a witness for Christ. Conducting ourselves in a condemning, judgmental, fire and brimstone manner only serves to run people away from the Lord, and that is the exact opposite of what we want to accomplish. Remain humble in all you do, remembering that Jesus Himself washed the disciples feet.
Remain steadfast in your faith, continue to be a witness to others, knowing that time is precious.The world is full of lost souls that desperately need to come to know Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior. As the above scripture tells us in I Thessalonians, Jesus will return like a thief in the night. No one knows when a thief is coming. He makes no announcement or phone call telling you when to expect him. He comes in an instant and catches people off guard. Don't be one of those people. Don't be caught off guard. I am pleading with you to be prepared. If you haven't accepted Jesus Christ into your heart, and you have the desire to do so, go to him in prayer immediately, right where you are, ask him to forgive you of all your sins, tell him you believe that he was born, that he died on the cross for your sins, and that he rose again. Ask him to come into your heart, and be your Lord and Savior. It is the greatest decision you will ever make.
If you have a prayer request and would like me to pray for you, leave me a message and I will be more than happy to do so. May God bless you.
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Living In Obedience To God
Deuteronomy Chapter 28 (KJV) informs us that we will receive blessings for being obedient to God, and that there are consequences we will face for being disobedient to Him.
We are living in a world full of evil, one in which there are people attempting to take God out of everything. It's a world being repeatedly pounded by natural disasters, one in which people are suffering from diseases that have no cure. There are people facing financial ruin, homelessness is rampant, and people are dying of starvation every second. There are devastating tragedies occurring all over the globe, family members are turning against one another, and the list goes on and on. There are consequences for sin, and we are witnessing firsthand many of those consequences. God warns us in His Word that we will face cursings for disobedient living, and blessings for living in obedience to Him. We have the freewill to choose which path of living we will take, and many have chosen to disregard the narrow way of righteousness, and take off down the broad path filled with unrighteousness. The world is full of disobedience to God, and as Christians we know there are consequences for this, yet there remains a confused state of bewilderment among believers as to why things are unfolding as they are.
There are people who proclaim to be Christians running around spewing hate for those they recognize are committing a sin that they themselves are not guilty of. Christians should deal kindly and mercifully with others in an attempt to lead them to Christ. We should walk in love, and if we are judging others, and practicing hate that's not walking in love. Spewing hate, and judging only leads to strengthening the reputation Christians have of thinking we are "holier than thou," above others, and that we see ourselves as perfect. This my friends runs people away from the Lord, and it does so with a quickness.This behavior is far from the example Jesus set for us on how we should conduct ourselves toward others. There are those who go to Church on Sunday to worship the Lord, and then curse, lose their tempers repeatedly, walk in a state of constant bitterness and anger, whine and complain constantly, stir up strife, gossip, judge others, get drunk, disrespect their spouse, set poor examples for their children, and behave in other like manners throughout the rest of the week. I've heard people come home from Church, and start talking about the individuals in the congregation. "Did you see how short her skirt was?" "Did you see the tattoo on that boy's arm?" " If he belonged to me he'd get a hair cut," and so forth. When these people are finished ripping the congregation to shreds, you can ask them what the preacher preached on, however, and half the time they can't tell you because they have no earthly idea. How sad is that? Some of these individuals are the same ones who will be the first to tell you which group of people, committing which particular sin, are to blame for the state of the world. The state of the world is not due to any one particular sin or behavior, but rather various sins and behaviors. To admit this would mean that each of us need to look within ourselves, and repent of our own wrong doings, and many are not willing to do that. Since we all have areas in our lives that need work, myself included, refusal to take a good inventory of our own behavior is to live in a state of denial. None of us will ever be perfect, and therefore it stands to reason that we all have room for improvement.
We as Christians must repent of our wrong doings, and turn back to God and His Word for instructions on how we are to live our lives. We must witness in love, and pray for God to convict and touch the hearts of those that are lost instead of being the first to condemn them. All Christians should live their lives in a manner that causes unbelievers to desire what we have, and that is Jesus Christ, as our personal Lord and Savior. We need to spend time with God everyday in order to strengthen our relationship with Him. It is important that we pray, read and study the Bible, and that we follow the instructions he gave us in His Word. It is important that we strive to follow the example that Jesus set for us, when He was here on earth.
We must begin work on ourselves, improve upon our own behavior daily, and walk in love as we go out into the world as witnesses for Christ. God is Almighty and He is mightier than any evil. He can turn the state of this world around in an instant, if we will repent and turn to Him. It is time for each of us to look within ourselves, and take an inventory of the areas in our lives that need improvement. We have to step up to the plate, and take responsibility for our own areas of disobedience, and begin work to correct them. We must stop blaming and questioning God for the state of the world. He didn't create for us a world filled with hatred, anger, crime, violence, and evil. He created for us a world filled with beauty, love, kindness, and divine peace. it is mankind, and our behavior that has drastically altered that world.
We are living in a world full of evil, one in which there are people attempting to take God out of everything. It's a world being repeatedly pounded by natural disasters, one in which people are suffering from diseases that have no cure. There are people facing financial ruin, homelessness is rampant, and people are dying of starvation every second. There are devastating tragedies occurring all over the globe, family members are turning against one another, and the list goes on and on. There are consequences for sin, and we are witnessing firsthand many of those consequences. God warns us in His Word that we will face cursings for disobedient living, and blessings for living in obedience to Him. We have the freewill to choose which path of living we will take, and many have chosen to disregard the narrow way of righteousness, and take off down the broad path filled with unrighteousness. The world is full of disobedience to God, and as Christians we know there are consequences for this, yet there remains a confused state of bewilderment among believers as to why things are unfolding as they are.
There are people who proclaim to be Christians running around spewing hate for those they recognize are committing a sin that they themselves are not guilty of. Christians should deal kindly and mercifully with others in an attempt to lead them to Christ. We should walk in love, and if we are judging others, and practicing hate that's not walking in love. Spewing hate, and judging only leads to strengthening the reputation Christians have of thinking we are "holier than thou," above others, and that we see ourselves as perfect. This my friends runs people away from the Lord, and it does so with a quickness.This behavior is far from the example Jesus set for us on how we should conduct ourselves toward others. There are those who go to Church on Sunday to worship the Lord, and then curse, lose their tempers repeatedly, walk in a state of constant bitterness and anger, whine and complain constantly, stir up strife, gossip, judge others, get drunk, disrespect their spouse, set poor examples for their children, and behave in other like manners throughout the rest of the week. I've heard people come home from Church, and start talking about the individuals in the congregation. "Did you see how short her skirt was?" "Did you see the tattoo on that boy's arm?" " If he belonged to me he'd get a hair cut," and so forth. When these people are finished ripping the congregation to shreds, you can ask them what the preacher preached on, however, and half the time they can't tell you because they have no earthly idea. How sad is that? Some of these individuals are the same ones who will be the first to tell you which group of people, committing which particular sin, are to blame for the state of the world. The state of the world is not due to any one particular sin or behavior, but rather various sins and behaviors. To admit this would mean that each of us need to look within ourselves, and repent of our own wrong doings, and many are not willing to do that. Since we all have areas in our lives that need work, myself included, refusal to take a good inventory of our own behavior is to live in a state of denial. None of us will ever be perfect, and therefore it stands to reason that we all have room for improvement.
We as Christians must repent of our wrong doings, and turn back to God and His Word for instructions on how we are to live our lives. We must witness in love, and pray for God to convict and touch the hearts of those that are lost instead of being the first to condemn them. All Christians should live their lives in a manner that causes unbelievers to desire what we have, and that is Jesus Christ, as our personal Lord and Savior. We need to spend time with God everyday in order to strengthen our relationship with Him. It is important that we pray, read and study the Bible, and that we follow the instructions he gave us in His Word. It is important that we strive to follow the example that Jesus set for us, when He was here on earth.
We must begin work on ourselves, improve upon our own behavior daily, and walk in love as we go out into the world as witnesses for Christ. God is Almighty and He is mightier than any evil. He can turn the state of this world around in an instant, if we will repent and turn to Him. It is time for each of us to look within ourselves, and take an inventory of the areas in our lives that need improvement. We have to step up to the plate, and take responsibility for our own areas of disobedience, and begin work to correct them. We must stop blaming and questioning God for the state of the world. He didn't create for us a world filled with hatred, anger, crime, violence, and evil. He created for us a world filled with beauty, love, kindness, and divine peace. it is mankind, and our behavior that has drastically altered that world.
If you have a prayer request and would like me to pray for you, leave me a message and I will be more than happy to do so. May God bless you.
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