How Pretty Are You?

How Pretty Are You?
If beauty is in the eye of the beholder what must God see as He looks at us? God looks not on the outside but he looks deep into the soul where true beauty lies. For what is in the heart is what shows on the face. What so ever a man thinketh in his heart so is he. Let us be thankful God looks not on the face but on the heart. He is most interested in what is in our hearts and not what is on our face. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness. Romans 10:10 Logic and education do not enter into the picture. It is not our head that needs to be changed it is our heart. Remember when Jesus was walking and talking with two of his disciples that afterward they said “did our hearts not burn within us?”
But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear. 1 Peter 3:15
The heart of man is wicked and is in need of cleansing. The blood of Jesus washes the heart of sin not the head. When you have a change of heart the world looks new and different. For where your heart is so there is your treasure.
When God looks at your heart what picture does he see? Is Jesus in your head or in your heart?
Head salvation won’t get you to heaven heart salvation will.

In Union There Is Strength

In union there is strength but the strength of the union depends on the strength of the unit. In Luke 13:1-9 we find men are not to judge but to repent. Repentance is the result of godly sorrow so deep that the sinner will turn from and forsake his sins. But before we can repent we must do some things. We must stop we must look and we must listen.
We must stop because here is danger ahead. This is a sinful world we live in. 1 John 5:19 “And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.” Matthew 24:6 talks about wars and rumors of wars. 2 Timothy 3:4 tells us men shall be lovers of pleasure more that lovers of God. No, this didn’t come off the nightly news but it sure could have. Our Nation is going in the wrong direction. We are being warned but like those who lived around Noah no one is listening. What happened to them? God killed all save Noah and his family. Remember Sodom and Gomorra God tried to warn them but they would not stop and change their direction. God rained fire down on them and destroyed both cities. Could that happen today? Not only can it happen but there is great likelihood it will. All the signs are there all point to a bad time at black rock. What are we doing that is so wrong? Fighting amongst ourselves and pulling in every direction at the whim of man. Pushing God aside and following instead every wind of doctrine that some man dreamed up. We need to work together and do the work of God in this world. This is not only happening in the world around us it is happening in the church as well. Jesus had a lot to say about getting hung up on the traditions of men. He called the religious crowd of his day dead men walking. He also said in Mark 3:25 “And if a house be divided against itself it cannot stand.” What god do we serve the god of this world or the God of creation? I think it is plane who has the most followers.
As Christians we cannot withstand the fiery darts of satan unless we are united and in one accord. Remember the first church was in one accord and prayer and 3000 were added daily as should be saved. We must stop leaving God out of our lives, out of our government, out of our homes and out of our churches. Got your attention did I? God is at church you say! Many times people go church 4 times a week each time they leave God in the pew to be picked up again next Sunday or when it is convenient for them to attend the next service. Remember when I point one finger I have three pointing at me. Who told you God had to stay at the church should He not be at your side all the time? Why would I make such a statement? Revelations 2:4 “Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left your first love.” He that hath an ear let him hear.
If we were asked to step outside of our bodies and examine our hearts and lives would we like what we see? Jesus commented about this when he said, “Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth eaten.” James 5:2 Proverbs 23:7 “for as he thinketh in his heart so is he.” In Matthew 6:21 “for where your treasure is there your heart will be also.”
Next week we will look at more looking and listening.

Noah in the 21 Century

The Story of Noah in the Year 2011 is just for humor today. All though there is much truth in the story. I found this story and many may have seen it as well. Sometimes we just need to laugh.

If Noah lived in the United States today and God spoke to Noah and said, “In one year I am going to make it rain and cover the whole earth with water until all flesh is destroyed, but I want you to save the righteous people and two of every kind of living thing on the earth. Therefore, I am commanding you to build an Ark.”
In a flash of lightening, God delivered the specifications for an Ark. In fear and trembling, Noah took the plans and agreed to build an Ark.
“Remember,” said the Lord, “You must complete the Ark and bring everything aboard in one year.”
Exactly one year later, fierce storm clouds covered the earth and all the seas of the earth went into tumult. The Lord saw that Noah was sitting in his front yard weeping.
“Noah,” He shouted, “Where is the Ark?”
“Lord, please forgive me!” cried Noah. “I did my best, but there were big problems. First, I had to get a permit for construction, and your plans did not meet the code. I had to hire an engineering firm and redraw the plans. Then I got into a fight with OSHA over whether or not the Ark needed a fire sprinkler system and flotation devices. Then my neighbor objected, claiming I was violating zoning ordinances by building the Ark in my front yard, so I had to get a variance from the city planning commission. Then I had problems getting enough wood for the Ark, because there was a ban on cutting trees to protect the Spotted Owl. I finally convinced the U.S. Forest Service that I needed the wood to save the owls. However, the Fish and Wildlife Service won’t let me catch any owls, so no owls. The carpenters formed a union and went out on strike. I had to negotiate a settlement with the National Labor Relations Board before anyone would pick up a saw or hammer. Now I have 16 carpenters on the Ark, but still no owls. When I started rounding up the other animals, I got sued by an animal rights group. They objected to me only taking two of each kind aboard. Just when I got the suit dismissed, the EPA notified me that I could not complete the Ark without filing an environmental impact statement on your proposed flood. They didn’t take very kindly to the idea that they had no jurisdiction over the conduct of the Creator of the universe. Then the Army Corp of Engineers demanded a map of the proposed new flood plan. I sent them a globe. Right now I am trying to resolve a complaint filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission that I am practicing discrimination by not taking godless, unbelieving people aboard. The IRS has seized my assets, claiming that I’m building the Ark in preparation to flee the country to avoid paying taxes. I just got a notice from the state that I owe them some kind of user tax and failed to register the Ark as a “recreational water craft.” Finally the ACLU got the courts to issue an injunction against further construction of the Ark, saying that since God is flooding the earth, it is a religious event and therefore unconstitutional.
“I really don’t think I can finish the Ark for another five or six years.” Noah wailed.
The sky began to clear, the sun began to shine and the seas began to calm. A rainbow arched across the sky. Noah looked up hopefully. “You mean you are not going to destroy the earth, Lord?”
“No,” said the Lord sadly, “I don’t have to. The government already has.

The Temptations of Jesus

Heb 4:14-16
In these verses the author of Hebrews shows us a picture of our Lord. Let us look for a few minutes at this picture and see just what Jesus went through to save us all from hell. Remember Jesus had been 40 days without food and he was very hungry.
In Luke 4:1-13 we see Jesus in the wilderness for his firs test. There he is tempted to satisfy the needs of the body before the needs of the soul. The same adversary tried to get him to feed himself as the one who tempts us to gain material satisfaction. He was also tempted to distrust the Father’s care. Jesus said , “man shall not live by bread alone but by every word of God.”
He was tempted to gain worldly power by compromising with and worshiping Satan. The point was brought that yes the Father gave the whole world to the Son but satan controls a large part of it. Satan said, “I will give you control if you will fall down and worship me.” Jesus said get thee behind me.
Luke 22:42 shows us the picture of Jesus as he looks death in the face. The cup of suffering and dying for sinful man was extended to him. He was tempted to withdraw as the Saviour. In the garden he came face to face with the darkness of sin and death. He prayed for God’s will to be done regardless of the cost.
Matthew 27:40 shows us a picture as Jesus is bleeding to death on the cross that he is challenged once again by the devil. “If thou be the Son of God come down from that cross.” Then the religious crowd came by and mocked him.
What does all this temptation of Jesus mean? The saving of his life would have meant the losing of ours. For with on sin-bearer---no salvation. He yielded not to temptation. He became our high priest to become a mediator between us and God. A greater love hath no man than he lay down his life for his friends. On the cross Jesus became the best friend we will ever have.

Confused About Jesus

Acts 1:1-7
Luke is writing about the account of the beginning of Christianity and the preaching of the gospel. He is recalling what Jesus had to say to the twelve He had chosen and how there remain some confusion as to what exactly was to be done.
Remember Jesus had spent a lot of time with these men; they were hand picked and spent three years under His teaching. They had witnessed many miracles set and listened to many a message yet they were still confused. They were confused about His life, His ways, His death, His resurrection, His promises, and His kingdom. Why do you think that was? It could be that many then as today are not looking to the spiritual but to the physical.

In verse 6 we begin to see some of this confusion by the disciple's last question of the physical Jesus, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?" They didn't fully understand Jesus' message and his purpose. They took His words and translated them into what they thought He "should" be saying or doing according to their interpretation of prophecy. They thought Jesus was talking about a physical kingdom.

Sometimes there is the feeling the Lord must be incredibly frustrated with us as well, when we don't "understand." When we take His words or action and change them into what we think He "should" be saying or doing. How did Jesus respond? "It is not for you to know " These words need to be underlined and highlighted in all of our Bibles. When you start to get insistent with the Lord, when you get demanding, or when you think you know better -- remember these words: "It is not for you to know!" We don't need to know everything -- the complete master plan, before we do our part. This may well be the reason why a lot of the time we sit on the sideline and don't do what Jesus instructed. We are confused and don't understand why. The Bible doesn't promise understanding before, during, or even after a project (I'm not talking about understanding Scripture, but understanding the purposes God has for the things He commands). What kind of faith would it take if you always knew the outcome of something before you started?
What has God called you to do that you don't understand and haven't done? Is it just because you didn’t get the memo with the outcome? I am glad that God is still in control and will guide us in the right direction.

Grandpa Said

A young boy sat at his grandfather’s feet and asked him, “Grandfather how did you get to be so smart?”
The old man thought for a minute then said, “ Wisdom only comes form lessons we learn. The lessons come from the life we live. The life we live comes from the choices and mistakes we make. Learn from the mistakes of others ---- you can never live long enough to make them all yourself. ”

God gave each of us a free will to make choices. That is what sets us apart form the animals. We are free to choose right or wrong. Will we always choose the right probably not. Sometimes God will allow us to make the wrong choice to show us how to make the right choice.
I am thinking about a story about a Lakota boy and his grandfather. They were walking on a snow cover path returning home from a hunting trip. The boy full of energy would run ahead and then stop and wait as the old man slowly made his way through the deep snow. As they approached a hill the boy noticed this hill led to a short cut through a small valley. He shouted, “Grandfather let’s take the summer path and we will get home sooner and can get warm.” The old man ignored the boys urging and continued to trudge through the deep snow. “’I will race you home you go over the hill and I will take the summer path.”, the boy shouted. “Go if you must.” was his grandfather’s reply.
The boy started down into the valley knowing he would be home and warm way before his grandfather. As the old man watched the boy disappear over the hill, he stopped and removed a rope from his pack. He tied a large knot in one end of the rope. With a sigh he turned and followed the boys tracks into the valley. The boy was nowhere to be seen. His trail was plain but a short way into the valley the tracks ended. The old man followed to the end of the tracks and put his pack down in the snow. Tying the rope securely around his waste he began to swing the large knot to throw it to the last track the boy had made in the snow. As the rope fell into the hole at the last track he shouted, “Grab the knot and I will pull you out of that hole.” The rope stayed slack for a long time. Again he shouted, “You will only get colder if you stay in that hole. Grab the knot and I will pull you out.” The rope grew taught as the embarrassed boy grabbed the knot. The old man pulled on the rope as a snow covered cold boy slowly climbed out of the hole. “ How did you know where to throw the rope grandfather?”, ask a very cold but grateful boy. “From a lesson I learned when I was a boy the old man replied.”
God lets us make our own choices. When we fall in a hole he will be there to pull us out. It is our duty to learn not to fall into that hole again.

Children

Children are wondrous mysterious beings. They come from a perfect peaceful world into an imperfect world filled with chaos and confusion.
The child gets here cold wet and naked with no instruction book and a whole lot of needs. Is it any wonder they are crying? Parents as well as children begin a learning process on birthday.
Parents must learn how to care for this perfect gift from God. They must learn through trial and error how to teach the child, care for the child and provide and protect the child, all this without an instruction manual.
Yet by the time the child is grown volumes will have been written in the heart and mind of the parents.
It is only then that a great and wonderful thing happens as the child becomes a parent and turns to their parents and ask,” what do I do now?” Opening the vast book written on the heart simple guidance is given from the manual –the one their parents took a lifetime to write—and the teaching starts once more.
As the book is opened memories flood back every detail is clear and golden. Every page written covers all that was taught, every pain and joy every scrape and scratch. Each child has its own chapter, as no two children are the same. There are no generic rules that cover all children. Some will require a stern voice others a gentle hand. Still others will need their space while others are out in space.
On birthday when that bundle of joy is laid in the arms of mom and dad everyone’s world is instantly changed. That cute cuddly bundle has needs has to be fed clothed and carried. Interestingly the new person comes with a personality all their own. Comes with a set of talents that are locked inside that personality. The creator gave each child special talents to be used all their lives. No one can even begin to guess what these talents are or how they are to be used. There is no way to open the book and take a peak. It now becomes the parent’s responsibility to train the child how to unlock each talent and learn how to use it. Cradled in their mothers arms they have total and complete trust momma and dad know what and how to get them trained. Trust all their needs will be met. Looking into the sleeping face of this brand new person a new adventure begins to unfold. Each new parent knows exactly what must be done; each new grandparent remembers when they stood on this spot. Everyone ask how the answer is still a mystery. God not only gives the child special talents He also gives the parents new eyes to see the hidden talents of the child. He gives them insight on how to accomplish this seemingly impossible task.
Not only is a new life brought into this world but a new world is brought into the lives of the new parents. Though no classes have been taken no instructions to guide there is a knowing that was born the same instant the first cry is heard. God gives the gift of life to the child and at the same time He gives knowledge to the parents. Some call it instinct some call it love but what ever you call it there is no denying its existence. Like the newborn wrapped in warm blankets learning how to grow so also the instinct begins to grow in the hearts of loving parents.

Sharpening Your Sword at the Enemies Forge Part 2

A sad state of affairs had covered Israel. They had become dependent to their enemy to provide defense and tool conditioning. Oh they were politically correct but God was no where to be found in the daily lives of the people. The US is almost in a similar state today. What do we need to turn this around?
Jesus---His word is sharper that any two edged sword dividing asunder the soul and spirit.
Many people today are satisfied with only dull plow share and simple flies with which to sharpen it. Many go to the internet for help instead of to God. This is evident by the unwillingness to be used of God. Always complaining about what someone else is doing. Most are unwilling to accept change of any kind. The “my way or no way” prevails in many lives. There is an unwillingness to pull their share of the load. Many will talk loud and long about the bad conditions but will do little to change the things that are causing those conditions.
You can’t go into battle if you don’t have the proper weapons. Israel needed swords and spears. What do we need? We need the whole armor of God. We need the truth girded about us. We need to put on the breast plate of righteousness. Our feet need to be covered with gospel if peace. The shield of faith held high for all to see. On our heads we place the helmet of salvation and in our hand the sword of the Spirit. Why must we be so clothed? To be able to withstand and to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. These implements of war are not to be used against each other but instead to be a deterrent to SATAN and his worriers. We are truly in a war. The fight is just beginning but already there are many causalities. The fighting will get worse before we win our battle. Without God’s amour we face a foe that is merciless and cold. We have no protection against his attacks. Once we put on the whole armor of God we are ready for battle and will be victorious. Would you want to go into a battle without a weapon? Saul and Jonathan were the only ones who had a sword. I wonder what would have happened had only Roosevelt had a gun as he led the Rough Riders up San Juan Hill. You think that is an absurd statement? Well many today are doing just that. Few there be who carry the Sword of the spirit. Fewer still who are dressed for battle yet they want to go against the devil and his well armed forces. Or just simply just stand by and watch the conquering army wash over them. No the devil will not win but he will leave much misery and destruction in his wake. Who will be the next one he destroys? You maybe?
Would to God people would beat their plow shares into swords and stand up and join the fight. There are many today who have forgotten what it means to fight for what you believe in. Until Israel took control of their spiritual lives and picked up defensive arms they could not protect themselves.
Now is the time to decide who is on the Lords side. The battle lines are clearly drawn. The enemy is well equipped and trained. What do you have to fight with; a broken hoe, a shovel or a dull plow share? God told Gideon the same thing He is telling us today, “Now therefore go to proclaim in the ears of the people saying, whosoever is fearful and afraid let him return and depart early from mount Gilead.”
God’s army spends most of its time today fighting itself. Whose side are you on? Are you content to watch as satan destroys this country and your Christian heritage?

Who Came To Jesus

Who Came To Jesus?
In the book of Luke chapter 15 verses 1-7 there is a description of who came to Jesus. Notice that all publicans and sinners came to Jesus. Picture this if you will in the town square a crowd had gathered. This crowd was made up of the dregs of society, the poor the sick the lame those who society had cast aside. All the ones no one wanted to see be seen with or wanted to have anything to do with. Look who was watching what was happening in the square. The religious crowd those self righteous Pharisees and scribes. As they stood on their lofty perch of indignation they said to one another, “Would you look at that! This man is eating with all those sick people. I wouldn’t be caught dead with the likes of those sinners. Who does he think he is?”
Why did this crowd gather around Jesus? Well first Jesus came to heal the sick not the healthy. These folks came to hear Jesus for when he spoke people listened. In all our approaches to Christ we must always hear him then listen to what he is saying.
Why were the scribes and Pharisees angry? In their mind no one should lower themselves to associate with the low life that just crawled out of the gutter. All those drunks and prostitutes drug addicts the lowest of the low; after all none of these had passed the social test for acceptance into the religious world of the Pharisee. One thing about this scene no one could find fault with what Jesus was saying or doing. This was supposed to be the Messiah the one to save us all from the Romans. But would you look he wants all this trash to come into our worship service. Since they could not condemn him for what he preached they condemned him for eating. He did not fit into what they thought a religious person should be doing. With their noses turned up so high it was a good thing it wasn’t raining.
Look what Jesus told them. How many of you if you had a lost sheep would not go looking for it. You would go into the wilderness search at all cost to find this lost one. When you find it would you not be happy and want to show your friends what was lost is not found. Sure you would! God feels the same way. In fact all heaven will rejoice when a lost one repents and gets saved more than they do over ninety nine righteous people who need no repentance.
So today I would like to pose a question. In which crowd are you standing in? Are like the Pharisee or Publican? No matter where you are Jesus loves you just the same.

Lend A Helping Hand

Lend a Helping Hand

Someone has described the human family by saying, “They are all kinfolks.” How true this is in so many ways! It is so true that it should cause each of us to have some feeling for the other. There is the story told of an accident that happened in Stockholm, Sweden many years ago. A woman, hurrying to work; rushed to the place where the tram-car stopped, stumbled in front of the moving car and was caught beneath it. Immediately someone sent for a crane in order to lift it and thus release her.
In the meantime a crowd of people gathered. A man pushing his way through the crowd, crawled underneath the car, and said to the woman, “Here, take my hand!” She took his hand and felt the nearness and warmth of this stranger. This was sufficient to calm her and prevent her from going into shock.
When the crane arrived and the woman was released, she exclaimed: “I never thought an outstretched hand could mean so much!”
God has stretched out His hand to us. Being helped by Him, we should be able to help others take hold of His outstretched hands. All we need to be able to is a hand--- and a willingness to stretch it out to others.
Have you done so?
In speaking of helping, Paul said, “Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we might be able to comfort them which are in any trouble by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.” II Corinthians 1:4

Little Is Much When God Is In It

Little Is Much When God Is In It
We all say we have too little time to do what God wants us to do. Or that we have too small ability to do what God needs to get done. We have all heard the story how Jesus fed 5000 with just 2 fish and 5 loaves of bread. We all learned how a shepherd boy with a sling and rock killed a giant. It is the little things in life that make the big things work. Let us look for a minute at some of the little things and what God with them.
The mustard seed is but a tiny seed yet when God directs it becomes a large tree that gives shelter to the birds and shade to man. With just a little faith about the size of that same mustard seed God said we could move mountains. In the eyes of a little child God shows us the love of heaven. Look at Mark 10:14 “Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” God also used a small boy to carry lunch for 5000 men. He used 12 insignificant men to turn the world upside down. So truly little is much when God is in it. Paul even spoke about changing something small into something big when he said, “A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.” Gal 5:9
God always works with the little things. All through the bible we can find where God used the little things to do the great things. When Israel was about to cross the Jordan rived after forty years of being lost in the desert it only took one small step of the priest carrying the ark to part the waters. It took but a few small musical notes and following Gods instructions to bring down the walls of Jericho. Two men with two swords and faith in God turned the tide of battle and helped set Israel free.
So you see no matter how small you think your talent is or how small your gift might be God can turn it into something big. God is a master at taking the little things and doing great things with them. What little thing do you have that you would like God to use for something great? Oh by the way you got to give Him what you have before He can use it.

What Would Momma Say?

What would Momma say?

When I was a boy thought momma had nothing to say.
In the summer she would say you boys go outside and play.
When she would go to town you boys stay in and behave.
After we were grown a call “Now you listen to your Mother.”
She would call me then a call to my brother.
“You were on my mind”, the message was clear.
We each heard momma’s voice in our ear.
Time passed we each looked to brighter days.
Momma was there every step of the way.
Momma’s gone now but I still hear her say
“Just needed to hear your voice” is what she would say
“Have you called your brother today”
“Now you listen to your mother.”
Each time I look a decision in the face
I would like to know what momma would say.
No longer a boy but a man with hair of gray
I still ask what would momma say?

Sharpening Your Sword At The Enemy's Forge

Sharpening Your Sword At The Enemies’ Forge Part 1
1 Samuel 13:19-23
As I looked at this story of Israel I could not help but think the US is in like state. Let us look for a few minutes at what happened to Israel and what could happen to the US.
In this story Israel have become docile and had been taken captive or was being controlled by the Philistines. They did not have the means or ability to make defensive weapons. There was not one smith in all of Israel. Everyone had to take their farm implements to a Philistine smith to get them sharpened. This condition had made the people afraid and defenseless. So they struggled with dull tools. This is a condition that makes work difficult and dangerous. Productivity drops and people struggle just to stay alive.
How did Israel get in this condition? If you will read 1 Samuel 11 and 12 you will see they stopped trusting God. They asked for a king. Through out the bible we see when a nation stops following God bad things begin to happen.
What is the lesson to be learned from this story? First Israel was threatened by a strong enemy. So controlled they could not even sharpen their own tools or make defensive weapons. 1Samuel 13:19 tells us there was no smith to be found through out all Israel. All of Israel had to go to a Philistine smith to get farming tools made or sharpened.
Only two swords were present, Saul and Jonathan had swords. No one else in all Israel had any weapons. When it came time for battle Israel was in real trouble. Can you imagine what would happen today if the US laid down all her arms and had nothing to defend this country? When we took God out or our lives that is what will happen. Today true Christians and Churches are threatened by a strong enemy---Satan. Your adversary the devil walketh about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour.
We are being told we cannot pray, cannot display Christian symbols, and cannot openly share our faith for fear of offending a non-christian. A parallel here is like having our tools and weapons taken away. How did this happen? Just like it happened to Israel, we have stopped trusting in God. Can it be said of us today we have no one to sharpen our tools? Is there no one to inspire us to greater mission work? No one to lead us out of captivity. The Lord calls us sheep because we are easily led. Do we sharpen our implements at the enemies forge by conformity to the world? Are we politically correct or are we God correct? The Word like an ax clears the way for conviction of a heart that is lost. The Holy Spirit like a sharp knife cuts deep into the soul exposing hidden sin. Convicting both the lost and saved the need for repentance. As Israel was content with a dull file to sharpen their tools are we content to act likewise.

We Must All Give Account

We must all give account.
As the lost must have their day in court so must the saved. Jesus will be the judge who hears all cases. The lost will be asked one question, “what did you do with Jesus?” The saved will have to give account for their lives and service to God. We each are accountable for many things. Jesus will hear and fairly try each case.
We shall all give account for what we do with our lives. If we are like the tree that bears no fruit we will have to give an account for that. We will have to give account for our faith. Why didn’t we trust God with our time, our talent, and our treasure? You know what the bible says? “Without faith it is impossible to please God.” What is faith anyway? Faith—the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen. Where might your faith be found? Is it in the bank? Is it in some man or men? Did you put your faith in a building with a religious name over the door? Or is your faith in God the author and finisher of our faith?
We will have to give account for our faithfulness. Have we been faithful to His word, faithful to His house, and faithful to His commands?
God commanded His church to go ye into all the world and teach all nations. If it took money to win the lost how many do you think would be won today? What price would you put on a soul?
The Lord doesn’t expect us to waste what He has given us but He does expect us to use it. Use it for His honor and glory. Use it to win the lost to Jesus. Use it to be able to hear, “Well done thou good and faithful servant.”

Where is God's Word?

God's Word where is it where did it come from?
The Word comes from Jesus the appointed messenger of God. It is true, it is
weighty, and has salvation power. Therefore it must have a place among those who hear it. Deep within each of us is a place where we put things of great value. Our most cherished memories, our most compelling thoughts, our conscience, a place we call our heart. The Bible says, “Thy Word have I hid in my heart.” (Psalms 119:11) This is the first and only place Jesus will look for His Word.
In this special place of ours shall be a place of honor. Does God’s Word have a place of honor or is it collecting dust in some dark corner? A place we are ashamed for any one to see. It should receive our utmost attention, our greatest reverence, polished with our faith and secured by our obedience. John 8:47, “He that is of God hearth God’s Word, ye therefore hear them not because ye are not of God.”
God’s word should have a place where our most trusted possessions rest. We trust the tires on our cars to carry us safely at 70 mph through all weather conditions. Yet God’s Word we cannot trust. Why?
Yes men rejected the words of Jesus spoke then, they still reject His words today.
Let us look for a moment why God’s Word has no place in our hearts, in our lives, in our world.
To those who have never accepted the words of Jesus those lost in sin here are some reasons you may be ashamed to admit. You are too busy to get involved with God or anything religious. There is just no opening in your schedule. Besides you have an appearance to uphold a reputation to keep.
You know when Jesus was born no one had time for him. He had to come into this world through the barn. The world was more concerned with paying taxes than God.
You are so preoccupied you simply don’t have time to get saved. There will come a day when you will wish you had made time.
Jesus does not come wrapped as a novelty, a new style or high-tech gadget. Therefore you reject Him and His love. You have heard about Jesus all your life and you are tired of hearing about him. May I ask you are you tired of eating, breathing, and living? No of course not those are silly questions.
In each heart we have places we put things. Does the place designed for God have something else resting there?
I’d be willing to bet you prefer superstition to God. How about a religious rite? Maybe you prefer skepticism of this world to the fact of the Gospel.
Let me ask are these choices intelligent people make?
Maybe you think Jesus and His Word are too holy, too spiritual for someone of your status? Does that mean you are too good for God? Do these statements startle you? They should for they condemn you. Many think only a selected few need to be holy and spiritual. I want to let you in on a secret. All have sinned and come short of the glory of God. Every preacher on this planet from the Pope in Rome to the preacher in the smallest country church in Appalachia is a sinner, some bigger than others. Every one-religion call a saint has sinned and come short in God’s eyes. Now I’ll bet you are mad and offended. You may even turn off your mind. Yet this is the attitude of many today.
You say you find no comfort in the Word so you give it no place in your life. It’s not God’s Word that is cold it is the place you store it.
You may think you are too wise, too cultured to yield to the government of Jesus. If you do my friend you are in trouble. Culture won’t save you! Wisdom (though precious) is vain in eternity. How about your position in the church that should count for something? Church membership will not save you. Some of the most loyal, hardcore, religious church members killed Jesus. Where have you put His word?

This Generation

In the book of Acts chapter 2 verses 36-41 we find Peters sermon on Pentecost. This was a great sermon as it contained all the necessary ingredients. The preacher was filled with the Holy Spirit. It foretold of the coming of Christ. It warned against willful sin. And last it exhorted the hearer to repent. As Peter closed his message that day he exhorted all repent and be saved from an unwilling or crooked generation.
We live in a time of unwillingness: Unwillingness to listen to Gods Word; to be separate; to serve God; and most damaging the unwillingness to change.
This is a Think less age. As a whole people don’t think about God. He is not part of their thought process. To many He doesn’t even exist. People today are living only in the material realm. Earthly things like gold, silver, houses and land, and only things that give them pleasure fill their worldly thoughts. But then the bible teaches that men the last days, “shall be lovers of pleasures more that lovers of God.” Most people today set their affections on perishable things; like buying ice cream on a very hot day.
In a Christian nation it is sad when a blood bought believer grows cold, indifferent and unconcerned. They are unconcerned about their church, about their fellow man and the fate of their nation. Many Christians today give no thought to bible study, prayer, church attendance, and the use of their God given talents for His service. Please don’t ask them to take a stand for the Christ who died for them on the cross.
Along with the ungodly crowd the Christians today give no thought to the second coming of Christ. Jesus said, “Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.”
Ours is a think less nation all tied up in NOTS: See not—our need for Christ; Hear not---God’s plan and warning; Know not---God’s love; Awareth not---of the judgment to come; Prepared not---for eternity; Believing not---what God said is true. Ours is an age of preconceived ideas what other people should do or think to conform to our ideas, wills or desires.
This is also a THANKLESS generation. Paul has this to say about this age.” This know that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy.” Paul went on to say in Romans 1:21 why we are this way, “Because when they knew God they glorified Him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.”
We are not thankful today for anything. Not for Gods blessings; Not for His Son who died for our sins; Not for Gods church. We are the richest nation on the face of the earth and we owe it all to God and yet we can’t even take time to thank Him.
Are you thankful you live in a free country blessed by God? If so have you thanked Him lately? Have you even thought about Him? Why haven’t you stood up and told someone about Him?

Decisions and Choices

Proverbs 1:5-9
A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:
To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother:
For they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck.
Proverbs 2:10-11
When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul; Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee:

Through out our lives we make decisions and choices that affect nor only our life but the lives of others. Many times we make choices based on the conditions and situations of the moment. Sometimes those choices are good sound choices with positive affects. Other times our choices are based on emotion and lack sound judgment. Either way we have to live and die with the choices we make.
There are many factors that affect how we make decisions. No decision should be made purely on emotion. In reality that is not the way we do things. We make a lot of decisions on our emotions. How we feel at the moment. How we react to a situation or to decisions of others. Once we make and act on our decision it cannot be withdrawn. We are responsible for that action and the decision we make. If it is a good sound decision we will prosper. If our decision is made out of deceit, anger or lack of data the outcome is usually one we regret.
Just like words when spoken decisions made and acted upon cannot be returned for us to edit. Whether we admit it or not or like it or not we and we alone are responsible for the decisions and choices we make.
God gave each or us free will to make our own decisions. To control our lives as we feel is correct. He also gave us rules we are to base our choices and decisions upon. If we choose to ignore those rules we make decisions we regret and have to live with the consequences. Each decision and choice has a consequence. No one forces us to make the decisions we make. We make our decisions to do or to say what we want but we will have to live with the choices we make. Good or bad right or wrong we still will be held accountable for the decisions and choices we make. If not in this life then when we stand before God we will answer for all we do and say in this life.
Our decisions have long reaching fingers and will always touch the life of another. It may be the life of someone we love. It may be a stranger or a friend. Our choices may cause someone to cry or laugh, feel joy or pain. No matter which we are still responsible for what we do.

When Lighting Flashes

When the Lighting Flashes!
The following is a great devotion I found that was written by Muncy Harris in 1985.

Many have been the times, when on a hot summer evening, the typical thunderstorm would begin boiling in from the west.
First, would come the brilliant lighting; to be followed, momentarily, by the threating thunder.
Now, the thunder contributed nothing to the lighting but it was an evidence that the lighting was a reality and a storm was truly approaching.
Likewise, the “lighting” of saving faith must be followed by the “thunder” of good works to demonstrate its reality. True, the “thunder” of good works adds nothing to the “lighting” of our salvation but it is a witness that something has already happened.
In the inspired words of the apostle James, “Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works,” James 2:18
When the “lighting” flashes – it should be followed by the “thunder” of good works.

So then it would stand to reason that all that claim to be born again and there is no change in their lives would give us cause to doubt. One can pretend to be something they are not only so long. For by their fruits ye shall know them the Bible says.
There will be a lot of those who claim to be saved and born again that will be standing in empty churches when Jesus comes to claim those who have truly been washed in the blood of the lamb, have asked Jesus to forgive them and to come into their hearts and save their soul.
Jesus knows who they are for He wrote their name down in the Lambs Book of Life, they know who they are! Are you one of those whose name has been written down? Or will you be among those who Jesus will say depart form me I never knew you?

Pure Legalism

In the book of John chapter 3 there is a story that mirrors the attitude of many today; a legalist description of the religious crowd then and now. It is the story of a Jewish leader, a Pharisee, a religious man and devout; a teacher and respected in the Jewish community. This man’s name was Nicodemus. Like many of his day he was very concerned about the letter of the law, the appearance in public, titles, rules, ceremonies and eloquence when praying. In other words he wanted to make sure everyone around him knew he was a religious man. Even with all his education and learning about the law he had an empty space inside. Something was missing. He must have searched every area of the law to find out what it was but to no avail. Then a very strange thing happened. There came news of this itinerant carpenter who was traveling around the country healing people and speaking with authority. At the synagogue the buzz was that there was a heretic loose and was trying to teach things that were not right according to the religious leaders. All the Pharisees had taken the position that something had to be done to put a stop to this man. After all who was he? What gave him the authority to say and do the things he was saying and doing. But there was something that pricked old Nicodemus’ curiosity. He wasn’t sure what it was but he had to find out. To be seen talking to this carpenter in the day light would have been political suicide. So he made a plan to find this man under the cover of darkness. So one night he crept out and found Jesus and asks to speak to him. Being a good Pharisee he offered what he believed to be the proper greeting and complement. “Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.” Jesus knowing his mind and better still his heart ignored the complement and spoke bluntly to Nicodemus, “Verily ,verily , I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Oh my; this flew against everything Nicodemus had ever learned, taught or thought. Jesus wasn’t done for he knew what Nicodemus really needed. It was not to study harder. Live better. Be a pillar in the community. Attend the biggest church twice a week. Sing in the choir. Stand and pray eloquent prayers on the street corner. He did not need to be the most successful or charismatic teacher or speaker. He needed to be saved by the grace of God not by the law of man.
Not to belabor the point Jesus went on to tell Nicodemus what he must do and how he must do it.
Read the story in John 3.
I will close this blog with this one thing Jesus told Nicodemus, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

How Do We Plant seed?

This is part two of sowing seed series.
How we are to sow our seed.
As we go about sowing the seed of the gospel of Christ just how are we to do that? In Psalm 126:5-6 says, “They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.”
There are a lot of things that make us cry. We cry at weddings, at graduations, sad movies and anything that tugs at our emotions. When was the last time we cried over a lost soul? Or cried because someone had wandered away from God? Preachers sometimes get so burdened about those in their flock they have a hard time seeing through their tears. I hear the voices saying we have never seen our pastor cry. Maybe not on the outside but if he is a man God called he may be crying none the less. Crying because of something a backbiter spoke without all the knowledge necessary; crying because he is witnessing the destruction of a soul at the hands of Satan. Crying because he watched as something he loves more than life itself is ripped away.
As we sow we need to water that seed with our tears. Tears of compassion, love and concern for the one we are praying for. Have you ever considered how the farmer must feel as he watches the seed he plants start to grow in the spring. Then as he harvest the fruit of his labor in the fall the joy that is in his heart. Keep in mind that once the seed is planted the farmer has no control over how the seed grows. We also cannot know how the seed we plant is someone’s heart will grow. That is not our job it belongs to God. What we can know is what type of seed we plant. We either plant good seed, mixed seed or bad seed. John 4:36 shares with us a great thought and promise, “And he that reapth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together.” How many will you get to rejoice together with in eternity?
What kind of seed are we sowing? The seed must be the right seed. We need to sow the best seed if we expect to reap the best fruit. 1Peter 1:23, “Being born again, not of corruptible seed but of incorruptible by the word of God which liveth and abideth forever.” We are not to sow mixed seed. We can’t mix the seed so as to satisfy the natural man. I read a story about evangelist Sam Jones. At one of the services where he was preaching he was told that he was rubbing the fur the wrong way. He replied then you best turn the cat around. God is not the author of confusion. Satan on the other hand is the master of confusion. If he can get you to sow mixed seed then the pure message won’t get out and souls will be lost or God’s work will go undone. When Jesus preached he also was told “you offend these people…” . The natural man understandeth not the things of God. We are not to mix satan’s message with God’s message. “We don’t do that!” “Really?” Let us see if that is true. Do you love your neighbor as you love yourself? Satan’s message is you really don’t have to do that ? God’s message is , “Oh yes you do.” Satan’s message let’s take and separate church and state. Let’s take God out of our schools. After all we need to teach our kids and make sure they are well educated. Humm! That is not God’s message. Preach the gospel in season and out of season. That is God’s message. Preach the gospel to the entire world so that my house may be filled. Satan then injects it really doesn’t matter what you believe just as long as you are sincere. The road to hell is paved with sincerity. There will be a lot of sincere religious people standing at the gate begging for a drop of water to cool their tongues. That is God’s message. Don’t shoot the one bringing the message.
The fact is that there will be many who are members of the church who will be standing in empty buildings one Sunday morning wondering why the preacher is late and why no one is preparing for the service. They will be joined by others who just didn’t have time to get involved. When God reaps the harvest of the save born again souls He will cast into the fire all the tares. Don’t believe me take a look at Matthew 13: 24-30. Especially note verse 30, “ Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.” Now you don’t have to believe or accept this message. Satan would prefer you not listen. The choice is yours. Heaven or hell you chose.
Jesus said this message would fall in many places. It will fall on the hard hearted. Those who are just too good to be religious and don’t need to be saved, the ultra religious, those who just don’t need God in their lives.
He also said it would fall on the half hearted. Those who are saved but just don’t have time to get involved. Just go to church when they feel it is needed. Those who would not ever tell anyone about Jesus for fear they might be labeled as a Christian. There was an apostle who did just like that; Remember Peter. He denied Christ three times. He did go out and wept bitterly and repented of his error.
Jesus also told us the seed would fall on fertile ground and would produce much fruit. When our seed falls on a heart that is truly looking for God that seed will take hold and God will give the increase. We might call those the whole hearted.
It is our job to sow the seed of the gospel. It is God’s job to give the increase. Once again I ask this question. What kind of seed are you sowing? Where do you keep your seed? What type of harvest do you expect?

People Are Like Leaves

Life is like unto the wind. Jesus gives us insight to this concept in John 3:8 when he said, “The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh and whither it goeth: so is everyone that is born of the spirit.”
Paul talks about how children, spiritual children, are blown about by every wind or doctrine in Ephesians 4:14. “That we henceforth be no more children tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the slight of men and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive.”
In nature when the wind blows the leaves are carried about. In the fall as the leaves turn brown and begin to fall the wind will scatter them all over the yard. You can see the leaves being carried around but you can’t see the wind that is carrying them. The wind can cool us or knock us down yet the wind has no substance of its own. All that can be seen is what is carried by the wind. Damage is caused not solely by the wind but by the debris it carries. We can be protected from the wind by the shelter we select.
In the spiritual world if we are like children with little protection or guidance we will be blown by any winds that may come our way. Unless you have strong roots and a strong faith then you will be blown about by cunning craftiness. The bible speaks volumes about how the evil one walks about seeking whom he can devour. If we seek shelter under God’s wing then satan has not power over us. If satan can get you to listen to his doctrine he will get you blown off course. God is not the author of confusion. If there are winds of confusion in your life who do you think is causing the problem?
Our faith in God and His care can protect us from the spiritual winds of evil, division, corruption, and sin. While some spiritual winds are of great benefit and give us peace and strength others can cause great damage. God’s grace will shield us from those damaging spiritual winds just like our walls can protect us from the physical storms. As we must seek shelter from the physical winds so must we have a shield from the evil spiritual winds. So then we need strong roots to withstand the destructive winds. Winds of doubt, winds of carnal knowledge, winds or spiritual unrest, winds of sin that will separate us from God from all these we must find shelter. We must have roots anchored in Jesus and the love of God. Secure in the rock of ages. In Jesus’ hands we are safe and secure. Without Jesus we will be blown about just like the leaves in the fall.

The Greatest Commandment

The Greatest Commandment
When Jesus was asked , Which is the greatest commandment in the law?” He answered, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.”
From the words Jesus spoke we see that we must first love God with our whole being, body soul and spirit. Then we are to love ourselves. We need to love ourselves for what we are: children of God, made in God’s image, with all the attractive and unattractive human qualities we possess. The degree to which we are able to love ourselves determines how much we can love our neighbor.
When we start looking for spiritual enlightenment our humanity seems to get in the way. This hinders our commitment not only to ourselves but also to God. What will people think if I am spiritual? What will God think if your are not?
However spiritual we are, and however dedicated we are to serving God most of us will still encounter trying, human situations. Many times we seek guidance in the places we feel are closest to God. That may be a church, for God surely is in church, or it may be on a mountaintop nothing could be closer to God than that. While both of these locations can serve as a vehicle to help us reach out to God there is still a better way to commune with God. If we will but open our hearts and minds and spirits to God and His will He will dwell with us. If we don’t love our neighbor as we love ourselves how then can we truly love God? Or maybe we do love our neighbor as we love ourselves. If we go to church on Sunday and sing Oh How I Love Jesus then use his name in vane on Monday who do we love?
The bible says, “What so ever a man thinketh in his heart so is he.”
Man is a three part being. We are body soul and spirit. We choose to live in any one of these areas. The body is carnal and only wants material things; the soul and spirit want to be in Gods presence. Most of us only live in the carnal state. God wants us to live and abide with Him in all three states.
Learn to love yourself, love God then you can love your neighbor.

Finding God

Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
The road to success is not straight. There is a curve called FAILURE, a loop called CONFUSION, speed bumps called FRIENDS, red lights called ENEMIES, caution lights called FAMILY. You will have flats called JOBS. But, if you have a spare called DETERMINATION, an engine called PERSERVERENCE, insurance called FAITH, a driver called JESUS, you will make it to a place called SUCCESS.
The above quote was floating around the Internet so I thought it fit well with our devotion on finding God.
God has never left us we leave Him. He is right by our side. As a loving father he will pick us up when we fall off what ever we climb upon. He will guide us through stormy seas so that we may learn life lessons. God knows what is ahead and will guide us through the maize if we will but allow Him.
One thing must be made clear. Before we can follow His direction we must first know who He is. Contrary to popular belief not everyone knows the Lord. Oh many use his name, swear by him and try to persuade the world he is only necessary when someone dies or gets into trouble. Some even try to ease their conscience by going to church on Easter and Christmas. But they don’t know Him. They have only heard of him. In our world today few there be who want to know Jesus.
Jesus is a friend in the truest sense of the word.
So if you have not met my friend let me introduce you to one of the greatest friends I have ever known. One who has stood by me in good times and bad.
The bible says in John 15:13, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” That is exactly what Jesus did. He laid down his life for you and me. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John3:16 Is Jesus your friend?
In my life I have wandered away from Jesus at times. During those times I have found I have wandered into places and situations that were not desirable. Even at the lowest time all I had to do was look up and reach for His hand and He helped me up, dusted me off and put my feet back on solid ground. Those who don’t have a friend like that are in a sad state.
I will tell you this that God’s love is so great that no matter how dirty we get or how far away from him we wander He still loves us. Though you sins be as scarlet they shall be as white as snow so the bible says.
If you don’t know Jesus seek Him in your heart, confess Him with your mouth and He will come and dwell with you. What a friend we have in Jesus.

Let Go and Let God

The following poem by Brenda Yancey sets the theme for today’s devotion.

HELP ME LORD by Brenda Yancey
Oh, gentle Savior, please hear my plea,
To Heaven’s door—thou art the key.
I am poor and weak and blind,
Help me, Lord thy grace to find.
I need thee, Lord, to guide my life
In this old world of toil and strife,
Oh, precious Savior, please take my hand
So I can take the Christian stand.
Without Thee, Lord, I can but fail,
But, by Thy help I will prevail.
Help me, Lord, to live like Thee
So others can see Christ lives in me.
Thank you, Lord, for Thy saving grace,
Now I can dwell in that heavenly place,
Help me to be worthy of Thy love
Which comes so often from above.

So many times we hear the words, “Let go and let God,” but have we ever stopped to consider what those words really mean? Human nature being what it is we have a very difficult time getting self out of the way so God can work. Too much of the time we are striving, struggling, pressing and pushing to promote ourselves and our ideals so that we can get the glory. As long as we are standing in the way it will be difficult if not impossible for God to work in our lives. I like to think God is standing by just waiting for us to give Him a chance to do wonderful things in our lives. He might be saying, “Lead follow or get out of the way.”
Life is full of ups and downs. We so often think we are in control of our destiny. We do everything we know to do to gain that higher moral plane. Each time we come upon an obstacle we struggle, push and pull a little harder to get over or by that which is blocking our path. When all we ever need to do is to “Let go and Let God.”
This concept is not only found in the secular world but is wide spread in the Christian world. We want the church to grow, but we won’t exercise any faith. The bible says, “without faith it is impossible to please God.” We find in the book of Acts that God added three thousand souls to the church. To do that the church had to be in one accord and in daily prayer.
In our lives when we reach the point when there seems to be no solution to our problem, “Let Go and Let God.” If you have reached the end or your rope and the dark chasm of despair and loneliness is just below tie a knot in the rope and let God pull you up.
So today no matter how big or how small the problem, “LET GO AND LET GOD.”
You might be surprised at how He can work in your life.

Me Give Up?

Me Give Up?

Many of us become discouraged when we face even the least difficulty. This causes us to give up, and thus fail at many tasks to which we are assigned. The following are words from an unknown author but whose words ring true about a Christian life.
“Shall I give up because I am tired and discouraged; because I have failed and no one seems to care? Ah, just let me wait and rest awhile and then go on. Shall I submit when I’m tempted and tired? Surrender? Never while I live. I’ll not give up when I’m fallen; lie there and cry and die; be hated and forgotten. I’ll rise, honestly and admit my failure and try again.
I’ll not stop when I get old. Positively no. I may not march at the front of the line, but I’ll march.
Me give up? Only when Jesus says ‘Tis done.’ Me give up? When breath is gone, when heart is stopped, when strength and life is no more. Me give up? Yes. I will some day, when God assigns a greater task.”

This expresses the true Christian’s attitude toward his work and the work of God. Does it fit your concept of life? Let us remember the words of Paul when he said, “And let us not be weary in well doing; for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” Galatians 6:9
Galatians 6:7 “Be no deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.”
This means there will be a payday some day. Our main task is to remain faithful over the few things to which we have been appointed.

Jesus gave up heaven went to a Roman cross shed his life’s blood that we might be saved. He never gave up on me how can I give up on Him? A greater love hath no man than he give his life for his friends. Yes we get down sometimes. Yes we think we can’t go on. God never leaves us we leave Him. He is right there by our side ready to offer a hand up. If you don’t know the Lord He still loved you and sent His son to die for you. If you are saved but have wandered away you can still stand up. I saw a quote on Face Book that I think says it all. No matter how many steps you have taken to go away from God it only takes one step to get back.

Who Is Limiting God?

I heard a story of a woman who had a very serious problem; a problem that would shatter her world. She had just lost her husband she was dead broke and deeply in debt. Creditors were beating down her door demanding payment. They were demanding payment in blood if she did not come up with the money she owed. This did not happen yesterday but it could have. This story is found in 2 Kings 4:1-7.
Her husband was a man of God and so she went to another man of God for counsel. The prophet Elisha asks her what she had in the house. She said, “Nothing save a pot of oil.” “Ok”, the preacher told her, “go borrow as many vessels as you can from your neighbors. Then go home and you and your sons start pouring out the oil into the borrowed vessels.” Now I am sure she must have thought the preacher was crazy, but she did as he said. As she was filling the borrowed vessels each one was filled and she asked for another until there were no more empty vessels. She then noticed that her oil pot was still full. Back to the preacher she went asking what she needed to do. “Simple”, he said. “Go sell the oil and pay your debt then you and your sons live of the rest.”
Look at exactly what she was told to do in verse 3. “Go borrow thee vessels abroad of all thy neighbors, even empty vessels; borrow not a few.” She went and borrowed what she thought she needed not really knowing what or how many to borrow. God did what he said he would do. He blessed her to the extent she let Him. Why? Well we don’t know how many she borrowed but we do know it was enough to get her out of debt and have money to live on. God blessed out of one small jar of oil He solved her problems.
Two things had to happen here, first she had to ask God for help and second she had to trust him and do what she was instructed to do. Had she used current logic she most likely would have starved and lost her sons.
Even though this woman followed exactly what God led her to do there was a limiting factor. She borrowed as many empty jars she thought she needed. What do you think would have happened had she actually borrowed from all her neighbors and had empty jars all over the house, yard, and basement and stacked in every empty space she could find? What would her neighbors think? Had she lost her mind? Yes she was faithful, yes she followed instructions, but did she still limit God? You see we limit God when we think we know more that he does. So then the only thing that limits God is us. God’s riches are untold and His love is unlimited.
You have a problem talk to God. Don’t know God? Then go find a man of God an ask to be introduced.

Sowing Seed

In the book of Matthew chapter 13 we find a story Jesus told about service. Note verse 3 , “Behold, a sower went forth to sow…”
Let us look at what this sowing is all about.
In his story Jesus is telling us if we don’t sow we can’t reap. He is also telling us that not every seed we sow will produce fruit. There is a great mystery today how people seem to think they can get rewards without doing any work. Or reap without sowing. Farmers don’t expect that. Farmers gather their seed in the spring and prepare the ground and plant all the seed. I don’t know of any farmer who plows the ground then leaves the seed in the sacks in the barn and expect to harvest in the fall. Do you?
The prophet Isaiah told us to sow everywhere. “blessed are ye that sow beside all waters…” Isaiah 32:20
In 2 Corinthians 9:6 we find we are to sow bountifully (or a lot). “He who soweth sparingly shall reap sparingly and he who soweth bountifully shall reap bountifully.”
Let me ask you this question how good do you think your seed is if it is stored away inside the covers of your bible? If people don’t get to hear about Jesus how then can they get saved? How did you get saved? Did it just happen one dark and stormy night by magic or did someone tell you about the love of Jesus. Did they tell you about the cross the Son of God died on for your sins? Or did you just some how get a revelation and here you are? No someone sowed some seed and someone watered the seed and God gave the increase.
Paul ask these very same questions in Romans 10: 14 “How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?”
Oh I see you don’t want to be a preacher. I would like to share with you a personal experience. Some 30 years ago I was working as an electrician in a potash mine. I had a good living, a good family and I thought I was doing ok. A co-worker always had a new testament in his pocket and I like many teased him about his little bible. One day I just came out and ask him why he carried that bible to work. He told me it gave him peace, joy and strength to face each day. That is all he told me. That small seed started to grow. It had struck a cord in my mind. You mean to tell me that little book can make me stronger? The more I thought about that the more curious I became until one day I invited my friend and his wife over to the house for dinner. After dinner I started asking all sorts of questions about how to get this strength he talked about. I thought it was some magic pill or something I could buy or find if I got me one of these little books. Oh I knew all about church or at lease where the church was. I knew there was a man called Jesus. I knew there was a god somewhere, because those I ran with were always calling his name when ever things went wrong. I thought I knew all about being religious and how I probably didn’t need all that church stuff. As we talked my friend asked me this question, “If you died tonight where would you go?” My answer,”Die? I’m not going to die. I’m not sick.” His answer, “Are you sure?” To make a long story short he went out to his car and came back with a BIG book; a big black well worn book. He ask if he could show me from God’s Word how I could find peace and strength. Well yes now I see that he had a much bigger book that probably had a lot more power than that little book I see him carrying to work. Show me he did! There at my coffee table in my living room I met Jesus for the first time. True to his word I found peace and such relief as I felt the weight of the world was lifted off me. Words cannot explain or express how I felt but one thing was for sure I was not the same person. Jesus was real to me and I felt I could conquer the world. Looking back now I see that weight was all my sin debt I had been carrying. Jesus took that off me and put my sin on His shoulders and told me he would carry it for me from now own.
Now my friend was not and is still not a preacher. At lease not in the sense of the word that he stands in a pulpit every Sunday, but in my mind he is a preacher none the less. Would I have found Jesus had he not carried that little book to work? Who knows, but I am sure glad he did.
So my friend planted the seed at work, the Holy spirit watered that seed in my mind then God gave the increase as he brought that seed to life in my heart. So you see you never know about the seed you plant, but God does. Where do you keep your seed between the covers of a bible or do you put them in fertile ground in someone’s soul?

Is God Real?

Is God Real?
You better believe He is real. He is also alive and well. This is contrary to the now common belief that God has somehow gone away and doesn’t care about your and me. There is a movement started by the devil and his crowd that we don’t need God in our schools, in our government, in our offices in our lives. They would love that but it won’t happen. History should tell everyone everywhere that God will take care of His own. I’ll bet you may think you are the only one who cares about God today. You know there was a prophet in the bible who felt the same way. Elijah had been following what God told him to do but then a queen got mad and threatened to kill him. So he left town went out into the woods and ask God to let him die. You will have to go the 1 Kings 19 to find out what happened.
God is real and has made a promise He will provide for those who believe. In Psalms 84:11 we find, “For the Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.”
He is our guiding light. Psalms 119:105 “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.”
So yes God is real and very much alive and He is still in control. There is a day coming when he will say that is enough and come to take his children home. How will he know who belongs to him. First he will look for the blood. Then he will look to see if your name is written in the Lambs book. If he does not see the blood form the cross or find your name in the book he will pass you by. Don’t believe that? Maybe then you need to take that up with God for those are His rules and requirements.
Satan would have you believe God is not real and that if he was he really doesn’t care anymore. That would be a lie as satan is a liar and the father of it.
God is real and very much alive. He loves you so much He sent His only son to die for you. To take all you sin debt upon him and hang it on the cross. He then went to start building a place for you in heaven where he is waiting to welcome you home. Will we see you there?

Who Is This?

Who Is this?
In Matthew 21:10 we find a whole city was moved and ask, “Who is this?” In this age of high-tech high speed and vast technological advancement we still are uncertain as who this is. Some one has said, “We know HOW, but we do not know HIM.” An old adage says, We will never get the world right until we get the right man.” We will never get the right man until that man gets right with and has a personal relationship with the God-man.
Men have questioned who Jesus was from the first century up until today. Many things may change, but man remains largely the same and his problems are the same. The sin question is ever with us.
The opening passage marked the Passover at which time it was believed the Messiah would reveal Himself. A great multitude from all over the region had gathered to observe the Passover.
As the procession passed by, led by One on the back of a lowly donkey, the cry went up, “Who is this?” Who is this so-called “Son of David.” Who comes in the name of the Lord? Who is this Person who is the center of such an unusual demonstration? These and many more questions filled the minds of the multitude.
A universal question is raised in the human heart. “Who is this?” Kings have asked, those in search of peace have asked, hungry hearts, thirsty minds, broken spirits, searching eyes and listening ears have all asked the all important question. Who is this Jesus? The fact is all who want to know Him can know Him.
In the great search to know Christ, men have tried many things. There have been cathedrals built that tried to be worthy of Him. Many a man has tried to compose songs and poems that fully describe Him. Artists have painted pictures but all have failed to show who Jesus really is.
There is a story told of a group of people in London, England. They had been brought together in a small room, waiting for the passing of a severe storm. To pass the time, they decided each would tell of the greatest man they knew about. The names of Socrates, Plato, Charlemagne and others were mentioned. Finally it was time for Charles Lamb to speak and he said, “Gentlemen, before us this night have been paraded the names of great men. Certainly if any one of them should enter this room, we would stand in honor. But the One I would like to have known in the flesh, Jesus of Nazareth, should He enter this room tonight, we would kneel before Him and exclaim, ‘My Lord and my God.’ ”
Who is this Christ to you? Is He just a stranger you have heard about; an imaginary Person you know nothing about? What have you done with Him? Is Jesus just a bible character you have only heard about? Do you only know about Jesus and really don’t know him? The greatest sin one can be guilty of is the sin of rejecting Him. Please examine your heart and see just what you have done with this One of Whom men asked, “Who is this?”

Choices

I was wanting to start a daily devotion,just food for thought for the day. I still will be posting a weekly series.
So for today--
Each day we make choices that affect how we act, live, love and be. Those choices cause us to look up or down.
Look up the Psalmist said “I will lift mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my strength.” Psalms 121:1
As we travel through life we are given options which roads to travel. We make the choice where we travel, who we travel with and how fast we want to travel. A good traveling companion is the Lord. Quoting the psalm again, “The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.”
One thing I have learned over the years is that the Lord always has our best interest at heart. We sometimes are reluctant to listen to what He has to say. It’s not socially acceptable to be seen in public with the Lord. There again that is a choice we make.
Those who are recovering form an addiction I find are all seeking an answer. None know where to find it. They are too busy looking down to see all that is around them.
Have you ever felt as though you were down on hands and knees with no power to get up? Daily loads seem to get bigger and larger forcing you down even lower. I am reminded of a quote from the AA book, “Let go and let God.” Picture if you will yourself on hands and knees under a very heavy load. Standing right beside you is the Lord. He places His hand on your shoulder and gently says, “Let me take some of that load off you.” Then He says, “Give me your hand and I will help you up.” If you take His hand He will raise you to your feet. After you are standing once again you think you can handle things again and you say, “Thanks I can take it from here.” The Lord looks straight ahead and says, “ I don’t think you are ready to walk just yet. Hold my hand and let’s just take one step. See how you feel about that.” “Oh, that works well now can I run.” “Not yet there are still loads that you are not ready and should not be carrying.” “But”, you insist,” I can handle things now.” Gently the Lord says, “ Let us take one step at a time, it would be much easier if you would drop all those burdens you are carrying.” “What burdens?” “ The grudges, the hatred, the unforgiving spirit, all the things that weigh you down and get in the way. Many are trying to run while still on crutches.
If you are down look up and take the hand that is ready to lift you and support you.

The Will of God and How to Know It

I want to close this series with how to know God's will.
In the book of Romans chapter 12 verses one and two we find some instructions about Christian service.
“I beseech you therefore, breather, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
As we have looked at many areas of how to find our purpose in life we now need to look at just how God wants that to happen. Let us look at God’s will and how we can know what God would have us to do and how He would have us do it.
Step One:
The first thing anyone must do to know God’s will is to know God. To have a personal relationship with Jesus and know not only who he is but really know him as friend and savior is the first step to finding purpose.
Step Two:
Now let’s look at your surrender. Have you ever completely surrendered your self to God? If not it will be hard to know what He wants you to do. Oh I can hear all the voices clambering, “I just don’t want to go there or do that?” “I’m afraid He will send me to a faraway mission field.” “I really don’t want to preach.” Oh so then you really don’t want to know God’s will. “Well I do I just am afraid he will send me some place I don’t want to go.” May I suggest until you surrender you will have no idea what God wants you to do. The words surrender, mission, work, commitment and service all place fear in our hearts. I would like to tell you a secret God has a lot of things He needs to get done right where you are and you may be the only one who can get those things done. But until you ask you will never know.
Step three:
The next thing we all have to do to get in tune with God is forsake sin. Just like when we got married we forsook all others for the one we married. To know God’s Will we must forsake sin in our lives. Does this mean you will become perfect? Not by long shot. As a sinful creature we will all sin and come short of the glory of God, but it should be a goal to get as close to God as possible. You adversary would have you stay in a sinful condition so that you won’t hear God’s call. If you can’t hear His call you will have no idea what He wants you to do. Let’s think for a moment that there is someone God had designed to be a great teacher, preacher, evangelist, missionary (the list could go on for ever) and you are the only one who could lead them to Christ. Oh here comes another excuse, “God would find someone else to do that.” Are you sure about that? You just don’t want to get involved. After all what will people think? Who will miss the blessing? You for one would miss a blessing and then all those who that person would be able to touch, they too will miss out. Some might even miss heaven. Wow, that is a heavy load. Whose hands will their blood be on?
Step four:
Next we need to find out what the need is. Paul had a vision of a man in Macedonia who said we have a need come and help us. The great apostle heard the cry for help and went. I’ll bet your mind just went to the mission field. Right after the objection of I sure don’t want to go there. Did God call you there? Did He even mention it to you? What about the need of the local church to teach Sunday school, do administrational work, how about building maintenance, sing in the choir, help in children’s church, witness to your neighbor are these not a mission field we need to support. In other words find out what job needs to be done, pray about how God would have you do it then get it done. Here is another secret, God may have something completely different in mind for you, but until you ask you will never know.
Step five:
What are you burdened for? Paul had a burden for all those he ministered to. Pastors have a burden for those they have been called to lead. Paul prayed long and hard for those he had a burden for. I am sure the pastor has prayed for, has a burden in his heart for those he has been called to guide. Are you burdened for some lost soul? So burdened you spend time on your knees talking to God about that person. What about something you heard in a service that went to the depth of your heart and is smoldering there as a burning fire? What that is only you and God know? Isn’t it funny that some times when we are in God’s house something will be said sung or mentioned that will get our attention? The pastor is given a message and thoughts that God will direct to a special heart. Have you ever been in a service where you were sure the preacher was talking just to you? Could it be God was speaking to a heart? Is that heart yours and is it open to receiving God’s call? What are you burdened for? To find out you must search your heart and talk to God.
Step Six:
The last step to knowing God’s will and your purpose is this—look at your talents.
Honestly look at your talents. What are you really good at doing? What can you do well? What have you developed in your life that has prepared you to do what God may be calling you to do? What interest you the most? Remember God already knows what you are good at doing. He made you and put your design in you before you were brought into this world. He is just waiting for you to receive His call to fulfill your mission in this life.
“He said unto them. Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature” Mark 16:15
God’s call to service reaches out to all. Everyone can do something---pray, encourage, witness, or lend a helping hand. “The harvest truly is plenteous but the laborers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest that he will send forth laborers into his harvest.” Matt 9:37-38
So the short list to find your purpose is this:
Know Jesus as savior
Surrender to His will
Forsake sin in you life
Look for the need
Reflect on your burdens
Look at your talents.
Last and most important Trust God to direct you to where He wants you to serve.

Why Am I Here?

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28

Why am I here? How many times have you asked that question? What we are going to discuss may not give you the answer to what your purpose is but it will give you a place to start looking. How do you discover your real purpose in life? I’m not talking about your job, your daily responsibilities, or even your long-term goals. I mean the real reason why you’re here at all — the very reason you exist.
As we look to find a purpose let us first examine ourselves. The Bible instructs in 2 Corinthians 13:5 “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith: prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves how that Jesus Christ is in you except ye be reprobates?” We must first take a hard look at who we are and what we truly love. Let me ask these few questions to aid in this examination. What do you really enjoy doing? What gives you the most satisfaction? To use a slang phrase, “What turns you on?” Where is your passion? Or what are you most passionate about? What are your three greatest strengths? What is your life really all about? If you had to guess your life purpose (from looking at your life to date), what would it be? Are there changes you would need to make?
These are but a few questions we each must answer if we are to find our purpose as God intended. We must do a soul search as it were. Look deep within ourselves to see what it is that makes us tick. When you stand a look in the mirror who do you see? Are you satisfied with what you see? Don’t just look on the outside look deep within for there you will find your purpose. God put it there and He may only be waiting for you to open it so He can bless. You must also be ready for the answer.
For decades men have asked the question what am I really here for. Finding our purpose has been a subject men have sought after debated and searched for, written books about and gone to the far reaches of the earth to find. This search is filled with all manner of delight and sorrow. All we need to do is go to Him and seek His will, we need go no farther. Jesus said, “And I say unto you, “ask and it shall be given you: seek and ye shall find; knock and it shall be opened unto you.” Luke 11:9 Rest assured God does have a plan and purpose for each life. After all He is the one who made you. He put the design in your genes. It then stands to reason to know what our purpose is we must first have a personal relationship with the creator. In Ephesians 1:11 we find these words, “In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will.”
God doesn’t make mistakes! He gave to each special gifts or talents. In 1 Corinthians 12 we find the Apostle Paul addressing spiritual gifts and relating them to the body. In verse 4 he states there are diversities of gifts but the same Spirit. God gave gifts or talents to every person so that His plan could be completed. In verses 8 through 11 of 1 Corinthians 12 we find a list of just some of the different gifts God places within each. “For to one is given by the spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same spirit; to another the workings of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kind of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues; but all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.” So from that we are to learn God wants some to preach, some to teach and some to sing His praises. Some are to lead and govern. Others are to write so God gave them the talent to string words together that others may be instructed. He gave some the gift to understand and learn another language so the His message could be given. For some the love of education was given so that disciples can be made. To be a disciple one must learn and then teach. Jesus took three years to turn fishermen, tax collectors and other skilled laborers into a force that turned the world upside down. Common men all each had specific talents that alone had little effect but when placed together a force to be reckoned with.
I have heard many say I just don’t have anything I can do. I have to ask then did God make you by accident and forgot to give you a design? Not for a minute is that true. Every one has a reason for being. Everyone has a specific place in God’s plan. Let me make one thing very clear your job is not your purpose. While you may have talents to make you good at your job that is not what God made you for. He makes us all to serve Him to use what he has given us so that others can see Him better. We are all part of God’s picture. Each has a place. Each has a purpose. Just as each piece of a puzzle has a specific place so then do we all. Have you really ask God what your purpose is?
If you did what did he say?
Next week we will look at the body of Christ and how it is to function.

How Can I Find My Purpose

In the last post I made reference to finding purpose for a life. This sparked a great suggestion from a friend to begin a series of how to discover the purpose for our service to God. How can we know what God wants us to do? As God works in many and wondrous ways I would like to begin such a series. Over the next several weeks I hope to explore the ways and means to discovery.

The first thing I would like to explore is how exactly do we get in touch with God so that we may know what His purpose for our lives really is. While this is a personal issue it is still not about you. It is about what God made you to be and to do. It is about your personal relationship with the creator. If you don’t know Jesus as personal savior then the rest will not make sense to you.
With that said let me be clear on one very important point. Before we were conceived God had a plan and a purpose for each of us. He made each or us special with talents only we can use. He also gave each of free will to chose how we are to use what He gave us.
As I began to look into how a person was to get to know God it occurred to me some may not know how to get in touch with God. Maybe there needs to be instructions on just how to do that. Yes God has sent preachers and teachers and given us the Bible yet there are many who still cannot understand what God’s purpose and plan is for their life. So I asked myself just how do you get in touch with God. I first began to look into what makes a person and how we must relate to God and ourselves. To do that first we must look at who we are what we are and how we function. If you will accept for a minute that each of us is made up of three parts. We are body, soul and spirit. With the body we have the ability to relate to our environment. With the soul we have a consciousness that allows us to relate to other individuals. This gives us the ability to laugh smile, and cry, weep, think and make decisions. With our spirit God has given us the capacity to relate to Him, so that in our spirit we are God conscience. In our soul we are self-conscience, and in our body we are world conscience. God created each of us in this manner. None of us are just body, none are just soul and none are just spirit. God has created us as complete beings. Each was given special talents and skills to fulfill the planned mission. There is a principle found in the Bible in John chapter 12 which gives us a very clear picture of what must happen before any of us can get in touch with God. That principle is this and is found in verse 24. “Verily, verily I say unto you, except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringth much fruit.” In other words a seed must be planted and the outer shell must die so that the inner seed can grow and produce more fruit. The same holds true with each of us. We must bury the outer man, controlled by bad habits and worldly desires, and allow the inner man to begin to grow and produce a new person, a person who has a clear vision, and a clear mind. This process is very painful sometimes, as we do not want to let go of the old man and let the new man grow. If the new man is to prosper we must allow the old man to die and the new one to be fed and nourished. In nature once we bury the seed we must trust God to break open the outer shell and allow the new seedling to begin to grow. We cannot break the outer shell ourselves all we can do is plant it. The same holds true when we turn our inner being over to God, we have to trust God to break the outer shell and start the growing process. We then nourish the seed with positive thinking, support from others and the Word of God. If we hold on to the old outer shell little will happen to the seed. But once we put it in the ground and cover it over with dirt something truly wonderful begins to happen and a new life is born. It is nothing we created it is a gift from God. This thing we are going to do is done by faith and trust in God. Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1) So when we plant the seed we hope it will grow and make more seed. It is our faith that gives us courage and knowledge that the seed will germinate and grow. The same holds true with our spirit. We have to give our being over to God trusting Him to make the changes and cause a new person to emerge. We cannot see how the changes will be made and we cannot make the changes ourselves. We must completely trust that the necessary changes will be made that will produce a new strong vibrant person. From that we see then that God has placed the design for each life within our inner man. He does the same thing when he creates the oak tree or an ear of corn. He puts the design for each within the seed. The mighty red wood trees started from a small seed. The plan and purpose or the design for each life was placed within each before we were born. As with a natural seed we need to have a relationship with the creator. It is true you can become successful as related to worldly standards and still not follow the design God made for you. We each must have a personal relationship with Jesus and be open to His leadership if we are to be able to discover our true calling or purpose. This is done when we accept Jesus and our personal savior. If you do not know Jesus then you may not have access to who and what your personal design really is. Once you accept Jesus as your savior you have access to God as never before. Just like a new born child a new Christian must be fed milk and not meat. You may have been saved for many years and yet are still a child in the Lord. There is a law in nature that states a plant will not produce fruit until it has matured. The same holds true for each of us. Once we get saved we are to learn and be fed from God’s Word, fellowship with others and trust me at some point God will show you what He wants you to do. This scares most people so they simply back away from God and stop growing. We each have a mission God wants us to fulfill, a calling for our life. I think the words calling and mission truly place fear in the hearts of men. Each one produces visions of some remote island or a far away spot on the globe where we are to go and do something. Yes God does have that in mind for some but not for all. You may be needed to cut the grass for a neighbor. Or how about sharing what God has given you with someone in need. Maybe your mission is to pray seeking God’s grace for an ill friend or family member. Then there may be a place in His church where you are needed. I am not one to tell you what your mission is that is between you and God. I will tell you this He does have a mission and purpose for you. Keep in mind He made you He gave you the skills and talents you will need all you have to do is ask Him how to use the things He gave you. He made each one unequaled and with special talents that only they possess. He then placed positions in the church that only that person could handle. Each and every person God made has a reason and a mission in life. He fully expected for us to use what He gave us in His service. Should we decide not to follow what God has planned for us to do then someone will miss out on a blessing and a very important area of God’s work will go undone. Let me make one thing clear. Traditionally we have been taught to be in God’s service we must be at work in the church house, on the mission field or secluded in a room praying. If that were true God would have provided each with the same talents and skills. God’s work is not confined to a building or to a particular location. God did not make pew warmers He made people with specialized talents to reach a lost and dying world for Jesus Christ.

I guess this whole thing could be summed up with the following illustration.
We want to get to the fifteenth floor. So we step into an elevator. Now as the doors close we must trust the cables, which support the car to raise us safely from the ground to the fifteenth floor?
We don’t know how all this is done but we have faith that it will be done and we will get off on the floor we want. The same faith must be used to reach out and touch God. Depending on Him to make all the necessary changes, which will make us whole again? As with the elevator we can’t get off the ground if we don’t step into the car. So it is with a personal relationship with God. You must get in the car. You must ask for His help. And know this He will never leave you nor forsake you.