As for me and my house...

These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me win their lips, but their hearts are far from me.

<Isaiah 29:13>

Do you serve God only with your lips? Outwardly the Israelites in Joshua's day were followers of God-but in their hearts they were idolaters. They were to decide whether they wanted to serve the true God or serve their idols. Likewise, we must decide whom we will serve. 

Will we forsake everything false and turn wholeheartedly to Christ? Will we decide to serve the true and living God? If so, what idols must you first forsake? Will you be able to declare as Joshua did, "As for me and my household we will serve the Lord" (Joshua 24:15). Have a blessed day! 

Peace I Leave With You

"Peace, I leave with you, My peace I give to you." 

John 14:27

Worry is like sitting in a rocking chair. It will give you something to do but it won't get you anywhere (V.Havner). Worry and anxiety have hounded us since the beginning of time, and modern man with all our innovations have yet to find the cure for the plague of worry. 

What is the answer? First, imagine a ferocious ocean storm beating against a rocky shore. But then imagine in a crevice in the rocky cliff-you see a small bird its head serenely tucked under its wing, fast asleep. It knows the rock will protect it and thus it sleeps in peace. 

Christ is our ROCK and we are SECURE in His hands. He is God's promise to us. The storm may rage, but our hearts are at rest. Have a blessed day the weekend is only hours away! 

God's Standards in Post-Modern Society

"Everyone did what was right in his own eyes."

{Judges 21:25}

Is our society today any different from the ancient society in this verse? Sadly, not different enough. 

Too many people feelthe old moral standards are useless and out of date. They feel they ought to be free to make up their own minds about what is right and wrong. What is actually being said is there is no such thing as right or wrong so we should be free to decide how we want to behave. 

The moral standards God has given us are always best-for society and for us as individuals. The reason is because God created us, He loves us and He knows what is best for us. 

Don't be misled by those who deny God's moral standards. His ways are always best! Have a blessed day! 

We Are Not Crushed

Those who keep Heaven in view remain serene and cheerful in the darkest days. If the glories of Heaven were real to us, if we lived less for material things and more for things eternal, we would be less easily disturbed by the things of this present life. 

This is not escapism. If anything, a firm faith in the future should makes us more responsible in the present. The real escapism, I would contest, is refusing to face the future God has prepared for us. 

In these days of uncertainty, the trusting and forward looking Christian remains optimistic and joyful, knowing that Christ someday must rule and that "if we endure, we shall also reign with Him" {2 Timothy 2:12}. Have a blessed day. 

Cleanse Us

"Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow." 

{Psalm 51:7}

Do you believe God can't forgive you for something you've done? If so, know that those thoughts are from Satan. Satan will do almost anything to make us think God hates us and won't forgive us. 

One of Satan's favorite tricks is to encourage is to keep dredging up the sins of our past. Here's the truth: if we have honestly turned to Christ and asked Him to forgive us, then we are forgiven-TOTALLY AND ABSOLUTELY!  

So don't believe your emotions and don't let the memories of the past defeat you. The Bible says, "The blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin"(1 John 1:7). This is God's promise to us and God cannot lie! Have a blessed day. 

He Is Our Peace

"He, Himself is our peace, who...has broken down the middle wall of separation."

{Ephesians 2:14}

It has been said that "There are two things that will never be solved-the problem of race and war." Perhaps this is true; only time will tell. 

Both racism and war have their origin in the pride and covetousness of the human heart. Until our hearts are changed, we will fallback into the same destructive sins. 

Does this mean we throw up our hands in despair and refuse to do anything about racism or war - absolutely not! Christ shattered the prejudices of His day by reaching out to those of another race, and He expects the same of us today! 

The object of the cross is not only to pardon us of our sins; but also to change our lives! Have a blessed day! 

Listen

"There is a time for everything...a time to be silent and a time to speak."

{Eccelesiastes 3:1,7}

When we are hurting, we value the presence of a friend who will just listen. But when someone we know is hurting, we often are tempted to do anything but listen. We often chatter away and give unwanted advice instead of just letting them share their burdens with us.

Sometimes the best thing we can do is listen quietly when a friend has a problem, letting them share their feelings and assuring them we care - even if we don't have any answers. 

We should also be praying for our hurting friend - and let them know we are praying. When we do talk we should encourage them. 

Remember: God can work in unexpected ways to bring good out of bad. Have a blessed weekend. 

Burdens

Sadly, we often don't realize how heavy another persons burden is until we walk along a similar path. Most of us are insensitive to the sufferings of others until we experience them ourselves. We become wrapped up in our own circumstances, and we overlook the need of those around us - even members of our own family. 

But this isn't Gods plan. We are to show love by bearing one another's burden. 

We can't change the past-but we can change our behavior now. With Gods help we can be burden-bearers to those around us now. 

Ask God to show you how and to whom you can be an encouragement and a blessing! Have a blessed day the weekend is only hours away!

Are We Living In End Times?

"Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back." 

{Mark 13:35}

Are we living in the end times? Will Jesus return soon? The world does seem to be getting worse. Jesus taught that certain events or signs would point to His return and certainly we see many of theses today. 

We know Satan will thrash about in one last burst of evil, hoping to capture as many souls as possible before his inevitable end. So is Christ coming near? 

It may well be- BUT in the mean time we must be alert and ready for His coming by being certain of our commitment to Christ and approaching every day as it were our last. Don't be caught off guard. Have a blessed day! 

Holy God

"The Lord our God is righteous in everything He does."

{Daniel 9:14)

The Bible tells us that God is loving and merciful and that is absolutely true. But this truth makes some people wonder how He could send anyone to Hell. 

Sins like murder, rape, or violence are an offense to our holy and pure God (as is every sin). God will not simply ignore evil nor pretend it doesn't exist; doing so would be unjust. 

If someone hates God and chooses to do evil, God will not overlook that lifelong rebellion. The Bible is very clear: "He has set a day when he will judge the world with justice" (Acts 17:31). 

Those who know and trust Christ as their Lord and Savior, know that someday evil will be destroyed and Christ will reign forever! Have a blessed day.

Many today sense there must be something more to life than material things and they seek for a deeper spiritual reality. However, their search takes them down paths that will not lead them to the living God. 

Remember: God took upon Himself human flesh and became a man (a fact that should STAGGER our imagination). If we want to know what God is like, we need to look no further than Jesus. 

Pray for people who are searching for God, that they won't be deceived or led down a path that will only take them away from God. Only Christ can meet the deepest hunger of our souls. Have a blessed day! 

Desiring to Follow Jesus

Is discipleship always costly? No, it may not cost us our physical lives, but it will cost us. It will cost us our plans, our will, and selfish desires. 

Jesus' standard has not changed:"If anyone desires to come after Me, let him DENY himself, and take up his cross and follow Me." Instead of us controlling our lives, we turn them over to Christ as Lord. 

Someone once said "Salvation is free, but not cheap," - meaning it cost Christ His life, and it will cost us as well. It is never easy to give control of our life to Christ - but it will always be worth it. 

In regards to turning over control of our lives, could anything be greater? Could anything be more fulfilling? 

Follow Christ and at life's end we will be able to say "no regrets!" Have a blessed day.

Heaven and Hell

"In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and...called to him, Father Abraham have pity on me...because I am in agony in this fire."

{lk16:23-2}. 

It isn't fashionable today to talk about Hell - but the Bible is clear: God created us with a soul,or spirit, that will live forever.  When we die, we will continue to exist - either in Heaven or Hell. 

Hell is reserved for those those who reject God and turn their backs on Him. You do not want to go to Hell.  It is a place of absolute loneliness and hopelessness. 

The good news is God doesn't want us to go there. Jesus paid the price for our sins; He took upon Him the death and Hell we deserve. 

Trust Christ as our Lord and Savior and thank God that we can spend eternity with Him in heaven! 

Whatever you do in my name...

"Whatever you ask in My name, that I will do."

{John 14:13)

 

Prayer links us with God's true purposes, for us and the world. It not only brings the blessings of Gods will to our personal lives, but it also brings us the added blessing of being in step with God's plan.

Prayers also (in ways we may never fully understand this side of heaven) makes us partners with God in what He is doing in the world. God works through our prayers. 

Remember: we must seek GOD'S GLORY in our prayers and not just our own selfish desires. If we are to have our prayers answered,we must be willing to give God the glory when He acts-no matter what the result. Have a blessed day.

Keeping Angels in Perspective

"His angels...keep you in all your ways."

{Psalm 91:11}

In the bible angels occasionally assumed visible form, for example at the birth of Jesus.  But usually angels go about their business unseen unrecognized. They never draw attention to themselves, but point us to Christ. 

CS Lewis once said that we tend to make one of two errors about satan: we either make too little of him or we make too much. The same could be said of angels. Don't make too much of them. On the other hand, don't worship them or become preoccupied with them. 

Remember: God has given "His angels charge over you,to keep you in all yours ways." Instead, thank God for His angels and rejoice in their unseen watchfulness over us. Have a blessed day. 

Are you looking forward to Heaven?

If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again...
{John 14:3}

"Hope is one of theological virtues." {CS Lewis}

Lewis meant that looking forward to heaven is not a form of escapism or wishful thinking, but something we are meant to do. This doesn't mean we are to leave the present world as it is. If you read history,you will find that the Christian who did the most for the present world were those who thought the most of the next. 

"Aim at heaven and you will get earth thrown in. Aim at the earth, and you will get neither."
{CS Lewis} 

In the midst of the pessimism, gloom, and frustration of this present hour there is a bright beacon of hope: Jesus' promise "If I go... I will come again and receive you to myself". Have a blessed day.

Fruit of the Spirit

But the fruit of the Spirit is...joy...

{Galatians 5:22}

The word joy is hardly used today in our Christian vocabulary. The main reason is because we confuse joy with happiness, and come to believe joy is found in pleasure, security, and prosperity. Joy is not the same as happiness-although they may overlap. 

Happiness depends on circumstances; joy depends on God. Happiness vanishes when life turns painful; joy keeps going and even may grow stronger. Joy comes from a living vital relationship with God. It comes from the fact that we may not see God but we "believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy"(1 Peter 1:8). It comes from a life submitted to Christ - no matter the circumstances. Have a blessed day.