LORD WILLING!
There is but one question, and that is the will of God. That settles all other questions.—William E. Gladstone
For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that. James 4:15
Many people think they will live forever. They have the mentality of well I’m just going to spread my wild oats and then I will start serving God. The problem with that is they rarely do. Many become drunkards, not caring about God’s Word, Will, or Ways. Some become business men, not having enough time to serve God. Others die, to spend eternity in Hell because they never trusted the Lord for salvation.
Friend, don’t put off tomorrow what you can have today! Trust in the Lord for salvation! Get busy serving Him! Why? You’re not guaranteed tomorrow! Consider with me: The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9
DID YOU MISS ME YET?
If you truly love the Lord you will never WANT to leave Him out of your life!
Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Revelation 2:4
I remember right after President Obama was elected to office there were memes that went around with George Bush’s face on them saying, “DO you miss me yet? It was implying that the new president was making so many mistakes that President Bush was a better president. It was sure was funny!
But in our life I often wonder if the Lord is asking us that same question. I wonder if we are so carnally minded we can’t hear Him talking to us. We have turned a deaf ear to the things of God so many times…He has to show up in our lives in devastating ways. Ways that drives us to our knees! Ways that has us calling out to Him!
I wonder this morning if you have been running from the voice of God for a while? I wonder what it’s going to take for you to stop and listen to Him. I don’t think, at first, the Lord wanted to throw Jonah overboard. I don’t think, at the first, the Lord wanted to kill Ananias and Sapphira. But you know what…He did that and more to get the attention of His own! What will it take to get your attention?
DID YOU SAY THANK YOU?
Appreciate what you have before it turns into what you had.—unknown
Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Philippians 2:3
So many people today do not take the time to say thank you. You hold a door for someone, tell someone their gas cap is open, or point them out of the way of danger and not even a simple thank you. Why is it? Some of the reasons given are; no one ever taught them, their “too busy”, or even “You don’t have to thank people for every little thing.” My personal thought is—pride. They don’t think they have to say thank you because they THINK they have done it all for themselves.
I am reminded in Romans 1:21 where Paul tells us, “Because that, 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.” (Emphasis mine.) In a nutshell he said, “Because they were not thankful for what God had done for them, they developed wicked thought processes and they became blind to anything which was good.” (Doesn’t that sound like today???)
Let this be a reminder for all of us not only to think about being thankful but to SAY IT!
RIGHT BUT LIVING WRONG…
Real true faith is man's weakness leaning on God's strength. -D.L. Moody
For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. Romans 1:17
Many days we Christians get caught up in the here and now. We get up, get ready for work, and out the door we go. We go through our day as if God doesn’t exist. We come home to the duties of the house and get up the next day o do it all again. Yes, we Christians get up and do life…but is that all there is to it?
NO! NO! NO! Life is to be lived in faith, placing our cares upon Jesus because He careth for us. It is trusting He will take care of the unknowns of tomorrow. It is going about our day not worrying about our problems. It is placing those problems in His hands by the power of prayer! It is having a faith that is put to work, making us a people that has life (saved) and has it more abundant (Living by faith)!
Are you saved but living your life without faith? Take a moment this morning to ask the Lord to forgive you and start trusting Him with the simple things in life. Before you know it you will be trusting Him with the BIG issues you have and just like riding a bike you will be rolling in victory!
GET UP, GET READY, and GO TO CHURCH!
Before all else fails, listen to what the Lord is trying to tell you…by going to church!
And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ. Acts 5:42
The message of a true church is Jesus. Jesus’ life, Jesus’ death, Jesus’ burial, Jesus’ resurrection! If any message is preached that doesn’t uplift the Saviour, it takes away from the true message God gives the church. Don’t hang around and listen to good feeling stories. You can find them all day long on the Hallmark channel. If you want the truth, find a church where the pastor preaches the Gospel! Don’t settle for anything less…if you do…you’re not in a church you’re in a social club.
IT’S WEDDING TIME!
Outside of salvation there is nothing more important than whom you “fall” in love with!
Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. Genesis 2:24
Several years ago I heard someone say, “Every date is a potential mate.” Through the years I have seen young men and women fail to comprehend the simple truth that statement proclaimed. If they had never had that first date they would not be facing divorce right now.
I know people change over time, some for the better and others for the worse. I understand sooner or later the life altering decision of divorce may have to be made. But, in the beginning, it wasn’t designed to be that way. What changed…man’s wicked heart. (Matthew 19)
If you are single and “looking” for a spouse, make sure you put God first, allowing Him to guide your “search”. As you put Him first, He will guide your steps to the one He has for you and not the one Satan does. (Matthew 6:33)
FINE YOU?
Whoever is happy will make others happy too. -Anne Frank
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. Psalm 126:5-6
Someone once said, “A Christian is just one beggar telling another beggar where to find bread.” There is no greater joy than to share with others what Jesus did for us and whoever you share it with gets saved to!
I try to put a smile on friends’ faces by saying, “Fine you?” It’s a simple, but effective way of breaking the ice so that I can share what’s really on my mind—The Gospel! When is the last time you shared your testimony with someone that is lost, hurting, and headed to hell? If it’s been a while…why not find opportunities today!
BITTER OR BETTER…WHICH IS IT?
Life’s most difficult issues will either make you bitter or better, the choice is up to you!
Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. Ephesians 4:31-32
You and I will either trust God in every issue that comes our way or we will deny that He orchestrated the circumstances we are currently in. Whatever the outcome, will make us either bitter toward Him or better. There are no other choices.
On one hand you can chose to be bitter; blaming everyone else for your problems, never taking responsibility over them, living a life of constant defeat. Or on the other hand you can chose to be better; understanding bad things do happen to “good” people, trusting the Lord through them, ending with a life of victory. The choice is yours!
I INVITE YOU... TO CHURCH... TONIGHT!
The name of Jesus is the one lever that lifts the world. –Anonymous
For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. Matthew 18:20
There are a lot of churches that have chosen to cancel mid-week services. They started off power packed with the preaching of God’s Word. They changed to a time of prayer and youth meetings. Nothing wrong with these things but attendance dropped off. The pastor tried to change it up and go to small groups but it becomes no more than a small group of the faithful few. Then one day he says he feels like the mid-week service is a thing of the past. People are too busy with life. They can’t get here so we are just going to cancel our mid-week service in order to let families rest from their hard work week. To have more family time--- sounds good???? No- No- No!
Do you believe the Lord’s return is close? Do you believe He could call His children home at any time? I am reminded today of this verse, “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: AND SO MUCH THE MORE, AS YE SEE THE DAY APPROACHING. Hebrews 10:25”—
Emphasis to that verse was added by me because instead of cancelling services…WE NEED TO GO TO THEM MORE! We need to hear the Gospel! I need to hear once again how He died for me! How He was buried and rose again the third day! I need to hear the preaching of God’s Word because it lifts me up! So where are you going to church tonight????????
GOOD FRIENDS ARE HARD TO COME BY!
No distance of place or lapse of time can lessen the friendship of those who are thoroughly persuaded of each other's worth. -Anonymous
A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother. Proverbs 18:24
This past weekend I was privileged to doing a reading at a friend’s wedding. The reading, in and of itself was great, but if any of you know me then you know I had to put a personal touch on it. As I was sitting there preparing for what I was going to say, I looked around and thought about the friends that had come out to support both the bride and the groom. The Lord brought to remembrance an old saying, “If a man has one true friend he is truly blessed.” I had the bride and groom look at the wedding attendants and said, “You truly are a blessed couple.”
While we can be thankful for the earthly friendships we have made over the years, nothing compares to the friendship we have in the Lord Jesus. When an earthly friend cannot be with you all the time, Jesus is with you always! When an earthly friend lets you down, Jesus will lift you up! When an earthly friend stabs you in the back, Jesus will heal the wound with the forgiveness He has given you. But the greatest thing about the Lord is…He came to us!
Friend, there is no other friend like the Lord Jesus! He is the friend that sticketh closer than a brother!
PRAISE HIS HOLY NAME!
Why should we go reeling and staggering under the burdens and cares of life when we have such prospects before us? If there is nothing but glory beyond, our faces ought to shine brightly all the time. - D.L. Moody
So will I sing praise unto thy name for ever, that I may daily perform my vows. Psalm 61:8
There isn’t anything in this world I love to hear more than God’s Children praising His name! So often we get wrapped up in asking God for this or that, which He is gladly ready to listen. But how often do we come to the Lord not asking for anything but only to praise Him for what He has already done? Many times we just come to Him in order to ask for His help.
Why not, on this Monday morning, try something new. Let us praise the Lord each day this week for something He has already done, asking Him for nothing new. I wonder if that would change our view on the Lord, His work, His ways, and His Word…
GET UP, GET READY, and GO TO CHURCH
Not going to church when you have hit rock bottom is like not going to the doctor when you have had pains in your chest for three days— incomprehensible.
We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company. Psalm 55:14
Our body will give us symptoms of what’s going on inside. When we go to the doctor he/she looks for those symptoms so they can properly diagnosis our medical condition. When they do, they can prescribe the right medicine for your condition. And as always they will tell you that you need to lose weight and exercise more….lol—like we all don’t know that already.
Such it is when we hit rock bottom… with the exception that the symptoms are all the same and the diagnosis is identical. Symptoms— We are sinners, so we commit sin. (Romans 3:23) Diagnosis— We are all sinners by nature. (Galatians 3:22) There is only one “prescribed cure”. (John 14:6) It is the cleansing blood of Jesus Christ! (1 Peter 1:18-19) Without Him, we will die a sinner’s death and spend eternity in Hell! (Matthew 7:21-23)
So…have you hit rock bottom? Before you try anything else…go to church!
WHOM DO YOU LOVE?
It is within our nature to love someone…
Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; Ephesians 5:25
I am going to a wedding today. The groom is a friend of mine that I use to work with. He is a great guy and he truly loves his bride.
I enjoy going to weddings. It reminds me of the great love that Christ had for the church. It reminds me how much Jesus loved me before I knew Him. (But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8) It reminds me of how I should love my wife. (Ephesians 5:25)—unconditionally.
While Jesus first loved us and gave Himself for us on the Cross of Calvary, it should be our response to love Him back! “We love him, because he first loved us. 1 John 4:19” So…WHOM DO YOU LOVE?
LOOSELY TETHERED OR INTENTIONALLY LEFT LOOSE…?
All attempts to serve God and to serve the world too much end in bitter failure. -Spurgeon
Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: 1 Peter 1:22
Your boat is tethered to a dock. How tight have you tied it? Is it tight enough that when the winds come it doesn’t come undone, drifting the boat away to sea? Or do you not appreciate your boat so you have intentionally left it so loose that when a slight, gentle breeze comes, it drifts off never more to return? Either way, you have lost your boat?
I believe many Christian’s lives are, in many ways, like that boat and the dock is the church.
Some people are so loosely tied to the church when the winds of life come, the ties to the church come untied and they begin drifting away into the world. Then there are those that do not appreciate what a privilege the church is. Their ties have been intentionally loosened so that when the slightest, gentle breeze of temptation come they drift away never to return to the church!
So you say, “What should I do preacher?” Well, I am reminded what Paul told the Church at Corinth; “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. 1 Corinthians 15:58” Child of God....Get tied into church!
GRASS IS GREENER ON THE OTHER SIDE…REALLY?
Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. Philippians 4:11
In the instant gratification society we live in there is a break down on every corner. People change jobs like they change sheets on their bed…once a year. They change their marriages like they change houses…once every fifteen years. And change churches like they change cars...once every five years. This society promotes these changes by emphasizing the grass is always greener on the other side. The problem with that is it’s a lie!
There is a cure for discontentment….repentance! Most of the time, we do not need to change our job, our church, or our spouse. What we need to change is us! Consider what Paul told Timothy; “But godliness with contentment is great gain. 1 Timothy 6:6”
FOUND GUILTY
The things that are closest to our hearts are the things we talk about, and if God is close to your heart, you will talk about Him. -Tozer
Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. James 4:8
Some people jump-start their day with a cup of coffee, their favorite soda, or even a cold glass of milk. For me, I drink orange juice. If you open the door of my refrigerator you will see a jug of orange juice. Why, because I love it!
If we were to open the door to your house, what would we find? If we open the door of your car, what would we find? If we opened the door of your heart, what would we find? Would there be enough evidence found in these places to conclude, you love God?