Choices (Part 3)

Every person has a choice to make about whether or not they will use their spare time to help or assist others. It is a simple choice but not everyone sees helping another person in need as their responsibility.

If you have several spare hours a day, you can use this time to your own ends or you could offer part of this time in the service of others. Is it a selfish choice to use your spare time only to satisfy your own desires? To answer this question, one must first ask the question whether the spare time you have is directed to satisfy a need or a want. To make this point understandable is to ask whether what you are using your spare time to do of necessity. If it is a task or chore that must be completed, for example, studying for a test or exam, than it is something categorized as a need.

On the other hand, if your spare time is used to flop down in front of a television with the only purpose to put in time than you are wasting or squandering time. In essence, there is no need to watch television but, instead, a want. Let me be clear, however, that there is nothing inherently wrong with watching television. On the one hand, you may choose to watch television as a method of relaxation after a stressful day. The act of watching television takes the mind away from issues of the day.

But, if you simply watch television every evening after supper and you do this until bedtime, and you repeat this same behavior throughout the weekend, you may be satisfying a want and not a need. The fact that you decide to watch television, in fact, is a choice. Now, let me use this example to the extreme. If you watch television and do not help with chores around the house, this may be a selfish choice. If you are in a relationship, there are always chores to do. If you have made the decision to never help with these chores you have made a selfish choice.

On the other extreme are those people who are always active doing what needs to be done, or volunteering for a host of charitable activities and never take any time to relax or to recharge their physical and mental batteries. For these types of people, they have also made a choice but it can be a choice that sees them wear down physically and mentally until they become extremely sick.

So, what am I saying?

I am saying that every person in every walk of life no matter whom they are or what they do all make choices. Some of these choices lead nowhere; there is a void in their life that has not been satisfied nor will be satisfied by the choices they make. Part of this void cannot be satisfied no matter what choices they make. For other people, the choices they make fill the void but only when that void is filled with belief and trust in Jesus Christ. Nothing on this earth can satisfy a person's void or emptiness without this faith and trust.

The person who always tries to fill their inner emptiness with worldly endeavors or pleasures is one who is never satisfied. The person who constantly fills their life with choices that help others will also never be satisfied. Both of these types of people can only be truly satisfied when their life is filled with Jesus as their hope and faith.

And, even the person who believes in Jesus and desires to serve others needs to recognize that balance in life is important. Every person has physical and mental limitations. It is wise to understand that constant giving of oneself needs to be balanced with time to recuperate, to recharge their batteries of life.

The balance I speak of is not a want, in this case, but a need. It is a prudent choice and not a selfish choice. It is a choice that allows a person to continue to serve.

Choices (Part 2)

We make hundreds of choices throughout our lives. Other people make hundreds of choices likewise. We wish and hope that we can change other peoples' choices so they can avoid potential problems be that drug abuse, alcohol, relationships, parenting and on and on. But, we cannot make choices for others, as I discussed in yesterday's blog. We used to be a nation that birthed leaders who would boldly choose to be the best they could be. Now I see so many just trying to get by, without direction or purpose, because they made the wrong choices somewhere in their lives.

Many Christians push religion as the changing factor and try to force change on people who don't want to change. Jesus died to cover the sins of the world, but His blood and forgiveness only works if someone chooses to follow Him. So many of the folks I grew up with are outside of the faith now because they felt they were forced to trust in the church more than they were Jesus. When they became of age, they chose to walk away from Christ and the church. They made that choice because they were never really given the opportunity to choose on their own to have a relationship with God.

I read this statement the other day and how true it is:

"You always do what you want to do. This is true with every act. You may say that you had to do something, or that you were forced to, but actually, whatever you do, you do by choice. Only you have the power to choose for yourself."


What we can strive to do as Christians is to offer constructive opinions or suggestions, when asked, or referrals to professionals who can assist in one's decision-making. Advise is good, but that's all we have the ability to do. I can't make you choose to be something you don't want to be and neither can you with anybody else. Our goal as believers is to tell the truth, live the life, and pray that others will make the right choices. In the end, wherever you spend eternity is up to you!

Choices (Part 1)

We all make choices every day. Some are good, and some are not so good. You can surrender your destiny to the desires of others, or you can make your own. The point is that we can make choices that help us to move forward through adversity, or we may make choices that assist others to move beyond or through some of life's issues.

Choices are within everyone's command. No one has to do, or is obligated to live their lives as others live. On the other hand, inevitably at some point in our lives, we witness, first-hand, choices that other people, friends, family members or colleagues make that we can clearly see are leading them down a slippery slope to either immediate devastating consequences, or a future that can be potentially harmful. But, here's the point about other people's choices. You cannot make another person choose a different option or path nor can you change them. Each person is responsible for their own behaviors and actions. And, as much as we would like to change them it is only possible if they want to change.

As caring people, we probably have all made efforts to try and assist other individuals to change or alter a choice so they won't experience what we feel will be negative reactions, rejection, or, worse still, criminal prosecutions. While there is nothing inherently wrong or misguided about our good intentions, the ultimate choice people make is entirely up to them. We can't live other people's lives for them; we don't want to put ourselves in any position that appears or demonstrates that we own their problems or own their choices. These people own their own lives; they make the choices, good or bad.

One important thing I learned as a pastor is that people often try and get you to own their problem; that is, they want you to manage their life and be the one to blame if attempted changes don't work out. However, the ultimate responsibility and accountability for any attitude, behavior or belief rests firmly with the person. Excuses do not make up for failures. The person committing the action or demonstrating the behavior is the one who must bear the brunt of those actions and no one else.

What God Hates (part 7)

What can we do about these horrible traits that are in our hearts? There is little that you can do, but there is something God has done. The secret is found in the words of the Apostle Paul in Romans 12:2: “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” Jesus Christ can make your tongue so that it will speak only that which is good. Jesus Christ can come into your heart and transform you, change your nature, until you’ll love instead of hate. Gossiping, slandering and maligning will no longer provide pleasure.

Christ, through His triumphant death on the cross, purchased for you a new lease on life. John 10:10 declares,“I have come that they might have life...” The Bible says in 1 John 1:9 that, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” This is not just a theological theory; it actually works. It has worked in my own life. What is more, it will work for you. Millions of people lives' have been transformed by the power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. That same power of Christ can transform your life.

The Bible says that, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”  in Romans 3:23. But no matter how guilty you may be, God can forgive you today because Jesus Christ died on the cross for your sins. Yes, God hates the evil of your heart, but He loves you. Just as a parent despises the bad behavior of their child but still loves the child, God loathes the forces that would cause you to be lost, but He loves you with an infinite love.

However, this matter of salvation is not pushed upon you; it is a gift, and it must be duly and properly received. Here is the promise on which you may put your whole trust in John 1:12 is simple: “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.”

You can receive Christ at this very moment. He will forgive every sin that you have ever committed and give you new strength, new power over the temptations of life. But first you must renounce your sins, confess them and receive Christ into your heart. Will you do that right now? He can change your life!

What God Hates (Part 6)

Next, the Bible says that God hates a man or woman who sows discord among brethren. We seldom hear the slanderer, the libeler or the malicious gossip denounced. We have come to think that it is a harmless thing to sow discord in the office, the shop, the church or the home; but the Bible says that God hates discord and strongly denounces those who sow strife.

Ephesians 4:31 says, “Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice.”

James 1:26 says, “If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless.”

We have become specialists in this field in almost every area of life:

-Socially, we have those who are not content unless they are protesting something. It doesn't even matter if it's an important issue or not, but they feed off of the chaos.

-Politically, we have those who believe everything they hear and then use words or actions to damage the integrity of our leaders that have been elected.

-Spiritually, the spirit of Jezebel has invaded many a church and gossip and slander have cause multitudes of problems for pastors and leaders of congregations worldwide.

Proverbs 6:14 says, "Frowardness is in his heart, he deviseth mischief continually; he soweth discord."

Proverbs 6:19 goes further and says, "A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren."

Too many people are getting away with slander and sowing discord in our world today. God will have His vengeance upon those who commit such acts, not because He desires to, but because they have rejected Him and their own selves as well. Now is not the time to be a strife builder, but a peacemaker in the sight of God.

What God Hates (Part 5)

Proverbs 6 says that God hates feet that are swift in running to mischief. Evil thoughts and imaginations, if nourished and fed, will eventually lead to sinful actions. There are people in every community who openly and flagrantly violate God’s law. They boast that they are not hypocrites, and they make no pretense of being good, but this does not excuse them for their wickedness.

We see people in all walks of life live openly lifestyles that the Bible speaks clearly against. They make no bones about the way they live and morality is cast out the back door. Sadly, even many who proclaim to be Christians have declared that the Bible no longer condemns these lifestyles or that we were making the wrong assumptions about them. Famous Christian musicians, singers, and authors have revealed there "true nature" by embracing these things.

The Word is coming true around us!

2 Timothy 4:3, 4 " For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables."

2 Timothy 3:1-5 "This know also, 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, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away."

We see this spirit in lack of respect for the ministry, the church, our political leaders, even our president. Homes are being destroyed and families separated by sinful living. We were told that when people came out of the closet about their real selves things would be different, but the divorce rate of their culture is continually rising.

The biggest hypocrite of them all is that one that says they are being discriminated against by a bigoted, antiquated society. The Gospel is not bigoted, but truthful and forewarning. It's not a message of hate toward a lifestyle, but the sin that it breeds. God loves people, but He has always hated sin.

What God Hates (Part 4)

Fourthly, God hates a heart that devises evil imaginations. Thought is sown in the mind before it is reaped in the field of action. The law judges sin according to the act, but God judges us according to the evil of our hearts. Jesus said in Matthew 5:28, “Whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”

We are living in a day when men and women’s imaginations are evil in the sight of God. The Bible says that He hates this. No person with an evil imagination can inherit the Kingdom of God. Evil imaginations lead to habits, habits lead to bondage, and bondage leads to death.

For years we in the Church of God were considered too strict and bound by the law instead of the spirit of grace. So we began to modernize our preaching, teaching, and doctrine. I do agree that some of the stuff we were taught at one time was not really Biblically sound and that as our knowledge of scripture grew we embraced change. Yet, change brings good things and bad things as well. Some of the things we spurned for years have now returned in new forms to tempt us, and if we're not careful will destroy us.

In many cases the church has become a breeding ground for the wrong ideology of methods for reaching the lost. Compromise is the rule of the day and copying the next trend instead of following the leading of the Spirit has become our new God or method of godliness. The heart of many is on the next, new spiritual wave we can copy or inspire in our imagination that we think will lead us to godliness, or a least a quick promotion. Even if we meant something for good or do something that make us current is wrong if God is not the inspiration behind it. Our thoughts and imaginations can become sinful and destructive if God is not in the center of them. It more than a dress or behavior code-it's why we do what we do that makes the difference.

Romans 6:23 says, “The wages of sin is death.” That Word still stands today. Lust, greed, compromise, bad habits, bondage, and wrong motives still bring destruction for eternity. Become a game changer and not just a player of games. That is our challenge today!

What God Hates (Part 3)

The Bible says thirdly that God hates hands that shed innocent blood. The sixth commandment in Exodus 20:13 says, “You shall not murder.” Psychologists tell us that the seed of murder can lurk in the heart of even the most respected person.

1 John 3:15 says, “Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.” Murder can be committed in more ways. than with a weapon. 

-You can murder your family with a spirit of lust or abuse.

-You can murder your friends with the poisonous venom of hatred and bitterness.

-You can murder your own reputation by committing some heinous offense against yourself.

-You can murder good people spiritually by allowing them to fail and refusing to have a spirit of restoration.

Not all murderers are behind bars. It so happens that only those who kill the body are punished by the law, but many who are free are just as guilty of destroying the lives, the personalities and the souls of others. The Bible says that you can strike someone with your tongue in Jeremiah 18:18:

"Then said they, Come and let us devise devices against Jeremiah; for the law shall not perish from the priest, nor counsel from the wise, nor the word from the prophet. Come, and let us smite him with the tongue, and let us not give heed to any of his words."

You can ruin another person’s reputation just as Israel tried to do with Jeremiah. God will hold such people accountable for murder on that great day of judgement. I don't want to be accountable for the failure of someone else and neither do you.

What God Hates (Part 2)

The Bible says secondly that God hates a lying tongue. Where did we learn to lie? Isn’t it strange that children lie instinctively without being taught? Sins of fraud, embezzlement, slander, libel and breach of promise are the products of a lying heart. Every pastor, preacher, evangelist, or preacher's child has had to endure trial because of a lying tongue. Innocent, good church members have had to deal with the same treatment in some instances.

It is that lying tongue that makes people bitter, hateful, untrusting of others, and wary of people who are super spiritual. Chances are the most resentful people you encounter in life have been affected somewhere and somehow by a lying tongue. I know of ministers that have given up on the ministry because of falsehoods told about them and others who have suffered greatly because of those lies. If you have been falsely accused often enough it will take a toil on you physically, mentally, and most importantly, physically.

Where did this spirit of deceit come from? Jesus gave us the answer in John 8:44 when He said to those who spoke a lie in His day, “You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. Human nature was warped and twisted in the fall of Adam, but Jesus Christ, who is the truth, came saying in John 8:32, “Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

God hates a lying tongue and we should be careful to speak what is true and not what is gossip. If you've been hurt by one, don't allow yourself to become a "false accuser". Speak the truth in love and keep your tongue free from the deadly poison of lying. You have power over your speech through the Holy Ghost so invoke it and use it!

What God Hates (Part 1)

Proverbs 6:16-19 “These six things the Lord hates, yes, seven are an abomination to Him: A proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that are swift in running to evil, a false witness who speaks lies, and one who sows discord among brethren.”

The church has failed to remind this generation that while God is love, He also has the capacity to hate. He hates sin, and He will judge it with the fierceness of His wrath. This generation is often taught about an indulgent, soft-hearted God whose judgments are uncertain and who coddles those who break His commandments. This generation finds it difficult to believe that God hates sin because so many choose religion over relationship with Christ.

God hates sin just as a father hates a rattlesnake that threatens the safety and life of his child. God loathes evil and demonic forces that pull people down to a godless eternity just as a mother hates a venomous spider that is found playing on the soft body of her little baby.

It is Gods' love for man and His compassion for the human race that prompts God to hate sin with such a vengeance. He gave Heaven’s finest that we might have the very best and He loathes with a holy abhorrence anything that would hinder our being reconciled to Him thru Jesus.

Solomon tells us what God hates Proverbs 6. We read in Verses 16-19, “These six things the Lord hates, yes, seven are an abomination to Him: A proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that are swift in running to evil, a false witness who speaks lies, and one who sows discord among brethren.”

God said first the He hates a proud look. The Bible says,

Proverbs 16:18 “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.”

Daniel 4:37 says that “those who walk in pride He is able to put down.” 

Jeremiah 50:31 states further,“Behold, I am against you, O most haughty one!.”

In just about every instance in the Bible, as well as in life, pride is associated with failure and not success. We hear a great deal about the inferiority complex, but the superiority complex of pride is seldom spoken of. Pride caused the fall of Lucifer, and he became Satan, the devil.

Pride still keeps thousands away from Christ today. People say,  "What will my friends say?" or "What will my family think?" In todays world many ask, "Will my reputation be affected if I become a Christian?" Jesus said in Matthew 23:12, “And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” The entrance to the Kingdom of Heaven is gained through your coming in humility.

The greatest act of humility in the history of the universe was when Jesus Christ stooped to die on the cross of Calvary. Before anyone can get to Heaven, they must kneel at the foot of the cross and acknowledge that they are a sinner, that they have broken the commandments of God and that they need the grace of God in Christ. No one can come proudly to the Savior.

Delivered With Peace

Are you troubled by feelings of guilt? Perhaps you did something that clearly was against Gods Word and law, you hurt someone with your words or actions, or perhaps you entertained thoughts you knew were wrong. Now you may feel robbed of peace and the sense of guilt will not go away.

Doctors are continually faced with what to do about guilt in the lives of their patients. Feelings of guilt have harmed people physically or emotionally. Some try to explain guilt away and may have some success, but in many cases all they succeed in doing is pacifying guilt temporarily or in pinning the blame on others. It's true that in some cases others have caused us to feel false guilt. Yet if we seek the truth, the Lord can reveal it to us and relieve us of that.

Wrongly blaming others for our problems can result in far greater difficulties. Guilt feelings come from the Spirit and the conscience which God has given all of us human beings. John 1:9 says that Jesus gives light to every person coming into the world. So what can we do about the guilt that haunts us?  

One wise counselor developed a new professional approach to the matter of guilt that is much like that we find in the Bible. Believing that neurotic patients suffer from moral failure, he taught what is called "integrity therapy." Using this method, he encouraged his patients to take the consequences of what they do instead of blaming their troubles on others. He believed that future treatment of emotional illness would take guilt, confession, and atonement seriously. Thanks to his teachings, many other counselors now do this, and thus are now far better able to help their patients. For this way of dealing with guilt is the way the Bible teaches and Gods Word has the right answers.  

Perhaps no one sinned more flagrantly than King David. But when he prayed, he found peace with God and with himself. Psalm 51:1, 2; 12 says, "Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love," he pleaded, "according to your great compassion, blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. Restore to me the joy of your salvation"  

When Jesus Christ walked this earth, He said in Matthew 11:28, , "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." It is not God's will that people be burdened with their sins. He sent His Son Jesus Christ to pay the penalty for our sins. In Jesus Christ is forgiveness for all who repent and accept His sacrifice as full atonement. Only his blood can wash away our sins and cleanse us from guilt.

What can Christians do when they have backslidden and are burdened with guilt? 1 John 1:9 tells us, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins, and purify us from all unrighteousness."  

We must be willing to admit we were wrong, repent, and ask forgiveness. Jesus said that if we remember that someone has something against us, we should go and make peace with that person in Matthew 5:23. Regular application of these principles will keep us right with God. It will clear our minds and free us from guilt. We may have to live with the consequences of our actions, but at least thanks to Jesus Christ we can be delivered from the heavy burden of guilt!

God Is

This list of God’s names are by no way comprehensive, but they are helpful in getting to know who God is.

1. He is the LIGHT -“The Light of Israel will become a fire, Their Holy One a flame . . .”
Isaiah 10:17

2. He is the MIGHTY ONE-“See the Lord, the Lord Almighty,”
Isaiah 10:33

3. He is the SPIRIT OF THE LORD- “the Spirit of the Lord will rest on him—the Spirit of the wisdom and of understanding, The Spirit of the counsel and of power,
The Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord and he will delight in the fear of the Lord.”
Isaiah 11:2,3

4. He is the HOLY ONE- “Shout loud and sing for joy,
People of Zion, for great is the Holy One of Israel among you.”
Isaiah 12:6

5. He is our DEFENDER- “for their Defender is strong.” 
Proverbs 23:11

6. He is our MAKER AND HOLY ONE-“In that day, men will look to their Maker and turn their eye to the Holy One of Israel.”
Isaiah 17:7

7. He is our STRENGTH- “Oh, my Strength, I watch for you; You, O God, are my fortress, my loving God.”
Psalm 59:9

8. He is our SOVEREIGN LORD- “So this is what the Sovereign Lord says . . ”
Isaiah 28:16

9. He is our SAVIOR, THE HOLY ONE- “For I am the Lord, your God. The Holy One of Israel, your Savior.”
Isaiah 43:3

10. He is the FIRST AND THE LAST- “I am the first and I am the last.”
Isaiah 48: 12b

11-He is my SHEPHERD- “The Lord is my Shepherd,
I shall not be in want.”
Psalm 23:1

12-He is my HELPER- “The Lord is my helper;
I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?”
Hebrews 13:6

13-He is the WAY, THE TRUTH, THE LIFE-"Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me.”
John 14:6

14-He is our REFUGE AND STRENGTH- “God is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in trouble.”Psalm 46:1

15-He is ALPHA AND OMEGA-“I am the Alpha and the Omega”, says the Lord God." Revelation 1:8

16-He is LOVE- “God is love.”1 John 4:16

What A Friend

Ephesians 3:12 "In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by faith in Him."

What A Friend We Have In Jesus is a song that speaks an unforgettable truth. Have you sung it recently? If not, remember the last two lines of the second verse:

“Can we find a friend so faithful, Who will all our sorrow bear?Jesus knows our every weakness, Take it to the Lord in prayer.”

What an amazing friend He is! Jesus is always there for us. Jesus is caring, listening, loving, and never leaves us. He is always the same  and our stable foundation.
Everyone and everything else around us changes constantly. Our bodies change, our location changes, and the seasons change. Children, parents, and friends come and go. Yet Jesus is a friend that sticks closer than a brother.

When I lost my dad 28 years ago it was the worst thing I had ever experienced in my life. Not only were my brothers and I grieving the loss of our father, we  watched our mom lose her soulmate and only love. Her whole life changed and there was nothing we could do about it because dad was gone. I remember that during the time I was grieving, I would ask myself what could be more painful. One day the Holy Spirit gave me the answer. He reminded me that if Jesus were to ever leave me, that would be utterly horrible and bring total darkness. I realized then that God had called my dad to his reward at His time and that He would take care of us and never leave us alone.   

Who would I talk to hundreds of times a day if He weren’t there? Who would I send thoughts of praise to many times a day? Where would I go in times of emergency? Where would I receive Life and Light for the day?
How glad I am that He will never leave me or you. No matter the changes that occur during our lifetime, He does not change, and He does not leave us. He is our “forever friend.” What a friend we have in Jesus!

An Extension Of God

There is an impression in the world today that God only loves Christians. We've encountered this through innuendo and assumption in a very liberal and sinful society. I've encountered it in myself with the attitudes brought on by a strongly Pentecostal upbringing, and I have found it to be an attitude that is hard to get rid of in many people.

The way this usually works out is that God doesn’t love anyone I don’t love, and the human inclination is to not love anyone who is not like me. That makes God’s love an extension of myself, instead of the way it should be, with me as an extension of God and His love. I have much to learn about God’s love. God is love; I am not. I am the one who needs to change. I am the one who needs to learn to love like God.

“God is love” in 1 John 4:16. God is synonymous with love. How could God not love His entire creation? It is His nature to love.

“God so loved the world that He gave...” according to John 3:16. The tragedy of God’s love is that it is not universally received. John 1:11 says, “He came to that which was His own, but His own did not receive Him.”     What a tragedy. Do you think God feels that tragedy? I think that is why the prophet Isaiah called Him a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. That is why Jesus wept over Jerusalem because He wanted to gather everyone up and bring them to Himself, but they would not all come.

How is it that God being God would create a world where His love was limited by the free will of those He created, making Him appear helpless to do anything about those who would reject Him? I honestly don't know how this works, but I do know God feels these feelings because He has expressed them in through His living Word handed down to us.

My point today is not to where these discussions often lead, but to capture some of the nature of God in His love for us and suggest that we should at least share in these same attitudes and emotions. We should be governed more by the tragedy of those who reject God’s love than in their judgment or their wrong doing.

Do we weep or do we condemn? I have caught myself shaking my head in judgment and condemnation, and God told me to stop. Stop judging and weep instead. That’s what God did, and He even has the right to judge and will someday. The cross has put that judgment aside so that He can love. Can we do any less?
So if you love like God, you will love and hurt at the same time.

Big Little Man

Ecclesiastes 3:11b “He has put eternity in their hearts.”       

Brother and Sister James Owens were fixtures on the South Carolina Church of God Campground for years. Though short in statue, Brother Owens always made a big impression on you when you talked with him. He and Sister Owens ran the kitchen for SCCOG Youth Camps for many years and were great neighbors and friends for our family. He had a little fish pond in his yard and I would always take my two oldest granddaughters to see the fish when they were little. They were just two wonderful people to love and know.

When we were getting out of the car last Wednesday night after church Becky said, "I sure do miss seeing Brother and Sister Owens on the camp ground." I remarked that I did too and looked at the house and yard they had for 28 years. But then Becky added, "But they're shouting on the hills of glory and have made it to their permanent home."

During the last few years, before their home-going, you could see the toil that sickness and age had on them. It was a sad time to see them leave their home here and move in with their son and family. Not seeing Sister Owens working on the flowers in her yard or Brother Owens on his golf cart took some getting used to. No matter when you visited with them they had one thought on their minds and an in their hearts-eternity. God was very gracious and took them home very close together. I'm positive they are shouting on the hills of glory.

Like all of us, they were on a journey.  Earth is not our final destination; we are just passing through. We will never feel totally at home here, because heaven is our eternal home. The house the Owens lived in is still there, so is the little fish pond, and some of the flowers she planted. A new family has brought life back to the household, but Brother and Sister Owens have made their journey to their final destination-heaven.

How about you? Are you sure you will go to heaven when you die? You can be if you know Jesus. He already has many mansions prepared and there's one waiting for you if your name is in the Book of Life.

Is He Not A Carpenter?

Mark 6:3 "Is not this the carpenter?”

It was not too strange that the people of His own village did not accept Him, They knew Him so well that they didn’t know Him really at all.  They said, “Anyone who grew up in our village and played with our children and worked in his father’s wood shop, can’t be all that wise or have power to work miracles. 

Something is wrong here. 

"He is a carpenter; we’ve known him for years.”  Jesus Himself said that, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own country and among his own kin and in his own house” in Mark 6:5.

It is possible to know a multitude of facts about Jesus and miss the important fact of who He is and why He came. The result of their knowing Him too well was that He could do no mighty work there.

Unbelief is not a trivial weakness or a mild annoyance.  It is powerful.  Here it stayed the hand of God. Never underestimate the power of unbelief. Nothing can subdue it but faith in who Jesus really is and what He can really do.

There are many good people who have been through Sunday School lessons, listened to sermons and faithfully read through their Bible so many times. including preachers and other Christian workers, that they run the danger of becoming overfamiliar with the Sublime.

Our need in prayer today is to ask the Spirit of God to keep us from knowing more and more about Jesus and less and less about why He came,  who He really is and how much He can really do for us and in us.

Wait!

Psalm 27:14 “Wait for the Lord: be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord!”

Wait simply means,  "to defer action or departure for a specified time or until some expected event occurs; to be expectant or on the watch."

In our culture of our hurried lifestyles of deadlines, timelines and fierce competition, the Lord speaks into our lives and says, “Wait for Me.” We become angry with people who drive too slow and become impatient with little children who want us to take time to look at bugs and leaves. Yet, God tells us to be still and wait.

We have instant coffee, instant meals, instant banking and even wireless communication and most people have no patience at all with each other, yet God keeps telling us to be patient and wait on Him and for Him.

This is what He has commanded us:

Psalm 27.14 “Wait for the Lord.”

Psalm 37:7 “Be still before Lord and wait patiently for Him.”

Hosea 12:6 “Maintain love and justice, and wait for your God always.”

There are major benefits of waiting for the Lord:

Isaiah 30:18 “Blessed are all who wait for Him! He rises to show you compassion.”

Isaiah 40:31 “They that wait on the Lord shall renew their strength.”

Isaiah 25:9 “Surely, this is our God; we trust (waited) in him, and he saved us.”

So what should be our declaration to Him?

Isaiah 26:8 “Yes, Lord, walking in the way of your laws, we wait for you; your name and renown are the desires of our heart.”

Psalm 30:5, 6 “I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I put my hope. My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning.”