True Love/True Relationship

True Love/True Relationship

John 15:13
"Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.

As you all know I am always wanting to discuss true salvation, and this morning is no different.  I was thinking yesterday about our relationship with others. Parents, brothers, sisters, girlfriends, boyfriends, ect...  Those are tangible relationships that we can’t ignore.  Okay, do you remember when you fell in love for the first time?  You couldn’t be around the other person enough, I mean they are all you could think about.  You tried to spend as much time with them as possible, right?

I say this because if you can remember this love towards them, then you know beyond the shadow of a doubt that you loved them.  Now think about when you got saved, did you have this same drive to know God, did you try and spend as much time with Him as possible?  I only say this to let you know that our relationship with God is b y design similar to our relationships with others, I mean He made us in His image.  That being said, it is plausible for us to want to learn to know Him and want to spend time with Him once we are saved.

I’ve always said that just saying a prayer will not get anyone into heaven.  When you got saved, did you try and get to know the Person that saved you, or did you just say a prayer and then make no changes to your life.  You know, when you really love someone, you like to make them happy and do things that they will admire.  Same thing with God, as Christians, we should want to make Him happy.  If you have never had the desire to know God or have never really tried to make Him proud of you by your actions in life, then I want you to really think about when you got saved.  Was it that you said a prayer out of guilt or just because you didn’t want to go to hell.  Unless you really felt sorry for your sinful life and turned away from the things that may keep your relationship with Him weak, it is possible you never really got saved.  There should be proof of a change in your life, and going from Dark to Light should be noticeable.  

As it says in the verse today, "Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.  Jesus laid down His life for you, all you have to do is to choose to believe it.  By the title today you may not see where i was going with today’s blog, but I want you to understand that if you are saved, then you will love Him for what He did, and it WILL cause you to want to have a real relationship with Him, I promise.  Could you have a real relationship with someone and never spend time with them?  Would you really be in love with someone, but never want to make them happy?

Count Your Blessings

Count Your Blessings
Johnson Oatman Jr. wrote this in 1897.  Look at the words and see if you don’t have the urge to smile.

1. When upon life’s billows you are tempest-tossed,
   When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
   Count your many blessings, name them one by one,
   And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.
• Refrain:
  Count your blessings, name them one by one,
  Count your blessings, see what God hath done!
  Count your blessings, name them one by one,
  *Count your many blessings, see what God hath done.
  [*And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.]

1Chronicles 16:34 Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.

Psalm 119:62 At midnight I will rise to give thanks to You, Because of Your righteous judgments.

1Corinthians 15:57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

2Corinthians 9:15 Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!

Ephesians 5:20 giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,

I’ve discussed alot of things on this blog, but got convicted tonight about not giving thanks enough.  It amazes me that on what I thought was a really bad and stressful day, a few words from my 2 year old could made me realize just how blessed I am.  All too often we put our happiness in the hands of money, but remember God says you can’t serve money and Him.  With that in mind I realized that among all the stress in my life, I am soo blessed to be a father of three children.  Sometimes we get so caught up in our “important” pursuits that we forget about a very important job that some have been given---Being Parents.

Besides the fact that we should thank God every minute of every day for His Son Jesus, and what He did on the cross for us;  just think about all of the laughter that our children bring us.  I know we are blessed as parents because sometimes these kids can turn a bad day into a hilarious one.  My point today is simple.......Thank God for all of your blessings!  Your salvation, children, job, house, joy, and any other thing you can think of that you should be thankful for.  I promise if you focus more on your blessings than you do on your stresses, you will be a much happier person, which will in turn make your stresses less important.  Makes sense doesn’t it? 

Father, thank you for convicting me on this tonight.  Thank you for Ashton, Ella, and Chap.  Thank you most of all for the salvation that I received by turning my life over to your will through Your Son Jesus. Everytime I get down or stressed about a trial I am going through please allow me to focus more attention on the blessings in my life.  Amen
Book Update...........
My book is in the final stages now and should be released by the middle of Aug.  Please tell people about the blog and pass the link on to anyone who you think may want to read it.  Please pray that the book would be able to reach people for God.  There are expenses associated with the book release and blog upkeep so I am placing a support my blog button on the site that should be up and going this week.  I appreciate any support you feel led to give.

The cost of excess baggage

Excess Baggage

Cast your burden on the LORD, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved. Psalm 55:22 ESV

 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7 ESV

Ever wonder why we don’t turn things over to God like we are supposed to?  I was thinking about this today, then after praying tonight I just had the urge to get out of bed and come write.  So I guess someone must need to hear what I’m about to discuss.

I was thinking about the burdens we all carry around with us and came up with a thought that may put it in perspective.  OK, so let’s say you are climbing a mountain and you have a backpack on.  Now imagine every stress or worry in your life accounts for 1 brick.  So if you have an addiction you are trying to deal with, or maybe a personal conflict, whatever it is it weighs your climb down by 1 brick each.  How hard is it going to be to climb with an extra 10 bricks or so?  Why would you set out to climb with this added weight?  What if you were just getting ready to climb and someone told you, “ here, just give me these bricks “worries” and I’ll take care of them for you”.  Your climb would become much easier wouldn’t it?

Now I’m sure you all see where I’m going with this.  Why do we carry around all of these burdens when like our two verses tell us, all we have to do is just hand them over to God.  We have a journey to make as Christians.  We all have a spiritual mountain to climb, so with christian life being tough enough already, we don’t need anything to weigh us down.  There are no telling how many wonderful things we miss out on everyday just because we are weighed down with unnecessary worry.  If we are constantly dealing with some stress in our lives instead of just letting God handle it, then we are not going to be able to focus the time and energy needed to do His will.  And if we don’t do His will, then we are no good for God or ourselves.  

As most of you know, I’ve had probably the toughest year of my life.  I have learned many things through it all, but the most important thing I have learned is that if we allow God to work in our lives, we will be in awe of what He can do through us.  Every time I sit and write down my thoughts, I just have to sit back and realize that this is all from Him.  I never in a million years would have thought God would use me in this way, but I am sooo glad He is.

Point for today is simply to pray to God and just ask Him to take your burdens from you so you can be a more faithful christian.  Tell God you just want His will done in your life, and for Him to remove anything that may hinder it.

Pray for this ministry, and please pass my web address along to others.

Happiness or Peace?

Happiness or Peace?

33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

John 16:33 (KJV)

I have often wondered why people get saved then when things start going bad they seem to lose faith in God.  I have done it in my past too, but really there is no reason to.  I mean you can look at the verse today and see that 1.  we are promised tribulation in life and 2. we can have peace because Jesus has overcome this world and our Peace is with Him.

I think that we as Christians have gotten the wrong idea about salvation and Christianity.  Remember, we are only going to spend a fraction of eternity in this life and our focus shouldn’t be all on our happiness.  Our focus should be on telling others about Jesus and what He did on the cross for us.  You see, we are not promised happiness.  I know that sounds bad, but the fact is, happiness in this life just isn’t guaranteed.  Why? God grants us peace about our eternity with Him, and that peace can definitely bleed over and cause us to be happy, but only if our life is in line with God’s will.  You see we have all of eternity to be happy, but because of our sin nature we will probably have a life filled with stresses and turmoil.  It’s like if you were an alcoholic and you kept drinking all of the time even after you got saved. Now, you can have the peace about your eternity, but God can’t give you peace about drinking if you keep drinking.  So all of the stresses that come with being an alcoholic will definitely trouble you, but that stress is of your own making.    

People, we have to get our relationships back right with God.  There is coming a time when true christians will be persecuted because satan knows he loses in the end and he’s going to make as many Christians as miserable as possible.  That’s why you shouldn’t go around searching for happiness in this life because if that is where your faith is, satan might just allow you to be just happy enough to miss out on the call of God.  This isn’t designed to be gloomy, I mean we have all eternity to feel the Joy and Love of God and Jesus in person in heaven, so this little blimp on the timeline of eternity shouldn’t be our main focus.  And if you are focused on telling others about Jesus and focusing on your eternal joy, then stresses in this life will be put more in perspective.

Remember, we are going to have troubles, but Jesus also told us to be of Good Cheer because He has already conquered this life and He did it attached to a cross unable to move.  If that same Saviour promises us peace to go along with our tribulations, then I promise that the peace He speaks of is sufficient to take us through our lives and into eternity with Him.

I have a challenge for you this week.  First, ask God to show you His plan for your life, and second, tell 1 person about what Jesus did on that cross for you.  

Don't be scared to look up!

 Don't be scared to look up!

17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

1 Thess 4:17-18 (KJV)

I was doing a little research on this and wanted to discuss.  There are alot of Christians who don’t believe in the rapture, and I myself had doubts at one time.  It does seem farfetched that we could all be just called away to be with God, but it is true.  One thing I have learned to do is to look up terms in the original Greek meaning.  The term “caught up” in greek is called Harpazo which literally means to be abducted or carried off.  The latin equal is Rapturo which obviously is where we get the term Rapture.
Now, I tell you all of that to let you know, that the idea of Rapture was not man made, we may have given it a name, but it clearly states in todays verses that if we are alive in that time we believers will skip death and go to be with God in the blink of an eye.
Don’t let people convince you that the rapture idea is a fairy tale because the idea was to give us hope in our times of stress and persecution.  To put it in “Steve” terms, its like if you were treading water in the ocean because your ship sank and  you knew that there was a rescue ship heading your direction, couldn’t you tread water longer with the hope of rescue?  Of course you could.  It’s those who don’t believe who are just treading water waiting on destruction with no hope, and actually they have hope they just choose not to accept HIM!
So, my question today is simple, are you looking to the sky for Jesus or are you just trying to get by in this world in the hopes that this life is it?  Jesus is real.  I can tell you that everytime I write a blog, I know that He exists.  According to a 2010 study, around 150000 people die every day.  If they didn’t know Jesus they are now in Hell.  I say that to let you know that if you don’t know Jesus and have never been convicted of your sins; all you have to do is tell God you are sorry, tell Him you know Jesus was His Son and He died on the cross and then rose again.  See yourself turn from your old life.  Read your bible and pray that God will reveal His will for your life.
If you know a lost person, please tell them about Jesus.  If you have the opportunity to speak to them about Jesus and don’t, you are possible taking a chance from them to ask for salvation.  Let your life be a living testimony of what a changed life looks like.  This is the best means of reaching the lost.

What was "IT"? Repeat

What is “IT”?????

John 19:30

English Standard Version (ESV)

³⁰ When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

Have you ever wondered why it is soo stressful to go to church sometimes.  I mean, I can remember my wife and I just dreading the getting up, getting the kids ready, and of course all the fake smiling.  If you don’t fake smile at church then you must not know Jesus.  I’m kind of kidding about that, but most of you probably know what I’m talking about.
Truth is, church can be stressful for christians because religion is man made.  Somehow we feel like if we make ourselves a large set of rules and obey them, then we will be closer to God.  I spoke a few messages ago about how sometimes we feel like if we just go to church more and get more involved, then somehow it will nullify the bad things in our lives and we will become closer to God.  Now, let me say this, I don’t see anything wrong with going to church, and think it is an awesome idea to gather with other Christians and worship.  I am however, saying that feeling like you have to be at the church everytime the doors open is almost like being a slave to a building or group of people rather than being a slave to God’s will.
These words that Jesus spoke speak volumes of how we should approach our relationship with God.  First and foremost, IT is finished meant that the struggle to obtain salvation through priests and animal sacrifices was over.  Jesus was the one time sacrificial Lamb and His death was sufficient to cleanse us if we ask Him too.  Also, IT is finished meant that the separation from God because of our sin had been repaired.  Jesus, if you will, was the bridge needed for us to be able to reach God on our own.
Remember, if you think there is anything you can do to get to heaven besides trust in Jesus, then why did Jesus have to suffer and die?  Once you are convicted and truly turn your life over to God, you realize that you have been a slave to alot of things.  Anything that could separate you from salvation was taken care of By God’s Son Jesus, and when He said “IT is finished” he meant because of Him, we are no longer have to be a slave to anything unless we choose to.  IT IS FINISHED!   We now have a direct line to the Father, and He hears our prayers.  Praise!!!
What was “IT”?  It was the finished atonement for our sins and separation from God.

Spiritual Medicine

Spiritual Medicine

8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. 9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

Phil 4:8-9 (KJV)

You know how sometimes you look at your life and realize that you are stressing about something every minute of every day?  You know, you are trying to figure out your bills, or worrying about something at work, ect.....  We need to realize that all of this worrying actually takes time away from our relationship with God.

God designed us to look to Him for guidance and support.  I think that, especially in my case, I have too much faith in money.  I mean, it’s easy to do.  If you have enough money to pay bills, go out and eat, take trips, and really any other thing you like to be able to, then you usually don’t stress too much about things.  Now if you get in a bind and have trouble doing these things you start freaking out.  You say things like “am I going to lose my house, car, ect...?” 

I think  Paul is actually telling us that instead of worrying and stressing on how to fix things, we should be focusing our attention on things of God.  I mean if you look at the list you see that if you were to really focus some energy on these, you wouldn’t be able to do anything but smile.  Paul gave us the cure for stress, we just have to be willing to do what he said.  You have to have faith that your needs will be met, as long as they are not worldly or of the flesh.  I also think it is very important that even when things are going good, we should focus on the good of God because it will keep our hearts in the right place.  You know, when we worry about things too much it is almost like we are saying that we don’t trust God enough to help us. 

I struggle with alot of stress issues, but everyday  God shows me more and more that He not Me, is in control.  God has and is answering soo many prayers in my life right now, that all I have to do is focus on THEM and the stress seems to be less important.  This is what it’s all about people!  Grow in your relationship with God, buy reading your bible and praying.  As you draw closer to Him, He will draw closer to you:  And I can promise you the works and wonders He will show you will absolutely amaze you!!!!!

If you struggle with turning things over to God, like we all do, just start with something small and everytime you think of it, just immediately turn your focus from the stress to asking God to keep you focusing on His will not Yours.

God Bless!!!!! 

God's will or yours?

God’s will or yours?

Matthew 6:7-10 (ESV)

⁷ “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. ⁸ Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. ⁹  Pray then like this:

“Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
¹⁰  Your kingdom come,
your will be done,
     on earth as it is in heaven.

After talking to a friend last night about unanswered prayers, I did a little prayer and research and came up with today’s verses and message.

First, we have to remember and have faith that God knows our needs and will supply us with what we need.  In verse 8 Jesus said that your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.  Now, in my case, I have asked and asked for things that I didn’t receive, then realized later that I didn’t really need what I was asking for.  I’ve been praying for God to bless this blog and the book that is coming out.  Now, since I believe that I am in God’s will and that the blog and the book will be for the furtherment of God’s will, I firmly believe that both will be blessed.  So how am I so sure?  There is nothing worldly about me asking to bless the blog or the book because my only goal is for people to examine themselves and see where they are in their relationship with God.

OK, so in verse 10 He says YOUR kingdom come, YOUR WILL be done, on EARTH as it is in HEAVEN.  So, in my opinion, Jesus wants us to pray for things that are in God’s will, and if we do then we are to be assured that the prayers will be answered.  Also let’s look at verse 13 where it says to lead us not into temptation.  It is my opinion that sometimes we don’t get prayers answered because number one, the request isn’t in God’s will; but also because if the prayer were to get answered it may put us in a place where there is too much temptation to sin.  I would love to be rich, but  I think that it may cause me to focus less on my relationship with God and more on worldly things.  So that would take me out of God’s will, which in turn means I will probably never be rich. 

I hope I didn’t over emphasize my point, or over simplify it.  Let me say that I believe like Jesus said about having the faith to move mountains, but my personal opinion is that our requests have to be centered in God’s will.

Hope this helped!  Remember to send my blog address to as many people as you can.  I really feel like God is blessing this ministry so continue to pray that His will be done through the blog and book.

God Bless!