The Bible a Book Like No Other

Are you amazed at how often we read the word of God just as if reading other books?

The Bible, is unlike any other book. 

The words read either softly in one's head or aloud, with thoughts of fascinating creative fairy tales.

Often times with loss of thought of it being a true life history book, a true life instruction manual, and true life road map.

It is in fact the most important book one could ever read.

A history book of times past, with reflections of current situations, circumstances  and events, with glimpses of what is yet to come. 

Sadly some have chosen not to read it,  or read without understanding and  choosing not to take time in seek understanding, while others simply read with disbelief of it's content, either in whole or part.

All of these, unknowingly choosing to miss the experience of true life.

How about looking at this from another perspective?

If someone bought you a wonderful gift that had numerous pieces which overwhelmed you to the point of never attempting to put it together, or you started out trying but your limited understanding of all the instructions, left you without desire to seek help in understanding the instructions, or you simply decide the contents of the instructions wasn't that important, and putting it together on your own without any instructions.

Most likely you would not have gotten the opportunity to fully enjoy the gift you received.

This often being the case concerning the gift of life given to us by God.

1 Corinthians 9:15 " Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift." (NKJV) 

God has given us the wonderful gift of life, but often times, just as with Eve in the garden, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life keeps us from fully enjoying the life God planned for us.

1John 3:16 "For all that is in the world the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life is not of the Father, but is of the world." (NKJV)

It has been repeated from times past, to time present and surely time to come, that this very thing used by the enemy to have us lose sight of God, is still used by the enemy today.

 Same sin (trick) different days.

The only antidote for this toxic and lethal poison is the word.

Romans 6:23 "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." (NKJV

Jesus is that mind transforming, life giving word that became flesh and dwelt among us.

John 1:1 "In the beginning was the word, the word was with God and the word was God."

He came demonstrating in the flesh, who he was in the written word.

The word of God is a book like no other.

Follower of Chirst or Just a Follower, Believer of Christ or Just a Believer?

In the Christian faith terms often used to identify with the faith is; Christian, Follower of Christ, or simply Follower or Believer.

Let us go deeper into what is the truth of the matter.

If you are a Christian indeed, you are to believe Christ and follow his example.

However the society in which we live, love titles which at times do not reflect who we are or what we do.

They are simply titles, sounding good to the ear, appearing nicely on paper and satisfying to the flesh.

When Jesus called his disciples, he said, Matthew 4:19 "Follow Me and I will make you fishers of men." (NKJV) this was a call to follow his way of life and bring men out of darkness into the light, where there is life.

It is possible to get caught up in titles and worldly perspectives, loosing sight of truth, which Jesus came to demonstrate.

 John 14:6 "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father (God) except through Me." (NKJV)

If you say you love God, you must believe God's word, in following his Son, Jesus Christ.

We have followers and believers which like the Christian title as it makes them feel good, but they do not like nor choose the live a Christian life style.

They choose the ways of the world's majority rather than the word of God, which Jesus followed.

We have followers and believes of men and groups that appear powerful, making false promises which sound good while destroying lives and therefore surely isn't of God.

We have a society of followers and believers of only parts of the word of God, and the life of Christ, which accommodate and satisfy their own beliefs and way's of life.

I guess this would be the part-timers.

Christianity is however a full time 24/7 position one must choose, though at times you may have off days when you find yourself weary and weak, stumbling and sometimes falling, but returning to position. 

Jesus came to restore relationship with God and man, a reconciliation that brings life.

John 10:10 "...I have come that they may have life, and have it more abundantly."

Jesus made the greatest sacrifice on the cross for all men, as there was no other perfect, God/Man that could save man from his destruction.

But God made a way through Jesus Christ.

Now ask yourself, are you a follower and believer of Christ or just a follower and believer. 

We all believe an follow something.

Too Busy

Too Busy

The day has only begun and already I have a million and one things to do.

Where should I start?

There's the laundry, kids to get to sporting practice, I've got to get a little work out at the gym, I have a hair appointment, a few items to pickup from the store, studying needing to be done for next week's exam, oh yea, and somethings going on at church but I'm too busy, so that's out.

I promised Claire I'd attend her job anniversary celebration Monday and I can't forget to remind Jake to stop and pickup my outfit from the dry cleaners on his way home.  Woo hoo! the final episode of my favorite show will be on tonight, can't miss that.
I guess we'll have takeout tonight, I won't have time to prepare dinner. 

Wow, where has time gone? this is the weekend of the big business conference I've been anxiously awaiting. 

Gosh, looks as if I'll be missing church services again this Sunday. 

After all, I've paid for the conference, and am super excited about attending the workshops they've offered. 

If I'm not too tired I'll at least read a few scriptures after I tuck the kids in tonight. 

Here we go again, I missed watching my show but it didn't miss watching me sleep.
 I didn't even get around to reading the word.

Oh well, tomorrows a new day and I'll simply have to try it again.
As the saying goes "if at first you don't succeed try, try again," but I've tryied on numerous occasions to read my bible and have yet to experience successes in this area.
This is why I at least try and go to church. 

Life is hectic and I am simply too busy.

Is your life too busy for God? Do you have priorities ahead of God?

Matthew 6:33 " But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well."  (NIV)

Believers, like the world, can find themselves loosing sight of what is most important.

Can you imagine a cluttered mind that races ahead, to what's next in my basket of things to do?
Can you imagine anything about this being peaceful?

I'd say not.

However the Lord does want to reward you with his peace and a whole lot more.

Do you believe God wants the very best for you, and wants to direct you in and to the very best of everything?

Well he does, and here's how you access his best.

Hebrews 11:6 "And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him." (NLT)

If you are too busy to learn of and follow his instructions, I guess you're also too busy to access his promises.
He has invited you to rest in him.
Matthew 11:28 " Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest for your souls."
Are you still too busy?

A Different Kind of War

You might see or hear either directly or indirectly of violence going on with and around us.

Your response might be that of shock, amazement, anger  and even fear over such violence.

There is so much of it going on and yet very few knowing what to do about it.

Why are we so shocked, amazed or fearful?

Yes, angry, but why don't we know what to do?

Matthew Chapter 24 have we not been warned of these times that were to come?

Matthew 24:6 & 7 " And we will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.

7."For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places."

Matthew 24:12 "And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold." 

Again, I ask, have we not been warned of these days?

Is this not what we see in our current day?

It is not time to run, hide in fear nor be angry at your neighbor.

It is time however for war!

NO! not with the bullet or the sword.

Ephesians 6:12 "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against powers, against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual host of wickedness in the heavenly places."

It is not your neighbor that you are to be angry with, but the spirit behind their wicked deeds, which use them for their purpose of destroying human life.

The life God created for mankind.

It's time to wage war! time for spiritual warfare!

Where are the prayer warriors?

Matthew 11:12 "And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force."

Is your spouse, child(ren), sibling(s), neighbor(s), family, community, nation worth fighting for? 

Is your life worth fighting for? 

Luke 12:23 "Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing."

We have been promised abundant life, is that not worth fighting for?

Luke 18:1 "...we ought to always pray and not lose heart."

We don't need to wait on the president, the military, for guns, bombs, swords.

Ephesians 6:13 "Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand." 

The evil day is now, are you armored up and ready to fight a different kind of war?
Be encouraged of the victory we have in our Lord.
Deutoronomy 31:6 " Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the one who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you."
Let us begin to fight this different kind of war.

Throw Out the Trash

Your mind can be used as a waste receptacle at times.

Your emotions have a tendency to dump bad thoughts in there.

You may feel the emotion of anger and before you know it, mean thoughts are dumped in your mind, and it's not always initiated by the enemy.

When emotions, things or people begin to make a waste receptacle of your mind, it is up to you to throw out the trash.

If you allow garbage to sit too long it will begin to stink.

When you choose to keep garbage in our mind's receptacle,

you can expect to have stinking thinking.

You have a choice, do you want to hang onto the trash or throw it out?

2Corinthians10:5 (GNT) says "we pull down every proud obstacle that is raised  against the knowledge of God. We take every thought captive and make it obey Christ."

In this busy society where your mind can be overloaded with thoughts, some good and some not.

Those thoughts which are not good, I hope you choose to throw out.

 Why clutter your mind with trash?

Isaiah 26:3 (NKJV) says " You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you."

What's in your mind's receptacle?

Fellowship is Important

It is in these uncertain and critical times

  that we, the followers of Christ, need to surround ourselves with like mind believers.

That we may help, uplift and encourage on another.

There is so much going on in the world around us that can be discouraging, which makes the need for fellowship that much more important.

Fellowship: (The Free Dictionary) 1.a. The companionship of individuals in a congenial atmosphere and on equal terms  b.Friendship; comradeship  c. A close association of friends or equals sharing similar interest.

Fellowship goes beyond just relationship; as relationships can be of so many types including good and bad, where as fellowship is a common interest shared among friends.

We must daily make a choice of keeping our eyes on the our Lord rather than on the troubles going on with and or around us.

For it is when our eyes go off of the Lord, that we loose proper perspective, and begin seeing our problems and adverse situations bigger than our God.

This is one reason why fellowship is of such importance. 

 Hebrews 10:25

 "and let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another especially now that the day of his return is drawing near." 

The enemy is doing his very best to keep us distracted by the cares of this world,

in hope that we will forget or never know of the promises of God.

How we can access the promises of God, or our even believing God's promises are true. 

Hosea 4:6 (NIV) "My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also reject you as my priests; because you have ignored the law of your God, I also will ignore your children."

Let us not discount the value of fellowship.

Praise Him In the Midst of Your Discomfort

We can often find ourselves caught up in the worlds rat race, 

of looking at our problems, situations, and circumstances, and viewing them as major holdup's or set-backs.

But God...

God has a way of putting things in the right order, right perspective, at the right time, if we trust and allow him to do so.

What we see as a major setback, could be God's preparation process for what is ahead.

What we see as a situation or circumstance that we just can't make it through,

could be God's opportunity to show himself faithful and strong.

It is in these difficult places that we need to learn to praise the Lord.

When your back is against the wall, and there isn't a clear path out,

Praise the Lord.

When you've searched high and low with no where else to turn,

Praise the Lord.

When you're hanging on by a thread and feel like letting go,

Praise the Lord.

(Psalm 33:13) says "From heaven the Lord looks down and sees all mankind."

He sees you, and knows just what you are gong through and what you need.

Philippians 4:19 " And my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus."

If you are in a time of trouble, he sees you.

If in a place of hopelessness, he sees you.

If in danger, God sees you and he cares for you.

(Proverbs 3:5)Trust the Lord with all your heart, even when you don't understand.

Know that no matter what it looks like, or feels like, (Romans 8:28)  He is working all things out for good..."

When you know this, You will praise Him in the midst of your discomfort.