A New Beginning

"Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - His good, pleasing and perfect will." Romans 12:1-2 (NIV)

The beginning of a new year is a good time for a new beginning within your life. A change in you to go along with the change in time. There are things, habits, and people in all of our lives that we should let go of. We need to live our lives to please God. We need to stop acting like the unsaved people in the world. We need to change our way of thinking, transform and renew our mind, in order to be more consistent with the will of God.

With the beginning of the new year, let us renew our minds and begin a new beginning, a life dedicated to being more Christ -like.

When You Know Better, You Ought To Do Better

There are sins of omission as well as sins of commission.

"Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't dot it, sins." James 4:17 (NIV)

Not only is it a sin to do wrong when you know it is wrong, but it is also a sin to do nothing when you know what good you ought to do. These sins are commonly called "sins of omission".

"When you know better, you ought to do better." Unknown author, but maybe this is where that old saying comes from.

So, not only can we sin by things that we do, say, and think, we can also sin by doing nothing when we should be doing good. We need to pray for forgiveness and for God's help to do better when we know better.

Think Before You Speak

"Do you see a man who speaks in haste? There is more hope for a fool than for him." Proverbs 29:20 (NIV)

Some of us say whatever comes to mind. "Whatever come up, comes out." As our thoughts occur they are uttered, without the benefit of being processed or filtered. Speaking without thinking is not a good idea, especially when we are angry.

"He who restrains his lips is wise." Proverbs 10:19 (NKJ) or "... He who holds his tongue is wise." (NIV) Some things are better off if they are left unspoken. If what we were going to say is not going to help someone, then we should probably keep that thought to ourselves.

Think before you speak.

Be Very Careful Where You Lead People

"Whosoever causeth the righteous to go astray in an evil way, shall fall himself into his own pit; but the upright shall have good things in possessions." Proverbs 28:10 (KJV)

"He who leads the upright along an evil path will fall into his own trap, but the blameless will receive a good inheritance." Proverbs 28:10 (NIV)

It is not good to intentionally lead good people down the wrong path. Those who do that will pay for it. The attempted corruption of the righteous is a wicked sin according to John Mac Arthur. The doom of seducers, who attempt to draw good people into sin are enemies of the righteous, and their condemnation will be so much greater according to Matthew Henry.

When people are following you, or following your advice, be very careful where you lead them.

Don't Brag Or Boast About Yourself

"Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; someone else, and not your own lips." Proverbs 27:2 (NIV)

Do not brag or boast about who you are or what you have. Jesus told the parable about the certain rich man who said to himself "... you have plenty of good things laid up for many years ..." and told him "You fool, this very night your life will be demanded from you." Luke 12:16-21 (NIV) Brag about what you have and you may not get to enjoy it.

"As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil." James 4:16 (NIV) Arrogant boasting about your accomplishments leaves God out. You are taking credit for what He allowed and caused to happen.

"It is not good to eat too much honey, nor is it honorable to to seek one's own honor." Proverbs 25:27 (NIV) Self-seeking and pride can lead to one's downfall.

"We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise." 2 Corinthians 10:12 (NIV) "For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom The Lord commends." 2 Corinthians 10:18 (NIV)

Be humble and lift The Lord up, and He will lift you up.

Praise The Lord

"Shout for joy to The Lord, all the earth. Worship The Lord with gladness; come before Him with joyful songs ... Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; For The Lord is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations." Psalms 100:1 & 4-5 (NIV)

"Praise The Lord. Praise The Lord, O my soul. I will praise The Lord all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live." Psalms 146:1-2 (NIV)

"Praise The Lord. How good it is to sing praises to our God, how pleasant and fitting to praise Him!" Psalms 147:1 (NIV)

"Young men and maidens, old men and children. Let them praise the name of The Lord, for His name alone is exalted; His splendor is above the earth and the heavens." Psalms 148:12-13 (NIV)

"Let the saints rejoice in this honor and sing for joy..." Psalms 149:5 (NIV)

"Let everything that has breath praise The Lord. Praise The Lord." Psalms 150:6 (NIV)

Celebrating The Birth Of Christ # 3

"So Joseph ... went ... to Bethlehem ... with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a Child. While they were there ... she gave birth to her firstborn, a Son. She wrapped Him in cloths and placed Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn ... An angel of The Lord appeared ... said ... 'Today ... a Savior has been born ... He is Christ The Lord' ... Suddenly a great company of heavenly hosts appeared with the angel, praising God saying, 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom His favor rests." Luke 2:1-14

This is a brief summary of one of the Biblical accounts of the birth of Jesus The Christ, Immanuel. You should read the whole story for yourself as part of your celebration of the birth of Christ today. Then you too can praise God saying, "All hail King Jesus; All hail Immanuel!!!

May you have a blessed celebration of the birth of Christ today.

Celebrating The Birth Of Christ # 2

"... An angel of The Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, 'Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from The Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a Son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins'. All this took place to fulfill what The Lord had said through the prophet: 'The virgin will be with Child and will give birth to a Son, and they will call Him Immanuel' which means 'God with us'." Matthew 1:20-23 (NIV)

This is what we celebrate when we celebrate the birth of Christ. Christmas means much more to us than what most of the world sees. Let's celebrate the real reason for Christmas and let's share the real story behind the celebration. God was and is with us. All hail Immanuel!!!

Celebrating The Birth Of Christ

"Therefore The Lord Himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and give birth to a Son and will call Him Immanuel." Isaiah 7:14 (NIV)

"For to us a child is born, to us a Son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." Isaiah 9:6 (NIV)

The birth of Christ was predicted by the prophet Isaiah more than 400 years before it happened. Isaiah also went on to elaborate on Immanuel by describing Him. It is because of the fulfillment of this prophecy that we celebrate the birth of Christ.

A study of the celebration of "Christmas" reveals that the pagans had celebrations during the same time of the year with decorated trees, and lights, and feasts, hundreds of years before the birth of Christ. Their celebration then had nothing to do with Christ just as today the commercialization of Christmas is not about Christ.

Know what you are celebrating and why. Learn about the conception and birth of Christ (Matthew 1:18-2:23 and Luke 1:26-2:21) and tell someone about it. As Christians, we celebrate the birth of Christ because of who He is. Let's keep Christ in "CHRISTmas" and show the world
the Christ that is within us.

The Birth of Jesus And Prophecy

The conception, birth, and early life of Jesus The Christ is presented in Matthew 1:18-2:23 and in Luke 1:26-2:21. Reading both accounts will provide a more complete perspective on the events that transpired.

However, the conception and birth of Jesus was predicted by the prophets more than 400 years beforehand, Isaiah 7:14 and 9:6-7.

"Therefore The Lord Himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and give birth to a Son and will call Him Immanuel." Isaiah 7:14

We celebrate the birth of Christ because of how special He was and is. God put on flesh and dwelt among us to save us from our sins. (John 1:1 & 1:14) Let us not get so caught up in the commercialization of Christmas that we forget what we are really celebrating and why. Let's keep Christ in Christmas.

Be Careful Who You Listen To

Are you listening to God? Is the voice that you hear in your head the voice of God or of Satan? Is the voice you hear from the pulpit from a Man of God or from a false prophet?

"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness; That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works." 2 Timothy 3:16 (KJV)

In other words, per a different Bible translation:

"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." (NIV)

Test all that you hear by comparison with the Bible. Don't believe everything that you hear. Just because it sounds good does not mean that it is Biblically correct or from God.

God Is Always With Us

"The Lord is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth. He fulfills the desires of those who fear Him; He hears their cry and saves them. The Lord watches over all who love Him, but the wicked He will destroy." Psalms 145:18-20 (NIV)

We are never alone, God is always with us and He watches over us. To those of us who love Him, He fulfills our desires, hears our cry, and He saves us. He keeps us from all hurt and harm; and protects us from dangers seen and unseen.

We ought to thank God for all that He has done for us, is doing for us, and what He will do for us.

Pray For Guidance And Direction

"Let the morning bring me word of Your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in You. Show me the way I should go, for to You I lift up my soul ... Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God; may Your Good Spirit lead me on level ground. For Your name's sake, O Lord, preserve my life; in Your righteousness, bring me out of trouble." Psalms 143:8-11 (NIV)

This was David's passionate plea when he was caught up in one of his many predicaments, and it should very well be our personal plea. "... Show me the way ... teach me to do Your will ... lead me ... preserve my life ... bring me out of trouble." We all need God's help, direction, instruction, and protection to get us out of trouble. Thank God for His "unfailing love".

God Knows What We Do Say And Think

"O Lord, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; You perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue, You know it completely, O Lord." Psalms 139:1-4 (NIV)

God knows all that we do, all that we think, and all that we say. Nothing is hidden from Him. God is omniscient (knows all - 139:1-6), omnipresent (everywhere - 139:7-12), and omnipotent (all powerful - 139:13-18). He is worthy of our praise and our obedience. We should do more things that give God glory.

Look To The Lord For Help

"I lift up my eyes to You, to You whose throne is in heaven ... Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us, for we have endured much contempt." Psalms 123:1-3 (NIV)

We should look to The Lord to mercifully meet our needs. Only He can bring us through all that we endure. We must pray and petition Him to get us out of whatever distressing situation we find ourselves in.

We must continue to exalt Him, and trust in Him, and know that He can help us with every one of our problems.

Blessed Because Of Your Haters

Those who hate you and talk about you because of your belief in God, can actually cause you to be blessed.

"Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven..." Matthew 5:11-12 (NIV)

We are blessed because we believe (John 20:29), and we are blessed even more when we are hated because we believe (Matthew 5:11). So, don't hate your haters, they can cause you to be blessed.

Condemned And Exposed Can Be Forgiven

"For God did not sent His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of Light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates The Light, and will not come into The Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed." John 3:17-20 (NIV)

God does not condemn us, we condemn ourselves by what we do, what we say, and what we believe. Most of us who sin and do wrong or evil, do not want our deeds made public knowledge. Jesus, The Light of the world (John 8:12 & 9:5), just exposes us for who we really are. We need to repent and turn from our wicked ways.

"If My people, which are called by My name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and heal their land." 2 Chronicles 7:14

The Gospel, The Good News

"For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16 (NIV)

This is the gospel, the good news of the Bible, summed up in one verse.

Share this good news with someone today and you will be blessed.

Changed - Born Again

"In reply Jesus declared, 'I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again ... unless he is born of water and The Spirit.'" John 3:1-6 (NIV)

All Christians have two birthdays, the date of their physical birth and the date of their spiritual birth. With our physical birth, we were born into sin when we entered this world. With our spiritual birth, we are released from the penalty of sin when we accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior.

When we are born again, we undergo a spiritual transformation. We are a "changed" group of people who act, talk, and think differently because of the effect of The Holy Spirit upon our lives. We are not perfect, we make mistakes, and we still sin, but we are not as bad as we used to be. Hopefully, we are getting better, more Christ-like, each day because we have been born again.

Help The Weak And The Less Enlightened

"We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. Each of us should please our neighbor for his good, to build him up." Romans 15:1-2 (NIV)

The spiritually strong and enlightened among us are to tolerate and help the weaker and less enlightened until they too become strong in the faith.

We are to help our weaker brothers bear their burdens by showing loving support and practical consideration for them. We are to build them up, encourage, correct, inform, and strengthen them whenever possible.

The Christian life is centered on helping and strengthening others. We are not just to live selfishly and satisfy our own desires. Share with others what you have and what you know.

Confess Believe And Be Saved

"That if you confess with you mouth, 'Jesus is Lord', and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved." Romans 10:9-10 (NIV)

Confession is more than an acknowledgement, for even the devil and his demons know this to be true. (James 2:19) Confession is a personal conviction, repenting from sin, trusting in Jesus, and submitting to Him as Lord. Justification means that the sinner is declared innocent in the sight of God by the righteousness of Jesus Christ.

If we confess and believe, we will be saved from the penalty of sin.

We Fight Within Ourselves Daily

Christians are human and as such are constantly fighting an internal war. Our spirit and our flesh are battling for control of our soul and behavior.

So like Paul we can say, "I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good , but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do, this I keep on doing." Romans 7:18-19 (NIV)

We must pray for God's help to do, to say, and to think the right things.

The Penalty Of Sin And The Gift Of God

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

Because we all have sinned, we all deserve the penalty of death. And not just the physical death, but separation from Jesus The Christ. We cannot pay the debt that we owe for our sins. However, Jesus has already paid the debt for us and has given us the opportunity for eternal life with Him, if we believe in him.

Death is both physical and spiritual. The physical death is the separation of the body and the spirit. Spiritual death is the "second death" when the soul is cast into the "lake of fire" for eternal damnation and torment. The only way to escape the second death is acceptance of the gift of eternal life.

All Of Us Are Sinners

It does not matter how good we think that we are, we all sinners. We all need to repent and ask God for forgiveness.

"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23

If you think that this does not apply to you, read Romans 1:18-3:20, which lists the sins of mankind. All of us are sinners, but some of us are just sinners who have been saved by the grace of God.

Jesus Is Coming Back

"After He said this, He was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid Him from their sight. They were looking intently up into the sky as He was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 'Men of Galilee,' they said, 'why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into the heaven.'" Acts 1:9-11 (NIV)

"... I am going to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am..." John 14:1-4 (NIV)

"For The Lord Himself will come down from heaven ... we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet The Lord in the air ..." (the rapture) 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 (NIV)

One day Jesus Christ will return to earth in the same manner as He ascended into the clouds. This is referred to as "The Second Coming of Christ". We all better get ready.

Some Blessings Are Meant To Be Shared

Some of the blessings that we receive are given to us to share with others. Jesus told His disciples, and the Pharisees who were nearby and listing, about "... a certain rich man ... and a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate ... desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table ..." Luke 16:19-31

The rich man lived well, but was tormented in death. The beggar was basically tormented in life, but received a place of honor in death.

The take home lesson is that those of us who have should share with those that have not. We will be judged and have to give an account for the way that we treat the less fortunate poor people that we encounter.

Give And Give Generously

"Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." Luke 6:38 (NIV)

As we give to others, that is how God will give to us. If we are generous with others, He will give to us a "good measure", not a meager amount. It will be "pressed down, shaken together", not full of air as some packages we purchase. Our blessings will be over flowing as if we do not have enough room to receive them.

If we give out in small portions, then our blessings will come to us in small portions. So, give, and give generously, and you will be abundantly blessed.

Jesus Christ Is God

"In the beginning was The Word, and The Word was with God, and The Word was God." "And The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us." John 1:1 & 1:14 (NIV)

Before there was time, space, and matter, The Word existed. The Word, the second person in The Holy Trinity, God The Son, was with God, the first person in The Holy Trinity, God The Father.

The Word, God The Son, Jesus Christ, was God. This point was made perfectly clear in verse 14. The Word put on flesh and humanity through the immaculate conception and dwelt among us as Jesus, The Christ.

Jesus, The Son of God, was God in the beginning, is God now, and always will be God forever.

Don't Do Things Just To Be Seen

"Everything they do is done for men to see ..." "For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted." Matthew 23:5 & 12 (NIV)

Some people do things just for show, to be seen by others, to draw attention to themselves, to make themselves appear to be much more important, greater, or whatever than they actually are. Don't do things just to be seen by men and praised by men. Do what you do because it is the right thing to do, not to get the praise of others for doing it.

Whatever we do should not be done to glorify ourselves in the eyes of others. We should do things in such a manner as to give God the glory. (Read Matthew 5:16)

Rewards For Faithful Service

"... Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!" Matthew 25:21 (NIV)

In this parable of the servants who were given talents by their master, each man who produced results was commended for faithful service during his masters absence.

Their reward, like our will be, was based upon their faithfulness, not upon their results. The man who received the five talents and the man who received the two talents both received the same reward.

Our faithful stewardship now, will result in rewards later on.

The Greatest Commandments

"Jesus replied, 'Love The Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.' " Matthew 22:37-39 (NIV)

"... Heart ... soul ... mind ..." identifies the completeness of our love for The Lord. We should love The Lord with all of our being, as much as is humanly possible.

"... Your neighbor ..." is not just the person who lives next door, but refers to all people.

Some of us cannot remember or recite the ten commandments in order, but we can all remember these two commandments. Our problem is not remembering them, our problem is
keeping them and living them. We should pray daily for God to help us follow these two commandments.

All Things Are Possible If You Only Believe

"If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer." Matthew 21:22 (NIV)

If you have faith and do not doubt, it will be done, whatever it is that you pray for. That is, if it will give God glory and if it is not for selfish gain or pleasure.

God can do what to us is seemingly impossible, but we have to have faith and believe in Him.

Are You Built On Solid Rock Or Shifting Sand?

"Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash." Matthew 7:24-27 (NIV)

Our house, our religious life, will be tested and judged. Only those whose house is on the foundation of belief in and obedience to The Word of God will stand through the tests of life and the judgement. Just going to church once in a while or once a week is not enough. We need to believe, read, and live The Word of God.

The rock is The Word of God. The shifting sand is human opinion and the doctrines of man. Is your foundation built upon the solid rock or on shifting sand?

Admit Being Christian, Don't Deny Jesus

"Whoever acknowledges Me before men, I will also acknowledge him before My Father in heaven. But whoever disowns Me before men, I will disown him before My Father in heaven." Matthew 10:32-33 (NIV)

Do not be ashamed to admit that you believe in Jesus The Christ. Do not deny Him in order to be accepted by people here on earth. If we deny Him now, He will deny us later.

Do your family and friends know that you are a Christian? They should not only hear you say it, but they should see you live like it.

How Strong Is Your Faith?

"Then Jesus said to the centurion, 'Go! It will be done just as you believed it would.' And his servant was healed at that very hour." Matthew 8:13

Some times faith is involved in healing and blessings. Jesus was impressed by the "great faith"
(Matthew 8:10) of the centurion and answered his prayer. Jesus was also impressed by the faith of the paralytic and the men who brought him to Him (Matthew 9:2).

Before Jesus blessed the two blind men, He asked them did they believe, then He blessed them "According to your faith will it be done to you." (Matthew 9:27-30)

Many true believers are weak in their faith, and many have doubts. At one point Jesus rebuked the little faith of His disciples saying "You of little faith, why are you so afraid?" Matthew 8:26

Maybe we need to exercise and strengthen our faith. Just maybe the more that we believe and
step out on faith, the more He will bless us.

Beware Of False Prophets And False Friends

"Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit will you recognize them ..." Matthew 7:15-16

Don't follow everyone who wants to lead or direct you. Also, do not believe all that you hear. It is better to watch what a man does than it is to listen to what he says. A false prophet will soon show his wickedness.

People can impersonate friends and shepherds, pray for discernment and read The Bible to help you evaluate what you hear and whom you listen to. This applies to preachers, politicians, community leaders, and some times to friends and family.

Do not naively accept all that you hear. There is a difference between judging a person and discerning that which is true.

I Will Lift Up My Eyes

"I will lift up my eyes to the hills; where does my help come from? My help comes from The Lord, The Maker of heaven and earth." Psalms 121:1-2

In this sin sick world that we live in, we need to recognize and acknowledge that God is our helper, our keeper, our protector, and our preserver. We need to keep our eyes lifted up and focused upon Him.

As we journey through the uncertain circumstances of life, we need the help of The Lord. We must trust in The Lord in times of trouble (health, financial, relationship, or whatever) and when we think that all is fine. From day to day, from minute to minute, from moment to moment, we need The Lord. We can't make it on this journey without Him.

Give Thanks To God # 4

"Give thanks to The Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever." Psalms 106:1 (NIV)

May you have a blessed and joy filled celebration on the day of giving thanks to God for all that He has given to you.

Give Thanks To God # 3

O that we could all praise and thank The Lord now as David did then.

"David praised The Lord in the presence of the whole assembly saying, 'Praise be to you O Lord, God of our father Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is Yours. Yours, O Lord is the kingdom; You are exalted as head over all. Wealth and honor come from You; You are the ruler of all things. In Your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all. Now, our God, we give You thanks, and praise Your glorious name.' " 1 Chronicles 29:10-13

During this period of giving thanks, we should all pray and give thanks God for everything.

Give Thanks To God # 2

"Giving thanks always for all things unto God and The Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;" Ephesians 5:20 (KJV)

"Always giving thanks to God The Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." Ephesians 5:20 (NIV)

We should be thankful to God for who He is, for all that He has done, and for what He has done for us through His Son, Jesus The Christ, our Lord and Savior.

We should be grateful for all things which are divinely allowed to enter our life since they will all be used for our good or the good of others.

Give Thanks To God

"Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let The Word of Christ dwell in you richly ... with gratitude in your heart to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of The Lord Jesus; giving thanks to God the Father through Him." Colossians 3:15-17 (NIV)

May we all be blessed during this period of giving thanks and may we remember to include The Word of God in your thoughts, words, and actions as you interact with family and friends. May
we exhibit good Christian behavior and reflect an attitude of gratitude to all that we encounter.

A Call To Praise And Thank God

"Make a joyful noise unto The Lord ... Serve The Lord with gladness ... He is God ... He ... made us ... we are His ... Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise; be thankful unto Him, and bless His name. For The Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting; and His truth endureth to all generations." Psalms 100:1-5 (KJV - King James version)

"Shout for joy to The Lord ... Worship The Lord with gladness ... He is God ... He ... made us ... we are His ... Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; Give thanks to Him and praise His name. For The Lord is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations." Psalms 100:1-5 (NIV - New International version)

This Psalm is a call to praise and thank The Lord. We are not only told to praise Him, but how to praise Him, and why we should praise Him.

During this period of celebration and giving thanks, and every day for that matter, we should let everyone that we come into contact with know that The Lord God is the source of all goodness and that we are grateful for all that He has done, is doing, and will do for us in the future.

Want A Long Productive Prosperous Life?

"The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree; he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. Those that be planted in the house of The Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing;" Psalms 92:12-14

The palm tree, in a barren land, is watered by deep roots. The cedars of Lebanon grow tall and are long-lived. Being planted in the courtyard of the temple is symbolic of thriving, in spite of the conditions, and prosperity for those who maintain a close relationship with The Lord. He will provide a permanent security and long lasting prosperity, even into old age.

The righteous shall have a fruitful and prosperous long life.

When You Pray Use Not Vain Repetitions

"And when thou prayest, thou shall not be as the hypocrites are ... that they may be seen of men ... pray to Thy Father which is in secret ... and Thy Father shall reward thee openly. But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do; for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like unto them; for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask Him." Matthew 6:5-8

Prayer is us talking to God. It should be a sincere, honest, personal, private conversation and not just a series of trite, overused, worn out expressions that we have heard others use. Every prayer should not be the same exact words, every time that we pray. How would you feel about someone who said the exact same thing to you every time they talked to you?

Prayers are not to be merely recited, nor are our words in prayer to be repeated thoughtlessly. Our prayers should differ as our daily situations change, even throughout a single day. "... The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." James 5:16

Being Tried By The Lord Makes Us Better

"The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold; but The Lord trieth the heart." Proverbs 17:3

Heat makes raw precious metals pure. Being heated to very high temperatures tests and refines silver and gold. Likewise, trials and tribulations make us better people. Our faith is tested and strengthened by the adversity and affliction that we endure.

The things that we go through in life make us stronger. We can be better witnesses for The Lord and have a better testimony after we endure the tests. Whatever He brings us to, He can bring us through. We may not like it while we are in it, but we will be better because of it.

What's On Your Mind, How Pure Are Your Thoughts?

"Commit thy works unto The Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established." Proverbs 16:3

Having trouble thinking sinful thoughts, then get busy working for The Lord. "An idle mind is the devil's workshop." Unknown Keep yourself and your mind occupied with Godly activities, like reading The Word of God, or doing something to be a helpful blessing to others.

While it is possible to deceive others, and do the "right thing for the wrong reasons", God knows our true motives. If we submit to the will of God, He will direct our thoughts and fulfill our righteous plans.

We need to clean up our thoughts, as well as our words and actions, and we need God's help to do it. Remember, as a man "... thinketh in his heart, so is he;" Proverbs 23:7

Now When I am Old And Greyheaded

"Now when I am old and greyheaded, O God, forsake me not; until I have shewed Thy strength unto this generation, and Thy power to every one that is to come." Psalms 71:18

Do not discard or disregard the "seasoned" senior saints, there is a lot of wisdom tied up in all those years that could be useful to the world. For we have seen, and experienced, and learned a lot during our Christian walk that could benefit the younger generations. We can truly testify, based upon our trials and tribulations, about the strength and power of The Lord and what He has done in our lives.

Listen when the elderly speak, you just may learn something. God is not through with us old folks yet, and with His help there is still kingdom building work for us to do. That is why we can pray this old man's prayer. We need God's help to guide our tongue as we speak to the next generation.

Seek Ye First The Kingdom Of God

"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." Matthew 6:33

God knows all of our needs, for food, for drink, for clothing, for lodging, for health, and for everything else. In fact, He knows what we will need before the need exists, and He can supply all of our needs.

God wants us to put Him first, to seek salvation, to seek Him and His righteous ways above everything else. When we commit our lives to Him, He will give us everything that we need.

We need to continually strive to get our spiritual life in order and making that our first priority, and God will take care of our material and physical needs.

Don't Argue With A Fool

"Go from the presence of a foolish man, when thou perceiveth not in him the lips of knowledge." Proverbs 14:7

At the point, during the course of your conversation or discussion with another individual, that you discover that he or she is foolish, you should just walk away from that person. You cannot have an intelligent Christian conversation with a foolish person.

We are to tell the world about our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, but it is up to the Holy Spirit the convict, convince, and convert them as He deems necessary. "... And The Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved." Acts 2:47 Converting folks is God's work.

"And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you, when ye depart thence, shake off the dust under your feet for a testimony against them..." Mark 6:11

It has been said, "When you encounter a genius and a fool arguing, it is difficult to tell which one is which." Unknown

Delight Thyself In The Lord And Get Your Desires

"Delight thyself also in The Lord; and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto The Lord; trust also in Him; and He shall bring it to pass." Psalms 37:4-5

When we find joy in The Lord and in reading The Word of God, He will give us what our heart desires because we will want that which is right for ourselves and others and that which gives Him glory.

We need to be committed to doing things His way. When we trust in Him, He will provide for us the desires of our heart.

Sharing With Others Will Lead To Your Blessings

"There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty." Proverbs 11:24

The principal here is that generosity produces increase, while stinginess when you have enough to share results in poverty.

"The liberal soul shall be made fat; and he that watereth shall be watered also himself." Proverbs 11:25

The word "fat" here equates to prosperity, and "watereth" implies to give or to bless. He that generously gives to others shall experience increases for himself. He that is a blessing to others, shall also be blessed himself. He that gives to others receives far more in return.

"What you give, you gain; and what you keep, you lose. God blesses the bountiful soul and repays what is cheerfully given." F. J. Dake

Don't Be Afraid Of Anything

"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear ..." Psalms 46:1-2

There is no need for us to be afraid of anything. God will strengthen us when we are weak. God will hid and shield us when we need protection. God will help us when we are in trouble.

So, what do we have to be afraid of? This Psalms gives us assurance and unshakable confidence that we are secure in God, no matter what happens to us, or around us. There is no need for us to be afraid of anything.

God is our "bridge over troubled waters", and "a shelter in the time of storm."

The Steps Of A Good Man

"The steps of a good man are ordered by The Lord; and he delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; for The Lord upholdeth him with His hand." Psalms 37:23-24

It is not clear to me from my research whether the "... he ..." and "... his ..." in this verse should be read as "... and The Lord delighteth in a good man's way ..." or as "... and a good man delighteth in The Lord's way ..." It appears that either way we read it could be appropriate. However, the second seems to be consistent with Psalms 1:2.

What is very clear is that the steps and direction of a good person are established or guided by The Lord and even though we fall down, stumble in our walk with Him, or suffer hardships, we won't stay down, we will recover because The Lord is holding us up. We are in God's hand.

Don't Give Up, Hang In There

"Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in The Lord." Psalms 31:24

When things get rough and the going gets tough, hang on in there, don't give up. The Good Lord has not forgotten us, our faith is just being tested. He just wants us to know that it is He that gives us the strength to carry on. When we need His strength, we just need to ask for it. "Be of good courage ..." He will help us make it through the storms of life.

Blessed And Protected

"The Angel of The Lord encampeth round about them that fear Him, and He delivereth them. O taste and see that The Lord is good; blessed is the man that trusteth in Him." Psalms 34:7-8

Try Him, you'll like Him, in fact, He's so good that you'll love Him. He can protect you from all hurt, harm, and danger, seen and unseen.

God Sees All That We Do And Judgement Is Coming

"For the ways of man are before the eyes of The Lord, and He pondereth all his goings." Proverbs 5:21

Some people say, "What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas." It is as if they believe that God is not there and that He does not see all that goes on in Las Vegas and everywhere else. That which is done in the dark will soon come to the light.

Imagine a video camera being focused upon you, 24 hours each day, 365 days of the year. Would you want that recording played back to all of your family and friends in church, especially if it included all that you said and thought?

On judgement day, Jesus is going to judge each of us on all of our thoughts, words, and deeds. Read Matthew 12:36-37 and Revelation 20:12-13. Repent now and ask for forgiveness for all sins, and pray for help to avoid them in the future.

Show Us The Way

Prayer is powerful. We should begin and end each day with prayer, and it is okay to pray multiple times during the day. The following prayer of David is a good way to start the day.

"Shew me Thy ways, O Lord; teach me Thy paths. Lead me in Thy truth, and teach me; for Thou art The God of my salvation; on Thee do I wait all the day." Psalms 25:4-5

We won't go wrong with God showing us the way, leading us, and teaching us. We need His help to do a better job of following His lead.

Watch Your Words

Watch what you say, before you speak, pray this prayer, or something just like it.

"Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer." Psalms 19:14

We really ought to be much more careful regarding the words that we speak. Even what we think should be pleasing to God. We will be judged by not only that which we do, but also by what we say and think. (Read Matthew 12:36-37 & Matthew 5:28 & Proverbs 23:7)

When you pray, ask for forgiveness for sinful deeds, spoken words, and thoughts.

Want To Gain Favor With God?

"... Forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments; For length of days, long life, and peace, shall they add to thee. Let not mercy and truth forsake thee; bind them about thy neck ... So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man." Proverbs 3:1-4

A peaceful, long life and God's favour, that should make any Christian happy. You too can enjoy these blessings, all you have to do is believe and follow The Word of God.

If we keep God's word in our heart and on our mind, and have mercy and truth become a part of us so that we demonstrate acts of loving-kindness, we will have favour in the sight of God.

The Apocalypse

The Book of Revelation is probably the most difficult Book of The Bible to understand. It is The New Testament book of prophesy. It is written by a first century man presenting things revealed to him that are to come in the twenty-first century (or later), the apocalypse, the end of days.

There is a blessing in store for all who read, not necessarily understand, the Book of Revelation for it is full of symbols.

"Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy..." Revelation 1:3

To the believers, it teaches about the folly of living for things that will soon pass away. To the unbeliever, it offers a warning of doom that awaits all who reject Jesus Christ.

God Is Love

"Beloved, let us love one another; for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love." 1 John 4:7-8

God is the essence of love. All of us who are born again receive God's nature. This is not a reference to mere human love or lust, but the highest and ultimate form of agape love which is spiritual not physical.

Let us show the world the God in us by demonstrating love for one another. Jesus said, "By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another." John 13:35

Reassurance And Guidance

"Hear me ... O Lord ... Cause me to hear Thy loving-kindness in the morning, for in Thee do I trust; cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto Thee." Psalms 143:7-8

This prayer of David should seem to be appropriate for all of us each morning. When David was in trouble, he knew who to turn to. He wanted peace from his problems and he wanted The Lord to guide his way.

It would be a good thing to hear God's sweet voice in the morning, directing our path for each day. Reassurance and guidance are good things to have.

If You Want To Be Prosperous

A lot of people talk about prosperity and a lot of people want to be prosperous. However, as David told his son Solomon, "Then shalt thou prosper, if thou takest heed to fulfil the statues and judgements which The Lord charged Moses with concerning Israel; be strong, and of good courage; dread not, nor be dismayed." 1 Chronicles 22:13

If you want to be prosperous, you must obey and follow The Word of God. Don't worry about the evil and wicked who prosper by doing wrong, God will deal with them. (Psalms 37:1-10) The way to true and lasting prosperity is by obedience to The Word of God.

Blessings Past Present And Future

"Blessed be The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ." Ephesians 1:3

We have been blessed in the past, we are being blessed now in the present, and we will be blessed in the future. By His providential grace, God has kept us, is keeping us, and will keep us until we are with Him in the future. Praise His holy and righteous name.

Remember, we are in this world, but not of this world. We are just passing through it on our way home.

We Are Wonderfully Made

Do you ever stop and think about the miracle that is you? We are wonderfully made.

"I will praise Thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvellous are Thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well." Psalms 139:14 (Read Psalms 139:13-17)

From the single sperm cell and the one ovum (egg), two small cells which united and began to multiply, and grow, and differentiate into the various body parts that we have. From our mother's womb, our birth, our childhood growth and development, and all of the dangers that we go through in life, the fact that we exist at all is a miracle.

We ought to praise God and thank Him for our lives. We are wonderfully made. We each are a work of God.

Forgive And Forget

In the model prayer that is recorded for us in Matthew 6:9-13, we find these words in verse 12: "And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors." Our Lord Jesus repeats this point and expands upon it in the two which follow the model prayer, Matthew 6:14-15.

The point is again illustrated in the parable which Jesus spoke regarding the king and his servant in Matthew 18:23-35.

We are to forgive those who trespass against us, and our Heavenly Father will only forgive us of our trespasses as we forgive others of theirs.

Jesus said that He would also forget our sins, Hebrews 8:12 and 10:17. Let us be more Christ-like, forgive and forget. Can we truly forgive when we keep remembering the wrong done to us?

Don't Walk The Dark Road Of Life Alone

"Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." Psalms 119:105

"Order my steps in Thy Word; and let not any iniquity have dominion over me." Psalms 119:133

"In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths." Proverbs 3:6

The steps and directions of a good man/woman are ordered by The Lord. Don't walk down the dark road of life by yourself. Let The Lord direct you, light your path, and protect you as you go through life. As you plan, begin, continue, and end every work and purpose in life, include God in it.

Put Your Trust In The Lord

"It is better to trust in The Lord than to put confidence in man." Psalms 118:8

No matter how well intentioned man may be, he will fail you. Be it your mother, father, sister, brother, relative, or best friend, you will eventually be disappointed in them. Only God has never failed. He has kept every promise in His Word. (1 Kings 8:56) Trust in The Lord.

Don't Laugh When Others Fall

"Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth; and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth; Lest The Lord see it , and it displease Him, and He turn away His wrath from him." Proverbs 24:17-18

Don't be happy and celebrate when bad things happen to your enemies. Gloating over a fallen enemy can be more serious than the sin that your enemy committed. Remember, we are to love them, bless them, do good to them, and pray for them (Matthew 24:43-45). Don't make God mad by laughing at someone who is getting theirs. Let God handle it and them.

It is written, "Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith The Lord" Romans 12:19. And "... Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith The Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge His people." Hebrews 10:30

The Trial Of Your Faith

"Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations; that the trial of your faith ... might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearance of Jesus Christ;" 1 Peter 1:6-7

The trial of our faith will be the tests, temptations, and troubles that we go through in this life. Know that trouble will come (the trial of your faith); it is temporary (for a season); it serves a purpose (if need be); it brings distress (heaviness); it comes in various forms (manifold temptations); and it should not diminish a Christian's joy (ye greatly rejoice).

After each test that we come through, we can say "To God be the glory!"

Childhood Education And Training

"Train up a child in the way he should go; and when he is old, he will not depart from it." Proverbs 22:6

Early training secures lifelong habits. We should help children develop a taste for the things of God and the things that are right. This should be done with a balance of loving instruction and loving discipline. That which is learned during childhood provides the foundation for adult life.

Judge Not # 2

"Judge not, that ye be not judged." "And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considereth not the beam that is in thine own eye?" Matthew 7:1 & 3

Don't worry about the speck that is in your brother's eye until you remove the log that is in your own eye.

Sometimes our sins are bigger problems than the people that we talk about. Let's start by fixing ''the man in the mirror" before we tell others what is wrong with them. None of us is perfect.

Be Extra Specially Blessed

We are all blessed in more ways than we realize. However, some of us receive special blessings from The Lord.

"Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of The Lord; and in His law doth he meditate day and night." Psalms 1:1-2

We are blessed by hanging around, running with, and associating with saints instead of worldly sinful and evil folk. And we are blessed when we enjoy reading and studying The Word of God and by doing that at least twice each day.

If you want more out of life, then do things differently. You can't get good results by doing the same old bad things. Try God's way.

God Is Awesome!

My God is awesome!!! There is nobody greater. He is not to be played with.

My God is omnipotent, all powerful, (Revelation 19:6), omniscient, all knowing, (Matthew 6:8) and omnipresent, everywhere all at the same time, (Matthew 28:20).

He made me (Psalms 139:13-16), He knows me (Psalms 139:1-6), He loved me (John 3:16 & John 15:9), and He still loves me (Hebrews 13:8). "I love Him, I love Him, I really love The Lord." He deserves all of our praise, honor, worship, and glory.

"... My heart standeth in awe of Thy Word." Psalms 119:161

We Have The Victory

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

We already have the victory, but some of us act like we don't know it yet. It doesn't matter what it is that we are dealing with, we've already won!!!

Who Are Your Friends?

"He that walketh with wise men shall be wise; but a companion of fools shall be destroyed." Proverbs 13:20

Be very careful regarding the company that you keep and the people that you hang around. You will begin to think like, talk like, and then become just like them. You are born into your family, and you may not have a lot of choice about your coworkers, but you choose your friends.

Are your friends Christians? Do you hang with saints or sinners? Maybe there are some people in our lives that shouldn't be there. Remember the old saying, "Birds of a feather flock together." Unknown

Be Quiet Sometimes

"The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable; but the mouth of the wicked speaketh frowardness." Proverbs 10:32

"A talebearer revealeth secrets; but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter." Proverbs 11:13

"He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life; but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction." Proverbs 13:3

Sometimes we talk too much. Sometimes it is better not to say anything than to lie, to gossip, or to hurt someone. Some things are better left unsaid.

"To every thing there is a season ... a time to keep silence, and a time to speak ..." Ecclesiastes 3:1 & 7

Tell The Truth Don't Lie

"He that speaketh truth sheweth forth righteousness; but a false witness deceit." Proverbs 12:17

"Lying lips are abomination to The Lord; but they that deal truly are His delight." Proverbs 12:22

When we speak, we should tell the truth. Don't lie. Let us pray for forgiveness for our past lies and ask for help to speak the truth and to practice good Christian conversation.

It is better not to say anything than to lie. Some things are better left unsaid.

We Are Never Alone

"... For He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me." Hebrews 13:5-6

We have a constant companion, 24 hours of each day, and He is able to help and protect us in every situation. We have His strength to rely on and He is all knowing, all powerful, and everywhere all at the same time.

Joy and Peace

"Now The God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of The Holy Ghost." Romans 15:13

Joy and peace come from trust in God, and trust is a gift from God. So basically, both joy and peace come from God. The world can't give them to you, and the world can't take them away from you.

Fear Not, Don't Be Afraid

Fear not! Don't be afraid. There is no need to be afraid of anything if God is your refuge.

"You shall not be afraid of the terror by night; nor of the arrow that flies by day; nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness; nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday."

"Because you have made The Lord, who is my refuge, even The Most High, your dwelling place; No evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling. For He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways." Psalms 91:5-6 & 9-11 (NKJ)

If you love The Lord, then there is no need to fear anything. 1 John 4:18 (NKJ) says "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear..." So, fear not! Don't be afraid. Let your love of God show, He will protect you.

Ask For What You Want

"Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you; For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened." Matthew 7:7-8

This suggest that we pray for whatever it is that we want and we are to pray for it frequently and with perseverance. Frequent, fervent, and continual prayer will get results.

Also James 4:2 says "... Ye have not because ye ask not." However, we just need to make sure that when we pray for whatever it is that we ask for, seek, or the door that we want opened, that we want whatever it is in order to give God glory.

Greater Is He That Is In You

"Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world." 1 John 4:4

Christian need to be aware of and alert to false teaching where ever it occurs, from pulpits, TV, radio, the internet, or personal contact. There is no need to be afraid because the indwelling of The Holy Spirit and the reading of The Word of God will lead us to sound doctrine. Protection from and victory over Satan's hosts and their perversions is guaranteed because He that is within you has already overcome the world and the devil that rules it.

The Bible is our sword and shield in this war that we have already won because God fought it for us and was victorious.

God Shall Supply All Your Needs

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

In the context in which this verse was written, it implies that if you are doing His will, He will take care of you. You will not suffer because of sacrificial giving to help others. As you give to meet the needs of others, God will bless you and meet your needs.

In Luke 6:38, Jesus says "Give, and it shall be given unto you ... For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you."

A Powerful Prayer For You

For all of you who are going through something that appears to be more than you can handle, I pray for you as Paul did, "That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might by His Spirit ..." Ephesians 3:16

From time to time we all need help, more than that which can be provided by our fellow man, we need His help and strength. May God strengthen, energize, revitalize, empower, protect, and sustain you through whatever, as only He can.

Joy Cometh In The Morning

"Sing unto The Lord, O ye saints of His, and give thanks at the remembrance of His holiness. For His anger endureth but for a moment; in His favour is life; weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning." Psalms 30:4-5


Praise God and be thankful, even when He is giving us the whipping that we deserve or allowing us to go through a test. God does get angry with us at times, but He still loves us. Whatever it is that we are going through, it will only be short-lived. Our current dark midnight situation may cause us to cry, but it is temporary, our joy is coming in the morning.

Be Careful How You Treat People

"... Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." Matthew 25:40 (Read verses 31-46)

Did you feed the hungry, give a drink to the thirsty, take in a stranger, clothe the naked, visit the sick or the incarcerated?

We all need to be very careful about how we treat the people that we encounter each day. Jesus said, and is saying to us, as you treat His people, He takes it as though you are doing it to Him.

Be A Blessing And Be Blessed

"The liberal soul shall be made fat; and he that watereth shall be watered also himself." Proverbs 11:25


Give unto others and it shall be given unto you. The giver shall be made prosperous. Whoever blesses others shall be enriched. He that is a blessing to others shall himself also be blessed.

Acknowledge God

"Trust in The Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths." Proverbs 3:5-6

Rely on and depend upon The Lord. Do not depend upon your own instincts and abilities. Give God the credit for all that you accomplish and recognize that without Him, we could do nothing.

Do not give credit to some thing or some body, when the credit belongs to God. There is no such thing as "mother nature", God controls the weather, all plants and animals including man.

Knowledge And Wisdom

Some people say "I know, I know", and some people say it a lot. But how much do they really know? A lot has been said about knowledge. "If you only have a little bit of knowledge, then you are dangerous." And "Only a fool doesn't know that he doesn't know."

Having a series of facts at ones disposal does not make one knowledgeable. Knowledge implies an understanding of something. Wisdom, often used as a synonym for knowledge, implies an ability to discern relationships between things or facts and the application of that information.

Knowledge and wisdom suggest the ability to understand and appropriately apply the facts at ones disposal.

"The fear of The Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction." Proverbs 1:7

Knowledge and wisdom are God given abilities. Knowledge is the correct understanding of the world and ones self. Wisdom is the acquired skill of applying that knowledge correctly. We all need to pray to God for wisdom and knowledge.

The Desires of Your Heart

Not getting what you want out of life? Maybe that is because you want the wrong things.

"Delight thyself also in The Lord; and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto The Lord; trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass." Psalms 37:4-5

To "delight thyself in The Lord" is to take great pleasure in Him; to get great joy and satisfaction from Him. Does thinking about The Lord and reading His Holy Word give you great joy and great satisfaction?

He will give you what your heart desires because it you delight yourself in The Lord and trust in Him, then what your heart desires will be the right things for yourself and for others.

Talk It And Walk It

It is always a good thing to speak the Word of God. It is even a better thing to live the Word of God. It has been said that "actions speak louder than words." When our words and our actions are inconsistent, people will judge us by our actions.

Our problem is that we often speak the word, but we do not live like the Word is in us. We talk a good game, but most of the time we live just like the rest of the world. God is watching and listening to us all of the time.

"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." Matthew 5:16

Don't just talk it, but talk it and walk it.

It's All Good

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28

So no matter what is happening in your life, know that it is all good, it will be good, and it will work out for the best for you down the road, if you are a child of God.

F. Y. I.

F.Y.I. Just wanted to let you know that I will be having surgery on 09-06-11.

Be A Cheerful Giver

"Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity; for God loveth a cheerful giver." 2 Corinthians 9:7

Give, and give generously. Give to the church, to the poor, to the needy, to the sick. Give money, but also give of you time and talents as well as of your treasure. Money may be important but so is your time. Whatever talent you have, use it for God's glory, use it in such a way as to be a blessing to others.

When we give to the poor and needy, we lend unto The Lord, and He will repay us. Proverbs 19:17 "... And remember the words of The Lord Jesus, that He said, It is more blessed to give than to receive." Acts 20:35

We have been blessed in order to be a blessing to others.

Create In Me A Clean Heart

"Hide Thy face for my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me." Psalms 51:9-10

All of us have sinned and we need to ask God for forgiveness daily. Sinful thoughts are still sins. We all need to be cleansed. We need God's help to create within us clean hearts and minds.

Be honest with God and confess to Him your short comings. Don't beat yourself up because of them. Ask Him for His help in making you more Christ-like. Be determined to be a better Christian today than you were yesterday.

Heavenly Rewards

"Every man's work shall be made manifest; for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work shall abide which he hath built there upon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss; but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire." 1 Corinthians 3:13-15

We shall all stand before The Lord and be judged. All that we thought, said and did will also be judged. We will receive a heavenly reward for that which gives God glory.

This judgement is not about our sins because they have been forgiven by the death of Jesus on the cross. All believers will be saved. This judgement will reward us for our service to The Lord.

We Are Enriched

"... In every thing ye are enriched by Him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge ..." 1 Corinthians 1:5

Everything that we have and everything that we need comes from God. All of our abilities, all that we know, and all that we are, our very existence is a blessing from God. Those of us who use our talents, gifts, and abilities to spread the good news about Jesus Christ are blessed even more.

God provides all praying believers with the knowledge and words necessary to speak effectively to the lost for Him.

All of us have been blessed with talents, gifts, and abilities. The question is not do we have them. The question is how, and to what end do we use them.

Almost Is Not Good Enough

Not all who hear the word of God will accept it. Not even all who heard the apostle Paul preach the gospel accepted it.

King Agrippa said unto Paul, "Almost thou persuaded me to be a Christian." Acts 26:28

It is not our job to persuade people, we are just to tell them the good news. The Holy Spirit then convicts, convinces , and converts individuals as He deems necessary.

There are no "half-Christians", no "almost Christian", either you are or you are not. Either you believe or you don't. There is no sitting on the fence, you are either on one side or the other.

If you have not done so already, "... choose you this day whom ye will serve ..." Joshua 24:15

Don't Be Afraid To Spread The Gospel

The apostle Paul preached the gospel and spoke boldly for The Lord to the Jews and gentiles.

"Then spake The Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace; For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee; for I have much people in this city." Acts 18:9-10

The Lord told Paul to spread the word and do not be afraid. We were told the same thing in the great commission. "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations ... and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world." Matthew 28:19-20

Since The Lord is with us, we really do not have to worry about whoever is against us. So, let's go forth and spread the word of God. This is not just for preachers and deacons.

Pray And Keep Your Hope And Faith In God

"Out of the depths have I cried unto Thee, O Lord. Lord, hear my voice; let Thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplication ... there is forgiveness with Thee ... I wait for The Lord, my soul doth wait, and in His word do I hope." Psalms 130:1-5

Even in your darkest hour, have faith, pray, and keep your hope in God.

Often things are out of our control. Our situations seems hopeless. That is the time when we need God the most. When our faith is tested, we need to pray and wait upon The Lord.

When bad things happen, as hard as it is to deal with them, we must remember "... that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28

The Power Of Prayer # 2

The apostles Paul and Silas were beaten and thrown into prison for casting the demon out of a damsel.

"And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed and sang praises unto God; and the prisoners heard them. And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed." Acts 16:23-26

After seeing what happened, the keeper of the prison led them out, took them to his house, washed their wounds, fed them, and he and his whole family were baptized.

God can make the impossible, possible. He can make your enemies your footstool. He can turn those who were beating you down into someone who helps you to move up a little higher.

Jesus said, " With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26 He also said, "... All things are possible to him that believeth." Mark 9:23

Again, we are only as powerful as our prayers. "Little prayer, little power; much prayer, much power; no prayer, no power." (Unknown) God still hears and answers prayers.

The Power Of Prayer

"Peter therefore was kept in prison; but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto
God for him." Acts 12:5

There is power in prayer. When the church is on one accord, there is power in corporate prayer.

After Herod the king had killed the apostle James, he had the apostle Peter arrested to kill him also. While Peter was in prison, the church prayed without ceasing unto God for him. Peter was chained between two soldiers, with guards posted at the door. An angel of The Lord came to Peter, his chains fell off, and the angel led him past the guards and out of prison. Acts 12:1-12

God can make the impossible, possible. Jesus said, "With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26 He also said, "... All things are possible to him that believeth." Mark 9:23

We are only as powerful as our prayers. "Little prayer, little power; much prayer, much power; no prayer, no power." (Unknown) Prayer changes things. God still hears and answers prayers.

Stand In The Face Of Adversity

After his conversion, Saul, the future apostle Paul, went about boldly preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. So much so that the people wanted to kill him, but he continued his work for The Lord even in the face of adversity.

"And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, the He is The Son of God ... And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him ... And he spoke boldly in the name of The Lord Jesus and disputed against the Grecians, but they were about to slay him." Acts 9:18-30

Twice the brethren led Saul to safety to save his life. They let him down over the wall in a basket, Acts 9:25, and they took him to Caesarea to get away from the Crecians, Acts 9:30.

He continued to do The Lord's work even when the people wanted to kill him for doing so. And The Lord used his good relationship with the brethren to protect him from harm.

Will we stand up for Christ even when it is not popular with the people that we are around? Do we have the respect of the Christians around us such that they would be willing to help us in times of trouble?

It is easy to stand for a popular position, but it takes a serious commitment to stand up for what you believe in when you are faced with adversity. Don't deny Him to please the crowd. Jesus said "... whosoever shall deny Me before men, him will I also deny before My Father which is in heaven." Matthew 10:32-33

Stand up for Christ, even in the face of adversity.

A Changed Life

The apostle Paul, while he was still called Saul, had a life altering encounter with The Lord. The experience humbled him and changed how he saw the world. Acts 9:1-9

"And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do?" Acts 9:6

When you have a personal encounter with Christ, you cannot continue to live your life as you did before. You become a new creature, not perfect, but definitely different.

Saul lost his sight for three days. When the man of God put his hands on him, he received his sight and he saw things differently and much clearer as a changed man. Acts 9:17-18

Paul changed from being a zealot persecutor of Christians to being a zealot for The Lord. He changed from persecutor to preacher. How has your life changed since you became a Christian?

Repent And Pray, Money Can't Buy This

"And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands The Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, Saying give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive The Holy Ghost. But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money." Acts 8:18-20

Money can buy a lot of things but money can't buy the gift of God.

Simon was a well-known user of sorcery and when he saw what the apostles could do, he also wanted that power. However, when Peter pointed out the sin in his heart and told him to repent, there is no record that he repented of his sin. He asked Peter to pray that he would not have to pay the consequences for his sin. Acts 8:24

Unfortunately there are people who join the church because they want to avoid the consequences of their sins and going to hell. They do not truly believe and their thoughts, words and actions reflect their unbelief.

Based upon our sinful thoughts, words, and actions, maybe more of us should pray and repent as Peter told Simon to do. "Repent therefore of this wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee." Acts 8:22

Are You Willing To Die For Jesus?

Preachers are not the only ones who are full of the Holy Ghost and able to preach the gospel.

"... And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of The Holy Ghost ... And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people." Acts 6:1-8

Stephen was one of the first deacons. He was stoned to death for preaching the gospel. Acts 7:59

What are you doing for Him? Are you willing to die for Jesus? He was willing to die for you.

Don't Lie To God

"But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, And kept back part of the price ... thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God. And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost..."

"... When his wife, not knowing what was done, came in. And Peter answered unto her Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much ... How is it that ye have agreed to tempt The Spirit of The Lord ... Then she fell down ... and yielded up the ghost ..." Acts 5:1-10

The people sold their lands and houses and brought the full price of the sell to the apostles. Acts 4:34-37 The problem was that Ananias and Sapphira sold their land, kept back part of the selling price for themselves, and then brought the remainder to the apostles and lied claiming that it was the full price of the sell.

They lied and they died. They lied in the place of worship, to the man of God, and to God Himself, and they died right there. The moral of the story is don't lie to God.

Give And Be A Blessing To Others

"Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have I give thee; In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk." Acts 3:6

Throughout the Bible we are encouraged to give to those that are less fortunate that we are. While giving money can be helpful, money is not the only thing that we can give to them.

Peter said this to the lame man who was outside of the temple gate asking for money. The point here is that Peter did not have any money but he gave the man a blessing.

We are blessed in order that we might be a blessing to others. While we should also share our money, that is not the only thing that we should share.

"Give, and it shall be given unto you ..." Luke 6:38 If you want more, try giving to others more of whatever it is that you want.

Be Not Afraid

Jesus said, "... Be not afraid, only believe." Mark 5:36

Here Jesus urged a ruler of the synagogue to maintain his faith, to keep on believing. We need to do likewise. When faced with a helpless situation, don't fret, have faith, and keep on believing.

Our faith can do a lot for us. According to the Rev Dr J Benjamin Hardwick, faith:
dissolves doubt; dispels dread; disarms defeat; destroys death.

Our faith gives us the victory over every challenge. All things are possible if we only believe. Mark 9:23

All Things Are Possible

"Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief." Mark 9:23-24

This Jesus said to the man with his son who had a dumb spirit that the disciples of Jesus could not cast out. After Jesus cast out the foul spirit, his disciples asked Him privately why they could not cast out that demon.

"And He said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing but prayer and fasting" Mark 9:29

It is possible to have faith but also to have an imperfect faith mixed with a little doubt. This father's prayer was to confess his spiritual weakness and ask for Jesus to help him to have a greater faith. The take home lesson here is that believers may need to have a greater faith.

The disciples needed to know that some demons are more powerful that others. This is also a lesson that we all could learn. Some things we want require that we pray more and fast.

A Great Prayer For Others

The Apostle Paul prayed a great prayer for the saints at Ephesus. This is a good example of how we should pray for others.

"... I bow my knees unto The Father of our Lord Jesus Christ ... That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might by The Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God." Ephesians 3:14-19

In humble submission, Paul prayed for the spiritual welfare of others, that they would be granted spiritual power and knowledge of the vastness and completeness of the love of God. And that the life, character, and virtues of God may be developed within them.

This is also my prayer for you.

Who Will You Serve?

"And if it seem evil unto you to serve The Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve ... but as for me and my house, we will serve The Lord." Joshua 24:15

Joshua asked the people to make a choice regarding whom they would serve. We basically have that same choice today. There is no middle ground, either you love The Lord and will serve Him or you don't and won't.

Joshua also led by example, he committed himself and his household to serving The Lord. Leadership occasionally requires that one make a bold stand for what he believes in. We can't lead people where we will not or do not go.

As Christians we need to choose to serve The Lord. We need to make that choice known to all those around us. And we need to live our lives in such a way as to make it clear to everyone that we have chosen to serve The Lord.

We Are No Longer Condemned

"There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after The Spirit." Romans 8:1

Because justification is by faith alone on the basis of God's grace, no sin that a believer commit can be held against him. The penalty for the believer's sins was paid by Christ and righteousness was imputed to the believer.

This does not mean that believers loose their sinful nature and will not sin. It means that believers are no longer slaves to sin. Those who are in The Spirit are led by The Spirit and choose to yield to The Spirit.

Order My Steps In Your Word

"The steps of a good man are ordered by The Lord; and he delighted in His way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; for The Lord upholdeth him with His hand." Psalms 37:23-24

The words of the song, "Order my steps" are like a prayer request, a prayer we could all pray.
The following is not the whole song, just a few of the key verses:

"Order my steps in Your word dear Lord; Lead me, guide me, every day ...
Humbly I ask Thee, teach me Your will; While You are working, help me be still ...
Let the words of my mouth be acceptable in Thy sight;
Take charge of my thoughts, both day and night ...
I want to walk worthy, my calling to fulfill;
Please order my steps, Lord, and I'll do Your blessed will ...
Show me how to walk, in Your word; Show me how to talk, in Your word ...
Order my steps in Your word ...
Please order my steps in Your word.

Prayer Is Powerful

"... The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." James 5:13-16

Prayer is a powerful thing. Prayer changes things. We are only as powerful as our prayers. "Little prayer, little power; much prayer, much power; no prayer, no power." (Unknown)

Prayer that is full of intensity and feeling produces results. Prayer is basically talking to God. It should not be the exact same words every time we pray. "But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathens do ..." Matthew 6:7

As we grow in age, knowledge, and holiness, our prayers should also change. There are several model prayers which should serve as guidelines: the "now I lay me down to sleep..." children's prayer; the Lord's prayer from Matthew 6:9-13; and "ACTS", which stands for Acknowledgment, Confession, Thanksgiving, & Supplication.

Don't just say a prayer, pray a prayer. Pray daily and fervently, with meaning and feeling.

Be Not Ashamed Of The Gospel

The Apostle Paul said, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ; for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth ..." Romans 1:16

After his conversion, Paul had a lot of bad things to happen to him, but he remained ready to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ. He knew that God's word was powerful.

The gospel is powerful and effective because it brings with it the omnipotence of God. Only God's power can overcome man's sinful nature and give him a new life. It can deliver man from his lost state, from willful sinful ignorance, from evil self-indulgence, from the wrath of God, and from eternal separation from God, punishment and damnation.

Spread the word of God. Don't be ashamed to tell people about Jesus Christ and the gospel. Jesus said, "But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven." Matthew 10:33

Where's The Fruit?

You joined the Church during childhood and you have been a Christian for years. Where is the fruit of your Christian walk? What are the results of all of your years of serving The Lord?

"Ye shall know them by their fruit ... good tree bringeth forth good fruit ... By their fruits shall ye know them ..." Matthew 7:16-20

What have you done for The Lord? Have you led some lost soul to Christ? How many suffering saints have you helped? What have you done to give God glory?

These are questions that every Christian should ask themselves every day? We are not supposed to rest on our laurels because of what we did yesterday, last week, last month, last year, or whenever it was in the past. This a daily battle that we are engaged in and we need to be about The Lord's work on a daily basis.

So what have you done for Him lately? Where's the fruit of your Christian walk?

When Your Faith Faces Giants

Walking this Christian walk and fighting these daily battles with the enemy, occasionally we all face situations in life that seem to be overwhelming. Dr. Julius Scruggs, President of the National Baptist Convention, USA Inc., preached a sermon recently which offered some pointers on what to do 'when your faith faces giants.'

Don't develop "giant phobia", do as David when he faced Goliath. (Read 1 Samuel 17:2-51) Remember that God was with you, strengthened you, and made you victorious in your previous battles with the lion and the bear. (17:34-36) Don't pretend to be someone else, use what God has given you to work for His glory. (17:38-40) Stay in The Word and do what you do in the name of The Lord. (17:45-46)

The battle is not ours, God will give us the victory, if we give Him the glory.

Let Him Lift You Up

"Humble yourselves in the sight of The Lord, and He shall lift you up." James 4:10

All too often we brag and boast about ourselves, even to the point of exaggeration. Some of us will even go as far as to tear down our fellow man in order to make us look good in comparison.

However, none of that is necessary, God knows all that we do. It is Him that we should be trying to please and not trying to impress mankind.

As long people exalt themselves, God will not exalt them. We cannot lift ourselves up very high anyway. We only consider ourselves great in our own minds.

Remember that in the presence of God, we are all insignificant so be humble.

Are We Doing All That We Can To Serve The Lord?

I heard a great sermon preached yesterday. It brought to mind the question, Are we doing all that The Lord wants us to do?

"In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also The Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and His train filled the temple ... Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the mist of a people of unclean lips; for mine eyes have seen the King, The Lord of hosts ... thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged. Also I heard the voice of The Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will for for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me." Isaiah 6:1-8

There were things in Isaiah's life that got in the way of his seeing The Lord. When he saw The Lord in a vision he recognized that he was unworthy. An angle of The Lord touched his lips and took away his sin. Then he could hear the voice of The Lord and was willing to serve Him.

Likewise, there are things in our life which prevent us from being of service to The Lord or prevent us from doing the best that we can for The Lord. We know who He is, but our desire for sinful pleasures prevent us from hearing or obeying His word. We need to be "purged" of our sin and iniquity so that we can hear His voice and be better used in His service.

Are we doing all that we can to serve The Lord?

The Golden Rule

"Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them; for this is the law and the prophets." Matthew 7:12

This is "the golden rule", do unto others as you would have them to do unto you. Treat people as you would like to be treated.

It is repeated in the Bible, "And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise." Luke 6:31

Many people can recite "the golden rule", even if they do not always practice it. However, rarely, if ever, do the people that say it, tell you that it is a paraphrased Bible verse quotation.

According to MacAthur the negatively stated version of this rule existed before Christ in the rabbinic writings, in Hinduism, and in Buddhism. The negative command was "what is hateful to yourself, do not to someone else."

Jesus stated this as a positive command, enriched its meaning, and underscored this one imperative aptly summarizes the whole gist of ethical principles contained in the Law and the Prophets. (MacArthur) The Law refers to the Torah, the first five books of the Old Testament, and the Prophets refers to the remaining books of the Old Testament which were written by the prophets.

Iron Sharpens Iron

Talk about the Bible with your friends, it will be good for both of you as you will both benefit from the discussion. We talk with them about everything else.

"Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of a friend." Proverbs 27:17

The benefits of an intellectual and theological discussion between friends will encourage joy through the development of keener minds and the improvement of good character development. The goal of the discussion is personal enhancement and not personal put-downs or self aggrandizement.

Friendships should be mutually beneficial, you should help each other morally and intellectually. You should each be an encouragement to the other to do better and to grow spiritually as well.

A good friend makes his friends better. He lifts them up and does not put them down.

You Shall Know Them By Their Fruits

"Ye shall know them by their fruits ... every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit." Matthew 7:16-18

The "fruit" that we produce depends upon our nature. We will be judged by our actions and the results which we produce. The results of our actions, the fruits of our efforts, should benefit others.

Our fruit should give God glory and cause others to see Christ in us.

It Is Better To Give Than To Receive

"... How that labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of The Lord Jesus, how He said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive." Acts 20:35

It is a good thing to be blessed, but it is even better to be a blessing to others. Giving someone money is not the only way that we can bless them. As the saying goes, giving a hungry man some food is a blessing to him, but teaching him how to fish can bless him for the rest of his life.

Most of us place too much importance upon our words. We think that what we have to say is a blessing to those that hear it. While it is possible to bless someone by what we say, what we do for them is usually much more of a blessing than what we say to them. Our actions speak much louder than our words.

The Bible also says "Give, and it shall be given unto you..." Luke 6:38 If you want to receive more blessings, try giving more blessings to others. Be a blessing to someone and you will receive a blessing. All that you have received was not meant for you to keep for yourself, some of it was for you to share it with others.

Be Like Salt

Being called "sugar" by someone you know can be considered a term of endearment or affection.
Most people would consider it a compliment to called "sweet."

The same is not true for being called "salt" or "salty", but maybe it should be. The word "sugar" is not found in the Bible but the word "salt" is included several times. The Bible says that "salt" is good, Mark 9:50 and Luke 14:34.

The Bible states that "Ye are the salt of the earth ..." Matthew 5:13 The Bible also states that our speech should be "... seasoned with salt ..." Colossians 4:6.

We know that salt add flavor the food. You may not know that in the past, salt was used to prevent the infection of wounds, and also to prevent the decaying of meat prior to the advent of refrigeration.

If we are to be like salt, then we should add a "Christ-like" 'flavor' to the world, and we should be a purifying influence in a decaying world.

Maybe we should consider it a good thing and a compliment if someone call us "salty".

Hear And Keep The Word Of God

"... Blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it." Luke 11:28

We are all blessed in more ways than we can count and we all want to be blessed 'some more.' However, this conditional blessing requires a two fold response on our part, that we both "hear" and "keep" the word of God.

Many people hear the word of God, but as the old people used to say, 'it goes in one ear and out of the other.' It does not stop, interact with, or change anything as it passes through their head.

When we hear the word of God, it ought to change us in some way. We ought to see things in a different light and we ought to think, speak, and act differently.

When we know better, then we ought to do better.

Love Your Enemies

True Christians are very special people. They do not respond to people and situations like the worldly people respond.

Jesus teaches us to "... Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you." Luke 6:27-28

We should not give back to others as they give unto us. But rather we should give unto others as Christ would give unto them. During this life we will be lied to and lied on, done wrong, stabbed in the back by so-called-friends, and hated.

There is special blessing in store for those who can give love in return for hate and love their enemies.

The Beattitudes or The Blessed Attitudes

"Blessed are the poor in spirit ... they that mourn ... the meek ... they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness ... the merciful ... the pure in heart ... the peacemakers ... they which are persecuted ... Rejoice, and be exceedingly glad; for great is your reward in heaven ..." Matthew 5:1-12

"Blessed" here literally means "happy, fortunate, & blissful", the divinely bestowed well-being that belongs only to the faithful. The way to heavenly blessing is the opposite of the way to worldly pursuit of happiness which is found in riches, merriment, abundance, leisure, and such things (MacArthur).

Blessed are the people who possess godly characteristics. Those with a penitent spirit, mild-tempered, gentle spirit, thirsting for righteousness, compassionate and merciful spirit, the spirit of mediation, long-suffering and forgiving spirit. These characteristics are God-given and are evidence of the indwelling of The Holy Spirit within the Christian.

We will be blessed for exhibiting these Godly attitudes and characteristics while we are here on earth living in a world that behaves totally differently.

Unclaimed Blessings

Don't you want all of the blessings that God has in store for you? I have heard it said that blessings that God has in store for us cannot be claimed by anyone else. I have also heard that a number of blessings go "unclaimed" because we do not do that which is necessary to receive them. God blesses us daily, but we could receive even more blessings if we would do a better job of following the word of God.

"Thus saith The Lord, Keep ye judgement, and do justice; for my salvation is near to come, and my righteousness to be revealed. Blessed is the man that doeth this ... that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and keepeth his hand from doing any evil." Isaiah 56:1-2

Keeping the Sabbath is more than doing the right thing on Sunday. It implies a commitment to a lifestyle of devotion to The Lord and a practical reorganization of every day of the week around Him. We need to be more Christ-like every day. Some blessings we receive just because God is so good and gracious. Some blessings are conditional, we must do something to receive them.

I know that I have missed out on some blessings in the past, but I want to receive as many of the conditional blessings as I can in the future. Don't you want all of the blessings that God has in store for you? If you do, then act like it.

A Priestly Benediction

The Lord spoke unto Moses, telling him to speak unto Aaron and his sons the priests, to speak unto the people saying, "The Lord bless thee, and keep thee; The Lord make His face to shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee; The Lord lift up His countenance upon thee, and give thee peace ... and I will bless them." Numbers 6:22-27

The priests were instructed to pronounce God's many fold blessings upon the people. I offer this same priestly benediction and blessing for you. That God will bless you, protect you, be with you, shine all around you, and grant you His favor, love, and total well-being.

Being Blessed And Having God With Us

"Sojourn in this land, and I will be with thee, and I will bless thee ..." Genesis 26:3 Isaac was obedient and he was blessed.

Sometimes blessings come from going when and where God tell us to go. Some blessings come from being in the right place at the right time. Obedience to God's word and direction will result in our being blessed.

God is everywhere, all at the same time, but having God "with" us is special. God was "with" Isaac, when he sowed, he received a one hundred fold increase. Genesis 26:12 God blessed him. There are twelve other examples of God being "with" men in the Bible. God was "with" Ishmael, Abraham, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Joshua, Samuel, David, Solomon, Jeremiah, Jesus, and Paul.

If we obey God's word, the same can happen to us, we will be blessed and God can be "with" us.

O Bless The Lord

"Bless The Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name. Bless The Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits..." Psalms 103:1-2

Praise God. Praise Him for all that He has done for us. Praise Him for all of His earthly gifts and blessings. Praise God for forgiveness of sin, for the recovery from sickness, for delivery from death, for abundant loving kindness, for tender mercies, and for the food to sustain life.

These are but a few of the many ways in which God has blessed us. He has blessed us in more ways than we can count or completely list. We can't praise Him or thank Him enough. All we can say is "Bless The Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name."

Acknowledge Our Sins And Confess

Whether we know it or not, every sin we commit is a sin against God. See Psalms 51:4 Recognizing that, we need to do as David did.

"I acknowledge my sin unto Thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I will confess my transgressions unto The Lord ... For this shall every one that is godly pray unto Thee ..." Psalms 32:5-6

David knew that he was wrong and that his sins were an affront to The Lord. He confessed his sins unto The Lord and we should do likewise. All Christians, "... every one that is godly ..." should pray, confess our transgressions, ask for forgiveness, and ask for the help and strength not to repeat a particular sin.

We can become more Christ-like if we can eliminate one sinful thought, deed, or spoken word from our behavior each day. That will by no means make us sinless or perfect. It just means that we will be more Christ-like today than we were yesterday, and even more so on tomorrow.

Being like Christ requires an active effort on our part including prayer, confession, not yielding to temptation, and thinking before we speak or act. We should ask ourselves beforehand, will this give God glory and would Jesus say of do this?

If Christians acted more Christ-like, the world would be a better place.