"From the Heart"

 "And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham:" (Hebrews 7:5 KJV)

  "Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it." (James 4:17 NLT)

 Making this take on something a little more interesting, thanks to everything God has done in order to make us His precious treasure, we have an obligation to shine as if we really are His treasure; not so much because we must, but because we should. There are two parables that Jesus spoke about, the one about the buried treasure, and the other about the great pearl: both of which have been shown by some to be us, finding God, and then giving up all we have to have Him. 

 Well, as Pastor Bryan said Sunday, "Let's see, The Rest of the Story!" In Matthew 13:37 - 51, Jesus is sharing about three specific things, that all show the Kingdom of Heaven, as to what it is like; primarily, it is showing us what God makes it to be, based upon those of us who make up His Kingdom. Right in the middle of the wheat and the weeds, and sorting of the fish, Jesus describes the buried treasure and great pearl. 

 Something to think about, because there is a powerful point to what Jesus is showing us, about how much the Father loves us...

"All of you together are Christ's body, and each of you is a part of it. Here are some of the parts God has appointed for the church: first are apostles, second are prophets, third are teachers, then those who do miracles, those who have the gift of healing, those who can help others, those who have the gift of leadership, those who speak in unknown languages. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do we all have the power to do miracles? Do we all have the gift of healing? Do we all have the ability to speak in unknown languages? Do we all have the ability to interpret unknown languages? Of course not! So you should earnestly desire the most helpful gifts. But now let me show you a way of life that is best of all."   

"Obligatory" - To

"Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils." (Hebrews 7:4 KJV)

  "The LORD himself watches over you! The LORD stands beside you as your protective shade. The sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon at night. The LORD keeps you from harm and watches over your life. The LORD keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever." (PSALM 121:5-8 NLT)

 Just to keep this real, if we really trust God will do everything that He has promised, then we need to be very sure that we trust in Him, with all our heart, not forgetting that He more than able! As it is, doubt is only something that causes us to surrender all and trust Him even more!  

 Right now, I am reading the Book of Job. I have probably read that Book at least two-dozen times or more, but now I am reading out loud, because I am reading it to my wife. We are currently going through the whole Bible, a chapter at a time, and reading it out loud has brought out certain things that I really never saw before.

 Chapters 13 & 14 are a bit much, as those are the ones where Job wants to argue his case with God! As much as I might have something to complain about, I don't think I have enough to argue about it with God; but then again, I also feel sorry for Job, knowing full well that he was being tested. 

 There are several times in the Bible when we see God testing someone; Abraham is one in particular, as God tells Abraham to sacrifice his son, Isaac. Yet, God told Abraham very specifically that Isaac was the child through whom his descendants would be counted. (Genesis 21:12) So either Abraham believed that God would change His mind, or that God would raise Isaac back to life again; either way, God was testing Abraham's belief in Him and His promises.

 Not that I think God was testing me, because I have been the one who made the choice to give what I give; besides that, in Job's case, it was the devil that caused this to happen to Job; God allowed it to happen, because God knows how it turns out! Do you believe that? Can you receive that? More than anything else, I believe God knows everything we are going to do, even before we think about doing it, He has it all planned out, as to what to do about it!

 In that case, this new word, "Obligatory," has another meaning, which is, "to give to someone as his own." If that doesn't make you think about it, how about: "to give one to someone to whom he already belonged, to return." Oh my, the things we think are ours, really don't belong to us...

"The earth is the LORD'S, and everything in it. The world and all its people belong to him." (PSALM 24:1 NLT)   

"Obligatory"

 "Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils." (Hebrews 7:4 KJV)

  "I look up to the mountains - does my help come from them? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth!" (PSALM 121:1-2 NLT)

 Yes, we are learning a new word today; or at least I am! Seems to be that I have been having some sort of doubt about my tithing, as if there might be a chance that I am giving too much. But in reality, my issue is something more, as it is, there is something or someone else that matters much more than any amount of money! 

 Now about this word, "Obligatory," which is taken from one of the meanings of the word, "gave," in the verse that I am sharing on today. Basically, the word is one that means '"to give what is due" much like if you owe someone wages or a reward. In other words, there is an obligation involved in this giving, not that you are forced or have been given a command, but that it is what you have said in your heart that you would do! 

 Looking at it that way, it is more of a promise, than it is a requirement; although, a requirement is still the reason that you can overrule the doubt...

"Remember this - a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don't give reluctantly or in response to pressure. "For God loves a person who gives cheerfully." And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others. As the Scriptures say, "They share freely and give generously to the poor. Their good deeds will be remembered forever." For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you." (2 Corinthians 9:6-10 NLT)

"Worship in Giving"

  "Consider then how great this Melchizedek was. Even Abraham the great patriarch of Israel, recognized this by giving him a tenth of what he had taken in battle. Now the law of Moses required that the priests, who are descendants of Levi, must collect a tithe from the rest of the people of Isreal, who are descendants of Abraham. But Melchizedek, who was not a descendant of Levi, collected a tenth from Abraham. And Melchizedek placed a blessing upon Abraham, the one who had already received the promises of God. And without question, the person who has the power to give a blessing is greater than the one who is blessed.

 " The priests who collect tithes are men who die, so Melchizedek is greater than they are, because we are told that he lives on. In addition, we might even say that these Levites - the ones who collect the tithe - paid a tithe to Melchizedek when their ancestor Abraham paid a tithe to him. For although Levi wasn't born yet, the seed from which he came was in Abraham's body when Melchizedek collected the tithe from him." (Hebrews 7:4-10 NLT)

  "And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear: forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God." (1 Peter 1:17-21 KJV)

 Having said those things yesterday morning, I had to wonder if I might have said too much, having no real knowledge of most of what was said. Then again, I really do believe that our God is much bigger than we might think! Hopefully that doesn't make anyone concerned over the certain characteristics of God they might have imagined, because from what I have been told, God is over all and in all! 

 With that, I just need to remember that He has the power to take, just as He has the power to give! We shouldn't think that our giving goes for the church or to any particular people, because what we give is sign of worship to God. As a matter of fact, when God said that He was cheated, as it says in Malachi 3:8, it wasn't for the money that He was cheated, because everything is already His! 

 No, my dear brothers and sisters, if we cheat God for anything, it is our ability to be blessed by Him...

"This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. But ye have not so learned Christ; if so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: that ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; and be renewed in the spirit of your mind; and that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness." (Ephesians 4:17-24 KJV)  

"Beyond All of That!"

 "Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually." (Hebrews 7:3 KJV)

  "So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father's one and only Son." (John 1:14 NLT)

 If we really think about it, there is really nothing in this world that has more value than the salvation we have in Christ. It really doesn't matter how rich or poor we are; whether we live or die; whatever state or condition we might living in, or how hard the road is that we travel. Nothing else is more important than the life we have been given Christ Jesus! 

 There are certain things that are hard to explain, one of which is all of the characters and manifestations of Jesus Christ. The simple way to try and understand it, is to follow John's lead, which is that Jesus is and was the Word of God! Which, for our simple and limited understanding is actually that, a manifestation, whether it be light, or word, or any other object of the presence or character of God.

 Not that He isn't God, because the Bible clearly says that He is, but that He will manifest Himself to be whatever He needs to be; whatever the Father requires, He can and will make it happen. That is really just what it appears to be; God is much more than anything we could ever imagine. I have shared on this before, about the magnification of brain cells, and how, if magnified enough, it has the appearance of what looks like the universe.

 Imagine that, if the universe was just a brain cell of God; and here we are, living inside His head! Okay, I know that sounds crazy and beyond all possibilities; but I do believe that we serve a very Big God; bigger and greater than we could ever imagine...

"John testified about him when he shouted to the crowds, "This is the one I was talking about when I said, 'Someone is coming after me who is greater than I am, for he existed long before me.'" From his abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another. For the law was given through Moses, but God's unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ. No one has seen God. But the unique One, who is himself God, is near to the Father's heart. He has revealed God to us." (John 1:15-18 NLT) 

"The Tithe" - Too

 "To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace;" (Hebrews 7:2 KJV) 

  "While Jesus was in the Temple, he watched the rich people dropping their gifts in the collection box. Then a poor widow came by and dropped in two small coins. "I tell you the truth," Jesus said, "this poor widow has given more than all the rest of them. For they have given a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she has."" (Luke 21:1-4 NLT)

 I'm sure everyone is familiar with this, "The Widow's Mites," as it has been shared over and over, in just about every church, all around the world. It gives two very important illustrations, the fact that God really does bless a person that gives generously, and secondly, giving really is a form of worship! 

 As for that closing Scripture from yesterday's post, we really need to understand that God does give and take away! If we so arrogantly think that we make things happen on our own, as if our work is what makes us successful and prosperous, we really need to think again, because God is the source of all life and He blesses those who bless others, and He can take away from those that don't! 

 There was one lesson I learned from that book, "Your Money Matters," that God really does care how we give; that those who are cheerful givers, actually do get blessed, even if it isn't financially. Blessings come in several different ways, but giving cheerfully does more than just please God, it is a celebration in our heart to what God has given! 

 Should every Christian tithe? That would be wonderful if they did! You would be surprised by the percentage of Christian's that don't actually tithe. The largest percentage of giver's only give what they feel that they can afford, without even considering what they should give, they just give a small portion of what they make. 

 Surprisingly, if it doesn't go towards the church, it will be given to the devil! If you haven't heard that before, then you have not been paying attention to certain sermons on giving, which most people will do, as soon as hear the message is about tithes and offerings. 

 If you don't believe it, then consider the things that take away from you, like your car breaking down, or anything else that will waste your money. Take a moment to think about what you should have given, and compare that to what was wasted; chances are, they will most likely equal out...

""Should people cheat God? Yet you have cheated me! "But you ask, 'What do you mean? When did we ever cheat you?' "You have cheated me of the tithes and offerings due to me, You are under a curse, for your whole nation has been cheating me. Bring your tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do," says the LORD of Heaven's Armies, "I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won't have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test! Your crops will be abundant, and I will guard them from insects and disease. Your grapes will not fall from the vine before they are ripe," says the LORD of Heaven's Armies."" (Malachi 3:8-11 NLT) 

"The Tithe"

 "To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace;" (Hebrews 7:2 KJV) 

  "Remember this - a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don't give reluctantly or in response to pressure. "For God loves a person who gives cheerfully." And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others." (2 Corinthians 9:6-8 NLT)

 I will try to be gentle in this, somewhat private message, about giving ten percent of your wages to God. As it is, there are some who say and believe that tithing is not necessary for a Christian, because we are not under the law of Moses. Well, as deep as that subject might be, it was Abraham that first established the tithe, as we can see here in this Scripture above. And why did he give ten percent of all that he had gained; because he knew that he was in the presence of the KING! 

 There are some things that I might fail to do, not on purpose, but just because I sometimes don't think before I speak. The one thing I am very serious about is tithing, which is something I learned about in our pre-marital counseling, back in 1982. We were given several books to read, one which was about money and giving. It was a book called, "Your Money Matters", which basically means, that your money really matters to God! 

 It's not that God needs your money, because He has everything already; everything belongs to God, even our very breath is His; nothing is ours, as we came into this world naked, and naked we will leave. That said, He loves to see us give, because it is giving honor and thanks to Him for what He has done! In other words, the money we have made, is money that He has allowed us to have.

 I know that there are some who think that they earned everything themselves, as if it was because they are so good at what they do, or as if they have built something from nothing. But the honest truth is plainly seen in the final result: You don't have a single cent when you leave...

"Then someone called from the crowd, "Teacher, please tell my brother to divide our father's estate with me." Jesus replied, "Friend, who made me a judge over you to decide such things as that?" Then he said, "Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own." Then he told them a story: "A rich man had a fertile farm that produced fine crops. He said to himself, 'What should I do? I don't have room for my crops.' Then he said, 'I know! I'll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I'll have room enough to store all my wheat and other goods. And I'll sit back and say to myself, "My friend, you have enough stored away for years to come. Now take it easy! Eat, drink, and be merry!" ' "But God said to him, 'You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get everything you worked for?' "Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God."" (Luke 12"13-21 NLT)  

"King of Righteousness"

 "For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him;" (Hebrews 7:1 KJV)

  "When Jesus was still some distance away, the man saw him, ran to meet him, and bowed low before him. With a shriek, he screamed, "Why are you interfering with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? In the name of God, I beg you, don't torture me!"" (Mark 5:6-7 NLT)

 As many of you should know, even the demons know who Jesus is; they also know His followers! Yes, it is something that I have understood from the very beginning of this New Life in Christ: They know we are children of God, as soon as they see us! 

 I have shared this before, but it is something I experienced within a short while after I was saved. I was sitting outside a hearing room waiting for my early release hearing to take place. When these two big guards were bringing a man down the hallway, shackled hands and feet, and he looked very wicked. As they approached where I was sitting, I just looked down at the floor, when all of the sudden I saw they had stopped right in front of me. As I looked up, I could see that all three of them were looking right at me, and the demon possessed man was dog-eyeing me, and said, "I know Jesus too!", and then they continued down the hallway. 

 The reason I share this, is not just because we are known by those who are of the devil, but there is a connection in our spirit that can detect God's presence in one another. There is an obvious detection that Abraham knew this King of Salem was special, as it was for Nebuchadnezzar when he looked into the fiery furnace, saying, "I see four men in the fire, and the fourth looks like the Son of God." 

 There are many manifestations of Jesus Christ throughout the Bible; some of which are seen from the very beginning of Creation. The Light, the creation of man, the flaming sword that guarded the entrance of the Garden; we could go on and on, making a thousand things that are a representation of Christ.

 There was one that I had heard Pastor Jon share on, which was the ceremonial water basin that God instructed Moses to make for the Temple. Everything that God told Moses to have made, had some kind of measurement, except for the water basin, used for cleansing; it had no measurement because He cannot be measured... 

"A group of Jews was traveling from town to town casting out evil spirits. They tried to use the name of the Lord Jesus in their incantation, saying, "I command you in the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches, to come out!" Seven sons of Sceva, a leading priest, were doing this. But one time when they tried it, the evil spirit replied, "I know Jesus, and I know Paul, but who are you?" Then the man with the evil spirit leaped on them, overpowered them, and attacked them with such violence that they fled from the house, naked and battered." (Acts 19:13-16 NLT) 

"Like Melchizedek"

 "This Melchizedek was king of the city of Salem and also a priest of God Most High. When Abraham was returning home after winning a great battle against the kings, Melchizedek met him and blessed him. Then Abraham took a tenth of all he had captured in battle and gave it to Melchizedek. The name Melchizedek means "king of justice," and king of Salem means "king of peace." There is no record of his father or mother or any of his ancestors - no beginning or end to his life. He remains a priest forever, resembling the Son of God." (Hebrews 7:1-3 NLT) 

"Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad." (John 8:56 KJV)

 Regardless of what we might think, Jesus has always been, ever since the very beginning! It is not just a thought of someone who wanted to make a point, it is written throughout the Bible, from the beginning to the very end. 

 As I have said, over and over, I judge what translation of the Bible I will trust to read, by John 1:1. If that interpretation does not match the truth, I don't read any of that book; and I will not even consider it to be, The Holy Bible...

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word is God." (John 1:1 KJV) 

"More Over!" - Too

 "Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedek." (Hebrews 6:20 KJV)

  "I am writing to you who are God's children because your sins have been forgiven through Jesus. I am writing to you who are mature in the faith because you know Christ, who existed from the beginning. I am writing to you who are young in the faith because you have won your battle with the evil one." (1 John 2:12-13 NLT)

 There really are some things that are easy to understand, one of which is the reason the cross means so much to the salvation that has been offered to anyone that is willing to receive it! How easy it is to see, but how difficult it is to share it to those who don't want to accept it, as if it takes something away from them, the things they just don't want to give up.

 We really need to know that God loves us, even in the broken life we might be in; because that is what we are, broken! There is nothing we can do to fix ourselves, only Christ Jesus can make us New and Improved! But even then, in this earthly body, we still are messed up; except now, it's a beautiful mess!

 When we accepted Christ into our hearts, we became justified, meaning, "as if we never sinned," as the blood of Jesus washed away our sins, each and every one! Now that we are new, does not mean that we will never sin again, because if we think that we won't, we make ourselves vulnerable to sin. As John says in 1 John 1:8, "If we claim we have no sin, we are fooling ourselves and not living the truth." 

 We cannot ever think we can do this on our own; we must always abide in Christ, keeping ourselves under the umbrella of God's grace... 

"So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death. The law of Moses was unable to save us because of the weakness of our sinful nature. So God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body God declared an end to sin's control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins. He did this so that the just requirement of the law would be fully satisfied for us, who no longer follow our sinful nature but instead follow the Spirit." (Romans 8:1-4 NLT)

"More Over!"

 "Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made a high priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek." (Hebrews 6:20 KJV)

  "Who will then condemn us? No one - for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God's right hand, pleading for us." (Romans 8:34 NLT)

 Before I get too far into this, I must clarify what I ended with yesterday, about need and want. We can see this illustration given in the Psalms 23:1, which says in the NLT, "The LORD is my shepherd; I have all that I need." Again, in the KJV, a more direct translation, "The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want."

 Oddly enough, something that I see taking place in the Garden, when God caused Adam to name all of those animals, it caused Adam to see that he had a need for a mate. To which God was prepared to fill his need, saying, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is just right for him." (Genesis 2:18 NLT)

 Without getting too carried away, as to make something seem obvious to God's plan: this was God's plan all along, to give Adam the need to want. The Bible was made available for us to see and understand God's purposes, through both the good and the bad, knowing full well that man would need a Savior to make his heart turn towards Him. 

 Man was created to actually love God; as we see in the beginning, God gave Adam everything in the garden to enjoy and care for, with the exception of that one tree in the middle of the Garden, the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. Interestingly enough, God's second instruction for Adam, not to eat of that tree, was to name all of the animals. 

 Do I need to say more? I really don't think that I should! But this isn't about what God wanted to be happening, it is what God knew would already happen, and He was completely prepared to take care of it, as He always was and does...

"But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God's grace that you are saved!) For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus." (Ephesians 2:4-7 NLT)

"Our Anchor of the Soul" - To

 "Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which entereth into that within the veil:" (Hebrews 6:19 KJV) 

  "What I am saying, dear brothers and sisters, is that our physical bodies cannot inherit the kingdom of God. These dying bodies cannot inherit what will last forever. But let me reveal to you a wonderful secret. We will not all be all die, but we will all be transformed! It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed. For our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies. Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die, this Scripture will be fulfilled: "Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?"" (1 Corinthians 15:50-55 NLT)

 I am certain that our most important task, without doubt, is to fully and completely believe everything we read in the Bible is ultimately true: The Written Words of God! We must not get fooled into thinking that there is one little bit of this Book that is not the truth, because everything has been written for us to believe and to have hope by faith, that there is no doubt! 

 If you start to have any doubt, then you need to stop thinking how these things happen and start focusing on the God who does all things! I really don't know how else to explain it, because without knowing and believing that God's Word is ultimately true, that He does not lie, and what He says will truly happen, we can and will lose hope! 

 Sorry for all of the expressions, but it bothers me that the devil can still get into our heads from time to time; the liar that he is, he can really cause doubt and discouragement in even the strongest of those who truly believe in the truth. It only takes something needful or something we want, to cause us to be vulnerable, and give into the lies. Just a little bit of want, and we can be deceived by need! 

 I really don't want to say too much, as it is, I think I have said enough...

"For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ. So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless." (1 Corinthians 15:56-58 NLT)

"Our Anchor of the Soul"

"Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;" (Hebrews 6:19 KJV)

  "Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in him. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will not be shaken. My victory and honor come from God alone. He is my refuge, a rock where no enemy can reach me." (PSALM 62:5-7 NLT)

 Keeping with that same thought, whatever situation you might be in, whether it is a sickness or some sort of hard time financially, God is your fortress, protecting you from anything that will come against you! So you say, 'But I am getting no help; things seem to be worse; the harder I pray, the more difficult things seem to be.' 

 I truly believe that things happen for a reason; some of those reasons are the things we can't even see. But that is what faith is really all about! We might not see the light at the end of the tunnel, but that doesn't mean that it does not exist; it is faith that makes the light a reality, even though we might not clearly see how everything will work out for the good: God is always good! 

 Besides all of that, this is about our soul! This current life is not really the promise that Jesus has given us; as a matter of fact, Jesus has said: "In this life you will have tribulation," which basically means that things don't always work out the way we hoped that they would; but be of good cheer, it will all be good in the end...

""For I know the plans I have for you," says the LORD. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope."" (Jeremiah 29:11 NLT)  

"Persuasive Discourse" - Too

 "That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:" (Hebrews 6:18 KJV)

  "We who are strong must be considerate of those who are sensitive about things like this. We must not just please ourselves. We should help others do what is right and build them up in the Lord. For even Christ didn't live to please himself. As the Scriptures say, "The insults of those who insult you, O God, have fallen on me." Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God's promises to be fulfilled." (Romans 15:1-4 NLT)

 Here is the thought about this title, "persuasive discourse," if you are interested in knowing how it works in and though our lives. Each and every one of us will at some time or another wrestle with the thought of what and why certain things happen; sometimes we might ever wonder if God is even in whatever it is we might be going through. God is always in the storm, just as He is in the victories! He watches over you, as you are His child; just like a new-born baby is watched over by a caring mother. 

 We must not forget this, even though we might feel as though we are being punished for our sins; our sins were removed at the cross! When we sin, God has not stopped loving us; as a matter of fact, He will do whatever needs to be done, in order to get on back on the right path. 

 In other words, this is what it means, "we might have a strong consolation," which tends to cause us to be encouraged, even though we might feel discouraged about something going on in our lives. I can't help but think about Jesus' discouragement in the garden, even though He knew the outcome, He still wept so hard, His sweat turned to blood!

 Even Jesus needed refuge! It was His choice to focus upon the will of the Father, thereby taking refuge in the only place where victory is found, the Father's loving arms...  

"Who has believed our message? To whom has the LORD revealed his powerful arm?" (Isaiah 53:1 NLT) 

"Persuasive Discourse"

 "That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:" (Hebrews 6:18 KJV)

  "With all these things in mind, dear brothers and sisters, stand firm and keep a strong grip on the teaching we passed on to you both in person and by letter. Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal comfort and a wonderful hope, comfort you and strengthen you in every good thing you do and say." (2 Thessalonians 2:15-17 NLT)

 I can't help but rejoice in hearing and seeing the name of Christ Jesus being spoken of, with boldness and strong deliverance! It really makes me feel as though this might be the trigger, (no pun intended,) that sets up for that final calling, which will cause the Father to send His Son to bring us home! 

 Hopefully the work that He started will grow and get bolder and bolder; unfortunately, the enemy will be doing all that he can to stop it, as if he hasn't been trying already. Listening to some of those that are on the so-called left, they have really nothing good to say about that service that took place Sunday, except that it is over with. I pray that isn't the case, because our Lord and Savior must be shared to everyone, so that there is no one that can say they didn't know! 

 You should know by now that I believe God does not make mistakes; everything He allows to happen, He makes a way for even the worst things, to be used for good, in one way or another. We really have no clue how to understand His ways and thoughts; but there is one thought of His we cannot take for granted: His love for us! He loves us so much, more than we can even realize...

"Christ suffered for our sins once for all time. He never sinned, but he died for sinners to bring you safely home to God. He suffered physical death, but he was raised to life in the Spirit. So he went and preached to the spirits in prison - those who disobeyed God long ago when God waited patiently while Noah was building his boat. Only eight people were saved from drowning in that terrible flood. And that water is a picture of baptism, which now saves you, not by removing dirt from your body, but as a response to God from a clean conscience. It is effective because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ." (1 Peter 3:18-21 NLT)  

"Unalterable" - 2

 "Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath:" (Hebrews 6:17 KJV)

  ""I am the LORD, and I do not change. That is why you descendants of Jacob are not already destroyed. Ever since the days of your ancestors, you have scorned my decrees and failed to obey them. Now return to me, and I will return to you." says the LORD of Heaven's Armies. "But you ask, 'How can we return when we have never gone away?'"" (Malachi 3:6-7 NLT)

 Just in case you were wondering about this title, "Unalterable", it is from the meaning of 'immutability,' which means that it is not to be transferred, it is fixed, unchangeable; in other words, God keeps every promise, no matter what! This includes the promise He might make for punishment and judgment of our sins! 

 Wow! How important is that promise, and how has God taken care of that? As I was watching the movie, "Unstoppable," last night, the part where Kirk explained the rainbow reminded me of this very thing: God provided a way to cover over our sins! The way Kirk explained it, was that the rainbow was God's bow, which He places in the sky; yet the arrow, which is to be shot from the bow, if it is fired, would be shot in His direction. 

 In other words, the next time God would perform judgment upon the entire world, as He did with the flood, it would be judgment upon Himself! Yes, Jesus took on the judgment of the sins of the entire world! Every single sin that mankind has ever done, His blood covered for it all. This is something that God had planned from the very beginning; as crazy as it might sound, it was what He saw needed to be done, even before He created the earth. 

 I really don't need to verify what I just said, the Bible clearly says it! But it is that reason I believe that God knows everything, even before it happens; He has already provided for it to worked out and to be part of His will and purposes.

 Case in point, King Hezekiah and his sickness. The children of Israel did not honor God's commands for the way they were to take care of the land they were given, among many other things. As it was, King Hezekiah really was a good king, and he really did serve God well. However, when God gave him 15 more years to live, his heart changed, and he became prideful. His pride was the thing God needed to happen, in order to cleanse the land that Israel refused to take care of, as per His commands.

 So, it was His perfect will all along! Even though it looks as though He changed His mind; it was King Hezekiah's heart that needed changing! I know that there are sometimes things that happen, we just can't explain, but God does not make any mistakes; everything is done for His will and purposes...

"Many of the people of Israel are now enemies of the Good News, and this benefits you Gentiles. Yet they are still the people he loves because he chose their ancestors Abraham, Issac, and Jacob. For God's gifts and his call can never be withdrawn. Once, you Gentiles were rebels against God, but when the people of Israel rebelled against him, God was merciful to you instead. Now they are the rebels, and God's mercy has come to you so that they, too, will share in God's mercy. For God has imprisoned everyone in disobedience so he could have mercy on everyone. Oh, how great are God's riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand his decisions and his ways!" (Romans 11:28- 33 NLT)  

"Unalterable"

"Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath:" (Hebrews 6:17 KJV)

"But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children. And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, "Abba, Father." Now you are no longer a slave but God's own child. And since you are his child, God has made you his heir." (Galatians 4:4-7 NLT)

 There was more I thought I should share about yesterday's post, but I felt God wanted me to move on and make this a confirmation of what I ended with yesterday; just in case there were some doubters. From the very beginning of my New Life in Christ, I have learned to understand that God does not change His mind. It has always been my understanding that God knows all things, especially the things that involve our lives. 

 When I first started this journey, (this Blog,) I shared about God's will, verses His perfect will; without really knowing exactly what it actually meant, as if God has two different paths to choose from. To be perfectly straight with you, I have changed my mind and have decided that He does not change His! 

 The example that I shared with, over 15 years ago, was the case of God's actions with King Hezekiah's sickness and recovery. As you might have already known, Hezekiah was told to get his house in order because his sickness was going to kill him. So he turned his face to the wall and wept; telling God that he didn't deserve to die, because he had been faithful and did so many things to get the people to follow Him. 

 Then we see that God sent Isaiah back to tell Hezekiah that he would be healed and have 15 more years to live. Which makes things look as if God had changed His mind, deciding, "What the heck, I guess I'll let him live a little longer!" Does anyone think that is what God was thinking, knowing all the evil, the wickedness, and the bondage that would take place from Hezekiah's 15 more years of life? Not if you know and believe that God does not learn! 

 God doesn't save you, and then turn around and say, "I made a mistake with that one!" He knows all the things you do and will ever do! That has been my understanding from the very beginning, knowing that He loves me and has made me His child; and once I was made His, I am His for eternity. The real truth that I believe we will all see, is that we always were His, ever since the beginning...

""I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one - as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And they are in us so that the world will believe you sent me."" (John 17:20-21 NLT)    

"Confirmation"

 "For men verily swear by the greater: and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife." (Hebrews 6:16 KJV)

  "It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything else if it might cause another believer to stumble. You may believe there's nothing wrong with what you are doing, but keep it between yourself and God. Blessed are those who don't feel guilty for doing something they have decided is right. But if you have doubts about whether or not you should eat something, you are sinning if you go ahead and do it. For you are not following your convictions. If you do anything you believe is not right, you are sinning." (Romans 14:21-23 NLT)

 Maybe it doesn't fit the thought, but I do believe it will make sense, once I can grab hold of the action. Real faith is something that requires commitment and believing that God is going to do everything that He promises. Without question, God's way of teaching us, may or may not seem pleasant, but it will be the perfect answer to anything that is wrong with us. 

 Of all the things I think we need more of, it is the ability respect and love one another as we should. I know that this message from Paul is about food and wine, but that is just issue of what someone else might think; and of us doing nothing to offend a brother or sister. Taking it to the next step, there needs to be more of treating others as you want others to be treating you. 

 Whether or not you get the connection, that is something between you and the Lord; because it is always something we set out to do, as if we really can; but in reality, we can only do it well with God's help! Look at it as if you are making an oath with God. When you make an oath with God, you must also make sure you are able to keep it; and the only way you will be able and willing to do it, will require His help. 

 I think sometimes we believe God wants us to do things on our own, as if He blesses us and then sends us on our merry way. The sad reality is that we need to constantly depend upon God's guidance, not our own! God should never be the Co-pilot: He must be the Pilot! When something doesn't seem right, then we are the ones who must change, it is never God. He never changes or makes a compromise!

 If you think He does compromise, you find out sooner or later that are not where or who you were meant to be. That said, as long as you have breath, you can always repent and change your direction...

"Seek the LORD while can find him. Call on him now while he is near. Let the wicked change their ways and banish the very thought of doing wrong. Let them turn to the LORD that he may have on them. Yes, turn to our God, for he will forgive generously." (Isaiah 55:6-7 NLT)     

"Never Lose Heart!" - 2

 "And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise." (Hebrews 6:15 KJV)

  "Abraham never wavered in believing God's promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God. He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises. And because of Abraham's faith, God counted him as righteous. And when God counted him as righteous, it wasn't just for Abraham's benefit. It was recorded for our benefit, too, assuring us that God will also count us as righteous if we believe in him, the one raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. He was handed over to die because of our sins, and he was raised to life to make us right with God." (Romans 4:20-25 NLT)

 Oh my; I really don't know how else to explain this, except to say that we must, without question, believe in God and His Word! The more I read the Bible, the more I encounter the special details of everything it records and has written; things which specify certain dates and people, most of whom I don't know how to pronounce their names; but all of which God has listed for a specific reason. 

 It really is all about the details! Stange thing that is brought out from time to time, when someone says, "The Devil is in the Details," which might have some sort of connection, beyond what we think we know. There is nothing that can cause us to fall away, if we resist the devil's tricks and discouragement! That is by far the biggest issue we fight, day in and day out; even the slightest little thing, and we can flare up and feel offended or wrong about someone! Which, if you didn't know, is actually a sin. I need to pray and ask for forgiveness, several times a day. 

 Please don't judge me wrongly, it's not because I am a bad person, I just sometimes hate to be slowed down when I am in a rush. I can recall a certain message from a certain famous Pastor, as he shared about stopping at a Pharmacy, on his way to give a message at a church. He was happy to see only one customer in line, because he was in a hurry. But the one person in line was taking forever to pay for his items. What upset him the most was that the clerk seemed to not mind that the customer was taking so long to give her the money. However, when the transaction was complete, and the man turned around, the Pastor noticed that he had no hands. He then had a whole different sermon to preach! 

 It really is all about the details, but the details we must be focused upon are the ones that deal with Christ Jesus and the salvation He has given us! Much like this Scripture from Romans, which Paul so faithfully exposes. If you can believe in the written Word, then you can believe with faith, just like Abraham, which is plain and simple: God will also account us righteous! 

 It is all recoded for our benefit...

"And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise." (Philippians 4:8 NLT)      

"Never Lose Heart!"

 "And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise." (Hebrews 6:15 KJV)

  "So the promise is received by faith. It is given as a free gift. And we are all certain to receive it, whether or not we live according to the law of Moses, if we have faith like Abraham's. For Abraham is the father of all who believe. That is what the Scriptures mean when God told him, "I have made you the father of many nations." This happened because Abraham believed in the God who brings the dead back to life and who creates new things out of nothing." (Romans 4:16-17 NLT)

 Yesterday I heard something that I believe might be true, having heard it from someone that was very close to Charlie. What his friend said, was, "If Charlie knew that thousands would come to Christ by him being assassinated, he would most likely be okay with that, if it brought thousands to the Lord." Some of those who believe that God brings the dead back to life, would also feel that way, at least I know I would; if it meant that all those, I pray for every day, would be saved!

 As far as I am concerned, I am here to make sure that my wife is taken care of, once she is gone to be with the Lord, I hope that I will soon follow. Other than that, I, like Abraham, will patiently wait! I am sure that everyone knows by now that Abraham didn't stick around to see the promise fulfilled; but he believed that God would do what He said, by his faith...

"Even when there was no reason for hope, Abraham kept hoping - believing that he would become the father of many nations. For God had said to him, "That's how many descendants you will have!" And Abraham's faith did not weaken, even though, at about 100 years of age, he figured his body was as good as dead - and so was Sarah's womb." (Romans 4:18-19 NLT)

"Certainly!" - Two

"Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee." (Hebrews 6:14 KJV)

  ""I tell you the truth, those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death to life."" (John 5:24 NLT)

 As I witness what is going on in this world, I have no doubt we are living in that day Jesus spoke about, when we that are His will be caught up, leaving this earth in the control of the evil one. I can only hope that everyone I know and love will be saved before that event happens; but if they aren't, I pray they will realize what took place and give their lives to the Lord, knowing that they will be persecuted. 

 There is something spectacular happening, in many areas all over: churches are starting to fill up, and those who want to follow Jesus are multiplying. Don't doubt that this isn't real, because there are more and more that are standing in line to get involved, hoping to make a difference! 

 The contrast between those who are for good and those who are for evil is being brought forth, at an amazing rate, almost as if the enemy knows that the time is near! It is not flesh and blood that we are fighting against, but the darkness that has corrupted the hearts of those who think it is okay to kill, just because they don't like what someone says. 

 Over the past several days I have felt as though there is nothing we can do, besides pray for those we love, that they see the evilness and realize that it is just that, pure evil! That is pretty much all we can do, because it is not really our words that will change their minds, it is only by the power of God, that a heart can be changed! 

 Besides that, we should know, the Good News is being preached...

"It is true that some are preaching out of jealousy and rivalry. But other preach about Christ with pure motives. They preach because they love me, for they know I have been appointed to defend the Good News. Those others do not have pure motives as they preach about Christ. They preach with selfish ambition, not sincerely, intending to make my chains more painful to me. But that doesn't matter. Whether their motives are false or genuine, the message about Christ is being preached either way, so I rejoice. And I will continue to rejoice." (Philippians 1:15-18

"Certainly!"

 "Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee." (Hebrews 6:14 KJV)

  ""Now I am coming to you. I told them many things while I was with them in this world so they would be filled with my joy. I have given them your word. And the world hates them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. I'm not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one. They do not belong to this world and more than I do. Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth. Just as you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world. And I give myself as a holy sacrifice for them so they can be made holy by your truth."" (John 17:13-19 NLT)

 Forgive me if I might get out of line, but I feel as though there needs to be some clarity into the things we see going on in this world. First of all, Jesus is praying for His disciples in the message above; yet even though it might appear He might be asking the Father to protect them, He isn't suggesting that they don't get harmed or killed. Basically, He is asking that they do not get harmed by the "evil one," which means the devil and the lies, deceptions, and worldly passions he might harm them with. 

 Don't think for a moment that this is not a real thing, because I have seen many strong and experienced men of God harmed by the devil's handywork, taking even the greatest, largest church leaders, and making them fall into his traps. Jesus knew full well that His disciples were not going to be safe in this world! But He also knew that they were mere men, that needed protection from the devil's bag of tricks. 

 I was listing to a message yesterday about the Apostle Paul, as he was expressing all of the things that he had to go through, expecting even more to come. There are certain things we see going on in this world, some of which are just pure evil. However, this is the work of the devil, pure and simple! Those who are saying things which are certainly wrong to speak about, really don't know what they are doing!

 That is that! Now let's get serious about following our Lord and Savior, Christ Jesus...

"A large crowd trailed behind, including many grief-stricken women. But Jesus turned and said to them, "Daughters of Jerusalem, don't weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. For the days are coming when they will say, 'Fortunate indeed are the women who are childless, the wombs that have not borne a child and the breasts that have never nursed.' People will beg the mountains, 'Fall on us,' and plead with the hills, 'Bury us.' For if these things are done when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?"" (Luke 23:27-31 NLT) 

"God's Promise" - Too

 "For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself," (Hebrews 6:13 KJV)

  ""Let all the world look to me for salvation! For I am God; there is no other. I have sworn by my own name; I have spoken the truth, and I will never go back on my word: Every knee will bend to me, and every tongue will confess allegiance to me."" (Isaiah 45:22-23 NLT)

 Believe it or not, but there are certain things that might look to be something that is bad, but God can and will make it turn into something good! That is not only a hope, but also a fact; as He has promised it will be, for all those who are called by His name, and His purposes! 

 That is all I will say about that, as we just need to keep on praying for God's will to be done, and look for His work to be carried out. After all, He is the One that makes a way, even if there seems to be no way! I really hope that everyone who is His child believes that, because we must believe that all things are possible with God; absolutely and positively possible! 

 It felt so good to be home, as I have been out of town for a few days, missing being with my wife. This morning, I stayed in bed for a while, just so I could spend a little extra time lying next to her and telling her how much that I love her. There is nothing sweeter than seeing her peaceful face as I comfort her and express my love to her; something that I wish I had done more of, before her injury! 

 No matter what happens here on this earth, we that are followers of Christ, will be safe and secure with Him in Heaven; no more pain or sorrow; no more sickness or death! That is a promise, and we better believe it...

"I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, "Look, God's home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever."" (Revelation 21:3-4 NLT)      

"God's Promise"

"For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself," (Hebrews 6:13 KJV)

  "This is the covenant he made with Abraham and the oath he swore to Isaac. He confirmed it to Jacob as a decree, and to the people of Israel as a never-ending covenant: "I will give you the land of Canaan as your special possession."" (PSALM 105:9-11 NLT)

  We have here today something that I believe I have shared many times, both in church, in this blog, and privately with several people. It is the covenant that God made with Abraham, which we witness taking place in Genesis 15:5-21. In this Contract between the two, as was the custom with those who made any binding contract, God told Abraham to gather certain animals, cut the large animals in half, kill to two birds, and leave them whole; and then he was to lay them out on the ground. 

 This contract was meant to represent their promises to one another, of anyone that was making a binding contract together; the whole point of which, was that both parties would walk through the slain animals, making their promises together, saying, 'May this happen to me, and more, if I do not keep my promise!' 

 I know it might sound rather much; but back in the day, a promise was meant to be a promise! However, Abraham did not walk between the slain animals! No, God signed the Contract for both Abraham and Himself! God took on the responsibility of the Promise, knowing full we that only He was capable of keeping a promise, unconditionally! 

 What was also interesting within this story, before God had signed the Contract, He caused Abraham to fall into a deep sleep, and then He showed him the fate of his descendants, as if to open up his heart to the reality of His promise, that through him a nation would happen. It was God's way of giving him a heart that cared for those descendants, which made them a reality within his heart. 

 As Abraham woke, he saw that God was moving among the slain animals, signing the Contract for the both of them...

"After the sun went down and darkness fell, Abram saw a smoking firepot and a flaming torch pass between the halves of the carcasses. So the LORD made a covenant with Abram that day and said, "I have given this land to your descendants, all the way from the border of Egypt to the great Euphrates River - the land is now occupied by the Kenites, Kenizzites, Kadmonites, Hittites, Perizzites, Rephaites, Amorites, Canaanites, Girgashites, and Jebusites."" (Genesis 15:17-21 NLT) 

"God's Promises Bring Hope"

   "For example, there was God's promise to Abraham. Since there was no greater to swear by, God took an oath in his own name, saying: "I will certainly bless you, and I will multiply your descendants beyond number." Then Abraham waited patiently, and he received what God had promised.

  "Now when people take an oath, they call on someone greater than themselves to hold them to it. And without any question that oath is binding. God also bound himself with an oath, so that those who received the promise could be perfectly sure that he would never change his mind. So God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us. This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God's inner sanctuary. Jesus has already gone in there for us. He has become our eternal High Priest in the order of Melchizedek." (Hebrews 6:13-20 NLT)

  "O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou knowest my sitting down and mine uprising; thou understandest my thought afar off. Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word in my tongue, but, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether. Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain it." (PSALMS 139:1-6 KJV)

 One of the other important things that I have learned, in this New Life we have been given in Christ, is that He doesn't change His mind! Without getting too caried away, it has been my belief from the very beginning that God knows everything about me, both my past and my future; there is nothing about me that He does not already know!

 What that means, if you don't already know, is that when He saved us from our sins and made us His children, it was final and complete; His promises are never-ending! If He doesn't learn, as Pastor Mike always says, then when we mess up, at whatever stage of our journey, He is not surprised by what we have done, because He has already known that it would happen. 

 In other words, you are saved only once; you don't keep getting saved again and again, every time you repent for doing something wrong; but we do always must repent, knowing He will always forgive us, as He has promised! The other very important thing I have learned, is that we don't have the strength to keep our promises to Him; but that doesn't mean He doesn't keep His...

  "Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile. When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long. For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: my moisture is turned into the drought of summer. Selah. I acknowledge my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah." (PSALMS 32:1-5 KJV)  

"Safe and Secure!" - Too

 "That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises." (Hebrews 6:12 KJV)

  ""Dear friends, don't be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot do any more to you after that. But I'll tell you whom to fear. Fear God, who has the power kill you and then throw you into hell. Yes, he's the one to fear."" (Luke 12:4-5 NLT)

 Looking at this current world, there is still hope that there are people looking for God; having seen some of the clips from Charlie's debates, it is pretty obvious that he was not ashamed of the Gospel, and he was always ready to lift up the name of Jesus Christ, with sincere passion and authority. I pray that will be my reaction too, if I am given the chance to share my faith! 

 One of the first things I realized, almost immediately after I got saved, is that I no longer feared death or judgment from all of the sins in my life; there was a feeling of a heavy burden being lifted off from me, and I felt safe and secure, almost as if there was a powerful force that surrounded me. Not that I was ever all that scared of being in jail, because I really never felt anything else, but getting back home.  

 However, after I got saved, I still wanted to go home, but the time I was spending in jail all of the sudden became important. I was learning and sharing things that were far more important; almost as if that was where I belonged, because God was doing a work, and my life was filled with purpose. 

 Here we are, some 44 years later, and I still feel that my life has purpose! Yes, this was about the time I got saved, back in 1981. I really don't remember the date, but I remember the day and the time. It was on a Sunday, at around 11:00 am. Something that I remember, just like John remembered when he was first alone with Jesus! 

 They say that the Gospel of John was written between AD 90 - 100; which would make John about that age, around 84 to 90 years old. But even at that very old age, he still recalled the time of day when he first spent time with Jesus...

"The following day John was again standing with two of his disciples. As Jesus walked by, John looked at him and declared, "Look! There is the Lamb of God!" When John's two disciples heard this, they followed Jesus. Jesus looked around and saw them following. "What do you want?" he asked them. They replied, "Rabbi" (which means "Teacher"), "where are you staying?" "Come and see," he said. It was about four o'clock in the afternoon when they went with him to the place where he was staying, and they remained with him the rest of the day."  

"Safe and Secure!"

 "That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises." (Hebrews 6:12 KJV) 

  "So you must remain faithful to what you have been taught from the beginning. If you do, you will remain in fellowship with the Son and with the Father. And in this fellowship we enjoy the eternal life he promised us." (1 John 2:24-25 NLT)

 Let me start by saying, My prayer is that God will raise up 100 more Charlie's! As if that was going to stop what he was so passionate in doing! I pray that there is going to be many more that will be motivated to get into the race, making his passion their passion, and giving God the glory! We all should know that he is now with the Lord; but that he will be missed, especially by his wonderful family.

 That said, we are living in some very interesting time, a time of Biblical prophecy; as it is being said, over and over: "There are those that call evil good, and good evil!" These are truly last day events, and we should be ready for the Lord's soon coming, to take us home. 

 We should all be paying attention to what is going on in this world, especially in the world around us. We cannot pretend that it is not any of our business! Right now, I am reading the Book of Esther to my wife, and we just finished chapter four, where Mordecai tells Esther, "Who knows if perhaps you were made queen for just such a time as this?" 

 Just because you don't get involved doesn't mean you aren't in jeopardy of getting harmed or in trouble. As it was with Esther, she was a Jew, yet she kept it a secret; so she felt as though her life would not be in danger. Sorry to say, but that is not how the spiritual world we live in works...

"A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God's armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. Therefore, put on every piece of God's armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm." (Ephesians 6:10-13 NLT)      

"Protecting Our Security"

 "And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:" (Hebrews 6:11 KJV)

  "In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly." (Romans 12:6-8 NLT)

 If you have been serving the Lord for any amount of time, you should know by now what God has gifted you with, whether it is teaching, giving, or serving; but whatever it is, it needs to be done as if you are doing it for the Lord! This was something that Pastor Chuck understood, as he decided to serve the Lord instead of going into a secular business. What motivated him was a verse from a poem: "Only One Life Twill Soon be Past; Only What's Done for Christ Will Last." 

 There are certain things that we do, sometimes without getting much recognition or thanks. Some might take that as something they are offended by, while others don't look for it as pleasing man, but to be a chance to please the Lord. That is what we must focus on, Pleasing Jesus! He is who we will be given an account to, for whatever it is that we do. 

 Basically, the point I am trying to make, is that we must protect our hearts from being offended or feeling as though we are being used. Even if it is the case, that someone might be using you for your service, we are to remain humble and serve well to the best of our ability! I had learned something from Zig a long time ago, concerning secular work, "Work to the best of your ability, and if your employer doesn't acknowledge your efforts, someone else will come along and acknowledge you, and offer you more!" 

 Anywho, this is basically about guarding our hearts and making sure that our motives for serving are in the right place. Having been in ministry for quite a while, I have seen the actions of some who serve, as they might serve in certain areas, like cleaning the church or teaching Sunday school; but when it comes to giving, some don't even tithe, because they consider their time as giving enough. 

 We are not here for safe keeping; we are here to serve the Lord! In whatever He leads you into, do it as if He is watching and keeping track of your every move: Because He is, even in the simple things, like sharing with one another...

"Then those who feared the LORD spoke with each other, and the LORD listened to what they said. In his presence, a scroll of remembrance was written to record the names of those who feared him and always thought about the honor of his name. "They will be my people," says the LORD of Heaven's Armies. "On the day when I will act in judgment, they will be my own special treasure. I will spare them as a father spares an obedient child. Then you will again see the difference between the righteous and the wicked, between those that serve God and those who do not."" (Malichi 3:16-18 NLT)  

"Living in Security"

 "For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister." (Hebrews 6:10 KJV)

  "For if you are trying to make yourselves right with God by keeping the law, you have been cut off from Christ! You have fallen away from his grace. But we who live by the Spirit eagerly wait to receive by faith the righteousness God has promised to us. For when we place our faith in Christ Jesus, there is no benefit in being circumcised or being uncircumcised. What is important is faith expressing itself in love." (Galatians 5:4-6 NLT)

 Whatever you think about that which I shared yesterday, it is not my place to end a life! God will be the one that takes her life, not me; as I promised, when we were married, "till death do us part," which does not mean, 'till I feel it's time for her to go.' That is not what I promised, and that is that! However, the looks and the reactions I get from some people, it is as though I am being selfish or needy, by keeping her here. Well, I will let God be the judge of that, not anyone else. 

 That said, there are certain times when I feel overwhelmed and my heart hurts for her, watching her as we grow old together. It isn't the way I imagined it would be. But there are many things in this life that don't turn out as we plan; but God has certain plans for us that are hard to see; some of which might be for some other time, long after we have gone. 

 In the meantime, we must do our best to do what we think is right, while we serve and love others; also, knowing that God is watching over us! I truly hope that you believe that is so...

"Dear friends, I am not writing a new commandment for you; rather it is an old one you have had from the very beginning. This old commandment - to love one another - is the same message you heard before. Yet it is also new. Jesus lived the truth of this commandment, and you also are living it. For the darkness is disappearing, and the true light is already shinning." (1 John 2:7-8 NLT)  

"Knowing Security"

 "But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak." (Hebrews 6:9 KJV)

  "Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him." (Philippians 2:12-13 NLT)

 There are certain things that make us know what God is doing and has done in our lives; and then there are those things which are unknown, things which are hard to figure out, just because they don't really make sense. That is not something we need to be afraid of, even though we cannot see what or why it is happening; we can be confident that whatever happens in this life, it is all for our good, no matter how hard it appears, it is all going to be okay! 

 When I think about these things, I cannot help but wonder how long God is going to keep this going, as it seems that Marianne is starting to grow weary of her condition. After all, it has been 22 years; this time 22 years ago, she was still in Cardiac ICU. She had been in that part of the hospital for almost a month; and it wasn't until she was off the respirator that she was moved out of ICU and into a regular room. 

 For over three months she was in that hospital. When they were sure that she was not getting any better, they wanted me to have her placed in a Care-Facility. They gave me a list of places, but only one was a place I felt she would like; but they couldn't accept her because she has a tracheostomy, which was placed due to the doctor's fear that she might have aspirations. 

 When I told them I wanted to bring her home and care for her, they said it wasn't possible, because her condition was catastrophic and required round-the-clock medical care. But after several times of asking, and me starting to make the accommodations available for in-home medical care, they decided to allow me to bring her home.

 What a journey this has been! Since she was released from the hospital, she has never been there again as a patient. When I first had her home, we had several nurses and doctors show up at the house. We even had in-home nurses that would watch over her, as I worked during the day. The first winter we had no power, so I picked her up and put her in bed with me, just to keep her warm. 

 Several times I have taken her on long trips, just the two of us; sometimes a niece or nephew would go with us, especially if I planned on golfing or snowboarding. The longest trip we took was for almost a month, which was the year I started this blog, and was because I needed to heal my broken shoulder. It was hard to crawl around in subareas when your shoulder is broken. 

 That was over 15 years ago, when we took that 7,000-mile journey in the RV; which is also the picture that is shown in this blog, that says, "Count It All Joy." It was my mother-in-law that snapped a picture of us, setting off on our month-long journey. 

 God is still doing things, with this crazy journey. I really don't know where it is going, but I surely know and believe where it ends...

"For we know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. And we believers also groan, even though we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, for we long for our bodies to be released from sin and suffering. We, too, wait with eager hope for the day when God will give us our full rights as his adopted children, including the new bodies he has promised us. We were given this hope when we were saved. (If we already have something, we don't need to hope for it. But if we look forward to something we don't yet have, we must wait patiently and confidently.)" (Romans 8:22-25 NLT)  

"Better Things for You"

  "Dear friends, even though we are talking this way, we really don't believe it applies to you. We are confident that you are meant for better things, things that come with salvation. For God is not unjust. He will not forget how hard you have worked for him and how you have shown your love to him by caring for other believers, as you still do. Our great desire is that you will keep on loving others as long as life lasts, in order to make certain that what you hope for will come true. Then you will not become spiritually dull and indifferent. Instead, you will follow the example of those who are going to inherit God's promises because of their faith and endurance." (Hebrews 6:9-12 NLT)

  "I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber. Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand. The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul. The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even forevermore." (PSALMS 121 KJV)

 Without making this something that is hard to understand, I want to go back to love, making love the main reason this applies to those who are inheriting the promises of God. Some things just seem to work out in the end, regardless of what things appear to be, God's ultimate plan is that we will all live with Him, loving Him and each other as we should. Faith and hope will no longer be needed; but love will endure for ever and ever! 

 There are certain things that I might not understand; and certain things that I might get wrong. But the love that I know God has poured out for us, I truly know that I believe and understand why He sent His Son to die for us: It is because He loves us, more than we know...

 "For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his 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 will 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 fulness of God. Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen." (Ephesians 3:14-21 KJV) 

"More Than We Know"

 "But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned." (Hebrews 6:8 KJV)

  ""Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciple. This brings great glory to my Father."" (John 15:5-8 NLT)

 As I have studied this, it is more and more about our need for Him; basically, there is no real life for a branch that is not attached to the Vine! There are certain times we might drift away and neglect our need to stay close to the Lord; but from what I know from my own personal experience, it doesn't last for very long at all. As a matter of fact, we get to a point when we realize what we have missing, and there is always His outstretched arms ready to forgive us. 

 Hopefully that is what you have experienced as well? Because it is very important that you know how much He loves you, even if you mess up and fall away; if you are sincerely His child, you are not going to fall very far! Please understand that and always remember you belong to Him, always! 

 Anywho, there is more to this than just what we might believe, because there are always certain times when we might have doubt or think we don't belong, as if we are not worthy. If that is ever the case, we need to embrace the weakness and give everything to the Lord, letting Him give us strength! To be totally honest, we are not worthy, and we never belonged: but He has made us His, therefore we are perfectly made to be conformed to His image; the Refiner's Fire is always at work...

 "All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, and we have a priceless inheritance - an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change or decay. And through your faith, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see. 

 "So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you have to endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold - though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.

 "You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy. The reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls." (1 Peter 1:3-9 NLT) 

  

"Oh, How We Need Him!"

 "For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God." (Hebrews 6:7 KJV)

  ""The rain and snow come down from the heavens and stay on the ground to water the earth. They cause the grain to grow, producing seed for the farmer and bread for the hungry. It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it. You will live in joy and peace. The mountain and hills will burst into song, and the trees of the field will clap their hands! Where once there were thorns, cypress trees will grow. Where nettles grew, myrtles will sprout up. These events will bring great honor to the LORD'S name; they will be an everlasting sign of his power and love."" (Isaiah 55:10-13 NLT)

 Having tossed this around in my head, the more I think about it, the more I don't want to think about it, as it causes me to feel shame, thinking about all the times I messed up. I know we aren't perfect, so it isn't really hard to look back at some of the stupid things we have done; but it is by the blood of Christ Jesus that we have been cleansed, and by His blood we are totally and completely made perfect! 

 I can recall something that Pastor Gene taught, several years ago. He illustrated the likeness of having an umbrella, standing under it, and being under the protection from the rain. In this illustration, the rain was meant to be all of the filth and sin, the umbrella was the grace that covered us completely. We need to stay under that umbrella! When we step out from under it, we get wet!

 That might not coincide with the message, but it does illustrate our need to abide in Christ! No matter what we might get into, He is always faithful and just to forgive us and get us back on the right path. All we really need to do is ask Him to forgive us and have control of our lives, which is what we really need!

 Another thing Pastor Gene had taught: Do all that God tells you to do, and if something doesn't work, then it's not your fault, and you do not need to feel ashamed...   

"Trust in the LORD with all you heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take." (Proverbs 3:5-6 NLT) 

  

"It's Not About Religion"

 "If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame." (Hebrews 6:6 KJV)

  "Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Oh, give me back my joy again; you have broken me - now let me rejoice. Don't keep looking at my sins. Remove the stain of my guilt. Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me. Do not banish me from your presence, and don't take your Holy Spirit from me." (PSALM 51:7-11 NLT)

 Most of us should know by now, if you have been walking with the Lord for any time at all, this is not about trying to be religious or holding to a set of rules and doctrine; this is about have a very special relationship with the One who saved you, Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior. And, because it is about this very special relationship, there is no turning back! 

 Don't think for a moment that I mean to say we don't, because there are times when the very best of us will slip back into the world; maybe not into the old life of drugs and parties, but when we actually don't read our Bibles, or share Jesus with others, or neglect to pray as much as we should. It is really not a thing that we plan to do, but it is just something we slip into, because of our busy life, whatever that might be. 

 This is why we should never forsake fellowship and going to church! We are not individuals that come together for a religious service; we are all one body, connected together in the body of Christ. When one part of the body gets torn out, there is part of us that becomes missing, and it hurts. This is also the way Jesus feels, having a part of His body taken out; He does not allow it to happen!

 Getting right down to the point of what this means, if we are in this journey for the religious experience, then we were never really a part of His Body! This incredible relationship is about love: the love of God, and the love for each other! I have heard several different points of view about making this a religious experience, most of which is to challenge ourselves to do certain things that keep us connected and doing the spiritual things we need to do.

 This is about love, plain and simple...

"When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things. Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely. Three things will last forever = faith, hope, and love - and the greatest of these is love." (1 Corinthians 13:11-13 NLT)  

"No Other Way!"

 "And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come," (Hebrews 6:5 KJV)

  "So get rid of all evil behavior. Be done with all deceit, hypocrisy, jealousy, and all unkind speech. Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment, now that you have had a taste of the Lord's kindness." (1 Peter 2:1-3 NLT)

 Let me say it again, just in case I didn't make myself clear: It is impossible, because we cannot undo what God has done! In other words, if there is a way for you to fall away, it is only made possible because you really never did commit yourself all the way! 

 Without being too out a line, let me try to put it another way, one in which we might all be able to agree upon. When we accepted Christ Jesus into our hearts, those who have believed for the sake of the life which is to come, they are the ones who have no more worries about what happens in the life; they have their heart set upon those things in Heaven. 

 Now, to be perfectly honest, we all have times when that is sometimes not the case; as much as I hate to admit it, we do from time-to-time care a little bit more for this life; but even then, it is basically normal. If you don't believe me, check out some of the things Abraham did, who, even after being told by God that he was going to do this and that, he still worried about his life, telling Sarah to pretend she was his sister, just so his own life wouldn't be taken. 

 There are certain things that cause, even the strongest believers, to hold a little too tightly to this world! But, most importantly: God still does not abandon them or throw them away: that isn't possible, for His love never fails...

"And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God's love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow - not even the powers of hell can separate us from God's love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below - indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:38-39 NLT)

"Taking It All In"

 "For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Spirit," (Hebrews 6:4 KJV)

  "Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, you want to be with me because I fed you, not because you understood the miraculous signs. But don't be so concerned about perishable things like food. Spend your energy seeking the eternal life that the Son of Man can give you, For God the Father has given me the seal of his approval." They replied, "We want to perform God's work, too. What should we do?" Jesus told them, "This is the only work God wants from you: Believe in the one he has sent."" (John 6:26-29 NLT)

 Well then, after having been through a storm or two, I can see why some people might fall away, but I really can't see how they allow it to happen. There are a couple different ways to look at this: one is to look at it from the human side, as if there was something you can do to control yourself, even though you have been purchased by the blood of Christ; and the other is to consider that it is impossible to get away out from under God's grace! 

 Personally, I will try to forever stand upon the second one! No matter what I might do, my life is in His hands! That is what I believe and that is what I must continue to stand upon, even if I might fall away, He doesn't allow me to reach a certain point, without bringing back to repentance. Yes, it is totally fine to repent again for sins that we commit, even after we have known better to not do them. 

 Hopefully everyone should know that, because He put a mark upon us, from which we really cannot stray too far away. I can't begin to tell of all the times I have tried to walk away, if only for a brief me time; but somehow, I cannot hide the mark that He has placed upon me, that makes it hard to hide from the One who owns me! 

 If you don't know what I mean, it is really not all that hard to believe. When you were saved, your life is no longer your own; you're a child of God, which makes you a citizen of heaven, which now makes you an alien to those of this world. Sorry, but you are stuck in His grip, and He is not letting go...

""My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me, for my Father has given them to me, and he is more powerful than anyone else. No one can snatch them from the Father's hand. The Father a I are one."" (John 10:27-30 NLT) 

   

"Given License" - To

 "And this we will do, if God permit." (Hebrews 6:3 KJV)

  "As Paul gathered an armful of sticks and was laying them on the fire, a poisonous snake, driven out by the heat, bit him on the hand. The people of the island saw it hanging from his hand and said to each other, "A murderer, no doubt! Though he escaped the sea, justice will not permit him to live." But Paul shook off the snake into the fire and was unharmed. The people waited for him to swell up and suddenly drop dead. But when they waited a long time and saw that he wasn't harmed, they changed their minds and decided he was a god." (Acts 28:3-6 NLT)

  Rather interesting situation, but one that is true to form! Here we have a little example of what it means to trust God and believe that He will do what He has said He would do, no matter what might happen to us along the way. Paul knew that he was going to Rome, because the Lord had told him that was where he was going; so, he wasn't going to let a little snakebite make him think that the journey was over! 

 As it is for every one of us, as we are going through a storm or dealing with something that seems too much to bear; God will always find a way to complete His promises, in one way or another. We just need to trust Him, knowing that in this world we will have tribulation, but no matter what, He will get us to the other side! 

 Yesterday, Pastor Bryan was sharing on this exact thing. Not surprising to me at all, but it did cause me to pay attention. He mentioned the difference between happiness and joy; saying the if you are looking for the Lord to give you happiness, then you will most likely be disappointed; but through everything, having joy is that which we maintain, as it comes from the Lord. 

 As it is, none of us really know what lies ahead in the journey; but we can be secure in knowing what will be happening in the end! No matter what, I believe that whatever trial is set before us, God has allowed whatever it is, to be for our benefit; even if it results in our death; after all, we have been promised eternal life...

"And I want you to know, my dear brothers and sisters, that everything that has happened to me here has helped to spread the Good News. For everyone here, including the whole palace guard, knows that I am in chains because of Christ. And because of my imprisonment, most of the believers here have gained confidence and boldly speak God's message without fear." (Philippians 1:12-14 NLT)     

"Given License"

 "And this will we do, if God permit." (Hebrews 6:3 KJV)

  "Look here, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit." How do you know what your life will be tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog - it's here a little while, then it's gone. What you ought to say is, "If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that." Otherwise you are boasting about your own plans, and all such boasting is evil. Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it." (James 4:13-17 NLT)

 This is really not changing gears, because there is something more important than doctrine and knowing about basic principles of salvation and the afterlife; the main thing we must practice is obedience and doing what God wants us to do. Otherwise, we are just playing church and pretending that we really are following Jesus, our Lord and Savior. 

 Here is where this makes better sense, if you really want to get right down to it. And don't think for a moment that I have some kind of ability to do anything, because my life is far from perfect! There is this thing called accountability, where God will only give you the ability to go forward, once you have been listening to His commands. Otherwise, you will be stuck in the corner, like a dunce; or worse, you will hang down your head and move on, back into the world. 

 I know that is a little harsh and probably more than I should have said, but in the real world, those who walk away from the Lord, do so because they either don't get their way, or they just thought following Jesus was going to be all about peace and happiness. This is not a picnic or an easy road; as a matter of fact, this road is hard, because when we get beat up, we get to express joy in the midst of it! 

 That might seem simple enough to do, if you have the right attitude and enough trust in God; but there are a lot of brothers and sisters that will walk away from the Lord, just because they had some sort of death or disaster in the family. The rain falls on the good and the bad; we all have a fragile body that is subject to death; the big difference is that we who believe and know where we are going, deal with the situation by drawing closer to God...

"My dear brothers and sisters, if someone among you wanders away from the truth and is brought back, you can be sure that whoever brings the sinner back will save that person from death and bring about the forgiveness of many sins." (James 5:19-20 NLT)