Tuesday, December 27, 2016

The Christian and the Jew


Christians share a bond with the Jewish people because God originally chose the Jews to be "His People". But, when Christ came, as promised, they rejected Him. I don't know about you, but if you reject my children when I am with them, I will reject you and leave with my children.

This is what God did. But, God has a longing to love, to have more children to love. So, since they rejected Him, He called on anyone who would listen, who would NOT reject Him, to be His. And, that is what the rest of the world who became "Christian" did. The Bible calls them "Gentiles". (Isaiah Chapter 42)

The Old Testament teaches God's children how to live. It also provides instruction on how to become cleansed enough to get into heaven until the ultimate promised lamb would come. Jesus was that Lamb. He was the final sacrifice necessary to cleanse us all and allow us a seat with the Father. (John Chapter 1)

Many Christians today mistakenly believe that now that they have excepted Jesus, they don't have to follow the laws of the Old Testament. The truth is, they don't HAVE to, but that is no excuse NOT to. Jesus said,

Matthew 5:17
“Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.”


This means that He did not come so we didn't have to follow the law. He came to be a part of the law that we couldn't possibly follow without Him.

Having said that, I am devoting some study time to the laws of the Old Testament, while I Praise God for the Hope provided in the New Testament! And, I am determining to do my best to follow those laws because I am a child of God and should show it by doing so, while at the same time I am relieved that if I fail, Jesus has already forgiven me and His blood still allows me an audience with God to apologize, and to get up off my knees after and try again with a smile. (James Chapter 2)

Jewish Holidays


Monday, December 26, 2016

If Every Day Could Be Just Like Christmas...


I hope each and every one of you here at God Inspires had a beautiful Christmas Day with friends and Family as we celebrated our Lord!

Remember that He is the reason for the season, but He is also the reason for our lives! We should not celebrate Him one day out of the year. We should celebrate Him every single day of our lives. Who wouldn't want Christmas every day? Wouldn't this attract others to our faith?

Love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and temperance. This is what Christmas fills in each of us. Let us go out and give it to the world as we let Christ's light shine through us!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from all of us at God Inspires!



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Wednesday, December 7, 2016

Are you Jesus?



This is why I always try to take the extra step...I got this off of the Hope4America email list I'm on back in 2012. I enjoyed it. I hope you do too. More importantly, I hope it speaks to you:

Are you Jesus?

A few years ago a group of salesmen went to a regional sales convention in Chicago. They had assured their wives that they would be home in plenty of time for Friday night's dinner. In their rush, with tickets and briefcases, one of these salesmen inadvertently kicked over a table which held a display of apples. Apples flew everywhere. Without stopping or looking back, they all managed to reach the plane in time for their nearly-missed boarding...

ALL BUT ONE!!! He paused, took a deep breath, got in touch with his feelings, and experienced a twinge of compassion for the girl whose apple stand had been overturned.

He told his buddies to go on without him, waved good-bye, told one of them to call his wife when they arrived at their home destination and explain his taking a later flight. Then he returned to the terminal where the apples were all over the terminal floor.

He was glad he did. The 16-year-old girl was totally blind! She was softly crying, tears running down her cheeks in frustration, and at the same time helplessly groping for her spilled produce as the crowd swirled about her; no one stopping and no one to care for her plight.

The salesman knelt on the floor with her, gathered up the apples, put them back on the table and helped organize her display. As he did this, he noticed that many of them had become battered and bruised; these he set aside in another basket.

When he had finished, he pulled out his wallet and said to the girl, "Here, please take this $40 for the damage we did. Are you okay? She nodded through her tears. He continued on with, "I hope we didn't spoil your day too badly."

As the salesman started to walk away, the bewildered blind girl called out to him, "Mister....", he paused and turned to look back into those blind eyes. She continued, "Are you Jesus?"

He stopped in mid-stride ... and he wondered. He gently went back and said, "No, I am nothing like Jesus - He is good, kind, caring, loving, and would never have bumped into your display in the first place.

"The girl gently nodded: "I only asked because I prayed for Jesus to help me gather the apples. He sent you to help me, so you are like Him - only He knows who will do His will. Thank you for hearing His call, Mister."

Then slowly he made his way to catch the later flight with that question burning and bouncing about in his soul: "Are you Jesus?"

Do people mistake you for Jesus?

That's our destiny, is it not? To be so much like Jesus that people cannot tell the difference as we live and interact with a world that is blind to His love, life and grace.

If we claim to know Him, we should live, walk and act as He would. Knowing Him is more than simply quoting scripture and going to church. It's actually living the Word as life unfolds day to day .

You are the apple of His eye even though you, too, have been bruised by a fall. He stopped what He was doing and picked up you and me on a hill
called Calvary and paid in full for our damaged fruit.

Share this, {IF you feel led to do so}.

Sometimes we just take things for granted, when we really need to be sharing what we know.

"Being happy doesn't mean everything is perfect. It means you've decided to see beyond the imperfections."

This made my day. I pray it makes yours as well........

I hope you enjoy this story. It really does strike a nerve as to what we should be doing.



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No Greater Pain (by Rose Marie)


Have you ever buried a child? Have you ever rocked your child in your arms as you watched the life drain away? Have you ever had to kneel beside your child's bed and give them back to God as they battled for their life....not sure if God would grant healing on earth or have to take them home to make them new?

I have. Not once, not twice but three times with my own flesh and blood. Two became new in heaven and one was healed. I have walked down the aisle...... my vision filled with that tiny casket....... as my breasts leaked milk. I have went shopping for that final outfit, that stuffed animal that would journey with them. I have knelt between two tiny graves knowing both belonged to me and felt pain so deep all I could do was throw back my head and scream in primal agony.

Through each moment, each stabbing, gut wrenching pain I found hope because I knew the TRUTH. I knew that He was with me through it all and because HE held the keys .......death had no sting over my children and that He was calling them to His side to love and care for and that one day, one sweet glorious day HE would call me to be reunited with them and that thought, that assurance, that hope lifted me up from a position of defeat to one of hope, love, joy, and peace.

No matter what you are facing today, I promise if you give it to HIM and rely on HIS promise to you, you too will rise in hope, love, joy, and peace. I pray HE meets you right where you are at right now and just wraps you up in HIS arms and comforts you with HIS love. Be still and rest on HIS promises. He can't fail.

Saturday, December 3, 2016

The Hem of His Garment (by Rose Marie)


Luke 8:43-48 a story of true faith. A woman was ostracized by society, a woman that had been suffering for 12 years. She had used up all her money, seen every physician around, and nothing worked. She was broken, depressed, lonely, hurting, and sick and weak in her body. But then she heard about this man named Jesus who healed people and performed great miracles. Her heart was quickened, hope was awakened and she went forward to meet Him in the crowds.

I can close my eyes and picture the crowds pressing in, the loud noise as every one called out as he passed and I turn and see this woman....tired, worn, weak, sick and knowing she wasn't allowed to mix with people.because her illness made her unclean.... I see a new light of hope in her eyes as she spies him coming closer and closer. The war going on in her mind knowing society states she can't go forth among them but knowing all her hope and faith ride in this one man.....

I see her stepping out, tears streaming down her face as determination and true hearts desire command her to press through the masses and touch this Jesus.

As the crowd pressed in, flesh to flesh did she have to drop to her knees and push in, her hand stretched forth?? Did some step on her or push her in their haste?? Her eyes are fixed on him...no other sight can fill her vision, only Him...Her ear harkened towards His voice. None of the shouts can penetrate... It's all Him, only Him!!!

Suddenly she breaks through!!! It's him!!! Her fingers brush against just the hem of his garment and suddenly her body is filled with His healing power and she is made whole!!!!

A joy floods her soul, her back straightens, and then she hears him say.... Who touched me??

She answers and says it was me Lord, I can hear the tremble in her voice as suddenly she is afraid of what she has done....

But He turns to her in verse 48 and says.....and he said unto her, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made their whole, go in peace.

No matter what your issue is today... He is right there in the crowd... Push through, reach out and touch the hem of His garment!!! Let your faith make you whole!!!



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Monday, November 28, 2016

The Greatest Birthday Ever Celebrated... (by Shonda Ponder)



It dawns on me, in the days after Thanksgiving, that our next holiday is Christmas. As I reflect on this, and remember what Christmas is all about, I am listening to praise songs about the birth of Christ on KHCB Christian Radio. Then, moving over to a more worldly thought, I think of my children and the birthdays they used to have.

When we were children, I am sure some of our best memories were the birthday parties that were held in our honor. It was a celebration of the fact that we were born into this world. On a more deeper level, it is a celebration of who we are. The fact that we exist -- that we are here to brighten the lives of those around us with our presence.

But, when we die, who is going to celebrate our birthdays? And, if they do, how many years will it last? It seems kind've strange to have a birthday for someone who is no longer there...

Then, my thoughts wonder back to Christmas: The greatest birthday party ever celebrated; A party that has lasted for over 2,000 years. And, no matter how many people try to distract us from this celebration every year, the holiday has continued to grow and spread.

Christmas: The birthday of a man who came to earth, placed in a manger because there was no crib for him, who grew up and became one of the greatest men the face of the earth has ever seen or heard of. He was God's son, through and through. He taught love, Godly obedience, mercy, forgiveness and hope. Then, as humbly as he was brought into the world, he died being nailed painfully to a cross, with a crown of thorns on his head. His last words, before announcing that his job was finished were, "Forgive them, for they know not what they do."

And today, we celebrate His birth. We celebrate it, not because He was born, but because He existed -- then, and now. He is alive. His life is celebrated, not His birth -- just as OUR life is celebrated with each birthday that rolls around. At the end of our lives, our birthday parties are not celebrated. But, at the end of his visit to earth, HIS life was just beginning. Today, we see Him in every good thing that exists. And, on Christmas, we remember the sacrifices He made so we could, and we celebrate.

This Christmas, I pray that when you look back on your lives, and build memories with your families, you are able to see what the celebration is all about, and that you take as many moments possible to stop and Praise Him, because HE is what Christmas is all about.

So, let us all celebrate -- not just on Christmas Day, but on every day that leads us to it, and every day thereafter. And, on Christmas, let's all throw the best party we can in His honor!



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Sunday, November 20, 2016

In the Hands of Mercy is Where I Belong


Nobody here is perfect. Everyone is going to fall down...not once, not twice, but over and over in their lives.

That's why Jesus came.

God is faithful and just. When you fall down, He will ALWAYS pull you back up.

You just have to reach for Him.


1 John 1:9
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”




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How Great is YOUR God?


How great is YOUR God?

My God is great. My God is Able. My God can do anything. My God is not limited.

How great is YOUR god?

There is not a war He hasn't won:

Psalms 24:8
“Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle.”


God is the author of power. All power is His:

Psalms 62:11
“God hath spoken once; twice have I heard this; that power belongeth unto God.”


God is limitless:

Psalms 147:5
“Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite.”


Nothing is too hard for Him:

Genesis 18:14
“Is any thing too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.”

Jeremiah 32:17
“Ah Lord GOD! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee:”

Jeremiah 32:27
“Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?”



God fulfills all of His promises:

Romans 4:21
“And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.”


Nothing is impossible for God:

Luke 1:37
“For with God nothing shall be impossible.”

Mark 10:27
“And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.”


God is ABLE:

2 Corinthians 9:8
“And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:”

Ephesians 3:20
“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,”


And the power that works in us? We call it FAITH!

Matthew 21:22 - And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.

Hebrews 11:6 - But without faith [it is] impossible to please [him]: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and [that] he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Matthew 17:20
“And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.”

Matthew 21:21
“Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.”


Matthew 9:22, Matthew 9:29, Matthew 15:28

Lord, I am finite. No matter how much I praise You, O Lord, it isn't near enough for all that You are. I cannot begin to give You the glory that You deserve, even for only what You have done for me. You are GREAT! O God! And, that description is not great enough. Please continue to be all that You are. I love You, Lord. In Jesus' Holy Name I pray, Amen!



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Friday, November 18, 2016

Walk Away...(Contributed by James Bradford)


1 corinthians 10:13
There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.


This is God's promise to us during a test of faith. God can not lie. Sometimes God will show us where our previous life as a sinner took us to remind us where we could be headed again.

Luke 11:24-26
24. When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house when I came out.
25. And when he cometh, he findeth it swept and garnished.
26. Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other Spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in, and the last state of that man is worse than the first.


Replace Christ with no other. No other can deliver what He promised us.



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Wednesday, November 16, 2016

The Purpose of the Church Family (by Sandra Poplin)


A church family will help keep you from backsliding. None of us are immune to temptation. Given the right situation, you and I are capable of any sin. God knows this, so he has assigned us as individuals the responsibility of keeping each other on track.

The Bible says, “Encourage one another daily … so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness” (Hebrews 3:13 NIV).

“Mind your own business” is not a Christian phrase! We are called and commanded to be involved in each other’s lives. If you know someone who is wavering spiritually right now, it is your responsibility to go after him and bring him back into the fellowship.

James tells us, “If you know people who have wandered off from God’s truth, don’t write them off. Go after them. Get them back” (James 5:19 MSG).

A local church also provides the spiritual protection of godly leaders. God gives the shepherd leader the responsibility to guard, protect, defend, and care for the spiritual welfare of his flock (Acts 20:28-29; 1 Peter 5:1-4; Hebrews 13:7). We are told, “Their work is to watch over your souls, and they are accountable to God” (Hebrews 13:17b NLT, second edition).

Satan loves detached believers, unplugged from the life of the Body, isolated from God’s family, and unaccountable to spiritual leaders, because he knows they are defenseless and powerless against his tactics. Don’t let him get a foothold in your life! Stay connected to your church family.

Talk It Over:
What kind of relationships will you have to develop if you want accountability with people in the Body of Christ?
How should you pray for your church leaders?
What do you need to do to reconnect with your church family?
Who do you know that needs to be brought back into your church family?



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Saturday, November 12, 2016

We Are Adopted


Adopting a child can be one of the greatest blessings God has for your life. Although I have not experienced the blessings of having adopted a child, I have experienced the blessing of having a child who is a part of my family that is adopted.

Romans 8:15 reads "For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father."

God adopted us. Having adopted us, as Christians, He has not made us second, but First, to be JOINT heirs with Christ. He has accepted us into His family AS IF we are His own. There is nothing that Christ has that we won't also have when we are finally brought home in the end.

There are members of my family that like to remind everyone that my cousin is adopted. Having grown up with him, I find that personally offensive. Other members of my family and I have discussed this, and I find that I am not alone in how I feel.

My cousin is as much a part of my family as anyone who was born of flesh and blood as one of us. He was taught to BE one of us, and he wears that trophy well. He (and his children) deserves all of the inheritence our name bestows.

Furthermore, I thank God for him, because the whole experience has taught me to understand God's love for me more.

I was lost and all alone. I needed someone who really understood my life. Who better than the One who Created it? I was scared of what was to come, but the author of the Future chose me.

I wasn't too young, too old, not right, or even too bad or too good.

He chose me.



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November is National Adoption Month do for someone else what God has done for YOU!

Thursday, November 3, 2016

Carry me through...


I have been referred to consistently lately as being "strong". I was described as being "the strongest person I know". I was recognized as growing continually stronger.

The truth is, I am very weak. I know my weaknesses and limitations. I also know that all of what I have achieved in my lifetime has been way beyond my own limitations.

Someone told me once that I needed to take credit for having accomplished some of the things in my life that I have accomplished. "If you hadn't had the strength, you would not have accomplished it." True, except I didn't have any strength. God had the strength and He gave me what I needed to go forward.

God is my strength. He is my exceeding great reward.

Isaiah 41:10
“Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”




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Wednesday, November 2, 2016

Being single is not a curse..


1 Corinthians 7. (Read the whole chapter).

"The purpose of marriage is to make you more effective in fulfilling your purpose. If marriage keeps you from your purpose, then you missed the point of the marriage: to be part of God's calling." (Pastor Rick Warren) in the broadcast entitled "Finding the Love of Your Life (Part 2)" from his series "The Crazy Makers"

He brings up a good point. When God asks if we fulfilled our purpose, He is not going to except the answer that, "I am sorry, I was going to do that but I found this really cute guy..."

If your partner is not helping you or making it easier for you to fulfill God's calling on your life, then you don't need to marry them. You need to find another partner before you make the mistake of committing your life to them.

I personally have not found anyone who has ever been supportive of what I have felt was my calling at any given point in my life. I cannot believe that God intends for everyone to get married. If that were so, then Paul of the Bible, who was the greatest Apostle, in my opinion, would not have remained celibate.

Sometimes, it is better to remain single and focused.

Being single is NOT a curse! It's a gift!



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Sunday, October 30, 2016

Broken dreams (by Rose Marie)


Luke 9:25
“For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?”


Some times in life we set our hearts and soul on something only to realize it's never going to be. At that point you have a choice to make. You can give up, you can become angry and bitter, or you can mourn the loss and then create a new dream.

Don't let the end of one dream keep you from your destiny. Re-group, pray, and step forward on your new path. The choice is yours.

As my dearest maw-maw once told me... Marie if there is something in life you want with all your heart don't let anything keep you from it but if you see it simply wasn't meant to be... Don't waste your time and energy chasing emptiness that was never your promise... in circles. Let it go and move into your TRUE promise!!! For that is where your TRUE happiness and peace are found.

Amen maw-maw. You were a very wise woman of God.

In your name, Jesus, guide us all on our right paths. AMEN

Tuesday, October 18, 2016

One prayer can bless the whole world! (by Rose Marie)


Read the 1st chapter of 1 Samual.

Hannah was barren. She desired children with her husband whom she loved and who loved her with his whole heart. But she couldn't conceive. She was ridiculed, verbally assaulted, and laughed at every day.

As her family made the journey to make their sacrifices to God at the temple, she went and sat outside the steps. She sat and cried and prayed with a broken and sincere heart all night long. To the point when Eli, God's prophet marked her lips, he believed her to be drunk. She wasn't. She was broken before the Lord begging HIM for a child and promising HIM, that if He opened her womb, she would in turn give the child back to the Lord once the child was weaned.

She became with child, and when her SON was weaned she took him to the temple and left him in service for God. His name was Samuel and he became one of the great prophets that stood with both Saul and David.

Her heartfelt prayer, that she prayed hour after hour without pause touched God's heart. Her unselfish promise gave the world Samuel, a true prophet of God, and she in turn went on to have more children. Her heart was made full.

What are you seeking? How bad do you desire it? Is it in line with God's word?

It's time that we seek God with our whole hearts and love and trust HIM with our whole beings. Just like the saints of old.... It's time to fall in love with God and seek HIM first with our whole hearts. Sometimes praying all night long..... making the world question our sanity... But not caring because we are living one on one with our SAVIOR.

Saturday, October 8, 2016

Rock of Ages (by Angie Jeffers Pierce)


He is my Rock on which I stand, He is my hope on which I trust, He is my comforter in a darken world, I know with ALL my heart, He will never leave me or forsake me, for the Bible tells me so!!!! Even more, I feel His presence, I see His beauty all around me! God, you are SO good! Praise the Lord!

Greater is He that is in me....(By Rose Marie)


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


I am who I am and I make no apologies for being the woman God helped me to be.

I use to worry so much about what people thought of me. Was I pretty, was I pleasing, was I liked, was I, was I..... And one day I woke up and realized I was taking in the thinking of the world and not my Jesus.

He gave the TRUTH in love and walked daily what HE taught. He gave all honor and glory to God HIS and our FATHER and cloaked Himself in the fruits of the SPIRIT.

He was the salt, HE was the light. He was all we should aspire to be, within our human capability.

It's not about me! I am called to be an extension of HIM. I need to stop worrying about "I" and get busy being about my Father's business.

One day soon...very soon....I am going to be standing alone in front of Jesus, the one and only true judge, and I will have to give an account of my life........

I can't help but ask myself daily....Will HE be pleased with my heart and what it reveals? Will HE see my fruit and say it is GOOD? Will HE see my works and say well done my child? Will HE see my life and say welcome home or will I be sent away, departed from HIM for all eternity?

I know His grace covers all and being saved is a free gift that no one can take from me and nothing I could ever do on my own could earn me that gift! I know that nothing can separate me from His LOVE and His gift is freely given to all mankind in love! I know it's not anything I can do that saves me, but His love, mercy, and grace! But when you love Him, you desire to do more, to love more, to share Him and his eternal promise with everyone. Paul himself talked about finishing the race strong.......I desire to do the same!

It must not be about me, popularity, or this world. I must rise above the sin, crucify flesh daily, speak the TRUTH in all humility and love and be about my Father. Time is short. It's time to "be ye separate" " to be a peculiar person" and to share God's love with all. It's time to say goodbye to "I" and embrace true Christ living.



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Friday, October 7, 2016

Righteous


If Jesus were to come back today to gather His elect from the whole world, what if He only found ONE person. Would it be you?

Praise God we don't have to be worthy, because only ONE MAN EVER WAS!

Isaiah 64:6
“But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.”

Romans 3:10
“As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:”


Click HERE for more information on Genesis 7:1




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Tuesday, October 4, 2016

He's having the time of my life...(Romans 12:1)

Romans 12
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.


God gave all He had to us, that we would not suffer death and damnation for eternity. He created us. Why then, would He not see to it that we had all we needed to survive, including grace?

Someone once said, "Why did God create sin if He loved us?" God did not create sin. God allowed sin. There is a difference. And, had He not allowed sin, then what choice would we, as human beings have but to love God?

I read on the internet all the time about how Americans are discontent with a government that forces them to do what the government deems as good, as opposed to what the individual citizen believes is good. Individuality is being attacked in America, and many Americans are standing up against that. Had God not allowed sin into the world, His children would not have the knowledge of knowing good from evil, and they would worship God because that is all they knew to do.

A child who is abused by his mother grows up loving his mother because that is all he knows, until he sees how good the neighbor's kids have it, and learns that there is a better way.

Before there was light, there was darkness and chaos. Sin always was. Just like God always has been.

John 1:5
The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.


It is natural that without light, darkness will prevail. Darkness, evil, sin, has always been. God's very existence conquered it. When God came, it was impossible not to notice Him in the midst of all the chaos. He was LIGHT. His very existence defeated the dark.

God created a world where there was no darkness until one being decided to bring that darkness into His creation. So, God gave man a choice, because He did not want people to love Him out of ignorance: Choose ye this day whom you will serve!

As for me and my house, as Joshua said, we will serve the Lord!

To serve the Lord means to give all you have to the Lord, and let Him use you as He sees fit. It means being the hands and feet of God as He created you to be. It means showing others the love of God even when you would rather not. It means going against your desires to be what God created you to be and do, a creature that glorifies God.

It seems like a big sacrifice to make, to give your whole body as a living sacrifice to Him. But, once you make that decision, you will find that God will have the time of your life! You don't REALLY live until you live for Jesus!


Monday, October 3, 2016

Give it all to Jesus!

Read Romans chapter 12

On December 31, 2013 I made a decision to walk away from insecurity, hurt, bruises, being behind on rent, having no food in my refrigerator and all I had to wear was my uniform that let me work at a REAL PART TIME job. I had no car to get to work with either.

I got on my knees and decided to make Jesus my world. I gave my whole LIFE, as tattered and broken as it was, to Him. I held nothing back.

Every morning from that day forward, each time I opened my eyes in the morning, I found myself looking for ways to thank HIM for the peace that I had in my life...finally. If I had gained nothing else, the peace was enough.

When I walked out the door, no one stopped me from looking for ways to serve my Jesus. Opportunities just fell into my lap. Within a week, I was working a full time job with benefits, doing something noble and pure that I know my Jesus would approve of. Today, not even 3 years later, I am a Supervisor at that same job.

I have more clothes than I know what to do with. I have two freezers and a refrigerator, and what would fill two full sized cabinets of food in my home. I am driving my second OWNED vehicle!

And, I owe it all to Jesus.

I am single, whole, and fulfilled. I am happier than I have ever been in my life. I am not just saying that to put on a front (as I've been accused of), but I am truly happy. And, I am not looking to change my life in any way, except to let Jesus keep improving me. I am content, and my life is more abundant than ever!

No, the Bible is not about health and wealth. It is about contentment and being better today than you were yesterday. It's about loving people, including yourself, in spite of your imperfections. It's about being different, and letting that difference shine bright enough that others can see the Father's love through YOU!

No matter where you are, God can use you just like you are, to do for Him what He created ONLY YOU to do, in order to glorify HIM.

Give it all to Jesus today!

It doesn't matter if you are saved. I have been saved for years. But, have you given your life truly to Him? That is the question you should ask yourself.

When I was a child, I dedicated myself to Him. He reminded me of that every day of my life since then, until I finally learned what it meant to give it ALL to Him! I have rededicated my life to Him, and I have not looked back since, except to praise Him for how far He has brought me!

Give it all to Jesus today!



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Thursday, September 29, 2016

More than Conquerors...


The devil thought he had me. But God...

I have really bad days just like everyone else, but I've learned to smile through them. Success isn't determined by how well you stay standing. True success is determined by how well you get back up. By that standard, I am more than a conqueror!

Romans 8:37
“Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.”





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Faithwalkers: Register today!

1. HOW DID THE FAITHWALKERS CONFERENCE COME INTO BEING?

The Faithwalkers conference came from the desire to give young men and women the opportunity to hear pastors who have been devoted to Jesus Christ and the Great Commission. At Faithwalkers, people get to hear stories from these men of faith and to learn and benefit from their experiences.

The conference provides a way to continue to pass on the core beliefs of the Great Commission church movement. It is a rallying conference for everyone: young people, couples, parents, and families, to inspire them to be devoted to Jesus Christ and the Great Commission.

The name Faithwalkers was inspired by the Scripture: "We walk by faith and not by sight," (II Cor. 5:7). Also the name Faithwalkers makes a connection to the Native American culture where they would sit around the campfire with the "old ones" listening to them tell stories of the great hunt and deeds of the past. As Christians, older believers are to proclaim the deeds of God to younger believers, as is written in Psalm 78:4: "We will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord."

2. WHEN AND WHERE IS THE NEXT FAITHWALKERS-EAST CONFERENCE?

On December 29, 2016 – January 1, 2017, Faithwalkers-East will be held at the Ridgecrest Conference Center in Asheville, North Carolina. Use of Ridgecrest, a LifeWay Conference Center, for this conference does not imply alignment with or endorsement by any Southern Baptist group.

Read more about Faithwalkers by clicking HERE

Wednesday, September 21, 2016

A Chosen Generation


Read Genesis 5

Table 1: Dates of biblical events from Creation

Event/Person Passage Total Time from Creation (years)
God created everything. Genesis 1–2 0
Adam became the father of Seth at 130. Genesis 5:3 0 + 130 = 130
Seth became the father of Enosh at 105. Genesis 5:6 130 + 105 = 235
Enosh became the father of Kenan at 90. Genesis 5:9 235 + 90 = 325
Cainan became the father of Mahalalel at 70. Genesis 5:12 325 + 70 = 395
Mahalalel became the father of Jared at 65. Genesis 5:15 395 + 65 = 460
Jared became the father of Enoch at 162. Genesis 5:18 460 + 162 = 622
Enoch became the father of Methuselah at 65. Genesis 5:21 622 + 65 = 687
Methuselah became the father of Lamech at 187. Genesis 5:25 687 + 187 = 874
Lamech became the father of Noah at 182. Genesis 5:28 874 + 182 = 1056
The Flood started when Noah was 600. Genesis 7:6 1056 + 600 = 1656

So from the year of the Creation until the year that the flood came there were a total of 1,656 years according to the Bible.

Adam got to live long enough to see every grandson, great grandson and great great grandson, and so forth until Lamech, who was Noah's father.

Adam got to see Lamech, but not Noah or his sons before the flood.

While Methuselah's name means "It will come when he is dead", we can assume this means that Methuselah died before, but in the same year as, the flood.

Lamech died 5 years before the flood, according the the genealogy in this chapter.




Tuesday, September 20, 2016

God does what He promises He will do!


Read 2 Kings Chapter 9

Elisha called one of the other prophets under him, and he said, "Take this box of oil to Ramoth-Gilead, and annoint Jehu, the son of Jehoshaphat, as king. Then run away as fast as you can."

So, he did as he was told. When he got there, the Captains of the host of Jehoshaphat's army were sitting outside. He said, "Captain, I have to do something for you."

Jehu said, "For who?"

The prophet said, "For you." He took him into the house and he told him, "God says, 'I have annointed you as king over my people. You shall rid Israel of the House of Ahab and avenge the blood of the prophets that were killed at the hand of Jezebel; and you will leave none of them, and Jezebel will be eaten by the dogs and no one will bury her." Then he ran.

When Jehu came out of the house, the other Captains said, "What was that all about? That man was crazy! What did he say to you?"

Jehu just shrugged and said, "Like you said, he's crazy." Then he told him what the prophet said. They all stood up and put on their garments and blew the trumpet and announced him King over Israel. And Jehu began to conspire against Joram.

Joram had gone to heal his wounds from the Syrians in Jezreel. So Jehu went to see him. Ahaziah, the king of Judah was also there to see Joram. A watchman saw Jehu coming in his chariot driving furiously and told Joram, who sent out a messenger asking, "Do you come in peace?"

Jehu told him, "What do you know about peace?" and kept driving. So they sent another, who got the same answer.

So Joram and Ahaziah went out to meet Jehu on the way and Joram said, "Do you come in peace, Jehu?" And Jehu answered and said, "As long as your mother continues to reak havoc on Israel, there is no peace!" Joram turned and fled away, yelling for Ahaziah to run. "It is treachery, Ahaziah!" he yelled. Jehu grabbed a bow and shot him between the shoulders.

Jehu told them to cast Joram in the field of Naboth. Then as Ahaziah was running away, they shot him, too. He went to Megiddo, where he died.

Jezebel heard of what happened and she painted her face. When Jehu got to Jezreel, she asked, "Did you have peace in your heart when you came to Joram?" as she leaned out of an upstair window. Jehu yelled to the servants in the house, "Who is on my side? Anybody?" Three Eunuchs came out and he said, "Throw her down!" So they went upstairs and threw Jezebel out the window. Then he ran over her with his horse and went into the house to eat.

When he had done eating, he told them, "You know, she was a king's daughter and we ought to bury her properly. Go get her." So they went out to get her, but the dogs had eaten all but her skull, the palms of her hands and her feet.

Jehu knew that it was the Lord, for he had been told by the prophet this would happen.

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When God annoints you to do something, it is what you should consistently work toward until it is finished. If you do, all that God promises for you will happen.


Wednesday, September 14, 2016

I can... (Nothing is Impossible)


Read 2 Kings 4

A woman who was the wife of the sons of the prophets came to Elisha and told him, "My husband is a good man who fears the Lord, and you know it! But, we are so broke, that the creditors are wanting to take my sons as bondservants to pay the debts!"

Elisha then told her, "What do you expect me to do about it? Do you have anything in your possessions?"

"The only thing I have is a pot of cooking oil."

Elisha told her to go and borrow some bowls and dishes from all of her neighbors. She did. Then he told her to fill the bowls with the oil. She did. As she poured the oil from her dish, it filled all the bowls she had borrowed until there were no more bowls to be filled.

Elisha told her to go and sell the oil and pay her debts.

When Elisha would travel through Shunem, a great woman would stop him and pressure him to eat dinner with her. So, this day he went to eat with her. She told her husband that she understood Elisha to be a man of God, and since he passed by so often, they should offer him a room of his own to rest in when he comes. So he went to his room at her house. As he lay there, he had his servant, Gehazi translate for him as he spoke to her.

"What shall I do to repay you for your kindness, ma'am?" She said she had no child and her husband was old, so Elisha told her, in due time next year she would have a son.

"Don't tease me!" she said. But, she conceieved and had a son.

The boy grew and one day he went out with his father to the reapers as they reaped the harvest and he suddenly fell down. His father went to him and he was complaining about the pain in his head. So his father sent him to his mother, where she held him on her lap until about noon, when he died.

She got up, laid the boy on Elisha's bed, and told a servant to grab an ass and saddle it. Her husband asked what she was doing and she said she was going to see the man of God. He said, "You can't do that, there is no special occasion for you to see him!" She just patted his cheek and said, "He will see me." She told the servant to drive fast and not slow down unless she told him to.

She met up with Elisha at Mt Carmel. He sent Gehazi back with her, with his staff. He told Gehazi to lay his staff on the child's face. Gehazi did as he was told, but nothing happened. He went back and told Elisha, "The child is, indeed, dead."

Elisha then went to the woman's home himself. He prayed, stretching himself over the child. The child awoke, sneezed seven times, and then he was okay. Elisha told the woman to take her child and she came and got him.

Then Elisha went to Gilgal to the sons of the prophets during some sort of plague. He told them to cook up some soup. One of the guys went out to gather stuff to put in the soup and got some stuff from a wild vine. When it came time to eat, the men complained that the soup would kill them if they ate it, so Elisha told them to pour some meal in it, and after that it was alright to eat.

A man from Baalshalisha came to give his firstfruit offering to Elisha. It was twenty loaves of barley bread and corn. Elisha told him to give it to the hundred men who were with him to eat. The man said, "This won't be enough!" Elisha said, "God said it will, and there will be left-overs." So he did, and there was.

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When you believe in God, the Great I AM, your motto should be "I CAN". There was nothing impossible for Elisha because he believed in God and served Him diligently.

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Monday, September 12, 2016

Bruising the Serpent's Head


And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. – Gen 3:15

This is the first promise to fallen man. It contains the whole gospel and the essence of the covenant of grace. It has been in great measure fulfilled. The seed of the woman, even our Lord Jesus, was bruised in His heel, and a terrible bruising it was. How terrible will be the final bruising of the serpent’s head! This was virtually done when Jesus took away sin, vanquished death, and broke the power of Satan; but it awaits a still fuller accomplishment at our Lord’s Second Coming and in the Day of Judgment.

To us the promise stands as a prophecy that we shall be afflicted by the powers of evil in our lower nature, and thus bruised in our heel; but we shall triumph in Christ, who sets His foot on the old serpent’s head. Throughout this year we may have to learn the first part of this promise by experience, through the temptations of the devil and the unkindness of the ungodly, who are his seed. They may so bruise us that we may limp with our sore heel; but let us grasp the second part of the text, and we shall not be dismayed. By faith let us rejoice that we shall still reign in Christ Jesus, the woman’s seed.

(Carol Jones shared this on Facebook and gave me permission to add it here)



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Sunday, September 11, 2016

Our Abundant Life!


John 10:10
“The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”


What does it mean to have life more abundantly?

Have you ever been in a situation where you almost died? How did you feel when you recovered? I remember one time that I had a wreck. I was lucky enough to get out of it with a few scratches, so life went on as usual. This is not the kind of near death experience I am speaking of. However, I had an experience one time where my health had declined due to depression. When I realized how far I had let myself go, I was well on my way to not being able to recover from it. My blood pressure had started to spike. I couldn't walk for long periods of time. I could barely get up out of bed, and at that point, it was my survival instinct that kicked in that made me forget about my depression and force myself to do what I had to do to rehabilitate myself.

Today, I praise God that I have my life. I almost did not have my life. I credit Him for showing me how fragile my life was, and that depression was not part of His plan. Today, I listen to the birds. I can't remember listening to the birds before this experience. Oh, I grew up in the woods. I just never really appreciated their song until this. Today, I smell the roses. I soak in all of the gifts of God in every moment. I recently took my niece to the fair and relished watching her enjoy herself with what I could give her! THAT was a GIFT from God!

I am enjoying my life. I have given my life to Him, to use as He wills, so where ever I find myself in it, I see it as a gift and I have learned to enjoy it, and to take the opportunities God presents me with IN THAT MOMENT!

Life more abundant is not about having that big mansion, or diamond rings on your hands or expensive cars, as some health and wealth preachers would have you believe. Life abundant is seeing the gifts in front of you and appreciating the moment you have with them in it! The green grass, the old battered car that takes you to work each day, the grandchild you only get to spend time with on the weekends (or even your own child, if you have a broken marriage).

Having life abundant is refusal to let Satan steal your joy, kill your spirit, or destroy your life. If you find yourself in the pig pen, it's realizing that you have received the gift of Life, and that even in the pig pen God has provided you with the opportunity to eat, to laugh, and to stay cool in the heat of the day. If you want your life to change, you thank God for what you have, and pray that He uses you somewhere else! After all, the reason you are where you are is to glorify Him! EVEN IN THE PIG PEN! When others see that Satan hasn't won where you are, God will put you somewhere else that blesses you more and He can use you better!

Luke 12:48
“But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.”


Today, I live my life knowing that it is temporary, and that where I am now is the opportunity to be all God needs me to be so that when I am finally with Him at Home in Heaven, He will put His arms around me and say, "Well done, my good and faithful servant!" It is a gift from God to have the opportunity to be able to thank Him and Praise Him for a life that, without Him, I would not have!

I can't think of any greater purpose, or reward for living in this crazy world!



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Monday, August 29, 2016

Banished


Genesis 4
13 And Cain said unto the LORD, My punishment is greater than I can bear.
14 Behold, thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the earth; and from thy face shall I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth; and it shall come to pass, that every one that findeth me shall slay me.


Some people have said that they have had near death experiences where they claim to have died and gone to Hell. One of the common themes from all of the accounts is that Hell is a place where there is no hope. All hope is gone. Loneliness, despair, agonizing regret, all of what is negative or wrong is there. It is eternal separation from God.

Jesus called it a "Lake of Fire, where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth."

Cain was banished from the presence of God. Yet, he reached out to beg for mercy. For him, it was hell on earth.

When we choose to go our own way, to live in sin and rebellion against God, God lets us wallow and live in hell on earth, in hopes that we will see the error of our ways so that we will call upon His Name to deliver us from our mistakes and restore us in His Grace.

Later, God has promised to those He calls His children:

Deuteronomy 31:6
“Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.”

Hebrews 13:5
“Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”


You have a choice. You can be a child of God, or you can be your own person. Where you live for eternity is YOUR choice.

Revelation 7:14
“And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.”




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Sunday, August 28, 2016

Out of the Presence of God and Smack Dab Into His Grace...


Genesis 4
13 And Cain said unto the LORD, My punishment is greater than I can bear.
14 Behold, thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the earth; and from thy face shall I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth; and it shall come to pass, that every one that findeth me shall slay me.


Cain had murdered his brother, Abel. He had done the unthinkable. God could not abide such insolence and destruction and disrespect in His presence. He banished Cain.

His sin was another step away from the garden that God had created for His children. It's as if Adam's sin had started a chain reaction that was working it's way toward a big climactic event. God could not let this rebellion stand. He had to follow through with the consequences in order to teach those who would come later that disobedience comes with a price that you don't want to pay.

God could have struck Cain down with lightening, or flicked a finger and "poof" Cain would have been gone. But, even in His anger and hurt, He had mercy enough to let Cain live out his life on this earth. God had a plan, and Cain was a part of it.

And, indeed, without Cain, the lesson would have been lost.

Romans 3:23
“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;”


And, God has mercy with us, giving us time to come to Him for forgiveness.

God has given us a choice. He has shown us that the consequences will be enacted.

Deuteronomy 30:19
“I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:”


And yet man could not help himself. And, in the end, God saw that man could not fix himself.

Psalms 49
7 None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him:
8 (For the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever:)
9 That he should still live for ever, and not see corruption.


There was no man on earth worthy of eternal life with God, who cannot abide sin in His presence.

Romans 3:23
“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;”


God wanted Cain (all of us) to have the chance to live. He wanted to give Cain (All of us) the gift He had intended for Adam to have.

Romans 5
8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.
11 And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.




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Saturday, August 27, 2016

I am a murderer...


Genesis 4
9 And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother's keeper?
10 And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground.
11 And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand;
12 When thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength; a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth.


We are all murderers. If we have ever hated anyone, then we have as much as committed the same crime that Cain committed.

Matthew 5
21 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:
22 But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.


None of us have ever lived without sin. Adam was perfect until he disobeyed, and that is what sin is: disobedience.

I remember reading about Cain when I was younger and thinking of how crude and mean he was for doing such a horrible thing. Now I realize how mean and crude I am each time I choose to make a decision to be angry at someone, or to dislike them. Love has become the answer to any emotion I may have. I can feel as if I do not like someone, yet treat them with love and respect and let God speak through me with my life.

Romans 12
19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.
21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.


I have found that in doing so, I have made many friends that I would otherwise not have had. These friends have proved, sometimes, more loyal than those who were chosen for their good character.

God's Grace has saved us while we, ourselves were yet sinners. (Romans 5:8). This means that while we were at enmity with God, He loved us enough to send His own son to take the punishment for us. Should we not do the same and offer such love to someone else in our lives who does not deserve it?



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Tuesday, August 23, 2016

Featured Ministry at God Inspires: The Truckers Christian Chapel Ministries


Luke 14:23 And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.

At Truckers Christian Chapel Ministries it is our goal to provide as many Chapel Locations as the Lord allows, within a truck stop setting familiar to the road drivers & travelers, easily accessible to them, and most importantly, through and with the local church.

All of our Chapel Locations work through the Local Church. The Local Church provides the workers who have been recognized by the church to have the gifts of administration, evangelism, knowledge of scripture, teaching and counseling. They are commissioned by the church and the church has the autonomy to oversee the work of the ministry as an extension of it's work and mission endeavor, ministering to the needs of the drivers and travelers. In this way, we partner with the Church, training the Chaplains and overseeing the work, maintaining contacts with the Church, Truck Stop Corporations and Chaplains so that all are working together bringing about a worshipful experience.

We provide Chapel Services, Bible Studies, Prayer, Counseling, and just plain old Fellowship.

Visit the TCCM by clicking HERE



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Monday, August 22, 2016

Don't Look Back (by Rose Marie)


Luke 9
62 And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.


One of my favorite songs is "the well " by casting crowns. One of the lines in the chorus says...leave it all behind, and come to the well.

Often in life we make wrong turns that get our souls into trouble. I have made such turns. My soul cried out to my Father, help. He stepped in and saved me.....but because He didn't save me the way I thought it should be.....I found myself looking back over my shoulder at the very thing He had freed me from.

I, like so many others, became so focused on one small pin point on how "I" thought God should fix it....that when He, in His infinite wisdom, truly set me free...... Couldn't see the freedom. I kept looking back.....I kept thinking but what if.....I kept crying and longing for something I couldn't see the evil in. God was trying to save me from the very prison that threatened my soul but through my blindness I kept trying to hold on to. Why, because it didn't match what I thought because I couldn't see past my want! I couldn't see past man laws, I couldn't see past my hurts and my desires!

Praise God for His infinite, love, mercy, and grace! Praise God for opening my eyes so that I could truly see that He set me from from a prison I didn't even realize was a Prison! Praise God for telling me to let go and stop looking back! For as long as I was looking back and longing...my prison was following me....it's chains still shackled to my feet and hands.

If God has set you free.....Be truly free! Stop looking back! Lots wife looked back and it cost her everything. Take the bandages from your eyes, trust our Abba Father and look forward, truly free to your promised future!

Stop trusting what you can't see and trust what God can See!



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Am I my brother's keeper?


Genesis 4:9
“And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother's keeper?”


As Christians, it is, indeed, our duty to be our "brother's keeper". When we see a fellow Christian struggling with a need, we are to help him or her lift their burdens. It is our duty to care for the sick, feed the hungry, relieve the poor and oppressed and tired.

When was the last time you passed by that hungry transient on the street corner holding up a sign? Did you ignore him, or did you stop to take the time to get to know him? Sometimes getting to know someone is more important than dropping a dime in his hat. When you get to know them, you become less judgmental and more knowledgeable on how to give the hand up he or she needs.

John 13
34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.




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Thursday, August 18, 2016

Choosing to Master My Sin


Genesis 4:7
“If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.”


Recently, I quit smoking. It's the second time that I've tried to quit. The first time was in 2008.

The first time, I sucked on a lot of Dum Dum suckers and Jolly Ranchers and still ended up cheating some...only to start back on the eighth day. I just knew I was going to have to go through all of that again this time.

This time, however, I have not cheated once. I suck on a lot of breath mints, but the craving seems at least 10 times less intense than it was the first time.

I have 33 years of smoking under my belt. I wasn't expecting easy. It isn't easy. However, this time seems more tolerable than back then.

Someone said it's because this time I have God. That can't be true, because last time I had God, too. But, then again, last time I didn't have so many people praying for me.

Anyway, I know that it's either conquer the habit, or the habit will conquer me. A cigarette is within reach. I can get one right now if I want to. I have the means. But, although that cigarette is waiting just behind the door, I have had the strength to walk past it when I open the door to go outside.

It's a matter of will power and determination. And, knowing that it's all for God's glory helps, too. After all, He's the reason I chose to do this. He is the ONLY reason.



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Wednesday, August 17, 2016

You gotta be nicer than Cain to Abel


Genesis 4
1 And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD.
2 And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.
3 And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD.
4 And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering:
5 But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.
6 And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?
7 If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.
8 And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.




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Saturday, August 13, 2016

Somebody Like Me...


A drunk walked into our little church at 1st Biker's Church in Texarkana, Texas, back when it was in Brother Gary's garage...before we were an actual church.

We had a little kitchen area in the back where everyone congregated before service, getting their coffee (and maybe donuts if someone was gracious enough to bring them...LOL)

The church was growing. Everyone had to wriggle around everyone to get to their seats, or make their way to the bathroom. The drunk made his way through the crowd toward the coffee area, where Brother Gary was coming back from, making his way to the Pulpit. You could smell the alcohol on him as he reached out to shake Brother Gary's hand, as Gary welcomed him.

At that point, a bottle fell out of the man's trenchcoat. It shattered on the floor, the smell of whiskey permeating the room. I know the guy had to feel embarrassed. Brother Gary just looked down at the mess, smiled and said, "Might better clean that up before someone gets hurt."

I remember thinking, "This is definitely my kind of church." All my life, I had looked for a church where everyone else's stench was as nauseating as my own, and the smell of my sin didn't cause them to push me away. Rather, as everyone welcomed that drunk into the congregation, I felt pulled into a family circle that, years later, I am still a part of.

As I tell my friends, we don't necessarily condone the behavior, but we totally understand it.



Luke 7:
36 And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee's house, and sat down to meat.
37 And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment,
38 And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.
39 Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner.
40 And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on.
41 There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty.
42 And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most?
43 Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged.
44 And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head.
45 Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet.
46 My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment.
47 Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.
48 And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven.
49 And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also?
50 And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.


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Sunday, August 7, 2016

Bearing my cross so I can follow Jesus


Luke 14:27 “And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.”

I used to wonder what it meant to "bear my cross." It couldn't have been something as simple as picking up your burdens. That was something everyone had to carry, like it or not.

No. I think what Jesus meant when He said, "whosoever does not bear his cross and come after me..." was that if you have sinned, you should be willing to live with the consequences of that sin in the light of truth, or confession.

For instance, if I stole something, and then I got saved and I went back to the person I stole from and apologized and confessed my sin to him, he might have me put in Jail. I could see that as a blessing, or a curse. If I chose to see that as a blessing, then I would be aware that where ever I end up for doing what Jesus wanted me to do is exactly where He needs me to be in order to build His Kingdom. In jail, I have an opportunity to witness whereas I couldn't do that if life went on as usual.

And, anytime I am where Jesus is at is where I want to be. There is freedom and joy in being where He has placed me in order to be nearer to Him.

I have sinned. I still sin...but the longer I walk with Jesus, the lighter the load gets over time.



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