Time to change?

 When is a good time to change? Well, the obvious answer is "NOW"! However, when we do decide to change a behavior, we tend to cut at the surface, not the real issue. We look at symptoms and not the cause. If a patient has pain due to cancer, Tylenol won't cure the cancer. It may stop the pain, but not the cause . . . cancer! Nothing changes.

If the Word of God is deeply rooted in our being, nothing else can be at the root! Simply searching for our bibles when we are in trouble or looking up a verse on our computer or phone will simply take away situation temporarily, like Tylenol. We need permanent change! 

It starts with His Word. As we develop a daily routine of filling our lives with His Word, the issues of life seem to diminish. Our bad habits are erased. Our focus changes. Our life changes.

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom (Colossians 3:16)

Relying upon God and all He supplies

 When we are most challenged, we often try to work on our own. It's when we fail that we call on God and others. What if we turned to God first? What if we sought Him first rather than our own strengths and abilities?

Satan will try every angle and use anything he can to trip us up . . . even our friends! He will have us believe we can do it alone with our own training and abilities. Yet we must always remember, though we may be trained, though we may be experienced, though we may have the best group of co-workers, teammates, friends or family, we still need God! 

We need to resist the devils ploys. At times we flee his attempts to throw us off. Other times we have to come face to face with trials and resist with all our resources . . . relying upon God and all He supplies. . . His Word, His promises, and yes, His people!

Today, I am pleading with God for the young people in my life . . . our children, grandchildren, and all the young people in our classroom and in our coaching ministry. I am pleading the blood of Jesus over them and asking the Lord to save the lost and strengthen the saved. Lord, remove the lies and supply Your Truths.

I am relying upon God and all He supplies!

For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.    (2 Corinthians 10: 4-6)

As we think, so we go . . .

 As we think, so we go. Think about that! 

Take a look at what the apostle Paul writes:

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate (think) on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you. (Philippians 4: 6-9)

Paul reminds us that as we think, we will go. Our thoughts are turned into actions and thus our experiences. In fact, science backs it up. Cognitive behavioral therapy is a psychological discipline which reveals that much of what we do today is a result of negative or faulty patterns of thinking . . . addictions, eating disorders, relationships, even depression and anxiety! 

Think about it . . . science and the bible agreeing? Maybe we should listen to this!!!! We can indeed be changed by the renewing of our minds! (Romans 12:2) 

We can't wait to share our gifts.

 Who likes to give gifts? How much joy do you receive by seeing someone really enjoy what is given to them . . . especially when you are the giver? You have picked out what you believe is the perfect gift and when they open it . . . wow! 

God gives us gifts to use, but not for ourselves, but to share with others. He receives joy when we open our spiritual gifts and then share them as we serve others. The fruits of the Spirit are active and alive in us as we walk throughout the day and seek opportunities to share. We can't wait to share our gifts. Does that describe you?

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.

Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. (1 Corinthians 13:1-8)

My Spiritual Gifts?

God gives gifts to every one of His children when he is born again . . . a birthday gift if you would! Have you discovered it yet? Have you opened it up and used it? Have you placed it on the shelf for safe-keeping? Perhaps the batteries need recharging? 

I am talking about my spiritual gifts . . . your spiritual gifts! 

If you do not have a clue as to your spiritual gift, there are several on-line surveys to take to give you an idea. However, nothing is as good as delving into serving and asking God to reveal His gifts to you. Others who know you may see the gift in you as well. Keep asking . . . keep serving!

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father                                                     through Him. (Colossians 3:16-17)

Understand your gift

 The Holy Spirit gives His gifts to every believer, yet we all receive differently. It is important to understand your gift so it can be used properly. As we each know and understand how God has gifted us, we can then work as a "Body" and function properly! As one teaches, one counsels, one intercedes, one encourages . . . we work as one. (John 17). If we work out of order, then the Body is out of order and walks with a limp!

Not knowing our gifts neglects the entire Body. Not using our gifts is sin against the Body and God. We must know them and grow them. If don't use them we lose them! It is time we begin to understand how to properly gift one another as God has gifted us!

There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. (1 Corinthians 12:4-6)

Bring honor and joy to the Giver

Gifts from God . . .

Did you know that we all are given special gifts from God? At the moment we become saved, God imparts a special gift, or maybe two or three, to His child. Unlike the gifts we receive here on earth, these gifts are to be used to bring honor and joy to the Giver, not the gifted!

The spiritual gifts believers are given are to lift others up, to encourage them, to teach them, to comfort them, and even to strengthen their faith. These gifts are to give away and to share, not to keep wrapped up in a pretty bow somewhere. As we gift others in the Body, they in turn gift us with their special gifts and talents!

Have you discovered your special gift?

Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; 7 or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; 8 he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness. (Romans 12: 6-8)

A different sort of person . . . . are we fitting in too well?

 A different sort of person . . . . are we fitting in too well?

We should not expect many folks to accept us as we live for Christ. Living for Him makes others call us weird . . . or different. They do not or cannot understand how or why we live as we do. We are odd. We have lost our minds. 

However, as we live for Christ, we realize we can outwit, outplay and eventually outlive those who are living for the world. Rewards and applause are not to be expected here on earth however. Our faith causes us to look heaven-ward for the reward . . . the "well-done"!

Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented . . . of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth.
And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us. (Hebrews 11:36-40)

Seeing is not always believing!

Walking by faith, not sight . . . we read and we say it often, but do we actually do it? Waiting on God for everything is not always faith. It may be lack of faith! We cannot expect God to do everything for us without our effort. What kind of parent is that? That would be an enabler!

Then he said to me, “Prophesy to these bones and say to them, ‘Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord!  This is what the Sovereign Lord says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life. I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the Lord.’”So I prophesied as I was commanded. And as I was prophesying, there was a noise, a rattling sound, and the bones came together, bone to bone. I looked, and tendons and flesh appeared on them and skin covered them, but there was no breath in them. Then he said to me, “Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to it, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Come, breath, from the four winds and breathe into these slain, that they may live.’” So I prophesied as he commanded me, and breath entered them; they came to life and stood up on their feet—a vast army. (Ezekiel 37:4-10)

We must stop living our CHRISTian life by the world's perspective. How do we expect God to flip things around if we do not act? Living by faith requires our action even before we see results. When we walk through the valley of the shadow of death we will see God make dry bones move again!

https://youtu.be/wQIaEairJ-Q

Seeing is not always believing!

Saved by faith . . . now LIVE by faith!

Salvation . . . forgiveness of sin in return for an eternal  relationship with Jesus Christ . . . is a faith alone decision. Jesus has done all the work on the cross and has risen to overcome sin, death and the grave! So as we have trusted Jesus by faith for our eternal salvation, we now must decide to live by faith.

Thus the apostle James would write: 

Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. (James 2:17-18)

While works do not get us to heaven, it brings heaven down here to earth . . . on earth as it is in heaven! You see, as we live out our faith in our actions (works), others see and experience the Lord in us. God can live out His plans through you and me. 

Our story becomes part of HIStory! Let's show others our faith today!!!!

Like father, like son

Like father, like son....think about it! I remember hearing that saying as a child in a commercial. As a father, we must realize that our kids watch us and mimic us. This is so true, but many homes do not have a father present or if there is one, one worth mimicking. So what do we do?

Let's look to Jesus! He followed His Father's will as He lived in human flesh! How do we follow His example? We love as He loved. ( (Eph. 5:1-2; 1 Jn. 3:15-16) We forgive as He forgave. ((Col. 3:13) We serve as He served. ( (Jn. 13:15)

The apostle Paul gives us the best advice on how to be like our Father and His Son . . .

    Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ. (1 Corinthians 11:1)

Like father, like son . . . like Paul . . . we have the examples to follow. Now let's get to living it out!

We have to say, "I did it!"

 What makes us feel worthy, useful, and important? If you are like me and most others, it means we must accomplish something . . . fix something, build something, win something. We have to say, "I did it! Is that you?

Yet as a Christ follower, nothing we do can get us any closer to Christ or have Him love us any more than He does. He did all the work! Our task is to accept His work and live it out. We cannot improve upon it nor do we have to fix it . . . simply accept it!

I come across many who say, "I am not good enough". "I have to get some things right before God will help me." The truth is, He wants us just as we are. This is why He did all the work. Even if we had to do anything for our salvation, we would fail miserable! We will never be good enough or able to fix things on our own. We will become exhausted! 

We simply respond to His love out of worship, not obligation or payback!

See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord,  giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another in the fear of God. (Ephesians 5:15-21)

Don't focus too long on today!

 What a great ending . . . don't focus too long on today! While we are to work daily to represent the Lord and do our best to bring others to know Him, we cannot let the disappointments of today cause us to dread tomorrow! Our work does matter for today, but more importantly for tomorrow . . . for eternity!

If we do not accomplish all we had planned for today, there is always tomorrow. He may even have someone else complete a task we began today . . . tomorrow! For the believer, we always have tomorrow of which to look forward. Who knows, He may have another plan for our tomorrow.

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. (1 Corinthians 15:58)

Remember, God is eternal. He has been to yesterday, He is with us today, and He will continue to carry us into tomorrow! While today is important, it will be gone soon. Be sure God gets the glory despite whether we get it all done today or not!

We will never get everything done . . .

 Work is difficult. Ever since sin entered the world, our labor has become tiresome, but not in vain! As Christ followers, we must realize that though we will never get everything done, what we do work at should always be for the Lord!

We all have our to-do lists and agendas. Items pop up on our calendars each and every morning. We are reminded on our tablets, laptops and phones throughout the day. However, time usually runs out before the tasks are completed. 

Striving to please God daily, we will find joy. Knowing it is Him for whom we labor allows the heart to rest at the end of the day. Focus on the main thing . . . pleasing God! Leave the rest to Him.

     . . .being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ . . . (Philippians 1:6)

What about forever? There is more to life than just life!

Deep down, we all want to live vibrant and productive lives . . . forever. No one really wants to think of the end. We think of legacies and legends, not what happens when it's all over. We want our lives, our work, and our accomplishments to last forever, like that confetti moment after the Super Bowl! 🎊

What mark are we leaving behind for others? There is more to life than just life . . . isn't it?

The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. (John 10:10)

Jesus came to assure us of life plus life . . . more than just life . . . eternal life! Let's live for eternity, not simply for the now! 

I love you . . . really?

Many people speak this statement rather casually: "I love you". Do we really mean that? The song still begs the question: "What's love got to do with it?" Another states, "I wanna know what love is! 

I have the answer to both: God is love! (1 John 4:8) 

It is easy to see why there is so much hate in this world yet everyone is saying "I love you". Most folks do not know God! It is impossible to love as God does unless we know God. God loves everyone with a gracious, merciful, redeeming love. He is forgiving, caring, sacrificial and serving. No matter our past of even our present, God loves. 

What if we loved like this? 💞

How did I ever make it?

How did I ever make it? I often think of that as I grow older each year. My parents did not have a lot, but we had enough. While I did not go on summer vacations, never sat in a "new" car, and don't even remember special dinners (except for ordering a pizza now and then or making subs from items purchased at the local deli), I made it. I did not know that I did not have it all! I had enough with, G.I. Joe's, Saturday cartoons on our black and white TV, Baseball on the transistor radio, a basketball and a hoop in the backyard, a baseball glove, bat, football and friends, and two parents and a brother. 

My parents did their best to make sure we had enough to eat, transportations to school (a private church school too!), and a place to sleep. My room was small, but I had my own room! My parents were at every game until I started traveling with high school and college teams. My dad would spend hours making repairs to his cars on his own and my mom worked extra jobs to keep us in school and in sports. 

When I think of today's kids and lifestyles of families, I wonder: How did I ever make it?

I did not know it then but I know now . . . it was God! God had a plan for me and He brought me through. He provided our daily bread, year after year, month after month, day after day, even though I never really knew Him personally until my thirties. Even today, I find myself in awe of God . . . He still provides . . . health, strength, comfort, and yes, even cars and money!

Take these words to heart, do not just say them out of habit: 

    Give us this day our daily bread . . . (Matthew 6:11) 

Think on these words. Does He not still provide . . . every day?

Praise God!

 Praise God . . . yes PRAISE GOD . . . whether it's a good day or a bad day . . . whether things are going my way or not . . . PRAISE GOD indeed! Even when things are challenging, praise God that we have Him to talk to and to share our struggles. We can praise God for what He is doing for others . . . our family, our friends, our church, our school, even our nation. There is ALWAYS a reason to praise God, even when our personal life is a mess!!

         

 Praise the Lord!

Praise God in His sanctuary;

Praise Him in His mighty firmament!

Praise Him for His mighty acts;

Praise Him according to His excellent greatness!

Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet;

Praise Him with the lute and harp!

Praise Him with the timbrel and dance;

Praise Him with stringed instruments and flutes!

Praise Him with loud cymbals;

Praise Him with clashing cymbals!

Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.

Praise the Lord! (Psalm 150)

Praise God . . . always!!!! 

    

    

Called out by God to be different!

 Ever been called a weirdo . . . different . . . strange? People ever look at you with that side eye? Welcome to the club! As believers and disciples of Christ, we are indeed a rare breed, a set apart people, called out by God to be different!

"But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;" (1 Peter 2:9)

However, we are NOT fanatics, as some sports fans may be or stalkers of celebrity. We are followers of Christ; His disciples! We learn from Him and imitate Him.

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. (Ephesians 5:1)

 

Work along with God!

While we live by faith, we cannot wait around and do nothing! Faith and works go hand in hand and like Nehemiah, at times we have the bible (sword) in one hand and a literal sword in the other. (https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Nehemiah%204%3A16-18&version=NKJV) 

Many times we must begin working before we see the results we desire. We can actually work along with God!

But Jesus looked at them and said, “With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible.” (Mark 10:27)

I read a study, Experiencing God, (https://www.amazon.com/Experiencing-God-Knowing-Revised-Expanded/dp/0805447539) by Henry Blackaby long ago and will never forget the message: Join God at work! 

God is always at work around us. All we need to join is join in the work. No need to reinvent the wheel or wait for it to be invented. Just join God in the work!

Bragging on God

 Eternal Life causes eternal living . . . Once saved by Christ, we are to now live like Christ! We trust Christ with the gift of eternal life:

   

 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. (https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+2%3A8-9&version=NKJV)

We then live out our salvation, by faith, by the Holy Spirit, which is evidence of our salvation! 

For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.    (https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James%202%3A26&version=NKJV)

Living out our faith brings God's Kingdom down to earth, as it is in heaven! It allows us to be in sync with God and allows others to see Christ in the world. 

We are saved by God to do good works to bring honor to God. We do not do good works to be saved by God. It is His work . . . His gift . . . His grace that saves us! 

We can only brag on God!