THE TOP THREE PLACES TO LIVE.

I know you have heard the saying: "Money can by you a house, but it can't buy you a home." or "You may have a king size bed, but it doesn't mean you be able to sleep at night."

That's no way or place to live. A few of the people we often admire, even idolize, live life;  mentally, physically and spiritually in sadness, loneliness and hopeless.  In our nations, cities, and families  we see those that are merely existing.  Paul the Apostle wrote to the readers in Ephesus informing them they were at one time lost, without God, without hope.  It's a dead, undesirable hellish place to be.

                                                             ******************

 We would love to live in a penthouse or a large flat or apartment in downtown Chicago or New York. We become thirsty when we see the mansion by the beach. We see the: "Great places to retire" stories on the internet. I worry about those that live on a mountain side in fear of mudslides.  I personally do not want to live that way.

Whatever your career path or economics or education, ask yourself where do I live?  Do my neighbors live in a different place than I do?

                                                                   "What?"

Three great places to live:  In Faith.
                                              In Hope.
                                              In Love.

Faith:  In Christ
Hope: because of Christ
Love:  Moved by His Love

Paul was speaking to a group and said: " For in God we live, move and have our being."

"For by grace you have been saved, through faith, and not of yourself it is the gift from God. Not of works lest anyone should boast."

Peter said that we have been called to a lively hope! Paul told us that we do not grieve as those without hope.

"There are three things that remain-Faith, hope and love- and the greatest of these is love."
1 Corinthians 13:13

Those are three great places to live!

NEW LIFE!

 

They used to say, "Don't trust anyone over 30 years old." Until THEY had turned 30. We thought we had some secret. We found out the secret was we didn't have a clue. Just because we lacked vision to see ahead, we shrugged it off.

We move on living a lot of life. We were 17 and woke up one day and we were 50+. We're thinking we have plenty of time one minute and impatiently make decisions before it's too late the next.

Spice and variety in life is cool but so is a "level stability" moving forward.  Again, plan your work and work your plan is a great idea during the youthful years. It can also be incorporated in the golden years. Into a new life!

Life is far from over at an older stage of life. We've been given new life! There are opportunities that arise to correct bad decisions and wasted years. We can even make a difference in the circle of life God has placed us in.

Read, write, video, text, garden, worship God,

The older has some experience and wisdom to share to the younger. The idea here is don't waste any more time, have some variety, but while we enjoy new life at second half of it, be an encouragement, a team player, show those around you how to be a good follower or even lead the way.

In this new life we can be teachable, loving, kind, helpful, being a part not tearing apart.

Take this new life to work, home, and church. It's the season of life we can come to realize we have been blessed by God to be a blessing.

This is simple but it aint easy.  Ask God to go with you!

Rounding the Turn!

                                            

 Whether it is Rounding the turn at the Kentucky Derby, third base, The Indianapolis 500, Olympic 1500 meters, or NASCAR...

 the most exciting part of the sport, is as they are rounding the last turn. The announcer gets louder, and the crowd stands to their feet as they round the last turn.

When they round the last turn, it's usually where someone falls but gets up again to finish, (to many know, in life, I've fallen numerous times).

 

Maybe the car, horse or human, comes from behind with that last "Kick" of energy to win the race and more!  History has been made many times, as they come around the turn.

Most of the time a thrilling finish is the result of preparation long before the race ever begins. Life is a journey it's even a race against disabilities/handicaps, reputation, failures, low esteem.

 

 Sadly, some participants never leave the locker room.  

Envision rounding the turn! Prepare for it now.  That might include prayer, reading, taking a class, even starting slow to pacing yourself up to speed in whatever endeavor.  That old saying of; "Plan your work and work that plan!" applies here.

I have to remember; it's not always how we start today's race. It's about when we round that turn to accomplishing a task, mission or God's plan... We then decide to leave it all on the track, office, keyboard, kitchen, garage, or pulpit.  While rounding that last turn (In this stage of life, I feel at times, I'm on that last turn) a great cloud of witnesses are shouting: "Here they come!"  People in your circle of life, are watching and many need you to win.

Bible says something like; "Let us run the race set before us!" 

 So, remain faithful to your calling, keep your eyes fixed on Jesus Christ and on that eternal prize.

                                                                -Tim

RUN TO WIN!

The Bible says to run the race that is set before us.  The Apostle Paul said all runners run to win. One statement is true; You can't win sitting in the bleachers!

Life has many hurdles that hinder others from running well or even coming out of the blocks.  They watch as a spectator or "from the locker room" hearing the cheers for the other runners. 

                 IT'S NOT JUST SHOWING UP!

 TO WIN AT ANYTHING IT FIRST REQUIRES:

                                                *Technique
                                                *Strength building
                                                *Flexibility
                                                *Training

Winning the prize, promotion, job, class, degree,  takes an intentional effort and preparation.  The Bible writer says:  "Throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.

                         YOU CAN WIN!
                                                                  

                                                                      (author)

Faith in God!

I have often been told: "You have to have faith." "Faith?"  "Yeah. Faith."  Knowing they do not believe in God, or a Jesus follower... What (in the world) do they have faith in?  Faith in a broken chair is to have your trust in the wrong place.

Throughout the Bible, you can read of times in history, that God proved faithful.  Throughout the present, we see daily, the faithfulness of God.

Whatever the prayer, it says pray believing.  If you have not already, you can place your faith, trust, belief in Christ and His work and righteousness, to be your only hope to spend eternity with God!

"Being justified we have peace with God through faith in Christ Jesus our Lord." -Paul the Apostle.

Stay the course

I believe God's Word encourages/commands us to remain faithful or stay the course.  With the Bible being our map, we might have to do more than glance at it. Some of us should ask ourselves are we on the RIGHT course.  Many times, we say we are sincere in the direction we are headed. We know we can be sincerely wrong as well. Confession and repentance will change our mind as well as our direction.

If you and I are guided by emotions or culture's behavior, we will soon discover, we have slowly gone off course.  The Word of God, prayer and depending on empowerment from His Holy Spirit is what the true Christian will need in order to navigate the "seas of life."

Truth will lead us where we NEED to go. Truth is not what we always want to hear. Paul writes to Timothy that in the last days we'll desire to hear only what we want to hear, having our ears tickled.

It is no secret that this culture and its paradigms are headed for the "rocks of life."  The church in general, is joining the convoy as we veer off course away from God and his Truth.

We have been obsessed about painting the cruise ship, swabbing the deck (mopping?) Some are even down below sleeping in our bunks. We have lost sight of the mission and destination

18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. Matthew 28:18-20

We have been sent (rough waters and all) into all the world with the Gospel. We have chosen rather to dock in safe harbors on every street corner.  We are singing the songs of the sailor while actually being land lovers.  We have counted the cost and we're staying in safe waters. Ships are safer there but are built to handle the stormy seas.

Then there is joy and rest from a job well done.

We have been cruise ships far too long. We must also be rescue boats in the fog shouting "come aboard, come aboard!"  We need all hands-on deck and full speed ahead.

Let's get the map out and read it. In these uncertain waters, we have to get back to the truth and stay the course!

 

Between the Cross and Resurrection

The day after the crucifixion, being a follower of Jesus had to be brutal.  The world wasn't as small as it is today. You could hide and go fishing. (that's what the disciples did). No one would recognize the silhouettes on the lake.

The disciples also were hiding in an upper room with the doors locked, listening for any footsteps coming up the staircase.  Did they hide in embarrassment or was it in fear? Their witness would have to be silenced. Perhaps they were next in silencing/ killing the Jesus revolution.

Around their table questions and debates were whispered, maybe an angry shout from one.  The hopeless notion that the attempt of a war or coupe would ever happen again, had been nailed to a cross and lying in a tomb.

There had been the high of the rally, the shouts of Hosanna. The healing of the sick and His teaching...His teaching may have got Him in trouble with the people with all the love one another, even love your enemies.

He had come to save the world.  What was it all about?  Couldn't the Christ deliver Himself from the pharisees?   The Pharisees and religious leaders were busy having guards and stories in place.  They spoke lies, but that is what seems to prevail on this day.

You can imagine, the disciples looking out the upstair window, seeing small groups talking, some in anger, some in sadness.

What Kingdom was He talking about?  Jesus had been so sure, so powerful, so loving.   They agreed with the cry of Jesus;   "It is Finished."

It was a long day.  Meeting Jesus had seemed like only yesterday.  Yesterday though, seemed to be an eternity away.  They sat around the table, attempting to piece together His actions, Words and teaching.

They knew His mission was of God, but they assumed (like most did) that it was mostly political or militarily. There are many today that incorrectly feel the same way. The purpose was the salvation of souls from the power of sin and death!

Maybe you have been there, or there now. In between Friday and Sunday and the only sound you hear...crickets and the beating of your heart.  Sadness, fear and hopelessness is the future you see.

Fear not! As He enters into the room of your heart and mind saying; "Peace to you."  Meet Him there.
He is Alive. He is Alive!
Receive that peace. Allow your sadness, hopelessness and fear to be resurrected to joy, courage and peace!

Receive peace with God, followed by the peace of God, through faith in the work of Jesus Christ. Receiving a new heart and new hope!

I pray you and I, from this day forward, will be like the apostles on Sunday. On Saturday they hid, by Sunday and beyond, many believed (John 3:16).  

Following the feast of Pentecost and the Holy Spirit, you could not stop them by threatening them with jail or even threatening to kill them. 

Allow it to be the same today, during this Jesus revolution of the 21st century.  Let it spread from the church house to your house. Be witnesses, making disciples, teaching those whatever Jesus has taught us!

Go to the Bible, read John followed by the book of Acts. Moving throughout the letter to the Ephesians and beyond.

                                                                                                                                       -Tim