How's That Relationship Going?

  Many a person will seize the moment and boldly inform someone they L.O.V.E. them.  It is special for those in love, whether those dating or married when they will in some way, reinforce, maintain and turn up the intensity of their emotion and commitment.

To some, the relationship means nothing.  The excitement, emotion and thrill are gone.  They will intentionally never give or receive a gesture of love on Valentine or any other day...  Soon a friend asks; "How's that relationship going?"   To hear the answer; "It's gone."

Throughout the Bible and centuries, it has been the same for God's people. We "fall in and out" of Love with Him, often being unfaithful.

God told Hosea in the Bible to marry a woman that would be unfaithful.  The amazing thing is not that Hosea obeyed but that he did come to love her!  "How could you love someone who is continually unfaithful?  It seems impossible and crazy."  The correct question is "How could a Holy God, love and forgive a people that were always unfaithful to Him?"

Hosea's wife finally left and while he looked and looked for her (as God often looks for you and I), he found her. She had ended up at the slave table.  "Stop. Leave her alone!  That is my wife I shouldn't have to buy her but...How much does she cost?"   Oh God, is that what you did for me? While we were unfaithful and breaking your heart breaking our relationship. We ended up on the Devil's slave table and you paid a great price.

God says in Chapter two; "And it shall be in that day, That you will call me my Husband and no longer call me my master."   At the end of Hosea; "I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely......."

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A man from the crowd yelled:  "Hey Jesus, What's the greatest commandment?"  "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all soul, with all your mind and with all your strength."

Let today be the day you decide to commit to following and loving Christ!  

Remember GOD IS LOVE!

FACE the BOOK.

  A great avenue of communication, community and College party pictures has been FaceBook. For me I have communicated through pictures, posts and messaging relatives I haven,t see since childhood.  It is both a deep as well as shallow channel for community relationship and conversation.  Face book also opens the door for ministry to scores of people anywhere at the same time.

  God's book is Him, communicating to us. It is His revelation of Himself and His desire for relationship, reconciliation and love!  Through the Holy Spirit the eyes of our hearts are enlightened by the Word as to what God's will is.  Similar to someone commenting just a few minutes ago on Face book, this word written long ago is just as real, personal and fresh today!
 
  As cool as everyone considers Face book (and Twitter), Don't even think, I compare it to the relevance and importance of this Holy Word.

 God said to Joshua and us "You shall not let the law of the Lord depart from your mouth but meditate in it day and night that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it." 

  No matter your education level, finances or percentage of body fat, we are to face this book and respond to what it is saying.  Let me challenge us both to open its pages, and post back to God:  "What are you trying to say to me?"

  In the New Testament James wrote a post:

  "But be doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.  For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing himself in a mirror, and walks away forgetting what kind of man he was.  But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it,  and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does."

  God had Paul post:  "For all  have sinned and fallen short of the glory of  God "
Paul also commented: "The wages or payment of sin is death." But the gift of God is eternal life.."
Jesus said:  "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."   later Paul wrote; "Whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved"

  After we believe in Him and God miraculously makes us new?  We share it.

   It's time to face the music.

     It's time to face the book!







 

The Whole Armor of God

Be Strong....The Apostle Paul is not saying to stop crying, or big boys/girls don't cry.  He is encouraging us to "Be strong, but in the Lord and in the power of His might."  You can look around and see we are not and cannot build utopia, Some are trying hard, but how's that working for you?  It all seems to be getting worse.

The Christian must not go into hiding or quit, in order to live in a comfort zone.  Yes, we will spend eternity with God, all the while hiding in the safety of our homes, computer or an undemanding church life, full of self. That is living in defeat, not the victory, we are called to.

Therefore, put on the whole armor of God! This is a Spiritual warfare, and He said it was not by our power or might, but by His Spirit.
                     

                  A Spiritual Combat Zone

Who is attacking us?  It is not flesh and blood but the ruler, authorities, powers and wicked Spiritual forces.
They fire the rockets and darts of; worry, doubt, fear, the list goes on. We must spend much time with the Sword of the Spirit (God's Word), in order to have true enemy recognition and stop wounding friendly forces!

Let's move forward in our circle of life that God has placed us in, sharing and showing the Gospel, armed with the mind of Christ.

1John 2:15-17

James 1:12-17

John 8:32-37 

2 Corinthians 5:17-21

Romans 10:9-15

1 John 5:1-5

WE ARE TO PUT ON THE ARMOR OF GOD

TRUTH
RIGHTEOUSNESS
GOSPEL OF PEACE
FAITH
SALVATION
WORD OF GOD
PRAYER

Be alert, watching as if we are on guard duty. Watching also for what God is going to do.  Then having done all to stand, stand.

Remember we are the Church/Army of God we need His relationship and also the unity of others. Remember the idea; 

NO SOLDIER LEFT BEHIND.

Let us be a one another, body of believers! Standing fast, and strong in the power of His night.

EPHESIAN 6: 10-20.

 

Man You Were Dead!

Can you imagine the readers of the Apostle Paul's letter, being read when it first arrived in Ephesus?  I can imagine the cocked heads or looks of relief.  He wrote they were once spiritually dead.  How could that be? Some of them might have been Doctors keeping people alive or even Jewish; Children of God!

By the time the reader completed reading to the group, there might have been tears of joy.  Some men may have shouted "Amen" or Praise the Lord!"  They had once again heard the gospel from the quill of Paul.   They might have been experiencing persecution, false teaching, even temptation to return to religion. When they heard the phrase "Having done all, to stand..." they may have broken out in singing about "Victory IN JESUS."

Paul wrote: " And you He made alive, who were dead in sins..." and later... "even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit in the heavenly places.. In Christ"

Remember when he wrote this?  "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest any should boast."
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Don't forget when ol' Lazarus died.  Jesus said to Martha; "I am the resurrection and the life.  He who believes in me, though he may die, he shall live. and whoever lives and believes in me shall never die.  Do you believe this."

Well do you believe?   We would hopefully answer like some of those at the Columbine school shooting did: "Yes I believe."  How then shall I live?  We hear later about some of those at Columbine had died to this world long before that day.  How's that?

"Likewise, you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord". -Romans chapter 6:11.

Response time;

Would you pray or begin to talk to God this very minute.

Stagnant

Most of us have seen water that has never flowed or has stopped flowing turn green.  We have to occasionally drain and clean out a water fountain when it hasn't been used for a while, as the bottom tends to get slimy.

That's not a good picture of a body of water.  You and I don't look so inviting, when it describes our lifestyle. 

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Stagnant:  Characterized by a lack of development, or useful activity; as in water/ economy.
Stagnate:   To stop developing or advancing or usefully active.

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What if we drained and cleaned ourselves and filled ourselves up with a flow of say; "Living water", that continually ran and overflowed to others.  We could accompany that with; Gods Word, a good book, informative videos, making informative videos, getting out more and smiling at people, even sparking up a conversation.  Attend Church, stay in prayer and renewing that relationship with God and man.
 Text, post and tweet encouragements!  

Let's be the warm running living current of God's healing water.

Moses, Give up!

Moses, give up. Can't you see?
Pharaoh will never set you free.
Give up? No, I've seen the burning bush.

Moses, give up.  The seas to large. You'll never get around.
Quiet, and follow me we're going through on dry ground!
Don't lose heart. 

God will tear this sea apart.

Moses, give up.  You could have had pleasure.
You could've taken part in Pharaoh's treasure.
This calling of yours is impossible.
Give up? No! I've seen Him who is invisible.

Has God given you, something good to do?
Never give up! Stand on The Word, that is true.

What Jesus wanted for Christmas

Another blog of lists?!  Sorry.

What Did Jesus Want for Christmas?

1. You to become a follower.
2. Our Worship.
3. Your Trust.
4. Your Life.
5. Your Love
6. Us to love others.
7. your "Dirty Laundry".
8. Our Broken hearts.
9. Us to tell others the good news about Him
10. A relationship with You!

"But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as children. Galatians 4:4,5.

                                                                    MERRY CHRISTMAS!

New Day, New Year!

                    Welcome to the new normal!

While engaging the circle of life God has placed us in, may He direct us by the Holy Spirit, to use blogs, books, ministry and entertainment in order to walk through many open doors!  I'm looking forward to new methods and opportunities for each of us to; evangelize and equip one another as we exalt Him.

This year let's expect great things from God and attempt great things for God! Dead to self but very much alive to God.

Let's be in much prayer with praise and submission to the will of the Lord.  We can seek to be the conduit which God's love can flow.

                      Have a Happy New Year!

Come You Unfaithful (Lyric Video)

Put a handle on it.

This weekend, many went to worship, There will be time spent in the word.  Some study in a class and/or hear a sermon message.  Some receive a speech while others, received a message from God; directed and focused,  empowered by God's Spirit.

Sadly these moments  (if allowed to, or if I'm speaking) can be; sleepy, sneezy, grumpy.... well, you get the picture.
The time we come together as a community, This time can be inspirational, educational, convicting, repenting, redeeming,and encouraging!

If you meet with a group of loving, Bible believing followers,  allow your worship to bless God.  Remember what you have heard .  We can then, allow our lifestyle during the week, to bless God and be a light in our circle of life, God has placed us in.

Don't waste that time of worship and the message from God. Put a handle on the word spoken, and carry it with you and connect with Him  throughout the week!

p.s.
you might not have given God a thought all weekend or even this month.  Take this time, or as soon as possible, to reconnect, then put a handle on it, carrying  His message with you, throughout the week. Connect with God moment by moment, daily and so on.

The Reason for the Season

I can remember receiving great gifts. School activities that celebrated Christmas. Many a family get together Christmas Eve, were highlights of a lifetime.  These and more make up the list of special moments that are a part of that most wonderful time of the year.

Church Christmas plays as simple as some were, painted the picture of that Nativity that is ever etched on my mind, portraying the birth of Jesus. We had Santa all around, but that was merely a fun, mythical part of Christmas.  The reality of my life was that Jesus came from Heaven to Bethlehem born to die.

"For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given."

Jesus born in a manger and growing in wisdom and stature, came living a sinless life, dying a sacrificial death on that cross that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

We are not celebrating the birth of a mere man, even a president or earthly king, or a person with great teachings. We celebrate the birthday of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords! The Son of God!

He is the reason for the season.