More and more, the doctrinal waters are being muddied, and there is no black and white but dingy gray. Some churches are using the same words but have a different dictionary.
This Babel catastrophe is confusing and hard to detect. We must pray for discernment asking for red flags and many other alarms to alert us when someone unknowingly (or willingly) repeat some doctrine that causes many young and old, in the church to be tossed to and fro.
Again, we must be in the Word or truth in order to recognize the lie. Satan, his sneaky self, is out to put his spin or twist, where it will sound right but be wrong enough, having even believers spinning their wheels in the mud of heresy.
Read, study, memorize the Word, spending time in prayer as an individual, and with the church.
Let us join TOGETHER and be a part of what the Lord is doing to His Glory and not our own!
You and I are guilty of taking changing seasons for granted. Not only seasons but the location of the planets and stars as well. God most likely sits back in amazement that many are not amazed.
Maybe the reason is, we think the solar system and its' weather revolves around us. Why, even God died for ME, He even answers MY prayers. We complain when He doesn't answer quick enough.
Let's not forget it wasn't long after creation, humans given a choice, chose self, and how is that working out for us. They say we're even ruining the events of seasons with climate change.
I know that in spite of us, God is in control! Anyone with any discernment can see that. We have many questions but reading His Word, we have many answers.
Read throughout the Psalms and you'll find those questions and the answers. The book of Genesis tells the how and why this world is as it is.
Your personal life goes through seasons. We experience the Fall, Winter, Spring and summer of life. Emotions that are high and low, Seasons of joy and those of sadness.
Look to the Seasons once again to see the love and control of God. See the God that deserves our worship. This is all simple but yes, it's not easy.
I pray that God would open the eyes of your heart, that you might see His love and wisdom. That He might incline forward to the season you might find yourself and divinely meet you there and comfort you.
Check out;
Genesis 1-11
2 Corinthians 1:3-5
Psalm 37: 1-7
It's a great idea to check out Psalm 29.
Parents, teachers, pastors, doctors, friends, even our own doubts, or egos, whispering to us.
Psalm 29 intentionally reminds us that there is one voice we need to listen to above all the others.
The chapter repeats the phrase; "The voice of the Lord." the author DAVID WANTS US TO KNOW THAT GOD IS NOT SILENT!
Verse four of Psalm 29 shows us that His voice is powerful. The lords voice can cause a storm and give courage when we feel weak.
The Lord's voice is not only POWERFUL, but also PERSONAL.
God speaks not only to the world around us, but also to...you. sometimes He speaks through the Bible, or through prayer, a song, a sermon, a friend. He often let's us know; "I am with you."
God's voice give peace and strength. vs 11 says;
"The lord will give strength to his people. the lord will bless His people with peace."
We never stop having the need to hear the Lords' voice and He is always faithful to speak.
You might want to ask yourself; "Am I listening, or am I always distracted?"
He says my sheep know my voice. Are you in the family or flock of God? and are you listening?
Re-read Psalm 29.
Read John 10: 22-28.
Listen up!
That verse is not just describing the culture around us, but also within the so-called church today.
It is time we stop going through the motions and talking the talk. It is time for finding out who God is and who we are and what we have in Him!
Read the Word, pray and converse with Him, continue in community with the other believers and love one another and exhibit the fruit of the Spirit to those around us.
The Apostle Paul wrote to us saying, as you have received Christ, walk in Him, rooted, established built up. Let's answer that challenge.
It's time to be prayer warriors, that also invest time being a light in the circle the Lord has placed us in.
God is a God of order, not confusion, it is time to say not my will but yours be done!
Love God, Love Others!
May the Holy Spirit speak in this simple writing.
Healthy churches are built by rooted Christians that:
*Encourage
*Serve
*Forgive
*Bear burdens
*Speak the Truth in Love!
But even the church community gets messy. We read about a farmer that if he is going to have a productive farm business is going to have messy stalls, bulls, goats, horses. He on the other hand might have spotless stalls, because he has no hay, bulls, goats or horses etc. But he will also have no crops or profits without the animals making a mess.
We can have a spotless church, no broken hearts, no agendas, no tears, but you will not have ministry or community.
If there is a messy community, you will have a great need and evidence of service and ministry.
If our roots dig deep in Christ, The Word, Prayer...the fruit will soon be seen. The healthy rooted church might be messy but knit together in love.
It's not time to tear apart but be a part!
Check out:
Proverbs 14:4.
John 13:34,35.
Acts 2: 42-47
Romans 12,13 .
Let's not just grow up. Let's grow up together!
We have seen great damage during and after storms. Plants in the front yard washed away, even flowing down the street. Huge trees have been toppled by strong winds, while doing great damage on homes and power lines.
When the trees fall and expose what was underground, plants being washed away indicate a shallow or unhealthy root system.
When I have seen these exposed roots, many times there are thin stringy type roots. Thin roots obviously make for poor stability, for a tree that looks large and firm.
Even in a sunny climate free environment, there will be no fruit because of the root or no deep roots.
Many people appear to be strong and firm but when the first strong wind of life blows, they topple over, exposing a poor root system and they are washed away by emotion rather than a stable root digging for nourishment and footing.
What are you/we rooted in? Ideas like education, and family come to mind. Even those in life's hurricane type winds are inadequate to keep us healthy and planted, rooted deep.
We live in a fallen world (have you noticed?). You can go to those early chapters of the book of Genesis and discover the reason for all of damage.
Check out Psalm 1:
"But his delight is in the Law of the lord,
and in His law, he meditates day and night'
he shall be like a tree
planted by the water, that brings forth it's fruit in it's season.
whose leaf also shall not wither,
and whatever he does shall prosper."
Let's not be guided by shallow thoughts or rooted in weak emotions. but we can be planted and growing healthy roots of good biblical principles.
Even though the storms of life arrive we can say:
"I shall not be moved!"
The power to our neighborhood said; "I've had enough" and moved out. The power moved away from miles and miles away, leaving us in the dark.
We drove from the neighborhood and saw why. There was devastation of nearby woods and trees fallen into yards and into homes. It was enough to make your heart and hope drop.
We had lost power; it was to be out for a number of days. We had wisely bought a generator for the refrigerator etc. from the last storm we had. Gas prices to run the generators made this storm expensive.
But it was beginning to be depressing, it was dark and very warm. I almost forgot what I looked like, looking in the mirror. (that might have been a good thing).
Last night our power was restored. Joy, and hope returned. The porch light returned as well, making all feel safer, because the freaks come out at night.
But... there are some nearby that are still without power. they still have those huge trees down, around and in their houses. Not far away the storms brought major flooding!
They need our prayers, this is not the Caribbean, or someone else, this has now happened to us and our friends, neighbors and relatives.
May we now have compassion on those around the world that have had storms and lost homes and power (some have never had power).
My prayers go out on the behalf of those nearby that still are living in the consequences of a storm.
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Many of us quiet people in a quiet neighborhood, talked and waved more than ever. I don't believe we'll have a block party. But I can guarantee, we will be talking and waving a lot more.
A storm often brings a disconnect with power and there is great joy and relief, when the reconnection is made.
Make the connection with the Lord and others around you, there's great power in it!
They could consist of missionaries, Christians or seekers, even hackers and spies.
Either way God's Word or His Biblical principles are being sent and received; the hope is that the seed may land on good soil and grow into a good Word of love, encouragement and salvation!
That we might know and live in the depth, height, width of God's love. Spreading out to the uttermost.
That's what happen with Jesus giving them the great commission to go local as well as the uttermost, and here we are today, answering the call.
Let's all continue to share the same divine love and comfort we have received to those across the street and around the world.
Being lonely in a crowd is a thing. Standing alone in the middle of the room, surrounded by the buzz of people talking and laughing, focused on catching up and making plans to meet again.
So many in the room that might even know everyone, yet invisible, as in a dream or as if you had experienced death and as some spirit, walked into a group of friends, the church, or the place you worked.
Can you imagine walking through the groups and joining in, but being ignored or treated as if you interrupted.
Let us be intentional about seeing everyone in the room. Let's be focused on others need to communicate and socialize. We can purposely meet and greet many at the event, church, school or break room.
What if everyone had that mindset? There would be less lonely and invisible people.
Don't let it happen. Not on your watch!
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!
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!
The Christians of the first century, attending "The First Church of Jerusalem" did not wait for an announcement on Face book o...
