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Archive for October, 2010

Throw Off Everything That Hinders Us

07 Oct

Hebrews 12:1 – 1Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.

We have been raised in a country that has allowed us to have the Word of God available at all times.  Wonderful teachers are available and easily accessed to study God’s Word.  It is our lifeline of understanding God.  You can know God more and more.  There are people out there who are humble servants trying to get this message to you.

On the flip side there are others out there to tell you exactly what you want to hear, especially if you are meeting their needs.

We need to quit running all over the course blindly.

Picture this:  You step up to the starting line and bang you’re off on your journey for God.

You’re running along for about a half mile and wow, look at that nice car!  It won’t take long to look that over.  The salesman looks at you and says I can get you into that no time.  Let’s talk about what kind of payment you can afford.  You say, “I really need to get back to my race keep my attention on the real prize, but they convince you that there is plenty of time to finish your race. 

You walk out and you think wow that was a little more than I was expecting, but I’ll do alright.  Back on the run and get down the road about another 2 miles.  Hey that’s a really nice house.  All the people around me are getting into these kinds of houses.  You only live once right?! (Wrong)

Back to that race, you know for not much more I could go on that killer vacation I wanted to always go on.  I can afford it.  While you’re there you love it so much they talk you into buying a condo.

What were we doing earlier?  Oh yeah, back to the race.  You know what it’s really getting hard to have time to run.  I’m finding that I have to work more for debts.  Hey why should I have to wait till I get older to have these great things? 

If we’re chasing after these things on the earth, are we chasing after the things of God?  Are we running the race that is marked out for us?

Or are we running our own race?

 
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Posted in Inspiration, Motivation

 

Peace I Give You

06 Oct

John 14:27 – 27Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. 

When we trust in Jesus we have peace. 

I fully believe that for anything major to happen, God has to put his stamp of approval that it’s okay.  Does that mean that everything appears to turn out hundred percent the way we think that it ought to? 

No. 

Do I believe that He is in charge and that we don’t always know the whole story?  

I do.  I take comfort that if God says tomorrow you’re coming home with me into Heaven then it’s time to go.  Since He knows my future already, I trust that whatever happens to me it will be okay if He says it’s okay to happen.  God is in charge and the more we turn our lives around the better it is for the Kingdom of Heaven and ourselves. 

There is a peace that comes in knowing the ultimate Being in the universe has your back. 

Now you can say, wow Pat, I’m glad you feel that way, must be a great mind over matter tool you got there.  Or that’s quite an effective crutch. 

No, I have the promise of my God and Creator that if I seek and serve Him to the best of my ability, there will be no regrets for eternity. 

On the flip side there appears to be much remorse for those who are saved, but gave God nothing of themselves.  If one thinks about it for two seconds, you’re in Heaven and it dawns on you I’m here, everything I put into life is down there and past, and I didn’t do much for Him which is all that matters.  

There is a lot of unrest and problems the world gives to its followers.  Not much peace in that. 

Jesus gives us all our needs here, but He doesn’t give as the world gives.  He’s waiting to give you as your King will reward you at the allotted time.

 
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Posted in Encouragement, Inspiration

 

We Need A Loving Reverent Fear Of The Lord

05 Oct

Here’s a good one for us all to remember.  If God only cared about himself, you wouldn’t have a chance to be saved from destruction.  The second death results in a lake of fire.

Revelation 20:13-15 – 13The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what he had done. 14Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. 15If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

Now I’ve heard people tell me that the negative doesn’t help them any regarding their pursuit of God.

Are you kidding me?  That’s very brave, but if someone came up to you and threatened any kind of real harm it’s going to become very real, very fast.  Now if you’re saved, that ends upon death.  The lake of fire is the second death that one is told to fear.  Clearly if you are going into the lake of fire, you’re not saved.  People always hate it when you speak for them, but I will boldly do that now.

“If you are not concerned about the second death now, you will be right after the first one.”

Proverbs9:10- 10 “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

If you love God, you have this Reverence already.  It’s a respect like children should have for their parents.  They love them and they should respectfully realize that if they step out of line they receive correction.  Notice I don’t use the words sheer terror.  If you Love someone there is respect involved.  However there is only one that controls your destiny.  That Individual also loves you more than anyone or anything even when you’re not that lovable.  

Why don’t we jump into the middle of a fire or off a 10 story building.  There is an intelligent fear that is built in.  This same fear should equally be there in a respectful way when it comes to angering the most High God.

Remember that when we sin against God, He loves you, even had His own flesh and blood die for you.  When we knowingly sin against the Lord it’s disrespectful.  Let’s work the best way we can to not disrespect the Lord.

 
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Posted in Motivation

 

Literally Correct

04 Oct

1 Corinthians 11:23-26 – 23For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” 25In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

For some when they partake in communion, they are remembering the fact that Jesus died for their sins.  That’s where it ends for them.  They are missing the last part of verse 26.  He’s coming back. 

We’re not in the Millennial Kingdom yet, that’s why we’re still doing communion.  He is going to rule and reign 1000 years.  Not the good ole spirit of Jesus, but the King Himself.  There is a literal understanding of the bible.  A literal Tribulation period is coming around the corner.  He is literally coming back or no flesh would be saved at the end of it.  That may have been hard to fathom 65 years ago but is it really hard to picture today?

God allows wisdom in time.  He has brought up great men of God to be able to share what’s coming ahead.  Those men are being led to understand what the Holy Spirit had the others 1900-2500 years ago write.

God has literally made promises.  Jesus is literally coming back to rule and reign 1000 years as the Messiah.  There is going to be a literal rapture.  There is going to be a literal tribulation.

Stay tuned into God and the understanding is there.  Trying to force square pegs into round holes to make it what you want it to be or think it is, only leads to problems.

The bible is literally happening the way God inspired men to write it. 

Most published book, Most bought, Least read per copy. 

You see no one for the last 400 years who has had freedom can say finding God was like finding a needle in a haystack.  They just chose to listen to the wrong voice speaking to their hearts.

 
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Posted in Encouragement, Inspiration, Motivation

 

Quote – D L Moody

02 Oct

We can stand affliction better than we can prosperity, for in prosperity we forget God.
Dwight L. Moody

One of the most asked questions from non-believers as well as some believers:

Why do bad things happen to good people? 

First of all no one is good.

Romans 3:10-12 – 10As it is written:  “There is no one righteous, not even one; 11there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God.  12All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.”

Luke 18:19 –  19 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone.

Not only is no one good, but just as DL Moody quoted, people tend to seek God when they have been brought to their knees.

People are confused.  God didn’t create us to be individuals with no need for Him.  He created us for relationship, to worship Him, and to love Him.  ALL THE TIME!

 
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Posted in Quotes, Reflections

 

To SON, Or Not To SON, That Is The Question?

01 Oct

Hal Lindsay recently inspired this post.  It is a very powerful reminder.

John 3:16 – 16“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Believes!  Don’t confuse this word.  The devil believes in Jesus and he isn’t saved.  You need to believe Jesus is your Lord and Savior.  If all you had to believe is in his existence then this scripture wouldn’t exist.

Matthew 7:21-23 – 21“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ 23Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

Actions speak louder than words!  If Jesus is your Lord it shines through.  If something else is your Lord, it will also shine through.

Next is the old killer of the gray area.

John 3:36 – 36Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on him.”

This scripture makes it pretty clear that life begins after this one.  Many people are trying to live their life right now to the fullest, but according to scripture God says they will NEVER see life.

If one rejects the Son, God’s wrath remains on that person.

UPDATE:  As one reader stated, I left people hanging.  He is right.  To get to know Jesus, it starts by one accepting Him as Lord.  I have a page over in the right hand upper column that will run you through on how to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior.  God Bless.

 
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Posted in Inspiration, Motivation, Salvation

 
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