Devotions

Pastor

2012-02-25T15:54:00.001-08:00

I had a drink with my Pastor yesterday at the local donut shop. It was nice meeting him outside of the church - a different environment and more personal. We learned more about one another and it strengthened our fellowship. To surround yourself with Bible believing people emboldens your faith. He is a good spiritual leader - humble, compassionate, and wise. The church is an important part of my life. I am learning a lot and appreciate my fellowship.

Christlike

2012-02-20T15:20:00.001-08:00

If you are a born again Christian, you will try to live a Christlike life. We will always sin. Some days will be a mess. But, when you are converted, you despise your sins and fight to stop them. If you don't feel compelled to stop sin, than the Holy Sprit isn't within you. Good works can't buy you into Heaven. Being a "good person" doesn't get you into Heaven. Nobody is good, we are all sinners. Jesus Christ is the only way to Salvation. By having faith in him, you will be transformed and want to be Christlike.

Never lose faith

2012-02-18T03:44:00.001-08:00

Sometimes, lying in bed, I wonder if my beliefs are correct. Oftentimes science reveals new ideas that put me at odds with my religion. For example, the theory of evolution. That's a difficult subject for me. On one hand, when we take into account dinosaurs and the cosmos, it seems the world is millions of years old. On the other hand, I believe in Jesus Christ and have to accept the biblical account of creation. I really don't know the answer. I would like to think that there could be a middle ground between science and religion, but unfortunately that doesn't seem possible. At least not at my church and if I take the bible literally as in the case with Genesis. While I don't have all the answers, I'll continue to have faith and perseverance concerning God.

Wonderful Book

2012-02-15T00:45:00.001-08:00

I am reading "The Way of the Master" by Ray Comfort. It comes in two formats: Paperback and ebook. I purchased it for my Kindle from Amazon. I encourage anybody interested in Christ to read it.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0882702203?ie=UTF8&force-full-site=1

Book Description written by Amazon:

The Way of the Master gives light to an almost forgotten biblical key that has the power to unlock the door of the human heart. This is the proven and effective way of making the gospel make sense to the unsaved. It is so rooted in the Scriptures, once you see it, you will forever wonder how you could have missed it. It is the biblical principle of bypassing the intellect (the place of argument) and speaking directly to the conscience (the place of the knowledge of right and wrong) – the way Jesus did.

It’s anecdotal, loaded with commentary and remarks that are more conversational than academic. It’s an easy read with a hard message that has already changed the face of sharing faith.

Ecclesiastes 9

2012-02-11T00:58:00.001-08:00

1 For all this I considered in my heart even to declare all this, that the righteous, and the wise, and their works, are in the hand of God: no man knoweth either love or hatred by all that is before them.

2 All things come alike to all: there is one event to the righteous, and to the wicked; to the good and to the clean, and to the unclean; to him that sacrificeth, and to him that sacrificeth not: as is the good, so is the sinner; and he that sweareth, as he that feareth an oath.

3 This is an evil among all things that are done under the sun, that there is one event unto all: yea, also the heart of the sons of men is full of evil, and madness is in their heart while they live, and after that they go to the dead.

4 For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope: for a living dog is better than a dead lion.

5 For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.

6 Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion for ever in any thing that is done under the sun.

7 Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart; for God now accepteth thy works.

8 Let thy garments be always white; and let thy head lack no ointment.

9 Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest all the days of the life of thy vanity, which he hath given thee under the sun, all the days of thy vanity: for that is thy portion in this life, and in thy labour which thou takest under the sun.

10 Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.

11 I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all.

12 For man also knoweth not his time: as the fishes that are taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught in the snare; so are the sons of men snared in an evil time, when it falleth suddenly upon them.

13 This wisdom have I seen also under the sun, and it seemed great unto me:

14 There was a little city, and few men within it; and there came a great king against it, and besieged it, and built great bulwarks against it:

15 Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city; yet no man remembered that same poor man.

16 Then said I, Wisdom is better than strength: nevertheless the poor man's wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard.

17 The words of wise men are heard in quiet more than the cry of him that ruleth among fools.

18 Wisdom is better than weapons of war: but one sinner destroyeth much good.

Nobody knows if life with be easy or hard, despite being good or evil. I believe this shows the "prosperity gospel" to be unbiblical as taught today. It goes on to say that regardless of this reality people who are godly are under His care. However, death awaits everyone. Life is better than death and we are advised to enjoy it. Godly people will acknowledge this as God's favor. Many things in the world may seem by chance, but wisdom has a strong influence in life. Wisdom can achieve much good and ultimately stems from God. However, sin has the ability to destroy much good.

Procrastination

2012-02-08T15:21:00.001-08:00

I slept in this morning and thus forgot to put out the garbage. I missed the pickup. The night before I knew I had to put those cans out on the street. I couldn't then because the raccoons would have made a mess of it. I was to get up early and do it. Nope. Instead I decided to rest more. I was thinking the garbage man wouldn't come until noon, like they typically do. Of course, they arrived early and now I have a lot of garbage sitting around. It reminds me of the Lord when He said be ready when I arrive. Be prepared and not asleep. Don't wait for another day to help others or think Jesus won't come for a long time. Be prepared and vigilant.

True Believer

2012-02-07T17:58:00.001-08:00

A real believer in Jesus Christ will bear fruit. He will help people in need, have a positive attitude in spite of difficulty, and will never lose faith. There are more signs. That's not to say you can achieve salvation through good works. Only Faith in Jesus Christ can save a soul. However, when you accept Jesus into your heart you try to be Christlike. It's good for a believer to question themselves and reflect if they are truly born again. A Christian isn't a person who leaves God at the door after Sunday service. Nor is he one who reads the Bible constantly, but doesn't apply its principles to life. Many will meet Christ only to be turned away because He did not know them. They prayed to Him and told others they believed, but never allowed Him into their lives. A True believer is a changed person who grows in Christ daily.

Fellowship

2012-02-06T00:23:00.001-08:00

I visited a church. A very small congregation. A lot of old people! I talked to the Pastor who stated many places are experiencing this phenomenon. Society is not interested in God as years back. One may have decided to go Church Shopping, hoping to look for a more lively establishment. However, it's a nice atmosphere and the Church is very biblically sound. I enjoy old people anyway, they have some interesting stories and are insightful. I'm going to stick around and see how this fellowship works for me. Thank you God for providing this church.

A Beautiful Song

2012-02-04T19:30:00.001-08:00

Jesus Is Love, by The Commodores

Father, help your children,
And don't let them fall by the side of the road. Um, and teach them to love one another, And heaven might find a place in their hearts;

'Cause Jesus is love.
He won't let you down,
And I know He's mine forever,
Ah, in my heart.

We've got to walk on through temptation, Cause His Love and His wisdom will be our helping hand. And I know the truth and His word will be our salvation. Lift up our heart to be thankful and glad.

'Cause Jesus is love.
He won't let you down, And I know He's mine deep down in my soul.
Jesus is love.

I want to follow your star wherever it leads me, And I don't mind Lord, I hope you don't mind. I want to walk with you, and talk with you, And do all the things you want me to do,
'Cause I know that Jesus, Jesus is love, I know, And if you ask, I'll show love is the word forever,

Ah, in my heart, help me, heart, heart. I know, I know, I know, I know His love's the power, His love's the glory forever, ever, ever, ever.
Who can bring you love?
Who can bring you joy?
Who can turn your life around?
Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah,

Who will pick you up, ooh, where you fall? Who will stand beside you? Who will love us all? Hey, Jesus, Jesus.

Who can heal your body? Who can make it strong? Who can help you to hold out a little while longer? Oh yeah, Jesus loves you, Jesus wants you, You can call Him, He will answer.

Call Him in the morning, call Him in the evening.

---
written by Lionel Richie
© EMI Music Publishing

Social Outsider

2012-02-03T01:38:00.001-08:00

Not being apart of a group can make you feel awkward. It seems to start at a young age too. People gravitate toward certain groups. Some want to be apart of a certain clique, but are unwelcome. With rejection, we can either accept it and move on or we can try to conform for acceptance. I think the former is healthier. If you cannot be yourself, then how can you be genuine? God made you distinct and with purpose. There are others who will embrace you. If you feel alone, God is always with you and you're never an outsider.

Criticism

2012-02-02T00:37:00.001-08:00

Re-buke 1. To criticize or reprove sharply; reprimand.

I was recently rebuked. It doesn't feel good. One may get defensive and turn angry. In the past, this was exactly how I would respond. However, there is always a lesson to learn. After careful reflection, I understood it was justified. Sometimes a person needs to hear something that makes them feel uncomfortable. Only then can we grow. There is a tremendous opportunity when we are confronted. It makes you a better person and thus stronger. Don't fear being rebuked, it may be a blessing!

The Golden Rule

2012-02-01T00:48:00.001-08:00

Luke 6:31-36

31 And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.

32 For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them.

33 And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same.

34 And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again.

35 But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.

36 Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.

Treat others as you would like to be treated. Jesus expounds on The Golden Rule. Loving your family and friends is easy, even evil people can do that. The same goes for good deeds and lending to others. Doing these things to everyone, without expecting anything in return, is God's command. Emulating His love makes you like His children, who are rewarded.

Being a disciple of Jesus means living at a higher standard.

End Times

2012-01-31T00:46:00.001-08:00

The Bible states that nobody knows when the end times will occur, but God Himself.

Matthew 24:36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.

Many have given dates or have signaled signs. However, all have failed to date. "Prophets" and others continue to search for when this event will take place. I'm prepared if it occurs in my lifetime. Jesus Christ is my Lord and Saviour. Some think we can ready ourselves against the Antichrist and so forth if we knew. However, I believe what the Bible says. Nobody knows but God. It also states God wins regardless. So, I will live my life in the present and not worry or devote countless hours into this. I will do my best and live life to the fullest, not assuming I have a tomorrow.

My Faith

2012-01-30T00:43:00.001-08:00

Sometimes I come across people who try to "enlighten" me about God. Either God doesn't exist, as the genius Steven Hawking suggests, or my perception of God is inaccurate. Some believe all religions are of God. Others view any oral or written tradition "from God" as flawed or nonexistent. There are many opinions that seem persuasive. Personally, I have studied for many years and have come to my own conclusions. It seems to me that people take an aversion to someone being a Christian. A lot of various ideas circulate in the minds of these individuals. I don't mind because the Bible warns us of this response. Intellectual vanity and rebellion prevent many to accept Christianity. Whatever the reason, they are in the wrong. My answer may seem obtuse or arrogant. However, I am confident Jesus Christ is our Lord and the Bible is God's word. I'll listen to anyone's views, but I have my Faith and it cannot be broken.

Church

2012-01-29T01:21:00.001-08:00

I'm trying to find one, a place that believes the Bible is inspired and is the Word of God. Importantly, it must be Christ centered. I came across a church that basically didn't mind if a member was a Buddhist or whatever. They didn't have to believe that Jesus was the way to salvation. What's the point of calling it a Christian church then? On the other spectrum, you have Independent churches that have extreme doctrines and practices. It's hard finding a good fellowship. But I think it's so important to any believer. I would like to surround myself with people who enjoy Bible study and prayers. My goal is to find such a group soon so I can grow and share my faith.

Satan

2012-01-28T01:45:00.001-08:00

Admittedly, I don't think about Satan very much. That is a mistake. After all, if you believe in what the Bible says, then you know he exists. Satan is a force in the world that influences and destroys lives.

Recently, I wanted to understand Satan's attitude toward mankind. It seems pointless, but I wondered. From the start, God created angels and made Satan the most powerful and beautiful. After a time the Lord made mankind. However, they weren't like angels. They were not as strong nor had a prior relationship with God. How could Satan be ordered to bow before men? He chose not to and was thrown out of Heaven. Ultimately, God does what He wants and any creation is subject to Him. You would think that an angel would come to this rationalization. We are to be grateful to experience any of God's gifts. Without Him, nothing is possible. In the end, I concluded Satan is rebellious.

Many people will share Satan's fate. They don't want to follow God's will. Many imagine He doesn't exist, while some believe in a god but reject Jesus Christ. The consequences are laid out in the Bible. You may not believe in Satan, but he believes in you.

The Word

2012-01-27T00:45:00.001-08:00

John 1

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

2 The same was in the beginning with God.

3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

Jesus Christ is the Word. These verses reveal that the Trinity always existed. "The Word was with God," shows us a relationship. "The Word was God" speaks about the same God that says in Genesis "In the beginning."

Jesus is the truth and life, the light. Without Him, mankind lives a lie and is dead, the darkness.

The Gospel of John will leave the reader without doubt that Christ is Our Lord and Saviour.

Jonah

2012-01-26T00:36:00.001-08:00

I enjoy reading the story of Jonah. No matter how much I may not want to confront a situation, I must. You can't run away from difficulties. Sometimes we can't understand God's will, even though we must fulfill it. We can only hope in the end the reason will be revealed. It's not easy, but there was never a promise life would be without challenges. Faith is your guide and strength. Doing God's will is always right. The story of Jonah is as relevant as it was then as it is today.

The Book of Job

2012-01-25T00:52:00.001-08:00

1 There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil.

Job is not sinless (only Jesus Christ was), but he is upright. In the story he is tested and endures suffering. Regardless, he lives by faith and in the end receives God's favor.

He is a wonderful example of what to do if you find yourself in difficult times. You may wonder what you did to deserve misery, but we may not know God's plan. You may even have to die before His reasons become apparent. The important thing to do is keep Faith and know God loves you. He made you and you are an instrument of His will. Heaven awaits believers.

Love

2012-01-24T01:00:00.001-08:00

29 ... Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:

30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.

31 And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.

If you live by these words, you understand Jesus's message. Love is the cornerstone of faith.

Our Body

2012-01-23T00:31:00.001-08:00

God gave us our body. It enables us to do tasks. Life is a gift. However, many of us abuse it like myself. I made poor choices and became overweight. More often than not I don't eat healthy. In fact, I hardly exercise. Why? I could give a few reasons, but they are excuses. It's not good because I can shorten my lifespan. Also, I eat more than I should which is fiscally and morally irresponsible. The Bible tells us we should not be gluttonous nor lazy. Our body is a temple. God has plans for us and we cannot fulfill those if we abuse ourselves. As such, I am going to change my lifestyle. I ask for your prayers for my success. Thank you.

The Daily Grind

2012-01-22T01:01:00.001-08:00

Days turn into months and months into years. It's easy to get caught up in our routines without taking a moment to stop. There are many things to be thankful for. Money is the driving force of our world. Some can never have enough, they want the newest and best. Others try to live beyond there means. Many are just scrapping by. Whatever the reason, we sometimes forget what's really important. It is the relationships we have with loved ones and God. All the money in the world cannot buy a friend or true love. The Lord is not impressed by wealth or power, but rather with the human heart. We should take a moment daily to give thanks and express our gratitude.

The Holy Bible

2012-01-21T00:49:00.001-08:00

To own a Bible is a gift. There was a time when common people were not allowed to read nor own one. The Bible is powerful. It has changed our civilization and continues to influence daily man. Every word is inspired by God. You could read through the Bible a hundred times, and it would continue to teach you new things. It's like a friend, always there to give you hope, insight, and love. But if you don't act on its teachings or allow it to transform your life, than it's just a ordinary book. It is so much more! If you devote yourself to God's Word, it will become apart of your life and a blessing.

Animals

2012-01-19T23:47:00.001-08:00

I have a dog, Dusty. She keeps me company and I enjoy her. Many years ago I didn't appreciate animals. In fact, I gave them little thought. However, when I received Dusty she changed my perspective. I began to watch birds and notice various creatures. My heart changed and I soon possessed a deep love for animals. I feed deer and provide hummingbirds with sugar water. I recently acquired a canary that makes joyful music. Animals are a wonderful gift from God. They are so beautiful and interesting. I must care for them as my dog cares for me. I thank God for giving us many friends that can teach us about His creation.

Psalm 14

2012-01-19T00:44:00.001-08:00

1 The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.
2 The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God.
3 They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
4 Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge? who eat up my people as they eat bread, and call not upon the LORD.
5 There were they in great fear: for God is in the generation of the righteous.
6 Ye have shamed the counsel of the poor, because the LORD is his refuge.
7 Oh that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion! when the LORD bringeth back the captivity of his people, Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad.

Those who reject God and treat his followers badly are corrupt. They will have to account for their actions. The Lord will protect the faithful because He dwells with them.

You become righteous before God by accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour.