MY FRIENDS, GOD CALLS US TO SOMETHING GREAT, BREATHTAKING AND AWE-INSPIRING!!!

Aug. 19, 2014

MY FRIENDS, GOD CALLS US TO SOMETHING, GREAT, BREATHTAKING AND AWE-INSPIRING!!!

Daniel-Day-Lewis-in-Lincoln1Abraham Lincoln, had the great misfortune of being at the forefront of our nation, during it’s most troubled times. The united States divided, sounds familiar. The North and South waged a unrelenting war on each other that claimed the lives of many. Lincoln felt the weight of it all, as it took its tool. Each day, he mourned the deaths of many. While spending hours visiting the wounded.

Then, his own son died, the President was literally brought to his knees. In midweek, Lincoln  found refuge at a church in Washington D.C. Along with an aide. Trying not to interrupt he sat off to the side. The minister opened the Scriptures and taught from God’s Word, when the preacher finished, the president stood quietly as his aide asked, “What did you think of the sermon, Mr. President?”

“He said, “I thought, the sermon was carefully thought through, and eloquently delivered.” “but he failed because he did not ask of us, something “GREAT AND AWE-INSPIRING.” My friends, even In the midst of Lincoln’s turmoil and strife, he understood that when you listen to God you should expect the Lord to call you to something GREAT, BREATHTAKING AND AWE-INSPIRING. God’s mandate to us is never effortless or unpassionate.

The picture that should be forever burned into our conscious is a God with an overwhelming feeling of reverence, admiration, an Omnipotent God who has unlimited power and is willing to imagesshare that same power with His Children, “For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast. The Lord bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought: he maketh the devices of the people of none effect. The counsel of the Lord standeth forever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations. Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.” Ps. 22:8-12 (ESV)

There is no other like Him. His mandate to His chosen is forever GREAT, BREATHTAKING AND AWE-INSPIRING. “He is exalted over all the nations. Let them praise your great and AWESOME NAME he is holy.” As we go to 1 Samuel 17 Eliab, David’s older brother is scolding David because he is inquiring about the uncircumcised Philistine Goliath, who is defying the armies of the living God?” David tells Eliab, “What have I done now? Is there not a cause?”

“Then he turned from him toward another and said the same thing.” David knew the power of His God even though no one else on that battle field did. He knew His God would do something GREAT BREATHTAKING AND AWE-INSPIRING. And God did, through the boy David, a sling shot, and one smooth stone. God also ask us today to do SOMETHING GREAT, BREATHTAKING AND AWE-INSPIRING, God asks us for a COMMITMENT.

He asks us to stand up and pledge our loyalty to Him and ENDURE. “Exodus 19:5-6 (NKJV) says “Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.” So my friends today God has challenged us. He is asking us to FOCUS, AND imgresKEEP HEAVEN ON OUR MIND.

The power is ours for the asking if we believe, so He knocks, He waits, His Spirit waits. My friends today “I bend beneath the weight of His will and mercy,” yesterday, coming from Virginia I totaled my car, my rib feels broken, because I have felt the wrath of a cracked rib before but I will be alright God is good. Driving to fast in the rain my fault, not the rain. To late to rent a car small town. So I was going to stay in emergengy waiting room untill car rental open in Morning. Like I said small town, very nice people and God is good, they let me stay in a patient room.

God never ceases to amaze me. The only reason I have noted this incident. I was given some LarTab’s for pain but wouldn’t  take them, because I needed to get God’s devotional out this morning, because if God can use me each day to help only one, I have to say THAT IS SOMETHING GREAT, BREATHTAKING AND AWE-INSPIRING.

 

So my friends today. Stay focused, remain faithful, love one another and endure till the end and never forget to STUDY&PRAY

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MY FRIENDS, “TRUST AND OBEY FOR THERE IS NO OTHER WAY!!!”

Aug. 18, 2014

MY FRIENDS, “TRUST AND OBEY FOR THERE IS NO OTHER WAY!!!”

trust-and-obeyMy friends, Let’s focus on three simple words today TRUST AND OBEY. For the most important thing in these turbulent times we live in today in regards to our Salvation, is in TRUSTING a God that loves us beyond what our finite understanding of the word trust may be and OBEYING all of His precepts found in His Word. There can never be a time where we doubt or TRUST in God and what He is willing to do for His Children.

In addition God will supply all of our needs, He even supplies our wants which is secondary in God’s sight because our wants usually have nothing to do with our Salvation. God’s passion is to save us for His kingdom and our passion should be to want to be saved and if we have allowed God’s Spirit to transform our life into a Character like Christ, then all of our needs and wants will be the same as God’s.

In addition, it then becomes all about given God the PRAISE, GLORY, AND HONOR. God also wants us to understand that He is our jesus-and-meonly legitimate source of Help. Paul tells us “to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe. 1 Tim 4:10 (KJV) So my friends today ask God to supply your needs in whatever way He fills fit to accomplish what He has started in our life.

Philippians 1:6 (KJV) tells us “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” So continued to make you petitions to the Lord as you do His will, while searching the scriptures for his promises as we hold on to our faith and endure until this race is over and you cross over into the promise land.

But in the meantime let’s prepare our Character for what God’s answer to our petitions and what the outcome may be, so ask yourself, How will that Job, house, car, big screen TV, or marriage, honor God and give us Eternal life at the same time. As a Child of God we must continue to focus “in [all] situations and [to] be content. [In addition, we must] know how to be brought low, and [we must] know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, [we must also] learn the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. [Because we] can do all things through him who strengthens [us].”Philippians 4:11-13 (ESV)

imagesAnd some days we may not here his voice or receive a answer to our request for “In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord; In the night my hand was stretched out without weariness; My soul refused to be comforted” Ps. 77:1-2. But What are our options in a “trying season of waiting”? Remember my friends God has wrote, while at the same time He leads, us through every Chapter of our life.

As we move closer to the end of this life history and Christ soon return, the last chapter is being written. And if we seek God’s presence daily, we know how our story ends, because it all comes down too our love for others and our relationship with God. So today we must ask ourselves do I serve God and others, or do I serve self and the god of this world and whatever honest answer we come up with, tells us how our story will end.

Remember my friends, God has given us His only begotten Son and His Son has Died and has risen for our Salvation. Consistent with this, He now mediates and advocates on our behalf to the Father. So we must TRUST Him to continue to do what seems impossible to us, for our Salvation. But even though “dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.”  One day soon those thousand years and that one day will end and God will say to His Son,  Go get my Faithful Children who OBEYED MY WILL AND PUT ALL OF THEIR TRUST IN THE SAVING POWER OF THE CROSS.

 

So my friends today. Stay focused, remain faithful, love one another and endure till the end and never forget to STUDY&PRAY

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MY FRIENDS, IS THERE EVER A TIME WE CAN SAY, NO MORE, NO MORE?

Aug. 17, 2014

MY FRIENDS, IS THERE EVER A TIME WE CAN SAY, NO MORE, NO MORE?

628x471Many celebrities have died or took their own lives, or been killed in my lifetime. But none affected me or caused me to think about God’s Children’s vulnerability as we continue this journey He has placed each of us on to the promise land. Robin Williams and myself, are the same age, our birthdays are four days apart. His career on TV started about 1978 on the show Mork and Mindy.

I have watched, one or two of his movies, but whatever venue he was performing on TV I would stop and listen, knowing I would be entertainment at that moment because he seemed like he always gave you 110% as he had the unique ability to “go from manic to mad to tender and vulnerable, which allowed everyone to smile and forget our own problems.

I guess you can say he always made you feel like he was one of us the average man or woman who tries desperately from day to day to keep our head above water. So my friends let’s focus today on what point do we get to, where we go from I’m moving towards the point in my life that I am somewhat comfortable with, to a point of “one who has no hope”

And where does the bar have to be set for a Child of God to allow the god of this world to take us to the very edge of sanity, and then to insanity, where weDSCN2035 SAY TO OUR-SELF, NO MORE, NO MORE? And then the coroner report reads “clothed, in a seated position “with a belt secured around his neck, with the other end of the belt wedged between the clothes closet door and the door frame, with his right shoulder area touching the door, with body perpendicular to the door and slightly suspended.”

Reports also have Mr. Williams being diagnosed with early signs of Parkinson disease, plus he was forever battling depression and of course, his battles never ceased with alcoholism. Once again my friends what point do we as a Child of God get to where we SAY TO OUR-SELF NO MORE, NO MORE? Or when do we “discover, the secret, after climbing a great hill, [we] only [find out] that there are many more hills to climb.”

And as we take a moment to rest, we become complacent and want to stay right where we are and not move another step and it is at that time when the journey just doesn’t seem worth it and we give up. But my friends as we look above and ask our God “Are You telling me to go? Are You telling me to stay? Are You telling me to hold on to You for another day? ‘

Cause I got nothing left Yeah I’m hanging by a thread I give You all my weakness, You give me Your strength ‘Cause I’m here again, Here at my end Where You begin. (Mandisa – Where You Begin) Yes God pleads with us, don’t give up and let Go, for Eternity and My kingdom is worth it. In addition, remember as “you draw near the battle against [the god of this world]:”

“let not your heart faint. Do not fear or panic or be in dread of [the forces of evil], for the Lord your God is He who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies, to give prayeryou the victory.” Deuteronomy 20:3-4 (KJV) My friends we are at the threshold of the “Promise Land” we can never  SAY, NO MORE, NO MORE. In addition, as His chosen we are stationed at God’s COMMAND AND CONTROL CENTER.

This is where our God has place His chosen, throughout the world, where we will exercise His authority and direction, as He assigns  His faithful the resources to accomplish His will on “ÖNE ACCORD” and with one objective and that is to spread the good news of the gospel “as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” My friends that is the only way to end this battle, there is no short cuts to eternity for “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12 (NIV)

 

So my friends today. Stay focused, remain faithful, love one another and endure till the end and never forget to STUDY&PRAY

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MY FRIENDS, IF WE BELIEVE, WE CAN BECOME CONQUERORS, THROUGH CHRIST!!

Aug. 16, 2013

MY FRIENDS, IF WE BELIEVE, WE CAN BECOME CONQUERORS, THROUGH CHRIST!!

imagesWe are “CONQUERORS, THROUGH CHRIST.” Paul says it best in Romans 8:35-37 (NKJV) “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written: “For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.”

The truth is that the strength to endure every painful trial lay’s in our total dependence on Christ. If your eyes were opened to view the spiritual battle that is raging, each day for your soul you would see the army of the living God totally surrounding and protecting His faithful children. He also places in each of our hands weapons far greater than the forces of evil.

In addition, God’s weapons of mass destruction was created only for His faithful. Starting with the belt of truth buckled around [our] waist, [along with] the breastplate of righteousness, and [on our feet to guide and nurture His Children in the love and admonition of the Lord, is] the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.

In addition to all this, we] will be equipped with] the shield of faith, with which [we] can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one, [also, place upon [our] head is] the ArmorofGodhelmet of salvation and [in our hand] the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. [but we must forever pray and study]in the Spirit on all occasions, [and] with all kinds of [supplications]… With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying [not just for yourself but] for all the Lord’s people.” Ephesians 6:10-18 (NIV)

Consistent with this, our God has the weapon that can never be destroyed and that is the weapon of the cross. Though you will still endure attacks from the enemy, your hope of victory is secure no matter what may happen if you are faithful and endure, simply because Jesus died so you would gain through him, VICTORY, VICTORY, VICTORY.

Remember my friends it is God who wakes you up each day, that means He not only wakes us up but he has also provided us with an agenda that has nothing to do with us and what we may want, for to His faithful, His wants becomes our wants and his needs, our needs so that no temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.

But when [we] are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that [we] can ENDURE IT.”1 Corinthians 10:13 (NIV) The key my friends is to FOCUS AND ENDURE. The god of this world keeps us so involved with all of the day to day problems of this sinful world, we can’t see over the storm, to a place called Calvary, where lies our only hope, which is in Jesus Christ our Savior and His Spirit.

God truly is a on time God. Remember,  He who created the world has already created a solution for whatever problems may arise in our life, so God’s challenge to us is to“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of [the enemy], for the LORD [our] God goes with [us]; he will never leave [us] nor forsake [us].” Deuteronomyimages 31:6 (NIV)

Paul also tells us “Since all have sinned and are falling short of the honor and glory which God bestows and receives. [All] are justified and made upright and in right standing with God, freely and gratuitously by His grace (His unmerited favor and mercy), through the redemption which is [provided] in Christ Jesus,” Romans 3:23-25 (AMP)

My friends, those text tells His Chosen, what God will do, and has done to save us, even to the point of dying on a cross. So right now Let’s just reciprocate the love God has shown for us, as we give Him from the bottom of our heart all the honor praise and glory that our God and our God only deserves.

 

So my friends today. Stay focused, remain faithful, love one another and endure till the end and never forget to STUDY&PRAY

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MY FRIENDS, WHAT WOULD YOU PAY, FOR YOUR SALVATION?

MY FRIENDS, WHAT WOULD YOU PAY, FOR YOUR SALVATION?

harold-copping-pearl-of-great-price-400x549“The kingdom of heaven is like a man who is a dealer in search of fine and precious pearls, who, on finding a single pearl of great price, went and sold all he had and bought it.  (AMP) As a child of God our attitude should be as that of the merchantman willing to give all we own for our salvation.

Remember he sold EVERYTHING, because He knew that the treasure he had found, far exceeded the value of anything he had in his possession, more then his home, his cars, his clothes. My friends this is how we must view Salvation.

God’s pure and holy kingdom, must become real to us, a passion that transcends any and all commodities that the god of this world places before us. Friends with my limited resources I can only imagine the beauty of the rich and famous and how lavishly they live, from magazines and the internet.

But today my friends, I need you to focus on the kingdom of OUR GOD. His kingdom is priceless, and it far exceeds anything we could ever imagine. A kingdom OUR GOD has prepared for His Faithful Children who WILL ENDURE TILL THE END, and who’s robes have been washed with the blood of Jesus Christ.

For Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 2:9 (NKJV) “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love normal_Jesus_HeavenHim. But our Faith must tell us, the things our minds and hearts could ever, and will never, imagine existed in this world we live in, is what OUR GOD has waiting for us if we can just stay focus and give it all to the Master.

And one day soon the limited beauty of this world will not even be a fleeting memory when God opens those pearly gates for us to enter into what he left this world to go and prepare for His children. Once again MY FRIENDS “When you reach that FINAL SUNSET and you look into HIS EYES, will the tears you shed be tears of joy or would they be your last goodbye. It will be a tragedy to get to that day that you waited for all your life, and realize that all you had accumulated and accomplished on this earth “COULD NOT COMPARE TO ETERNAL LIFE” THAT YOU HAVE NOW LOST.”

There will be no second chances no time for you to get it right. Oh the terrible price you would have paid for your Salvation and life eternal. So today my friends we all must be willing if we have decided that nothing can stop us from being one of God’s chosen vessels, that our only desire, is to honor You Lord with all our HEART and SOUL.

imagesEvery breath that I take Every moment I’m awake Lord I give to you. To all of God’s Chosen, if we don’t remain focus, in the end, we will be among the many, who are forever seeking that precious pearl that can only come from God. But they will never entirely surrender it all to the Master.

Somehow they will always find ways to stay faithful to the things of this world. They will never allow self to completely die, so that Christ can take full control. Therefore they will never find out the true value and love of a God who gave so much so they could find that precious gift, Salvation. Consistent with this, when we know the value of what we have as heirs to the kingdom of God, We must never keep it hidden BUT LET IT SHINE!!

Spread the good news and tell everyone, I have found A treasure that no man can place a value on, and it is Called JESUS CHRIST and you can also tell the world our God has made a promise to all who stays focused, that  one day He will choose those who are poor in the world and rich in faith to be heirs of His kingdom. This my friends He has promised to those who love him and keep His commandments.

 

So my friends today. Stay focused, remain faithful, love one another and endure till the end and never forget to STUDY&PRAY

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MY FRIENDS, IS THIS THE LAST INVITATION?

Aug. 14, 2014

MY FRIENDS IS THIS THE LAST INVITATION?

0_0_0_0_250_228_csupload_44154945My friends let’s focus on Matt 22 today “when Jesus spoke to them again in parables, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son. He sent his servants to those who had been invited to the banquet to tell them to come, but they refused to come……….“Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited did not deserve to come.

So go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone you find. So the servants went out into the streets and gathered all the people they could find, the bad as well as the good, and the wedding hall was filled with guests. “But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes… He asked, ‘How did you get in here without wedding clothes, friend?’

The man was speechless. “Then the king told the attendants, ‘Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness….. FOR MANY ARE INVITED, BUT FEW ARE CHOSEN.“  My friends it’s only a wedding what is the big deal? we should be able to just go home and change, and even if we miss this wedding there will be OTHER INVITATIONS. Or will there be?

Oh what faith, and the Sacrifice of Calvary that was made so that everyone who accepted THE INVITATION could be there. But there will be some clothed in the dress of the world. It will show that they spent no time in knowing, or making the preparation required by the king to be there. For in Matt. 7:21(NKJV) it tells me “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

In addition, the saddest words we will ever here will be “How did you get in here without wedding clothes” And what could possibly be one’s answer when the King gave 2.resizedeveryone who was invited His own robe of righteousness, His only Begotten son. The only thing that was required was to accept the KING’S INVITATION and the free gift of His garment.

So in not accepting we have condemned ourselves. And then the king said, “Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness.” So yes my friends this will be the LAST INVITATION so we must get the required attire right the first time. The Marriage represents the unification of Jesus Christ incarnate as the son of God and humanity.

The wedding garment represents the transformation of our character to be like that of God’s only Begotten Son Jesus Christ. And to everyone who got it right one day soon we will be part of that “great number” who will witness “Jesus [as He] raises “His mighty, glorious arm, [and] lays hold of the pearly gate, swings it back on its glittering hinges and says to us, “You have washed your robes in my blood, stood stiffly for My truth, enter in.

images” We all march in and fill that we have a perfect right in the city…….We try to call up our greatest trials, but they looked so small compared with the far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory that surrounds us that we cannot speak them out, and we all cry out, “Alleluia, heaven is cheap enough!” we then touched our glorious harps and make heaven’s arches ring….

There we saw most glorious houses, most glorious to behold….…. Soon we heard Christ lovely voice, saying, “Come, my people, you have come out of great tribulation, and done My will; suffered for Me; come in to supper, for I will gird Myself, and serve you.” We shout, “Alleluia! Glory and honor to the King of King and Lord of Lord’s” (From the writings of E.G. White)

My friends, THE LAST INVITATION HAS BEEN SENT OUT and God’s Kingdom is where the final banquet of the redeemed will take place. The decision is yours, so are you willing to do whatever it takes to be there for my God will come soon, and His reward is with Him, “to give every man or woman according as his work shall be.” Rev. 22:12

 

So my friends today. Stay focused, remain faithful, love one another and endure till the end and never forget to STUDY&PRAY

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WHY US LORD?

Aug. 13,2014

WHY US LORD?

4420947445_c9ddb0c017looking over our lives there has been a radical change that has taken place if you are a Child of God, and it is by the grace of God that we came out of it with eyes wide open. And with most of us having no physical signs that we had been in a war zone. And as we look back over our life, there have been so many lives lost of those we have loved or been acquainted with.

And I wonder today why did God give us that Damascus Road experience as we set out on this journey He placed us on. As I focus on my past and future, maybe our God just saw in us a star that would shine anywhere, or at anytime that He wanted us to. Paul, had been a Pharisee. He considered himself the most zealous, rigorous and careful of all Pharisees, but God choose and used Paul because He knew Paul was capable of remaining a faithful servant that would ENDURE no matter what situation or circumstances he might find himself in, even if that meant his life ending at the guillotine.

Paul tells us in Phil. 1:21 (NKJV) For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.“ Acts 9:15 tells us that The Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. When you read Paul’s letters, you realize God knew, because He is a Omniscience God all knowing.

Consistent with this, He knew that Paul could be all things to all people. Paul says in Phil. 3:7-8 (NKJV) But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of imagesChrist. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ.”

My friends can God say the same about us? They are my chosen instruments they will proclaim My name to the world and endure through their faith in Me to the end.  Psalm 139:1-24 -41 (KJV) tells us “O Lord, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways.

Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether. You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me.” But “Like a grapevine branch, we are not always producing fruit in our life. That would be unnatural, for a significant portion of a grapevine’s life is nothing but a dry, twisted stick, and fruitless with no benefit to anyone.

It is even useless for shade, worthless as timber, to all appearances it is only fit to be ripped from the ground, thrown in a heap and burned.” “Yet those barren times are as imagesvital in the life of the vine, as the season itself”. “If spring could tip-toe passed nature without stirring it from its winter slumber; if the sun could slip through the sky without dispelling the night; if rain could fall to the ground without bringing life to the desert, only then should you fear the dry and lean times, but because of God’s grace, for everything there is a season.”(Grantley Morris)

Paul tell’s us in Ephesians 2:4-9 “But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ by grace you have been saved, and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

Remember the forces of evil looks back over our life and accuses each of God’s chosen of all of our mistakes and tells us we have gone to far to be saved. But my Savior starts at  Calvary, and takes us through the trials and tribulation of this life, and places us in His loving wings, and guides and protects each of us daily. All the way to his soon appearing where He has prepared A banquet table for all of the redeemed.

 

So my friends today. Stay focused, remain faithful, love one another and endure till the end and never forget to STUDY&PRAY

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MY FRIENDS, TIME, TIME AND MORE TIME!!!

Aug 12, 2014

MY FRIENDS, TIME, TIME AND MORE TIME!!!

Friends! Our Day has started, if not, it will start soon. We usually awake with this thought in the back of our minds. I wasted_time_by_JennBredemeierwish I had more time, I’ve got so much to do today! Instead of, how do I regulate my time today that will give God all the praise, glory, and honor, how can I make today all about Him.

Whether at work, school, gym, even at the mall, no matter what occurs in my life today it will be all about God. What a wonderful scenario, one that God seeks from His Children and the way our time should be spent each day. “Life is too solemn to be absorbed in temporal and earthly matters, in a treadmill of care and anxiety for the things that are but an atom in comparison with the things of eternal interest.

Yet God has called us to serve Him in the temporal affairs of life. Diligence in this work is as much a part of true religion as is devotion. The Bible gives no indorsement to idleness. It is the greatest curse that afflicts our world. Time squandered can never be recovered.” (Ellen G. White Christ’s Object Lessons)

As a steward of God’s time, when Jesus lived on this earth He never created such a hectic schedule that it caused Him to lose sight of His goal. He never had a moment of remorse for time lost, because He was forever doing His Father’s will. In addition, He was never so absorbed by productivity that He forgot His mission as he approached Calvary.

My friends what is our passion today, if it is not serving God and as His Chosen what could be more important. Once we Screen-shot-2013-07-29-at-16.29.49recognize that simple “life maintenance” can chip away at our time in such huge blocks, we will see how vital it is that we don’t busy ourselves “in vain” Surely every man walks about like a shadow; Surely they busy themselves in vain; He heaps up riches, And does not know who will gather them.” Ps 39:6 (NKJV)

Psalm 39 gives us some perspective in David’s complaint to God, he said, “You have made my days as handbreadths, and my age is as nothing before You” Ps. 39:5 So my friends to an eternal God our time on earth is brief, and God doesn’t want us to waste it because time wasted is the most precious commodities God has give us.

Wealth can’t even come in at a distant second, in least it is used for God’s glory and honor. Each minute is an irretrievable and unredeemable slice of eternity and what our God is trying to prepare us for in the earth made new. There is nothing in us, or of ourselves by which we can influence others for good if we do not realize our helplessness and our need of God’s Holy Spirit to guide us in how we spend our time.

We know not what each day, hour, or a moment will determine, that is why it should be committed to our Lord and Savior. My friends I not only speak to you through my devotionals each day, but also to myself for I, like you “have been sinful since birth,” “….For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature.

Hourglass Sand Timer Beach SunriseFor I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do this I keep on doing…..” Rom 7:14-25 (NIV) Like Paul this is every child of God’s Dilemma, but “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it.

Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. [even his time because we]  do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my [mind and] body, and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.

 

So my friends today. Stay focused, remain faithful, love one another and endure till the end and never forget to STUDY&PRAY

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MY FRIENDS “FINISH STRONG SO THAT YOU MAY NOT GROW WEARY OR FAINTHEARTED!!!”

Aug. 12, 2014

MY FRIENDS “FINISH STRONG SO THAT YOU MAY NOT GROW WEARY OR FAINTHEARTED!!!”

images“FINISH STRONG” Those are the words I heard from a teacher a few days ago so my friends, now let’s put it in the context of our journey that Christ has placed us on, for “Worthy is the lamb” that has ask us to bear our cross and follow Him.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, SO THAT YOU MAY NOT GROW WEARY OR FAINTHEARTED.” Heb. 12:1-3 (ESV)

In addition, we are only able to finish Strong because our Savior volunteered 4000 years ago to become our pacesetter so that WE MAY NOT GROW WEARY OR FAINTHEARTED for He is our model who we must imitate. As God’s chosen, we have to out distance the god of this world AND FINISH STRONG as we carry many souls we have lead to Christ, across the finish line with us.

Remember we have the advantage of being covered with the armor of God and the blood of Jesus Christ. I know you saybanner3 to put it in words is the easy part but to make FINISHING STRONG a reality will take us my friends, to our knees like never before.

For each of us who are looking for Christ soon return, as we come into that final stretch to the finish line, must ask ourselves; Are we moving just as strong  in finishing up Christ work here on earth as we did when we first started this race?

With the help of the Spirit of God, are we spreading the good news of Christ saving grace to our friends, family, love one’s, co-workers, neighbors and a world that has lost sight of the saving grace of our savior? Are we constantly asking the question; what must I do to be saved and enter into Gods pure and holy society?

imagesConsistent with this, FINISHING STRONG AND NOT GROWING WEARY OR FAINTHEARTED”  must become our attitude in our final stretch today. Our desire, our goals, our passion, our focus, our faith, our endurance, our prayers, and the never ending study of God’s word, must never waiver.

To FINISH STRONG will be very grueling, but we must  never forget that this race was won on Calvary. We just have to believe and trust God that he is in control of our destiny if we will only give it all to Him as we allow self  to die. It can never be about us, we must pull the field around behind us, by first keeping everyone encouraged.

Modeling the way, Inspiring a shared vision to the promise land, and always reminding the rest of the field, that once we cross that finish line with torch in hand, no matter what place you come in at, if you have faith, and believe, and stay focused, and study the course which is the word of God, we will all receive the ultimate prize life eternal.

For we must never forget Phil. 3:14; “Press toward the mark for the prize of theimages high calling of God in Christ Jesus”. So today as you stand at the CROSSROAD of life there are two signs, one pointing to our Savior Jesus Christ and eternal life and the other is pointing toward a path bound for perdition. Christ still waits for you to Chose Him.

In addition, as a Child of God there should be no doubt, Christ second coming in our lifetime is becoming more of a reality than ever before, since He left the first time telling us “I will go and prepare a place for you and I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” John 14:3 (KJV) BUT ONLY IF YOU BELIEVE AND FINISH STRONG.

 

So my friends today. Stay focused, remain faithful, love one another and endure till the end and never forget to STUDY&PRAY

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“FOR WE ARE A MIST THAT APPEARS FOR A LITTLE TIME AND THEN VANISHES”

Aug. 10, 2014

“FOR WE ARE A MIST THAT APPEARS FOR A LITTLE TIME AND THEN VANISHES”

My friends we “do not know what tomorrow will bring [or] what our life is? For [WE] ARE A MIST THAT APPEARS FOR 10384604_10152592174329939_249854720830194987_nA LITTLE TIME AND THEN VANISHES. James 4:14 (ESV) Life! It’s 1:30 am. and I am trying to gather my thoughts as to where God will lead me today.

I then begin to focus on a 1997 photo with my parents along with five more couples. Then it dawned on me, out of the 12 individuals on that picture 6 of them now wait on the “Lords appearing” that is when I go to James 4:14 and recall the words of one of my deceased love one’s on the picture. “We are all just standing in line”

My friends generation go and come the Palmist tells us “Our days may come to seventy years, or eighty, if our strength endures; yet the best of them are but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away.” Ps. 90:10 (NIV) So What God’s Word is telling us is, we are only promised 70 years to establish a legacy, and if you are a Child of God, the foundation of that legacy must be centered around what God expects from our time we spend on this earth.

In addition, our life does not belong to us, it belongs to God for He created us in His image to serve Him and give HimHourglass Sand Timer Beach Sunrise all of our praise, glory and honor. So friends that doesn’t give us much time. So today it becomes personal again as we ask God to please give us the power of discernment, so that we may not “as others do, who have no hope” and become complacent.

To waste one day not in the total presence of our Savior is to waste that small amount of time and grace God has given us to get it right. So how do we COMMUNICATE our message to others and especially to ourselves in the midst of the over saturation of technology, and the bombardment of the media on every level which has allowed the god of this world to manipulate our minds with wasted time, along with what we watch and listen too, the few years we are promised hear on this earth.

imagesWhen do we say, enough is enough! My God! Not another day will go by that I will not seek Your presence as I say “not my will but thou will” for if we are a child of God and study prophecy while asking God’s Spirit for understanding of God’s Word “we know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.

While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” [one day soon] destruction will come upon [all who have not allowed Christ to transform there life]…..and [they] will not escape.” 1 Thess. 5:2-3 (ESV) My friends Satan’s only desire is that we all lose sight of Christ saving grace, while forgetting that life is too short to squander away on the things of this world that he has placed before us to cause us to lose out on life eternal and God’s pure and holy kingdom.

I can’t repeat these words enough; nothing in this world is worth losing our Salvation over. For God’s “sake [and entrance into the promise land we] have [to suffer] the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that [we] may gain Christ,” [and life eternal] Phil. 3:8 (KJV)

Our focused must never waiver. 2014 has fulfilled prophecy like never before, “with wars and the threat of wars 7_heaventhroughout our world, famines and earthquakes in various places, Ebola, HIV, false prophets telling the world “Peace where there is no peace”, lawlessness abounds like never before and the love of many continues to grow cold.

But my God also gives His Children promises in His Word of His love, grace and mercy, promises which makes it very personal which states. [any of my children] who endures to the end will be saved. And [the good news of the] gospel…..will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then [OUR SAVIOR WILL COME AND TIME AS WE KNOW IT WILL BE NO MORE] Matt. 24 3:13 (ESV)

 

So my friends today. Stay focused, remain faithful, love one another and endure till the end and never forget to STUDY&PRAY

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