What is your job or calling in your Christian Life?

[Zechariah prophesied
concerning John,] “You, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him, to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God.”
Luke 1:76-78 New International Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY’S VERSE…
John’s job, his calling in life, was to prepare the way for the Lord Jesus to come to us and bring Salvation and forgiveness. His job was not to be the number one or the one in the limelight. Rather he was a preparer, a servant if you will. But, where does salvation come from? Does it come because we realize that something is desperately wrong and that we need to change it and make it better? Does it come from our doing good works and being a good person? Does it come because we got lucky one day? Does it come because we have done nothing wrong and are worthy and deserve it? Does it come because we have kept all the commandments (No man/women can do that!)? No, NO man (or woman) deserves forgiveness or salvation, we all have sinned and fall short of the Glory of God, we were ALL born with a sin nature because of Adam. Does it come from membership in a particular church or religion? Absolutely NOT! Does it come from rigorously obeying everything in the law (from being religious)? NO! again I say NO! Salvation and forgiveness come only from one source,
A church or your religion can NOT save you EVER. There is only one source for Salvation, “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. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” There is NO OTHER WAY! Period. Therefore John’s job, his calling in life, to prepare the way for the Lord was the most important job one could ever have. Every single Christian has that same job! We have all been made able ministers of the New Testament (Gospel of Jesus Christ) according to God’s Word. (2 Cor. 3:6) And there is NO other way to God except through Jesus Christ, I don’t care what you think or believe. The Word of God says one way, therefore there is only one way!

MY PRAYER…
I confess, Father, that at times I’ve tried to earn my salvation. At other times, I have taken it for granted and trampled on Your mercy and grace. Today, Father, I want to live for You: not to be saved or gain salvation, but to please You and reflect Your character and nature. Your mercy and grace have redeemed many people from the worthless way of living that I see so many others still trapped in. Thank You for Your salvation, for everything that is included with that salvation, but please help me to live in a way that shows the joy of that salvation in all I say, think, and do. Through the name of Jesus I pray.

Amen

Have you ever heard anything so ridiculous?

[Jesus said,] “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven.”
Matthew 5:43-45 New International Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY’S VERSE…
No this verse is NOT a cruel joke, it is VERY true. Remember God is Love (Unconditional Love). We often talk about the privileges of being a child of God – forgiveness, salvation, a future in heaven with Him, the gift of the Holy Spirit, prosperity, healing, and health, and ultimate victory through Christ. One of the greatest privileges we get as children of God however, is the opportunity to act toward those who dislike and hate us in a way that reflects the character of God himself. Anyone can return hate for hate, but it takes a child of God to return a blessing and a prayer to their enemies. The last bit of that verse also indicates, to me anyway, that this action of loving, blessing, and praying for those who hate and despitefully use us is a necessary action, a condition if you will, to becoming a son or daughter of God. “Faith without works is dead!” Works = corresponding actions, actions involved in doing the Word of God in Faith. Because in doing the Word of God you work out your salvation through His grace.

MY PRAYER…
Father, thank You for loving me while I was still an enemy to You. Thank You for offering the death of Your Son Jesus to offer me the chance to accept or reject Your love. As You have promised, You are pouring Your love into my heart so I may love even my enemies as You have loved me. Thank You Father that there are no “undesireables” when it comes t your love for mankind. Father, it is not by my might or by my power that I am able to love and pray for my enemies, but by the power of Your holy Spirit that works within me. Continue Lord to fill me afresh each and every day. Through Jesus, the gift of Your love, I pray.
Amen

What do you have in your life now that will last forever?

The Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 New International Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY’S VERSE…
What do you have that is forever? Nothing, unless it is spiritual. Most everything we have falls apart, breaks, grows old, rusts away, or runs down in a short time, and if that doesn’t finish it then the purifying fire of the Lord on the day of judgment will. Nothing material will leave this earth with us when we go. Nothing, not even a piece of clothing. But we have three things that will last forever: God (Triune – in all three persons), our Christian brothers and sisters, and our praise for God. These are eternal. We must protect these through our daily spiritual maintenance with God, be sure and give Him the time that’s His. Remember, the tithe belongs to the Lord, that’s a tenth! Not just a tenth of our first fruits and money, but a tenth of our daily time is also His. Only what you store up now in heaven will last forever.

MY PRAYER…
God, I look forward to the day of Your next great surprise. I join the angels in standing on tiptoe as I look into the clouds to see my Lord, Your Son, return in all glory and splendor and watch as He receives the exaltation, the honor, and the praise He deserves. I’ll stand in awe as every knee bows to the King of Kings and every tongue speaks forth nothing but praises. I praise You for that day now, even though I see it only by faith. Until I see You on that day, know that my heart’s desire is to serve You, even when my weakness gets in the way of showing it as fully as I should. But, I know that when I am weak then I am made strong through you. My thanks and praise to You in Jesus’ name.
Amen

Stand Up and Be Counted

“I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.”
1 Timothy 2:1-2 King James Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY’S VERSE…
We are commanded, not asked, to pray for our country and our leaders. Whether we approve of the leaders or not! But having prayed, God expects us to act, to take a stand. Obviously many Christians did NOT listen to God and and take a stand during the 2008 and 2012 elections here in the U.S.! If they had we wouldn’t be where we are now. And we wouldn’t have a so-called ‘Affordable Care Act’ that is causing people to lose their insurance policies or like in my case for the cost to go up almost $200 a month – yes I said a month! We wouldn’t be on the verge of socialism or have a muslim president who keeps doing treasonous acts and getting a way with them either! Thank God we wised up and prayed for this 2016 election and God heard our prayers and answered them from heaven. We will soon have a non muslim, God loving president again.
The homosexuals and the lesbians and ALL the other immoral ones have taken a stand and are making people listen to them. It’s time for the Christians of this country to stand up and be counted as Christians – if they really are Christian! There can’t be any such thing as gays for Jesus either, that’s NOT scriptural and there’s nothing gay about homosexuality, it is a evil spirit straight from the pit of Hell. You can’t be both gay and Christian…it’s against God’s Word, I don’t care what you say, Read Romans chapter 1. I didn’t say that, the Word of God did. God loves all people, but He hates sin – homosexuality is sin period! Get involved in what is happening around us and in our leadership. Yes we are to pray, but we need to also be active, proactive and take a stand and be heard! Our country is in the midst of a spiritual battle, and it’s vitally important that the right people be our leaders. There is such a great rise in immorality and un-Godly things among the people and the devil is raising his head big-time. We are about to see another Sodom & Gomorrah right here in America unless we can turn it around soon. God will have to judge us if don’t judge ourselves and this country doesn’t change. We must see to it that the right people become our country’s leaders. How? Take a stand! Pray for your leaders, both present and future. I didn’t say you had to agree with or like them – just that you have to pray for them according to the Word of God. We have a Godly man set to take office soon, now pray for him and his family with all diligence!

Thank the Spirit of God for His wisdom concerning your thinking and your stand. Thank Him for giving you His wisdom about what to say and when to say it to others. Thank Him for giving you wisdom to declare the Name of Jesus and declare that this shall be a God indwelt, God-ordained, God-overseen nation ruled by Godly men and women. Stand up and be counted as part of the power of the living God.

MY PRAYER…
Father I thank You for You leadership and Your guidance. Lord, I thank You for hearing our prayers and for providing the necessary wisdom, knowledge, and strength to our country’s leaders at this time. Father, prepare our leaders for the task now ahead of them. For the rebuilding and the strengthening of this country and its people. Lord, I thank You that You are work in the hearts of men even now, causing them to want to and giving them the strength to do Your will. Father, let Your Kingdom come, Your will be done here on earth Lord, just as it is already done in Heaven. Lead and guide our country’s leaders in all they do and say. In Jesus’ mighty name I pray.
Amen

So you think you are above temptation, think again!

Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.
1 Cor 10:12-13 New King James Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY’S VERSE…
So you think you are above temptation, think again. Even Jesus was tempted by Satan in the wilderness! He didn’t succumb to that temptation however. Better yet, you need to take heed, Jesus warned His disciples: “Watch and pray, that you enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”(Matt 26:41) What did they do? They went to sleep instead. Temptation is common to man, God knows that, that’s why He says that when temptation comes He will make a way to escape so that you may be able to bear the temptation. Notice God said when, not if temptation comes. That word suffer (KJV, is from the Greek) actually means allow (NKJV), God will not allow you to be tempted more than you can bear. God does NOT say that He brings the temptation, as many have interpreted this verse (The Word says God will not tempt any man!), but that when it comes He makes a way for us to escape it. That way is His Word…get to know His Word. Meditate His Word and put it in your heart, for out of the abundance of the heart flow the issues of life! (Proverbs 4:23)

MY PRAYER…
Father, I desire that I might be filled with the knowledge of Your will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that I might walk worthy of You, being pleasing and fruitful in every good work, and increasing always in Your knowledge. That I might be strengthened with all might, according to Your glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness and being delivered from temptation. I give thanks unto You, Father, who has made me able to be a partaker of the inheritance of the saints in light. I thank You Father for delivering me from the power of darkness, and for translating me into the kingdom of Your dear Son. In the Holy name of Jesus, I pray.
Amen

Did you know the Bible doesn’t say, “God so loved the Christians”?

For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten (unique) Son, that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life. John 3:16 Amplified Version (I turned the volume up a little so you could hear what God was saying.)

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY’S VERSE…
Did you know the Bible doesn’t just say, “God so loved just the Christians”? Read it closely, it says God so loved the world! That’s everyone out there in this world, yes even those the Bible refers to as gentiles or heathens. Even those who claim to be atheists and don’t believe there is a God, God loves even them. Those who are not Christian – yet! It also doesn’t just say, “God loves you”? Now don’t let me confuse you, it does say God loves us many times, but each time it does, it shows us that love as well. What a gift from God! How many of you could give (sacrifice) your only son because you loved someone? Abraham was willing to sacrifice Isaac because he loved God so much that when God asked him to sacrifice Isaac he was willing. However, Abraham knew by faith that God would have to raise him up, because God had promised him he would be the father of many nations and Isaac was his only true son. God loved us so much that He not only sent His only son to die for us, but He knew before hand the terrible, hideous death He would suffer. Notice that it doesn’t say “God so loved the Christians”, it Says the World, That includes a world full of sinners, adulterers, immoral people, homosexuals, and even satanists and witches, pagans, and the horde of other just plain degenerate people, people that don’t love or even care about Him or maybe don’t know about Him (yet). That doesn’t change God’s Love for them! It doesn’t mean He condones or approves of what they are or are doing – only that He loves them. But, God so greatly loved the world! (Everyone in the world, no matter how bad or evil you currently are). He demonstrated His love through His Son’s sacrifice on the Cross. Have you received that unconditional love yet?

MY PRAYER…
Loving Father and almighty God, thank You for loving me even when I was yet a sinner. Thank You for both saying it and showing it. Thank You for sending Your only begotten Son to die for me, to take my place on the cross. To bear the punishment I was due, in His body for me! Thank You Father, that You made a way for me where there was no way. That You have, through Jesus, raised up many sons and daughters. Please know, Father, that I now love You, too! Accept my words and my actions today as a testimony of my love. Search into my heart and see the love I have for You. Help me Father to be able to share that love with others. In Jesus’ name I pray.
Amen

Jesus: The Real Reason for the Season

First, Let me say this: I know that this is not the true actual birthday of Jesus Christ our Lord, He was not born in the winter. But it is the day Christians have adopted and for centuries now celebrated in remembrance of His birth. I don’t care what the original non-Christian holiday or celebration was, that no-longer matters. It is now Christmas, CHRIST IN US. The word Christmas is a shortened version of the term Christ-mass or the story of Christ. No other religion has a day or holiday called Christmas. A holiday that is ALL about ‘giving’. A day remembered because God gave us His very best, His only ‘Son’. And this day needs to be referred to by it’s ONLY name and that name is “Christmas.” This not just some holiday that you can call Happy Holidays, or Kwanza(an FBI created holiday), or xmas(removing Christ from the holiday!), season’s greetings, or the time of the season. It is called “Christmas”, “Christmas”, “Christmas” with a big capital “C” whether those of the world like it or not, it’s Christmas!! If that offends you then maybe you’re living in the wrong country or the wrong century! I for one will not bow to the world’s way. If you don’t like our Christmas then maybe you should go back to the country of your choice, but leave our Christmas holiday alone. If someone says happy holidays to me, I will turn around and face them face to face and say “No, It’s ‘Merry Christmas’, it’s Christmas with a capital C.” Check it out
Did you know that some try to say the x is Greek short hand for the word Christ in xmas. Well, that may or may not be so, but as far as I am concerned if you can’t write out Christ for the world to see and read, then you must be ashamed of Him. Do you know what the Word says about being ashamed of Him? If you deny Him to the world, He will deny you before the Father. And that means you spend eternity in Hell!

Now for today’s verse:
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
Luke 2:11-14 King James Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY’S VERSE…
The Savior is born this day. Do you suppose those shepherds of old thought they needed a Savior? What is a savior anyway? Did they comprehend what was being conveyed to them? I don’t know about them, or about you, but if the Angel of The Lord came and spoke to me, I think that I should believe what I was hearing! And if that wasn’t enough, then the whole host of heavenly angels showed up and began praising God! Do you think maybe we should be praising God at this time also. It’s not about gifts and buying and commercialism, it is about ‘The Gift’! Its about giving, God gave us His very best. He emptied heaven of His most valuable gift and ALL for mankind!

MY PRAYER…
Holy Father, I thank You for the revelation of who Your Son really is to me, of the revelation of what today is really all about. Father, I thank You that, when the time was right, You spoke by Your Spirit unto me and revealed Your Son to me. No man made this known unto me, but the Spirit of God revealed it unto my spirit. Father I thank You for saving me, for giving me eternal life with You, for making a way for me where there was none. Father, that I may come boldly before Your Throne of Grace because Jesus, who was born on this day so long ago, has made a way for me. Father continue to reveal unto me the mighty works of Your Son Jesus. Through the glorious name of my Savior, Jesus, I pray.
Amen

Are you an ‘alien’ in this world?

For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,
Philippians 3:20 New King James Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY’S VERSE…
No matter what your passport or birth certificate says, IF you are a Christian, (a born again, Bible toting, Bible believing, Faith believing, Christ inside, Christ-like, loving person) there is no earthly country that can hold you, no borders that can claim you and no flag that flies above you, except Jesus and the Kingdom of Heaven. You have more in common with a Christian believing aboriginal tribesman from Australia, a Christian refugee in Sudan Africa, the Bedouin brother (Christian) in Kuwait, or the Holy Spirit-filled Brazilian housewife, than you do with your next door neighbor if that neighbor doesn’t know Christ as Lord and Savior. We are but aliens in a foreign land. We are in this world, but we are not of it. My retirement program through Jesus is out of this world! Where are you from? Better yet, where are you headed?

MY PRAYER…
Glorious God and Almighty Father, I look forward to the day when people from every language, tribe, and nation, join with the angels and the 24 elders around Your throne and worship You in joyous praise. I am anxious to see the mansion you have for me in Your House. Father, help us to become one with our brothers and sisters around the world, that we might worship You as Your church, not many different churches. Lord, help us to reach our neighbors and share You with them. Lord, prepare us, prepare our hearts, for that glorious day when You come to take us home to be with You forever! Lord, we give You ALL praise and ALL glory forever.
Amen

Have you resisted sin to the point of shedding your blood?

Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.
Hebrews 12:3-4 New International Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY’S VERSE…
Are we such that we should consider ourselves better than Jesus was? Have any of us resisted opposition or withstood persecution to the point of shedding our blood? Not because we were shot, or stabbed, or injured in some other way, but just because we resisted so hard spiritually that blood issued forth from our pores. Jesus did! Then we should not raise a ruckus about running our race with endurance, should we? Or seeking first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness. But know this, he (or she) who is a disciple of Jesus shall be a partaker of all that Jesus partook of, both good and evil. Know that He will not cast us off, and if we endure to the end in faith with Him, that we shall be partakers of an inheritance from God and be children of The ‘Most High’ God. What was the condition necessary to be children of God? Enduring to the end in Faith! Whatever is His in the Kingdom of God shall also be ours if we endure in the faith to the end. We will be Kings and Priests forever, Amen!

MY PRAYER…
Father God, help us to understand Your ways. Help us to have the strength to endure. Lord, help us to walk in Your ways and to set ourselves on the things that You have set before us to do. Lord, strengthen us and help us to keep a pure, willing heart through the working of Your Holy Spirit within us. Help us Lord, to finish our race with endurance.
In Jesus name I pray.
Amen

Have you buried the ‘old man’ yet?

And when the sixth hour was come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour.
And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
Mark 15:33-34 King James Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY’S VERSE…
The deaths (yes I meant the plural) of Jesus was not a pleasant sight. He died the most horrible, humiliating death of all times. But what He did, He did for us. Few people realize that His deaths that day on the cross were both a death in the physical as a man and a spiritual death or separation from God. You see when He took the sin of mankind on His physical body and in His soul it caused a separation (a spiritual death) from God the Father, from all that He had ever known. For He was with God from the very beginning, He is the beginning and the end. But once sin was upon Him He could no longer be in the presence of God the Father. He died, was buried and taken into the very pit of hell, separated from the very presence of God. God hadn’t really forsaken Him, He just couldn’t remain in God’s presence clothed in sin (our sin) and He felt the presence of God leave Him so He cried out: My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? He died that spiritual death so that we might live and not be separated from God by sin. If you are in Christ and Christ is in you, you (your old man, the sin nature inherited from Adam) died on the cross with Jesus and was buried with Him that day also. When God raised Him from the very pit of hell by the power of the Holy spirit our sin that Jesus had taken on for us was left behind and He was restored spiritually with the Father once again so that we might also be. Your new man (your Christian spirit) now lives with Him and with the Father. Jesus did this for us that we might come back into the very presence of God that man once knew in the garden of Eden before the ‘Fall’. That we could now come boldly before the Throne of Grace and receive Mercy from God our Father.

MY PRAYER…
Holy Father God, You are without comparison in Your majesty and might. I thank You Lord that You made a way for me to live spiritually where there was no way. You provided payment in full for my sin through Jesus. I thank You Lord that You through Your love and Your grace have given me eternal life through Your Son and my Lord, Jesus. Lord I thank for seeing me through the veil of Jesus’ blood and not as I really was.
In Jesus name.
Amen