Hold your ground!

Joshua 24: 15

As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

Is that the way it is in your home?

Honestly, you’d be surprised how many homes don’t operate that way.

Today we live in a culture, where most parents have less than 15 minutes of meaningful conversations every day with their children.

Over half of all marriages fail, and morality is low and keeps on getting lower.

I think now, more than ever before, it’s time to take a stand for the church and family.

It’s time each house serves the Lord faithfully.

Joshua Chamberlin, Union Colonel was heard saying at Gettysburg, during the civil war… “You are to hold your ground at all costs!!!”

I think it’s time we hold our ground.

I think it’s time to invite Jesus back into the family.

I believe it’s time where Husbands and Wives lead they’re family in prayer during meal time.

And no, I’m not old fashioned—or then again, maybe I am.

Serving the Lord has significant benefits.

Making Him the center of civilization, has worked for decades, and can truly work again…

Have Peace!

Matthew 16:33

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

Did you know that the only way we can have lasting peace, is in Jesus?

The reason we know that, is because Jesus Himself said so.

What’s robbing you of your inner peace?

Could it be that mounds of trouble, have gotten in the way?

Maybe you feel like Charlie Brown?

Do you remember the times when Lucy would offer to hold the football for Charlie Brown to kick?

Just about the time that Charlie Brown would come running, Lucy would pull the football, and down Charlie Brown would go.

Maybe you feel like that?

Maybe you feel like you just can’t catch a break?

Maybe there are times when you think trouble has surrounded you?

Never underestimate the peace that Jesus can bring in the midst of everyday life.

Just be sure of this my friend, Jesus will never trip you up.

He is there with open arms, ready to receive you this morning.

So what are you waiting for?

Why not run and jump into them right now…

The right kind of anger!

Ecclesiastes 7: 9 (NAS)

Do not be eager in your heart to be angry, for anger resides in the bosom of fools.

There were times when my two boys were young, when they seemed to fight about everything.

They would even fight with each other, when it came to simple chores around the house.

Often in my unsettled spirit, I have to admit that anger would often get the best of me.

In the end, guess who looked like the bigger fool?

God never said we shouldn’t get angry, but He did say that anger shouldn’t get the best of us.

There is a right time to be angry—and a wrong time to get angry.

What’s the right time? When the anger is righteous in the eyes of God.

There is a thing, such as righteous anger.

I think what we need to remember most, is that God said we should be slow to anger.

I sure wished I had better control of that emotion, than I sometimes do.

“Father, would You help us not to become angry at the first thing that sets us off?

Help us all today, to be slower to become angry—and help us to be only angry, in a righteous way.

Amen.”

The Secret Place!

Mark 4:10

When he was alone, the Twelve and the others around him asked him about the parables.

Seriously, when’s the last time you were truly alone with God?

I mean without your cell phone—kids—spouses—TV—and distractions.

When God gets us alone, we should be totally speechless, and unable to ask a single question.

Those are the moments He uses as teachable moments.

When have you allowed God to teach you anything?

All of us realize how little we know, when we’re in the presence of the Most High.

The people closest to Jesus, are the ones who learn the most.

The people who won’t take time to be alone with God, are the ones who are confused and still struggling with the same struggles that bothered them the year before.

As we journey with God, the only thing He desires to deal with, is our very soul.

The only way to learn and unlock the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven, is to take the time to go to the secret place.

Jesus cannot and will not normally teach us anything of real value, until we get alone with Him.

Find some time to shut the world out—and lock God in, and I’ll be willing to bet your life will be filled with powerful revelations from Him…

“Father God, You are rich in mercy. Help us to get alone with You.

The world can’t possibly unlock the riches You’re unable to unlock.

Help us to find that secret, quiet, place and then meet us there, OK?. Amen”

Walking!

Genesis 5: 22

Enoch walked with God 300 years…

I wonder if Enoch ever got bored walking with God all that time?

I mean, did he ever trip or fall and take his eyes off of his traveling companion?

Let’s face it, Enoch was only human.

For some reason, that’s what people often use as an excuse when their walk with God is toilsome.

I took a long late evening stroll last night.

It’s good a way to clear the cob webs out at the end of a tiring and weary day.

I spoke with God the entire time I was walking.

I haven’t been at this walking with God near as long as Enoch did, but I’ve found out it’s not for everyone.

I sometimes think I’d be happier doing something else, but I hope I never have to find that out.

Walking with God has its most exhilarating moments, and many trying moments too.

I’m praying that my life will be marked by taking faith steps with God, just as faithfully as Enoch did.

Two men were walking through the cemetery early one day, and as they passed each other, one man said to the other… “Morning!”

The other man replied… “Nope, just walking my dog…”

I sure hope that when people look at me while walking with my God, they see a joyful, accomplished stroll.

There are way too many people today, who make walking with God, look like it’s just a big waste of time…

Taking God Lightly?

2 Corinthians 7: 1

Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.

 

I wonder how many people today, truly take God lightly when it comes to, “light” sin? Like there is such a thing.

Do we put other people in place of God, just for the sake of being credible or accepted?

I think we all know the answer to that question.

 

Look at the junk on TV for example.

Let’s take a look at Bart Simpson. Bart is disrespectful of authority and especially his parents and teachers.

Sometimes people are that disrespectful of God—as much as we might not want to admit that.

 

God says that we’re to… “keep the Sabbath Holy”, yet people don’t think anything about adjusting their schedules to keep God at bay.

I happen to know people, that take that command lightly all the time.

 

Giving God the reverence He deserves, means that we in no way take His message lightly.

There are folks who watch movies pretty often, that use God’s name in vane, and think nothing of it.

That’s taking God lightly.

 

We must trust God and revere Him enough to walk with Him in complete obedience.

Even when people ridicule us and oppose us.

 

I believe taking God lightly, is going to back fire one day on a lot of ignorant people.

Just remember this; God will NOT be mocked!! (Galatians 6: 7)

True Disciple

Matthew 16: 24

Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”

Easter is gone, but the call of true discipleship still exists.

Most American followers of Christ, haven’t a worry in the world.

I was amazed to hear that slightly over 40% of all confessed believers in the USA, don’t think it’s necessary to even to go to church on Easter Sunday.

The service at our church yesterday was filled with great power, and that had nothing to do with the Pastor there.

Pastor Saeed Abedini spent his Easter in a hospital prison in Iran.

He was arrested in 2012 for evangelizing on a bus.

He’ll spend the next 8 years in prison, for speaking the name of Jesus in public.

I wonder how many of us, would dare speak the name of Jesus, when we’ve been warned not to?

Pastor Abedini said this from his hospital prison cell;

“But we forget that in order to experience the Resurrection and glory of Christ, we must first experience death with Christ and die to ourselves and our selfish desires.”

I’m not sure that’s what I’d write from my prison cell.

I’d probably be hoping someone would send me an Easter card, with a file inside.

Now that Easter is over, what are your plans in your walk with Jesus?

Does completely dying to self, have anything to do with your future plans?