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Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. - Mark 14:38 NKJV.

For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God - through Jesus Christ our Lord! - Romans 7:19-25 NKJV.

It has been said “The road to hell is paved with good intentions.” Maybe that is true because it is hard to translate intentions into actions. A Harvard economist, Dr. David Laibson has been doing some behavioral research about how to turn good intentions into actions. Dr. Laibson found that when people were given a choice between eating chocolate or fruit it depended on the time frame as to what they chose. If they had to wait a week to receive the food they would choose the fruit. However, if it was the same day they would usually choose the chocolate. Dr. Laibson stated that: “The problem is the difference between good intentions for the future, and the reward today. If you get the reward today, you give it full weight. A reward in the future gets half the weight.” He also found that when working toward a goal you will always be more successful if you start out in the right place. Those people who were signed up for an automatic payroll deduction for a 401(k) savings plan were much more likely to continue than someone who had not actually completed the paperwork for the plan. Dr. Laibson says: “It makes all the difference if you start out in the right place.” (Seattle Times 03.04.13; NewsOk.com 03.12.13)

To most Christians, Dr. Laibson’s research findings are obvious. We know how hard it can be at times to turn good intentions into reality. As Jesus said, “The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” The apostle Paul in Romans 7 confesses of the spiritual war that rages within him, and indeed in all Christians. As with Paul, the good that we would do sometimes we do not do. As the apostle puts it, “For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice.”

In this war with sin, with evil, there are some things that can help us to turn good intentions into spiritual reality. Dr. Laibson’s finding, “It makes all the difference if you start out in the right place”, is helpful. How do you rid yourself of a habitual sin? Hebrews 12:1 says, “…let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us….” To start out in the right place with sin, we must lay it aside. The sin must be cut off, and no more provision or thought should be given to fuel the sin (Romans 13:14).

Jesus gives us more insight into battling this spiritual war by saying to His disciples, “Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation….” We should be aware of those things that can cause us to stumble, and we should be praying for the Lord to lead us, not into temptation; but to deliver us from evil (Matthew 6:13).

The most important thing that we need to turn good intentions into reality is not a thing but a person. The apostle Paul comes to this conclusion when he tells us, “O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God - through Jesus Christ our Lord!” Jesus is who we need. As Paul says in Romans 13:14, “…put on the Lord Jesus Christ.” Put on the Lord Jesus by spending time with Him in prayer, through reading His Word, by serving Him, and spending time with His followers.

Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. - 1 Corinthians 1:25 NKJV.

You answer us with awesome deeds of righteousness, O God our Savior,the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas. - Psalm 65:5 NKJV.

It was 40 years ago today, when our oldest son was born. At the time, we were living in a 12’ by 50’ mobile home at the Gaslight Village mobile home park lot #125 in Yukon, Oklahoma. My wife was a secretary in the land department for Union Oil Company. I had just completed my undergraduate degree and was working as an accounting clerk for Robberson Steel Company in Oklahoma City. We were not attending church and had not been for some time. A couple of the ministers from the First Baptist Church in Yukon had visited us, and we talked about attending there, but never did. If someone had told us back then that someday our son would be the pastor of the First Baptist Church of Yukon, Oklahoma, we would have thought it was the craziest thing we had ever heard. Soon after our son was born we moved back to western Oklahoma.

What God has done with our son is typical of how God moves upon our lives. It is like God wraps everything up in a beautiful package, tying it all up with a bright red ribbon on top. He does that just so that we know that it was God that made it all happen. There is no way things like this could have ever been planned and brought about by man. It is another of God’s “awesome deeds of righteousness.” It is a God thing!

God has such great wisdom, far greater than any of us living here upon this earth. Knowing this, why is it that we do not trust God more? Why do we worry about such small and insignificant things when we serve such a magnificent God? The Bible urges us always to pray and not to lose heart (Luke 18:1). The Bible tells us not to be anxious about anything, but to take all those worrisome things to God in prayer (Philippians 4:6-7). The Bible tells us to focus in upon Jesus so that we will not grow weary and lose heart (Hebrews 12:3). God is continually telling us that He has this and we can trust Him with whatever may be going on in our lives.

What “God thing” has God done in your life? What would God do in your life if you placed your life in His hands? Think about some of the great servants of God in the Bible. Joseph of the Old Testament was sold as a slave by his brothers, but God used it for good eventually bring Joseph’s family to safety as a result of this bad thing that had happened. However, it only happened because Joseph persisted in trusting God in spite of what seemed like terrible things that occurred in his life. Eventually, we know what happened. It was like God wrapped everything up in a beautiful package tying a bright red ribbon on top just so everyone would know that this was a “God Thing.” Only God could have done what was done in Joseph’s life bringing great glory to God.

I want to encourage you to place your life into God’s hands. Allow God to perform “awesome deeds of righteousness” in your life. Some day you will look back and say, “That was a God thing!”

Now an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, “Arise and go toward the south along the road which goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is desert. So he arose and went. And behold, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace the queen of the Ethiopians, who had charge of all her treasury, and had come to Jerusalem to worship, was returning. And sitting in his chariot, he was reading Isaiah the prophet. Then the Spirit said to Philip, “Go near and overtake this chariot.” So Philip ran to him, and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, “Do you understand what you are reading?” And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he asked Philip to come up and sit with him. - Acts 8:26-31 NKJV.

Kraai McClure and Scott Beautler were in the right place at the right time to rescue two little girls. McClure and Beautler were driving on a state highway near Naselle, Oregon when they just happened to notice some damage to a tree and decided to stop to check it out. Scott says that something “struck him as weird” about the tree damage. What they found was an accident scene and two little girls who survived. Jessica Rath, the mother of the two girls had apparently fallen asleep while driving; struck the tree and was killed. The 4-year-old girl was able to get her 2-year-old sister who was injured out of the vehicle and covered them both with a blanket. The overnight temperature was in the lower 40s and the girls could have died from exposure in the cold and rain. The girl’s father is now caring for them.

Was it just luck or coincidence that McClure and Beautler happened to be in the right place at the right time noticing “something weird” about a tree? I choose to believe that it was an act of God directing their attention to the tree damage, enough so that they stopped to check it out.

The story about Phillip and the Ethiopian in the Book of Acts gives us instruction about the right time and right place thing. There was nothing accidental about Phillip being there when the Ethiopian passed by. It was not accidental because God placed Phillip at that exact place and time so that he could be a witness to the Ethiopian. There was nothing accidental about McClure and Beautler being in the right place at the right time either.

How often do events occur and we pass them off as just being luck or coincidence that we are there in the right place at the right time? How often do we fail to take advantage of opportunities to witness or to help even though God has supernaturally placed us where we will be able to witness or help?

The next time you appear to be in the right place at the right time, look around, and see what it is that God would have you to do.

And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word. But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.” And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. - Luke 10:39-41.

A funny thing happened to a woman on the way to pick up a friend 38 miles away. She became “distracted” and drove through Germany, Austria, Slovenia, and to Zagreb, Croatia. 38 miles became, two days later, 901 miles. Sabine Moreau claims she noticed her GPS was taking her on a strange route. She says, “I saw all kinds of traffic pass. First in French, then in German; Cologne, Aachen, Frankfurt. But I asked myself no questions. I was just distracted, so I kept my foot down.” When Sabine arrived in Zagreb, she says she suddenly realized she was no longer in Belgium and phoned home. Good thing! Her son had reported the 67-year-old woman missing, and police were gearing up for a full scale search. (Telegraph.co.uk 02.13.13)

Those pesky GPS units! Amazing how far off those things will take us sometimes! As with most technological innovations, a human brain is usually required for them to function properly. My GPS unit has led me onto dead ends more than once. True, on the other side of the dead end I could see the street that I needed to be on, but it was impossible to access from there. You have to think, it was a major distraction to drive 901 miles through three countries prior to thinking that this cannot possibly be the correct route!

Martha and Mary were both devoted followers of Jesus. We can certainly sympathize with Martha. Because Martha is having to do all of the work and Mary is just sitting around doing nothing but listening to Jesus. Martha had to be shocked at the answer of Jesus. Martha, had become “distracted” through her “much serving.” She was distracted from the main thing being the main thing. That main thing was Jesus.

Have you ever become distracted from your devotion to Jesus? I know that I have, and it can happen in completely innocent ways. For example, you have a hobby that you enjoy. You spend more and more time with your hobby. You spend more and more money on your hobby. Before long you are traveling around the country going to meetings with others who love your hobby. You stop going to church, you stop reading your Bible, you stop praying; because you only have time for your hobby. Your hobby becomes the main thing and the focus of your devotion.

The apostle Paul in a discussion about being married or not being married in 1 Corinthians 7 says in verse 35 NKJV, “And this I say for your own profit, not that I may put a leash on you, but for what is proper, and that you may serve the Lord without distraction.” This appears to be the key to knowing whether or not we are on the right course with our lives. Is what we are doing or not doing of a proper nature and allowing us to “serve the Lord without distraction?”

What about you? Are you serving the Lord without distraction?

…scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.” For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. - 2 Peter 3:3 NKJV.

But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. - 2 Peter 3:10-13.

Recently, I began reading through a diary that my great aunt Carrie Wrather kept for the year 1948. Her husband Adair Wrather was working on a railroad ballast machine mostly in the Texas panhandle. Apparently, each worker on the machine had their own car that they lived in, which traveled with the ballast machine. If the worker was married, the worker and his wife were allowed to live in a private railcar, and that is what my Aunt was doing in 1948. I want to share a couple of the entries that my Aunt made during the year. The first diary entry is from Tuesday, February 3, 1948: “Granville went to get married this morning. He only met the girl Sat. My what funny things do happen and how time has changed since Adair and me married seventeen year ago today.” The second diary entry is from Tuesday, February 24, 1948: “We learned this morning that Granville’s wife has left him.”

My great aunt passed away several years ago, and I’m sure that she would be shocked at how the world has changed in these last few years. What happened to Granville back in 1948 rarely happens now (i.e. needing a divorce), because people rarely bother with the formality of marriage. Why is this happening? It is happening because there is no longer a fear of God. Because, as the apostle Peter said “scoffers will come”, and they have surely come! Today, huge numbers of people are scoffers, doubting that whether they live as God wants them to or not makes any difference.

Does it make a difference whether you live as God wants you to or not? In response, the apostle Peter tells us, “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up (2 Peter 3:10 NKJV).” It will be shocking when God demonstrates the reality of His existence and power. How shocking? More shocking than the sudden fiery disintegration of the meteor as it streaked across the sky near Chelyabinsk, Russia last week, unleashing nearly 500 kilotons of energy, which is more than 30 times the energy of the Hiroshima atomic bomb.

“Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless; and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation…since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:14-15a; 17-18).”

There is a clear choice for each of us to make. We can choose to live like the world believing that there is no God. Or, we can choose to live life believing that God is real and that He is coming again in power and glory.

For there is not a just man on earth who does good and does not sin. - Ecclesiastes 7:20.

The Good News Translation puts Ecclesiastes 7:20 in this way: There is no one on earth who does what is right all the time and never makes a mistake.

Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. - Matthew 5:23-24.

In Anna, Illinois, police officers raided a suspected methamphetamine lab and secured the area. However, upon closer examination what they had found was not a meth lab; it was canisters and tubes collecting maple sap from some trees to make homemade maple syrup. The Benson family gave the officers some of their syrup, and invited their neighbors who had reported the suspected meth lab to come on over for some pancakes with maple syrup. (kfvs12.com 02.14.13; news-leader.com 02.15.13)

The story reminds me of a glaringly similar mistake that I once made while I was a probation and parole officer. During a home visit with a new client I noticed a large plant with just part of it in view sticking up over a backyard fence. I wasn’t sure, but it looked like a marijuana plant. To make sure that the case was not thrown out for any reason I decided to obtain a search warrant. One of the detectives at the police department where I had my office drove by and took a photo of the plant that was in view. Looking at the photo it surely appeared to be marijuana. The Judge agreed, and signed the warrant. We raided my client’s house and property taking possession of the plant. My client told me that the plant only looked like marijuana and we found nothing else of an illegal nature. Tests soon confirmed that the plant was indeed not marijuana. I apologized to my client, and continued on having greater wisdom than before. Just one more of my many mistakes!

The spiritual fact is that we do all make mistakes in one form or another. When we have harmed our brother like I did, our response should be immediate as we seek to mend the relationship. Mending that relationship is even more important than bringing a gift to the Lord and worshiping Him. This is because when we have this wound in our hearts we are unable to worship in the way that we should. Once we have experienced reconciliation, we will be at peace with our brother, and with our God.

When we make mistakes the example in Scripture is that we need to turn around and do the right thing. When Jonah came to his senses in the belly of the great fish, what did he do? What he did was to do what God wanted him to do at the beginning. Jonah went to Nineveh. When the prodigal son came to his senses in a far country what did he do? He went back home to his father where he should never have left.

Some mistakes are unfixable, and reconciliation is not possible. When that is the situation, we can only do what David did in Psalm 51. After David committed adultery with Bathsheba, and had her husband killed, there was no way to undo what he had done, or make reconciliation at that point.

David prays:

Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness; according to the multitude of Your tender mercies, blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sin is always before me (Psalm 51:1-3 NKJV). Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and uphold me by Your generous Spirit (Psalm 51:10-12 NKJV).

Now in the morning, as He returned to the city, He was hungry. And seeing a fig tree by the road, He came to it and found nothing on it but leaves, and said to it, “Let no fruit grow on you ever again.” Immediately the fig tree withered away. And when the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, “How did the fig tree wither away so soon?” So Jesus answered and said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ it will be done. And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.” - Matthew 21:18-22 NKJV.

Fruit trees are expected to eventually bear fruit. The age of trees before they actually do bear fruit varies. Apricot, peach, plum, and cherry trees usually begin to bear fruit at three years from planting. Pear trees take even longer to bear fruit with it sometimes taking six or seven years before they will bear fruit. Apple trees can take even longer, taking as much as ten years before one of those trees will produce fruit. (umaine.edu - cooperative extension)

Just as, fruit trees are expected to eventually bear fruit, so are Christians. Maybe this is one of the lessons we learn from Jesus and the fig tree. It seems to be a strange scene, Jesus apparently is hungry, but when He finds a fig tree He finds no figs. Jesus responds by supernaturally zapping the tree and it instantly withers away. If nothing else, it should be a warning to all fruitless Christians that God expects you to bear fruit, and it appears that there may be consequences if you do not bear fruit.

Why do fruit trees fail to bear fruit? Again from the helpful University of Maine website I found that there are four general reasons for failure to bear fruit. Trees may fail to form flowers, there may be flower bud death from cold injury or frost, lack of pollination, and insect damage to fruits. We can relate this to why Christians sometimes fail to bear fruit.

First, the failure to form flowers. Why does this happen to fruit trees? It can happen from a lack of the proper nourishment. Trees need fertile soul and some water. Christians fail to form flowers for the same reason through a failure to maintain proper nourishment. The nourishment that Christians need comes from the Word of God. As Jesus says in Matthew 4:4 NKJV, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’”

Second, bud death from cold or frost. In trees, it simply happens when the bud freezes, or becomes cold enough to cause damage. A similar thing can happen to baby Christians. An older Christian, or someone that has been a Christian longer can have a damaging impact upon a new Christian. Discouragement can happen any many ways. One of the most frequent is hearing Christians being hypercritical of others. A fruitless, heartless, mean-spirited person that presents themselves as being a faithful Christian can cause immense damage to the young children of God.

Third, lack of pollination. There has to be interaction between the trees with the spread of pollen between them. It occurs through the wind, bees, and birds. For Christians to grow we need to have interaction with other Christians. That is why the Bible tells us in Hebrews 10:24-25 NKJV, “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.”

Fourth, insect damage to the fruit. Insects can wipe out a fruit crop; wrecking immense damage. False teachers can do the same to young Christians. In 2 Peter 2:1-2 NKJV we are told, “But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed.”

Are you bearing fruit in your life? If not, check for how the fruit in your life may have been damaged. Then begin to make repairs by giving yourself what you need to produce fruit, and protect yourself from what will damage the fruit in your life.

Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, who sent His Angel…. - Daniel 3:28c NKJV.

My God sent His angel and shut the lions’ mouths, so that they have not hurt me…. - Daniel 6:22a NKJV.

Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from the fish’s belly. And he said: “I cried out to the Lord because of my affliction, and He answered me.” - Jonah 2:1-2a.

So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!” And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, “Truly You are the Son of God.” - Matthew 14:29-33 NKJV.

But he shook off the creature into the fire and suffered no harm. However, they were expecting that he would swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But after they had looked for a long time and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds and said that he was a god. - Acts 28:5-6 NKJV.

Xiao Li a 20-year-old college student had a close call with an express train traveling at 90mph in Shaodong, China in Hunan Province. Li asked a friend to take some photos of her with her hair blowing while the train zoomed by in the background. Somehow, Li stumbled, or came too close to the train, and the train hit her shoulder; which knocked her down. Li described what happened by saying, “I felt this sudden bump and I was flying sideways. The train stopped, and the driver thought he must have killed me. I didn’t realize I was so close. My shoulder was badly bruised, but I’m lucky to be alive.” (Orange News 02.08.13)

There are some really close calls recorded in the Bible. There is the close call of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego with the fiery furnace. Daniel had the close call with the lions in the lions’ den. Peter had his short hike on the water which ended when he began to sink. The apostle Paul had the close call with a shipwreck, a poisonous snake, a murderous mob, and others. Of course, we all remember Jonah’s close call with that big fish.

There is a striking difference between the reaction of Xiao Li to surviving a potentially deadly event as compared to those who survived them, or witnessed them in the Bible. With the close calls in the Bible, there is no reference to those survivors being “lucky.” But in these days it is increasingly common to hear someone say that they were “lucky” to survive or escape injury from something. I know that I have said it myself without even thinking. It is a common saying. Many people say it. The problem is that when we credit our survival or good fortune to “luck” we are robbing God of the glory that should be His.

It is not “luck” which has allowed me to be still be alive. It is only through the power of God. How many times has God protected me? How many times has He protected you? I know that the times and the ways of God’s protection, support, help, empowerment in my life are incalculable. I can only praise Him for His mercy, and give Him all the honor, glory, and praise for anything good in my life! Luck, has had nothing to do with it.

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. - 1 John 4:7-8 NKJV.

Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. - 1 Corinthians 13:4:8a NKJV.

And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love. - 1 Corinthians 13:13 NKJV.

Picture the scene, 100 brides and grooms in wedding dresses and suits all gathered to give rings and make wedding vows. This huge wedding took place in Zhengzhou, China in Henan Province. The brides and grooms, had each carefully chosen their own husbands and wives. They had each wooed their new husband or wife with a chocolate or a…toy. The toys were important because all of these brides and grooms were between the ages of three and six! The head of the Kindergarten program Li Wang says that “This teaches them about relationships and how to maintain them and what they should be working towards. They’re taught to be kind and thoughtful.” The wedding did take place before a government registrar, but parents were assured that the ceremonies were not binding in any way. Of course, each bride and groom had to have their parent’s permission to participate in the event. (Orange News 01.15.13)

Robert Fulghum wrote the book “All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten”. I have never read the book, but I have never forgotten the title. Some life lessons that Fulghum says that we learn in Kindergarten are: Sharing, being fair, cleaning up your messes, don’t hurt people, and apologizing when you hurt someone. Robert Fulghum can add a new chapter to his book now: How to Get Married.

Love is a wondrous thing. Love can make everything beautiful, and the lack of love can suck the life out of anything. Maybe that is because God is love, and God is life. The opposite of love is hate, and opposite of life is death. Herein is the key to life, love, and marriage.

How can we make our marriages better, and how can we live life better? We can make marriages and life better by having more love. But, you are going to have to go to the true source to find that true love. The true source, the primary source of love is God, because God is love.

We are told in James 4:8 that if we draw near to God that God will draw near to us. We must get closer to God to have more love. How do we get closer to God? Jesus tells us in Matthew 6:33 to “Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness.” We have to make God the number one priority in our lives. Jesus also tells us in Matthew 4:4 quoting from the Old Testament, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’” To become closer to God we need more of His Word in our lives. We also need to be in greater communication with our God, asking Him to grow our love. We are told in James 4:2c that “…you do not have because you do not ask.” Ask God to increase your love and to strengthen your marriage.

Whether a marriage works or not comes down to one important thing. That one thing is whether both the husband and the wife are truly committed to following their Lord. The marriage will work, and the love will continue, if you love each other as Christ loved the church (Ephesians 5:25). How did Jesus do that? He died for it. You must continually die to self to make your marriage be filled with love.

So Gad came to David and told him; and he said to him, “Shall seven years of famine come to you in your land? Or shall you flee three months before your enemies, while they pursue you? Or shall there be three days’ plague in your land? Now consider and see what answer I should take back to Him who sent me.” And David said to Gad, “I am in great distress. Please let us fall into the hand of the Lord, for His mercies are great; but do not let me fall into the hand of man.” So the Lord sent a plague upon Israel from the morning till the appointed time. From Dan to Beersheba seventy thousand men of the people died. - 2 Samuel 24:13-15 NKJV.

I had never heard of this, but apparently in Boston a construction company wraps their scaffolding in bubble wrap until the work is completed. One of the construction workers is very thankful for that bubble wrap. He is thankful because when he fell 30-feet he landed on some unused bubble wrap laying on the ground. When the worker landed on the wrap, he became embedded in it, and firefighters had to cut him out of it. He did experience some shoulder and back injuries, but will survive. And…suddenly, a new use for bubble wrap has been found! In 1957, when Alfred Fielding and Marc Chavannes created bubble wrap while trying to make a 3D wallpaper they must have had little idea of how their creation would someday be used. (Orange News 02.06.13; WCBV.com 02.06.13)

How did David sin in numbering, taking a census, of his armed forces? His motivation appears to be one of pride. David is now an old king who has experienced the power of God over many years. David does not need to know the strength of his armed forces; instead, he needs to trust in His God. The king knows this, because in Psalm 20:7 NKJV David wrote, “Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; but we will remember the name of the Lord our God.”

Because of his sin, God gives David a choice, which is communicated to him through the prophet Gad. All three choices are bad, but David makes a wise choice. He chooses to depend upon the mercies of God and not upon the mercy of any man. The consequences of David’s sin are devastating; however, it does give us a picture of the destructive nature of all sin. All sin is destructive. All sin is terrible. All sin brings death, because “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23).”

What is it that you are trusting in? Your money? Your health? Your job? Your business? Your family? Some bubble wrap? All of those earthly things can be taken away in a moment of time.

When it comes to sin, people choose to deal with it in different ways. Some of us choose to live with it. Some of us choose to ignore it. Some of us try to hide it. Some of us blame others for it. It all comes down to a matter of trust. Can we trust God to treat us fairly? Can we trust God that He will do what He says? If we trust God, we will choose to fall in the right way. If we trust God, we will make the choice that David made. We will choose to fall into the hands of our God. 1 John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Fall at the feet of Jesus, agree with Him about the destructiveness of your sins seeking His forgiveness…and you will have it.

And again He entered Capernaum after some days, and it was heard that He was in the house. Immediately many gathered together, so that there was no longer room to receive them, not even near the door. And He preached the word to them. Then they came to Him, bringing a paralytic who was carried by four men. And when they could not come near Him because of the crowd, they uncovered the roof where He was. So when they had broken through, they let down the bed on which the paralytic was lying. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven you.” And some of the scribes were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts, “Why does this Man speak blasphemies like this? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” But immediately, when Jesus perceived in His spirit that they reasoned thus within themselves, He said to them, “Why do you reason about these things in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise, take up your bed and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”—He said to the paralytic, “I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.” Immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went out in the presence of them all, so that all were amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!” - Mark 2:1-12 NKJV.

Back in December (2012), Scot and Wanda Denhalter moved into a new home that they had rented in St. George, Utah. Scot was somewhat concerned about a ridge above the back of the home that was covered with boulders. Wanda was not concerned. However, only a few weeks later Wanda barely escaped being killed by a 12 foot wide boulder that crashed into their house. The boulder hit the bed Wanda was sleeping in and caused injuries, including a gash to her leg, which required four hours of surgery to repair. Scot was not at home when the boulder hit, but said he had told Wanda before they moved in that, "…you could have a big boulder snap and come down and come right through the house, but she said that would never happen." (FoxNews 01.21.13)

The incident recorded in the Gospel of Mark, when Jesus heals a paralyzed man is fascinating. What great faith the friends of the man who was paralyzed must have had! To get their friend to Jesus they tore up the roof of someone’s house, and interrupted the sermon Jesus was preaching in a most dramatic way. Can you imagine sitting in your pew at your church, peacefully listening to your pastor preach God’s Word…when suddenly debris begins to fall from the ceiling as a hole opens up. Then, a stretcher with a man on it is lowered through the hole to the floor! If you had been sleeping in church, that would probably wake you up! However, the most amazing part of the event was that Jesus forgave the man his sins, healed the man, and the formerly paralyzed man picked up his bed and walked out of the house! What a Sunday service that would be!! And we would all be saying just like the people that day, “We never saw anything like this!”

If you could have interviewed the people present prior to the event recorded in Mark chapter 2, and asked them if they thought Jesus would forgive a man’s sins and heal a paralyzed man during the service what would they have said? They would have said, “It will never happen!” However, there were four men that day who believed that it would happen, and it did!

We must be careful not to discount the power of God. If anyone had told me, or even told those who knew me when I was a teenager that I would spend more than 20 years of my life as a pastor; we all would have said, “It will never happen!” Here is what God says, “…if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you (Matthew 17:20).”

Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not walk in the way of evil. Avoid it, do not travel on it; turn away from it and pass on. For they do not sleep unless they have done evil; and their sleep is taken away unless they make someone fall. For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence. - Proverbs 4:14-17.

It happened in the parking lot of an Oceanside, California store. What happened? A wannabe carjacker failed three times. With his first attempt the carjacker threatened a woman with a knife, but she was able to drive away. In the second attempt, the carjacker used a gun to threaten a woman who ran inside the store for help. The carjacker hit pay dirt with his third attempt. He ordered a woman from her car with his gun, and he was able to enter the vehicle on this third attempt. However, the car was equipped with an anti-theft device which disabled the vehicle and locked the carjacker inside. He was able to smash through a window and escape. The wannabe carjacker is reportedly still at large. (4NBCSouthernCalifornia 12.14.12)

Sadly, some people are determined to do wrong. In fact, as the Book of Proverbs points out there are some people who greatly enjoy doing what is wrong, what is evil. Because, “…they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence.” At some point in time, they entered “the path of the wicked” and began to “walk in the way of evil.” What great darkness has come upon their lives! Jesus says in Matthew 6:22-23, “The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!” The admonition of Proverbs is that we do not travel on the “way of evil” and that we “turn away from it and pass on.”

As much as some people are determined to do wrong, there are some who are determined to do what is right. Their eyes are good, and their whole bodies are full of light. As the Bible says in Proverbs 4:18, “But the path of the just is like the shining sun, that shines ever brighter unto the perfect day.” What powerful contrast! What a great choice is given to us in the way to live our lives! We can choose great darkness, wickedness, evil; or, we can choose the path of light, of the shining sun, that shines ever brighter.

Which path have you chosen for your life? Are you determined to do wrong? Do you love the darkness? Or, are you determined to do what is right? You love the light, because you love the Lord? And God says through the Book of Proverbs: “My son, give attention to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your eyes; keep them in the midst of your heart; for they are life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh. Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life. Put away from you a deceitful mouth, and put perverse lips far from you. Let your eyes look straight ahead, and your eyelids look right before you. Ponder the path of your feet, and let all your ways be established. Do not turn to the right or the left; remove your foot from evil (Proverbs 4:20-27).”

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son (molded into - Amplified Bible), that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. - Romans 8:28-29.

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters. - Psalm 23:1-2.

Anita Mann had a frightening few hours early last Wednesday morning around 3:45am in Portland, Oregon. No one appears to know exactly how it happened; including Anita and her husband. Maybe she was out sleepwalking, some people do. However, it happened, Anita slid between two walls into a spot where she was squeezed, sandwiched, into only an eight inch wide area. Anita screamed and pounded on the walls with her fists until someone did hear her, and rescuers were finally able to cut into the wall and free her. Thankfully, Anita is okay with some scrapes and minor hypothermia. (OregonLive.com 01.17.13; FoxNews and many other news venues)

Once we have been born again (John 3:3) God begins the process of moving us from being baby Christians to mature Christians. The goal is for us as Christians to become like our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. This process of molding us into a likeness of Jesus varies from person to person. For some of us it takes a much longer time to be conformed to the image of Christ than it does for others. God takes us where we are and begins to work in our lives.

This devotional was written by my son, Clark Wrather, who is the pastor of the First Baptist Church of Yukon, Oklahoma.

I have seen some commercials running about the election where people claim they are an energy voter or a peace voter. The commercials are an attempt to motivate people to vote based upon a personally held value instead of voting based upon the likeability of a candidate. The ads did cause me to think about which primary value I would carry with me to the polls. In this election, I will be a religious freedom voter.

Religious liberty is the cherished principle behind most of our nation's founding documents. It is seen throughout the pages of the Bible, but was not articulated well in the secular sphere until Martin Luther in the 1500s. His book, On Secular Authority, was a passionate expression of the principle: Liberty of Conscience. "Liberty of conscience" is the principle that forbids human authorities from coercing people's spiritual beliefs. We might call it religious freedom. In this book, Luther insisted that God requires voluntary religious beliefs. Compelled or coerced faith is insincere and must never be allowed. Luther insisted that "liberty of conscience" was one of Jesus Christ's principles. According to Luther, the civil government's role is simply to keep outward peace in society. The civil government has no business enforcing spiritual laws. "The laws of worldly government extend no farther than to life and property and what is external upon earth," Luther insisted.

Luther continued, "God has ordained the two governments: the spiritual, which by the Holy Spirit under Christ makes Christians and pious people; and the secular, which restrains the unchristian and wicked so that they are obliged to keep the peace outwardly...The laws of worldly government extend no farther than to life and property and what is external upon earth. For over the soul God can and will let no one rule but himself. Therefore, where temporal power presumes to prescribe laws for the soul, it encroaches upon God's government and only misleads and destroys souls. We desire to make this so clear that every one shall grasp it, and that the princes and bishops may see what fools they are when they seek to coerce the people with their laws and commandments into believing one thing or another."

The greatest assault upon religious freedom since our nation's founding is happening as we speak. Provisions in the Affordable Care Act mandate and require people to violate their deeply held religious beliefs and spiritual convictions. This is an encroachment upon the realm of the King of Heaven. Civil government has overstepped its bounds. Religious companies and institutions will be required by the Affordable Care Act to provide insurance to employees that make contraceptives, sterilizations, and abortifacients freely available. Religious universities, parachurch ministries and Christian family owned business are affected by this legislation.

While we may differ on our beliefs with Catholics, they are being required to ignore their deeply held religious beliefs and provide contraceptives and sterilizations. If this was as far as the legislation went, I would have a problem with it for causing some people to violate and deny their religious convictions, but the legislation goes even lower. It requires employers to provide the morning after pill and the week after pill that causes a pregnancy in its initial stages to terminate. The federal government's own birth control guides say, the drugs prevent implantation of a fertilized egg in the womb. This is abortion by any definition, not contraception.

A prominent company from Oklahoma, Hobby Lobby, is also affected by this legislation. The family has deeply held Christian convictions that will have to be violated in order to meet the requirements of this mandate. This is soul tyranny and it is why our forefathers fought a bloody revolution. The company has filed a law suit against the federal government and their attorney had this to say, "What the petitioners need to hear immediately is that the government cannot use health care reform as an excuse for trampling on religious rights."

In this election you can be an education voter, an energy voter, a peace voter, an abortion on demand voter, a free birth control voter, and many other things. I will be a religious freedom voter and stand with my forefathers against tyranny of the soul.

Enlarge the place of your tent, and let them stretch out the curtains of your dwellings; do not spare; lengthen your cords, and strengthen your stakes. - Isaiah 54:2 NKJV.

For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. - 2 Corinthians 5:2 NKJV.

Yes, I think it is right, as long as I am in this tent, to stir you up by reminding you, knowing that shortly I must put off my tent, just as our Lord Jesus Christ showed me. Moreover I will be careful to ensure that you always have a reminder of these things after my decease. - 2 Peter 1:13-15 NKJV.

And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, “Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory….” - 1 Chronicles 4:10a NKJV.

In Warsaw, Poland, a new house is being built between two existing buildings. The architect for the project is Jakub Szczesny. The house will be a temporary home for various artists and writers beginning with Israeli writer Edgar Keret. What’s so unusual about this house? The Architect said, “It’s the most challenging project I ever had. The living conditions in it will require a spaceship like adaptability.” Why is that? At the narrowest point, the house will be two feet, four inches wide. At the widest point, the house will be slightly less than four feet wide. The reason for building the house? To provide a living space that has a restrictive feel to the inhabitant’s surroundings. I think that would do it for me! (Orange News 09.12.12)

Jabez prayed asking God to “…bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory.” Just moving from a smaller home to a larger one, you do have a sense of enlargement. The first home for our family was a small apartment where we lived for a few months, and then we bought a small mobile home that was our home for about four years. It did seem as though the longer we lived in the mobile home the smaller it became. Maybe that was why the next home that we bought was an old two story house with about 3,000 square feet. It was not in the best of shape, but we did enjoy our enlarged area for living. We only had the house for a year and a half, but we enjoyed our time there.

Another way to enlarge your territory (coast - old KJV) appears to be as Jabez was suggesting with a land area. This would fit in with the idea of a merchant having additional markets for his goods. It also fits with a larger ministry area. When I changed careers from being a parole officer to that of a pastor, my ministry area increased dramatically. With the advent of the Internet, my ministry area had an exponential increase.

A third way that our territory can be increased is in a personal way. Isaiah speaks of enlarging the place of your tent. The apostle Paul and the apostle Peter speak of their human bodies as being a tent. More specifically, they are speaking of their earthly lives as being like a tent. Your earthly tent can be enlarged by an increase of margins. When you have less debt, and more savings you have a financial margin. When you are in a good relationship with your spouse and your friends, you will have an increased emotional margin. When you are in a good relationship with your God by spending devotional time with Him, as in time, in the Bible, prayer, fellowship with other believers, and serving the Lord, you will then have spiritual margin. When you have spiritual margin, you will find it results in your having increased margin, an enlarged tent, for every area of your life. And that, is how you can really live large.

For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ. - Galatians 1:10.

Venus, the cat, appears to be a Photoshop creation, although she is not. Venus is simply the result of being born the way she is. Her face is split perfectly with one side being black. On the black fur side of her face, she has a green eye; on the other side of her face, she has a blue eye and ginger fur. The cat’s human (aka owner), Christina, said, “This is just the way she was born, that’s it.” You can see a photo of Venus, on the cat’s facebook page at www.facebook.com/VenusTheAmazingChimeraCat The page has more than 61,000 likes, and there are photos of other two faced cats and dogs on the page. There are also videos of Venus the cat on YouTube. The National Geographic Magazine does have an excellent article online about the science behind what happened to bring about a two-face cat like Venus.

The Online Dictionary defines two-faced (As related to us humans) as being: “deceitful; insincere; hypocritical.” Also as being: “marked by deliberate deceptiveness especially by pretending one set of feelings and acting under the influence of another.” We now know what a two-faced cat looks like. If a cat is two-faced, you can easily identify the creature simply by looking at the face of the cat. However, two-faced humans are often much harder to identify, because outwardly their faces do not appear to be two-faced. Marilyn Monroe identified the problem when she once said, “If you are going to be two-faced, at least make one of them pretty.” That is the problem with identifying two-faced people, because their faces are often pretty, and often appear very innocent while beneath the surface in their hearts there is a much darker side.

The apostle Paul could have acted and could have spoken in a two-faced way. He could have said one thing to the new Gentile believers and another thing to the Jews who wanted Christians to continue to obey all of the old rituals that Jews had observed in the past. Paul chose to speak the truth in love. The Jews did not like it, but that did not make it any less truthful. Paul chose to obey God, and not the men who were pressuring him to compromise the truth. The fact that Paul chose to obey God and not men was evidence that Paul belonged to Christ, that he was “a bondservant of Christ.”

What about you? Do you profess faith in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior? But at the same time, there is little evidence displayed in your life of your actually belonging to Christ, of your actually being “a bondservant of Christ?” Do you put on your “pretty” face on Sunday for church, but the rest of the week the darker side of your heart rules supreme? When you are with your friends, and you encounter some of your “church” friends, do you have to switch faces and put on your “pretty” face?

Life is psychologically much easier to live when we only have one face to put on in the morning. The apostle Paul gave us an example of living a life of truth, of always seeking to please God, and not men. Let us strive to do the same!

Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has contentions? Who has complaints? Who has wounds without cause? Who has redness of eyes? Those who linger long at the wine, those who go in search of mixed wine. Do not look on the wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, When it swirls around smoothly; At the last it bites like a serpent, and stings like a viper. Your eyes will see strange things, and your heart will utter perverse things. - Proverbs 23:29-33.

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. - James 1:5.

In Decatur, Alabama, a 61-year-old man had a toothache that had been bothering him. Now most people if a toothache is bad enough they will eventually go to a dentist. However, this man had another idea, and as a result, police were called to the home of the man and his brother. When the police arrived they found a 61-year-old man that was bleeding profusely from his mouth. His brother was trying to administer first aid and had a towel pressed onto his brother’s face trying to stop the bleeding.

What in the world would happen to someone trying to treat their own teeth that would cause such a severe injury? As the man’s brother explained to the responding officers, his 61-year-old brother had been drinking, and he had also been complaining about a tooth hurting before going to his room. The uninjured brother said that he heard a loud noise, and when he entered his brother’s room he found him sitting on the bed with a small caliber handgun in his hand. The injured brother told his brother that his tooth had been hurting, and he tried to shoot it out. The injured man was taken to a local hospital where he was treated for his injuries. He may have also been told that this is why dentists don’t use guns to remove teeth! (Decatur Daily 06.02.12)

Which drug is it that causes people to commit the most violence? Alcohol is the most dangerous drug of all, and it is legal. Alcohol interferes with our decision making abilities and you see people like the man in Decatur, Alabama making what can only be described as a stupid decision. Nothing good can come from substance abuse, including the use of a legal drug like alcohol.

Part of having wisdom is to know not to partake of anything that would reduce your ability to make wise decisions. Who in their right mind would attempt to use a gun to shoot out a tooth that is hurting them? Who in their right mind would shoot and kill their best friend? But that is what one of my clients that I had while I was a parole officer did while drinking. Who in their right mind would shoot and kill their brother whom they loved? But that is what one of my clients that I had while I was a parole officer did while drinking.

Let us remember to seek after God’s wisdom that is found in the Bible. Let us remember to pray and ask God for His wisdom every day. So, the next time your tooth is hurting; instead of picking up a gun, you might want to pray and ask God what is the wise thing to do in the situation. Most likely God will tell you to pick up the phone, call and make an appointment to see a dentist who will know how safely to care for your tooth.

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. - 1 Corinthians 15:58.

In 1997, we moved from one side of town to the other (We were living at that time in Weatherford, Oklahoma.); from a duplex to a small house. My parents had just bought a new pickup truck, and so I asked my Dad if I could borrow it for the move. He agreed, and gave me this word of advice, “Don’t let it get away from you.” After I had driven the pickup some, I understood what he meant. Just a little pressure on the accelerator would make the truck take off as if you had pushed the accelerator to the floor on many vehicles. If you were unprepared for the sudden thrust of acceleration, you could lose control. Thankfully, I never let the pickup get away from me! Now since my parents have both passed away I still drive the pickup some and frequently remember my Dad’s words of advice about driving that old truck.

As I was thinking about this phrase, about not letting it get away from me, I used a search engine to see how often the phrase had been used. Surprisingly, there were more than two and half million results! Apparently, a lot of us have been letting a lot of stuff get away from us. Aretha Franklin even has a song with the phrase in it. Here, are a three lines from the song:

Gotta be strong, gotta be strong, gotta be strong
Don't let it get away from you
Do whatcha gotta do

A couple of other lines in the song seem to be so very true:

Taking care of home and family
Sometimes it's hard to keep your sanity

Just living life, making a living, raising children, keeping a marriage strong, and holding a family together can be enough to push some over the edge, or I guess we could say, let life “get away from us.”

How do we keep from losing it? How do we keep from letting life “get away from us?” I love this verse in 1 Corinthians 15:58, just reading the verse you receive a sense of strength, power, and determination. We as Christians are able to keep it together and prevent life from getting “away from us” by keeping first things first. How can we be steadfast in the Lord? Remember the words of Jesus in Matthew 6:33, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”

If life has gotten away from you, if one thing after another keeps going wrong, God has the answer for how you can keep things together and be “steadfast” and “immovable”. What is the answer? The answer is Jesus! Listen to God’s Word:

Isaiah 26:3, “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.”

Hebrews 12:3, “For consider Him (Jesus) who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.”

Philippians 4:6-7, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

So, before life gets away from you, put Jesus first in your life. Every morning, before you do anything else, pray (Mark 1:35) and read God’s Word (Matthew 4:4). Every week allow time, give the time necessary for your family to assemble with other believers (Hebrews 10:24-25). Give a part of what God has blessed you with (Proverbs 3:9-10; 2 Corinthians 9:6-7), and be the servant of God serving others by following the example of Jesus (Mark 10:45).

Don’t let it get away from you!

Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal. - 2 Corinthians 4:16-18.

The normal human being is able to see one million different colors. However, a woman in England has been discovered who has the potential to see 100 million different colors. According to Gabriele Jordan, who is a neuroscientist at Newcastle University in the United Kingdom, this ability is only present in women. Jordan has estimated that as many as 12 percent of women may have the ability to see in colors beyond the imagination of most people. Most of these people, like the one known woman with the supervision, do not know that they are able to see beyond what other humans see. We normal humans are unable to describe what we see to them, and they are unable to describe what they see to us. (Orange News 06.22.12; Discover Magazine July/August 2012)

Who would have thought anyone could see so many colors! I didn’t even know that the normal non-color blind person can see one million colors! Amazing! What other amazing things can some obscure human being on this planet do? And, just like the super color seeing person, they may not even know it. Just in case you are wondering, the woman with super color vision is a doctor in England referred to in scientific literature only as cDa29. So, will cDa29 ever come out of the closet and reveal herself to the world?

As amazing as it is that someone can see 99 million more colors than most of us, there are some people among us that have an even more amazing ability. There are millions of these people with an extraordinary gift, perhaps even a billion or more who have it. What is it that they can do? We probably ought to be careful about revealing this and assigning a number to each one to assure their privacy. However, number one billion and one might be a little cumbersome. Okay, I’ll let you in on this secret. These people with this superhuman ability are able to see…the unseen!

The Bible tells us about this amazing ability to see the unseen in 2 Corinthians 4:18, “while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” It seems that the apostle Paul is writing about not just some select group of preachers, deacons, and teachers; but, here is the really strange thing, he is saying that all believers in Jesus have this ability. Although, it is somewhat like the superhuman ability to see multiple millions of colors, in that even though people have the ability to see the unseen they may not use it.

What are these unseen things that believers in Jesus should be able to see? God, Heaven, Angels, God’s will, God’s plan, God’s purpose, and all eternal things. 2 Kings 6 tells us of when Elisha’s servant was almost frightened to death because of the huge mass of the Syrian army that was sent after Elisha. The Bible tells us this, “And when the servant of the man of God arose early and went out, there was an army, surrounding the city with horses and chariots. And his servant said to him, “‘Alas, my master! What shall we do?’ So he answered, ‘Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.’ And Elisha prayed, and said, ‘Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.’ Then the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha (2 Kings 6:15c-17).”

May God open our eyes so that we may see the unseen, and every day look beyond the temporary things of this world to the eternal.

For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ. - 1 Corinthians 10:4.

Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall. - Matthew 7:24-27.

Three people looking for a place to pitch their tent ignored a few warning signs, drove around barriers, and found what they thought was the perfect campsite. Now why would someone put up warning signs and road barriers to prevent access to an area? In this particular situation, the restricted area happens to be on the Swedish military Älvdalen Firing Range. The range was being used by an amphibious regiment practicing firing grenade launchers. The live fire exercise was ongoing when the campers arrived, but thankfully for them, it was discontinued until they could be removed from the restricted area. The Swedish military is said to be planning to sue the campers for $4,200 for the cost of the disruption of the exercise. (The Local, Sweden’s News in English - May 14, 2014)

I love the old hymn, “The Solid Rock.” Some of the words of the hymn are:

On Christ the solid Rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand

Thinking of the clueless Swedish campers, their choice of campsites is a picture of the “all other ground” of the hymn. It is also a good example of the “sand” foundation of Matthew 7.

What was the reasoning of these campers? How did they arrive at the conclusion that, in spite of the warnings and barricades that it would be okay for them to camp in that area? I was intrigued by one of the comments posted on the article: “If the campers really were ‘from (a city in Sweden*)’ they probably thought quite reasonably for (residents of that city) that the military exercise should be postponed until they had finished camping - nothing should get in the way of what a ‘resident of that city’ wants to do.” Now I don’t know anything about people who live in that city; however, a sense of entitlement could explain their disregard for the warnings. (*Name of the city in comment about article has been omitted.)

Some people appear to have a sense of entitlement when it comes to doing whatever they may want. Why should they do what some archaic book called the Bible says they should do when they are rich, or famous, or powerful, or whatever? Because of their “status” they believe they have a right to sin.

In addition to the sense of entitlement view toward authority, there is another method that some use in justifying their actions. They somehow think that if they ignore what authority says that; therefore, those rules promulgated by those authorities do not apply to them. Ignore God, ignore the Bible, ignore what is right, ignore the warning signs, ignore the barriers, and somehow in their minds those things do not exist.

Just because through some warped thinking you can somehow justify doing what God says is wrong; does not make it right. Build your life on sinking sand, on ground other than the solid rock of Christ, and your house, your life will fall.

Let us drink of that spiritual Rock, let us build our lives on that spiritual Rock; because Christ is the only foundation that a life can be safely built upon. On Christ we stand!

But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name. - John 1:12.

Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure. - 1 John 3:1-3.

“…do not get the idea you’re anything special. Because you’re not.” - David McCullough Jr. speaking to the 2012 Wellesley High School graduating class in Wellesley, Massachusetts. Sadly, I agree with David McCullough Jr. somewhat; in that it appears that students in these days whether graduating from an exclusive, private school, or from a public school have a sense of entitlement. However, is this worse today than it was thirty or forty years ago? Maybe we are just better at identifying and communicating about this issue than we were in the past. In part, we are better at this because we experienced it ourselves.

For the majority of students in schools, in the United States, they live in a some what protected environment. The egos of these students have been protected to some extent from the reality of what it will be like to live in the real world making a living. Even though, I grew up on a farm, and had my share of work on the farm; I still was not as prepared for life on my own as I would have liked to have been. I know what McCullough was trying to do, because I have tried to do the same thing in baccalaureate messages I have given. In other words, these students, maybe all students need to wake up to the fact that life is not a bed of roses; and it will be a shock, a challenge beyond anything they have faced, to leave their protected environment and face life in the real world.

What I found out, after I had left my protected home environment, was that my own abilities, my own intelligence, my own resources were not enough to survive in the real world. What I needed was something, no someone, bigger than me to enable me to live life. That someone that I needed was and is, Jesus Christ. I would not be alive today without Jesus. I would have long ago been crushed and defeated by life without Jesus walking with me through each day.

The truth is that without Jesus you are not all that special, but with Jesus you become a very special person. Receiving Jesus as your personal Savior makes you a child of the King, and not a child of just any king, but a child of the King of kings, and the Lord of lords. When you are “born again” by receiving Jesus as your Savior, the Creator of the universe takes up residence within you (1 Corinthians 3:16). By yourself, in your own strength, life can be very difficult. However, when God Himself lives within you, when the Creator of the universe lives within you, your resources for living life are exponentially greater than anything you can imagine. That is why the apostle Paul was able to say in Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

Then He said to him, “A certain man gave a great supper and invited many, “and sent his servant at supper time to say to those who were invited, ‘Come, for all things are now ready.’ “But they all with one accord began to make excuses. The first said to him, ‘I have bought a piece of ground, and I must go and see it. I ask you to have me excused.’ “And another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to test them. I ask you to have me excused.’ “Still another said, ‘I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.’ “So that servant came and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house, being angry, said to his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in here the poor and the maimed and the lame and the blind.’ “And the servant said, ‘Master, it is done as you commanded, and still there is room.’ - Luke 14:16-22.

Have you ever “accidentally” robbed a bank? I haven’t either. But that is what Navey Skinner claims that she did back in January. She “accidentally” wrote a note that said, “Put the money in the bag now or die.” She then “accidentally” went to a bank where she “accidentally” handed the note to a bank teller. It may not have been the best excuse for robbing a bank, but it has to be an original excuse! Navey says she spent part of the money from the robbery to buy meth. Police were able to identify the woman, which led them to contacting Navey’s mother. Navey’s mother is now raising Navey’s 12-year-old daughter and told police that the last time she had seen Navey was on Christmas day. While visiting her mother and daughter, Navey stole her own daughter’s Christmas presents. I wonder if that was an accident too? (The Herald, Everett, Washington - January 30, 2012)

Have you noticed how for some people, they are never at fault? It must be great to never make any mistakes! And if they do “accidentally” make a mistake they always have an excuse for doing what they did. Personally, I gave up on being perfect a long time ago. The fact is that I do make mistakes. Looking back over what I have just written I have already noticed several errors. Hopefully, I have corrected all of them.

In case you did not know, God is aware of our human tendency to give excuses for our failures. In Luke 14, Jesus talks about several excuses that God knows about. Actually, when we are communicating with God it is useless to try to make an excuse. Why? Because God can see very clearly what is in our heart, regardless of what our lips may be saying.

Over the centuries, there have been some whoppers of excuses told to God. Moses comes to mind. Moses who was educated as a prince to become pharaoh of Egypt claimed that he could not speak well. Jonah had a pretty good excuse he just did not like those Ninevites. Of course, that did not keep Jonah out of the belly of the great fish! Then there was Gideon who claimed that his tribe was the smallest tribe, and his family was the smallest family in the tribe, and that he was the smallest, weakest, most unlikely person in his family to be chosen by God. Ha! In spite of that excuse, God chose Gideon and he became a great leader.

If you are fearful about being obedient to God’s will for your life, then share your fears with God. Making excuses for why you do not want to do what God wants you to do is an insult. God knows exactly what is in your heart and what is coming out of your mouth before you speak it. Allow God to speak to your heart, and take away your fears about following Him. Because God’s plan is always the best plan for your life, even if you do not fully understand it at the time.

But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. - Matthew 24:37-39.

And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. - Romans 13:11-12.

In La Crescenta, a suburb of Los Angeles, California, a man had an unexpected close encounter with a four or five hundred pound black bear. After hearing a helicopter (which was tracking the bear), Vaz Terdandenyan walked outside his apartment to see what was happening. Vaz was also texting his employer at the same time. He later shared this: “I was walking down the stairs, and I looked up and saw the bear coming up the stairs towards me. So I turned back and ran for my life.” (Orange News 04.11.12; Syracuse dot com 04.11.12)

Vaz Terdandenyan was preoccupied with thoughts of his day and of life when he nearly walked into the paws of a bear. We have all seen videos of others who have been focused on texting while walking and experienced unpleasant consequences. I remember the video of a woman texting and walking into a hotel swimming pool. I read recently of a woman texting while walking down a pier, and then she walked into a river. According to the New York Times (01.08.12), more than a thousand people seek emergency treatment resulting from texting while walking.

The Lord Jesus will return for those who know Him as their Savior. It is called, the rapture, when Jesus returns in the air for His followers, and the apostle Paul writes about this in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.”

The apostle Paul tells believers in Romans 13 “it is high time to awake out of sleep.” In other words, we need to stop our preoccupation with the trivial things of life because the Lord could come at any time. “Therefore,” Paul says, “let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.”

For those who do not know Jesus as their Savior, the days prior to the flood are a warning when the people then, “were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark.” So many people are just as preoccupied with the trivial, mundane things of life, as was the man who nearly walked into the bear. If a person does not know Jesus as their Savior, it will be much worse than walking into a bear, to be left behind here on this earth.

Open your eyes! Open your heart! Open your mind! Jesus is coming again, and that time is closer than ever before!

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares (besets - KJV) us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. - Hebrews 12:1-2 NKJV.

Elizabeth Smart, who was kidnapped and held captive for nine months, has married and is moving on with her life. Elizabeth’s mother had some advice for her daughter as to the kidnapping and captivity, “He (David Mitchell - the kidnapper) has already taken nine months your life. Don’t give him any more of your life.” (CNN Headline News 03.12.12)

Elizabeth lived a nightmare for nine months enduring unspeakable horrors, and then had to relive those horrors recounting them in a courtroom at the trial of her abductor. She is an amazing woman whose courage has given encouragement to many. May the rest of her life be blessed!

As I listened to the words of Elizabeth Smart’s mother, it occurred to me that those with addictions are being held captive. If you have an addiction, you are being held captive by a cruel master who has completely disrupted your life. If you have an addiction, your life is off course from where God would have it to be. If you have an addiction, you are being robbed, robbed of life. If you have an addiction, you are continually in danger of losing any life that you may have left.

The writer of the Book of Hebrews gives encouragement to those with addictions. We are told that we must “lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us.” The old KJV refers to this as sin which “besets us.” Besetting sin, or ensnaring sin, is sin which holds us captive. Dictionary dot com defines an addiction in this way: “the state of being enslaved to a habit or practice or to something that is psychologically or physically habit-forming, as narcotics, to such an extent that its cessation causes severe trauma.”

We are told in Hebrews 12:1 that we should “lay aside” our addiction. All of Hebrews chapter 11 leads up to this statement that we should “lay aside every weight, and the sin….” The first word of Hebrews 12:1, “Therefore”, refers back to Hebrews 11. What does Hebrews 11 tell us? Hebrews chapter 11 is the great roll call of the faithful. Hebrews 11 recounts the deeds of many who through faith endured to the end. Those heroes of the faith were overcomers. They overcame their fears they overcame their cruel masters, they overcame because they could see beyond the here and now to eternity. Hebrews 11 begins with this statement, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good testimony. By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible (Hebrews 11:1-3).” The writer of Hebrews is telling us to look beyond the temporary, look beyond the need for the temporary fix of comfort that our addiction may provide. Look beyond this day, look beyond this moment to eternity. Look to Jesus (Hebrews 12:2) and “lay aside” that addiction that has us ensnared.

How much time, how much life has the cruel master of your addiction taken away from you? How long have you been enslaved? Your addiction has already robbed you of years of your life. Don’t give away any more of your life to it! Lay it aside, as you look beyond the need for some temporary comfort, looking to eternity. Jesus is the “author and finisher of our faith” and He has come to give you life. Allow Jesus to put your life back together, and restore the years (Joel 2:25) that the locusts of your addiction have eaten away.

For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. - Hebrews 5:12 NKJV.

Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious. - 1 Peter 2:1-3 NKJV.

Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. - Philippians 2:5-7 NKJV.

In the United States, AARP (American Association of Retired Persons) has a TV commercial aimed at recruiting new members. You can join AARP when you are 50-years-old, and they have been regularly sending me invitations ever since before my fiftieth birthday. The TV commercial asks the question of those who would be old enough to join AARP, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” In the commercial, several responses are given, including these: fix up old houses; run a marathon; and start a band. On the AARP website, they have many other responses from people about what they want to be when they grow up, including: be the oldest surfer in the world; be an architect and build affordable housing; sail around the world; be a Radio Music Hall Rockette dancer; college professor; travel in RV; yoga instructor; backup singer for Tina Turner; registered nurse; diva on a soap opera; write a romance thriller; and, be the person I was before I had to grow up. AARP finishes their commercial by saying that they believe, “you’re never done growing.”

From the Book of Hebrews and from the epistles of the apostle Paul we know that some early Christians had not yet grown up. The early Christians referred to in the Book of Hebrews should have grown in the faith, and had time to grow in the faith, to become teachers; however, they were still just babies in the faith. Before we condemn them, we need to remember that those were tough times to be living life as Christians. I watched a video Sunday detailing some of the historical records of Jesus. One record from 102 A.D. was of a Roman commander writing the Emperor to determine if Christians should still be put to death. Their crime? They had met together and sang a song referring to Jesus as God.

What about you? What about me? What is your excuse, what is my excuse, for not reaching our growth potential as disciples of our Lord? The apostle Peter indicates some of the things that slow down the growth process: malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and evil speaking. Peter says those things must be laid aside. The writer of the Book of Hebrews says we need to, “lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us.” The apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 3 encourages that we avoid worldly wisdom, and we are told that, “the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God (1 Corinthians 3:19).” Of course, there are many other things which slow down our growth as children of God. I am sure that you know very well what they are in your own life, just as I am in mine. Whatever is slowing down our growth to our maturity in Christ, let us lay it aside.

What do you want to be when you grow up as a child of God? Personally, I want to be like my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ when I grow up. As we are told in the epistle to the Philippians, “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.”

By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. - 1 John 3:16-18 NKJV.

The Chinese communist party newspaper, the People’s Daily, says that the government will remove the current harsh slogans about enforcement of China’s one child policy in force since 1979. The policy will remain the same, but the words will change. Here are some of the slogans that will be removed: “If you don’t receive the tubal ligation surgery by the deadline, your house will be demolished!” “Kill all your family members if you don’t follow the rule!” “Once you get captured, an immediate tubal ligation will be done; should you escape, we’ll hunt you down; if you attempt a suicide, we’ll offer you either the rope or a bottle of poison.” Instead of the harsh slogans there will be softer, kinder messages used such as these two: “Caring for the girl means caring for the future of the nation.” “Please get rid of the alcohol and cigarettes before you plan to be a father.” However, the policy will not change, only the words. (Orange News 02.28.12)

There has been an increasing outrage from the world toward the Chinese one child policy, and their harsh enforcement of that policy. Now that the Chinese have changed their words, will that be enough to soothe world opinion? Will continued harsh enforcement of the one child policy only with kinder, gentler words, be enough?

The apostle John is speaking about those who through their words are kinder and gentler without any change in their actions. The apostle John is talking about people who act like the Chinese government. They change their words, but keep on doing what they have always done.

When we have it within our abilities, and resources to help others, are words enough? For the one who needs the help, words alone are useless. To make a difference in this world, words are nice, but actions are what are needed. Our actions, demonstrate our love, or lack of love. Jesus has given us an example. Romans 5:8 says, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Jesus did not say one of His followers ought to die for the sins of others, instead; He “died for us.” The actions of Jesus, prove that His words of love toward us are not empty promises.

Are your words, are my words, empty words, empty promises? Will you do what you say? Will I do what I say? If you have failed to follow through with what you have said, maybe you should do so now. If you have failed to follow through with what you know God would have you to do, maybe you should do so now. Jesus told this parable of two sons in Matthew 21: “But what do you think? A man had two sons, and he came to the first and said, ‘Son, go, work today in my vineyard.’ He answered and said, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he regretted it and went. Then he came to the second and said likewise. And he answered and said, ‘I go, sir,’ but he did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father? They said to Him, ‘The first (Matthew 21:28-31).’”

But she who lives in pleasure is dead while she lives. - 1 Timothy 5:6 NKJV.

And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. - Ephesians 2:1-3 NKJV.

But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light. Therefore He says: “Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light.” - Ephesians 5:13-14 NKJV.

95-year-old Li Xiufeng had been in her coffin for six days when she crawled out. A neighbor had found Li not breathing and not moving in her bed. Chen Qingwang was unable to wake Li and believed that she had died while she was asleep. Chen said, “She didn’t get up, so I came up to wake her up. No matter how hard I pushed her and called her name, she had no reactions. I felt something was wrong, so I tried her breath, and she was gone, but her body is still not cold.” The day before the funeral, Chen went to Li’s house and found her coffin was empty. Chen said, “We were so terrified, and immediately asked the neighbors to come for help.” They found Li sitting in her kitchen cooking! Li told them, “I slept for a long time. After waking up, I felt so hungry, and wanted to cook something to eat. I pushed the lid for a long time to climb out.” (Orange News 02.29.12)

You could say that Li Xiufeng was dead, but still living. Her body was still alive at some very low level of existence; however, who would want to live like that? How wonderful it must have been to awake from her almost dead existence, crawl out of the coffin, and begin to really live!

We have heard about people who text while driving, who drink while driving, who are high on drugs while driving, and who do all kinds of other things while they are driving. Even more scary are those who are dead living while driving!

If you do not know Jesus as your personal Savior, if you have not been “born again (John 3:3)”; you are dead in your “trespasses and sins (Ephesians 2:1).” In addition, those who know Jesus as their Savior who “lives in pleasure is dead” while living. To be “carnally minded (mind of sinful man - NIV) is death (Romans 8:6)” and everyone who puts their focus, their desires upon the things of this world, or human, fleshly desires are dead living.

The Bible makes it clear what we must do to stop our dead living. We must “awake!” We must “cast off the works of darkness” and “put on the armor of light.” We must “walk properly.” We must “put on the Lord Jesus Christ.”

“And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts (Romans 13:11-14 NKJV).”

So, if you have been dead living, crawl out of that coffin, put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and find out what it is like to really live!

See how great a forest a little fire kindles! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening? Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh. - James 3:5-12 NKJV.

A talebearer (gossip - NIV) reveals secrets, but he who is of a faithful spirit conceals a matter. - Proverbs 11:13 NKJV.

Hot Potato is a children’s game, with those playing standing or sitting in a circle. Something small like a potato, ball, or a beanbag is tossed from one player to the next while music is playing. When the music stops the player holding the “hot potato” is out of the game. The game continues until just one player is left. The game is sometimes played without music, and someone shouts out “hot” instead of the music stopping. I can remember playing the game a few times when I was a child.

The Chinese military appears to have their own version of the “Hot Potato” game. There is a video that originally appeared on state owned Chinese television showing soldiers passing around a live explosive device. Each soldier holding the device counts to six prior to passing it to the next soldier. The soldiers are standing around a hole in the ground and just before the device explodes the last one holding the device throws it into the hole. All of the soldiers than dive away from the hole to protect themselves when the device explodes. The device in the video does appear to explode, and all of the soldiers survive without injury. (Chinese state television, Daily Telegraph, Huffington Post, Youtube 01.24.12)

There is another type of “hot potato” that we sometimes pass around called gossip. Gossip is defined by Dictionary dot com as being, “idle talk or rumor, especially about the personal or private affairs of others.” Gossip, just like the Chinese device can sometimes explode causing tremendous damage. However, unlike the Chinese explosive device, gossip is much more unpredictable. No one knows when gossip may suddenly explode, and no one knows all of those who may be hurt by it. Sometimes, just the person the gossip is about is hurt, although usually the last person passing the gossip is also harmed. Just as in a war, when an explosive device goes off, there will nearly always be collateral damage caused by gossip. Once we speak the words with our mouth there is no way to bring them back. Once we speak the words with our mouth there is no way of knowing who will eventually be hurt whether the gossip is true, or whether it is not.

Have you ever been the person responsible for spreading the gossip? Nearly everyone has been at some time or another including me. Have you ever been hurt by gossip? Nearly everyone has been at some time or another; I know I have been. What should you do when you hear some juicy bit of news about someone else? Drop it! And run, because it may go off at any time! It’s a “hot potato!” We are told in Ephesians 4:29 NKJV, “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.” The New Living Translation says, “Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.” May my words, may your words, always be encouraging to those who hear them…or hear of them.

But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers. - 1 Peter 4:7 NKJV.

I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last. - Revelation 22:13 NKJV.

Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet. - 1 Corinthians 15:24-25 NKJV.

And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment. - Hebrews 9:27 NKJV.

There is a new highway being built in southern China in the Fujian Province. For those of you driving around in Fuzhou, China, the key words here are, building, new highway, and unfinished. Wang Lu and the two passengers with her found out what that meant when they came to the end of the road. The road ends, with an unfinished elevated bridge 40 feet above the ground. Wang Lu drove off the end of the road in her Nissan. She drove off the bridge at the end of the road, because there were no warning signs, no barriers, no warning of any kind to mark the coming end of the road. Thankfully, and surprisingly all three of the occupants of the Nissan survived with no major injuries. One witness, Chen Hen, said this, “I kept thinking, the car would stop, but it sailed straight off the edge.” (Orange News 02.22.12)

We here on Planet Earth are hurtling toward the end. The end of the road is coming just as rapidly as a speeding car approaches the end of an unfinished highway bridge. We are coming to the End, and the End is Jesus Christ who is “the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.” When we all reach the ultimate End of the road, every knee will bow, and every tongue will “confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Philippians 2:11).” All of the enemies of Jesus Christ will be put under His feet, because at the very End is Jesus.

A couple of weeks ago I was saddened to learn of the death of a friend. Eldon had been a good friend through grade school and through our junior year in High School. His senior year his parents sent him to a private school in another state. Some years ago, I did make contact with him and exchanged a letter or two. I always thought that we might be able to get together and have a good visit about what had gone on in our lives. However, that will never happen now in this life. Hopefully, from what I know of my friend’s beliefs, he knew Jesus as his Savior. Yesterday, I learned also that the husband of a High School classmate had passed away. From what I know, I believe that this man also may have known Jesus as his Savior.

This human life that we are now living is coming to an end, and the Bible is very clear about that. We are told that, “it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment.” The Bible is also very clear about the brevity of life, “For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. Instead you ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that (James 4:14-15 NKJV).’” The Bible is also very clear that none of us have any guarantees about the length of our lives; or what will happen tomorrow, or in coming days in our lives as we are told in James 4:13-14a, “Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit’; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow.”

The End is rapidly approaching for every one of us. Will we sail off the end of this life into eternity not knowing Jesus as our personal Savior? Will we go out into eternity doomed to eternal torment? It does not have to be that way! Before you sail off the end of the road of your life “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29)!” Jesus is the Lamb of God, and He can take away your sins too. Let Him!

Go to the ant, you sluggard! Consider her ways and be wise, which, having no captain, overseer or ruler, provides her supplies in the summer, and gathers her food in the harvest. How long will you slumber, O sluggard? When will you rise from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep - So shall your poverty come on you like a prowler, and your need like an armed man. - Proverbs 6:6-11 NKJV.

When He rose up from prayer, and had come to His disciples, He found them sleeping from sorrow. Then He said to them, “Why do you sleep? Rise and pray, lest you enter into temptation.” - Luke 22:45-46 NKJV.

But his lord answered and said to him, “You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed.” - Matthew 25:26 NKJV.

Most of you know who Larry the Cable Guy is. His name is actually Daniel Lawrence Whitney, and he’s a comedian whose motto, whose theme is Get-R-Done. The History Channel, beginning last year produced a series that starred Larry the Cable Guy as he traveled the country, and experienced working at different jobs. I have watched a few of those History Channel shows and enjoyed them. If there is a motto, theme, slogan for the farmer, the oilfield worker, or blue collar workers in other industries, I think it is the motto, the theme of Larry the Cable Guy: Get-R-Done.

I grew up on a farm, and my Dad farmed, drove a truck, worked at the air base, and did basically what he needed to do to support his family and survive. He was able to support himself by farming alone for only a period of five or six years. On the farm, you don’t have a bunch of other people there to help when something goes wrong. It is up to you for the most part to take care of whatever the problem is. You’ve got to Get-R-Done.

My Dad always had a lot of scrap metal, and collected more of it whenever he could. Because whenever a plow or something on the tractor broke; he was going to try to fix it with some of that scrap metal, a welder, a cuttin’ torch, and whatever else he could find. Because when you live on a farm, you have to Get-R-Done, and that’s the way it has been for thousands of years.

When you are in the oilfield, it’s the same way. The first drill pipe inspection unit that I operated (Later I would operate tubing and casing inspection units.) by myself was a brand new one brought up to Oklahoma from Odessa, Texas. The first job that I went on with that unit was in December, and the temperature was ten degrees. I had a two man crew to run the air jacks. My boss, the owner of the company, and the customer were setting in a car watching. The only problem was that the air jacks that we used to jack up the drill pipe, so the inspection buggy could run down it, would not work. The air system was rigged up all wrong.

I had never looked closely at the air system before, but when you have everyone standing around looking at you, and your job is on the line - you have to do what? Get-R-Done. So, you remember it’s ten degrees, and I have a bunch a people standing around watching while I pull everything apart in a compartment on the side of the truck. I tried to figure out what was wrong, and put it all back together. You can probably guess what else I was doing? I was praying. Thank God it all worked, and we got the job done. Because in the oilfield and in life, you have to do what? Get-R-Done.

God will give us the strength, the energy, the wisdom to Get-R-Done in our lives. However, this does not just automatically happen. Instead of sleeping in, we need to do what? We need to pray so that we do not “enter into temptation.” We need to read God’s Word because we do not live by bread alone (Matthew 4:4). We need to assemble with other believers so that we will be stirred up unto love and good works (Hebrews 10:24). We need to be good stewards of what we have been given, so that God will bless our work (Matthew 25:14-30). So, instead of sleeping in, instead of having a pity party, instead of getting depressed, let us rise up in the power of God and Get-R-Done!

And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart (give up - NIV). Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith. - Galatians 6:9-10 NKJV.

Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart (give up - NIV). - Luke 18:1 NKJV.

Robert “Choc” Thornton has had a few injuries during his career. At the age of 33-years, he has already been injured from 367 falls. During his career, he has had all of his ribs broken, lost several teeth, nine times his collar bone has been shattered, and he has experienced torn ligaments and tendons. What kind of job does Thornton have? He is a National Hunt jockey. According to Wikipedia, National Hunt Racing “is the official name given to the sport of horse racing in the United Kingdom, France and Ireland in which the horses are required to jump over obstacles called hurdles or fences.” Because of his injuries, Thornton has temporarily had to stop racing 42 times, and is currently in one of those racing delays with a broken arm. Thornton commented on his injuries by saying, “I haven't thought about giving up, and the day I do will be the day I retire. You can't ride with thoughts like that in your head.” (Orange News 02.16.12)

If there were a hall of fame for the toughest people who ever lived, Choc Thornton ought to be in there somewhere. Because Choc has proven his toughness. I think that the apostle Paul ought to be near the top of the list, and at the very top of the list should be Jesus Christ. The apostle Paul endured being stoned, whipped, shipwrecked, snakebitten, imprisoned, and more; but he never gave up. Jesus endured the ultimate in physical punishment with a Roman scourging, the crown of thorns, carrying of his cross, and finally execution on a Roman cross. Jesus endured it all even though He could have called legions of angels to come to His aid. Jesus endured it to the end. He endured it until He could cry out from the cross “It is finished.” Jesus not only bore the physical pain, but he also bore the sins of all people past, present, and future to become the “once for all” sacrifice (Hebrews 7:26-27).

It is possible to endure great physical pain and emotional torment without giving up. It has been done before. In addition to those already mentioned, we are given the roll call of the heroes of the faith in Hebrews chapter 11. Those men and women of God remained faithful to the end. They had their hearts and minds set on being faithful; they were not giving up.

Jesus gives us instruction about how to keep from giving up in Luke 18, “Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart (give up - NIV).” Why do we want to pray when we are thinking of giving up? Because Jesus can help us. We are told this in Hebrews 2:18 NKJV, “For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.” The Amplified Bible translates Hebrews 2:18 in this way, “For because He Himself [in His humanity] has suffered in being tempted (tested and tried), He is able [immediately] to run to the cry of (assist, relieve) those who are being tempted and tested and tried [and who therefore are being exposed to suffering].” Jesus “is able” to help you when you are thinking of giving up. He will “run” to your “cry” for help. However, we need to remember the instruction of Jesus in Luke 18. We must remember to ask for His help, and not give up on asking for His help.

Let us live life confidently knowing that whatever we may face, whatever comes our way, we can be faithful to the end. Jesus will give us all that we need (Romans 8:32) so that there will never be a need for us to give up.

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed - always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. - 2 Corinthians 4:7-10.

Ludovic Maciave was driving his 4x4 in the French Alps’ Arly Gorge near Albertville when he came to a sudden stop. What stopped Ludovic was a 20-ton boulder that smashed his vehicle. Emergency responders did not expect to find anyone alive inside of the smashed vehicle; however, Ludovic did survive with flattened lungs, damaged ribs, and assorted other injuries. Ludovic says, “When I came to, I realized that there was a huge rock in the car. I was stuck between the rock and the bottom of the door…space was very restricted…could be measured in centimeters…I was completely compressed. It’s a miracle I’m alive. Although I’m not a believer I do think this was a miracle. The chances of it happening were very small. Now I will see life differently.” (Mail Online News UK 02.10.12 - Here is a link to the article where there are photos posted: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2099167/Now-THATS-lucky-escape-Miracle-driver-survives-4x4-flattened-20-tonne-boulder-French-Alps-road.html)

Ludovic Maciave knows what it is like to be hard-pressed physically on every side, and yet not be crushed. He experienced it in a very literal way! I agree with Ludovic; it can only be described as a miracle that the man is still living. Hopefully, he will move from his belief in a miracle to a belief in the One who brought the miracle about in his life.

The apostle Paul writing through the direction of the Holy Spirit in 2 Corinthians describes the pressure of life that was upon him. Paul had not been literally crushed with a 20-ton boulder; however, Paul had an emotional and spiritual weight of a huge boulder resting upon his shoulders. In 2 Corinthians 6, the apostle Paul writes of these pressures saying, “But in all things we commend ourselves as ministers of God: in much patience, in tribulations, in needs, in distresses, in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in fastings…(2 Corinthians 6:4-5).” Paul says that even though he and other believers are going through these difficult things they are “not crushed.”

Why are the apostle Paul and other believers “not crushed” by the pressures of living life? Because Paul says, “…we have this treasure in earthen vessels.” What treasure is that? It is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The earthen vessels are the bodies of the believers indwelt by the Holy Spirit by whose presence we have the living presence of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

How can we be crushed when we have Jesus living within us? How can we be crushed when the power that created Heaven and earth resides within us? Let us do what Ludovic Maciave cannot yet do; let us believe! Believe, as did the apostle Paul. Believe, as have countless others since the resurrection of Christ Jesus. Believe, and you will never be “crushed” by anything upon this earth. Believe it!

And Jesus cried out with a loud voice, and breathed His last. - Mark 15:37 NKJV.

Therefore, because it was the Preparation Day, that the bodies should not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the other who was crucified with Him. But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out. - John 19:31-34 NKJV.

For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. - Hebrews 4:15 NKJV.

I never knew that having a broken heart is an actual medical condition. A TV station in my state (newsok.com; news9) mentioned the condition today. A Google search led to information about the condition at Mayo.com and to an article dated 01.26.12 on About.com by Richard N. Fogoros, M.D. The condition used to be called takotsubo cardiomyopathy, but is now called stress cardiomyopathy. It is a serious condition with symptoms similar to a heart attack with shortness of breath and pressure in the chest. It occurs when part of the heart suddenly balloons resulting in a less effective pumping action. It is usually caused by being emotionally traumatized in some way. The good news is that the person experiencing the broken heart usually recovers within a few days or weeks.

The article on About.com indicated that the incidence of broken hearts increases substantially on and around Valentine’s Day. If you have ever had a relationship suddenly end, or even had a sudden disruption of a relationship you know that this can be traumatic. My wife and I celebrated our 42nd wedding anniversary last month. For most of our marriage, we have enjoyed a wonderful relationship, although there have been some brief periods of stress and trauma. Although I have never had stress cardiomyopathy, whenever there has been stress in my relationship with my wife it has felt like my heart was broken.

Without Jesus in my life, my marriage would have ended long ago. The very best thing that I have ever done to sustain my marriage was a commitment to Jesus Christ. My marriage has grown even stronger as I have made commitments to pray, to read the Bible, and to attend church.

We have a High Priest, Jesus Christ, who has experienced the worst that this world can thrust upon a person. As the Bible says, Jesus “…was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.” Jesus knows what it is like to have a broken heart because that is what He died from; a broken heart (Because of the sudden cry, and bowing of the head of Jesus, many doctors analyzing the Biblical record believe that He died of a cardiac rupture.). Because Jesus has successfully endured terrible emotional and physical trauma without surrender to the demands of the world, He is able to help us.

What is the spiritual cure for a broken heart? Look to Jesus! “…let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls (Hebrews 12:1b-3 NKJV).” Lay aside the weight, the trauma of that broken heart, by turning your eyes upon Jesus. As the old hymn says:

God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him. - 1 John 4:16b NKJV.

Which statement best expresses your impression of Valentine’s Day: 1) Valentine’s Day is…a day for those in love? Valentine’s Day is…dumb and you’re wasting your money? Personally, I have always had a good impression of Valentine’s Day from the time I was a little boy to the present. I have great memories of receiving Valentine cards and candy when I was a boy. I have great memories of giving Valentine cards and candy. As an adult, I have enjoyed being able to express my love for my wife in some tangible way on Valentine’s Day. However, as I found out today, not everyone shares my enthusiasm for the day. There is an article today on the street dot com by Jason Notte with the title of, “Valentine’s Day is Dumb and You’re Wasting Your Money.”

Jason Notte begins his article with this statement: “Valentine's Day is best illustrated in one series of actions: Withdraw from an ATM what you'd usually spend on date night, withdraw that amount again, show it to the person you love most and then flush the entire sum down the nearest toilet.” Notte as you can see has a very jaded view of the day. I will concede that Valentine’s Day has become commercialized, but no more so than Christmas, or maybe even Easter. It may be that your sense of value of and meaning of this holiday is based on your own experience with love. If at the current time you are not in a relationship or have had a bad relationship, your view of Valentine’s Day probably mirrors that of Jason Notte. However, if you are in a happy relationship, a long and happy marriage you most likely view Valentine’s Day in a more favorable light.

There is an old saying, and that “Love is fickle.” Dictionary dot com defines “fickle” this way: “likely to change, especially due to caprice, irresolution, or instability; casually changeable: fickle weather. Not constant or loyal in affections.” Fickleness in love mirrors our humanness. We humans frequently change our minds about nearly everything, including love. Contrast this characterization of humans with the character of God described in Numbers 23:19 NKJV, “God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should repent (change His mind - NIV 1984). Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?” God remains the same (Hebrews 13:8). God does not change His mind as we humans do.

One of the character traits of God is that of love. We are told this in 1 John 4:16 NKJV, “And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.” Also, in 1 John 4:8 NKJV, “He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.” In what we know as the Love Chapter in 1 Corinthians 13 we are told this about God’s kind of love, “Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails (1 Corinthians 13:4-8a NKJV).” The entire chapter is summed up with this statement in verse 13, “And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”

With the character traits of God in mind, we can make better choices as to relationships that will succeed. No guarantees, but you will have greater success in relationships that are based on a mutual respect and love for God through Jesus Christ. This is why the Bible says in 2 Corinthians 6:14, “Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?” As I always say in marriage ceremonies that I perform, “The greater your love for Jesus Christ, the greater the love you will have for each other.”

Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. - James 4:7-8 NKJV.

It was in a Bremen, Georgia, Wal-Mart that 25-year-old Thomas Woods attempted the abduction. Brittney Baxter was looking at toys in the toy aisle with her mother nearby when the attack occurred. Woods grabbed Brittney and attempted to carry her away, but he was unprepared for a seven-year-old second grader to fight back. Brittney said this about how she fought back, “I was kickin' and screamin' and then he put his hand over my mouth, but I kept kicking.” Woods dropped Brittney and fled from the store. Brittney said that she was thankful that her parents and teachers had taught her how to fight when a stranger attacked. Woods is a parolee on parole for manslaughter, and he was arrested a short time later. (thewiregrassnews.com 02.09.12; Fox News 02.09.12)

A little seven-year-old girl gives all of us an example of what to do when we are experiencing a spiritual attack. Brittney did what she had been taught to do and was being obedient to her parents by fighting back. The first step in winning a spiritual battle is to be obedient to God. “Submit to God.” Do what God would have you to do and not what the devil, or the world, or your flesh may want. If you have sin in your life, the place to begin your battle is on your knees in confession as we are told in 1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” That is how you do what the apostle James tells you to do when he says, “Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”

The next step in fighting a spiritual battle is to “resist.” Your resistance has already begun when you submit yourself to God. However, there is more to it than that. Jesus gives us a couple of examples of how to resist and overcome the devil and his demonic minions. When Jesus was tempted by the devil in the wilderness (Matthew 4), Jesus responded with the Word of God. When Jesus was tempted by the devil to use the power of God to give Himself food, Jesus responded by saying, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’” When the devil tempted Jesus to demonstrate His power, Jesus responded by saying, “It is written again, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’” When the devil tempted Jesus with the kingdoms and riches of this world if Jesus would worship him, Jesus responded by saying, “For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’” As we are told in Ephesians 6:17b to, “take…the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”

Another example given by Jesus in fighting spiritually is given when He cast out demons His disciples were unable to cast out in Mark chapter 9. When Jesus was asked by His disciples why they could not cast the demons out, Jesus responded by saying, “This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting (Mark 9:29).”

In addition, to the examples given to us by Jesus in the Gospels, we are told in Ephesians 6:11 to “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” The apostle Paul then describes the “armor of God” in verses 12 through 18.

So, before you give up and wave the white flag of surrender to the temptations of the devil and his demons…in the words of Brittney Baxter try some “kickin’ and screamin’”. Do some screamin’ and quote the Word of God out loud and in your mind. Do some kickin’ and pray in the Name of Jesus for God to come to your aid. Because if you “resist the devil” he will “flee from you.”

The sun also rises, and the sun goes down, and hastens to the place where it arose. The wind goes toward the south, and turns around to the north; the wind whirls about continually, and comes again on its circuit. All the rivers run into the sea, yet the sea is not full; to the place from which the rivers come, there they return again. - Ecclesiastes 1:5-7 NKJV.

An undercover police officer in Sussex, England was notified by a CCTV operator that there was a suspect in his area. This is an area that has been hit hard by burglars. The CCTV operator gave instructions to the officer, and the chase was on. The officer chased and chased the suspect for more than 20 minutes until a supervisor realized that the CCTV operator had made a mistake. The operator thought that the officer, who was in plainclothes, was a possible burglary suspect; and had been instructing the officer to chase himself. (Orange News 02.08.2012)

What was the point of a police officer chasing himself? What is the point of anyone chasing themselves? That is the point. It is pointless. It is purposeless. It is meaningless to chase yourself. “The wind goes toward the south, and turns around to the north; the wind whirls (circles - Amplified Bible) about continually, and comes again on its circuit.” The Book of Ecclesiastes is all about how to find meaning in life, or maybe a better way of stating it would be of how not to find meaning in life. Solomon tried about every possible way to find meaning and for a portion of his life just ended up chasing himself. Solomon kept going in circles like a cat or a dog chasing its tail, just chasing himself. Have you ever felt like that? You just keep doing the same thing over and over again, and you wonder if there is any real purpose, real need to keep on going? How do you find meaning, purpose, in life?

Solomon sums up his miserable attempts to find meaning in the pleasures of this world with a summary statement of what he finally realized by saying, “Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all. For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 NKJV).” What about us what are some practical ways that we can find meaning and purpose in life and stop chasing ourselves? In response to the question about what is the greatest commandment, Jesus said this, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets (Matthew 22:37-40 NKJV).”

You can know Jesus as your Savior and still end up chasing yourself if you do not love God by putting God first in your life. As Jesus says in Matthew 6:33 NKJV, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” This is a prescription for purpose, for meaning, for joy to be added to your life. Serving God, being obedient to God, has to be at the very top of your list of priorities or you will just continue on chasing yourself around and around in circles. You make God first by giving Him your time. You give God time when you pray, read the Bible, attend church, when you give, and serve Him in any way. You make God first by not just talking about these things but by actually doing them.

You do not have to go through the misery that Solomon went through and that so many others have gone through. You can begin now to live your life for God in every possible way that you can. Then, you will find peace. Then, you will find joy. Then, you will find meaning. Then, you will find purpose. Then, you will have stopped chasing yourself.

You are my hiding place; You shall preserve me from trouble; You shall surround me with songs of deliverance. - Psalm 32:7 NKJV.

He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress; my God, in Him I will trust.” - Psalm 91:1-2 NKJV.

When sheriff’s deputies in Oklahoma City tried to serve a search warrant on a suspected drug dealer, he ran out of the house. Carter Hickerson, 28-years-old, ran to another house and hid. Someone saw the man run into the house and told the deputies who then entered the second house and found Hickerson hiding in a clothes dryer. (Daily Oklahoman 02.04.12)

In Clark County, Ohio deputies were searching for an escaped inmate Kelsey Litteral. They found her in a basement of a house hiding in a clothes dryer. (whiotv.com 12.15.11)

In Amarillo, Texas, authorities were searching for 34-year-old Candida Pacheco because of her suspected involvement in a drug ring which was operating out of the Potter County Detention Center. They found Candida inside of a house, hiding inside of a…clothes dryer. (Amarillo Globe News 03.11.2010)

What do you do if you don’t get the job you always wanted? What do you do if you’re in debt so deep that you have to file for bankruptcy? What do you do if your doctor gives you some bad news? What do you do if you fail? What do you do if the worst thing that you can imagine, actually happens? What do you do if the police has a warrant for your arrest? You can run and hide in a clothes dryer, but it’s not going to do you a lot of good is it?

The spiritual truth is that, at one time or another, we all need a hiding place and that clothes dryer isn’t going to do us very much good. We can run, and we can run from the bad things in this life, and still never escape. Where do we turn, what do we do, when our world falls apart? Some people hide in a clothes dryer. Back in the time when King David lived they didn’t have clothes dryers, but they did have caves. David hid out in, and lived in a lot of those caves, while King Saul and others chased him.

David learned from that experience that even while hiding in a cave you still need a better hiding place. The cave was only a very temporary solution. The cave could not really protect him from the reality that there were those who wanted to kill him. The cave could not give him peace in his heart. David learned what we also need to learn, and that is that there is only one real hiding place in this world. That hiding place is in the arms of God. As David put it, “the Secret Place of the Most High…under the shadow of the Almighty.” There we will live in a “refuge” and a “fortress”.

When the worst that can possibly happen in our life happens, we need to remember that God is still God. When the worst that can possibly happen, happens; we need to remember that God still loves us. He loved us so much that Jesus suffered and died for our sins. He took our place on the cross. No matter what may happen or may have happened, know this: God loves you. God loves you and nothing can change that.

When the worst that can possibly happen, happens; we need to remember that God can change things. No, He will not undo what has happened. However, God can bring good out of the very worst that this life may thrust upon us. Romans 8:28 KJV is true. “…we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” But the promise of Romans 8:28 is not automatic; it is conditional. It is dependent upon our loving God, and our seeking to be obedient to what he wants in our lives.

So, when the worst that can possibly happen, happens; let us remember that God loves us and let us continue to love Him seeking to be obedient to all that He wants in our lives. That is where we will find our hiding place “under the shadow of the Almighty.”

Jesus answered and said to them, “Are you not therefore mistaken, because you do not know the Scriptures nor the power of God? For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. But concerning the dead, that they rise, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the burning bush passage, how God spoke to him, saying, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living. You are therefore greatly mistaken.” - Mark 12:24-27 NKJV.

Amado Cardenas was upset with his former girlfriend which led to his mistakes. Amado broke into what he thought was his ex-girlfriend’s apartment and did what burglars do. He went through her stuff taking the money he found along with medications. He tried to pry a flat screen television from the wall and then drank some alcoholic beverages he found in the fridge. However, unlike most burglars, Amado Cardenas then took a nap on the floor. That is where he was when Amado’s former girlfriend’s neighbor came home discovering him on the floor still asleep. Amado had broken into the wrong apartment his ex-girlfriend‘s neighbor‘s apartment! She called 911 and Amado was arrested, and hauled off to jail. (Broward Palm Beach New Times The Pulp Blog 12.02.11)

Cardenas made several mistakes. He began by making the mistake of trying to obtain revenge against his ex-girlfriend. What does God say in the Bible about revenge? In Romans 12:19 NKJV we are told, “Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord.” Instead of trying to get back at someone God says this, “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head (Romans 12:20 NKJV).” In other words, when someone is mean to you, be nice to them because God will take care of it.

The next mistake that Cardenas made was in deciding to break the law by breaking into an apartment to steal and to destroy. The command that God makes against stealing is one of the Ten Commandments which says: “You shall not steal (Exodus 20:15 NKJV).” When you steal you are hurting yourself, the Bible says in Proverbs 1, “So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain; It takes away the life of its owners (v.19 NKJV).” And “…they lie in wait for their own blood, they lurk secretly for their own lives (v.18).”

Cardenas also made the mistake of consuming alcoholic beverages. Why is that wrong? We are told in 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 NKJV, “Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.” It is a fact that alcohol causes physical problems. When I was in the hospital last month for pancreatitis I was asked repeatedly if I drank, i.e. consumed alcohol, because alcohol is a known cause of the condition. Okay, I will confess. I did have one drink in 1980, and I did drink some beer my first year in the oilfield, in 1975. And, I did drink some while I was in high school. If I had it to do over, I would never have taken a single drink of alcohol. I still do not know for sure what caused my pancreatitis, but I do know that I never want to have it again.

The biggest mistake that Amado made? The biggest mistake that we can make? The biggest mistake that we can make is not knowing the Scriptures and the power of God (Mark 12:24; 27).

Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who “will render to each one according to his deeds.” - Romans 2:4-6 NKJV.

Clayton Senn was on the run from authorities in Albuquerque, New Mexico when he became trapped in the mud of the Rio Grande River. He was unable to free himself and was still trapped in the mud three days later when he was found. Senn was found by a group of high school students and their biology teacher who were on a field trip. The students heard the man calling out for help. Senn must have been thrilled that finally someone had found him. Finally, he would be free of the trap he had fallen into. The fire department and police officers were able to free the man with an air boat and a pulley system. However, Senn was not really free, as there was found a warrant for his arrest for Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon. (Associated Press 01.29.2012)

There was no escape for Clayton Senn, and there is no escape from the judgment of God for those who reject His mercy through Jesus. That sounds really depressing, doesn’t it? Even though, it is not a pleasant thing to consider, it is still the truth. Just because, we do not like to think about something, does not mean that it is not true. The Bible is very clear about this as we are told in Hebrews 9:27, “…as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment.”

During the summer when I was 14 years old I attended a youth camp. One day I found myself all alone sitting on a picnic table contemplating my future life. I thought of the possibilities of marriage, children, career path, retirement, and finally I thought of death. When I thought of death there was nothing there, it was just a blackness that I could see in my mind. It was five years later after my wife shared her testimony with me and I talked with a pastor of a nearby church that I thought about what would happen to me after death. It was only then that I prayed inviting Jesus into my heart and life, asking Him to forgive me of my sins. It was only then that I passed from death into life. As Jesus says in John 5:24, “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.”

The Bible says in Romans 2:5, “But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God.” You do not have to continue down the path of judgment, the path of no escape. The Bible says, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 6:23).” The way out is to receive the “gift of God” which is eternal life through Jesus Christ. The Bible says, “…Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit (1 Peter 3:18).” Jesus took the punishment that you deserve upon Himself and died on the cross for your sins. However, you must receive Jesus as your Savior, believe upon Him by receiving the “gift of God.” In John 1:12 we are told, “But as many as received Him (Jesus), to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.”

There is no escape for those who reject Jesus as their Savior, and they will face the wrath and judgment of God. The Bible says in John 3:17-18, “God did not send His Son (Jesus) into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” Pray and receive Jesus as your Savior today before it is eternally too late, and pass from “death into life.”

This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil, where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having become High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek. - Hebrews 6:19-20 NKJV.

As touched upon previously, there are potentially many disastrous things that could happen in our lives in the year 2012. For some of us, we may already be caught up in very difficult situations, and wonder whether we will be able to survive. What we need is an “anchor of the soul.”

Think for a moment of a ship and the ship’s anchor. The ship is tied by cable or chain to a heavy anchor made of metal or other material that rests on the floor of the sea. For the believer, we are not tied to the earth; no, our anchor is as the writer of Hebrews says, our anchor has entered the “Presence behind the veil, where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus… (Hebrews 6:19).” As the High Priest in the Old Testament entered the Holy of Holies behind the veil, our High Priest forever, Jesus is in Heaven where He, as He says in John 14, has prepared a place for us. Our soul is tied, not to an anchor at the bottom of the sea, but it is tied to Jesus in Heaven above.

Again think of ships and of their anchors. Think of the chains that tie that tether the ship to the anchor. When I was a boy, my Dad made an anchor for our boat. It consisted of a can filled with concrete and a nylon rope that tied the boat to the can. Probably not the most secure anchorage for a boat. Think of the chain that links a battleship to its anchor. One such chain describes each link in the chain as weighing 120lbs and being about three feet in length. Now that is a chain!

The question I think for all of us as we face this New Year is this: What is the condition of the tie between us and our anchor of hope? Is the chain to our anchor a puny little rope that will break whenever a good wind comes along? Or, is it more like the chain of a battleship that connects to its anchor? How strong is the link between you and your anchor of the soul, Jesus Christ? I think you can see that here is where some work needs to be done in each of our lives. We need to have the strongest spiritual chain possible connecting us to the anchor of our soul. How do we do that? What are the nuts and bolts of having that stronger spiritual chain to connect our soul to our anchor?

First, we need the Bible. The Bible is not just a book. It contains the Words of God. According to the Gospel of John, Jesus is the Word which became flesh. Take a moment to comprehend that. You could say that Jesus consists of the words on the pages of the Bible. If you want to know Jesus. If you want to be more like Jesus, then you need more of those words. But you need to understand that when you read the Bible you are not just gaining information. When you read the Bible you are communing with God. When you read the Bible you are connecting with God. When you read the Bible you are feeding your soul, as Jesus says in Matthew 4:4, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.” When you read the Bible you are connecting your soul to a spiritual IV that infuses LIFE into your soul. Jesus says in John 6:63, “The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.”

Second, if you are going to keep from being swept away by the events of 2012, you are going to need a prayer life. Prayer, communication with God, talking with God is an awesome privilege.

Third, you need to be assembling, meeting with other believers every time you possibly can.

It is depressing to think of all the bad things that could happen to our world, to our country, and to ourselves personally. Is that what God would have us to think about all the time? No! Our focus, our thoughts, and our hopes, should be upon the Anchor of our soul. Hebrews 12:3, “For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.” Instead of worrying about and thinking about all of the bad things that could happen, or might happen; instead think about Jesus. Read Jesus, the Word of God. Talk to Jesus, pray, pray, and pray some more. And, instead of thinking that you don’t need church, go and be where Jesus promises to be in the midst every time believers meet.

So, in the year 2012 you don’t have to be swept away because you have an anchor for your soul and His name is Jesus.

Will you keep to the old way which wicked men have trod, who were cut down before their time, whose foundations were swept away by a flood? They said to God, ‘Depart from us! What can the Almighty do to them?’ - Job 22:15-17 NKJV.

Near the end of 2011, Cyclone Grant struck Australia, sweeping a large freight train off the tracks, and it also swept a car off a roadway. Passengers in the car tried to escape the waters at first by climbing onto the roof of their car. However, they were swept off of the car roof by the waters, but they were able to grab hold of a tree finding refuge there while waiting for rescue. Two men on the train were also injured, but thankfully all were rescued from the rushing waters. (ABC Online 12.27.11).

What happens when you leave God out of your life? When you leave God out of your life, you will be swept away by the challenges of life. Will 2012 be the year that you personally are swept away? Will you face a personal or a national disaster that will sweep you off of your feet?

There are a great number of bad things that could happen during this year. There is the end of the world thing with the Mayan Calendar with some believing the world come to an end on 12.21.12. My personal prediction is that the world will not end on 12.21.12. Another prediction that many keep making is that there will be a worldwide economic collapse during this year. Then there are the potential military threats like Iran trying to block the Strait of Hormuz. The threat of Iran developing nuclear weapons or taking over Iraq. The possibility of Iran basing missiles in Venezuela. Then we have China continuing to ramp up their military capability, and let us not forget about North Korea another friend of Iran. Still lurking in the shadows and posing a threat to most democracies is terrorism in one form or another.

Even though, the threats on a worldwide and national level are enough to cause concern; what about the possible personal disasters that can come upon us? What if you lose your employment? What if you experience a personal health disaster? We had a couple of health disasters last year with an unplanned trip to the emergency room and a few days in the hospital. My wife’s discovery of a cancerous tumor, surgery, and recovery is ongoing with chemo to start soon. A bad diagnosis can change your world in a hurry. Of course, the financial consequences of those health issues pile more stress on top of everything else.

What is it that we need to survive a disaster in 2012? What is it that we need so that we will not be swept away by the coming events of 2012? God tells us what we need in Hebrews 6:19, “This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil.” We need an “anchor of the soul.” In spite of what could happen, might happen, or will happen in 2012, we need to remember that God is still alive and that He is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow.

Jesus is, and will always be the anchor of our soul. Jesus held those early believers together through the tough times and He can do the same for us. Jesus can keep you from being swept away by the challenges of life in 2012. Hold on to the Anchor of your soul.

For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost. “What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying? And if he should find it, assuredly, I say to you, he rejoices more over that sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray. - Matthew 18:11-13 NKJV.

It was several years ago now that I first encountered Big Daddy the cat. He was hanging around our house, and at that time we had a cat outside. Big Daddy would eat our cat’s food and so I tried to scare him away. I threw rocks at him. I yelled at him. I chased him. I shot at him with a sling shot and a BB gun. But he kept coming back. Big Daddy was a big (larger than any cat I had seen before), solid white cat, and you could tell that he had been in a lot of fights; one ear had been damaged, and he was just scary to look at. It took about three years before Big Daddy was able to tame me. He was able to tame me because I grew tired of trying chase him off, and so I finally let him eat our cat’s food. Before long he was up on our bench on our back porch waiting to be fed every night. One night I risked his tearing my hand off and petted him, he liked it and made some kind of noise. He apparently had been someone’s pet in the past, and just wanted some human attention. This lasted for a few months until he stopped showing up at night, and now I am sorry that I didn’t get to know Big Daddy sooner than I did. He was just a big baby in a scary cat’s body!

The illustration that Jesus gives of a shepherd leaving the 99 sheep to find one that is lost, gives us an idea of the lengths that God will go to so that the lost person might come to know Jesus. Our Lord is persistent. He is persistent much like Big Daddy was persistent in his pursuit of me. We try to scare away the Son of Man, but He doesn’t leave. We try to act like He’s not there, but He doesn’t leave. We flee from His presence like Jonah tried to do, but He follows us, He pursues us. He woos us (John 6:44 “draws” us). Jesus says in John 6:44 NKJV, “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day.” This word “draws” comes from the Greek word “Helcuo”. Other verses where this word is used translates it as drag, or dragged. The picture is almost one of God dragging us kicking and screaming to salvation. In the end, we have a choice. However, if we choose to reject God, our rejection of God is not based on any lack of God’s exertion or effort at “taming” us.

We have the example of the Son of Man coming to seek and save the lost. What are we to do who know Jesus as our Savior? Jesus says, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me (Luke 9:23).” As believers, we should follow the example of our Lord. We should go to great lengths to win the lost that we know to the Lord. They will try to chase us away. They will try to scare us. They will try to act like we are not there, but we must not give up. We must keep on, no matter how many times they reject us. We must keep on until finally they have been “tamed” and know the Lord as their personal Savior.

Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift! - 2 Corinthians 9:15 NKJV.

The word is that the “Black Friday” shopping day after Thanksgiving has been pushed back by some stores and will actually begin on Thanksgiving Day. Christmas decorating and shopping seems to come earlier every year. A few days ago, 44-year-old Terry Trent who lives in Ohio, was already putting up Christmas decorations in a home. Trent lit the Christmas candle and put out the Christmas wreath; then he settled in to watch a little TV, and enjoy his bath salts (what!?). According to the police report Trent, who was high on bath salts, broke into a home; put up Christmas decorations, and then relaxed on the family couch watching some TV. A family member discovered the man when he came home, and the man said, “I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you. I'll get my things and go.” Trent has been arrested. I am wondering what he has been charged with…maybe, unlawful and early Christmas decorating? (Orange News 11.14.11)

It is sad that the retail shopping season has intruded on families being together on Thanksgiving Day here in the United States. Last year, when I was paying for some things at a store, the clerk was almost in tears having just found out that she was scheduled to work on Thanksgiving Day. She was newly married and had been looking forward to spending her first Thanksgiving Day with her husband. Since I did not see her at the store after that day, I believe she must have decided some things were more important than her employer’s desire to make money. I do realize that the economic reality is that many of us simply must work on holidays, whether it is Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, or another day. In addition, protecting public safety requires that many be in their place of service to protect and serve on holidays. Doctors, nurses, EMTs and countless others give of their holiday time to serve others. However, I am certainly in favor of sparing as many people from having to do that as possible.

What is Thanksgiving really all about? It is about giving thanks to our God for all that we have. It is also about thanking God for a Savior, Jesus Christ. What is Christmas about, or should it be about? It is the celebration of the birth of our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. Maybe it is okay to celebrate Christmas early on Thanksgiving by giving thanks to God for Jesus. In fact, maybe it would be okay to celebrate Christmas early every day by giving thanks to God for our Savior, Jesus Christ. “Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!”

However, that does not mean that I have to like “Black Friday”, or retailers forcing employees to work on Thanksgiving Day. So, instead of having employees work on Thanksgiving, perhaps the employer should trust God to provide the sales that they need on the other days before Christmas. Hmm? Maybe God would bless a decision like that? I think He would!! And, maybe those of us who have been participating in the mad scramble to buy Christmas gifts on Thanksgiving, and on Black Friday should just opt out this year. Maybe God would bless a decision like that? I think He would!!

But as many as received Him (Jesus), to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name. - John 1:12 NKJV.

For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. - Galatians 3:26-29 NKJV.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. - 1 Peter 1:3-5 NKJV.

Can you imagine being a 46-year-old woman, and at the bedside of your dying mother, learn that you were not even adopted; your “parents” bought you as a baby for $2500? That is the situation that Cyn Bird has found herself to be in along with many others. She is one of perhaps several thousand “Cole” babies. Dr. Katherine Cole of Coral Gables, Florida, naturopathic physician, sold babies along the Eastern Seaboard. The original birth certificates of those babies were all falsified showing the couples who bought them as being the natural parents. In addition, Dr. Cole actually placed birth announcements in newspapers stating the birth parents were the ones who bought the babies. There has been little success in determining who the birth parents were of these children because Dr. Cole did not leave a paper trail. (Daily Oklahoman 10.21.11)

It is hard to imagine the shock and emotional pain that Cyn Bird suddenly had thrust upon her upon learning of her origin. However, Cyn was blessed to have “parents” who loved her, and cared for her even though they were not her birth parents. Sadly, there are countless millions of orphans without natural parents, without adopted parents, and even without parents who bought them. Since Dr. Cole operated an abortion clinic, no doubt there were also thousands of babies who never had a chance to be bought. Cyn Bird was doubly blessed by having been given life by her birth mother and by having “parents” who loved her. If only all babies were able to have at least that level of opportunity.

Whether you were adopted or not, many people have had unfortunate, and difficult childhoods. For some people, it might have been better if they had been adopted, or even bought when they were a baby. No matter what your paternal situation there is good news. Your Heavenly Father loves you (John 3:16) and He wants you to be part of His royal family. What an incredible offer! The King of kings, and the Lord of lords wants YOU to be a part of HIS family. Not only that, YOU will be HIS heir and receive an inheritance. Is there a catch? The catch is that you must believe and receive JESUS as your personal Savior.

I really like the song “Children of God” by the Christian group, “Third Day”. Here are some of the lyrics:

A mystery is revealed to the universe
The Father above has proven His love
Now we are free from the judgment that we deserve
And so we are called the children of God

We are the saints
We are the children
We've been redeemed
We've been forgiven
We are the sons and daughters of our God

Now when one of those who sat at the table with Him heard these things, he said to Him, “Blessed is he who shall eat bread in the kingdom of God!” Then He said to him, “A certain man gave a great supper and invited many, and sent his servant at supper time to say to those who were invited, ‘Come, for all things are now ready.’ But they all with one accord began to make excuses. The first said to him, ‘I have bought a piece of ground, and I must go and see it. I ask you to have me excused.’ And another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to test them. I ask you to have me excused.’ Still another said, ‘I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.’ - Luke 14:15-20 NKJV.

Now it happened as they journeyed on the road, that someone said to Him, “Lord, I will follow You wherever You go.” And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” Then He said to another, “Follow Me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach the kingdom of God.” And another also said, “Lord, I will follow You, but let me first go and bid them farewell who are at my house.” But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” - Luke 9:57-62 NKJV.

A survey by CareerBuilder.com of employers and workers revealed some of the unusual (insert “lamo” here) excuses employees have given for missing work. Lamo is not in most dictionaries, but it is in the Urban Dictionary which has several definitions. Here are a couple: “Someone possessing the quality of lameness,” and “A situation, comment or person that is almost too stupid or odd for words.” Here are some of those lamo work missing excuses:

“Bats got in my hair.”
“A deer bit me during hunting season.”
“I fell out of bed and broke my nose.”
“I hurt my back chasing a beaver.”
“I ate too much at a party.”
“I have a headache after going to too many garage sales.”
“A refrigerator fell on me.”
“I caught a cold from my puppy.”
“I drank anti-freeze by mistake and had to go to the ER.”
“My brother-in-law was kidnapped by a drug cartel.”
“My child stuck a mint up his nose and had to go to the ER.”
(CareerBuilder.com 10.20.11)

When Jesus invited people to follow Him, many had excuses for not doing so. In these days, people still have excuses for not following Jesus, and many of those excuses are just as lamo as the “not showing up for work” excuses.

When does Jesus ask you to follow or obey Him? Jesus asks that you obey Him by receiving Him as your Savior. In Luke 14, we see the many excuses that some people have for not receiving Christ as their Savior. My favorite is the “I have a wife” excuse. After you know Jesus as your personal Savior, the obeying and the following of Him has not ended; that is just the beginning. When you hear the small, still voice of God speaking to you about witnessing to a friend, that is Jesus saying “Follow Me.” When the small, still voice of God speaks to you about giving financially to support the Kingdom of God, that is Jesus saying “Follow Me.” When you are asked in the church to teach a class, that is Jesus saying “Follow Me.” When you hear the small, still voice of God saying _________ (you can fill in the blank here), that is Jesus saying “Follow Me.”

We fight, we struggle, we resist, we make excuses to avoid doing what God wants for our lives. The strange thing is that after all of that resistance, and avoidance; when we finally do what God wants, we have such peace, such joy, and know that our lives have meaning. Why did we wait so long to do what we know God wanted us to do?

Can you hear Him? Jesus is saying to you, “Follow Me.” Will you follow? Or, do you have another lamo excuse?

Then they came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gadarenes. And when He had come out of the boat, immediately there met Him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no one could bind him, not even with chains, because he had often been bound with shackles and chains. And the chains had been pulled apart by him, and the shackles broken in pieces; neither could anyone tame him. And always, night and day, he was in the mountains and in the tombs, crying out and cutting himself with stones. - Mark 5:1-6.

Toni Silvey has a few problems, including charges of stalking her ex-boyfriend. Stalking is perhaps too mild of a word for the actions of this woman toward her ex, Peter Main. Over a three month period, Toni attempted 1,001 phone calls to Peter, sent him 700 emails, egged his house, and…crashed her car into his vehicle. Many of her stalking activities are documented in her blog. When police questioned her about the stalking, she responded with, “Read my blog.” Which they did. After police officers warned her against any further stalking activities, she immediately began behaving like any normal human being would. Peter Main can only wish that were true! Later on the same day, after police warned her, Toni went to Peter’s property with…eggs, and proceeded to egg things. (Houston Chronicle 10.11.11)

As with most situations, there are probably two sides to this story. However, Toni’s actions do appear to be a little over the top. I once had a woman tell me that she took a hammer, and used it on her ex-boyfriend’s new pickup truck. Having seen the woman, if I was her ex-boyfriend, I might have considered moving to another state, and assuming a new identity. Sadly, we know that many relational problems end in even more tragic ways. But what is it that make some go far, far beyond the acceptable norms of society in seeking revenge, and others in just their way of living life?

I believe there is a spiritual component, to the bad actions that we so frequently see. In the Bible, in the Gospel of Mark chapter five, we are told about a man that is completely out of control. If you want to talk about bad, this man was bad, he was uncontrollable; and the people had tried to control him, tried to stop his bad behavior. Concerned citizens had wrapped this man in chains, but he broke the chains, pulling them apart. The shackles they put on his arms and legs; he broke into pieces. He was always in the mountains crying out and cutting himself. Everyone that knew him had long ago written him off. There was no way this person could ever change. There was no way that anyone could ever help this person. There was no hope. You could say that he was just bad to the bone.

Everyone who wrote off the uncontrollable, bad to the bone man of Mark chapter five, were wrong! Enter Jesus to the scene. Jesus does what? Jesus made the thousands of demons who inhabited the man to leave. Then, this man who had been bad to the bone was “sitting and clothed and in his right mind.”

Is everyone who acts badly demon possessed? Not necessarily, but we would be wrong to dismiss the possibility. Some people are not necessarily demon possessed like the man in Mark chapter five, but are being influenced demonically. We are told in Ephesians 6:16, “above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.” The apostle Paul is not writing to lost people in this verse. He is writing to believers who know Jesus as their personal Savior.

Christians must be on guard against demonic influences, i.e. “fiery darts” being sent into their lives. We have our fleshly desires, but many also have compelling thoughts suggesting that they should do things like: abuse alcohol and drugs; look at p_rn, or indulge other s_xual addictions; gamble; cut themselves, like the man in Mark chapter five; and, many other things which are wrong for Christians to do. Let us “Put on the whole armor of God, that (we) you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil (Ephesians 6:11).”

Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need. - Ephesians 4:28.

So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain; it takes away the life of its owners. - Proverbs 1:19.

He who is greedy for gain troubles his own house…. - Proverbs 15:27a.

Two men have been arrested in Lawrence County, Pennsylvania for stealing the Covert’s Crossing Bridge, and it was 50 feet long by 20 feet wide. Benjamin Arthur Jones, 24-years-old, and Alexander William Jones, 25-years-old used a cutting torch to cut the bridge up into sellable pieces. The men then sold the bridge, worth an estimated $100,000, as scrap metal for approximately $5,000. The men are in jail facing multiple felony charges. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 10.15.11)

Hard to believe that anyone would attempt to steal a bridge! I wonder how they arrived at the decision? Maybe, one day they were out driving around, probably drinking some beer, and drove over the bridge. One man said to the other, “Hey, we could steal this bridge. We could cut it up in little pieces and sell it for scrap.” The second man may have said, “But won’t someone miss the bridge?” Man number one says, “Yeah, they may miss it when they run off here and wreck, but we can get thousands of dollars out of this thing.” The second man must have said, “Where’s that cuttin’ torch at?”

The men not only had a disregard for property belonging to others; they also had a disregard for human life. It was apparently of no concern to them if someone was injured crashing because of a missing bridge. In addition, because of their greed, the men were blind to the consequences of their actions. They were blind to the possibility that the scrap they were selling would be recognized as being from a bridge, and reported. They were blind to the possibility that they could be arrested, and end up being sent to prison for years. They were blind to how much pain their actions would cause their families when they were arrested, and incarcerated. Their greed demonstrates the truth of Proverbs 15:27 and Proverbs 1:19. Greed is a life destroyer. Greed is a maker of a world of trouble for anyone who is greedy.

For anyone who is involved in making a living out of stealing, or who steals for the fun or thrill of stealing, it is made clear in Ephesians 4:28 that this is against the will of God. As we are told in Ephesians 4:28, “Let him who stole steal no longer….” If you are involved in this kind of the thing…stop now, before you destroy your life. Stop now, before your greed brings trouble to your door, and to your family.

So the next time, you are out driving around in the country, and drive over a perfectly functional metal bridge, just be thankful that Benjamin and Alexander Jones have yet to discover it.

Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it. - Matthew 7:13-14.

Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know. Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” - John 14:1-6.

Rob Sloan was thought to have been the third place runner in the Kielder Marathon, in northern England. However, he has been stripped of his medal due to disqualification. During the run, he took a shortcut via a spectator bus. As event Director Steve Cram describes, “He’s the only runner in the whole of the race who ran the second half of the race quicker than the first half.” You can do that if you ride a bus! It makes the whole marathon thingy much more pleasant! (Reuters 10.13.11)

Rob must have thought that he would actually be able to deceive everyone about his marathon performance. He found out though that his great plan for an easy run had a few flaws in it. His plan was not allowed by the event officials. That’s why it’s called a marathon. You run every step, in every mile, without any shortcuts via buses. Rob tried to bluff his way through, denying what he had done, until he was finally forced to admit his attempted deception.

Many apparently believe that there is a shortcut to Heaven, to the “Father‘s house”. No need to include Jesus in this plan, just take the turn onto the broad way, through the wide gate, and it will all turn out fine. Because, everyone knows, that everyone is going to Heaven; some are just taking a different road. At least that’s what I seem to be hearing more and more in recent days. The Biblical spiritual fact is that Jesus is the only “way” provided by which we may travel to Heaven (i.e. “the Father”), or as King David says, the “house of the LORD (Psalm 23:6).”

Attempts to travel to Heaven by any other means than through Jesus will fail. The event coordinator of this Heavenly event is God Himself. God has given one prerequisite for dwelling in the “house of the LORD forever”. That most important prerequisite is Jesus. We are told this in Romans 10:9-13, “…if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says, ‘Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.’ For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. For ‘whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.’” In John 1:12, we are told, “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.”

Have you taken a ride on a bus down the broad road of destruction, or are you on that narrow road through Jesus that leads to life eternal?

For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. - Romans 8:29.

But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. - 2 Corinthians 3:18.

Herbert Chavez who lives in the Philippines is being transformed by plastic surgery to look more and more like Superman. He has had surgery on his chin, his nose, and plans to have surgery on his abdomen. He has also had silicone injections and implants. Chavez says, “I have been a life long fan of Superman after being given the costume when I was a child. As I am only 5 feet 6 inches and Superman is 6 feet 2 inches I wouldn’t rule out surgery to make me taller.” Chavez is also a collector of Superman memorabilia and his home is filled up with Superman collectibles. (Orange News 10.10.11)

If you know Jesus as your Savior, there is a change going on in your life. Herbert Chavez is changing himself to look more like he thinks Superman should look like. God is changing His children spiritually to be more and more like Jesus. We are not doing the changing. You are not doing the changing. God is at work in your life through the Holy Spirit, and you “are being transformed.”

I am far from being perfect, but God has been at work in my life chipping away at all the things that do not conform “to the image of His Son.” The lies that used to so easily flow from my mouth have been chipped away. My desire for riches has been chipped away. My selfishness is slowly being chipped out of my heart. My worldly lusts are being removed piece by piece. Sometimes this renovation project that God has going on in my life is enjoyable, and sometimes it is far from enjoyable; in fact, it is downright painful. Looking at the image of Jesus that I see painted in the Word of God, I can see that there is still a long, long way to go before this transformation project that God has begun will reach completion.

How can God ever change the wickedness of my heart, or the wickedness of your heart? I do not know, but as the apostle Paul told the Philippians (Philippians 1:6), “being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.” I do know that God will never give up on what He has begun in my heart and life. He will bring it to completion. God is not going to give up on what He has begun in your life either. He will see it through to the very end.

We have the promise of God that some day, some how, we will be like Jesus. We are told this in 1 John 3:2, “Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.” Let us hold onto this promise of God that some bright shining wondrous day “we shall be like Him.”

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 Corinthians 10:12-13.

Nearly all of us saw the video, captured of a cliff in north Cornwall, England, that crashed into the ocean. Thousands of tons of rock unexpectedly split away and tumbled down into the water. A geologist estimated that 100,000 tons of rock fell down. (Orange News 10.10.11) I know that I had never even thought about the possibility of such a thing. Of course, we know about landslides, rock falls, and avalanches; but 100,000 tons of a cliff? Can you imagine being on a cliff like that, and hearing the rock suddenly beginning to fall away? That would be scary!

If you knew of the likely possibility of a cliff falling into an ocean, would you make it a practice to go, and stand on the edge of that cliff every day? Of course not! However, we know many who call themselves Christians who do engage in that kind of risky behavior. How do they do that? They do this by drinking alcohol, even though they know that some who drink become alcoholics, some damage their health, some become involved in violent behavior, and some who drink are arrested for drinking and driving. Others are out there standing on cliffs because of their abuse of legal drugs or use of illegal drugs. Some are on that unstable cliff because of flirting or worse with the opposite s_x. I probably left something out, but I think you understand how dangerous these things can be.

Yes, “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.” However, the we are told in Deuteronomy 6:16, “You shall not tempt the LORD your God….” Jesus said exactly this when He was tempted by the devil in the wilderness (Matthew 4:7). Now consider this: If you know that it is risky to do something, but you continue to do it again and again, are you not tempting God?

Yes, we are all sometimes tempted, but there is a way of escape, because God says there is one. You can refuse to walk out to the edge of that cliff. You can refuse to have another drink. You can refuse to do another drug, or pop another pill. You can turn away from those who would lure you into inappropriate behavior. Will this be easy? No! 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.”

Make no mistake, when you are tempted, there is a way out. Ask God to reveal that way out to you. Ask Him for the strength you need to take the way out that leads off of that cliff you are standing on before you fall. As we are told in 1 Corinthians 10, “…let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.” Get away from the edge of that cliff!!

But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding (immeasurable - Amplified Bible) riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. - Ephesians 4:5-7.

Great is our Lord, and mighty in power; His understanding is infinite (limitless - The Message). The LORD lifts up the humble; He casts the wicked down to the ground. - Psalm 147:5-6.

Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above (infinitely more - NLT; God can do anything - The Message) all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. - Ephesians 3:20-21.

Using Google to search for the word, “limitless”, there were nearly 100 million results. It appears that we human beings do not like limits, and would like to be free of them. At the same time that we would like to throw off our limits, we place our human limitations upon our God. Our human view of God is too often that God can do little more than most humans. In our area of the country, we have experienced a severe drought. We had a community prayer meeting to pray for rain several weeks ago. It rained some that evening. Last week we received more than two inches of rain. I know that this was in response to the prayers of many. However, I have heard some express that they never pray for rain, because they do not believe that God answers those prayers - or is it that they do not believe that God has the power to answer those prayers?

Limitless is defined by the Free Dictionary as: “Having no limit or limits; unrestricted: limitless authority.” That is a description of the power and authority of the One true God. Our God is unlimited in His ability. However, there are some limits upon our ability to tap into that power and authority for the living of our lives. Ephesians 3:20-21 describes the ability of God to do more than we can ever imagine. It also describes a limit upon how that power is used in our lives. We are told how God is able to do more than we can imagine in our lives, “according to the power that works in us.” If we believe, for example, that God is unable to answer a prayer for rain, then God will not answer that prayer for you. You have less of His power working in you than someone else who does believe God can send rain.

Another limit upon God’s power to answer our prayers is His will. If what we ask for is according to His will, there is no limit to what God can do. However, if what we are asking for is not according to His will it will appear that His power is limited. 1 John 5:14-15 says, “Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.”

If we believe, the possibilities are limitless for God to work in, and through our lives. Jesus says in Matthew 17:20, “…I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.” So let us believe in the limitless power and authority of God and “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened (Matthew 7:7-8).”

Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal. - 2 Corinthians 4:16-18.

You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. - 1 John 4:4.

Emergency services in England scrambled to help after receiving a call from a young man who was hanging from the edge of a sea cliff. Fire crews, coastguard, and police officers all responded and searched the coast for the man. After searching for several hours, an intoxicated 19-year-old man was finally found about a mile away from the coast on a slope next to where he had parked his car. (Metro.co.uk 02.23.10)

Customs in a Frankfurt, Germany airport temporarily confiscated what was thought to be a “blood diamond” worth 2.2 million pounds (3.4 million dollars). The wannabe smuggler from Angola was detained while what appeared to be an illegally mined diamond was examined. Everyone was surprised, especially the wannabe smuggler, when it was found that it was only a fake diamond worth at the most 18 pounds (28 dollars). The smuggler apparently had paid a substantial amount of money for the fake diamond. (Orange News 02.22.10)

How many times has it happened to you? You thought something was true, but later found out that it was not true; or something you thought was real, was not real. The young man in England was surely convinced that he was hanging from an edge of a cliff, and about to die. The Angolan smuggler thought he had a diamond that was worth millions; instead, he lost a fortune. What a shock when the truth is revealed!

There is another deception being perpetrated upon many of us right now. This world we are living in may appear to be very real. We are told that this is reality. However, this is not the real, reality. As we are told in 2 Corinthians 4:18, “For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” All of these things that are so very real to us right now on this earth will some day pass away. Our earthly worries will some day no longer be of importance. Because these earthly things are temporary.

In addition, we have so many things that cause us stress, cause us worry, and cause us pain. Much of this stress, worry, and pain is the result of perception. We perceive that we are all alone in the face of all these things that are pressing in upon us. However, that is not the real, reality for the believer. What is the reality for a believer? “You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world (1 John 4:4).” The Spirit of God resides in every believer (1 Corinthians 3:16) and “…we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us (Romans 8:27).”

Never forget as a child of God you are not by yourself. God lives inside of you, and through Him you are always more than a conqueror. Let us look beyond these earthly things surrounding us to the real, reality, to “the things which are not seen.”

Then he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything. But when he came to himself, he said, “How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!” - Luke 15:15-17.

Now the LORD had prepared a great fish to swallow Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights. Then Jonah prayed to the LORD his God from the fish’s belly. - Jonah 1:17 - 2:1.

Then Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened he saw no one. But they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank. - Acts 9:8-9.

A scuba diver has been found in South Africa in the wrong place, at the wrong time. A rescue operation was mounted after a report from a friend of a scuba diver, that his friend was missing. The search was called off, after the mother of the diver, called to say that her son had been located. The diver had called his mother to let her know that he was in jail at a police station. He had been arrested, because he was diving “without a permit in a protected marine environment.” (Orange News 09.16.11)

The scuba diver’s problems began when he chose to dive illegally in a marine environment protected by law. While everyone was searching for him, he found himself locked up in jail. He was safe, but still in uncomfortable circumstances because of the choice that he had made to break the law.

In the Bible, there are several individuals who found themselves in difficult circumstances because of the choices they had made. The Prodigal Son chose to take his inheritance early, and went off to a “far country” to party it away. The Prodigal Son found himself in a condition so terrible that he was ready to eat what the pigs were eating if he could have done so. We all know that Jonah’s refusal to respond to God’s call resulted in his finding himself in the belly of a great fish. Nothing pleasant about that! Then, there is Saul, aka the yet to become apostle Paul, who found himself struck blind by the Lord Jesus.

The Prodigal Son, Jonah, and Saul all had decisions to make after finding themselves in these terrible predicaments. They could have chosen to remain as they were, and see things grow even worse. The Prodigal Son could have stayed there and eaten pig food if he could have found some. Jonah could have refused to change his mind, and rotted away in the belly of the big fish. Saul could have refused to give up his hatred of those who believed in Jesus, and remained blind for the rest of his life. Those would have been terrible decisions, but they could have decided to keep going in the same direction that had brought these terrible situations upon them. I think we all know people, or have heard of people who are just that stubborn, who are just that addicted to their drugs, or their beliefs, or their ideas, or their way of doing things; that refuse to change, even when they know they are wrong.

The thing that we see in the lives of the Prodigal Son, Jonah, and Saul is that people can change the direction of their lives. They may not want to change, but they can turn around anyway. The Prodigal Son surely did not want to go home, and face his father, or his brother. We know Jonah still hated the Ninevites, even after he preached to them. Saul had to turn his back on everything that he had believed, even his friends to change from the direction his life had been headed.

People can change the direction of their lives. You can change the direction of your life. It begins with a decision. A decision has to be made. A decision to be obedient to your Lord Jesus. If that decision needs to be made in your life, there is no better time than now to make it.

Where did God find you today?

But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. - Acts 1:8.

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. - Philippians 4:13.

John Ortberg in his book “If you want to walk on water, you have to get out of the boat” tells of how he had a problem with fainting when he first began to preach. Eventually, the problem went away, but it did take courage to persist in preaching, when he never knew when this would happen again.

I shared with my church Sunday a secret that I have never told anyone. That secret is that nearly every Sunday since I began to preach I have thought to myself that “I can’t do this” before preaching. The reasons for that have varied. At first, it was in part because I am basically an introvert, and it was difficult for me to speak in front of crowds. It was also, because I do not have a powerful voice, and when speaking without a sound system it was difficult to project my voice. Other times I have been ill, but nearly always still preached in spite of whatever may have been going on with me physically.

In the last five years, I have developed a problem with my voice. It has improved substantially from how it was five years ago, although it has not gone away completely. The problem is that sometimes my voice cuts off, and I am unable to speak. Usually, it goes away in a minute or two, and I am then able to continue preaching. However, it is very uncomfortable to be standing before a room full of people who are listening attentively to hear your next word without having the ability to speak. Fainting might be more merciful! The fact is, and the truth is, that I cannot continue to preach in my own strength. I do not have the power in myself to preach another Sunday. However, my Lord Jesus does have the strength, and for the past twenty-one years He has been faithful, in providing the strength, and the courage that I have not had in myself. I can’t do it! But He can!!

The spiritual fact is that you cannot successfully live the Christian life in your own strength either. You can’t do it! But He can!! You can’t get out of the boat, and walk on water. But He can!! God wants to give you His power to live the abundant life that Jesus came to give you (John 10:10b). Jesus says in Revelation 3:20, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.” Jesus is there knocking, and He wants to give you the strength, the power to really live life. However, He is not going to force you to receive His power. He is not going to make you walk on water. It’s up to you. Do you want His strength? Do you want His power? Then ask for it!

Remember you can’t do it in your own power, and strength. But He can!! I can’t do it! But the Lord continues to empower me every time I ask. He will do the same for you!