Devotional «

Just Cling

Posted on Aug 14, 2020 in General |

Nothing in my hand I bring,

Simply to thy cross I cling;

Naked, come to thee for dress;

Helpless, look to thee for grace;

Foul, I to the fountain fly;

Wash me, Savior, or I die.

Jesus opened his mouth and taught them saying, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

Does this mean that one has to be poor, physically to be accepted into heaven? No, but it does mean that one has to be poor in spirit. To be poor in spirit is to acknowledge our spiritual poverty before God. In our sinfulness, we have nothing to offer, nothing to plead, nothing with which to buy the favor of heaven.

We belong the publican, who cried out, “God, be merciful to me a sinner!” At the very beginning of the Sermon Jesus contradicts the world’s standards by stating that the poor are the richest.

Where are your riches?

Blessed

Posted on Aug 10, 2020 in General |

A holy life will make the deepest impression. Lighthouses blow no horns, they just shine.

The Sermon on the Mount is the first of the teaching of Jesus Christ. It depicts the behavior which Jesus expected of each if his disciples. Several commentators have heralded it as the Anthem of the Christian Faith, while others dub it the Anthem for Christian Living. Whatever view is taken, it is still the expectations of Jesus Christ for his followers.

The very first word of the sermon is “blessed.” Several translations have presented the word “happy.” While the word in the Greek can be translated “happy” this is not the meaning.

Perspective on the Sermon of the Mount is important. Who perspective is important here? God’s. Happiness is a subjective state, but Jesus is making an objective judgment about these people. He is declaring not what they may feel like, but what God thinks of them and what on that account they are; they are “blessed.”

Following Christ, God thinks you are blessed.

Blessed are the poor in spirit,

for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven.

Matthew 5: 3

Chaos is the New Normal

Posted on Jul 28, 2020 in General |

When God created the earth, He established what we call natural laws. These are the laws which nature operates. Good example is gravity. The earth operates and grows under these natural laws.

He also established laws for human interaction. Murder and dealing with others were some of the laws that was established. Almost all governments have laws based upon the Ten Commandments. Why? God knew what the human race needed when it come to laws in which to live by.

Today we are changing these laws. Really it is not surprising. When a nation becomes complacent, sooner or later there will be change. History states that it is often for the worse. Because when a nation embraces evil as good, the natural laws of the government will soon be dis guarded. That is what is happening now. Do we really want our children and grandchildren growing up without rules and laws in which to live by?

When God gives us something he means it for our good. He does not give us something that is bad, unless it is to get our attention and return to Him. Makes one wonder, if what is happening in our nation now is not to get our attention and return to him?

Customer Service

Posted on Jul 25, 2020 in General |

“Good Morning, how may I help you?” This sentence is the beginning of great customer service in retail. When a person smile, focuses on the customer and says, “Good morning, how may I help you?” the customer knows that they will have a good experience. Those words when uttered are then followed by action with a smile. When I worked in retail, my business, employees, and customer base grew because of those words. They also understood that you treat the customer the way you want to be treated when you walk into a store.

These words drive people away, “Good morning.” with a frown, uttered with indifference. People leave a business because of customer service. There are retailers I do not shop anymore because of customer service.

The same is true with people. There are people I avoid because they of there person service. Person service is how one treat another. Person service is customer service.

The greatest teacher, Jesus, of all stated, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” Treat other people the way you want to be treated. How would you like to be treated? Are people walking away from you, maybe you should check your people service.

The End?

Posted on Jul 17, 2020 in General |

Where is God? Is God paying attention? Is this the end of the world?

All good questions. The answers are not what we would imagine. The Bible has a book that answers these questions. It is called Revelation. However, it answers them in a way that we can not understand. There is a reason for this. We, as Americans, are living in one world. The people in the time that Revelation was written was living in two worlds. They believed that one lived in this world to prepare themselves for the eternal world that followed. This was not just a Christian belief, but an universal belief. People at that time lived for the life after death and that life was real to them.

We have forgotten that concept. Life is lived for this moment. Nothing else matters.

Revelation is a spirit book. It is written almost entirely in the spirit realm. The reader is reminded of the fact that Jesus did walk this earth in our form, however: this book displays His true form and power.

Throughout the book, events happen. They only happen by Jesus’s authority. Is He paying attention? Yes. Is the end near? Read the book from a spiritual view. Find out.

Who is that ?

Posted on Jul 14, 2020 in General |

Ever walk by someone and thought, “I know that person, don’t I?” They looked familiar, but you can not place where or when you saw them. It happens to everyone. We are left scratching our heads.

Revelation is written by John the apostle. I always wondered, why did he not recognize Jesus when He first appeared? Should he known his best friend? Then it dawned upon me, this is not happening in the physical world, but in the spiritual world. What John was seeing was happening in the real world. He understood that, because the people of that day and age lived in two worlds. They lived in this physical world, using it to get ready for the spiritual. There was an understanding that this world was not the end all that ends all. They worked for the spiritual world because they understood that they were spirit and that what they did here determined where they would be when they died.

We live in the here and now, giving no thought to what happens to us when we die until it is too late. This world is not real. It will fall apart and sooner or later be destroyed. Jesus warned everyone when He walked the earth and in the book of Revelation. Reality is found in the spiritual world, while the physical world prepares us for where we will go when we die.

When you die, where will your soul go?

Masks

Posted on Jul 9, 2020 in General |

One of my favorite books is the western Flint by Louis L’Amour. It is a book concerning the growth of a young boy into adulthood and his life lessons. Within the book, the young boy’s guardian, Flint, teaches him his truths concerning life. One of his truths states: “Never let them know how you feel or what you are thinking. If they know how you feel they know how to hurt you, and if they hurt you once, they will try again.”

Louis L’Amour had a fascinating way presenting the truth of our society, of mankind. It is hard to truly open up to another individual. You want their acceptance, trust, and love. Therefore, everyone creates to some degree or another, an alternate self; that self which is presented to others around them. It is not one’s true self, it is created with the sole purpose of fulfilling the need of being wanted and loved.

The irony of the book Flint is that in the end, the now grown boy does open up to a woman who accepts him. She allows her love for him to over look all his faults and failures and accept him for who he is.

Few people are free to live life as them. Most of us run around wearing a mask, hiding, afraid that we will not please another, but most of all afraid of letting people know who we are really. It is simple just to hide.

Jesus stated that what is hidden in the closet will be exposed to all. So no matter how much we try to hide our true self, sooner or later it will be exposed. People will accept or reject, but Jesus promised that He will never reject you or I. He wants us just the way we are.

Now if, you have accepted Jesus as Lord, that means you are taking on His traits. That means you must accept people for who they are, because you were accepted, just as you are.

“Love one another, by this all men will know that you are my disciples if you love another.”

John 13: 34, 35

All Lives Matter

Posted on Jul 6, 2020 in General |

Whether it is the life of an 89 year old man or the life of an 8 year old girl, their lives matter. All lives matter, that is why in the laws of the land we have a law for murder. Murder is a capitol offense because it extinguishes a life.

Our society changed when we devalued life by abortion. This society stated that life was not worth the inconvenience. Therefore, life has no value. Now this society is screaming that one group of lives are more valued over another, while promoting that abortion is right. A contradiction.

Jesus said, “Love one another.” Love states that another life matters. It does not matter the skin color, age, or occupation, love will still happen. This day let us love.

Happy 4th of July

Posted on Jul 4, 2020 in General |

Today the United States stops and celebrates freedom. Freedom that was bought with the blood of men and women who’s desire was for their prodigy to grow and succeed. They died hoping that the world would be better by their sacrifice. They died on the battlefields of Bunker Hill, Lexington, New Orleans, Lake Champion, Atlantic and Pacific oceans, Gettysburg, Vicksburg, Normandy, Iwo Jima, Okinawa, Khe Sanh, and many more. These men and women did freed sailors during the War of 1812, the slaves during the Civil War; the Jews during World War II, and recently nations under dictator’s rule. All for freedom.

Yet have we forgotten their sacrifice? Have we forgotten the families that we divided during the Civil War and their hardships? Have we forgotten the Jews who watched family members disappear into Auchwitz? Have we forgotten the men and women who’s families this day will celebrate one short? Sadly, we have.

Freedom comes at a cost. Always has. Freedom is always taken for granted until it is lost. Let us this day not forget our freedoms, nor take them for granted. Let us not stand idle by as they are stripped away. Instead let us stand as our forefathers so that our prodigy has a nation that provides them the ability to grow and succeed. Like our forefathers we will have to sacrifice, but is not freedom worth it?

Jesus did not stand by. He came to free us and give us the ability to live and grow. What a great example of sacrifice and love.

Freedom

Posted on Jul 3, 2020 in General |

Tomorrow is the 4th of July. In 1776, the Declaration of Independence was signed by men who knew that their lives were forever changed. If this declaration and war that pursued failed, they would be tried and hung for treason. This included their families. It was all or nothing. They chose all. The war that followed ensured this nations freedom and independence. It gave everyone the ability to choose how they would live, their vocations, and where they would live. It gave everyone a chance.

Years later, another war was fought. We call it the Civil War. It was a war to free the slaves and over the rights of the states. The president of the United States, Abraham Lincoln would pay dearly through this war. He would lose a son and ultimately his life. The Emancipation Statue was dedicated to him by the free slaves who paid for the statue with their own earnings.

While the history of this nation is slowly being erased, there is another kingdom which deals within the boundaries of the United States. This kingdom is the Kingdom of Christ. This Kingdom knows no physical boundaries, not governed by man made governments, and not swayed by societal views. Christ’s Kingdom is governed by His commandments. It is lead by His example. This Kingdom listens to His Spirit. The freedom of this Kingdom is founded on the cross, where He paid for our freedoms.