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Guaranteed!
True or false? “You can have anything you want, if you want it bad enough.”
What do you think? Is that a true statement?
A lot of people seem to believe it. “You need to have passion”, is what they’ll say.
Let’s see; will that work with finances? “If I want finances bad enough, is there some sort of guarantee I’ll have a boat load of money?” Not really. It is true, though, that the desire could get you up earlier in the morning, and out on the streets looking for employment. But no; no guarantee.
How about a rock and roll star? “If I want it bad enough, you know, passionately, will I be not only a contestant on American Idol but a winner?” Guaranteed? Uh, don’t hold your breath. Sure, passion can help you discipline your life to practice, practice, practice. You could possibly be one of the best musicians in the land. But, again, no; there are no guarantees.
“Well! What good is passion if it won’t guarantee the things I want?”
I’ll give it to you straight. There’s only one thing in life, that I know of, that passion and desire can guarantee results. Only one! It may not be what you want, but I guarantee it’s what you need.
Actually, it’s who you need.
“And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:13 NKJV)
“With ALL your heart” signifies passion and desire. It means not allowing anything to stand in your way, or, knock you out of the way of your pursuit. That which you’re pursuing becomes more important than life itself. No circumstance, no bad experience, no excuse or philosophy will discourage your heart. You are on a mission! Your success is guaranteed by Almighty God!
If you’ll pursue God as a starving person pursues their next meal; you will find the Bread of Life.
When you seek after God like a drowning person reaching out to catch the life ring; you’ll be saved.
When, with God’s word in hand, you follow the clues like a pirate following a treasure map; God’s riches will be uncovered for you.
“Ask, seek, knock; and you will find”, is what Jesus said.
“How can I be sure I’m seeking with my whole heart”, you ask?
If you cannot, will not be denied; then you are giving it all. If you will not tolerate ANY reason or excuse for not knowing God the way he wants you to know him; you will definitely get your desire!
If hell can’t stop you, if your friends can’t embarrass you, if your parents can’t intimidate you, if your spouse can’t threaten you, you will finally know the Desire of all nations.
If time can’t wear you down, if church can’t discourage you, if your job can’t stress you, if your kids can’t mock you, then expect to enjoy the presence of the Holy One.
And if you are willing to be thought a fool, an ignorant old fashioned fool, then get ready. You’re in for the time of your life, and the life to come.
Guaranteed!
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Why? When? And A Few Other Questions.
Have you ever thought, “Why did God create man in the first place?” Of course, I am presuming you believe in the biblical account of creation. Or is it assuming? I don’t know.
Anyway, assuming we’re on the same page, at least momentarily, has that thought ever crossed your mind? Don’t you figure God was doing quite well without us? Like, did he really need us to fulfill something lacking in him?
I’d hardly think so.
He didn’t need us for a tax exemption. He was already doing quite well financially.
We weren’t created so God could use us to win someone’s love and devotion. Nor were we created so the angels would have sympathy for God and say, “oh, just look how God has to put up with those kids. He sure is more patient than I’d ever be. If I was him, I’d have knocked those spoiled brats in the head a long time ago.”
Heaven was complete before we came along.
But the Earth was not.
And could it just possibly be Earth needed what only man could give it?
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The Debate
Debates.
Does the world need them? Does a “pro” ever become a “con”? Vice-versa?
How does one win a debate? How do you score a debate? Do you win points for finger pointing, and are points deducted for each time you say, “huh?”
I mean, it’s easy to tell who wins a football game. There are clearly defined rules for scoring points. Wrestling, baseball, basketball, hockey; at the end of every game there’s no doubt as to which team won.
So how does one score a debate?
I watched part of the debate between Bill Nye and Ken Ham this evening. I listened to each person give their opening statements; five minutes for each. But I know what I believe and why I believe it, so I decided to save my data and move on to something else.
Like write this article.
Do arguments ever settle anything? Can a person be won over to “the other side” by someone who is more articulate and has a better Power Point presentation than his opponent? If so, what does that say about the audience, the listener?
I’m really not against debates. Really, I’m not. It’s good to hear intellectual arguments for both sides, in my opinion. However, there’s something everyone must understand. After the debate is finished and both gentlemen thank each other for the fine debate, shake hands, and go their separate ways, life will continue as before. Bill Nye will believe his way and Ken Ham will stick with his. Bill will continue to tie his bow tie as before, and I imagine Ken will keep his beard trimmed as always.
The world keeps turning. And no matter if people believe in a young earth, old earth, evolution, or revolution; whether they watched the Nye/Ham debate or not, they will have to face and answer THE most important question this side of eternity:
Not as one who debates. Not as a scientist. Not as a theologian or an atheist. Not as a politician or a clown.
Not even as a moderator.
But as someone who will stand before the Creator God, the Ruler and Judge of all mankind. The One Who gave His only Son, so each and every person could have eternal life.
The question each person will have to answer, with their mind AND their heart is: “Have I been born again?”
And though it’s not a game, the final score will be obvious.
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Locked Out Of Heaven?
Well, it wasn’t much of a Super Bowl game, was it? Unless, of course, you were a Seattle Seahawks fan. But even then, at the end of the night it was just another game.
Just another game.
I didn’t watch the halftime show. Instead, my wife and I watched an old Gomer Pyle, USMC show from the late 60’s. So I missed the Bruno Mars and Red Hot Chili Peppers show.
I heard about the “Locked Out Of Heaven” song. I was kind of curious so I googled the lyrics just to satisfy my curiosity. Oh my! The devil sure didn’t treat it like it was just another halftime!
Here’s just a portion of the words.
“Locked Out Of Heaven”
Bruno MarsNever had much faith in love or miracles
Never wanna put my heart on the line
But swimming in your water* is something spiritual
I’m born again every time you spend the night‘Cause your sex takes me to paradise
Yeah, your sex takes me to paradise
And it shows, yeah, yeah, yeah‘Cause you make me feel like I’ve been locked out of heaven
For too long, for too long
Yeah, you make me feel like I’ve been locked out of heaven
For too long, for too longBRUNO MARS lyrics are property and copyright of their owners.
Copyright © 2000-2014 AZLyrics.comWith approximately 111 million viewers, those who planned the halftime “propaganda” for the devil had quite an audience. The prince of the power of the “air” (TV airtime gives the devil’s title an interesting meaning) certainly brought his A game to the viewers. Much more than Denver did, that’s for sure. But look at the blatant mockery of God’s love and mercy. Using certain phrases, such as faith in love and miracles, the heart, born again, and paradise to describe a sexual encounter is vulgar at best; at worst it mocks God, and deifies animalistic sexual behavior.
“Locked out of Heaven” isn’t really something to be happy about. If sex REALLY made Bruno Mars feel like he’d been “locked out of Heaven”, it wouldn’t be a love song, that’s for certain.
The words would describe something a lot different than sexual feelings or an orgasmic experience. Sorry to be so blunt.
If one is truly locked out of Heaven, they’ll discover Hell to be unlike any sexual thrill ever conceived by man! Even S&M encounters cannot compare with the Domain of the Damned! Hell is a place that throws no parties for its tenants, no orgies for its playful pretties, and there are no special moments for pleasure of ANY kind.
Do these words make Hell sound like a fun place? Words such as “wailing and gnashing of teeth“, “eternal torment“, “utter darkness“, “consuming worms“, “eternally separated from the Presence of the Lord“, and “the lake of fire that was prepared for the devil and his angels“.
I tell you what; if having sex is anything like “locked out of Heaven”, there sure wouldn’t be 7 billion people on planet earth!
Here’s the true gospel. Because of Adam’s sin, his disobedience and rebellion toward God, Heaven WAS locked. We WERE locked out of Heaven.
But Jesus came as our offering for sin.
“He was despised and rejected – a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way. He was despised, and we did not care.
“Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God, a punishment for his own sins! But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed. All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the Lord laid on him the sins of us all.” (Isaiah 53:3-6 NLT)
“He gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds.” (Titus 2:14 NLT)
“And anyone who believes in God’s Son has eternal life. Anyone who doesn’t obey the Son will never experience eternal life but remains under God’s angry judgment.” (John 3:36 NLT)
Heaven is WIDE OPEN to whoever receive Jesus as the Lord of their life! The blood of Jesus UNLOCKED Heaven for anyone and everyone who will repent and believe the gospel.
That’s the message of the cross of Christ. Much more than a halftime show for a game that’s just a game. It’s a message with eternal ramifications.
You can believe whatever you’d like. You can call me a nut, a prude, old fashioned, or just plain stupid. Whatever. But this I can say with certainty.
I’m not locked out of Heaven. Are you?
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Super Sunday?
“Party hardy!”, the fool yells. And before the night is finished, his soul slips into eternity.
“Let’s eat, drink, and be merry. After all, we all gotta go sometime; might as well go out on the high side!” This is the quote of someone who has never looked death in the eye.
“When I die, I wanna have booze in one hand and a babe in the other!” As if that’s an impressive feat. The macho man who speaks such idiocy will soon find his bravado melting into a pool of eternal sorrow; moments after he breathes his last.
“Hell’s gonna change when I get there! I’ve got some definite ideas how things should be run.” Can anyone be THAT belligerent?
“I don’t believe in God, the devil, the Virgin Mary, or Santa Claus, for that matter. I only believe in myself.” Spoken like someone who really has a handle on life.
“God fears ME! I’m the meanest #%!}|> in the county!” Sure. Right.
“My body is my god, and I’m going to let it enjoy every good feeling it craves.” Yes, there have been many who have espoused such lunacy.
The above quotes reflect the mindset of America’s party animals. “Live for the moment; be a party going someplace to happen. You only live once, so go for it all!”
Tomorrow is Super Sunday, the annual, all day super party culminating with the NFL’s Super Bowl. Much more than a football game; it’s America’s reason to party.
Super Bowl XLVIII (48).
I love the game, but I am grieved over many things that seem to accompany it. Not because they’re part of the game.
No, they are part of our society.
Drunkenness, gambling, prostitution and sex trafficking, domestic violence, and broken lives.
Broken lives. Many will wake up the morning after the big game with their world in shambles; some won’t remember why. Others will try and forget.
Some won’t wake up.
Yes, the commercials will be entertaining and fun to watch, and the game should be a good one; but to many, Super Bowl Night will be a night with eternity on the line. And that’s not funny, or entertaining.
Maybe it would be wise to take some advice from Solomon, BEFORE the game begins.
“Better to spend your time at funerals than at parties. After all, everyone dies – so the living should take this to heart. Sorrow is better than laughter, for sadness has a refining influence on us. A wise person thinks a lot about death, while a fool thinks only about having a good time.” (Ecclesiastes 7:2-4 NLT)
Think about it. And act accordingly. Eternity lasts an awful long time!
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Rich Enough!
Do you ever wonder what it would be like to be rich? You know, the Warren Buffett kind of rich?
Impossible, you say?
Some people seem to believe that anyone can be rich, except them. I wonder why?
I’ve heard people say, “I’ll never have much money. God knows I’d be full of pride and spend the money foolishly. So, he’ll just keep me poor and humble.”
Seriously?
Of course, it’s people like that who drop $20 a week on lottery tickets, trying to outmaneuver the God who wants them to be poor.
Kind of silly, don’t you agree?
Here’s a thought to consider: God wants you to be rich!
Maybe I didn’t write that clear enough, so here it is again: God wants you to be rich!
How rich? A millionaire? A billionaire?
How rich depends on God’s calling upon your life. Some people are called to have a huge “platform”, representing Jesus to the nations of the world. Others are called to build orphanages, print bibles in multiple languages, supply missionaries with airplanes and other types of transportation, feed and shelter the homeless in our country’s major cities, and finance the new church plant in a third world country. God has his people working all over the globe; and he uses rich people like us to support that work.
Rich enough is God’s kind of rich! Rich enough to give to him that asks. Rich enough to meet the needs of the widow and orphan. Rich enough to help the local church fulfill its God given mandate to minister to all those in its area. Rich enough to supply seed to the sower and bread to the eater. Rich enough to never run out.
I can almost see the frown of disbelief on your face. “Why, I never heard such nonsense! Don’t you know that money is the root of all evil?” Is that what you’re thinking?
First of all, “RICH” is not a money thing. Secondly, it’s “the LOVE of money” that gets people into trouble.
Check these out:
“And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.” (2 Corinthians 9:8 NKJV)
“For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD will give grace and glory; no good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly.” (Psalm 84:11 NKJV)
“I have been young, and now am old; yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his descendants begging bread. He is ever merciful, and lends; and his descendants are blessed.” (Psalm 37:25-26 NKJV)
“And you shall remember the LORD your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day.” (Deuteronomy 8:18 NKJV)
Those are just a few examples of God’s will for his people, AND His ability to take care of those who trust in him.
He is rich to all who call upon him. There’s always more than enough, regardless of the need.
“How can I be rich?”, you may ask.
– Get rid of the dollar sign mentality. It’s not about how much YOU have!
– Use what you have faithfully, wisely, with his kingdom in mind
– Develop a giving heart, always looking for opportunities to pour into someone else’s life
– Systematically give, tithing to your local church. Be discipled in giving.
– Be thankful and content with what you have, whether much or little.
– Go after God. Discover his plans and purposes for your life. He will provide the resources.
– Don’t be afraid to sow seeds. Loosen up the fingers of your heart.
– Live for God. Abandon your life to his care, and trust his word.
– Live within your means. Do what you AND God can do to eliminate debt.
– Don’t write bad checks.“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh, and strength to your bones. Honor the LORD with your possessions, and with the first-fruits of all your increase; so your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine.” (Proverbs 3:5-10 NKJV)
“I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:12-13 NKJV)
“Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.” (1 Timothy 6:17-19 NKJV)
To the Christian, life isn’t about the things we enjoy or the money we have in the bank. It’s about how we use what we have for the One who has made us what we are! He will unapologetically cause his riches to flow to and through the ones who have no other life to live but the one he has given! Christ is our life! We are workers together in his kingdom. He is able to do exceedingly, abundantly above all we ask or even think!
And, he’s able to fund and equip the extraordinary, out of this world, impossible looking projects which he throws us into!
After all, he’s rich enough. And in him, so are we.
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3 Big Questions
This post is very short; probably my shortest. It consists of 3 questions and a passage of scripture from Psalm 24.
The questions:
1. Is true praise and worship limited only to people whose hands and hearts are clean, who do not worship idols and never tell lies?
2. If not, why does David write, “Such people may seek you and worship in your presence”?
3. What does the psalmist mean with his questions, “who may climb” and “who may stand”?
“The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it. The world and all its people belong to him. For he laid the earth’s foundation on the seas and built it on the ocean depths.
“Who may climb the mountain of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place? Only those whose hands and hearts are pure, who do not worship idols and never tell lies. They will receive the Lord’s blessing and have a right relationship with God their savior. Such people may seek you
and worship in your presence, O God of Jacob.” (Psalm 24:1-6 NLT)Please leave your comments in the space below. Thanks for helping me with this post.
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Don’t Be Stupid!
“Whoever heeds instruction is on the path to life, but he who rejects reproof leads others astray.” (Proverbs 10:17 ESV)
The dictionary defines STUPID in this manner:
not intelligent
having or showing a lack of ability to learn and understand things
not sensible or logical
not able to think normally because you are drunk, tired, etc.There are other ways to define it. I’ll try using different, normal day to day examples to, hopefully get this point across; that is, it is STUPID to ignore reproof, or correction. AND, it’s DOUBLY STUPID to get mad at the person who is only trying to help.
In other words, it’s not intelligent, it shows a lack of ability to understand things, it’s not sensible or logical, to get mad when someone tells you that you are going the wrong direction.
Yep. Just one word for that kind of behavior.
STUPID!
For instance, if you’re driving down the highway and suddenly see a road sign you didn’t expect to see. You thought you were traveling west. For three hours you thought you were traveling west. But the sign finally brings a startling revelation – you’re going east!
You understand, in this example, that the sign was posted to help you, not offend you. And because you aren’t stupid, you don’t stop the car, get out, and start screaming at the sign “QUIT JUDGING ME! YOU DON’T KNOW EVERYTHING!”
No, you’re not stupid, so you say something like “shucks”, turn around, and try and make up time (in a ‘non-stupid’ manner, of course).
You have “heeded instruction”. You are now headed the right direction. Yay!
“For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching a light, and the reproofs of discipline are the way of life.” (Proverbs 6:23 ESV)
Guess what? God isn’t stupid, either. That’s why he said reproof is a normal part of life.
Another example.
One year I decided I would fix myself some baked beans. Yum! So I got myself a big can of pork and beans, threw in some mustard and catsup, heated them up for a while, and plopped a big spoonful on my plate.
I was anticipating something beyond wonderful! Yes! And that’s exactly what I got! Beyond wonderful. THEY WERE AWFUL!
I wasn’t using any lamp, instruction, OR RECIPE. I’d watched people fix them before, but apparently I hadn’t paid the greatest amount of attention. AWFUL!
My wife mentioned to me later, as I related my tale to her, that I had forgotten the brown sugar.
And because I’m not stupid, I didn’t yell at her for judging me or my beans. Really, I’m not stupid! No, I listened and learned.
While working in a foundry, years ago, I was trying to operate the overhead crane while my partner poured iron from a huge ladle. I hadn’t had much experience up to that point and was really struggling. Actually, I was about to get one of us burned real bad.
My foreman came up behind me and took the control box from me. I must have had a certain “look” on my face because he simply said, “don’t get mad. Watch and learn.” And that’s what I did.
You’d have done the same thing! Why? Because YOU AIN’T STUPID!
I could list hundreds of examples, couldn’t I?
We don’t get offended, or start accusing someone of “judging us” when it’s about directions, recipes, or a dangerous situation. Why?
WE AIN’T STUPID!
So why is it we can get so whacked out when someone DARE explain to us we are going the wrong way spiritually?
When we are messing with things that can only destroy our spiritual life, mixing them into our lives, why do we feel we have to defend our actions and blame the “recipe” for judging us?
Well, either we really ARE stupid, or it’s because there’s a devil, an unseen adversary, who doesn’t give two hoots in hell whether we go east or west: he just doesn’t want us to go right or up!
The devil isn’t concerned about our baked beans, or fried squash, for that matter. He only wants to keep us from the Marriage Supper of the Lamb.
As for getting burned, hey, that’s something HE’S going to experience! And he’s looking for company. You and I.
So the next time someone says to you, “excuse me, but you’re wrong. And here’s how to get to where you really want to go…” don’t get mad, or bent out of shape, and play the “judging card.”
“But they didn’t tell me in love…”
So what! Like someone said, “drive over to Lowes, buy a ladder, AND GET OVER IT!”
Don’t give the devil any more room to steal, kill, and destroy in your life.
And DON’T BE STUPID! -
Songs To Escape By
“You are my hiding place; You preserve me from trouble; You surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah.” (Psalm 32:7 NASB)
The psalmist sang this declaration to the Lord after realizing how blessed he was to be free from the guilt, shame, and penalty of his transgressions.
Praise and worship doesn’t require anything more than a thankful, grateful heart. It is simply about touching the Father’s heart; and Father touching ours. And God is pleased when we sing just because we’re grateful.
When God’s happy, his people get happy. What makes God happy enough to join us in our gathering?
Gratefulness. Thankfulness.
That’s reason enough to sing, don’t you agree? It sure works for me.
So I sing to the Lord, “You are my hiding place. You preserve me from trouble. You have surrounded me with ‘songs to escape by’”.
Did you notice that last line? ‘Songs of deliverance’ also means ‘songs to escape by’.
How does God give us, surround us with, songs to escape by?
Think of it sort of as “words to live by”, only it’s singing while fleeing. Singing while escaping. Now maybe it’s becoming clear.
Escape from what? Well, there are snares belonging to the “trapper”; our adversary. There are also secret sins (or areas in our life we can’t see). There are evil men and women planning our demise…
And there’s the marvelous escape from the guilt, shame, and penalty of sin! Hallelujah!
The point is, to the grateful, the thankful, God gives special songs. Songs to sing when escaping captivity, escaping the trapper’s snare, and escaping from the plots and schemes of evil men and women.
The songs?
Praise and worship! Songs to escape by.
I’m sure you know that some songs carry an “anointing” to make you sad, glad, and bad. But God has songs to help you escape! Oh, happy day!
Come on! Pick up your hymnal, the book of psalms, and let it out!
Go ahead. Sing! God doesn’t care if a braying mule has a better voice than yours.
SING! SING! SING!
And flee like a bird escaping from the trapper’s snare; the fowler’s feast.
“Blessed be the LORD, Who has not given us as prey to their teeth. Our soul has escaped as a bird from the snare of the fowlers; the snare is broken, and we have escaped. Our help is in the name of the LORD, Who made heaven and earth.” (Psalm 124:6-8 NKJV)
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It’s The Right Thing To Do
Have you ever had “one of those days”? You try and say the right thing, just to help out some poor soul, but everything you say is twisted around and used against you. And all you wanted to do was help out a damsel in distress.
That’s what happened to the apostles Paul and Silas in Philippi.
And when the ordeal was over, they found themselves chained to the wall of a Philippian jail.
“Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening. Suddenly, there was a massive earthquake, and the prison was shaken to its foundations. All the doors immediately flew open, and the chains of every prisoner fell off! The jailer woke up to see the prison doors wide open. He assumed the prisoners had escaped, so he drew his sword to kill himself. But Paul shouted to him, “Stop! Don’t kill yourself! We are all here!” The jailer called for lights and ran to the dungeon and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. Then he brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, along with everyone in your household.” And they shared the word of the Lord with him and with all who lived in his household. Even at that hour of the night, the jailer cared for them and washed their wounds. Then he and everyone in his household were immediately baptized. He brought them into his house and set a meal before them, and he and his entire household rejoiced because they all believed in God.”(Acts 16:25-34 NLT)
Did you note what Paul and Silas did at midnight?
Oh, and for your information, the jail Paul and Silas were in wasn’t like one of our modern day detention centers. They did not have electricity, so at midnight they had to sing in the dark. No sound system, so they had to sing loud (the prisoners heard them). No computer projector, no band, no heat. Only darkness, bugs, rats, sewage, and…
Jan Grace
adding God's Word into my world…
