"911 LOVE PROJECT VIDEO"

"LOVE & PRAYERS" TO ALL OF YOU!

THREATS HAVE BEEN MADE AGAINST AMERICA & CHRISTIANS!
 THIS IS AN URGENT MESSAGE!!!
TAKE TIME TO SHARE THIS MESSAGE OF HOPE!
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GOD"S PEACE AND MERCY IS MY PRAYER FOR YOU!  SHALOM!

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UPDATE "MY KARDIA EXPERIENCE"

Originally published August 18, 2012
www.greekgospel2me.blogspot.com

The English spelling is kardia
It is pronounced  kar-dee'-ah
Definition - Prolonged from a primary κάρ kar (Latin cor, “heart”); the heart, that is, (figuratively) the thoughts or feelings (mind); also (by analogy) the middle: - (+ broken-) heart (-ed).
As I was researching this word and it's origin, I found that our word "cardiac" which means "related to the heart" came from this Greek word καρδιά, kardia, for "heart". 



I also found that the human embryo in it's first days following conception will begin to grow muscle tissue that will eventually become the heart. This tissue begins in the form of two tubes called endocardial tubes forming on the sides of the embryo. The two endocardial tubes are pushed into the thoracic cavity, begin to fuse together, and complete the fusing process at approximately 22 days.

This is when the heart actually begins to beat. Interestingly enough, it starts beating at the same rate of the mother(approx. 70 to 80 beats per minute)BPM.

Over the next month the BPM will speed up to an addition of 100 BPM faster than the mother's heartbeat. Then over the next five weeks it will slow back down to a rate of 145 BPM. What is pretty cool is that the unborn child's heart can continue at this pace allowing for the availability of the nutrients needed to grow and develop so quickly.

Update 7/22/2014 - "My Heart Experience"
"Almost a year after originally writing this post in another blog called "Greek Gospel to Me", on August 1, 2013 the mother of my children and the woman that I was married to for 19 years suddenly passed away in her sleep. Her heart muscles had become weak and damaged. My children and I went through the most difficult time of our lives and yet the Lord sustained us. Many days we felt most definite that our hearts would give out and we would surely die as we went without sleep and food over this time of grief. But I can testify to you wholeheartedly today that our Lord was giving us the exact numbers of heart beats and care that was needed to survive this life changing event and He still continues daily in my family's life. No one else will ever be able to do what God has done in His infinite wisdom and love."

Is it possible that Jesus had this in mind when the Greek word for "heart" was chosen in the following passage. Do you think that he knew how we get when allot of things and changes are happening in our lives and we get agitated, troubled or afraid? Our heart rate increases and we get ready to take action sometimes before we even have time to think things through.

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you: not as the world gives, give I to you. Don't let your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. John 14:27


 Remember that He offers us a peace that is greater than any that the world around us can offer. He can offer more than all those vacation commercials or week long cruises can ever offer. His peace is there for you anytime and anywhere if you believe in him.

As I thought about the unborn child's heart rate speeding up over the first month after the heart begins to beat for the very first time, I couldn't help but think about the new believer who knows for the first time that his heart is made whole.

Allot of challenges and trials can come during the strength building days following the experience of new birth in Christ. The battle is on for the very heart, mind and soul of the believer. They may feel their hearts beating like a race horse in the battle for their new life. I'd like to encourage you, if your heart has been made new in Christ and you or even someone you know is going through these changes, be strong and take peace in the promises of Jesus.

Don't let fear take control or cause you to become discouraged. Because just as the unborn child gains their strength while their heart is racing away and then slows down, your heart also will gradually become secure in the peace of God's presence and your heart will become conditioned to slow down . A new believer's strength is going to increase in those trying times as he/she learns to depend on the great Comforter which Jesus promises to all who believe in verse twenty-six. 

The Greek word "parakletos" which translates "Comforter" means consoler, intercessor and advocate. Our great "parakletos" is the Holy (sacred) Spirit of God! Calm down, take comfort in the peace of God's Spirit with you.

But the Comforter (parakletos), which is the Holy Ghost, who the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said to you. John 14:26

παράκλητος
paraklētos
par-ak'-lay-tos
An intercessor, consoler: - advocate, comforter.


Shalom. Peace.

Fathering the Heart - Practical Lessons

Fathering the Heart means
Imparting a Practical Education

Practical education moves beyond theoretical.

"My Son" appears 23 times in Proverbs.
Only sons are mentioned because the son
received formal education at the time, but these principles apply to girls and boys alike.




Proverbs 1:8  My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother:

A few more examples to consider;

(Prov 1:10)  My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.
(Prov 1:15)  My son, walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path:
(Prov 2:1)  My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee;
(Prov 2:5)  Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.
(Prov 3:1)  My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:
(Prov 3:11)  My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction:
(Prov 3:21)  My son, let not them depart from thine eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion:

What an impressive manual for not just moral wisdom but for snake lessons of practical wisdom. For example:

~ Don't talk too much. Prov. 10:19
~ Think before speaking. Prov. 13:3
~ Be careful of your company. Prov. 13:20
~ Use gentle words, rather than harsh. Prov. 15:1
~ Try to understand others before asking them to understand you. Prov. 18:13
~ Be fair & honest in your work. Prov. 11:1
~ Be big enough to "let the small stuff go". Prov. 12:16
~ Don't co-sign for someone else's debts. Prov. 11:15

A good suggestion to help us father our children's hearts with a practical education. For the next month, read one Proverb a day to your children and discuss it's message. Then give them an illustration of how it applies- either from your life or a story you've heard.

PRAYER IN TROUBLED TIMES

Three words in the New Testament that embrace trouble.

Tribulation, suffering and affliction.

They differ somewhat, and yet, practically, each of them means trouble of some kind. Our Lord gave His disciples warning that they might expect tribulation in this world, that they could not hope to escape it, and that they would not be carried through this life on flowery beds of ease. How hard to learn this plain and patent lesson!

"In the world you will have tribulation: but be of good cheer;

I have overcome the world" ~John16:33

There is the encouragement for believers.

As He had overcome the world and it's tribulations, so might they be able to do the same.

Paul also taught this lesson as throughout his ministry as he confirmed souls of the children of God and exhorted them to continue in their faith. He told them,

"we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God" ~Acts14:22

Paul knew this firsthand as his journey was anything but smooth and easy. He uses the word sufferings to describe the troubles he had experienced in Romans 8:18.

"For I reckon(or consider) that the sufferings of the present time

 are not worthy to be compared with the glory

which will be revealed in us"

What an encouragement that must have been for Paul's sufferings, but what about the suffering of others who he had brought to their faith in Jesus Christ?

Paul talks about troubles of the children of God in his letter to the Corinthians.

"For our light affliction, which is for a moment,

works for us an far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory"

2Corinthians 4:17

So how can this apply to the time in which we live today?

The modern world in which we live in 2013 may believe that we are so much more advanced or that the experiences of the time of Paul would never be possible today. I would have to beg differently as a believer and encourage my brothers and sisters to certainly consider this type of thinking to be deceptive to the greatest degree. Although science and technology have advanced greatly, we are but a few catastrophes away from experiencing life as people did a thousand years or even two thousand years ago.

WANT IT HOT OR COLD?

Who likes their drink at room temperature? Blah!

Most of us order drinks hot or cold, but not room temperature, right?

Before I started my morning study, I followed the aroma into the kitchen to get my first cup of java, but the kitchen was quite cool. As I took my cup out of the cabinet I realized that my nice hot coffee might not even be warm if I placed it in this very cold cup, so I decided to fill the cup with hot water from the sink first. Within just a minute the outside of the cup felt warm and was ready to be used. Now I knew that my drink would stay warm and enjoyable.


It's kind of funny because this brought me right back to the verse that was waiting for me on my phone this morning on Daily Bible app.

"Do not labor for the food which perishes but for food that endures" in John 6:27

I thought it was quite a coincidence that my coffee could have so quickly been ruined had I not conditioned the cup first. My concern was that the vessel be properly prepared so as not to ruin the  very thing that I so desired at this moment. As a believer I have a desire to do what is right, but even greater than this, God has a desire to flow through me as a conditioned vessel for His use each day. How would that conditioning take place, I wonder? If we asked a child this question, they may have a wide variety of answers, but most adults would say that we have to ask Jesus into our hearts.

That is, as a matter of fact, what we see when I read the rest of John 6:27...

"but for the food that endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him."

Jesus, the Son of Man gives us food that endures to everlasting life and it is through the reading of His Word that this is made possible. How else would we receive this from Him?

"Labor for the food that endures to everlasting life" is what John was telling me in this passage.

Labor could also mean "Live", right?

Starting my day out by getting up a little earlier and spending time meditating on the Word of God makes all the difference in how my vessel (mind, body, spirit) gets used each day. So I'm always wanting more of that food that lasts forever; food that conditions my body for God's use. Want to be used by God? Looking for His purpose? Get in the Word and He will use you to do just that!

Live for the everlasting food....in the Word. Selah.

THE APPLE OF HIS EYE

First of all, I want to assure you, "You're not alone!" 

Is it possible that you are going through something right now that leaves you feeling helpless, afraid or...maybe even that recurring feeling of being alone. I understand because I have been there and know how it feels to like a sheep stuck in the briers just waiting to be freed or like a one of those horses that we see from time to time on Youtube or TV that had to be rescued from some hole or waterway. Yes, it can be embarrassing and it it's against our pride to ask for help sometimes. The one thing I can assure you of is that the Lord is waiting for our cry for help. It's not that He doesn't know what is going on so we have to tell Him, but instead it is more like a learning process where we are growing more dependent on Him and believe me, that is exactly what He wants. Even the fearless David, who slew the bear, wrote, "Keep me as the apple of your eye, hide me under the shadow of your wings" in Psalm 17:8. He knew where his comfort and protection originated. David knew to pray in his time of crisis and he did in the form of song.

My daughter has a horse and she picked this one out of all the horses we looked at because he has a spirit that matched hers and she really got excited when she rode him for the first time. I'll never forget as he tried her by attempting to go where he wanted and swinging his head up and down as he moved in an attempt to make her uncomfortable. Why would he do all of this to such an experienced rider, I thought as I watched. The truth was that he hadn't been ridden much and the people who had him were afraid to ride him. I was quite proud of my daughter as she stayed on and he began to calm down, but she found out that all she had to do was give him a little bump in the ribs and he would fly! That's when I saw that she had met her match.

About a month later, as she was getting into the saddle to ride, he began bucking and threw her about 7 feet through the air and onto the ground. She called me so upset that I couldn't understand a word. All I knew was something really bad had happened and I was almost 30 minutes away. Well, I sped back to the pasture in about 15 minutes and found her limping and bruised. I felt so bad for leaving her their with another girl to ride. It was the first time I had allowed her to ride without my presence and then this happened. I felt so bad for not recognizing in advance the danger that my precious child had encountered. She told me later that she agreed to ride with the other girl because I had told her it would be alright. It was then that I realized just how much she depended on my word and my protection from dangers and potential harm.

Since that day I have always been there with her when she rode. As a matter of fact, I made arrangements to put up a fence around the field beside our house. Thanking God for this each day as we look out the window in the morning to see our spirited horse standing there waiting for some attention.
As my daughter has become more familiar with his ways and comfortable riding him, I have begun to go into the house to make dinner while she rides him around the field in the evenings. There is something that I thought she knew, but she said that she had not noticed. I told her recently, "You know when I go inside that I am constantly looking out the window to see that you are still riding and you are alright, don't you?" and she said, "No". I assumed that she could see me stopping in the window to check on her because I saw her look at the house as she passed the opening between the barns. I believe she was looking for me to come back out, but she couldn't see me standing in the window while getting something ready for us to eat.

As I thought about that, I realized that we often see our needs and our troubles as our own and until we tell God all about them, He is not aware of the things we are experiencing. I can assure you that God will never mistakenly leave you in harms way as I did that awful day that my daughter was thrown. David even says that the horses great strength doesn't compare to that of his God in Psalms 33:17-18.

An horse is a vain thing for safety: neither will he deliver any by his great strength. Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy;

Let's hold firmly to the assurance that David had when he declares,

"BEHOLD! The EYE of the LORD is upon those that fear (revere) Him!"

We may not be able to see Him now as He watches over us, just as my daughter who couldn't see that I was closely watching out for her through the kitchen window.
But....we are ALL assured that one day He will appear before us ALL and I believe that day is drawing near my friends. Take time now to Pray. Find hope in His mercy today!

Behold, he comes with clouds;

and every eye will see him,

and they also which pierced him:

and all kindred of the earth will wail because of him.

Even so, Amen. 

I am Alpha and Omega,

the beginning and the ending,

saith the Lord, which is, and which was,

and which is to come, the Almighty.

Revelations 1:7-8

"WHEN VICTORY IS GRANTED" .......Continued

The King's Attitude Shapes the Nation!

The LORD had spoken to Judah; the inhabitants of Jerusalem and king Jehoshaphat saying, "This saith the LORD to you, Be not afraid, nor dismayed because of their great numbers; for the battle is not yours, but God's."

The first thing that the LORD wanted them all to come to realize was that He has the battle taken care of and they would not need to be afraid. What would it be like in each of our lives if we all could experience this whenever something came up that we couldn't handle?

......Continued

The player that catches my attention the most is the one who drops down on one knee and points his or her hand up to God! That is exactly how Jehoshaphat reacted when he knew his victory was sure and it was his humble attitude that also influenced the attitudes of all of Judah and Jerusalem! Just think about how different it would have been for their entire nation if he had started whooping and hollering and praising himself or his nation? But think about it, isn't that what the United States of America has been doing for a long time?
I remember when our military went over to bomb Iraq or Iran and all these songs began to emerge about the US and how proud we were to be an American and about our victory over there when we demolished their military forces. Songs like "Born In the USA","Proud to be an American" and "Bomb Iran" came out and people chanted the words to these songs publicly with a smile on their faces. I saw the pride of our nation begin to swell up it's proud head and the leaders even boasted publicly about how no one will mess with the USA. Think about how different that is from Jehoshaphat's attitude in this passage?

2Chronicles 20:18-19 And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground: and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell before the LORD, worshipping the LORD. And the Levites, of the children of the Kohathites, and of the children of the Korhites, stood up to praise the LORD God of Israel with a loud voice on high.

One of the most influential nations of all time had been influenced by a leader who loved and worshiped God. His attitude of thanks and praise to God showed as the king bowed his head with his face down to the ground worshiping God. The amazing thing is that a nation of people that love God will follow the leadership of a man of God with the right winning attitude!

Whooping and hollering, chest pounding, heads held high or singing songs of pride in the USA doesn't reflect the attitude of a nation that humbled themselves and prayed before offering up songs of praise to the LORD God of Israel. Does it???

 Can you see the difference in the attitudes of the leaders and citizens of our nation today and the attitude of king Jehoshaphat and the nation in this passage? Don't forget the key that makes all the difference between nations as we look back at the end of verse seventeen..."for the LORD will be with you."

In the next post we will look at the outcome of having the right winning attitude and praising the LORD. We'll see what happens with those situations that look so hopeless!

Until then, remember to trust and praise God even when you are surrounded by impossibilities and the people, whose lives you impact, will be watching and following Your example!

"WHEN VICTORY IS GRANTED"

The King's Attitude Shapes the Nation!

The LORD had spoken to Judah; the inhabitants of Jerusalem and king Jehoshaphat saying, "This saith the LORD to you, Be not afraid, nor dismayed because of their great numbers; for the battle is not yours, but God's."

The first thing that the LORD wanted them all to come to realize was that He has the battle taken care of and they would not need to be afraid. What would it be like in each of our lives if we all could experience this whenever something came up that we couldn't handle?

My daughter called me one day about something she was going through and I suggested that she pray and ask God to fight that battle for her. That's when she told me that she had been learning to whisper prayers to God all through the day. What a blessing it was to hear that my daughter had already been doing this at the age of twenty-two.

Oh that we would live like that every day and fear not, nor be dismayed!

The literal Hebrew translation for "dismayed" is to "break down or be confused".  The LORD was saying to those who faced destruction and defeat, "Don't be afraid and don't get confused and break down emotionally (in your thinking) either! Don't give up!"

Let's look at the next thing that the LORD said to Judah through his servant Jahaziel;

2Chronicles 20:16-17 Tomorrow you go down against them: watch for them as they come up by the cliff of Ziz; and you will find them at the end of the brook, before the wilderness of Jeruel. You will not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, you stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them: for the LORD will be with you.

The LORD sent them to the enemy. They had been fasting and trusting in God up to this point. They were told that He would fight the battle for them and they really liked that part of His message.

 Now the LORD is telling them to go out to meet the armies that want to defeat them? Have you ever thought about approaching a situation in your life, when you knew you were certain to lose unless something drastically changed? Not me! Not a chance! But think about this for just a minute! 

What if you knew that no matter what it looked like, you were going to WIN? How do you feel about  situations in your life when you knew you would come out on top? You knew you were sure to win and you probably couldn't wait for that moment to arrive, could you?

Were you experiencing that rush; that thrill of victory? When it happened, did you throw a fist up in the air and shout out without a moments hesitation, "YES!"?

Have you ever noticed the difference in how football players react whenever they score the winning point? They all react differently,don't they? Some of them hold the ball over their heads and point at their chest,showing everyone who should get the praise. Some will turn and bang chests with their team mates and then get carried off the field in praise. Some will even kiss the ball as if it had some great power of it's own. But the player that catches my attention the most is the one who drops down on one knee and points his or her hand up to God!

This is exactly how Jehoshaphat reacted when he knew his victory was certain. His humble attitude and reaction influenced the attitude of all those around him; of Judah and Jerusalem! Just imagine  how different the outcome may have been for the entire nation of Judah and Jerusalem, if Jehoshaphat had started whooping and hollering and praising himself, or maybe even praising HIS NATION? 

But think about it, how do Americans act when we are on top? Do we take the glory? When was the last time that our President gave God any glory for a victory granted? Does it make any difference?

You bet it does!

TO BE CONTINUED....

If you face battles you can't win, with an humble spirit, ask for God's help today. It begins with the humbling of the spirit that God grants us a truely victorious life eternally. God will ultimately cause you to lie down in green pastures.(Psalm 23) He will surely bring you out! Remain steadfast by faith!(Hebrews 11:1) Shalom

"WHEN YOU CAN'T CLAIM YOUR VICTORY"...Continued

Have you ever fought a loosing battle?
There are millions of Americans who are without jobs and the Senate passed and announced a couple of years ago that the unemployment compensation would be cut off for anyone who had been unemployed for six months or longer; leaving many families without any source of income.

Think about how the layoff of thousands of fathers has impacted the lives of everyone, even the single mothers who are raising their children alone and depend on that child support to provide proper care for their children. Think about the businesses that no longer receive business from  thousands of families who are now without any income whatsoever! It's a fearful time for most Americans today!
 Yes, things are looking hopeless and even the wealthy are fearful for their families and their own survival. Couldn't we relate in some ways to the feelings that Judah was going through in chapter 20 of  2Chronicles before they began to fast and pray? I think so!

Maybe you or someone you know seem to be fighting what looks like a losing battle with employment, an illness, a physical recovery, an addiction, disease or emotional abuse of some kind. Those are the kind of battles that we must trust God to win! Those are the battles man cannot fight on his own!

Let me tell you something encouraging now, my brothers, sisters and friends! Let me show you how Jehoshaphat and the people of Judah won the war that was IMPOSSIBLE TO WIN! Let's look at another passage a little further down when the Spirit of the LORD spoke to Jahaziel a Levite, in the middle of the congregation of Judah. Let's see what Jahaziel said;

2Chronicles 20:15 And he said, Hearken you, all Judah, and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you king Jehoshaphat, Thus says the LORD to you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God's.

He said not to be afraid or dismayed because of what you see when you look at your circumstances! Isn't that just how we feel too sometimes? Why did he say this?

He told them that the battle ahead wasn't going to be their battle to fight, but God's!

Your fight to survive illness, injury, loss of job, your financial struggles, your clothing and home are not yours to battle for in the time of hopelessness! You may think it is and you may fight and struggle until you are sick and exhausted and in tears, but the LORD will fight this battle for you if you will follow the recorded demonstration found here. Look at what all of the cities of Judah did thousands of years ago when they made the right choice.

They didn't even raise their hands to fight this battle and they not only won; they went home with treasures that they didn't have before? Isn't that just like our LORD to fight our impossible battles and send us home with something more than we had before? I have personally seen God's hand at work so many times when it seemed like there was no way to win! I know that the LORD will do the same for ANYBODY that turns to HIM! I know he will hear our prayers and attend to our fasting when we are experiencing pain, hunger and see no possibility of winning. Put your trust in the LORD!

Don't be afraid; for the battle is not yours, but God's!

TO BE CONTINUED....
In the next chapter we will look at what the families of Judah were expected to do when the enemy was upon them and how the LORD rewarded their prayer, fasting and obedience.

"WHEN YOU CAN'T CLAIM YOUR VICTORY"

Have you ever felt like you fought a loosing battle?

I know that life can take sudden turns for the worse and when that happens we tend to react with panic, fear and sometimes even feel like running for our lives. Isn't this so true of almost everybody in the world today? Yes, there are still a few unusual people who bow their backs, hold their heads high and will fight on to the death. There are those people who will begin to plan another strategy and another angle of attack to hold off the approaching army, but there are times when even those brave and stubborn people must realize that they too must seek help to win.

In the Word of God we find a King who had just experienced that feeling of fear and panic and just didn't know what he needed to do. His name was Jehoshaphat and he had just been given the message that he was going to be attacked, not by one, not by two, but by three armies. These armies were of the children of Moab, Ammon and the Ammonites. He was informed that the group was of a very great multitude coming from the sea and they were getting closer every minute. Don't you think that this king who had been placed over the children of Israel and had served the Lord in all his ways may have been a pretty fearless kind of guy? After all he had the Lord of all creation on his side! how would you have reacted to this message knowing that you had a much smaller army? Let's read a passage that shows his reaction to this message;

2 Chronicles 20:3-4 And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. And Judah gathered themselves together, to ask help of the LORD: even out of ALL the cities of Judah they came to seek the LORD. (For a way out & direction)

Wow! Can you believe that? It says that Jehoshaphat (the King) feared! What did he fear? He was afraid of the armies headed in his direction and he knew that he was in an impossible situation to escape alive. He couldn't help his feelings of fear and panic, BUT he could help how he responded to the news that had overwhelmed  him at that moment of surprise!

Haven't we all gotten surprises in our lives that shock us and leave us feeling helpless or in a total state of panic? Yes, I have experienced this and I know that anyone alive today has also been through this feeling and some may have even felt this way recently. My friend, let's learn from the reaction of this King to his fearful situation, his helpless situation. He had no hope of winning. He knew he was doomed to loose this battle and also to loose all that he had received from the Lord himself! What did he do though?

He set himself to the LORD! This means that he turned his face to the LORD and turned his attention to the LORD for help. Then he proclaimed to all of his kingdom to fast and pray. You see, the prayer and fasting come before the impossible over and over in the Bible. When I read this my first thought was of how the lack of food would have made the warriors of Judah even weaker physically as the armies of their enemies gained ground towards the great attack on their city. Knowing that they would grow weaker without food and continuing to proceed with the fast was a total move of faith in the LORD. As a matter of fact, it was the only choice that King Jehoshaphat had, that presented any chance of victory in this hopeless situation!

Think about this for a minute! Every life was in jeopardy and their very existence was at stake at this moment of their lives! Is this where you are in your life today? There are millions of people in the US right now that don't know where there sustenance will come from for the next day, week or month.

To be continued....

Hold fast and look to the LORD for a way, find a way to fast and meditate on thanking God for the way He is going to work in your life. Let's see how this situation turns out my next post.

"JUST DO IT!"

REMEMBER THIS FAMOUS NIKE SLOGAN?

I have spent time over the past few weeks enjoying dvds that I just randomly chose from our church library. They were movies about men that I knew little about, so I decided to watch them and learn. As I began to watch these movies one by one, God began to show me that the movies that I had chosen were not just random choices at all. Every movie that I had chosen gave thorough detail of men who had devoted their life to making a difference in the world. Not just part time or on holidays, but literally full time commitment to reaching a lost and hurting world with the truth and hope for a better life.

In the past week as I was talking with my most confident friend, I shared my inner most feelings about the things I had seen and how it made me feel. I have to say openly that I felt as though I had done so little for others in comparison. My life has been mostly devoted to the building of my own security and gain up to about two years ago. God got a hold of my heart and allowed me to see how uncaring the world and the church in general could be to those in desperate need. God showed me this by allowing me to experience what life felt like on the other side of the fence where the grass doesn't even grow and the rivers are dried up. Through the valley of disappointing experiences where I shared my need with others and received only a pat on the back or a promise to pray, I began to see what God wanted to reveal to me. Every one of the people who didn't respond to help with my or my families need for food, shelter, medicine, comfort and compassion reminded me of myself! That's right!  That is exactly how I acted for many years when anybody else shared their needs with me. When it finally sunk in that what I was experiencing was the same way I had treated others for so long, I got down on my knees and cried out to God for forgiveness.

From that moment forward, whenever I saw other people turn and walk away from a person in need of help or encouragement, my God would emphatically remind me, "DON'T YOU EVER DO THAT!", "DON'T LET THAT PERSON CRY OUT TO ME WHEN I HAVE MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR YOU TO GIVE, ENCOURAGE OR PRAY WITH THEM!".

Since then, I have had the blessing of helping and encouraging others who are going through a crisis or spiritual battle in their personal life, but my actions haven't even scratched the surface of what God can do when I, like those men who surrendered themselves totally to His service in this world, do just that!

God wants me to give all I have to His service on this earth and for His glory on earth as it is in heaven. Our reward is promised in heaven if we don't make our treasure on earth.

 God has his own way of showing us the way we should go and the things we should do, but we all have a commission by Jesus to spread the word and care for the hurting. Some will be able to buy the seed, some will plant it, others will water it and a few will go out and harvest it. Jesus knew that the word was already out there when he told his disciples that the fields were ready for harvest. That's why he also said that the world will know his disciples by their love for each other.

What can I say today that would cause my brothers in Christ to show love, except to check your hearts and see if there really is love enough to make a difference. I would exhort you to really seek God to be used to make a difference and God will reveal His will to you. When He does, as Nike urged the world for years, "JUST DO IT!" Here is a short video of a man who has done just that. His movie is available at Redbox called "Machine Gun Preacher". You may not with all of his ways , but God said, "your ways are not my ways". What will You do?

"Like Father, Like Son"

"My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction: For who the LORD loves he corrects; even as a father corrects the son that brings him delight." Proverbs3:11-12

This passage was treasured and preserved of the writings of King Solomon. I wondered as I read these words if, indeed Solomon was writing this for his son. Such a message of guidance would have been long remembered, especially if it was delivered following a time of fatherly correction in his son's life. What was it that was most important though for his son to remember?

The chastening of the LORD will come and His never failing correction will happen in a man's life as he is maturing and learning to be the man God had intended. It was the attitude that Solomon was addressing in this record of his writings. "Don't get angry and hate or despise the LORD's correction and chastening", but "Why not?" his son may have asked. "My son, if the LORD corrects you it's because He loves you just like I love you and am proud when you choose to do what is right!"

How powerful a message is that to our sons and daughters! But in this day that we live in the counselors, advisers and specialists are afraid to use this wisdom because it is all too rooted in the principals and teachings of the Bible. Instead the child is left to figure it out for themselves without any kind of role model or correction in the home. Modern psychology says to leave them alone so they can have their space or else they may become rebels or even run away. My response to this teaching would be, "How is that working out for you?". I admit, even I followed some of those professional words of wisdom found through counseling and school. And yes, I experienced the results first hand of this world view in my personal life with one of my children. If you have been there yourself to see the anger and hurt in the eyes of your child after following this advice, you know how little delight there is in this kind of relationship. I'm sharing this with parents now because it literally took years to find the truth and wisdom from God's word that gave me the answer to having a delightful child.

But first and foremost, the LORD chastised and corrected me, His son. He helped me to change my attitude of anger and despising correction when it was necessary. As I remember going through this process, it was knowing that He loved me and gave Himself for me that kept me coming back for more of His wisdom. Our children will do the same as we teach them and correct them when they need it, teaching them about the patience and love of our LORD through our own actions. Actions speak louder than words!

There is only one verse in the entire Bible where you will find the words "son" and "delight" mentioned together, but in this one and only verse containing these two words there is another of critical importance; the word "correct". Receive these wise words and lay aside the influence of our modern day thinking; as the media has been calling it lately, "the new norm". Beware my brothers and sisters, even Jesus warns us of the "new" world views that water down the words of Jesus found in the original scriptures.

"Correct your son, and he will give you rest; 

yes, he will give delight to your soul." Proverbs29:17

Shalom

FRUITFUL PARENTING

Posted on February 6, 2011 @ focusontheheart.org ("heart for the home" page)

How in the world can we be fruitful in a barren world?

Fruitful parenting comes with consistently loving, teaching and living according to the core values that we know in our heart to be true and right before God. As we find in the first few verses written by David in the book of Psalms, where he describes a tree that is planted by the rivers of water; he begins to tell us all about the man or woman that is blessed. Then David tells us in the second verse about the thing that makes this person happy and how he never ceases to meditate on this all through the day. He even says that it's on their minds all night! Let's look at David's message to us all in the first chapter of Psalms;

"Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth(abiding) in the way(course of life) of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat(spend time abiding with) of the scornful(one who mocks or scoffs). 2 But his delight(valuable thing) is in the law(precepts) of the LORD; and in his law(in His precepts) doth he meditate(they ponder) day and night." ~ Psalms 1:1-2

David was talking about the core values of a man or woman who was blessed by God. This blessed man or woman that he spoke of here wouldn't entertain the idea of receiving counsel from an ungodly person about anything that had to do with his heart, mind or soul. Neither would they find themselves following after or abiding in the sinful course of life. This describes the people we meet or maybe even some of our friends who would tempt us to join with them in fulfilling the desires of the flesh for a short season. Beware my brothers and sisters where you find yourself abiding, not only in the day, but in the nighttime too! This is exactly why it's so important; as the great Psalmist begins this awesome book of songs with divine guidance from his God Almighty to meditate day and night on the Word of God. Then David tells us that this blessed man or woman doesn't spend their time abiding with those assemblies, populations or in the dwellings of those who have become scorners or mockers of who? Mockers of the man who's core values are found in the LORD.
Oh no, the blessed man or woman will not find themselves in any of those places, but rather in the precepts of the LORD! I don't know for sure about you, but I have felt that some of the laws that we have been forced to live by in the U.S. have been unacceptable. Yet we are made to follow them, even though they may violate our core values as holy children of Christ. For example, the liquor laws, the abortion laws, the laws about open pornography and nudity on TV as well as the internet. What about the laws protecting the rights of the criminal who repeatedly chooses to abuse the minds of other adults and helpless children? Then there's the laws that affect what can and cannot be mentioned in the schools, government facilities and clinics of OUR LAND! All of these are precepts made by and for our country to follow and if you don't respect and abide by them, you'll be punished under the law. Are these laws productive or are they destructive? Does the LORD GOD Almighty look upon our land with joy or are His eyes filled with tears today?

THANK GOD that His precepts will never bring a parent or child harm. God's laws will never bring shame and reproach to the population of the blessed! I have a leader and LORD who gives me laws(precepts) that bring value to my home, my life and the lives of my children!

Now that we have taken time to ponder this vital introduction to the book of Psalms; we see David's inspiration to write concerning the importance of where we place our core values and learn how to welcome God's blessings into our dwellings as parents. Couples, single moms and dads, separated parents and widows, we can all learn from David's message today; pondering the precepts of God; receiving the blessed life and every parent has the equal opportunity to pass this lesson and blessing on to our children too! Our fruitfulness as a mom or dad must begin in our hearts and in our home as we hold to our core values and see our children doing the same!

"Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. 5 Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it (His desires) to pass." ~Psalms 37:4-5

*Literal translations from Strong's Hebrew & Greek Dictionary in parenthesis (*)

AWAKE - Be Strong Cont.

Doing the right thing requires strength!

It is so easy to agree with the scriptures concerning relationship and then go right on with our life as usual. That is not only a sign that we are asleep but also that we may be doing the things we do for our mates with the wrong attitude. Let's take a look, while continuing in the third chapter of Colossians, at the attitude that we are to have when we do things for each other.

Colossians 3:22,23 - Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God: 23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as unto the Lord, and not unto men;

You're probably saying to yourself by now, wait a minute, I'm not a servant! But think about this for a minute; didn't Jesus teach us to serve others? Why wouldn't that apply to our relationships at home too? I bet that was one of the first things that God taught Adam and Eve while they were out walking together in the mornings of that very first week in the Garden of Eden. I bet the temperature was perfect and the sun was just the right distance away that they didn't even break a sweat. They probably enjoyed every minute of every day!

You know what else! I'm not a betting man, but I would be willing to bet that Eve was so pleased with Adam as he served her like he was suppose to as her husband. I would also bet that Adam was just as happy because Eve served him with the right heart attitude also as his wife? This was not only the first marriage on earth, but it was the perfect marriage designed and created by the God of all our universe!

Why then, when men and women attempt to live like that, does something happen that creates friction between us? Well, we have to examine our motives and ask ourselves ,"Am I attempting to serve as unto the Lord or am I serving as unto people?". This can apply to parent/child as well.  As a servant in my home I must become humble and bring peace to my family. How? By reminding myself of the most important part of this passage. Take notice, it starts out with a command and then we learn how to live it out in our relationships successfully.

We are instructed that a servant is to obey their master. From a man's perspective I was thinking, "How would that apply to our relationship with our wife or children?".  But then it kind of sunk in slowly as I finished reading the rest of the passage. Who is my Master, I thought to myself? Who is your Master? Who do you serve in life? Then it hit me! Jesus talks all through the scriptures about how we can only serve one master, right? If you think that I am going to tell you to start calling each other "Master", I'm not. But, just imagine for a minute what a difference it would make if we treated each other as if they were the master and we were their servant?

So it got a little more confusing as I thought about the passage that says, Don't be a person pleaser using the eyes to give favor; BUT in singleness of heart fearing God. I am to do the best I can with sincerity; but fearing God alone because He alone is our only Master and we are to do it as unto Him. Wow! What kind of difference would it make if we would remember that it is God, our only Master, that we are serving every time we stop to do something for our mates, our family and our friends?

I imagine Adam and Eve before the fall of sin, feeling the perfect joy of serving God when they reached out to serve and care for each other. Try it! Serve God as you reach out to care for family and friends, I guarantee that you will experience that perfect joy as well.

One last point from passage that will strengthen our relationships is concerning the heart.

Some people can act so awesome whenever anyone is around to notice, but at home they may exibit a proud and self-centered attitude. That is what we are told not to be like when this passage tells us not to be eyepleasers. Be careful, men and women, husbands and wives, when you take notice of another man or woman that's always serving people in the eye of the public. Not that it is wrong to behave this way, but we should be focused on our own mates and what we can do to serve that special person that God has put into our lives. It is easy to put on an act in public, but your mate will know if you are doing things heartily (with your whole heart) by the way that you act in private! So, beware of this deceitful temptation to become men pleasers as this way of living doesn't follow the teachings of our Lord, our only true Master. We must do ALL that we do for the Lord and our mates will know without a doubt that they are truly appreciated and loved!

Luke 16:13 - No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other; or else he will hold to the one and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.(wealth)

"AWAKE" - A Strong Home

Author-Robert Bailes

DETERMINE TO HAVE A STRONG HOME

When it comes to relationships, they're all different in some way or another, but there are certain principles in a relationship that apply to every person alive today. These principles were established by our creator, our God. It is so important to pay attention to them and adhere to what God has laid down for us in order to avoid the consequences that follow when we rebel and choose our own ways, rather than the way our Lord God Almighty planned for us.

When we say that God is love; we must also realize that He is the Master of love and therefore, His divine Word is not going to tell us something that would guide us into a relationship full of hatred, conflicts and abuse. So I tell you once more as we begin to discover and explore the ingredients that make a Strong Home, AWAKE! Pay close attention and get ready to start filling up those half full love tanks! Could it be that your ship has been tossed around in the storms of life and that your love tank is so empty that the engine isn't even running and you are just drifting through life with no direction or purpose? If so, don't abandon ship yet! Hold on tight and let's find out, as we explore God's Word, how you can begin to refuel your relation"ship" and get your engines running full throttle again!

A house is a place, but a home is made of people. A Godly home is a home where people are living their Christian faith each day.

I spent about twelve years of my life, following my college days, building homes of all types. There were houses with only a couple of bedrooms made of average building materials and there were homes that were large enough to house several families made of a nicer grade material. Then there were what we call mansions. These homes took almost a year to build and the materials were ordered special from all over the globe. One couple even went overseas to find a house with the type of chimney they wanted for their home. They then took the mason and showed him their choice so he could build it over here in the United States. Regardless of how much each home owner spent on materials, whether it be thousands or millions of dollars, the cheapest was just as much a house as the most expensive was a house. The more expensive house was a better house because of the quality of the products used, but it did cost allot more than the houses built with the lower quality products. It costs more to have a better house because the quality of the products are better. Many people appear to be working hard on their home life, but they are using the wrong materials.

In Colossians, chapter three,verses fifteen through twenty-one, the Bible says, " And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them. Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord. Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged."

THREE HOMES WE ALL NEED

Everyone should have three homes. We need to know that we have a heavenly home. If we have asked the Lord to forgive our sin and received Him by faith, we have a heavenly home.

We all need to have a good church home. Please, don't underestimate the power and influence of a good, Bible believing, Bible preaching church. We know that Paul taught us that Jesus is the foundation and the head of the church, but we can't have strong churches without having strong families. Interestingly enough, we can't have strong homes either, without a good church home. They work together hand in hand.

Not only do we need a heavenly home and a good church home, but we need a Godly Christian home. I have seen Satan's hand at work in homes everywhere and it is so important to build our homes of the things that will withstand his attacks. Let's look at how to build a strong home and what it takes to do this!

WHAT DEFINES A CHRISTIAN HOME?

There are many who claim to be Christian and even have a testimony of salvation, but don't have a Christian home. You may be thinking, how can that be? Well, let's look at what makes a Christian home.

Some of you may say,"My husband is a Christian. Doesn't that make my home a Christian home?". Or you may be saying the same about the wife or mother of the home. You might even attend church faithfully, but these things do not make a Christian home.

Let's look at the text in verses twelve through thirteen of chapter three in Colossians and we will discover the vital ingredients of a Christian home. In this passage, seven things are listed for us to have in our homes. Let's consider them carefully: "Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long suffering; forbearing one another and forgiving one another..."

After giving us these seven ingredients to apply, the Lord covers them all up with something like a glue that holds all the other ingredients together. This is the bond of Christian love that is the most important ingredient to apply to our homes. We find this in verse fourteen,"And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness."

Have you ever come across a home that was built with average materials and during construction of the home something went wrong and the house was never quite finished. You could see that the house was left there through the winter and summer without the final coatings applied. As those average materials that were used to build that home were exposed to the elements of nature, without the proper protection they began to curl and swell and fall apart. It wasn't too long before the walls began to crack inside and the ceilings began to stain from the leaks of an unprotected roof as well.

It is like that house that was built and then left unprotected without the final materials that may have seemed to be insignificant at the time; we also can find the value of protecting our homes. We must protect our home with the ingredient valued above all other ingredients if we want to build a Godly Christian home. What God has valued above all else is LOVE! We must ask ourselves; each and every one of us, "Do I have the love that God has placed so much value on? Is my home strong?". Are the materials (mercy, kindness, humbleness, meekness, long suffering, forgiveness) that my house is made of, going to be bond together when the difficult seasons of life arrive? Could it be that my house going to begin to curl and fall apart or show stains of leaking because of the lack of the one ingredient that God valued above all the others? We must ask ourselves, "Is my home protected by the covering of Love, which is the bond of perfectness?"

AWAKENING!

PRAISE OUR ALMIGHTY GOD TODAY!
PRAISE HIS NAME ON HIGH!
PRAISE HIM FOR HIS MERCY!

LET US SING, "AWAKE MY SOUL, LET YOUR WILL BE DONE IN ME!"

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

"AWAKE" - Introduction

By Robert Bailes

IT IS HIGH TIME TO AWAKE!
As newly married couples join hearts and hands in marriage, there are far too often those who feel they have the privilege of offering their two cents to the couple, even before the wedding reception is over. The traditional quotes and riddles with hidden meanings are passed on by those who have fallen asleep at the helm of their love boat, so to speak.

Most of those couples who have been together for years will tell them that the honeymoon will soon pass and reality will begin to sink in, so get ready! Isn't that a wonderful thought to leave a couple with right after they have married? The reason that this goes on generation after generation is because these couples have fallen asleep at the helm of their love boat.

They no longer feel like they once did because their love boat fuel tanks are empty or running on their last gallon of fuel. When the waves come and rock their boat around, that last little bit of fuel is still there but isn't quite enough to keep the motor from sputtering. The tank is very large and could hold hundreds of gallons of fuel, but that last gallon is swished back and forth past the fuel pump, allowing only enough fuel to barely keep their love boat running in the storm. So they share their experience with the newly weds as a forecast of days ahead in their relationship, almost as though it is normal and to be expected.

The facts are that this type of relationship between a husband and wife is not what God intended and there is a clear and decisive way for couples to avoid falling asleep at the helm and allowing their tanks to run dry. There are clearly defined principles to apply to our lives that will prevent a couple from finding themselves stranded and at the mercy of the storms in their lives. Instead of just hoping for the storms to pass, they will have the fuel and the navigational equipment necessary to move through the storm. When they come out of the storm, they will be on the same course that they were on before the storm and will have also made some progress along the way.

You might be thinking to yourself, "How can I tell if I have fallen asleep at the helm?". Most people, awake or asleep, think that they are doing alright in all of their relationships, but take heed! Paul is talking to believers in the book of Romans when he gives us this warning to "Awake" and this series of messages will show us just how our lives will change when we wake up; at home, at church and in the community around us. I have learned first hand, the things that I will share with you in this series and how applying the principles that Paul teaches us in the thirteenth chapter of Romans will bring a change in your relationships at home, in the community and even in your worship with God.

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


Now it is HIGH TIME! That means that the HOUR is here and the time is NOW. People just roll over and go back to sleep in relationships all to often. I must agree with the apostle Paul when he says, "IT IS HIGH TIME TO AWAKE FROM OUR SLEEP!" Verse twelve says,"The night is far spent", that means it is later than you may think! I want to tell you that it is later in this age than you may think! I believe that Jesus Christ is at the threshold and I believe that the trumpet is about to sound and Jesus Christ is going to come soon and it is only the restraining hand of Almighty God that has kept the floodgates of evil closed as much as they have been. It may be later in your life than you think! You only have so many more days or hours left to serve the Lord Jesus. James 4:14 says,"What is your life but a vapor that appeared for a little with and then vanished away"!

It's later in the day of opportunity than you may think. We have opportunities now that are unparalleled to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ. Jesus said when he was here on earth in John 9:4, "I must work the works of Him that sent me while it is day, the night cometh when no man can work!" There are allot of things you can do here on this earth, but there's one thing we won't be able to do in heaven and that is to win souls to Christ.

There are several things that I pray that everyone who hears this message will do, that the apostle Paul urges us to do in this passage and the first one is to "WAKE UP"!

God's alarm clock is going off all around us!
A young man asked his pastor one Sunday if there was a good prayer that he could pray whenever he came to the service and his pastor said,"Yes, Now I lay me down to sleep".

It's time that we wake up. So many times we are like Sampson, asleep in the lap of Delilah. When we wake up and go out to shake ourselves, it's without the spirit's power. How do we wake up? Not by hitting the snooze button; we have to wake up and get up! Get busy doing the things that you are purposed to do in your life!

Wake Up! Get Up! Husbands and wives, grab the wheel of your boats and get ready to fuel up and apply the principles we will find in the series of messages I have titled "AWAKE!".

IT'S HIGH TIME TO AWAKE! LET'S GO!

HOW CAN I DESCRIBE MY GOD?

TAKE TIME TO ENJOY THIS VIDEO TODAY ABOUT THE AWESOME GOD WE LOVE & SERVE!

"CLICK HERE TO BEGIN"

AS YOU WAKE UP EACH MORNING, MAY THE PEACE OF GOD DWELL IN YOUR HEARTS!

COMING SOON! A new series of lessons on relationships entitled "AWAKE!".

"Oh Lord, It's Hard To Be Humble"

Your Faith Will Give You Testimony - Continued


By Rob Bailes



John 9:16-18
16 Therefore said some of the Pharisees, This man is not of God, because he keeps not the sabbath day. Others said, How can a man that is a sinner do such miracles? And there was a division among them.
17 They say unto the blind man again, What say thou of him, that he hath opened thine eyes? He said, He is a prophet.
18 But the Jews did not believe concerning him, that he had been blind, and received his sight, until they called the parents of him that had received his sight.

I believe that John made a point in verse sixteen to let us know that there was a division among these people. I can guarantee you that there is going to be some kind of division between the people in a congregation where the leaders are proud and hold strong to their own opinions. Please take notice that I said, "their own opinions"!
Jesus and his disciples had been teaching His followers to not be proud, but rather to humble themselves and love one another. Is it really possible to love someone else while looking down on them with criticism? I find it very hard to feel love and compassion for others when I am the one who is judging them. Let's read where Luke documents the words of Jesus concerning the matter of us judging one another.

Luke 6:37 Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:

Chapter sixth of Luke gives so much guidance in this matter of love, compassion and mercy towards others. As a matter of fact, Jesus gave a parable about a blind man leading a blind man in this chapter. That parable was teaching us about being humble and why we shouldn't judge. Isn't it interesting that Jesus used the blind leading the blind man; symbolic of one who is proud and judgmental of others? Someone who is telling others what to do with their life when they themselves ignore the teachings of Jesus is like a man who sees the mote in his brother's eye and offers to pull it out, but he isn't aware that he has a beam in his own eye!

Jesus says, "Thou hypocrite, cast out the beam that is in your eye first and then you'll see clearly to pull the mote out of your brother's eye." Keep this in mind, my friend, when someone begins to point out the faults in your life and you begin to feel defensive. It's easy for us to fall into the same trap of judging others when this happens. We feel that we need to defend ourselves or our family when someone points out faults, even if it is true. Keep the last sentence of Luke 6:37 in mind when this happens! "Forgive and you will be forgiven!" I know that Jesus spoke these words many years ago, so that we would apply them to our lives today and remember not to fall into this trap. Once the judging and criticism starts, it is very hard to stop.

Even in marital relationships, the fault finding and judging can get started and it will continue to fester and escalate until someone humbles themselves and is willing to ask for forgiveness and to forgive their spouse for the things that were said out of pride and defence. Maybe this is happening in your home, even today between you and your spouse or between you and your teenager! If so, go to Luke 6 and let the words of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ guide you today!

Let's go back to our main passage in John and look at the next thing that happens when the Jews called the blind man's parents,

John 9:19-22
19 And they asked them, saying, Is this your son, who ye say was born blind? how then does he now see?
20 His parents answered them and said, We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind:
21 But by what means he now sees, we know not; or who hath opened his eyes, we know not: he is of age; ask him: he shall speak for himself.
22 These words spake his parents, because they feared the Jews: for the Jews had agreed already, that if any man did confess that he was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue.

Isn't that absolutely amazing, my friend? The parents of the blind man acted as though they were ignorant of what had happened to their son. Yet they knew he could now see! They had seen him and knew it was their son! They could now testify that he was blind since birth but now he could see! Why then were they afraid to tell the truth about the one who had healed their son?

Look at verse twenty-two and you will see that what they feared was that they would be put out of the synagogue; AND FOR WHAT REASON? The Jews in their pride had judged Jesus and they agreed together to put any man out of the synagogue (temple) if he confessed that Jesus was "Christ"! Another words, they had their own opinions and didn't accept the truth and would punish anyone who stood up for it! If you have ever found yourself being silenced or getting picked on for speaking the truth found in God's Word, it is likely that you are being judged by those people who have become arogant with pride in their heart rather than love and mercy. Just remember though, that Jesus told us to condemn not and to forgive in Luke 6:37! Don't go on the defence, but rather love, forgive and show mercy to those who judge you. It may sound totally absurd according to the world's rules and according to some of the success or positive speakers of our day, but it is the guidance given us by our true Shepard, Jesus Christ!

There is no religious organization or person that will keep me from declaring that Jesus is Christ! People can judge me; take away my membership; turn their back on me; fire me; ridicule and criticise me; point blame; remind me of my past mistakes; abuse and torture me and even threaten to take my life if I claim Jesus as my Christ, but I cannot DENY MY LORD as CHRIST! Jesus gave His life for me that I may have Life and have it more abundantly!

In John 10:9-11 Jesus says,
9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.
10 The thief comes not , but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd gives his life for the sheep.

I pray that you will always share with others the testimony that Jesus is your Christ and what He has done for you! If you haven't ever come to the place in your life when you have confessed Jesus Christ as your Savior, but you would like to receive Him right now as your personal Savior, God will forgive your past and receive you as His child in the family of God. Don't let your foolish pride keep you from the most wonderful thing that God offers us all; eternal life in Heaven one day and His Spirit to live in you and care for you on this earth. Talk with God right now and tell Him what's on your heart. It's very simple.

Repent of your life of sin in the past; tell Him you want Him to be YOUR Savior from this day forward and believe that Jesus is God's son who was raised from the dead after giving His life on the cross to pay for the sins of our world!

Once you have prayed this prayer and received Christ, I would love to pray for you and send you some helpful information and resources that would help you learn more on your own. Just email me: rbailesnc@yahoo.com or call me at (919)621-9930. I look forward to hearing from you today! God bless you.

"NO DOUBT, IT'S A MIRACLE!"

"Your Faith Gives You Testimony" - Continued

By Rob Bailes

How could someone who truly believes in Jesus find fault with a person who displays living proof that Jesus truly has radically changed their life? Why would anyone question this new believer when they have claimed that Jesus gave them the Truth and New Life?

Let's look at what the people said to the blind man when he came back to town!

John 9:9-11
9. Some said, This is he: others said, He is like him: but he said, I am he.
10 Therefore said they unto him, How were thine eyes opened?
11 He answered and said, A man that is called Jesus made clay, and anointed mine eyes, and said unto me, Go to the pool of Siloam, and wash: and I went and washed, and I received sight.

Theologians could write many different lessons about this passage alone. But today, let's apply what has just happened in this passage to our own lives and how we treat someone who has received Christ that has been labeled by the sin in their lives.

I'm not talking about someone who has broken a rule every now and then. Ordinarily, the "law keepers" or the "good guys" are easily accepted into the church and falls right into place among the believers following conversion.

Instead, let's think about the unsaved teen who has been on the church prayer list for years or the unsaved person who has been hooked on drugs or alcohol for years.

Let's think about the unsaved person who has covered their body with tattoos that symbolize the destructive desires of the flesh or the unsaved person who you have seen walking the streets in town late at night selling drugs or even their own body.

Let's think about the unsaved woman who has a reputation for their involvement in the porn scene online or the unsaved husband on your church prayer list who is hooked on Internet porn or gambling.

Let's also think about the unsaved men and women trapped in the cycle of homelessness who ride the bus to your church from the mission downtown. Those people who show the signs of stress and exposure to the elements in their sad faces when they try to smile and say hello as everyone is greeting each other.

Yet you may have turned away quickly to avoid contact with this person who has come seeking what you claim to have already found by the grace of God alone.

You see, my friend, we are all just a day away from any of these situations! The events that take place in our lives before we receive the Spirit of God could easily lead us into a life of destruction; just like all of those above that I just asked you to think about.

If you had lost everything; if you had been abused; if your parents had been hooked on any of the addicting substances; if someone had seduced you; if someone had convinced you try the perverted acts of fornication or adultery; if you had been used by someone who didn't care about you in ways that would effect the way you felt about yourself; if you had been verbally abused by someone that was dear to you. If any of these things had happened to you, you may have very well been in that person's shoes today.

Maybe it has happened to you and you have walked in that person's shoes; maybe you are still struggling to break free of the past. This is exactly what we see when we read this passage about the blind man, because the people who knew about his past really didn't believe it was possible for him to instantly receive his sight.

He had been blind all his life! How could he possibly have such a radical change take place? That is exactly what those who knew him were going to ask.

Isn't that what happens sometimes when someone receives the transforming grace and mercy of God into their lives? Those who remember them the way they were cannot understand how this change is possible, so they ask questions and they keep asking questions, because they have a hard time understanding how Jesus could perform such a dramatic change in someone with such a history of sin and sickness.

Have you ever been at a church meeting when someone leaned over and quietly informed you of the past sin of someone else at the service who had recently been converted to Christ? It is at this moment that we begin to see them as these people saw the blind man; that is with doubt and disbelief. It's our nature and we have a sinful nature that prefers to judge others; to place labels on others, so that we feel better about ourselves.

Jesus Christ told us to love our enemies and pray for those who despitefully use us! Jesus tells us that when we believe in him, our life will produce the Fruit of the Spirit described in chapter five of Galatians.

Is your life producing the Spirit's fruit today? Better go and read this chapter if your not sure!

John 9:10-12
10 Therefore said they unto him, How were thine eyes opened?
11 He answered and said, A man that is called Jesus made clay, and anointed mine eyes, and said unto me, Go to the pool of Siloam, and wash: and I went and washed, and I received sight.
12 Then said they unto him, Where is he? He said, I know not.

The people who knew him asked him "HOW" his eyes were opened? They didn't ask who, but rather how! They wanted him to explain the supernatural and we often expect the very same thing when we quiz a new believer on "how" they were transformed, even when it is evident that they have become a new person!

The Pharisees questioned miracles, initiating doubt and taking away from the glory of God.

Let's watch ourselves when we see someone who is radically changed by God, that we don't do or say anything that will cause doubt and give glory to our spirits. Just as young children are easily swayed, so are the young believers easily swayed until they become grounded in the Word of God. This is a time to nurture and protect them from the outside influences of satan's attacks.

I love what the blind man said to those who asked him "How?". He courageously gave HIS TESTIMONY! He told his story of exactly what had happened! No, he didn't know "HOW", but he knew "what" Jesus had told him to do and he did it in obedience and faith!

I suggest that we go back and read verse eleven before we move on!

The next thing we see happening is the people began to ask him where they could find Jesus. Let's look at what is said in verses twelve through sixteen of the ninth chapter of John's gospel.

John 9:12-16
12 Then said they unto him, Where is he? He said, I know not.
13 They brought to the Pharisees him that aforetime was blind.
14 And it was the sabbath day when Jesus made the clay, and opened his eyes.
15 Then again the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. He said unto them, He put clay upon mine eyes, and I washed, and do see.
16 Therefore said some of the Pharisees, This man is not of God, because he keeps not the sabbath day. Others said, How can a man that is a sinner do such miracles? And there was a division among them.


They wanted to see for themselves who had done this wonder, but the blind man had no idea where Jesus had gone. So some of the people decided it was time to pass judgement on him since he couldn't produce the evidence they needed to prove his story. Hmm? Does this sound a little familiar? When something amazing happens to someone you know and they share it with you, how do you react? Are you excited or sceptical? Do you trust that it is real or do you start prying with doubtful questions to find a weak point in their story, so you can discredit the ability of a miracle in their life?

I know you don't like me asking all of these provoking questions today, but it is just as true in my life as I write this lesson, as it could be in your life. Let's humble ourselves, as we think back on the times when we have had the opportunity to rejoice over the divine transformation of someone trapped in a life of corruption and perversion; someone who came to receive Christ.

Did you rejoice? How long did your rejoicing last? What did you think about that person the next time you saw them? Did you ever doubt they were truly and miraculously changed by God's Word and His awesome Spirit?

Remember my friend, the fruit of the Spirit is just that!

Not by our power or by the power of our minds, but only by the power of the Holy Spirit can we produce love, joy, peace, long suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, temperance and meekness!

I had planned to conclude this lesson today, but God always seems to give me more than I plan to write, so we will continue this again tomorrow. I had been out of town this past week helping my father who had eye surgery and I apologize for the delay in posting the messages. I plan to continue a daily posting on this devotion site for the glory of God and your blessing!