The Survivor

There are a lot of tools for survival available . Tv shows that show how to survive in all kinds of situations.We all must feel like survivors some days. The pace, costs, struggles, and relationships of life can make us feel as though our heads are barely above water. However when we become Christians we come to realize that we are not merely survivors in this old world. Paul reminds us that as Christians we are more than conquerors. How? Through Him that loved us! To realize that nothing , absolutely nothing, can separate us from the Fathers love as demonstrated by Christ Himself is life changing. Embracing that truth allows us to live the abundant life here and now… Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. Romans 8:37

The City That God Built

Abraham looked for a city that had foundations, whose Builder and Maker was God. Well, he surely found it. It cost him a lot, but it was a paying proposition. Wonderful city! It has twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels. On the east, three gates; on the north, three gates; on the south, three gates; and on the west, three gates. The gates shall not be closed by day; so they are never closed, as it is an eternal day. There are plenty of gates. We can enter if well prepared.

But the gates are well guarded by the angels. Nothing that defileth shall enter into the city. It is quarantined against sin. It is a holy city for holy people. In this city there are no more tears, pain, sorrow, or death. There are no hospitals or graves. The inhabitants never say, “I am sick.” They never grow old.

Here the river of life flows, and the tree of life bears twelve kinds of fruit and yields her fruit every month. God’s servants serve Him, and they see His face, and His name is in their foreheads. It is the city Abraham set out to find and, thank God, he succeeded. It is the place Christ went to prepare for His own, and from which He will come again and receive us unto himself. It is our eternal home. Christ is the only way to it. May we not miss it at any cost!

William Moses Tidwell,

The Harvest

This time of year is very special. It is the time of the final harvest before winter.The leaves will begin to turn as we get into fall of the year.It is a very beautiful season and my favorite. When we have harvested the final crops and are ready for winter there is a time of rest a time to enjoy what God has given us. I know that everyone is not a farmer but we all have a stake in the harvest. Look for the harvest moon this year and marvel at how beautiful God has made it. This time of harvest and gathering reminds me of a verse from Matthew 9:38 Pray ye therefore the Lord of harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest. We should always remember to work in Gods fields and work to gather in the lost…

Who Are We?

I am truly bothered by some things that are going on today. We seemed to have forgotten who we are and why we are here. We are all can be Gods children. I know that some are not living for Him that is a choice. However God still loves everyone regardless of who you are or where you come from. Anyone can  become a child of God. If we believe that Jesus is Gods Son and shed His blood  and died on the cross so we could be saved, repent and ask  forgiveness; then we can be Gods children. For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23. For whosoever call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. Romans 10:13..We are all here for a purpose and it is God given.

God, All Knowing Story

I once heard the story about a little fellow who spent his summers with his sister on his grandparent’s farm. They would go to the farm in the summertime and spend the summer riding horses, playing with the cows, and running in the woods. The just had a real big time. On day the little boy decided he would make a slingshot. He got where he was quite an expert at hitting things with it. So, he looked out and there was his grandmothers prize goose. And he thought to himself, “I wonder if I could hit that goose?”

He got a big rock and he put it in his slingshot and took dead aim at his grandmother’s goose. Sure enough he hit that goose right on the head and he killed it and he knew he was in trouble. So he said to himself, “I’d better dig a hole and bury it before anyone finds out.”

So he dug a hole and put the goose into it and he was covering the goose over when he heard his sister say, “I caught you, I caught you, I caught you! I saw what you did. I was you kill grandmother’s goose and I’m going to tell on you!” She really had him. I mean she really had that poor fellow and she made life miserable for him. When it was her turn to get the water, he had to go get it because he was being blackmailed. When it was her time to bring in some wood for the stove, he had to do it because he feared she would tell on him.

She just made life miserable for him. He was guilty and he knew he was guilty. He was under condemnation and the guilt of what he had done. It began to eat away at him and finally he just couldn’t stand it anymore. It was just eating him alive and tearing his little heart up.

Finally, one day he went running into grandma’s room. He threw himself into her arms and said, “Oh, grandmother. I killed your goose. I did it. I didn’t think the rock would kill it. I buried the goose and I have been so afraid that sister was going to tell you that I just can’t stand it! Would you please forgive me for killing your goose?”

His grandmother said, “Why son, I was looking out the window and I saw you kill that goose. I have know you did it all this time. I just wanted you to come and ask me to forgive you for it.”..Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Psalm 51:10

- Jerry Vines

Perfect?

If we apply the definition of the English word perfect to what Jesus said we are in trouble. Any dictionary will define perfect as complete, without flaw, and faultless.Try as we may to cover up our shortcomings, we know they are still there. So we throw up our hands and say No Way! Only Jesus was perfect. God knows I can never be perfect.The word translated perfect in Jesus’ statement can also mean mature or full grown. As we grow in our christian lives, we should strive toward  ever higher levels of maturity in our faith. Our Heavenly Father, of course is the essence of perfection, and He is our goal..1John 3:2  Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be. But we know that when He shall be revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.

Are We Listening?

Obey is not a very popular word today. Obedience requires a willingness to  submit to a higher authority. In today’s  culture of pride and self importance this trait is becoming a very rare commodity. The word obey in the Bible, book of Genesis, also means to hear. There is a big difference to listen and to actually hear. We can set in church and listen to words  from the preacher, or we can actually hear what he is saying or as they say know where he is coming from. Sometimes obedience may call for sacrifice of something very important to us. Abraham was obediant to God when he was asked to sacrifice his son. Though being obedient to God can sometimes be painful it has a great reward. As the old hymn goes Trust and obey for there is no other way to be happy in Jesus…Genesis 22:18  And in your Seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.

Physically Fit?

We as Americans spend a great deal of time and money trying to keep our human body physically fit and attractive. Millions of dollars are spent on health foods, exercise equipment and spas, beauty products and medical supplies and treatment. While this may enable us to maintain better health and quality of life for a longer period of time, body cells will continue to die, the body will age and degenerate over time and there is really nothing we can do to prevent its ultimate demise. The house in which the earthly body lives  is only temporary. If we believe we need not be discouraged, for we know that when we leave this earthly home behind we will have a home in Heaven which is eternal…John 14:2-3  In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
3  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, so that where I am, you may be also. Maybe we should make a greater effort to build up our spiritual bodies for eternity..

Be Found Faithful?

What if Jesus visited today at 3:00 p.m.? What would He find us doing? would we be hard at work doing our jobs to the best of our ability? Would we be lifting someone up with a word of encouragement or carrying part of his or her load? Would we be doing an act of kindness for someone without expecting  anything in return? I’m sure with a little warning each of us could be found faithful. However Matthew told us Jesus would return at an hour we don’t know. Matthew 24:42 Therefore watch; for you do not know what hour your Lord comes. When his master returns, a servant is declared ready because he has made provision by doing what the master expected. As a result he is considered faithful and wise. Matthew 24:45  Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his Lord has made ruler over His household, to give them food in due season?

Who Do We Trust?

It is becoming more and more difficult to know who to trust these days. We have security systems in our homes, anti theft  devices on our cars, anti virus software on our computers, and identity theft protection on our bank accounts. Yet deceivers abound in our world today. The disturbing thing is they particularly prey on children and elderly people. There are many deceivers and liars around these days, the chief of whom is Satan himself, described in 1 Peter as a roaring lion… seeking whom he may devour.That’s why we are warned many times by God  in the Bible not to let our guard down, not to be deceived. The bottom line is that evil is a heart condition The good news is that” greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world” [1John4:4] Our trust in the One who knows all hearts will keep us safe through life’s trials and difficulty’s. Proverbs 23:7 for as he thinks in his heart, so is he; Eat and drink, he says to you, but his heart is not with you.