This Fleeting Life

Tonight as I was walking my daughters dog for her, the thought came to me how fleeting this life really is. We see examples of this on the news and in the paper every day. Even the psalmist David knew this. In Psalms 89, he encouages us to remember exactly how short and meaningless this life really is. (Ps 89:47) Nothing in this life is worth anything except for what is done in service of the Lord. In fact, David tells us that he wants to spend his life in obedience to God and His commandments. (Ps 119:56). This is exactly what we should be concerning ourselves with! All the wealth that we gather, all the friends we make, all our sucesses in this life are worthless unless we make God first and foremost in our life. Tonight, take an inventory of your life. Have you put your efforts in the meaningless or have you been laying up treasures in the next life?

Who is with me?

The Book of Revelations begins with letters from Christ to the seven churches in Asia Minor. Each letter is a reminder to the individual churches that they need to be watchful and ready but as I read them today, one stood out to me. It is the letter to the church at Sardis that got my attention. In this letter Christ compels that church to "Wake up!" (Rev. 3:2). You see, this church once was a...live. It was winning souls for Jesus. It was on fire for Him but had gotten complaciant. The people and gotten lazy and had let this world dictate their thoughts and their actions. They had let sin slip in. I am mighty afraid this is happening in many churches in this land even today. They once were on fire for Jesus. They were going out and winning souls. This fire grew cold and they grew weak. That is when sin slips in. Things of this world became more important and they grow distant from Christ. Folks, it is time that we wake up! Let us not become like the church in this letter. It is time to seek God, it is time to run after Him. I for one want that fire of God to burn bright in my soul. I want to serve God with my whole heart. Who is with me?

Free Time

How did you spend your free time today? You had many many choices of how to spend that time. Some watch TV. Some talked with a friend. Still others took a nap. (I love naps by the way.) Nothing wrong with any of these choices but I wonder how many followers of Christ chose to spend that free time in prayer or even reading God's word? We need to do both because that is where our strength as believers comes from. I will be the first to admit that I need to do a better job at both. We need that strength that comes by prayer and reading our Bibles. I read a report recently that said biblical literacy was at an all time low. This means that we aren't reading the word as we should and believe me, our enemy knows that. He is using our lack of study against us. From the beginning, that ole foe has used and twisted the word to fit his aganda. Satan used that command of God to Adam and Eve not to eat from that one tree, twisted it and used it to cause both to disobey God. Satan even tried to use a twisted word against Jesus but it didn't work. You see, Jesus knew the word. He knew what it said and He knew what it meant because He wrote it. Therein lays the issue. By not reading the word, we don't know the word and it can be easily twisted and cause us to mess up. Don't let that happen to you! Tonight, reach over and pick up your Bible or click on that unused Bible app on your phone and read. It may be just one verse, just read. Let that word sink into your mind and your soul. Let it give you strength that you need to overcome the tricks of Satan.

Revive Me O Lord!

You hear alot these days about people wanting to get closer to the Lord. Many say that they want revival and you can include me in that number. However, when I say revival I am in no way talking about a series of consecutive church services lasting several nights. That is not revival! I am talking about a true revival where people are saved, lives are changed and God draws us closer to Him. S...omeone once said that revival begins in us. It begins in our hearts with us longing for more of God. That is true. Revival will not come if we are not seeking God with our whole heart. We must have that true longing deep in our souls that cannot be satisified by anything less. That is what its going to take folks. Revival will not come to our homes and our churches is we do not want it. Tonight, I challenge all who truely want revival and are seeking it to join me in prayer for it. Cry out to God for a revival the likes of which has never been seen to sweep over us, our homes, our churches, our cities and even our countries. Beg our Heavenly Father to pour out revival that will bring a change to us and that will bring countless souls into the Kingdom. #prayforrevival#seekingmoreofgod#pouroutyourspirit

A Threefold Cord

Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him.
And a threefold cord is not quickly broken. Ecclesiates 4:12

This is why it is important that we not forsake fellowship with our brothers and sisters in Christ. When we bind together with other belivers God honors that. In fact, Jesus said that where ever two or three are gathered together, He is there with them. (Matt 18:20) When you have a storm in your life, don't try to go it alone. Get a couple of trusted brothers or sisters to help you pray. Agree together and watch what God will do.

Stress, Worry, Doubt, and Fear

Stess. Worry. Doubt. Fear. All of these are part of our daily vocabulary and have slowly eased their way in our everyday lives. I would hazard a guess that there is not a day that goes by when we don't experience at least one of these if not all. We worry about our bills. We stress over our jobs. We doubt that we will ever get ahead. We fear we will not be able to give our children the be...st we can. If you are a child of God then this is not the way it is supposed to be. Jesus wants to wipe all that out of our lives. In His last days on this earth He told the disciples that when He left He was leaving His peace behind. (John 14:27a). He gives us of this peace so we won't have to worry and stress. He does not want us to be troubled (John 14:27b) by anything. Tonight, take all that stress, all your worries, those doubts and fears and give them all to Jesus. He wants to take them from you and carry them for you (1 Peter 5:7). In their place take that peace that only comes from Jesus. Let His peace cover you. You do not have to be bound by stress, worry, doubt and fear any longer. Instead live free in the peace of Jesus Christ!

Husbands, Love your Wives!

It has been said for some time now that the divorce rate is over fifty percent. Sadly though, this is even true in christian households. Divorce, while sometimes necessary, is not how things are meant to be. While there is no simple solution in the worlds eyes, Paul twice offers a simple yet true suggestion that would go a long way in helping to at least lower the divorce rate in christian hous...eholds. Twice he admonished christian men to love their wives just as Christ loves the church (Ephesians 5:25) and not to be bitter toward them (Colossians 3:19). Christ gave every thing for the church and that is how we are to love our wives. We are to love them without condition and without holding anything back. And secondly we are to always forgive.

Husbands, tonight I challenge to look at how you love your wife. Are you loving her just as Jesus loves you or are you loving her because of what she does for you? Do you meant it when you say you love her or are you just going through the motions? Men, your wives are your life-long partner not just a helper or a mother to your children. You are commanded in the word of God and by the vows you took to love her. Be the man you are meant to be. Be the husband God commands you to be.

Testify!

One thing that used to happen in church back in the "good ole days" was a testimony service. It was nothing unusual for the pastor or deacon to call upon someone to share their testimony of what God has done for them. Sometimes they would share how God had healed them. Others would share how they came to know Christ. Some would tell of how God had delivered them from a storm in their life. Whole services would sometimes be devoted to the sharing of testimonies. This is fast becoming a thing of the past.

While thinking about this I wondered if this is the reason that so many christians are in a constant battle or they are living life in a state of defeat. Why is that? I believe it is because they are not sharing their testimony. They are not sharing their faith. The word tells us that we can be overcomers by the blood of Jesus AND the word of our testimony. (Rev 12:11). By sharing our testimony of what God has done for us, it builds our faith, it makes us strong and allows us to overcome those obstacles that have been placed before us. We may not be able to share our story in churches much any more, but we don't have to be in church to do that. We can share our testimony anywhere and with anyone! Share it with your neighbors. Share it with your friends and co-workers. Share it with your family. Your story may just be what someone needs to hear to help them come to Jesus or even to help them to build their own faith.

Priceless!

There are countless millions of people who are wandering this planet feeling like they are worthless. They feel like they are just a little nothing who no one cares about. Some of these people could be your neighbors. Maybe they could be your co-workers. Possibilly one of them could even be a member of your own family. One of them may even be you.

For what ever reason these just can't help but feel that they dont even matter. Tonight, I am here to tell you that Jesus didn't die on the cross for nothing, He died for you! Even when no one else does, Jesus sees worth and value in you. You are one of God's children and therefore you are priceless in His eyes. He gave up everything for you.

So whenever you start to have these thoughts or feelings, remember that you are are a child of the one true King. You are worth everything to Him and He loves you enough to die for you. Now, tell me who else would do that for you.