Saturday, May 25, 2019

May 25

The news, television shows, and social media, get me very angry when opinions go against the Word of God. It sets a tone for how I feel about the person speaking, or posting. I’m guilty of doing my own mini background check on people that I may be working with, and sometimes what I find posted on social media, colors my attitude towards them before even meeting them. As always, God sets me straight and gives me a verse that’s right on time. The good news is, that you feel better when you have a godly attitude, rather than hold a persons viewpoint against them. They don’t know the truth of who God is. They don’t fear Him. My heart should break for them instead of being angry at them. We must remember that God is in control, and His will shall be done no matter what happens. Please forgive me for using the same verse that I used in yesterday’s message. For some reason, it didn’t take root in me until today.

Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation. 1 Peter 2:12

Friday, May 24, 2019

May 24

At the beginning of each year I ask God to give me a word that will describe the coming year. This year my word was “adventure.” I wasn’t too keen on that word because adventure can be good or bad, and I asked Him to give me a different word, but He didn’t, until now. Adventure will still be the description, but He has given me a word that describes the type of adventure; it’s sojourner. It makes perfect sense! The Strong’s Hebrew and Greek Dictionary gives it this meaning: an alien alongside, that is, a resident foreigner: - pilgrim, stranger. As Christians, we can all be described in this way, being we are ambassadors representing Heaven for Jesus. It’s not comfortable being a sojourner, but that’s what we are. As sojourners in this world, and as representatives of Jesus, we must abstain from the passions of this world, because those passions wage war against our soul. Keep your conduct honorable, even if they call your love for Jesus evil. Remember, this is our temporary home; we are just resident aliens.

Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation. 1 Peter 2:11-12

Thursday, May 23, 2019

May 23

You are going to meet a lot of “church people” in this world. One Sunday, while visiting a church, I felt a chill, but it wasn’t the air! I was snubbed by a couple of people who looked like they were helping; it was likely because I was wearing shorts. I hadn’t thought to pack my Sunday best for this short vacation, but I wanted to be a part of congregational worship. This church was located in a vacation area, so many in attendance were probably visitors, but I’m sure some were full time residents. Thank goodness I know my place in the kingdom, otherwise I may have been deterred by their behavior. The lesson is this: even if you are new to a congregation, be friendly and open to others, they may be new too, and they may not know Jesus yet. As a Christ follower, it is our job to make others feel His comfort and peace. We represent Him wherever we go.

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 1 Peter 2:9

Wednesday, May 22, 2019

May 22

Remember Lot’s wife? As they were escaping the wrath brought upon Sodom, they were told not to look back. Jesus implied that she looked back with concern for her possessions, and way of life. God knows us, and what is in our hearts and minds. Jesus knew why Lot’s wife turned around, that’s why she became a pillar of salt, and didn’t escape God’s wrath. She completely disobeyed God’s orders. We are to love everyone, even those whose lifestyle goes against scripture, but we are not to engage in such activity or long to be a part of it. If living in such a manner was okay, why would God rain fire down upon Sodom and Gomorrah destroying it? If Jesus set us free from those rules, why would He bring it up? The truth is, if we are truly saved, we will not want to continue in a lifestyle that goes against God’s standards, whether it is a sexual sin, or some other sin we may be predisposed to. When we accept Jesus as Savior, our life changes so we desire to please God, and we feel shame when we engage in activities that are contrary to the precepts of God. 

On that day, let the one who is on the housetop, with his goods in the house, not come down to take them away, and likewise let the one who is in the field not turn back. Remember Lot's wife. Whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will keep it. Luke 17:31-33

Tuesday, May 21, 2019

May 21

As I was watching the sunset, I began pondering the wonders of God. Taking in His creation puts me in awe of Him. The surroundings were beautiful, and peaked all of my senses. My eyes could see the amazement of the sun as it appeared to dip into the Gulf slowly melting away. I could smell the salt air as it came in off the shore, so aromatic I could almost taste it. Hearing the waves crash as they rolled in, and the birds calling as they flew by, took me back to my childhood. I could feel a refreshing, gentle breeze as it blew past me cooling my skin, the sand between my toes, and the water as it splashed about my feet, all reminding me that I’m alive. Though that was enough to prove His existence, my thoughts turned to my ability to experience all of these things. Who had given to me my senses? The Almighty creator, who knew just the things we needed to experience life, and to acknowledge Him. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, together as One, we honor and worship for giving us life.

For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. Romans 1:19-20

Monday, May 20, 2019

May 20

Little Gasparilla is a sweet place to visit. It still has the charm of old Florida, with its dirt paths, overgrown mangroves, and the sparkle of the gulf peaking through the trees. It was Sunday, and at the last minute, I decided to visit the old country chapel situated in a beautiful forested area of the island. The services start at 9 am because it has no air conditioner, and if you wait any later it will be stifling hot. I had to rush because I don’t usually post my blog until just before 9, and this day, I didn’t get finished writing until 8:40, and still had to get dressed and take a short walk to get there because my golf cart wasn’t charged. This is how I know God wanted me to go to church; with only twenty minutes to get dressed and walk to the chapel, I ask Him to increase my time, I got there early! I was in awe. When the Holy Spirit put into you something He wants you to accomplish, He will give you the ability to get it done, just like me being able to post my blog and get to church on time. 

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6

Sunday, May 19, 2019

May 19

We’ve all had those nights where it seems as though we will never get to sleep. We toss and turn, feel uncomfortable because we ache from an exhausting day, yet can’t sleep. I had a night like that, but it wasn’t until I prayed and asked Jesus to give me comfort, that I finally went to sleep peacefully. Isn’t that symbolic of our life? We will never receive the world’s definition of comfort and peace because this world is not our home, we’re just ambassadors here. We traverse our environment, looking for whatever we can find to help us get through, but it’s not until we seek Jesus that we find what we’re looking for, and are able to rest peacefully. Whatever situation you find yourself in, whether it’s health issues, marital problems, wayward children, emotional trouble, or any other number of earthly problems, run to Jesus, seek the Prince of Peace. We are going to have trouble in this world, but the only answer is to keep our eyes on Jesus, and hide in His shadow.

that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us, Acts 17:27

May 18

We are influenced by those we are around the most. You may think you are holding your own, but even if it is ever-so-slightly, bits and pieces of their behavior will begin to take root. One example might be your friends and the things they like to do. They may like to party on the weekend, and you go along with it just so you can be around them. When you grow up, you realize what you actually enjoy, and those friendships grow stale; it’s not because you dislike them, it’s merely that you’ve grown in a different direction. The more you fill your head with the truths of God’s word, and take them to heart, the more distance you will put between you and those who believe differently from you. This is why we have different denominations in the church, some believe only certain parts of the Bible, while others believe in the whole thing, every jot and tittle. When the Lord opens your eyes to His truths, you will want to be around others who believe the same way.

Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm. Proverbs 13:20.