Living in the "Dash"

We attended the funeral of my husband's niece's husband today. It was a very sad occasion. This man was a great man, a Christian, wonderful husband, father, and grandfather. You never saw him unless you saw that sweet smile and you also got a hug. He had them for everyone who was around.

The preacher that preached his funeral had been his pastor only 5 months. But, he had known him for 35 years. So you could say he actually 'knew' him! And, he gave an analogy of life. He said, when you go to the cemetery, you see two numbers on a tombstone - the date of birth and the date of death. There is a dash between the numbers. Therefore, we, who are living, are in the Dash.

The Dash represents the life we show others. Whatever we do during this dash will affect what happens in that last phase. If we know the Lord personally when we die, then we will have eternal life with the Lord. A good life will not get us to heaven. It takes a personal relationship with God. If one leaves this DASH without knowing the Lord, one is lost forever.

We know today that this nephew is gone on to face his maker. And, it was so wonderful to see even a sweet smile on his face in death! It warms your heart to know the life he lived is reflected in his face! I told his wife last night at the viewing that we can tell what he's doing. She said, 'yes, he's living what we have always studied about' - and he's seeing those who had gone on before.

So, live the best life in your Dash - get to know the Lord personally. You will never regret it!

Technorati Tags: Dash, Lord, Life, Death

Through His Eyes

As we grow older, our eyes seem to need more attention. One day, we are fine, reading the smallest of print. Then, all of a sudden, we realize that our eyes aren’t seeing as good as they used to. We find ourselves holding the book closer, maybe squinting to see the words clearly. Then, one day, we realize we probably need glasses, but hesitate to go have our eyes checked.

I had worn only reading glasses for years. Although my daughter had worked for an ophthalmologist for many years, I only got them checked one time in all her years there. She changed jobs over 3 years ago and I finally made it a priority to have my eyes checked again. I ended up getting progressive lens, glasses I can use for all my needs, reading up close or at a distance, and, yes, even on this laptop! I am so pleased. I had them checked again this year and my eyes are still the same as they were then. But I will continue to check on them because I don’t want to be without my ‘eyes’!

Our eyes view others every day. We ‘see’ a thing in people that perhaps helps us may our assessment of those people, whether good or bad. As Christians, we sometimes look at someone without realizing that what we see may not be what God sees. As humans, we have a habit of looking for the first time and make a judgment of that person that may or may not be totally correct. The Bible tells us to first remove the beam from our own eyes before trying to remove the mote from someone else’s eye. I think God want us to love the people, regardless of what we may think about them. Love goes farther than a harsh judgment with a person. If the person is not a Christian, perhaps they will see the love of God in us and want what we have. And, even if that person is a Christian, yet not living a really Godly life,perhaps we will have a chance to help them get closer to God by seeing God at work in our own life.

Technorati Tags: God, Eyes, Love, Christian

Season of the Heart

1 John 4:9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.

During this season, you see people everywhere, fighting the traffic and the crowds to get just the perfect gift for a loved one. Or perhaps they are trying to decide if they should buy a specific gift or just give a gift certificate. Either way, they are out there in the hustle and bustle of the holidays; some don't feel the least bit in the mood - just doing this out of habit. Then there are others who live for 'gift giving'...it puts them in the Christmas spirit to be able to shop!

Most people love the Christmas season and what it stands for, but some can't see beyond the Christmas trees, the beautiful lights and the expectation of gifts. How do you view Christmas?

What a heart God had when he sent his 'only begotten Son' to this earth 2000 years ago, to live as a man, to know the hurt and pain that you and I do - yet he lived a spotless life, and was crucified so that we could live without sin and one day live with Him eternally. WHAT a 'love' of the people GOD had to send His Word to us in the flesh, how unselfish - and this is the way we should live our life today - unselfish to the point that we want others to have what we would live, whether it be a gift, or maybe the spiritual gift of salvation through Jesus Christ our Lord.

The Season of the Heart means to me to be the season in which we truly show our love to others - unselfishly, unequivocally - with fervor!! We should be so 'in love' with our God that our faces shine with 'his presence'.......our eyes should 'light up' for Him!! People should recognize us as having something they want!! And we should be ready to share Jesus with them when we are approached!!

Written ©December 22, 1998 by Barbara Sanders. All rights reserved.
Copy only with permission.

Have we lost our Connection?

It seems most people on the Internet are 'connected' in some way to something. It might be on MySpace, Facebook, or one of a number of other friendly places to meet people. We get involved in each other's life or perhaps we get entangled in the online games or the virtual farms or other businesses on Facebook.

Now there is Swagbucks which I love. And believe me, it can be addictive, trying to search to find Swagbucks in order to add up to enough to buy something or a gift card you can actually use on the Internet. It is definitely not a scam, but it is a way to stay 'connected'..........that is, connected to the Internet.

I was sitting here this morning wondering just how many of us are so connected to the Internet that we have lost our precious connection to the one and only God of creation - the Savior of our lives, the God of more than enough. I know I am guilty of sitting down in the chair and picking up the laptop and 'playing' for hours. I am usually tired when I do this after having spent all day at my aged Mother's home, helping her and just keeping her company.

But our 'busy days' should never keep us from connecting with God. We should be able to 'connect' to him on some level any time of the day. I do find myself just amazed at my surroundings when I am out driving and say 'thank you, Lord.' We should be blessing him more each day we live. We could never give him the thanks that He so deserves for giving his life to save ours.

1 Chronicles 16:34, "O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever."

Psalms 30:12, "To the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever."

A Mother's Love

(Derived from watching THE PASSION)

There is something about a Mother’s love for her children. From the day of conception, there becomes such a love for that child that she would do anything for it. As the months go by, the love grows, until one day that child is with her. She can hold and love on it all she wants. It never enters her mind that her child may some day leave her.

Think back to Mary, Mother of Jesus. The Angel telling her she would bear a child and call him Jesus visited her. She wasn’t married and had never known a man. But she was willing to do what the Lord asked of her. She truly had a Mother’s heart, not to question the will of God.

Mary watched her son being beaten to death. Oh, what agony she must have felt just watching her child being punished for something he did because of who he was. He was the I AM, but his accusers did not know he was actually telling the truth. But Mary knew.

She saw him struggle to carry that heavy cross on which he would later be crucified up the hill to his destiny. She would watch him fall again and again, getting up and bearing that burden on his back. She watched as Pontius Pilate turned him over to the very people whom accused him, realizing his fate was in his hands. They took him into the common hall where everyone was gathered. They mocked him, spit on him, tore his clothes from his body and put a crown of thorns upon his head. All the while, Mary watched.

As I watched The Passion, I hurt for Mary. Tears welled up in my eyes, knowing what they had done to Him and how it had made Mary suffer. After all, Jesus was her child, although she knew what he would have to go through. Nevertheless, it hurt her deeply. She had a Mother’s heart and that heart ached to bear the pain, but she knew it was meant for Jesus to go through what he was going through. He promised her he would make things new.

All those who had part in the persecution of Jesus had no idea the pain Mary was going through. They didn’t know what their actions were causing – for the love that flowed through the veins of Jesus was unknown to them. They didn’t realize they were not only killing the innocent son of a Mother who’s love ran deep, but the One who would bring salvation to a world of lost and dying sinners.

John 10:17-18, "Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father."

He Did It All For Me - Music Video

They wanted a King

I Samuel 7 - I Samuel 15:36

It is the nature of humans to want to be in control. But sometimes our wants get us in trouble.

Take the case of the Israelites wanting a King. They were no different than people from today. They wanted whatever they wanted,not giving a thought of the consequences it might bring. Samuel was upset that they wanted a King outside of God to judge them, so he went to God in prayer. God told Samuel to tell the people He would give them their King to reign over them since they had rejected him. God had brought them up from Egypt, but the people had forgotten what He had done for them.

God told Samuel to tell the people how the King would rule over them. He laid out all the plans the King would have with all their sons and daughters, how He would take the best of their land and give it to his servants. He told them that he would take a tenth of all of their earnings and give it to his officers and servants. In other words, the King would take from them and give it to others.

Although Samuel warned them about all the things the King would do and they would later regret their decision, they chose to have their own King. He told them that they would call out to God and he would hear them, but it made no difference with them. So God told Samuel that he would do as the Israelites asked.

The Lord told Samuel He would send him a man to anoint as King. So God sent Saul that Samuel was to anoint later to be their King and reign over the people and save them from the Philistines. Samuel told Saul that the spirit of God would come upon him and he ould be changed and, when this happened, God would be with him.

Samuel told the Israelites that they had sinned and turned away from God. But God had given them the King for which they had asked. He warned them that they should serve God in truth with all their heart. But, if they didn't, then both them and their King would be consumed.

As the story goes, Saul sinned and did not keep God's commandments. He did not take Samuel's warning to heart that God would take the Kingdom from him and give it to another. God later repented that he had made Saul King over Israel.

One Spoonful at a Time

Lately, the emphasis has been on ‘losing weight’. Most people want to do it quickly, without giving the thought to how they gained the extra weight. The weight doesn’t come on quickly, but day to day. We eat things that we shouldn’t eat. We eat way too much for our body, and the weight just piles on. The body is overweight before we even realize it.

So, how do we take this weight off without it being such a hassle? And, how do we keep it off? I told a friend today that, the way to lose weight is by ‘one spoonful at a time’. And I was serious. You cut back on the amount of food you eat. And it doesn’t stop there. It has to be a life style of eating, eating those foods good for us, and eating only what our body needs not what we feel we need. We often overeat and then get sick or feel bloated to the point it is embarrassing!

The same goes for our spiritual life. We gain knowledge of the Word ‘one spoonful’ (one verse) at a time. My pastor said, yesterday in church, that he would like to see everyone take a verse and search out it’s meaning. It would not matter if it took us a week. We would then have the verse deep within our minds and know exactly what it meant. And the verses we learn add up, which makes our knowledge of the Word become a storehouse for future use. The Word is there when we are called on to remember things that we would not know unless we study the Word continually. We all get lax in the Word at times and then the enemy strikes! But, if we stay in the Word, we know how to combat the enemy. Scripture says to ‘resist the devil and he will flee from you’. (James 4:7 KJV). So, just as we lose weight by 'one spoonful at a time' and make it a life style, we gain knowledge of His Word by 'one spoonful at a time' (verse) and making it a life style of study.

Technorati Tags: Weight, Weight Loss, Word, Scripture

Saturated With Him

Ephesians 4:That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;

Ephesians 4:23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;

I know each of you have been caught in a rainstorm and got all wet!! You were saturated with the rain coming down before you could get into a dry place!! You forgot the needed umbrella - after all, 'it isn't going to rain'.......but it did! Human thinking got us WET!! :)

Well, the same happens with our 'christianity'.... we think we are 'full'..and then something comes our way and we aren't prepared with His Word to share at any given time! This shouldn't be. God has commanded us to daily renew our minds, to have an answer when called upon. The question might be from a secular standpoint, but if you have His Word within you and you let the Holy Spirit lead, he will supply you with the words from the depth of your heart to share.

Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world; but be ye transformed by the renewing of you mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God.

He says in his word to 'study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that neededth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.'[ II Tim 2:15 ] Some take this lightly, but God wants US, as individuals to study the word, not to rely on someone else to read to us, preach to us, etc. He wants us to get the Word deep within our being - and this only comes by 'hearing the word' with our ears, and spoken by our tongue. So when you 'read'....read aloud to yourself that your ears might hear the word, get it deep within you, and then He will be able to bring it to your rememberance when the need arises. The need may be your own!

Our world is no longer the world it used to be. We are daily being bombarded with things that aren't pleasing to God, and some people approve, and others disapprove. We, as Christians, need to know the truth, in order to answer those that kind of 'go along with the crowd'. God is not pleased and he will NOT be mocked; yet, all we can do is spread His Word, and do what he wants us to do. We can't 'save the nation', but we can spread the gospel to the lost, in hopes that they will 'see' with their eyes the wrongs of the world and become separated from it.

Barbara's Entourage Devotional

Has America forgotten?

"I am sure that never was a people, who had more reason to acknowledge a Divine interposition in their affairs, than those of the United States; and I should be pained to believe that they have forgotten that agency, which was so often manifested during our Revolution, or that they failed to consider the omnipotence of that God who is alone able to protect them."-- George Washington

I wonder who Washington would feel about what has happened in America these past 220 years since he was inaugurated as President. The consistency to which our nation has forgone it's adherence to what our country was founded on is frightening. It is almost a 'sin' now to be a Christian. Every where you look, there is someone wanting to combine all 'religions' into one, as though everyone believes in GOD, the Father,Son, and Holy Spirit. We know that is not true. There is also the tendency to wipe any mention of God from anything outside the home. No mention of him in schools, no prayers ending with 'in Jesus name' - I often wonder when it is going to hit the churches.

We are being led down the primrose path of obscurity when it comes to acknowledging God. And, as a friend said this morning, those following that path will be turned over to a reprobate mind, and I don't want to be in the middle!

1 Corinthians 15:19
If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.

Many people say they are Christians; yet they never produce any fruit. They run with the idea that they can produce for themselves all the need. They hardly ever dart in the doors of a church to be fed the Word. In other words, they never 'assemble' as the Word tells us to do. I can't judge the salvation of anyone, but we all have eyes to see what is becoming of our nation which was founded on Godly principles. As George Washington said, have they forgotten the omnipotence of God, that HE is the one with the power to save this nation? How can we even think we can succeed if we wipe him from our daily lives?

Technorati Tags: George Washington, Christians, God

One Day Closer

We all understand that life here on earth isn't forever. But do we all understand that each day we live draws us one day closer to our eternal destination?

As a sinner, we did not know God or understand His Word that commands us to obey his commandments. Many know the commandments written in the Bible and perhaps live by some of them. But our secular nature does not tell us we need to know God as our personal Savior. We think we can do whatever we want and 'be good', and things are okay. But that isn't how it works in the spiritual world.

When we are truly saved by grace through faith in His Word (his free gift to all who will listen), the Holy Spirit will enlighten us in the Word. If we pay attention, then we will learn that we need to obey God's Word in all facets of our lives. He says, after salvation, we become a 'new creature' in Christ; old things are passed away and all things become new.(II Corinthians 5:17).

We need to keep our minds stayed on God each day, knowing today is one day closer to our destiny. Hopefully, reading this, if you have not made your commitment to Christ, you will begin to think about the end of your life. Will you come to that day without the assurance that you will be spending eternity with Him? Have you truly been washed in the blood of Christ, the one who gave His life for you?

Forgiveness

Forgiveness is the center of our faith. Without forgiveness we could not have salvation by faith. The Bible in Matthew 6:15 tells us that we have to forgive others or the Lord will not forgive us.

The Word tells us that when we were saved, He forgave us all our past sins and remembered them no more. We are commanded in Ephesians 4:32 to forgive others as God has forgiven us.

Even though we are saved, sometimes un-forgiveness to others deals us misery. We feel guilty because we know we must forgive others but SELF keeps us from doing so. It puts us under bondage and we keep living in the past. And this can bring on illnesses and spiritual sickness which makes us drift away from God.

God is a forgiving God and the root of His love is forgiveness. The way we view forgiveness always has an impact on our relationship with him. If we want to live a healthy spiritual life, then we must learn to forgive.

Technorati Tags: Forgiveness, God

In the last days

The Bible talks about what will go on in the last days.

• 2 Timothy 3:1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.

• 2 Timothy 3:2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

• 2 Timothy 3:3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,

• 2 Timothy 3:4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;

• 2 Timothy 3:5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

• 2 Timothy 3:6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,

• 2 Timothy 3:7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

I don’t know about you, but I feel we are definitely in the last days. Too many things have taken place and so many people are denying Christ. So many have never even been taught about the Lord or ever been in a church. And I came across one thing that has happened here in the United States to make me more aware of the problem.

In Colorado they passed a law which could cause it to be a crime to publish the Bible.

SB200, a Colorado state bill recently signed into law, http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=66829 criminalizes the Bible. Section 8 of the bill entitled "Publishing of discriminative matter forbidden" makes publishing the Bible illegal because it contains anti-homosexual passages. This is part of a larger effort to criminalize the expression of certain opinions and beliefs.

Not only are we, as Christians being told that God should be taken out of everything in public and we should keep it in the church. But, some day there might be a reason that a case is made that the Bible should no longer be published because it teaches derogatory things, according to some.

In the scriptures above, I see things leading right up to this situation –

• Lovers of their own selves

• Without natural affection

• Lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God

We no longer have the pleasure of coasting along in life believing that things will continue to be the way they have always been. The circumstances today show us this is no longer true. Things have changed, and they aren’t getting better. They are only getting worse. Just as Christ was persecuted when he was on earth, so are we Christians going to go through trials and tribulations before he returns. Many people have given their lives because they chose to follow Him and would not back down. Missionaries have learned that they are prey for those that hate anything with God attached, or perhaps ‘their god’. They are constantly attacked, ran out of the country to which they are missionaries, or perhaps even killed. The only thing they have done wrong is to serve God.

Many calamities have happened in the last few years. Tsunami’s killing thousands, earthquakes where you would not think there would be one, hurricanes killing so many people, people turning against their own families (kids against their parents, parents against their kids) – so much in the Bible is coming to pass. I believe it’s time to look up for “your redemption draweth nigh”. (Luke 21:28)

Technorati Tags: Last Days, Bible, God, Redemption

John 3:16

John 3:16, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

Most of us can quote that verse when we hear someone say John 3:16. But, how often do we see it put on someone's face? Well, tonight, we watched the Football National Championship game in Miami, Florida. The game was between the Florida Gators and the Oklahoma Sooners. Tim Tebow is the quarterback from Florida, the son of missionaries, a Heisman Trophy winner, and he was homeschooled. He is a fine Christian boy and there, under his eyes was the scripture John 3:16.

The Gators started out as Number 2, playing Number 1 for the title. Tonight, they are the National Champions for the third time. And, it was so nice to hear Tim Tebow speak when he received his award at the end. He thanked all the fans who came to Miami to see them play, and the team. Then, he thanked Jesus Christ for the win. To me, this adds so much credibility to his walk with the Lord, and how everyone thinks of him.

She shall be called Woman

God created Adam and then caused him to go into a deep sleep. He removed one of Adam’s ribs and formed a woman, later named Eve.

Genesis 2:23, "And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man."

While reading that scripture tonight, it reminded me of my deceased father-in-law. I often smile when I think about this. But, I never heard him call my mother-in-law anything but ‘the woman’ when he was talking to someone about her. . He would say, ‘tell the woman someone wants her’, or the woman will have to do so and so’. I often wondered how he came about calling her that. Perhaps he read what Adam had said and took it to heart. She was 9 days short of 18 and he lacked 3 ½ months being 17 when they married. They lived together for 66 ½ years until she died. I believe they had a happy marriage and it never bothered her to be referred to as ‘the woman’. It still brings a smile to my face!

Technorati Tags: Woman, Adam, Eve, God

Merry Christmas

This is the day we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. And, I am not politically correct, so I wish you 'Merry Christmas'. May God bless each of you and your families this Christmas with health and happiness. It is not about what we get from everyone, but the way we view life through Jesus. Too many think Christmas is all about gift-giving. I love to give gifts to my kids and grandkids, but that is only a part of this season. The main thing is to remember that God sent His Son that we might live a life without bondage, free in Him, and on the road to eternity with Him and His Son, Jesus. I pray each of you know Him as your personal Saviour this Christmas.

Freedom

"Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children's children what it was once like in the United States where men were free."

Ronald Reagan

Here in the United States we are privileged to enjoy the freedom afforded us by our citizenship. But freedom isn't free. So many have laid down their lives for us to be able to say we live in a free nation.

But the one who paid the ultimate price for our freedom was Jesus Christ. He came to earth as the only begotten Son of God in order that each of us might be saved and have eternal life. And, when we make the choice to serve God, then we will know freedom like we have never known freedom before.

Technorati Tags: Freedom,Ronald Reagan, Jesus Christ

The season of love

I call the Christmas Season "the Season of Love"...because God so loved the world he sent his only begotten Son - 'The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us' John 1:14 .

We all love this time of the year, but maybe for different reasons:

We love to buy gifts for our family. We love this cold weather, the experience of snow for the first time. We love the SPIRIT that feels the air through all the holiday music playing everywhere. We LOVE God.

Where do you fit in among those reasons above? Me? I've felt myself become aware of others, their needs, their hurts, fears, joys, anticipations....but do they have love? Do WE have love in our hearts as God wants us to have. We don't have to buy expensive gifts to make others love us. We don't have to go out of our way to have an expensive Christmas, trying to outshine the 'Joneses'.

We only need to show love among our fellow men, the way our God showed us love so many years ago, sending his SON into the world that we might be saved. That's the greatest love that could ever be - by HIS GRACE we can have a new life with him.

Luke 6:35 But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and [to] the evil.

2 Corinthians 13:11 Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.

To read more of more of my devotions, visit Barbara's Entourage

Technorati Tags: Devotions, Christmas, Love

The stumbling block of compromise

God is not pleased when we compromise His Word to make ‘church’ politically correct. He doesn’t care how many people are in the building. He is only interested that each of those in the building is upholding the standards set by Him. He isn’t happy with pastors who compromise in order to gain membership. He wants repentance back in the church, and a people who aren’t ashamed to say “I am a child of God”, people who live by the commandments rather than picking and choosing what they believe and live by.

So many churches have had problems in the past. There have been eviction, bailout, and foreclosure. Many churches have had pastors to divorce. Others have strayed away from the true meaning of God’s Word. Something changed in their presentation of the Truth to the people. In other words they met on the road of compromise – changing the Word to please others, or simply denying the Truth. Either way, God isn’t pleased. God says to ‘preach the word; be instant in season, out of season’ (II Timothy 3:4). He never tells us to change it to meet our needs or wants or to appease others. But he does say that there will come a time when people will not endure sound doctrine, but they will seek for those preachers who will please their ‘itching ears’. Some want to say they are Christians but live like they want to live. Others want their lifestyle approved when the Bible says that it is wrong.

Compromise of the Word can kill a church or perhaps the people within it. Many things can become a stumbling block to a non-Christian, a young convert, or a seasoned Christian. But, when one compromises the Word of God, this places a true stumbling block in their path. The church building will linger on, but the heart of the church (the Christians who are the true Church) will die out when they aren’t fed the Truth of the Word.

What is truth and where do you find it?

This morning I read a post about "What is truth?"

Today, more than ever before, I am seeing the truth of this. The postmodern generation is picking and choosing what truth they wish to believe.

Never before have I seen the need for people, especially the younger generation, to find out what is truth and where to find it. During the election, there seemed to be so many that took the candidates at their word and never did any research on any thing they said. It was very easy for me to find out information and it would have been for all who really wanted to know the truth.

In today's world, it seems it's perfectly fine to follow in the footsteps of those that say they have the 'truth', and never follow up to see if they are actually telling the truth. They get you in their clutches, and then you find out what they are really about.

As Christians, we know that the Lord said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life". And, he also said, "You shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free." Why aren't our young people as well as some adults not wanting to know the truth? Why do we follow after people that we know aren't truthful and do not have our well-being at the forefront of their endeavors?

As Diane said at Crossroads, we need to talk to the younger generation about the truth, God's truth. They need to find out from more experienced people how easily it is to follow 'our truth' and lose our way. So much hurt could be avoided if they could understand that God is the only one with the real truth. Only He can keep them from a life of misery simply because they chose to follow their own way.

Technorati Tag: Truth

The Master's Touch

Today, we are 4 days from the 2008 election for President of the United States. Many have already gone out and voted early, not waiting for the final day to vote. Many people were advised to go vote by one candidate so they would be sure to get their vote in. It was as though there was a rush to make sure the voters didn’t have time to change their minds before they voted.

Many have taken the polls to mean that the Presidency has already been decided. This angers me. There are millions of Americans who have not voted in this election. And most will not vote until Tuesday. It is upsetting to hear the airwaves filled with ‘it’s over’, on the attempt to discourage conservatives from voting. Friends, it isn’t over until the last vote has been cast. And, then, it might not be over. Remember the ‘hanging chad’ episode in Florida? Hopefully, it won’t go that far this year, but already we have heard of lots of fraud in the voting process.

But there is one thing that keeps up the hopes of those of us backing the ‘underdog’. And that is that the Master is in control of the situation. His will for this country will be done. It could be with either candidate. I believe He wants this country to prosper. But, this nation has done so much to heap retribution upon us. We have thrown Him almost out of society, aborted millions of babies that were not wanted, forgotten the old people and the widows, and now others are calling one candidate ‘their Messiah’. How much can the Lord take before he dishes out the punishment that we surely deserve?

In His Word, he says, "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD." (Isaiah 55:8) We need to pray and repent and seek His face before we go out and vote. We need to know what God’s Word says about different things that are being said in the campaigns, what each stands for, and to know that we are aligned with the Word of God so we are closer to His thoughts and His ways. After all, His Words says we have the mind of Christ. (I Corn 2:16) And, when we do that, we will have done what God wants us to do – get closer to Him. Then, perhaps His will shall be our desire.

Link: The Upcoming Election
A Plea to Christians

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