I Believe in Global Warming!

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From the temple I heard a voice shout to the seven angels, "Go and empty the seven bowls of God's anger on the earth.  The first angel emptied his bowl on the earth. At once ugly and painful sores broke out on everyone who had the mark of the beast and worshiped the idol.  The second angel emptied his bowl on the sea. Right away the sea turned into blood like that of a dead person, and every living thing in the sea died.  The third angel emptied his bowl into the rivers and streams. At once they turned to blood.  Then I heard the angel, who has power over water, say, "You have always been, and you always will be the holy God. You had the right to judge in this way.  They poured out the blood of your people and your prophets. So you gave them blood to drink, as they deserve!"  After this, I heard the altar shout, "Yes, Lord God All-Powerful, your judgments are honest and fair."  The fourth angel emptied his bowl on the sun, and it began to scorch people like fire. Everyone was scorched by its great heat, and all of them cursed the name of God who had power over these terrible troubles. But no one turned to God and praised him.

Revelation 16: 1 - 9

I believe in Global Warming!  Not the kind of climate change that comes from careless people who burn too much oil and gas.  The climate change I am talking about will happen when God pours out His final judgments on the earth!  Then there will be serious Global Warming!  God will cause the sun to heat up the earth and scorch men and women like they were standing too near to a furnace!

The response of people who don’t know Jesus during this terrible time will be to curse God and blame Him for the judgment of earth!

Will there be Christians still on earth during these judgments?  Some say, “Yes” and some say, “No.”  

Instead of joining in that debate, let your heart run after knowing Jesus better everyday.  When He is the object of your love and the goal of your life, it will not matter what the troubles are that come to your life, you will be ready because of Jesus! 

“Lord Jesus, I know that troubles will come to this earth because of Sin!  But I also know that You will protect Your people until the End of all things!  Praise You now and forever.  Amen.” 

Full Body Makeover!

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My prayer is that light will flood your hearts and that you will understand the hope that was given to you when God chose you. Then you will discover the glorious blessings that will be yours together with all of God's people.  I want you to know about the great and mighty power that God has for us followers. It is the same wonderful power he used when he raised Christ from death and let him sit at his right side in heaven.

Ephesians 1: 18 - 20

If you are a follower of Jesus Christ, the Power of God will be applied to your life just as it was to our Lord when He was in the tomb!  While we live in this human body, we are changed and the life we live here is totally different because of Jesus, but there is more, much more!  

When it comes time for you to be transported from Earth to Heaven you will get a new body, like Jesus had when He was raised to life!  Truthfully, we don’t know much about the “new body” but we do know that we will be able to enjoy a meal and walk through walls!  Jesus did both of those after His resurrection!  And it will be a body that can live forever in Heaven with Jesus!

So, if you are struggling here on earth to change your body into one that is healthier, leaner, more athletic, or even more pleasing to the eye, take heart!  Your body will have a complete and total makeover when you are changed into your new and eternal body!  By the way, did I mention that your new body will have no pain or suffering, ever?  The same power that was used to bring Jesus out of the grave and change Him, will be applied to you when that day comes!  

“Lord Jesus, thank You that my weak and dying body here on earth will be changed into an eternally heathy and undying body and I will live with You forever in Heaven!  Praise Your Name now and forever.  Amen.”

Beauty Instead of Blackness!

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You know what sort of times we live in, and so you should live properly. It is time to wake up. You know that the day when we will be saved is nearer now than when we first put our faith in the Lord.  Night is almost over, and day will soon appear. We must stop behaving as people do in the dark and be ready to live in the light.

Romans 13: 11 - 12

I almost always wake up before the Sun comes up in the morning.  It is my favorite time of day.  It looks like it is still the middle of the night, but morning is not far away and then everything will be clearly seen.  With the Sun comes beauty instead of blackness and the birds will sing again.  

The return of the Sun to the sky reminds me of the return of the Son of God!  Before He comes again it will be dark, very dark.  And most folks will still be asleep and not looking for the Son to come back! 

But like the Sun in the sky, there is no stopping the Return of Jesus Christ.  He will return whether or not you like it, or even believe it.  Give your heart to Jesus, so that when He returns you will be filled with Joy and not with Terror!  

“Lord Jesus, wake me up to the fact that You will return and bring the End of all Things and the Beginning of Eternity.  May You be praised now and forever.  Amen.” 

Surface Water of Salvation!

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So you will be saved, if you honestly say, "Jesus is Lord," and if you believe with all your heart that God raised him from death.   God will accept you and save you, if you truly believe this and tell it to others.  The Scriptures say that no one who has faith will be disappointed, no matter if that person is a Jew or a Gentile. There is only one Lord, and he is generous to everyone who asks for his help.  All who call out to the Lord will be saved.

Romans 10: 9 - 13

So is that all there is to being saved?  Is it just a matter of honestly saying “Jesus is Lord” and believing with all your heart that God raised Jesus from death?  Well, the answer to that question is yes, if you believe the Apostle Paul, but those things are just the “surface water” of Salvation!  If you don’t declare, and are committed to Jesus being Lord of your life, and you don’t truly believe in the Resurrection of Jesus you cannot even set one foot in the healing pool of Eternal Salvation!

But, once you are touching the water of Life in Jesus you will find it is deeper than anyone can measure.  How completely appropriate that when the crowd on Pentecost turned their hearts to Jesus and repented, Peter told them to get into the waters of Baptism as step one on their road to Heaven.  

Every day, in your walk with Jesus there will be another step you will take in obedience to the Lord!  Never ask whether or not being obedient in this or that is truly important.  Each Word that comes out of the mouth of the Lord is the highest priority for today! 

“Lord Jesus, may You be the author of my ’To Do List’ for today!  Guide me in every step that I take.  And may Your Name be Praised forever.  Amen.”

Serve God in a New Way!

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That is how it is with you, my friends. You are now part of the body of Christ and are dead to the power of the Law. You are free to belong to Christ, who was raised to life so that we could serve God.  When we thought only of ourselves, the Law made us have sinful desires. It made every part of our bodies into slaves who are doomed to die.   But the Law no longer rules over us. We are like dead people, and it cannot have any power over us. Now we can serve God in a new way by obeying his Spirit, and not in the old way by obeying the written Law.

Romans 7: 4 - 6

Does this mean that we have no need to be obedient to the things we read in Scripture?  Of course not.  The written “Law” was the Law of Moses that was given by God to him for the Children of Israel to follow and was fulfilled when Jesus died on the Cross!  

So how does the “new way” of obeying His Spirit differ from obeying the written Law?  The Law of Moses was a set of rules for a culture of people who were chosen by God to bring Jesus to the world.  Obeying the Spirit is a relationship of a man or a woman with God.  The Bible is filled with examples of people who believed in Jesus and walked daily with Him by obeying the Spirit of God in them!  As they read the Bible, the Holy Spirit will say to their hearts, “This is for you today, listen!”  So they search the Scriptures and listen for the confirmation that, “this is for you!”

Don’t be fooled by the lie that says that you don’t need to be obedient to the Scripture.  You certainly do!  But obeying the rules without believing in and trusting Jesus as your Lord and Savior will do you no good at all!  

“Lord Jesus help me today to listen to Your Spirit as He leads and guides me in the way that I should walk this day.  Praise Your Holy Name forever.  Amen.”

God Shows His Power!

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On the day of Pentecost all the Lord's followers were together in one place.  Suddenly there was a noise from heaven like the sound of a mighty wind! It filled the house where they were meeting.  Then they saw what looked like fiery tongues moving in all directions, and a tongue came and settled on each person there.  The Holy Spirit took control of everyone, and they began speaking whatever languages the Spirit let them speak.  Many religious Jews from every country in the world were living in Jerusalem.  And when they heard this noise, a crowd gathered. But they were surprised, because they were hearing everything in their own languages.  They were excited and amazed, and said: Don't all these who are speaking come from Galilee?  Then why do we hear them speaking our very own languages?  Some of us are from Parthia, Media, and Elam. Others are from Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, Asia, Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, parts of Libya near Cyrene, Rome, Crete, and Arabia. Some of us were born Jews, and others of us have chosen to be Jews. Yet we all hear them using our own languages to tell the wonderful things God has done.  Everyone was excited and confused. Some of them even kept asking each other, "What does all this mean?"

Acts 2: 1 - 12

During the beginning days of Christianity, God displayed His power to men who were on the brink of believing in Jesus!  Men speaking languages that they had never learned along with healing the sick and even raising the dead were not unknown in those days.

Then came the time when men began to proclaim “the age of miracles has ceased!”  For whatever reason, physical evidences of the reality of God were rarely, if ever seen in the world.  Did God suspend revealing Himself to men or did men quit seeking God with a heart that is willing to recognize His power?  

If you truly believe that God does not act in the world today in a way that would confirm His might, power and Majesty, then why would you pray?  God would have to answer your prayer without giving you even a hint that it was the Almighty Himself responding to your request!  

Prayer under those circumstances would be like throwing money into a wishing well and hoping it would make a difference! There is little wonder that few men, even Christians pray in today’s world.

God has given mankind the ability to reject Him in spite of many clear and convincing proofs that He is real!  People can even reject God after they are convinced that He indeed does exist!

But don’t be fooled by the lie that says, “The age of miracles has ceased!”  Even today, if you seek Jesus you will find Him.  If you desire to see Him you will!  If you want to follow the Lord, He will show you the way!

“Lord Jesus, open my eyes to see Your power in the world around me today!  I confess to You, that whatever You have done in the past, You can still do today, and will be able to that and more forever.  Praise Your Holy Name!  Amen.”

What is Jesus Doing?

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Jesus did many other things. If they were all written in books, I don't suppose there would be room enough in the whole world for all the books.

John 21: 25

This is an amazing statement.  Just the fact that Jesus did “many other things” in addition to the ones written about in the New Testament makes my mind wonder what those things were. For whatever reason, God decided not to include those in the Bible.  They were undoubtedly powerful and a certain witness to the reality of Jesus Christ as God’s Son!  

Perhaps, when we get to Heaven we will be allowed to see the whole life on Jesus on this earth and everything that He did!  That would be truly great!

But here is a truth for today about what Jesus is doing.  Jesus is working all around you every day in ways that you cannot see!  Through His Holy Spirit He is drawing men to conviction of their sin and their need for a Savior.  He is healing the sick, perhaps without anyone knowing that He intervened in the situation.  He is moving nations to set the stage for ushering in the final days on this earth!  Every time you see one thing that Jesus is doing today, you can know for certain that there is much more that you don’t see!

“Lord Jesus, You are amazing in every way.  Thank You for letting us know some of the things You did here on this earth by recording them in the Bible.  And thank You, Lord for everything else You have ever done, are doing and will do!  Praise Your Holy Name forever.  Amen.” 

The Ocean of God's Love!

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I have honored my followers in the same way that you honored me, in order that they may be one with each other, just as we are one. I am one with them, and you are one with me, so that they may become completely one. Then this world's people will know that you sent me. They will know that you love my followers as much as you love me.  Father, I want everyone you have given me to be with me, wherever I am. Then they will see the glory that you have given me, because you loved me before the world was created.   Good Father, the people of this world don't know you. But I know you, and my followers know that you sent me.    I told them what you are like, and I will tell them even more. Then the love that you have for me will become part of them, and I will be one with them.

John 17: 22 - 26

When Christians are united by the love of Christ, those in the world around them can see the special relationship they have with each other and with God!   For those in the world who are seeking to know God, the unity of believers is a magnetic force that draws them to Jesus.  But those who have rejected Jesus are repulsed when they see the family of God around them.  

In these verses Jesus tells us, perhaps the most amazing truth in all the Bible.  He says that the love that God has for Jesus will become part of us!  We are not just saved from the fires of Hell, but we become part of the loving relationship of the Father and the Son.  

As a follower of Jesus Christ, your life is all about love.  It is about God’s love for Jesus and about the love that Jesus has for you.  It is also about God’s love for you because of Jesus.  And of course, your new life is about your love for God!  

As you swim in the ocean of God’s love, you can sink below the surface when the storms of life come and breathe the air of Heaven forever!

“Lord Jesus, loving and being loved by You is what life is all about.  Hold me close to You today as I swim in the Ocean of Your love!  Praise Your Holy Name forever.  Amen.”

Swallow the Seed!

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Jesus said to his disciples: I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.  He cuts away every branch of mine that doesn't produce fruit. But he trims clean every branch that does produce fruit, so that it will produce even more fruit.  You are already clean because of what I have said to you.  Stay joined to me, and I will stay joined to you. Just as a branch cannot produce fruit unless it stays joined to the vine, you cannot produce fruit unless you stay joined to me.  I am the vine, and you are the branches. If you stay joined to me, and I stay joined to you, then you will produce lots of fruit. But you cannot do anything without me.

John 15: 1 - 5

What is the fruit that Christians produce because they are attached to the Vine?  Fruit, all fruit is the absolutely indisputable evidence that the tree to which it is attached is an apple tree, or a pear tree, or a plum. Fruit that testifies to the truth of Jesus Christ is what develops on the branches that are called Christians!

There is only one way to produce fruit as a follower of Jesus Christ.  And that way is this: Cling tightly to Jesus and get all your strength from Him and Him alone!  When you do that, your life will be a testimony to who Jesus is and all your “Fruit” will witness to His Glory!

Some have said that the fruit of a Christian is another Christian.  Christians do reproduce, but I believe the “fruit” is not another Christian.  But rather, the attractive and tasty fruit of your life contains the seed which spawns new life.  When others see the fruit of “love, joy, peace, long-suffering and kindness" they will swallow the seed that grows faith in them as well!  

“Lord Jesus, hold me close to You today so that the only fruit in my life will come from You!  And may You Jesus, be praised now and forever.  Amen.”

Are You Able to See Jesus?

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Jesus said to his disciples: If you love me, you will do as I command.  Then I will ask the Father to send you the Holy Spirit who will help you and always be with you.  The Spirit will show you what is true. The people of this world cannot accept the Spirit, because they don't see or know him. But you know the Spirit, who is with you and will keep on living in you.  I won't leave you like orphans. I will come back to you.  In a little while the people of this world won't be able to see me, but you will see me. And because I live, you will live.  Then you will know that I am one with the Father. You will know that you are one with me, and I am one with you.  If you love me, you will do what I have said, and my Father will love you. I will also love you and show you what I am like.

John 14: 15 - 21

The people of this world are not able to see Jesus!  That is one major difference between a follower of Jesus Christ and someone who does not know Him.  

Unbelievers often accuse God of not stopping pain and suffering and tragedies of all kinds.  But, they rarely, if ever notice or praise God for the good things He provides in the world around them.

Believers, on the other hand see God working all around them.  They pray and believe that the Almighty moves in answer to their prayer.  They listen for His Word and direction for the steps they take each day.  

When Jesus walked the earth He was only with a few disciples every day.  But now, Jesus is with every one of His followers, always.  And even more amazing, Jesus is in His disciples!  No matter where they are in the world, or who they are, the “Hope of Glory” for all Christians is that Christ is in them!

“Lord Jesus, help me today to see You in everything!  Give me the full assurance that Your hand is touching all the world around me.  And for those who love You, that all things are working together for their good!  Praise Your Holy Name forever.  Amen.”

Without the Holy Spirit!

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My children, I will be with you for a little while longer. Then you will look for me, but you won't find me. I tell you just as I told the people, "You cannot go where I am going."  But I am giving you a new command. You must love each other, just as I have loved you.  If you love each other, everyone will know that you are my disciples.  Simon Peter asked, "Lord, where are you going?" Jesus answered, "You can't go with me now, but later on you will."  Peter asked, "Lord, why can't I go with you now? I would die for you!"   "Would you really die for me?" Jesus asked. "I tell you for certain that before a rooster crows, you will say three times that you don't even know me."

John 13: 33 - 38

Later, Peter did die for Jesus, and tradition says that he was crucified as well.  But in the early morning hours before the crucifixion of Jesus, Peter denied three times, that he even knew the Lord!

How strong are you in your willingness to suffer for Jesus?  Peter thought he was ready to die for Jesus, but he was not ready.  Eventually, Peter was prepared to die for Jesus, and he did. What changed?  

Jesus told His disciples that it would be better for them after He returned to Heaven because He would then send the Holy Spirit to live in them!  If you try to be an obedient and faithful servant of God without the Holy Spirit living in your heart, you will fail!  

When the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples on the Day of Pentecost, everything changed.  Shy followers became bold believers and weak and powerless men and women were filled with the power of God!  

“Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I cannot be what You want me to be without the power that comes from Your Holy Spirit!  Praise Your Holy Name forever.  Amen!” 

Your Story in a Book!

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I saw a great white throne with someone sitting on it. Earth and heaven tried to run away, but there was no place for them to go.  I also saw all the dead people standing in front of that throne. Every one of them was there, no matter who they had once been. Several books were opened, and then the book of life was opened. The dead were judged by what those books said they had done.  The sea gave up the dead people who were in it, and death and its kingdom also gave up their dead. Then everyone was judged by what they had done.

Revelation 20: 11 - 13

Did you know that God is your personal biographer?  Everything you have ever done is being written in a book!  If you are a follower of Jesus Christ, then your story is being recorded in the Book of Life.  If your name is found in that Book, you will live forever with Jesus in Heaven.

But there are other books where the stories of those who don’t love Jesus are written.  If your story is not found in the Book of Life, then your complete biography is being recorded in one of the other books!

Those books will be used for “evidence” on the Day of Judgement.  But there is no reason to assume that the personal tragedy of your life of rebellion against God will not be preserved forever in your eternal biography!

Instead of waisting your life and suffering forever in Hell, choose Jesus Christ today.  Then you can be sure that your story will be recorded in the Book of Life and you will live with Jesus forever!

“Lord Jesus, thank You for giving me Life!  I choose again today to give that Life back to You so that I can live with You forever.  Praise Your Holy Name now and forever.  Amen.”  

Not Just What I Want!

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Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.   And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4: 6 - 7

When my second son, Mark was a small boy he asked me, I think it is more accurate to say that he begged me to help him build a hovercraft.  He wanted to fly just a few inches off of the ground.  I’m sure it seemed perfectly reasonable to him that his father could build such a thing.  I know he was disappointed that I could not grant his request, but building any type of flying machine was beyond what I was able to do.  

I suppose I shouldn’t feel too bad about it because even though Mark ultimately became an airplane mechanic, he still has not built his hovercraft.

Here is the difference between a human father and our Father in Heaven.  You cannot imagine or ask for something that is beyond the ability of God!  So if you ask God for a “hovercraft” and He doesn’t give it to you, it is not because, like me He is not able to build one.

When God does not give you what you ask for it is because He has your greater good in mind! Just like every child, sometimes you ask God for something that He knows would bring you suffering and harm, and He refuses your request!   

So, don’t be sad that God has not given you what you ask for!  Instead, be at peace knowing that the God who can do anything has considered your request and denied it for your own good! 

“Lord Jesus, thank You for giving me the Peace of knowing that You will give me what I need and not just what I want.  May Your Name be praised forever.  Amen.” 

Bumps on the Road to Heaven!

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Can anything separate us from the love of Christ? Can trouble, suffering, and hard times, or hunger and nakedness, or danger and death?  It is exactly as the Scriptures say, "For you we face death all day long. We are like sheep on their way to be butchered."  In everything we have won more than a victory because of Christ who loves us.  I am sure that nothing can separate us from God's love--not life or death, not angels or spirits, not the present or the future,  and not powers above or powers below. Nothing in all creation can separate us from God's love for us in Christ Jesus our Lord!

Romans 8: 35 - 39

Nothing can separate you from the Love of Christ, but the Love of Christ does not always separate you from suffering and persecution!  It is, in fact during the difficulties of life that the Love of Christ is the most precious.

You may ask, “How could a loving Savior not rescue His followers from every problem He sees them encounter?”  From a human perspective that is a difficult question, but from the view of God Almighty the answer is simple.  Jesus sees, even your greatest suffering and problems as bumps on the road to Heaven.  None of your struggles are Eternally fatal and they cannot separate you from Christ’s love!

But when you endure suffering and pain as Jesus did, you become more like the Savior!  To be like Jesus is indeed the greatest honor on earth and how you deal with trouble is the greatest evidence that you are like Him!

“Lord Jesus, thank You for loving me and letting me live as You did even through the pain and suffering of this life!  Praise Your Holy Name forever.  Amen.”

Draw Near to God!

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Once I was bitter and brokenhearted.  I was stupid and ignorant, and I treated you as a wild animal would.  But I never really left you, and you hold my right hand.  Your advice has been my guide, and later you will welcome me in glory.  In heaven I have only you, and on this earth you are all I want.  My body and mind may fail, but you are my strength and my choice forever.  Powerful LORD God, all who stay far from you will be lost, and you will destroy those who are unfaithful.  It is good for me to be near you. I choose you as my protector, and I will tell about your wonderful deeds.

Psalm 73: 21 - 29

It may simply be a myth that the band on the Titanic played “Nearer My God to Thee” as the ship sank in the cold waters of the Atlantic Ocean on April 15, 1912.  But I can assure you that there were men, women and children who were crying out to God on that tragic night!

The Titanic was believed to be “Unsinkable” and many people today believe that their lives are unsinkable as well. 

There is truthfully only one way to insure that you will not be lost in the storms of this life.  And that way is by trusting Jesus Christ and staying near to God!  

Every time you sin you are putting distance between you and God!  Draw near to God and He will draw near to you!

“Lord Jesus, in Heaven I have only You, and on this earth You are all I want!  Praise Your Holy Name forever.  Amen.” 

Just Tell Someone About Jesus!

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When he saw Jesus walking by, he said, "Here is the Lamb of God!"  John's two followers heard him, and they went with Jesus.  When Jesus turned and saw them, he asked, "What do you want?" They answered, "Rabbi, where do you live?" The Hebrew word "Rabbi" means "Teacher."  Jesus replied, "Come and see!" It was already about four o'clock in the afternoon when they went with him and saw where he lived. So they stayed on for the rest of the day.  One of the two men who had heard John and had gone with Jesus was Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter.  The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother and tell him, "We have found the Messiah!" The Hebrew word "Messiah" means the same as the Greek word "Christ."  Andrew brought his brother to Jesus. And when Jesus saw him, he said, "Simon son of John, you will be called Cephas." This name can be translated as "Peter."

John 1: 36 - 42

The first thing that Andrew did was to tell his brother about Jesus!  That’s why the Gospel of Jesus Christ spread so quickly in the first century.  Men and women did not wait until they were “qualified” to proclaim the message of Jesus!  As soon as they heard about Him, they told others, who did the same!  Today, we call that “going viral!”

We are tempted to wait until our “argument” is polished and convincing.  We want to make sure that we make Jesus “look good” to those hearing the message, and we want to “look good” ourselves!  But really, the Gospel of Jesus has nothing to do with making the Savior attractive to others.  He can handle that part Himself!

And as far as you looking good, those who receive the message will be impressed, but those who reject Jesus will reject you as well!  It is all about Him and not about you!

So when you hear someone complain today about anything in their life, let them know that Jesus is the answer to that problem!  Just encourage others to cast their cares on Jesus and see what happens!  And don’t forget to encourage them to tell someone else!  When that fire begins to burn, everyone will soon know about Jesus Christ!

“Lord Jesus, give me the courage today to tell someone about You!  I know that You, Jesus are the answer to every problem.  Praise Your Holy Name forever.  Amen.”

Fellowship of Faith in Jesus!

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Timothy, you belong to God, so keep away from all these evil things. Try your best to please God and to be like him. Be faithful, loving, dependable, and gentle.  Fight a good fight for the faith and claim eternal life. God offered it to you when you clearly told about your faith, while so many people listened.  Now I ask you to make a promise. Make it in the presence of God, who gives life to all, and in the presence of Jesus Christ, who openly told Pontius Pilate about his faith.  Promise to obey completely and fully all that you have been told until our Lord Jesus Christ returns.

1 Timothy 6: 11 - 14

Timothy told others about his faith in God and he promised to fully and completely obey God’s Word.  Why is that important?  You see, faith is the evidence of a relationship between God and man.  You can believe all the factual history about Jesus and still have no relationship with Him.  

But your first encounter with the Good News of Jesus Christ can spawn a fellowship of faith in Jesus.

If you show and tell others about how you trust and have faith in Jesus, they will be encouraged to trust Him as well! 

If you want to be an effective proclaimer of the Gospel, then focus on being “fully and completely” obedient to every Word you hear from God!  When you do that, everything in your life will confirm the truth of the message and entice others to give their hearts to Jesus!

“Lord Jesus, I want to fully and completely obey You today.   May everything I think, say and do please You in every way!  Praise Your Holy Name now and forever.  Amen.” 

Understanding God!

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Christ gives meaning to your life, and when he appears, you will also appear with him in glory. Don't be controlled by your body. Kill every desire for the wrong kind of sex. Don't be immoral or indecent or have evil thoughts. Don't be greedy, which is the same as worshiping idols. God is angry with people who disobey him by doing these things. And that is exactly what you did, when you lived among people who behaved in this way. But now you must stop doing such things. You must quit being angry, hateful, and evil. You must no longer say insulting or cruel things about others.  And stop lying to each other. You have given up your old way of life with its habits.  Each of you is now a new person. You are becoming more and more like your Creator, and you will understand him better.

Colossians 3: 4 - 10

The Christian life is the process of becoming more and more like God!  Adam and Eve believed the lie of Satan when he told them that by eating of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, they would become like God.  The truth is this: Disobeying God made them like Satan and not like God.  

When you obey God, it is then that you become like Him.  And that is what God wants you to do.  And when you become like God, you grow in your understanding of Him.  

“Understanding God” is not a college course, it is rather the reward for obedience!  If you try to understand God by studying the doctrines of Christianity, you will never come to a satisfying conclusion.  But when you obey God, you will grasp more of His reality with each step of faith!

“Lord Jesus, I do want to understand you and be more like you.  Show me how to obey You today so that I can understand You better.  Praise Your Holy Name, now and forever.  Amen.” 

Only One Marriage!

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A wife should put her husband first, as she does the Lord.  A husband is the head of his wife, as Christ is the head and the Savior of the church, which is his own body.  Wives should always put their husbands first, as the church puts Christ first.  A husband should love his wife as much as Christ loved the church and gave his life for it.  He made the church holy by the power of his word, and he made it pure by washing it with water.  Christ did this, so that he would have a glorious and holy church, without faults or spots or wrinkles or any other flaws.

Ephesians 5: 22 - 27

When death comes, a marriage on earth ends.  For the surviving spouse it is very, very hard to endure.  I am told that the loneliness is overwhelming.  Someone once told me that a good marriage is like “Heaven on earth,” and a bad marriage is like Hell!  There is more truth to that than you might think.

There is marriage in Heaven, but it is only one marriage.  Christ and His Bride will experience the joys of marital bliss forever.  Since there is no death in Heaven, that marriage will never end.

So, if you are part of His “glorious and holy church” you are destined for an eternal future that is beyond your fondest imagination!

“Lord Jesus, help me to be ready to leave this earth and enter the joys of Heaven, and be with You forever!  Praise Your Holy Name, now and forever.  Amen.”

Reason to be Ready!

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The day of the Lord's return will surprise us like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a loud noise, and the heat will melt the whole universe. Then the earth and everything on it will be seen for what they are.  Everything will be destroyed. So you should serve and honor God by the way you live.  You should look forward to the day when God judges everyone, and you should try to make it come soon. On that day the heavens will be destroyed by fire, and everything else will melt in the heat.  But God has promised us a new heaven and a new earth, where justice will rule. We are really looking forward to that!

2 Peter 3: 10 - 13

Are we days, or maybe even hours away from the return of Jesus Christ?  Well, that may be so!  The countdown timer of history may be on it’s last few clicks!  And we should live our lives as if that were true, but that may not be the case as well.

There have been “evidences” of the soon return of Jesus in every age of history since the time of the Cross!  Even some of those who saw Jesus in the flesh thought He might come back during their lifetime. 

God has designed the time line of history to provide His people with reason to be ready for the return of Jesus at any moment!  That is still true today.  When men believe that Jesus will not or especially, cannot return in their lifetime there is great temptation to ignore the urgency of telling the world about Jesus!

Live today as if this is the Day of the Return of Jesus Christ!  You may be surprised when He returns, but you will be ready!

“Lord Jesus, help me be ready for Your return, today and tomorrow and every day for the rest of my life on this earth!  Praise Your Holy Name forever.  Amen.” 

Love, Honor and Obey!

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If you are a wife, you must put your husband first. Even if he opposes our message, you will win him over by what you do. No one else will have to say anything to him, because he will see how you honor God and live a pure life. Don't depend on things like fancy hairdos or gold jewelry or expensive clothes to make you look beautiful.  Be beautiful in your heart by being gentle and quiet. This kind of beauty will last, and God considers it very special.  Long ago those women who worshiped God and put their hope in him made themselves beautiful by putting their husbands first.  For example, Sarah obeyed Abraham and called him her master. You are her true children, if you do right and don't let anything frighten you.

1 Peter 3: 1 - 6

Years ago a normal part of the wedding vows included the bride vowing to “love, honor and obey!”  It was pretty well accepted that the husband was the “head” of the home and his wife functioned in her place under him.

That, God designed arrangement has all but disappeared in the western world.  We have decided to redefine everything!  A wife being obedient to her husband is quite simply offensive today!  But why does the Bible talk about a wife obeying her husband?  

Consider this: The marriage relationship was designed by God to provide us with a vivid picture of the relationship of Christ and His Bride!  If you are part of the Bride of Christ and you want that relationship to be one of mutual respect and equal responsibility and even authority then you are quite confused!  The Bride of Christ obeys Jesus.  There is no other way.

Even though a woman should obey her husband as the Church does Jesus, a husband has the unbelievably sacrificial task of loving His wife as Christ loves His Bride!  That means he lives his life for her and seeks to sacrifice everything, even his own life for her!  God’s idea of an ideal wife is one who gives herself completely to and obeys someone who has sacrificed his whole life for her!  Now you tell me that won’t work!

“Lord Jesus, how foolish we have been in trying to change the way You want things to be on this earth!  Help me today to see everything around me with Your eyes!  Praise Your Holy Name forever!  Amen.”  

Persecutor Becomes a Precious Brother!

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Christ did not sin or ever tell a lie.  Although he was abused, he never tried to get even. And when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he had faith in God, who judges fairly.  Christ carried the burden of our sins. He was nailed to the cross, so that we would stop sinning and start living right. By his cuts and bruises you are healed. You had wandered away like sheep. Now you have returned to the one who is your shepherd and protector.

1 Peter 2: 22 - 26

Why did Jesus never try to get even with those who abused and even crucified Him?  They will have to face the judgement of God on a Day appointed by Him, unless they first repent and turn their hearts to Jesus, which is what Jesus wanted them to do!

When you lash out at someone who has done you wrong, you are directing your anger and vengeance at the very person Jesus came to save!  Imagine if someone had given Saul “what he deserved” for killing Christians.  There would have been no Apostle Paul and all the blessings that came from God through him.

If you are patient and trust God to work His amazing calling on the hearts of those who cause you to suffer, then often the persecutor will become a precious brother!  You see, it is not who you are now that matters, it is who you will become by the Power of Jesus! 

Even when you look in a mirror, you see a man or woman who has not yet completed the course and finished the race!  But God sees what you will become as you are ushered into His presence to live with Him forever!  God will judge those who never turn to Jesus, but our job now is to love them and lead them to the foot of the Cross!

“Lord Jesus, thank You for loving me when I was still Your enemy.  Help me today to love those who cause me to suffer for You, so that they too may come to know You, the Only True God!  Amen.”