A Blind President

Praying for our president has been so difficult lately. He seems to hate Christianity and favor any religion that kills and mistreats us. But, pray for him I will. I know that he will reap ALL the things he is sowing and for that I pity him. I wonder how much differently he would act if it were one of his daughters being raped or tormented as a sex slave by a Isis soldier. Probably just give the soldier a job and social security benefits that american ta payers are paying for? Blind leaders fill the history books. Pray. Pray. Pray.

S.O.A.P.

2-20-2015      Romans 8:5-9

S.       5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. 9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you.

O.      Flesh equals sin while Spirit equals life and peace.

A.      I must stay filled with the spirit and follow after the things of holiness. The Spirit will only dwell in a clean temple.

    P.       Father; expand my trust and faith. Help me to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit and follow his               leading that I may please you. Amen. 

Sin is not a secret!

Do I own this "stuff" or does it own me? Cleaning out the garage should be rewarded with some kind of national honor! How do I manage to haul off three truck-loads of, I don't need this any more, and still have more than the garage can hold? I still park two cars in this garage so I only use the three walls for storage. One wall gets Christmas decorations, another is for kitchen overflow and the last is a catch all for yard and garden stuff. Listen to me complaining when I should be praying; Lord teach me to get along with less, Amen. Lord, deliver me from the need to horde and if greed is my base desire, clean my spiritual garage, Amen.

S.O.A.P.

1-13-2015      Romans 3:19-27

S.       19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. 20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. 21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; 22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: 23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; 26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. 27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.

O.      Old Testament law reveals sin but Jesus reveals righteousness. All are under sin and only faith in Jesus will justify.

A.      The knowledge of sin is resident in my soul and every soul. Man doesn’t need a law to reveal sin to him. The Holy Spirit is our spokesman, speaking directly to our heart. We can resist, explain away, ignore, close our mind and in a thousand ways block our knowledge of sin but nothing will change the fact that we do know what sin really is. If we don’t accept Jesus as Lord and Saviour we will receive the results of our sin. Listen to the voice of God, admit, confess and convert.

P.       Father; speak again to me and any who rea this prayer about the dangers of sin and its results. I seek to be clean in your eyes and I long for the words, “well done”. Amen.  

Christ-Like --- WOW --- Novel Idea!

When will Christians stop acting like satan? We need to start over on this Holy Road and remember the way Jesus lived and how he treated people. Pray for our enemy, heap coals of fire (love) on their heads and do them no harm. Christian......Christ-like......NOT; devouring, selfish, mean, etc. etc.

9-23-2014      Mark 3:1-3

S.       1 And he entered again into the synagogue; and there was a man there which had a withered hand.2 And they watched him, whether he would heal him on the sabbath day; that they might accuse him.3 And he saith unto the man which had the withered hand, Stand forth.

O.      People are watching Jesus and looking for some fault or sin (Judging Him).

A.      I will also watch Jesus, not to Judge him, but to learn his ways, his love and his personality.

P.       Father; open my eyes that I may see and understand the ways and ministry of Jesus. Help me to become more like him every day. Amen.

9-24-2014      Mark 3:4-5

S.       4 And he saith unto them, Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath days, or to do evil? to save life, or to kill? But they held their peace.5 And when he had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, he saith unto the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it out: and his hand was restored whole as the other.

O.      Jesus asks: when is it right to do good deeds? He is angry over the un-caring attitude of this group. Then Jesus heals a man with a withered hand.

A.      I must never become hard-hearted or legalistic when it comes to the blessings of God. I should desire blessings and miracles for those around me regardless of the traditions of this world.

P.       Father; create in me a heart of compassion for hurting people and guide that heart by your Spirit rather than by my feeble mind. I submit myself to do your will. Amen.    

No Faith---No Results

7-9-2014         Acts 19:13-17

S.       13 Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth.14 And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so.15 And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?16 And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.17 And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.

O.      Non-believers are trying to perform miracles and find that they have no power or authority. This failure causes many to change their mind concerning Jesus.

A.      Everything of a divine nature must begin and end with Jesus. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom”. I will seek to have Jesus as the very center of my life rather than someone I have only heard “about”.

P.       Father; wash all my sin away, I confess, I repent and I seek to have his redeeming blood cover me both inside and out. Use me today to help others in their walk and lead me to one that has never heard the words of life. Amen.

Use me, Lord

6-8-2014         Acts 14:11-18

S.       11 And when the people saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in the speech of Lycaonia, The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men.12 And they called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercurius, because he was the chief speaker.13 Then the priest of Jupiter, which was before their city, brought oxen and garlands unto the gates, and would have done sacrifice with the people.14 Which when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out,15 And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein:16 Who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways.17 Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.18 And with these sayings scarce restrained they the people, that they had not done sacrifice unto them.

O.      After this healing the people wanted to worship Paul and Barnabas. Paul stops this action by explaining that it was God’s work moving through him.

A.      I want god’s works moving through me. I must live a life that God can use. I must have enough compassion for the lost that my focus is not distracted to the trivial matters of every day.

P.       Father; renew in me a sharp focus on the spiritual and at the same time dim the glare of daily life needs. Use me Lord to reach the lost souls all around me. Amen.  

Who am I today?

Should I change who I am to fit the occasion or should I remain steadfast where I am. I see and hear many folks as they struggle through this question. Here inside the church we kick the idea around every Sunday. The church has been wearing a very unfair label for centuries. You know the one I refer to; Hypocrite!  I am sure that there are hypocritical tendencies in us all and that from time to time we let them out. I prefer to use other words and ideas to deal with this continuing battle.

The most difficult development in one's life is discovering who you are. Are you friendly or mean, happy or sad, open or closed, good or bad. This list could go on forever. Trouble is, life never stops putting us into situations that require us to "live out" who we are, to speak or act in an acceptable manner. The old adage "when in Rome" seems to be the current norm.

I get into trouble because I deal with many different groups of folks on a regular basis. Each group expects me to agree with them and participate in their activities. This is where I start looking into myself and deciding "who I am". I struggle through the options and check off the consequences of my choices and "take a stand," however, I am so limited in my knowledge and experience I often take the wrong position.

Then it happens! Slap! On goes the label and another hypocrite is crowned.

 I don't like this word. I see many Christians stop trying to live for God because of this word and how it is used. How many times are we allowed to fail (sin), repent and start anew. I don't think that God has a finite number attached to this idea. Oh if I could be like God in this area of my being. If I could find it within myself to give folks as many chances as they need and keep on loving them and NEVER stick on some label. Better still, if I could give myself room to learn and grow... forgive myself, restart and become a better Christian.

"CHRISTIAN" is not a label, or idea, or heritage. Christian is a being, being in CHRIST and him being in you. When I look into the mirror I don't see enough of Christ. There is this guy; working, thinking, planing about himself. Self-centered, egotistical (in a hansom sort of way), confused and stubborn. Yet it is this guy that God sent his son to die on a cross for. I spend too much time and effort in the quest to answer the question "who am I". The secret is found in discovering who Jesus is, changing our focus from us to him, relying on his knowledge and experience to face the challenges of life.    

Me and my putty car.