Need Because You Love

Good morning and happy Friday. In our feel good society and feel good churches here's what we have learned. The modern day gospel says God loves you and has a wonderful plan for you life. Follow these steps, and you can be saved. The biblical gospel says, you are an enemy of God, dead in your sin, and in your present state of rebellion, you are not able to see that you need life, much less to cause yourself to come to life. We are dependent on God in our lives to do something we can't. The first part sells the books and draws the crowds and makes us feel ok about ourselves, the second saves souls. We are too comfortable in our place to realize what it is we really need. I've always wondered why God's people were in the desert of all places. It's so they see and understand how much they need Him. We don't see that here. It's too easy and we're too lazy. God loves us and wants good for us, but He wants our acknowledgment of our need for Him. The true need for Him comes first when we truly begin to love Him. Then we need because we love. In love always. <><

Caught In a Trap

Good morning and happy Thursday. We've all seen a documentary or two about animals in the wild that get caught in a trap and gnaw off their leg to survive. It's a great metaphor of ourselves. What trap, small or big, do you find yourself in that you need to gnaw away from? Human, earthly survival comes so easy to us and we do make changes to stay alive. But what about spiritually? What about the life that matters most? What are you willing to do to save and survive in that life? We almost never consider it because we take it for granted. We're in an age that says once you're saved you're always saved. So we don't need to do anything. We're in the club. We're good now. That is why we so desperately need Jesus in our lives today, our schools and businesses. We are so lost in this. We've made enough excuses to get ourselves to Heaven on our own. A prayer at a camp, in a pew, or with a friend gets you salvation but it's not the end. You must follow Him and be at doing the Fathers work. The club you want to join isn't here yet. That's the one you can't leave. Gnaw off the leg that is keeping you from doing the Fathers work. If it's a belief, vice, or just not understanding, find someone to help you. It's that important. In love always. <><

Get In The Mix

Good morning and happy Wednesday. Flour, eggs, milk, and sugar; maybe some margarine. All ok stuff on their own, but when they're mixed just right, look out. All kinds of things get made. We've heard these old things before though about separate parts and becoming something else when put or used together. Problem is that's all we've done is heard it. We never got together with some butter and sugar and made a difference. We are far too comfortable and happy to just get by with the status quo. There are a few things that are certain; death, taxes, Jesus coming back, and judgement. What is He gonna find you doing for Him when He shows up? Relaxing in the a/c praying for your friends who just got sick, hurt or lost a job. Is that gonna cut it? Will that be enough? Maybe so, I don't know. But I do know there is a lot to be done and the workers are few. Get in the mix and make a difference. Yours and other lives will be blessed for it. It's a win win. And if you said to yourself in this that you're a good person and this isn't for you, it probably was. In love always. <><

What"s The Cost?

Good morning and happy Tuesday. Did you know that in parts of the world it is illegal for people to gather and talk about the Bible? To say the name of Jesus. And yet at the risk of losing everything, including their lives, people are doing that. They have made a choice that few of us here with all the freedom to do what we want, chose not to do, follow Jesus with all we have. To become a disciple. A true disciple. But that kind of devotion is needed there to reach the lost, we say. It's not the way it is here, we say. True, but tongues are cut out in His name and they still follow. How much more do we need to see to know that this is for real? We have got to get ourselves out of this world and into His. We have to decide if we're all in or not. These people are living a life today to make a difference in lives tomorrow and to have a place in heaven with the Father. That's what we the people of this blessed beyond measure of a country has got to do. It's time to stand up and be heard and not sit down and be run over while we think it's gonna be just fine. I gave at the church Sunday, I'm good. We have to do better than this. He loves us way too much for us not to. We are in this country with blessings for a reason. It's time to be used. In love always <><

Service

Goof morning and happy Monday. Service, serve. Those words we say and want to do but don't always. It is the easier part of life to do though. We love to help people when we can. We feel good about ourselves and that's ok, as long as that's not the reason for it to begin with. But the flip of that is the hardest, receiving the service. I blow, and really blew, this one this weekend. It's hard to allow people to help us even when we're neck deep in the quicksand. I had a chance to make a call to a friend, a very dear friend, to help out in a spot, and I didn't. I don't know why, it's certainly not because I didn't want him there. We tend to be great givers more than receivers. And while the serving is the better, we have to be able to receive as well. The same way we have to receive what Jesus came and did for us. I denied my friend the chance to serve. I don't really have the right to do that. Thank you Roger for those words of wisdom. It wont happen again. I love you all and I care for you too and if I need help I will be asking. In love always. <><