PROVERBS 20:18
"Plans succeed through good counsel; do not go to war without wise advice."
Not many people plan to fail at anything they do. The problem is most often, their FAILURE TO PLAN. Not many of us have to plan for a war, but we had better hope that those who do it for us are wise enough to seek the good counsel and wise advice of many, if they hope to succeed! We should all seed wise guidance and good counsel before attempting anything of consequence to our lives. Do have a plan for your life? Do you consider and prepare for your future in writing? Who do you look to for guidance and counseling?
The beginning of wisdom is the fear of God and we are told in His Word to always look to Him first in anything and everything we do. He wants us to come before Him and align ourselves with His Will. So the first thing we should do in making any plan is take it before the Lord and Pray that He will show us that His will is in it. Remember we should not say what we will do in the days ahead for we know not what the day may bring forth. We should always say, we will do this or that, GOD WILLING! So when we plan we must always include God and seek His Will if we do not that is a FAILURE TO PLAN.
When you seek counsel and guidance for your plans, you should always consider where you get that advice. You should always seek many counselors. Would it make any sense for making your plan to seek the advice of those who are the opposite of what you think and believe? Only if you are seeking a contrast and what not to do. Good advice for believer's is to seek from among those of like belief to make a plan. The best advice is to learn and know the Word of God and what the prophets have said. Look to the Lord for the best advice and go their first. Do not make the mistake of a FAILURE TO PLAN!
Saturday, August 2, 2008
Friday, August 1, 2008
ONE VOICE!
ROMANS 15: 5-6
"May God, who gives patience and encouragement, help you live in complete harmony with each other, as is fitting the followers of Christ Jesus. Then all of you can join together with ONE VOICE, giving praise and glory to God, the Father of Jesus Christ."
Do you think there is unity in the Christian church? Do you think that we all speak with ONE VOICE? Do you believe we have the patience and the courage to live in complete harmony with other Christians? What is our purpose in living if it is not to give praise and glory to our Lord? Like every seemingly impossible task it begins with you and it begins with one act at a time! First we must pray that the Lord gives us the patience and encouragement to live in harmony with all of His other followers, and that we join in one voice to give glory and praise to God the Father of Jesus Christ.
If we want to be steadfast and live in mutual harmony having full sympathy for one another, then we will have to be in accord with Jesus Christ. It is God who can give us the power of patience and endurance. First our heart must be right, then together we may unanimously unite our hearts and speak with one voice. Many believer's have reached this maturity and want desperately to unite and become like minded to one another. Many attempts have been made to unify our beliefs and doctrines and speak the pure Word of God. This scripture invites all who Love God to become one and speak with one voice to glorify God. A noble goal.
If there are attempts that you can join in to achieve this worthy goal, do so. If you on a personal level have an opportunity to to unite your hearts and voices with other believer's, welcome it. If you see others who are being devisive and trying to spread disunity, discourage them and point out what the Word has to say. Have sympathy for all believer's and realize that we are all at different points on the path to God. Offer to unite rather than to divide. Point out that our real purpose in being here on earth is to worship and glorify God and that is something we can all do with ONE VOICE!
"May God, who gives patience and encouragement, help you live in complete harmony with each other, as is fitting the followers of Christ Jesus. Then all of you can join together with ONE VOICE, giving praise and glory to God, the Father of Jesus Christ."
Do you think there is unity in the Christian church? Do you think that we all speak with ONE VOICE? Do you believe we have the patience and the courage to live in complete harmony with other Christians? What is our purpose in living if it is not to give praise and glory to our Lord? Like every seemingly impossible task it begins with you and it begins with one act at a time! First we must pray that the Lord gives us the patience and encouragement to live in harmony with all of His other followers, and that we join in one voice to give glory and praise to God the Father of Jesus Christ.
If we want to be steadfast and live in mutual harmony having full sympathy for one another, then we will have to be in accord with Jesus Christ. It is God who can give us the power of patience and endurance. First our heart must be right, then together we may unanimously unite our hearts and speak with one voice. Many believer's have reached this maturity and want desperately to unite and become like minded to one another. Many attempts have been made to unify our beliefs and doctrines and speak the pure Word of God. This scripture invites all who Love God to become one and speak with one voice to glorify God. A noble goal.
If there are attempts that you can join in to achieve this worthy goal, do so. If you on a personal level have an opportunity to to unite your hearts and voices with other believer's, welcome it. If you see others who are being devisive and trying to spread disunity, discourage them and point out what the Word has to say. Have sympathy for all believer's and realize that we are all at different points on the path to God. Offer to unite rather than to divide. Point out that our real purpose in being here on earth is to worship and glorify God and that is something we can all do with ONE VOICE!
Thursday, July 31, 2008
LIVING PROOF!
MATTHEW 3:8
"Prove by the way that you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God!
How can you be sure that you have repented of your sins and that you are a child of God? How can you know if someone else has repented of their sins and turned to God? This scripture tells us that we can prove repentance by the way that we live. This also applies to others and the way they act is LIVING PROOF of their repenting and turning to God. We must all let our lives prove our change of heart. How we live must be consistent with repentance and bear fruit.
Sometimes it is very confusing to believer's when someone they know has turned from God. We may call it backslidden. We only know that once you have tasted the sweetness of Jesus where can you go to find life? It may be that those celebrities that have put on a great show for Jesus, never really had repented themselves and they had never turned to God. What they have proved by leaving the Lord and turning away from God is that they are lost and separated from their only Salvation.
Your life is the real story of what you believe. What you say, how you act and what you believe is evident in your lives. Yes there is a secret inner self that can be in conflict with your outer appearance, such as the Pharisees and Sadducee's that God warned. You will not escape the wrath and indignation of God and you will never escape or flee from judgement if you have not truly repented and turned to the Lord. Some may fool us for a time, but the real person will be revealed in this lifetime or at the time of judgement. Is your life LIVING PROOF or your heart and Godly repentance?
"Prove by the way that you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God!
How can you be sure that you have repented of your sins and that you are a child of God? How can you know if someone else has repented of their sins and turned to God? This scripture tells us that we can prove repentance by the way that we live. This also applies to others and the way they act is LIVING PROOF of their repenting and turning to God. We must all let our lives prove our change of heart. How we live must be consistent with repentance and bear fruit.
Sometimes it is very confusing to believer's when someone they know has turned from God. We may call it backslidden. We only know that once you have tasted the sweetness of Jesus where can you go to find life? It may be that those celebrities that have put on a great show for Jesus, never really had repented themselves and they had never turned to God. What they have proved by leaving the Lord and turning away from God is that they are lost and separated from their only Salvation.
Your life is the real story of what you believe. What you say, how you act and what you believe is evident in your lives. Yes there is a secret inner self that can be in conflict with your outer appearance, such as the Pharisees and Sadducee's that God warned. You will not escape the wrath and indignation of God and you will never escape or flee from judgement if you have not truly repented and turned to the Lord. Some may fool us for a time, but the real person will be revealed in this lifetime or at the time of judgement. Is your life LIVING PROOF or your heart and Godly repentance?
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
AUTHORITY FROM GOD!
ROMANS 13:1
"Everyone must submit to governing authorities. FOR ALL AUTHORITY COMES FROM GOD. Those in positions of authority have been placed there by God."
Some people say that if so and so is elected president of the united states, they will leave the country. Many people are very unhappy when their party is not elected to a certain position. The power to tax is the power to destroy and many rebel at the idea of someone in authority taking their money. You may be in a very small minority within your city, state or country and it bothers you that you are not given the respect and power of the majority. Sometimes we find that the dumbest and most amoral among us have risen to positions of authority and we just can not understand why this happen!
This is the answer that we all must learn and assimilate. Although men think they are powerful and they cause there destiny and fortune in life, there is a more correct answer. Those who are in a governing position and authority over you got there because of God's power. All authority comes from God. Not just some or a little bit, but ALL AUTHORITY COMES FROM GOD! So anyone who rebels against authority is really rebelling against God and what He has done and they will be punished. Everyone should be loyal to their civil and governing authorities.
There is no authority unless it is by God's permission. He sanctions all those who have authority over you and they exist by God's appointment. Remember Caesar Augustus who called for a census of all Roman citizens and put in motion the arrival of Joseph and Mary in Bethlehem, and the birth of Jesus as the prophets foretold? Caesar thought he was emperor and a divine God, but it was the Lord that controlled him and all his actions that he could never even understand. So the next time someone is elected president and you just can not take it anymore, remember that God placed him there and there is a purpose that you will never understand. Just do not rebel. If you do, you rebel against God.
"Everyone must submit to governing authorities. FOR ALL AUTHORITY COMES FROM GOD. Those in positions of authority have been placed there by God."
Some people say that if so and so is elected president of the united states, they will leave the country. Many people are very unhappy when their party is not elected to a certain position. The power to tax is the power to destroy and many rebel at the idea of someone in authority taking their money. You may be in a very small minority within your city, state or country and it bothers you that you are not given the respect and power of the majority. Sometimes we find that the dumbest and most amoral among us have risen to positions of authority and we just can not understand why this happen!
This is the answer that we all must learn and assimilate. Although men think they are powerful and they cause there destiny and fortune in life, there is a more correct answer. Those who are in a governing position and authority over you got there because of God's power. All authority comes from God. Not just some or a little bit, but ALL AUTHORITY COMES FROM GOD! So anyone who rebels against authority is really rebelling against God and what He has done and they will be punished. Everyone should be loyal to their civil and governing authorities.
There is no authority unless it is by God's permission. He sanctions all those who have authority over you and they exist by God's appointment. Remember Caesar Augustus who called for a census of all Roman citizens and put in motion the arrival of Joseph and Mary in Bethlehem, and the birth of Jesus as the prophets foretold? Caesar thought he was emperor and a divine God, but it was the Lord that controlled him and all his actions that he could never even understand. So the next time someone is elected president and you just can not take it anymore, remember that God placed him there and there is a purpose that you will never understand. Just do not rebel. If you do, you rebel against God.
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
NO PRETENDERS- NO HYPOCRITES
ROMANS 12:9
"Do not just pretend to love others, really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring one another."
Is your love of others sincere? Is it the real thing? Is your love without hypocrisy? Others know the truth and for certain God knows! Fake feelings of love and concern are not genuine and are not sincere. Wearing a mask and mouthing words and platitudes may fool some but you will never fool God. True love is real love and it will not be mistaken. The way we love our children is a good example of true and unconditional love. Let us hope your love of God is even greater. God is love and if you are His child you will be capable of real sincere Love.
If you are able to love sincerely, then you will also quite naturally hate that which is evil. You will loathe ungodliness and turn in horror from wickedness. This reaction will allow you to hold fast to all that is good and all that is from God. We need to cling to that which is good. We also need to separate ourselves from that which is evil, wicked and ungodly. Hate what is wrong!
As believer's we are one big family. We should love each other with bold affection. We should honor one another and show precedence to them over others. Be kind to one another and devoted to building up the family. Honor others above yourself. Never allow yourself to be a PRETENDER OR HYPOCRITE.
"Do not just pretend to love others, really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring one another."
Is your love of others sincere? Is it the real thing? Is your love without hypocrisy? Others know the truth and for certain God knows! Fake feelings of love and concern are not genuine and are not sincere. Wearing a mask and mouthing words and platitudes may fool some but you will never fool God. True love is real love and it will not be mistaken. The way we love our children is a good example of true and unconditional love. Let us hope your love of God is even greater. God is love and if you are His child you will be capable of real sincere Love.
If you are able to love sincerely, then you will also quite naturally hate that which is evil. You will loathe ungodliness and turn in horror from wickedness. This reaction will allow you to hold fast to all that is good and all that is from God. We need to cling to that which is good. We also need to separate ourselves from that which is evil, wicked and ungodly. Hate what is wrong!
As believer's we are one big family. We should love each other with bold affection. We should honor one another and show precedence to them over others. Be kind to one another and devoted to building up the family. Honor others above yourself. Never allow yourself to be a PRETENDER OR HYPOCRITE.
Monday, July 28, 2008
HOW IMPOSSIBLE!
ROMANS 11:33
"Oh how great are God's riches and wisdom and knowledge! HOW IMPOSSIBLE it is for us to understand His decisions and His ways."
Here is a task that is doomed to failure from the begining. Try to have the mind of God. Try to understand His ways and His decisions. God's ways are so far above our human ways that we could never have a hope of emulating Him. So when someone asks the question, "why would a good God allow evil in the world", the correct response is that it is impossible for us to know!
One thing we do know is that God's wisdom and riches are great, beyond our comprehension!
God's wisdom is unfathomable, unsearchable, and inscrutable. His ways are mysterious and undiscoverable to the human mind. His ways, methods and paths are above ours and it is impossible for us to understand His decisions and ways. Do you still want to try? Are you still stubborn and rebellious enough to even think you can obtain the nature of God? Stop and think, what is it that God wants from us. He wants us to worship Him and to learn from His word and the prophets what He expects from us. God does not need a counselor and He knows no human can know His mind, or understand His thoughts.
Love the Lord with all you heart, mind, body and soul. Seek and put Him first in everything you do. Pray to Him for your all your needs. Worship Him without ceasing. Acknowledge God as God and realize that you are human and not God. Can you really give anything to God except your belief in Him. Thank the Lord that we are never called upon to be God. Now that is truly HOW IMPOSSIBLE!
"Oh how great are God's riches and wisdom and knowledge! HOW IMPOSSIBLE it is for us to understand His decisions and His ways."
Here is a task that is doomed to failure from the begining. Try to have the mind of God. Try to understand His ways and His decisions. God's ways are so far above our human ways that we could never have a hope of emulating Him. So when someone asks the question, "why would a good God allow evil in the world", the correct response is that it is impossible for us to know!
One thing we do know is that God's wisdom and riches are great, beyond our comprehension!
God's wisdom is unfathomable, unsearchable, and inscrutable. His ways are mysterious and undiscoverable to the human mind. His ways, methods and paths are above ours and it is impossible for us to understand His decisions and ways. Do you still want to try? Are you still stubborn and rebellious enough to even think you can obtain the nature of God? Stop and think, what is it that God wants from us. He wants us to worship Him and to learn from His word and the prophets what He expects from us. God does not need a counselor and He knows no human can know His mind, or understand His thoughts.
Love the Lord with all you heart, mind, body and soul. Seek and put Him first in everything you do. Pray to Him for your all your needs. Worship Him without ceasing. Acknowledge God as God and realize that you are human and not God. Can you really give anything to God except your belief in Him. Thank the Lord that we are never called upon to be God. Now that is truly HOW IMPOSSIBLE!
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