Could it be an abomination to God?

In Luke 16:14,15 it says, "And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided (sneered, ridiculed, and scoffed) him. And he (Jesus) said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God." Much of what is valued in modern times would make God's abomination list. Think for a moment of all that is thought to be necessary for one's life to be considered successful in the hour that we live. Such things as, fashionable clothing, fancy automobiles, club memberships, huge homes, university degrees, stock holdings, etc., possibly make the list. Jesus said that man could not serve God and mammon (riches or anything else that you rely upon). Is God the source that we rely on? We shouldn't be afraid to look closely at our lives and evaluate just what it is that we are relying on. Some of those things could be an abomination to God and that would have hard consequences for us to face.

Stand By To Party!

When the man with 100 sheep lost one he went and found it and after finding it, he came rejoicing and called his friends to rejoice with him. When the woman with 10 pieces of silver lost one she swept the floor and looked for the lost coin, when she found it she called neighbors and friends to rejoice with her. When the prodigal son left home his father daily looked for him to come home, the son who was in another land squandered his money and fell into great need. He finally came to himself and headed home. While he was a good distance from home his father saw him and had compassion and ran and greeted him with a kiss. The son repented and the father called for the fatted calf to be prepared for a party. The father said, " This son was dead and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. " Then the party began. When a sheep was lost, and a coin was lost, and a son lost, scripture says, "Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth." Do you know of any sinners that need to repent? Are you one of the sinners that needs to repent? When this joyous occasion happens, the joyful party in heaven begins, and we that are on earth shall party as well.

The Big 3 C's!

Have you ever been so overwhelmed of heart and mind that you weren't sure what to do first? Or maybe just what to do period. Perhaps you reached for some of your favorite comfort food one of the Big 3 C's. You know the 3 C's don't you? Ah come on we all know they are Chocolate, Chips, and Caramels. How did they make us feel? Didn't quite do the trick did they? God usually allows us to sample the 3C's, but then will lead us to his word for the real help that we need. Psalm 61:1 - 2 says, "Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer. From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I." As we follow directions we get to where we need to be, and that is standing upon the rock which in our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. He is always the answer for what ails us. For in him we are complete.

A Real Christian Is An Oddball!

A. W. Tozer wrote, "A real Christian is an odd number, anyway. He feels supreme love for one whom he has never seen; talks familiarly every day to Someone he cannot see; expects to go to heaven on the virtue of Another; empties himself in order to be full; admits he is wrong so he can be declared right; goes down in order to get up; is strongest when he is weakest; richest when he is poorest and happiest when he feels the worst. He dies so he can live; forsakes in order to have; gives away so he can keep; sees the invisible, hears the inaudible, and knows that which passeth knowledge." From one oddball to another, have a great weekend.

A Crack In The Sidewalk

All you need to grow fine, vigorous grass is a crack in your sidewalk. Blooming where we are planted, even if it is only a crack in the sidewalk, is exactly what God wants for our lives. But we say, "Cracks in the sidewalk aren't all that attractive, I want to be some place that is beautiful." Careful or we will miss God's will for our lives.

The Love Of God!

I John 4:18 says, "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love." If there is fear in our lives it indicates that we haven't yet reached maturity. God loves us and desires His best for us all, and yet we are fearful when faced with circumstances or changes that seem out of control. We should be advised to remember that God is on His throne and is not in the least bit surprised by the unsettling events in our lives. We know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28) . Romans 8:31 says, "What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?" Rest in His love for NOTHING can separate us from the love of God!

What Do We Own?

The poor man's house is rarely broken into. Scripture tells us to be content with such things as we have, and to be content with food and clothing. The robber comes when we start storing up treasures on earth. I'm not only talking about the person who breaks into our house to steal something, I'm also talking about Satan who being called by Christ the one who came to kill, steal, and destroy, enters our heart and mind and steals the freedom we have with possessing only what is needed to survive. Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ only owned the clothes on his back.

A Normal Process Of Life!

As I watched the wind swirl some very dry leaves around my back yard, it really hit me that another autumn is upon us. Time moves by rapidly these days. In Ecclesiastes 3:1 and following it says, "To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted..." We have recently pulled some dying flowers from their pots, and each time we did it created a sad feeling. But should we feel sad over those things that are only happening because it is their time for change? I think it is fine to feel sad but we should recognize the reality of the situation. That reality tells us that what is happening is normal. Death is a normal process. Nothing will live forever. So let's enjoy each season as we acknowledge that it is the normal process of life.

Walking In The Truth!

In 3 John verse 4 it says, "I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth." Being the father of four children and grandfather of five grandchildren I amen the above verse. Being a Pastor for the past 36 years I also amen the above verse for all the brothers and sisters that I have had the privilege of working with, those who have walked in the truth and continue to walk in the truth. May the Lord continue to help all of us to walk in the truth of God's word.

Speaking Truth!

Someone has said that, "tact is the art of making a point without making an enemy." Some might say that tact could also be defined as speaking the truth in love, but I don't think so, for the fact is, speaking the truth, even in love, will make many enemies. Jesus said it this way, men love darkness rather than light because their deeds are evil. (John 3:19) We should be more focused on speaking truth, rather than being worried about making an enemy. May the Lord help us all to be about His business.

How Quick Are We To Forgive!

How quick are we to forgive someone who has sinned against us and seriously hurt us? Is there possibly a correlation between how quickly we forgive to how much we love? Jesus in teaching on forgiveness in Luke 7:47 says about the woman who washed his feet with tears and wiped them with the hair of her head, " Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little." In summary, when we have much forgiven we then love much. I believe that forgiving someone is a barometer which tells the true story of just how loving we are or we aren't.

Change!

Two caterpillars were crawling across the grass when a butterfly flew over them. They looked up, and one nudged the other and said, "You couldn't get me up in one of those things for a million dollars." We need to be careful what we say about life's situations, for God is not finished with any of us. It remains to be seen just what God will have us to do and be at this point in our lives. He adds a little here, and a little there, line upon line, precept upon precept. One thing we can be sure of, we will be the ones to change for scripture tells us that God doesn't change.

We Are The Ones!

A nationally known celebrity once said, "Do you realize that one in every four Americans is unbalanced? Think of your three closest friends. If they seem OK, you are the one!" I don't know about all of that but, isn't it great that we are the ones who have the mind of Christ (I Corinthians 2: 16) , and like the Apostle Paul who said in Philippians 4: 13, "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."

Home!

Someone once said, home is where your heart is. I wonder if it shouldn't go like this, home is where love is? What do you think about when you think about home?

The End Of All Things Is At Hand!

"But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer." I Peter 4:7 In the Amplified Bible it goes like this, "But the end and culmination of all things has now come near: keep soundminded and self-restrained and alert therefore for the practice of prayer." Are we sober, watching in prayer, soundminded, self restrained, and alert and in prayer?" Self restrained means we are to be heavenly minded and not earthly minded. The allure of earth and the things it has to offer are enticing to most. We must be ready for the Lord's coming. The Lord said that when he comes, if a man is on the roof top he is not to come down for his stuff, but is to leave it. Remember Lot's wife who looked back and was turned into a pillar of salt. We brought nothing into this world and will take nothing out of this world. Let's keep ready, for the end of all things is at hand.

Heavenly Minded!

I once heard someone say about another brother, "He is so heavenly minded that he is no earthly good." Could this be possible? I think not, for if we are heavenly minded then we understand that the language of heaven is love. Here on earth we are to love God with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and love our neighbor as ourselves. We will be used of God to do a world of good, if we love as instructed.