The Secret Disciple!

John 19:38 says, "And after this Joesph of Arimathaea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave. He came therefore, and took the body of Jesus." Joesph wanted to give Jesus a good burial place, but was fearful of the Jews so he had to ask Pilate in secret for the body of Jesus. Do you know any secret disciples? You know who I mean they are the ones that are fearful of the world's gang and sneak around so the world won't be able to identify them as being Christian. This story has happened many times, while visiting a church someone is totally surprised to see someone that they have worked with for a long time, and as the two talk both are surprised to know that the other is a Christian. If for no other reason they should know about one another for folks should know we are Christians by our love. It is time to make it known that we are Christians.

Family

Someone once said, "Family life teaches you loyalty, patience, understanding, perseverance, and a lot of other things you wouldn't need if you stayed single." Another said, "Parenting is hereditary. If your parents didn't have any children, you're not likely to have any either." God is really the Father of all family, and family is good if folks are walking with the Lord. In Psalm 68:6 it says, "God setteth the solitary in families: he bringeth out those which are bound with chains: but the rebellious dwell in a dry land." Blessings to you and your families.

Unblameable Holy Hearts!

The Apostle Paul in a prayer in I Thessalonians 3:12-13 says, "And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you: To the end he may establish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints." May the Lord do this as well for each of us. Having unblameable holy hearts that are increasing and abounding in love toward all, sounds like heaven to me.

Fanatics?

Winston Churchill said, "A fanatic is someone who can't change his mind and won't change the subject." Should we as Christians be fanatics? I think so, what do you think on this subject?

Self made rules, regulations, and ordinances!

I have known so many Christians who have developed, in regard to living their lives, their own set of rules, regulations, or ordinances, as it says in the word of God. In Colossians 2:20-22 it reads, "Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances. (Touch not; taste not; handle not; Which are all to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?" Some folks really like to appear to others as spiritual and will go to extremes to be thought of that way. Our goals and responsibility is to love God with all we have and to love our neighbor as our self. Many are espousing that they know much about God's word but the goal is to be obedient to the word that we know, thus showing how much we love Jesus. To know God's word but not do it will cause self deception (James 1:22). Let's follow God's instructions to love Him and our neighbor, thus fulfilling the whole law, and leave the touch not, taste not, and handle not to the world.

I Love You Jesus!

My wife and I just celebrated our 47th wedding anniversary. As we spent the day together we renewed our commitment to one another committing our lives once again to each other.
As believers in Jesus Christ, it would be good for each of us to freshly dedicate our hearts and lives to Jesus Christ: "I want to once again give you my life, Lord Jesus, that I gave to you several years ago. I want to give it again to you with gratitude, fully aware of all that I am doing. I love you Jesus!"

Rough Spots!

When golf balls were first manufactured they had smooth covers. Then it was discovered that a ball that had been roughed up could go farther, distance wise. After this discovery the manufacturers started making them with dimpled covers. So it is with life; it takes some rough spots in your life to make you go your farthest. Hebrews 5:8 in speaking about Jesus, says, "Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered."

Hear, Receive, Love, Obey!

In Psalm 119: 101 in the Amplified Version of the Bible it says, "I have restrained my feet from every evil way, that I might keep Your Word (hearing, receiving, loving, and obeying it)." That sounds like an amazing approach to God's word. That we might first of all have an ear to hear the word, and second that we would receive it because, thirdly we love it, and as a result would obey it. Some hear the word and do nothing. Others hear the word but won't receive it for various reasons, one being they didn't like the way it was served to them. Jesus said if we loved him we should keep his commandments. If we love Jesus we will love his word and we will certainly obey it.

Ten Ducks!

Before we left for our walk along the creek, I asked the Lord to show us some ducks. We had seen on many occasions 2 ducks, but on this walk we saw 10 ducks. I was amazed by the Lord's generous ways. In the word of God it says that God will give us abundantly above what we can ask or think. Can you remember some of the times that God has blessed you in such a way? I hope that we all keep foremost in our hearts and minds God's generous ways toward us.

Cottage or Cow Shed?

A man stopped to chat with a farmer who was erecting a new building. He asked, "What are you putting up?" The farmer replied, "Well, if I can rent it, it's a rustic cottage. If I can't, it's a cow shed." What are we building in our lives? Cottage's or Cow shed's? God's word says that we are the temple of the living God. (2 Corinthians 5:16). I think that we had better leave the rustic cottages and cow sheds to the farmers of this world and we best be keeping the temple of the living God clean.