Inward Faith; Outer Shine

How many times have you looked at someone's appearance and labeled them?
-Every day. We do this almost without even trying. It is our social habit to judge based on outerwear.
How many times do we see someone in certain apparel and label them as a "good person" or "bad person"?
-Once again, every day.
The problem with this is that we cannot see the heart, the life, the soul that lies underneath the outerwear. We can only see the top surface that so easily hides the true meat of the person.

Matthew 23:[25] Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.[26] Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.[27] Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness.[28] Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.

God, however, doesn't look at the outerwear. He can see right through the dingy, dirty clothes and heavy baggage. He can see right past the fake, white, spiffy looking hypocrisy that is hiding a dirty heart.

1 Samuel 16:[7] But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.

Don't try to fool anyone. God has to change the heart before he changes your shirt. -(a line from a Casting Crowns' song)

When you have an inward faith, your outside will shine.

Matthew 7:[20] Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

Praise the Landmaker

Not only should we pledge our allegiance to the flag of the United States of America or whatever country we are from, but we should mainly focus on the priority of the One who created this land. We should be true to our nation, yes, but we must make sure that we aren't putting the land above the landmaker. 

Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

Deuteronomy 14:[2] for thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God, and the LORD hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto himself, above all the nations that are upon the earth.

God, let us be thankful for whatever nation we are in and whatever land we live on; however, let us mostly be thankful that we know the creator of every land and every nation. Amen.

What it Means to be Meek

Sometimes it is hard to just step down and obey people in authority over you, especially when you disagree with their opinion. However, God has not put people in authority over us for no reason. Quietly, humbly submitting to authority is biblical meekness. Matthew 5:5 says, "Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth." This doesn't mean that we should waiver in our beliefs or in the Truth, for if anyone tells you to sin or to bring harm to anyone it would be foolish to follow their instruction. Rather, it means to be submissive, soft-spoken, and Christ-like in all matters in which you have an authoritative figure.

Titus 3:2 says, "... speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men." The word meek has multiple meanings but each of them go hand in hand. Not only should you submit in your opinions, but you should be gentle and peaceable when dealing with people every day. Meekness is intertwined with the other fruit of the spirit as well.

As you study the fruit of the spirit you will find that you cannot have one without the others. To be meek you must love and respect others. It also makes it easier to be meek if you are peaceable, long-suffering, gentle, good, and temperate. The fruit of the Spirit is an outward sign that you ARE a Christian.

May God help us to be humble, submissive, peaceable, and harmonious so that we build our character and our walk with Him. 

-Jake Whitlatch

Adam and Eve

Bring the Rain

This morning I woke up for my first day of college classes. I was all excited and nervous.. wondering what to wear, how to do my hair, etc. My roomie had left and came back only to say "Ughh, get your umbrella.. its POURING". My initial thought: "SERIOUSLY? How could it rain on my first day!!??" I wasn't joyful about it for sure.

Matthew 5:[45] That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

That is how we are in our lives. We start out happy, joyful, ready to please God and do our best for Him but when it gets a little stormy, we get mad and just give up a lot of times. We cannot allow ourselves to be only sunshine Christians. The rain is important for crops to grow, cessation of burn bans, rivers to be filled, etc. It is clear that we ALL need rain, whether we want it or not. Let's choose to be strong and faithful and even happy when the storms come.

Hosea 10:[12] Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.

Showing Love and Courtesy

1Corinthians 12:13-14, “For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many.”

 

Our Church’s advice to members says, "Show love and fellowship to everyone without partiality. Don't wait for others to greet you but you greet them. Show special courtesy to strangers who may attend one of your services."  This is not just “advice,” it is sound biblical instruction.

 

The first part of these instructions seem to be talking about how we treat those we normally fellowship with at church and church functions. We should show kindness to everyone we come into contact with, not just to the ones we “like the best.” We should not be partial (show favoritism) to some and snub others. The last part of this advice speaks directly to how we treat visitors, strangers that come to church. Have you ever been somewhere new, not known anyone, and no one greeted you or made you feel welcome? If so, you know that it is embarrassing and may cause the visitor never to return.

 

James 2:2-4, 8-9, “For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment; And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool: Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?…If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well: But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.”

 

It reminds me of the words to a song by Casting Crowns…a song called “If we are the Body.” It says, “It's crowded in worship today as she slips in, trying to fade into the faces. The girls' teasing laughter is carrying farther than they know, farther than they know…But if we are the Body, why aren't His arms reaching? Why aren't His hands healing? Why aren't His words teaching? And if we are the Body, why aren't His feet going? Why is His love not showing them there is a way? There is a way. A traveler is far away from home. He sheds his coat, and quietly sinks into the back row. The weight of their judgmental glances tells him that his chances are better out on the road…But if we are the Body, why aren't His arms reaching? Why aren't His hands healing? Why aren't His words teaching? And if we are the Body, why aren't His feet going? Why is His love not showing them there is a way? There is a way. Jesus paid much too high a price for us to pick and choose who should come. And we are the Body of Christ…But if we are the Body, why aren't His arms reaching? Why aren't His hands healing? Why aren't His words teaching? And if we are the Body, why aren't His feet going? Why is His love not showing them there is a way? There is a way.”

 

These two instances (of the girl and the traveler in the song) are perfect examples of the WRONG way Christians sometimes act. Do we sometimes wonder why visitors do not come back, why some have less and less in church attendance? Is an examination of our own attitudes in order so that we can consider how we treat others?

 

Consider these questions… Do you sit while someone tries to find a seat…or do you make your way over in assistance? Do you greet others or do you stare? Do you include others in your conversations or ignore them as you laugh among yourselves? Ouch! We should all consider our behavior in this area.

 

In the song earlier, we saw how the two were treated, not only were they not welcomed, but they were even humiliated. Instead of looking at someone and thinking about all the things they have wrong, let’s start looking at the possibilities…Each one of us was once a sinner…we came to Christ as a sinner, He was welcoming to us just as we were…He cleaned us up and made a new creature, set us on a new path. Shouldn't others have the same opportunity? Can’t we love others as Christ loved us? This is a commandment. God loved the world so much that He gave His only begotten Son to die for us, for our sins. Jesus loved us so much that He obeyed and was crucified for us. The very least we should do is love others.

 

1Peter 3:8, “Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous.”

 

It is a simple requirement to be welcoming, caring, loving, patient, and kind to all visitors and members the same.

Fruit Salad

Who loves fruit salad? GOD!

Lets make sure our fruit salad isn't lacking in any nutrients. We don't want to be yucky, empty, expired fruit. Let us be the most fresh and ripened ones there are.

Fruit that we all need to have in our salad:

• Love
• Joy
• Peace
• Longsuffering
• Gentleness
• Goodness 
• Faith
• Meekness
• Temperance

Galatians 5:[22] But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,[23] Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.


Are you lacking in any of these ingredients? If so, get refreshed!

All In

Once you get a taste of who Jesus really is:
the freedom in His love,
the comfort in His arms,
the tenderness of His touch,
the power of His presence,
the might of His power,
the love from His heart,
the grace, mercy, forgiveness, peace, patience, JOY....

You won't be able to be halfheartedly a Christian.
God wants you to be ALL IN for  Him.

Rev. 3:[15] I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.[16] So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.


We can't ride the fence so to speak. We have to either be for Christ or against Him. He will "spue" us out of His mouth if we are in the middle. This is an all or nothing relationship.


Which will you choose?

Fishing Lesson

The Fishing Lesson
By Charlotte Dixon
 
Have you ever been fishing? I have gone a few times with my dad when I was young. My brother had more of a knack for it than I did. Different ones have tried to teach me, but... In recent years, since I married, my husband has gone fishing and enjoys taking our kids, all three of which love it as a hobby, but me…I’m not a great fan. Why? It is tedious work…it requires patience and commitment in order to succeed.
 
In New Testament Biblical times, fishing was a way of life, not simply a hobby. It was the livelihood of some of the disciples…Peter, James, and John.
 
Luke 5:1-11
And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God (here we see the people again pressing upon Him, crowding Him, just as they did when the woman with the issue of blood desired to be healed), he stood by the lake of Gennesaret, And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets. (The boats were not in use; the fishermen had given up for the day and had decided to wash out their nets. How many times do we give up just on the brink of a miracle…just about the time God would intervene…) And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon's, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. (Peter must have been obedient to move the boat a little way from the shore, willing to allow his boat to be used.) And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship. (Jesus used Peter’s boat from which to teach the people). Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught. (Peter had been willing to go a little way from shore, but now Jesus was asking him to go out deeper AND to let down the nets…not just a net, but all their nets…nets they had just washed, too!) And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing (Indeed, he was full of excuses! He told Jesus all about it, how they had worked all night and caught NOTHING): nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net (though Peter made his excuses, he was obedient to that which Jesus asked…notice, however, that Jesus asked him to let down their nets, plural, but Peter replied that he would let down the net, singular…what was the result?). And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake (Peter found what he had searched for all night long! But…see how the single net broke! In weak faith do we at times go to the Lord expecting little? Willing to be partially obedient…giving little…expecting little… This reminds me of the story of the small community whose crops were dying for lack of rain. The pastor asked them all to meet to pray that God would send rain. When the crowd gathered only ONE young girl believed enough to bring her umbrella. Anyway… the single net broke and surely some of the fish got away in the process…we cannot afford to lose any fish! Let us come boldly before the Lord expecting great and mighty things, coming PREPARED for the abundance that He is able to bring). And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them (Sometimes we need help… Are we willing to ask for help when we need it?). And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink. (Look what Jesus did…The boats were both full to overflowing. Remember this…the One who filled their nets was ALSO the One on whom to call to keep their ships afloat. A lesson they would learn in time…) When Simon Peter saw it (he had his eyes open and recognized the miracle that had just taken place!), he fell down at Jesus' knees (he didn’t just kneel, but he FELL at Jesus’ knees in repentance), saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord (in his sinful condition he was ashamed to be in the presence of the Almighty. Jesus, however, had great and mighty plans for these lowly fishermen once they called upon Him). For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken: And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. (All those in the two ships were amazed at this thing that Jesus had been able to do that they had not been able to accomplish on their own after working all night!) And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men. (Here we see the great and mighty plans Jesus had for not only Peter, but James and John as well). And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him. (Jesus had plans for them, but it was up to them to forsake the things that were important to them in order to follow Him…what did they forsake? If you look at the lives of these disciples, they forsook ALL in order to follow the one who could give them EVERYTHING).
 
Jesus was the Master Teacher, using things in nature…flowers, water, sparrows, trees, dirt, and even fish…to teach deep spiritual truths that people could understand, that they were familiar with. No other means would have been as effective as fish to these men who fished for a living. What circumstances do you face that Jesus may be trying to use to teach you…to help you better serve Him?
 

Charlotte Dixon

Do you remember?

Romans 3:23  For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 

It's true that we don't need to be reminded of our past failures and sins to the point that we are bogged down. God cast it into the sea of His forgetfulness and that should be where it stays. We must learn to forgive ourselves and move on. 

However! We must never forget where it is that we came from. We can't let ourselves think we deserve the grace we received or forget that we were ever in NEED of His mercy and forgiveness. 

Psalms 40:2,3 He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. 
 And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD. 

Your life is a testimony of God's mercy and grace. Don't resort back to your old sinful lifestyle, but don't ever forget where God found you and brought you out of. 
 
Psalms 32:5 I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah. 


Lord, help me to remember where I came from in order to stay humble and thankful for you mercy on my life. Help me not to have a haughty spirit or think that I am more deserving than anyone else. If not for you mercy and grace, I could be in the same position as a murderer in prison. Your grace is enough to cover the sins of all men and I need to be reminded of that every single day. Amen. 

Rich Man and Lazarus

The Rich Man and Lazarus
By Charlotte Dixon
 
Luke 16:19-31
 
16:19
  
There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: (This is not a parable…it is a REAL account! Jesus says there WAS a certain man. This man had worldly wealth).
16:20
  
And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, (Again, this was not a parable…Jesus named the name of the other man involved. Was he destitute…homeless? The poor man Lazarus was starving and sickly…)
16:21
  
And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. (He hoped just to get some crumbs from a very rich man, but it sounds like he didn’t even get the crumbs! Instead the dogs came and licked his sores…sores from whatever disease he had).
16:22
  
And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; (Both died, but went to two very different places…two entirely opposite rewards!)
16:23
  
And in hell he lift up his eyes (the ONCE rich man still had his senses, even in death…he could SEE what was happening to him…he also was aware that it is FOREVER…never to escape), being in torments (that is tormentS…plural with an S), and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom (He could see what he was missing…part of his torments, perhaps!).
16:24
  
And he cried (he may rarely have cried when he lived his earthly existence, but in hell this would be a common occurrence) and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. (Not only was he tormented by where he was, his separation from God, the loss of all his worldly possessions, he was…and still IS for that matter…tormented by the flames of hell’s fire. Oh, how he longed…longs- think about that!…he LONGS for the wetness of water to cool his tongue…just as Lazarus had longed for only the crumbs from this same man’s table. The rich man…now a beggar himself…with NO hope! Why? Because the time for hope was long past).
16:25
  
But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. (The once rich man could still hear and he still had his memory, could still remember and never forget all the good things he once had in comparison with the eternal punishment he now suffers.)
16:26
  
And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence. (In hell, there is ETERNAL separation from God and all the other good things of eternal life).
16:27
  
Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house:
16:28
  
For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. (Again, he still had his memory, and he remembered having family still living that was NOT saved (another torment perhaps!). Even this sinner after having gone to hell did not want anyone else to go there…imagine how bad it must be there! If a SINNER in hell does not want his family to go there, how much more should we as Christians NOT WANT our unsaved family members to go to that awful place! What are we doing to stop it?)
16:29
  
Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. (Once in the awful place, though, not only can the sinner NEVER leave, but he has no way to warn those he has left behind of how terrible it really is…how REAL it is! However, for all those sinners still alive, there is HOPE! The Scriptures speak clearly of the remedy of sin, the way to avoid hell…that hope is Jesus Christ. It is up to US to tell them…while there is still time…before it is too late).
 
 
 
Speaking of WARNING THEM... I will never forget Sister Opal Wallace. She was a faithful member and minister in the Church until her death several years ago. She had such a desire to reach the lost that she prayed God would give her a vision of hell in order to truly feel an urgency to warn others day and night with tears. She spent her Christian life warning others (I was one of those!) But some of those she warned still need to be reminded of what an awful place hell is. She is gone…who is reminding them now? The responsibility to warn them is left to us. Do we feel that urgency to warn others, literally pulling them from the fire? May the following quote severe as a reminder of the urgency of our task…
 
“Imagine the person who just entered hell- a neighbor, relative, co-worker, friend. The awful truth spreads before him like endless, overlapping slats. (And he realizes…) ‘When I put in 10,000 centuries of time here, I will not have accomplished one thing. I will not have one SECOND less time to spend here.’ The smoke of his torment goes up forever and ever…” (John Thomas, Moody magazine).
 
 
Charlotte Dixon

Communication

I was thinking today about how whenever we get asked: Who is your best friend? What is your number 1 priority? Who do you trust the most? Who do you turn to for all of your problems? We all (or some of us) may say "Jesus!" to all of the questions. It's the expected response. It's the "right" answer. 

But, do we really mean what we say? Do we practice what we preach? Do we possess what we profess? 

How many times a day do we text or talk on the phone? ALL THE TIME. We chat online, skype, FaceTime, etc. The social world is full of methods of communication. I wonder why? The more communicating we do with others, the less we spend with the Lord. It isn't a deep concept. Its a simple math equation. If you are spending more time with others, you most likely aren't spending that time in prayer or worship. We are all probably guilty of this. 

Don't let Jesus become 2nd place. 

Acts 6:4 But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word. 

Colossions 4:2  Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving; 

Remember why you were made... To serve Jesus. The cares of this world really don't matter so much when you think of the big picture. 

-destiny turner

Being Faithful

Being Faithful
 
James 1:2-4, 12
“My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing… Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.”
 
Examples of temptations… how the devil puts things right in our way…things he knows we are vulnerable to. Temptations…cigarettes in a mailbox on the route of a recently saved mail carrier…a pornographic magazine lying in the middle of a lonely road in the path of a person battling that very addiction…old friends who call repeatedly badgering a newly saved young woman in an effort to drag her back to the old lifestyle…these and so many more…
 
But James says count it all JOY… What! What is the joy in suffering temptations? What happens if we can pass up that temptation without giving in? Temptations are a proving of our faith under pressure. As we succeed in resisting the temptations, we build patient endurance and increase our ability to resist next time. It serves to encourage us with each trial and test we come through. And…Jesus gave us the ultimate example of how to handle temptations, didn’t He? Each time Satan made Him an offer, the Lord answered it with Scripture. Psalms 119:11 says, “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” We cannot speak what we do not know, so we must study the Word and hide it in our hearts…
 
James 1:2, “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;” The difficulties and troubles that try our patience and test our faith may tempt us to find an easier way…or they may tempt us to do wrong in order to avoid what is hard or painful. In this verse is that word JOY. How can our temptations be a source of joy? Pleasure and joy is not the same thing. Pleasure is passing or fleeting, but joy lasts. An athlete who trains strenuously for a contest must suffer some pain in preparation. He can hardly find pleasure in those long hours when every muscle in his body is aching, but even then he can know joy as he looks forward to the contest with the hope of victory. It’s the same way with temptations. As they come upon us, they often bring suffering. Yet at the same time, we can find joy in them because we know that overcoming them will make us spiritually stronger and better able to resist future temptations. We can find comfort in knowing that the Lord knows how much we can handle and won’t allow more than that to be put upon us.
 
1 Corinthians 10:13, “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”
 
If you think you can’t go on, keep going, because God knows you better than you know yourself.
 
James 1:3, “Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.” Are we born with patience? No, it is something that is acquired and not easily at that. We will be tried. The devil brings things at us in an attempt to get us to surrender our convictions or compromise them (just a little)… In withstanding these temptations, we learn patience…the patience that will allow us to recognize and resist new trials and temptations…enduring brings the crown of life…James 1:12, “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.” We have to endure ALL THE WAY to the very end!
 
Romans 5:2-4, “By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope:” God is looking for faithful people…people who will not give up.

Charlotte Dixon

Go, Tell!

Romans 1:[16] For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek


Luke 4:[38] And he arose out of the synagogue, and entered into Simon's house. And Simon's wife's mother was taken with a great fever; and they besought him for her.[39] And he stood over her, and rebuked the fever; and it left her: and immediately she arose and ministered unto them.

How many times do we pray and seek and have faith that God will answer a prayer, and He does? Isn't it so amazing how the God of all the universe, the Creator of everything, the One who sent His son to die for the sins of the whole world hears YOU when you pray? He answers YOUR simple requests whenever you keep His commandments? We are so small, just a vapor in the wind, yet He cares enough about us to supply our needs and sometimes wants.

Now, can we do any less than tell others of what He has done for us and can do for them? The woman in the passage above received healing. As soon as she was made whole, she arose IMMEDIATELY and ministered unto the people around her. That is the mindset that we should all have. Don't be ashamed to testify of the marvelous wonders our Lord does.

Mark 8:[38] Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.

If we are ashamed of Him, He will be ashamed of us. We can't afford to lose our salvation because we are too embarrassed or shy to boldly proclaim the wondrous works and love of Christ.
When God blesses you, testify! Be a witness in this crazy world. Let your light shine so that others may see Chrst in you. How will they come to Him if they haven't heard of Him? This is a commandment and a resposibility to rescue the perishing and show them the way of life.

Isaiah 52:[7] How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!

---

Go tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere!

Make a Move (a personal testimony)

Hebrews13:2 Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.

A few years ago on a Sunday morning before church in Russelville, AR, my family chose to go to McDonalds for a quick breakfast. As we were pulling in, Cindi and I saw a homeless man carrying some luggage, walking across the street. Immediately we noticed that he was carrying a Bible. After small conversation once seeing him, we both felt that we needed to invite him to come to church with us. We mentioned it to our uncle, Rob Montgomery. Uncle Rob was almost shocked that we had asked him to do so, because he had felt God telling him to invite that man already. As the man stood in line right in front of us, Uncle Rob went up to him and they got into a conversation about this and that. Uncle Rob ended up paying for his meal. Then they started discussing God and before we even knew it, we had called the pastor to come give him a ride, because the man had agreed to attend. If you think thats great, theres so much more. During service a special offering was taken up for him. The man was almost in tears. Throughout getting to know him, we learned a little about the field of work he was interested in and some men from the church opened a camper for him to stay in until Monday when they would help him look for a job. :)

How great is our God? All it took was a small step of faith. Even the youth can have a mighty influence on the community. Not only did that man hopefully recieve a powerful blessing from God by the love and compassion that was shown by the members, but also we as VLBs can learn from this example. It doesnt take much to let your light shine. If you will be obedient to God's work, amazing things will fall into place. Dont be scared to make a move! As long as God's will is being done, nothing will go wrong.

Proverbs 29:25 The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe.

                                                   What Must You Do To Go To Hell?

(Gospel Tract by The Church of God)


Sin is the only thing that will take you to hell. But sin comes in many disguises. Below are some of the disguises which sin may take in order to damn your soul to a devil's hell.

 

You Will Go to Hell If You...

Refuse to Believe
"Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch" (Matthew 15:14).

"He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned" (Mark 16:16).
Neglect the Invitation to Salvation "How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;" (Hebrews 2:3).

"Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin" (James 4:17).
Make Excuses
"Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many: And they all with one consent began to make excuse. For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper." (Luke 14:16, 18a, 24).

"Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man..." Romans 2:1.
Wait
"When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are:" (Luke 13:25).

"For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears." (Hebrews 12:17).

"And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee" (Acts 24:25).
Make the Pleasures, Cares, and Pride of This Life Your Priority
"And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth"(Luke 21:34).

"He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful" (Matthew 13:22)

"For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever." (1 John 2:16-17).

"Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall." (Proverbs 16:18).
Go to Sleep Spiritually
"Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober." (1 Thessalonians 5:5-6).

"Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping." (Mark 13:35-36).
Are Ungodly
"The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:" (2 Peter 2:9).

"But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men" (2 Peter 3:7).
Seek Worldly Gain
"For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?" (Luke 9:25).

"Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself" (1 Timothy 6:5).
Are a Hypocrite
"And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth" (Matthew 24:51).

"But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in" (Matthew 23:13). (Read also through verse 39.)
The above named sin will certainly take you to hell, but there are others which may not be so obvious. They can be found in one or more of the following classes of people who will make hell their eternal abode: "But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death" (Revelation 21:8).

 

Hell is an awful place. No mortal on earth can adequately describe the horribleness of its terrible torments. Oh, sinner, flee from the wrath to come! Hell was created as a place of punishment for the devil and his angels. If you go there, you will go there as an intruder. Don't let Satan blindside you and cause you to fall headlong into that terrible pit called hell. If you find yourself in hell, it will be for eternity. There is no escape! You can avoid that awful place by coming to Jesus and Him alone. "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." (Acts 4:12).

 

In order to escape this awful place called hell, you must do so by believing on Jesus Christ and accept Him as your personal Savior. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16). "And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved." (Acts 2:21). "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved" (Romans 10:9).

 

Come to Jesus now, won’t you?

 

 ...and if YOU already know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, share this with someone who DOESN’T! J

We all fall down sometimes...

Psalms 86:5 For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.



This is a simple thought today. We all fall down sometimes and we all may make mistakes. Failure is not in the stumble, it is when you stumble and do not get back up.


Hebrews 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.



Lord, forgive us when we fail You. Give mercy unto our souls and strength to rise again. Amen.

He Makes Impossible Possible

With men it would be impossible for 

• Mountains to move
• A blind man to see
• Dead to be raised
• A young boy to kill a giant
• A storm to be instantly calmed
• A man to walk on water
• A lion's mouth to be shut
• 3 men to go through a fiery furnace without being burned
• The list goes on and on........

God makes these things possible! 

• Matthew 17:[20] And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
• Matthew 15:[30] And great multitudes came unto him, having with them those that were lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others, and cast them down at Jesus' feet; and he healed them:
• John 12:[1] Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead.
• 1 Samuel 17:[50] So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and smote the Philistine, and slew him; but there was no sword in the hand of David.
• Mark 4:[39] And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.
• Matthew 14:[29] And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.
• Daniel 6:[22] My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.
• Daniel 3:[26] Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, and spake, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come hither. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, came forth of the midst of the fire.[27] And the princes, governors, and captains, and the king's counsellers, being gathered together, saw these men, upon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them.

I think you see my point in this. We put limits on God WAY too much. It is high time that we get rid of the Spirit of Doubt and remember what all God has done and Who it is that we serve. 

We serve a mighty, mighty God. 

Mark 10:[27] And Jesus looking upon them saith, 

With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible

-[Destiny Turner]

Am I a Selective Sower?

Am I a Selective Sower?
By Charlotte Dixon
 
In Mark 4:3-8 Jesus told the following parable, “Hearken; Behold, there went out a sower to sow: And it came to pass, as he sowed, some fell by the way side, and the fowls of the air came and devoured it up. (Does that mean he shouldn’t have sown?) And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth: But when the sun was up, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away. (Does THAT mean he shouldn’t have sown?) And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit. (Does THAT mean he shouldn’t have sown?) And other fell on good ground, and did yield fruit that sprang up and increased; and brought forth, some thirty, and some sixty, and some an hundred.” (Ah! Now that was definitely worth sowing!)
 
 Did he, the sower, know which seeds would spring forth and increase? If he had, he might have ONLY used certain seeds. Did he know exactly which ground would cause the seeds to flourish? Had he known, he might ONLY have spent his time in a certain place! But, no, all the ground and all the seeds had an opportunity…
 
Of course this parable is about spiritual things and indeed there are many things that could be brought out about it, but…the thing I want us to think about for today is the fact that God is not a respecter of persons…He is not a selective sower. A person’s age, race, or financial status does not matter to Him…He equally wants EVERYONE to have the OPPORTUNITY to serve Him. And as such, He has called US to have the same attitude. But do we? Or do we sometimes think in our minds, “Oh, they aren’t a good ‘candidate’ for the truth…they’ll never change, so why bother!” Along the same lines do we ever think, “This is a ‘hard’ doctrine…let’s just not preach/teach that. Let’s never mention that to them…they might not come back.” God wants us to not be selective about WHO we share the gospel with. Nor does He want us to be selective about WHICH parts of His Word we will share.
 
Am I a selective sower? Now, think about that…

By Charlotte Dixon

Lift One Another Up

Exodus 17:
[11] And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed.
[12] But Moses' hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.

Moses was in the midst of this battle between Israel and Amalek. The success of one or the other depended upon his strength and determination to hold up his hands. He began to grow weary (as we all do) and his friends helped him hold up his hands in order to gain victory.

How many times do we face trials and temptations in which we strive and strive to overcome, but we begin to grow weary and give in? How many times do you watch others facing these problems and the start the battle with such force and will power, but as time goes on they fade away? Is it our responsibility to help others? Is it weakness to get help from a friend in your time of need? Let's search the scriptures.

• Galatians 6:[2] Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
• John 15:[13] Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
• Philippians 2:[4] Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.

I think it is obviously clear that Jesus wants us to help our friends in time of need. Don't sit and watch someone else struggle in their problems alone. We can all bear one another's burdens and lift one another up whenever one is down. Your trial may be the testimony that encourages another in his/her battle. Don't fret when you go through a storm. First, lean on Jesus. He is our number one and the only one that we need, but it doesn't hurt to lean on Godly supporters. 

The second verse of this song says 

"When you’re down in that ole valley,

Prayer is all I can offer you.

When our Lord sends deliverance and

He strengthens you.

When  you get up on God's mountain

And look behind you

And see me struggling

 trying to make it alone,

Just lift my name up to Jesus .

Let’s help each other make it home."

You can offer prayer all the time. Encourage someone. Lift them up when it seems that they are too weak to stand alone. 

-[Destiny Turner]

The Comforter

The dictionary defines a comforter as one who makes strong; who imparts strength and hope to; who encourages; who gives relief to; who consoles; and who is able to cheer.

In life, growing up, who is the one person you can think of as your first comforter…Mom or Dad, Grandma or Grandpa, a best friend. But did they always provide comfort? Could they be there at all times? And even if they were there, could they always say or do just the right thing to comfort you? Probably not.

Job had friends who came to him in his time of need. Look what he says about how they “comforted” him during his suffering. “I have heard many such things: miserable comforters are ye all.” (Job 16:2). Ever had a comforter like that? I have! J God can and does use us to comfort one another, BUT we don’t always do a good job at it.

Jesus provided much comfort while on earth. Imagine walking, talking, and seeing face to face the very King of Glory! And then having him leave…He knew we would face persecution, trials, tribulation, and heartache and that we would need another comforter. (John 14:16-17) “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.” (John 16:7) “Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.”

Soon after Jesus went back to heaven, Acts 6:5 lets us know that there was a man named Stephen who had received the Holy Ghost. “…and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost…” He was a mighty worker for the Church and the work of the Lord. The people in his day became very angry at him for the work he did so they lied about him and had him arrested. Stephen got an opportunity to witness to them through speaking in his in his own defense. (I encourage you to read the whole account of what happened in Acts chapters 6 and 7).

Acts 7:51-60 says, “Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye. Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murders: Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it. When they heard these things (in other words, the truths Stephen told them about what they had done), they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth (they actually bit him with their teeth they were so mad!). But he being full of the Holy Ghost (Since Acts 6:5 tells us plainly that Stephen had the Baptism of the Holy Ghost, why do you think it was important that this fact is repeated in this passage as well?…Because it shows HOW Stephen was able to endure such treatment… Stephen was able to endure all the terrible things that happened to him and didn’t retaliate by the power of the Holy Ghost working in him.), looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God. Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears (they couldn’t stand to hear the truth!), and ran upon him with one accord (altogether at the same time), And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man’s feet, whose name was Saul (who would later be converted and name changed to Paul). And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.” (In all this…being arrested, the biting, the stoning, and ultimately death…he was an example to them of  the power of the Holy Ghost and the fruit thereof …love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance. He found comfort in the Holy Ghost despite all he suffered. Something else to think about…at least one of those there that day later found Jesus Christ as his personal Savior. I believe Stephen would say that it was worth it all…)

-[Charlotte Dixon]

Definition of 'true love'

1 Corinthians 13
1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

Filed Away

THE ROOM" as written by a 17 Year Old Boy.


This is excellent and really gets you thinking about what will happen in Heaven.
17-year-old Brian Moore had only a short time to write something for a class. The subject was What Heaven Was Like. "I wowed 'em," he later told his father, Bruce. It's a killer. It's the bomb It's the best thing I ever wrote." It also was the last. 
Brian's parents had forgotten about the essay when a cousin found it while cleaning out the teenager's locker at  Teays  ValleyHigh School in  Pickaway County ,  Ohio .

Brian had been dead only hours, but his parents desperately wanted every piece of his life near them, notes from classmates and teachers, and his homework. Only two months before, he had handwritten the essay about encountering Jesus in a file room full of cards detailing every moment of the teen's life. But it was only after Brian's death that Beth and Bruce Moore realized that their son had described his view of heaven. 
It makes such an impact that people want to share it. "You feel like you are there," Mr. Moore said. Brian Moore died May 27, 1997, the day after Memorial Day. He was driving home from a friend's house when his car went off  Bulen-Pierce Roadin Pickaway County ,  Ohio and struck a utility pole. He emerged from the wreck unharmed but stepped on a downed power line and was electrocuted. 

The  Moore 's framed a copy of Brian's essay and hung it among the family portraits in the living room. "I think God used him to make a point. I think we were meant to find it and make something out of it," Mrs. Moore said of the essay. She and her husband want to share their son's vision of life after death. "I'm happy for Brian. I know he's in heaven. I know I'll see him.

Here is Brian's essay entitled: 

"THE ROOM" 

In that place between wakefulness and dreams, I found myself in the room. There were no distinguishing features except for the one wall covered with small index card files. They were like the ones in libraries that list titles by author or subject in alphabetical order. But these files, which stretched from floor to ceiling and seemingly endless in either direction, had very different headings. 

As I drew near the wall of files, the first to catch my attention was one that read "Girls I Have Liked." I opened it and began flipping through the cards I quickly shut it, shocked to realize that I recognized the names written on each one. And then without being told, I knew exactly where I was. This lifeless room with its small files was a crude catalog system for my life. Here were written the actions of my every moment, big and small, in a detail my memory couldn't match. A sense of wonder and curiosity, coupled with horror, stirred within me as I began randomly opening files and exploring their content. Some brought joy and sweet memories; others a sense of shame and regret so intense that I would look over my shoulder to see if anyone was watching.

A file named "Friends" was next to one marked "Friends I Have Betrayed." The titles ranged from the mundane to the outright weird. "Books I Have Read,""Lies I Have Told,""Comfort I have Given," "Jokes I Have Laughed At."

Some were almost hilarious in their exactness: "Things I've Yelled at My Brothers." Others I couldn't laugh at: "Things I Have Done in My Anger","Things I Have Muttered Under My Breath at My Parents." I never ceased to be surprised by the contents. Often there were many more cards than expected. Sometimes fewer than I hoped. I was overwhelmed by the sheer volume of the life I had lived.

Could it be possible that I had the time in my years to fill each of these thousands or even millions of cards? But each card confirmed this truth. Each was written in my own handwriting. Each signed with my signature.

When I pulled out the file marked "TV Shows I Have Watched," I realized the files grew to contain their contents. The cards were packed tightly, and yet after two or three yards, I hadn't found the end of the file. I shut it, shamed, not so much by the quality of shows but more by the vast time I knew that file represented. 

When I came to a file marked "Lustful Thoughts," I felt a chill run through my body. I pulled the file out only an inch, not willing to test its size, and drew out a card. I shuddered at its detailed content. I felt sick to think that such a moment had been recorded. An almost animal rage broke on me. 

One thought dominated my mind: No one must ever see these cards! No one must ever see this room! I have to destroy them!" In insane frenzy I yanked the file out. Its size didn't matter now. I had to empty it and burn the cards. 

But as I took it at one end and began pounding it on the floor, I could not dislodge a single card. I became desperate and pulled out a card, only to find it as strong as steel when I tried to tear it. Defeated and utterly helpless, I returned the file to its slot. Leaning my forehead against the wall, I let out a long, self-pitying sigh.

And then I saw it. The title bore "People I Have Shared the Gospel With." The handle was brighter than those around it, newer, almost unused. I pulled on its handle and a small box not more than three inches long fell into my hands. I could count the cards it contained on one hand. 

And then the tears came. I began to weep. Sobs so deep that they hurt. They started in my stomach and shook through me. I fell on my knees and cried. I cried out of shame, from the overwhelming shame of it all. The rows of file shelves swirled in my tear-filled eyes. No one must ever, ever know of this room.. I must lock it up and hide the key. But then as I pushed away the tears, I saw Him. 

No, please not Him. Not here.. Oh, anyone but Jesus. I watched helplessly as He began to open the files and read the cards. I couldn't bear to watch His response. And in the moments I could bring myself to look at His face, I saw a sorrow deeper than my own. He seemed to intuitively go to the worst boxes. 

Why did He have to read every one? Finally He turned and looked at me from across the room.. He looked at me with pity in His eyes. But this was a pity that didn't anger me. I dropped my head, covered my face with my hands and began to cry again. He walked over and put His arm around me.. He could have said so many things. But He didn't say a word. He just cried with me.

Then He got up and walked back to the wall of files.. Starting at one end of the room, He took out a file and, one by one, began to sign His name over mine on each card. "No!" I shouted rushing to Him. All I could find to say was "No, no," as I pulled the card from Him. His name shouldn't be on these cards. But there it was, written in red so rich, so dark, and so alive. 

The name of Jesus covered mine. It was written with His blood. He gently took the card back He smiled a sad smile and began to sign the cards. I don't think I'll ever understand how He did it so quickly, but the next instant it seemed I heard Him close the last file and walk back to my side. He placed His hand on my shoulder and said, "It is finished."

I stood up, and He led me out of the room. There was no lock on its door. There were still cards to be written.

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16

I received this as an email from a dear friend, Shawna Tucker.

Money Matters- Part 3 My Provider

This will be the last part on our Money Matters subject. First, let's do a quick recap.

Part 1: Money is important. We are called to provide for our families in material matters for things such as food, water, shelter, etc. Those material items are gained by the money that we make in this present world. We are also called to provide spiritual guidance for our children which is more important than the others. Our priorities must stay in line.

Part 2: When we have our priorities in line, sometimes problems may still arise. We may find ourselves lacking in the financial area; however, we still have to give our all to God. Even if our "all" is little, like that of the poor woman, we still have to freely give. God will bless us for our cheerful giving.

Now let us begin with a story that deals with 'Money Matters'. 

2 Kings 4:1-7

[1] Now there cried a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets unto Elisha, saying, Thy servant my husband is dead; and thou knowest that thy servant did fear the LORD: and the creditor is come to take unto him my two sons to be bondmen.
[2] And Elisha said unto her, What shall I do for thee? tell me, what hast thou in the house? And she said, Thine handmaid hath not any thing in the house, save a pot of oil.
[3] Then he said, Go, borrow thee vessels abroad of all thy neighbours, even empty vessels; borrow not a few.
[4] And when thou art come in, thou shalt shut the door upon thee and upon thy sons, and shalt pour out into all those vessels, and thou shalt set aside that which is full.
[5] So she went from him, and shut the door upon her and upon her sons, who brought the vessels to her; and she poured out.
[6] And it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said unto her son, Bring me yet a vessel. And he said unto her, There is not a vessel more. And the oil stayed.
[7] Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, Go, sell the oil, and pay thy debt, and live thou and thy children of the rest.

So there was a woman who's husband had died and left them in a predicament. She was left with a debt, and I assume in order to pay off the debt, her children were being taken as slaves. She had nothing left but a little oil. 

A lot of times we may find ourselves walking in the kitchen, rummaging through the pantry, saying "We have nothing in here!". When in reality, we have a lot. This woman literally had nothing but oil. What would we do if that was us? I can't imagine.

Our response should be to do the same that she did. She trusted in God. She obeyed God. She was blessed by God. God performed a miracle out of that little oil she had. Was it the oil that made the miracle? No. It was a little oil and a lot of faith. She ended up not only with enough oil to sell to pay her debt, but with some left over to live off of. 

When you find yourself in a predicament and you don't see any hope- Call on the Lord. Trust Him. Obey Him.

1. Call on God. He wants us to need Him. Sometimes He takes away every other option available in order to bring us closer to Him. 

--John 15:[7] If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

2. After you have called on Him for help, have faith and trust that He will answer your prayers. You may not get the answer you wanted, but His plans are better and thoughts are higher than ours. 

--Hebrews 11:[6] But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

--Psalms 37:[5] Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.

3. Whenever we ask God to do something, we must do our part also. Notice in the scriptures above it says "if ye abide in me and my words abide in you"... then He will answer our call. The next one is conditional also. We must have faith and diligently seek Him, then He will be a rewarder to us. The next one- we must commit our way and trust in Him, then He will bring it to pass. If you are obedient, He will keep His end of the promises. Sometimes, He may ask us to go to people or to do something out of our comfort zone. The woman in the passage above had to go ask her neighbors for their empty jars. That could be embarrassing, but she didn't hesitate. God told Jesus to go die on a cross for us, and He obeyed. Can we afford to do any less?

--1 Peter 4:[17] For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

We can't afford to depend on anything else but the Lord. People of today rely on the government aid, family members, stock market, loans...you name it. While none of those resources are necessarily wrong, we know that they will all fail us. God is the only resources we can depend on. He will never fail. He will always provide for our needs when realize that in the end, money doesn't matter so much. God matters. 

Money Matters- Part 2 Give Your All

[2 Cor. 9:7] Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.

Yesterday we established the fact that money does matter in this society and this present world. We established the fact that we need to work and provide for our families; however, we must also provide for our families in spiritual levels as well. So as long as we keep God our number 1 priority, but still work and make money for material items, then all should be fine and we will never have to worry... Right?

wrong. 


Regardless of our motives and efforts, storms may hit. We may find ourselves jobless leading to less food, less material things that we want, and, dare I say, homeless. Sometimes things just happen. (First off, read the book of James. He will teach you to rejoice in your trials.) But after that, what do we do then? When we thought we had our priorities in order and now we find ourselves in the midst of a financial valley.....

Let us be as the woman below.

Luke 21:
[1] And he looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury.
[2] And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites.
[3] And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all:
[4] For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had.

There were rich men around her giving money and gifts and fine treasures, but the poor woman could only give two mites. A mite according to dictionary.com is: a small amount of money but ALL that one can afford. The Lord saw that this woman had given more than the rich men. Why? Because she was in need of those last two mites, but she gave them up anyways. Would we be willing to do that today? When the storm hits are we willing to still give all we have to the Lord? Remember, not just in money, but we must be willing to give our time, our efforts, our everything. Sadly, many people today who find themselves in a poverty stricken situation begin to curse God and desire pity from others. Do you think this woman in the passage above wanted pity? No. She wasn't moping around feeling sorry for herself or feeling jealous of the rich men around her. She gave all she had which was more than all they could give.

And when you give everything you have, you still can't out-give God. He will bless you for your giving heart.

[Malachi 3:10] Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.


If you have a personal testimony to where you or someone you know has given God your all and He has richly blessed you, leave a comment below. Be an encouragement to others. We are made over-comers by our testimony!

Money Matters- Part 1

Money has become something held at VERY high importance in today's society. Not only is it important today, but money has been around for even as far back as the days of the Phoenicians in 1500 B.C. They are said to have started the first metal coins, however, even before them money or wealth was shown in the form of cattle, pigs, etc. Social classes are based around the amount of money one has. The government controls money. The Church needs money. Schools need money. Colleges need a lot of money. Nearly EVERYTHING in this world needs or uses money in someway. It has become almost vital to life.
We need money for food, water, electricity, transportation, clothing, shelter, etc. The list goes on and on.

We don't need money, though, in order to make it to Heaven. In fact, all of the money, cars, clothes, homes, possessions, and prizes that we gain on this earth will not come with us to Heaven... or Hell.

1 Tim. 6:[10] For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

Many times people take the scripture above and say that MONEY=EVIL. That isn't what Paul was trying to teach Timothy. He was saying that the LOVE of money= EVIL. We cannot allow ourselves to go along with what the world thinks and make money more important than our walk with God. Our jobs, our education, and our careers are important and we should strive to do our best, but they are not as important as God. Yes, we are told in the Bible to work and to take care of our families, but we can't let that consume our lives and shut God out.

Col. 3:[2] Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

We must remember that "providing for our family" doesn't only include material things. It also involves being spiritually fed, sheltered, watered, and guided. Our treasures should be those of God's glory-  not of this world.


Matt. 6:[19] Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:[20] But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:[21] For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.


Do the best you can to provide for your family. Being rich is not a sin. Loving riches over God, though, is a sin. Be careful to see where you treasure is. Is it in Heaven or is it in this present earth?

Temperance

One of our Church tracts says, “The Spirit-filled life will manifest the fruit of the Spirit. These virtues are divine in origin and spring from a Spirit-filled heart.”[Galatians 5:22, 23] But, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

Temperance

Something about temperance by one writer (Thayer) explained it as “the virtue of one who masters his desires and passions, especially his sensual appetites”. Another writer (Macknight) added: “Where this virtue (temperance) subsists, temptation can have little influence.”

Temperance causes us to be so focused on God that our mind doesn’t even care about any of the sinful things, but since you still face temptations, you stay strong through daily prayer so that temperance through the Holy Ghost keeps you on track.  

Here are some examples of temperance displayed: Joseph and Jesus.      

1. Joseph was tempted by Potiphar’s wife, but did not give in. He fled the temptation.

[Genesis 39:6-12] And he left all that he had in Joseph’s hand; and he knew not ought he had, save the bread which he did eat. And Joseph was a goodly person, and well favoured. And it came to pass after these things, that his master’s wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me. But he refused, and said unto his master’s wife, Behold, my master wotteth not what is with me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand; There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God? And it came to pass, as she spake to Joseph day by day, that he hearkened not unto her, to lie by her, or to be with her. And it came to pass about this time, that Joseph went into the house to do his business; and there was none of the men of the house there within. And she caught him by his garment, saying, Lie with me: and he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out.

2. Even JESUS was tempted, BUT He overcame.  

[Matthew 4:1] Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.[2] And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.[3] And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.

These are true stories about real flesh and blood people in the Bible that were tempted and overcame temptation again and again. Jacob was tempted daily (“day by day”) by this woman. When the temptation got more than he could bear, he ran. What a lesson for us all. If you’re tempted beyond what you can bear, get yourself away from that temptation. The devil tempted the very Son of God, so he will definitely tempt us, too. Jesus used the Word of God on him, though, and we can do that, too.

We each get tempted every single day with different things: drugs, alcohol, sex, sinful television shows, inappropriate magazines, bad video games, unfit books, and revealing websites. The devil KNOWS the things that are common temptations for most of us. He uses those to try to get us to slide back into a sinful lifestyle. It’s like a roof on a house. The roof is pretty good but there is just a tiny little hole in it. For awhile you think its no big deal. You probably don’t even notice it, but when the rain falls, you realize that the little hole still lets rain fall down into the house. No one wants wet carpet so you better patch up the hole. That is just like our lives. We can have everything right in our lives but one little part of the world you just can’t let go. That tiny little hole in your life is going to let sin fall right in. You better patch it up before the storm comes. Even so, Satan is going to continue to tempt you; however, by havingtemperance (self-control), you can control your thoughts, actions, and even emotions.

                                                                                   

Have you ever heard of being sanctified and wondered what it really means? When Jesus sanctifies us, He takes away the WANT to sin. Just because we are saved, sanctified and filled with the Holy Ghost, does NOT mean we won’t be tempted, though. Temperance helps to WITHSTAND the temptation to give in to sin.

[Philippians 4:13] I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

-[Destiny Turner]