Invest in Others

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Be Generous and Do Good

⁶ Let him who is taught the word share in all good things with him who teaches.
⁷ Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. ⁸ For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. ⁹ And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. ¹⁰ Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith. (Galatians 6:6-10 NKJV)

I remember conversations with my neighbor a number of years back, this was before I was ever married or saved. At this time in my life I had no significant other either. My neighbor was a woman getting divorced. Although I would see her around quite often, I had no desire dating her, as I felt that would be a disaster. Anyway, she would brag of how she took her husband for all his money, she was quite proud of it. Then she would go on bragging about how she planned to do the same to the next unfortunate guy who came along. I didn't know her long, but that attitude most likely lead to a life of misery and problems. This I knew, she was constantly dealing with problems and very few even people wanted to be around her.

Just think for a moment, how much trouble do we bring into our lives by taking the "It's all about me!" attitude? I believe a lack of concern for others and living for one's self is at the root of many problems, heartaches, divorces, broken families, and so on. When one is wrapped up in self, we fail to see the needs and feelings of others. It is not only what we say or do to someone, we fail to do what is good or right. Some may not even care how their actions effect someone else. If we let this self centered attitude grow, not only would it destroy relationships, it could lead us to commit crimes landing us in prison.Our prisons are full of people living for themselves. That got them a long ways in life didn't it? Then to take that further, a prideful self centered life may keep one from coming to the cross of Jesus Christ resulting in an eternity separated from God.

Maybe most of us do not go to the extreme as my ex-neighbor or those in prison, but we all have to battle with keeping self in the right place. I know I do. The Bible instructs us to do good and plant good seeds. In another words, invest in other peoples lives. When we help a believer in Christ who is in need, it is remembered in heaven, forever. When we have the opportunity to do good for an unsaved person, this might open the door to sharing Christ while making this person more receptive to the message of Jesus. This too, will be remembered in heaven for all eternity. Keep sharing the gospel, no telling how many eternal destinies God will change through it. When we invest in our marriages and families along with living life to bring glory to God, this leads to strong relationships. This too will remembered in heaven for all eternity. Our intercessory prayers will also be result in good things here on earth and remembered for all eternity.

Lord, your word say's I will reap what I sow. I desire to sow to the spirit, for I want to reap a bountiful harvest, not corruption. I must ask myself, am I going to sow to the flesh and reap corruption, or listed to God and sow to the spirit and reap a harvest which will last for all eternity?

Time Well Spent?

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I have been given thought lately to the subject of time. More precisely, how am I spending time in light of eternity? Am I making an eternal difference with my time? I, like everyone else, has 24 hours in a day, is it used wisely? I recognize there many things in life which are necessary, yet eat up time. Some of these include working, shopping for groceries,and maintaining our cars and homes. Just naming a few. Of course, it is good to set some time aside for rest and doing some fun things. Oh yes, these things may also be done to God's glory. However, am I doing well making time for things of eternal importance? I, like many other believers devote time to church, Bible study, prayer, serving, quality family time and so on.

Now let's pull this back a layer. What is my motive for setting time aside for the things of God? Oh how critical having a right heart is in all that we do. First, we must have an intimate love relationship with the Lord, then we must love what we do. When its is not in place, instead of experiencing joy, our work becomes burdensome. All we are doing  is trying to appease God or someone else. All this results in is whitewashing our outside in order to make us appear as though we are committed Christians. One, in fact, may be saved,yet saved as though fire. I do not want all I do in life to be burnt up. (See 1 Corinthians 3:9-15)  When everything we do is done out of love and built upon Christ, it is real. Loving Christ first and foremost, then building upon that foundation is critical to our life counting for eternal value.

 

1 Corinthians 13:1-8a

New King James Version (NKJV)

The Greatest Gift

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging 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, but have not love, I am nothing. ³ And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.

⁴ Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; ⁵ does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; ⁶ does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; ⁷ bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

⁸ Love never fails…

Sometimes we grow weary and tired because we bite off too much to chew. Sometimes one may be striving to accomplish something God has not called them to. This being said, when our walk becomes dry and our work becomes burdensome, one may in fact have a heart problem. If this is the case, take some time and examine your heart, one may need to return to their first love.
 

Revelation 2

New King James Version (NKJV)

The Loveless Church

“To the angel of the church of Ephesus write,

‘These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands: ² “I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; ³ and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary. ⁴ Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. ⁵ Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent. ⁶ But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
⁷ “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.”’

I’m Back!

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Wow it’s been awhile since I’ve been on my blog or visiting other blogs. I am not quite sure what happened, but I drifted away from blogging. Maybe in part I lost sight of why I blog. Maybe I felt overwhelmed and became burnt out due to exerting a lot of effort writing my posts. Some people sit down at the computer, type away and publish a post just like that. But that is not me. I have to think, write, rewrite, and proof over and over again.

I ask myself, why does the Lord want me blogging? After all I am not an accomplished writer. However, the Lord did call me to write a blog. But why use me? It is because He wants His Word going forth. In my weakness, He is made strong. He uses my effort to grow me. Reading other blogs also helps sink God’s Word deeper into my heart.

As I look back, I was truly blessed by my blogging experience. I was growing in my walk and enjoying fellowshipping with my blogger friends. I think of the times when someone left a comment saying, “That is what I needed to hear today.” What a blessing it is to know I encouraged someone. Then, how many unbelievers came to my site and was touched by the Lord in some way? This side of heaven I may never know how the Lord used my blog to reach the lost or encourage believers. This I know, His Word does not return to Him void. So here I go again. I am looking forward to visiting my friends and spreading the message of Christ through my blog once again.

 

Believers Are Salt and Light

¹³ “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.

¹⁴ “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. ¹⁵ Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. ¹⁶ Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:13-16 NKJV)

Psalm 1

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The Way of the Righteous and the End of the Ungodly

 

1 Blessed is the man
Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,
    Nor stands in the path of sinners,
    Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
² But his delight is in the law of the Lord,
    And in His law he meditates day and night.
³ He shall be like a tree
    Planted by the rivers of water,
    That brings forth its fruit in its season,
    Whose leaf also shall not wither;
And whatever he does shall prosper.

⁴ The ungodly are not so,
But are like the chaff which the wind drives away.
⁵ Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment,
Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.

⁶ For the Lord knows the way of the righteous,
But the way of the ungodly shall perish.

(Psalm 1:1-6 NKJV)

I love the way the book of Psalms starts out, it pretty much sums everything up, doesn’t it? It all boils down to either following the way of God, or the way of the world. I believe the key word in this Psalm is “delight.” What is it that one chooses to delight in? 

I remember a year or so ago talking with someone who was not a Christian. This woman was being tossed to and fro by the world, not knowing which way to go. I told her to go pick up the Bible and read Psalm 1, it has all your answers. But “oh no,” she said. “No way am I reading that.” I said, “It will not even take a minute to read, and it has all your answers.” But no way she would pick up the Bible and just read this little bit. 

When we delight in the things of God, the Christian life is not a burden filled with a whole lot of religious rituals to perform, but an awesome walk with God. We go to bed at night knowing, as the song goes, “all is well with my soul,” and today my life counted for something of eternal value. Lord, help me and all my readers to “delight” in your Word and all things of God that we may grow stronger and stronger and bear much fruit for your namesake.

My Sins

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Who can say,

 “I have made my heart clean,
I am pure from my sin”? 

(Proverbs 20:9 NKJV)

Thank God for Jesus because I cannot cleanse myself of my sins. Everyday more sins would be added to my account, except Jesus washed them away.  I try to be a “good person,” except I fail. I try to do what is right, but I find myself doing what is wrong. Jesus did not die to give me a license to sin, but out of gratitude, I will live to bring glory to His name. Of my own power, I cannot enter into heaven, but Jesus made a way.

In The Time of Need

The name of the LORD is a strong tower;

The righteous run to it and are safe. 

(Proverbs 18:10NKJV)

I want the rest of my life to be smooth sailing, so to speak. I hate problems; I do not want any trials or tribulations in my life. None, not one, zero, zip, nada! But we all know life has its ups and downs. We all have our struggles. Some situations are more troublesome than others. One minute we might be thinking, “All is well,” then the next minute life is turned upside down. All that it takes is a slip in the bath tub or some criminal entering your home and life is not the same.

While I do not like the idea of terrible things happening, I believe one should predetermine how we should respond in the event of something does go wrong. For example, learn to administer first aid. At work, we have an emergency evacuation plan in the event of an emergency. Throughout the world, we have fire and rescue teams to come to the aid of people in need. Here in America we dial 911 in the event of an emergency for the proper people to respond to our needs.

While it is wise to prepare as mentioned above, there is only so much these things can do to help. We must also know who our strong tower is. We need to know: “the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen!” (2 Timothy 4:18 NKJV) No matter how unbearable this situation is that we may be facing, we know the Lord will bring us through it. He will not drop the ball. This thing will come to an end. No matter what we are facing, nothing can separate us form the love of God or remove our home in heaven awaiting us. All my brothers and sisters in Christ, let’s be predetermined to run to the Lord the next time, and every time something goes wrong in our lives. We must remember there is protection under the shadow of His wing. (See Psalm 91).

Wise Words

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¹ A soft answer turns away wrath,
But a harsh word stirs up anger.
² The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly,
But the mouth of fools pours forth foolishness. 

(Proverbs 15:1-2 NKJV)

The words we speak and the way we say them speaks volumes. One may calm an angry soul or pour gasoline on a fire with the words we speak. With our tongue we may lift someone up who is down, or bring a hurt which never heals. With our mouth we may encourage someone to succeed, or leave them feeling as though there is no hope. We may speak words which leads one to Christ, or words which drives them away. What will it be today? Will I speak with wisdom or foolishness? Will I speak with a soft or angry voice?