Who are you from God's perspective? #2

Continuing on from yesterday about how God sees us! His view is more important than anybody's even our own! So lets continue in the Word this morning!


Galatians 2:20

20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.



God no longer sees you in your sin when you give your life to Jesus, but He sees Jesus who lives in you through the Holy Spirit! Wow! That is awesome! And now the life you live is in faith, faith in Jesus! Jesus paid the price for your sin because He loves you. I am so thankful God no longer sees the sinful Tom but the sinless Jesus in me! That is how God sees you and it is very important you realize that!




Colossians 3:2-3

2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.



Now that we are dead to our old self but alive in Christ, we are to set our minds on godly things (things that are above). True, victorious, and joy filled lives are to be ours because we are hidden with Christ in God! Do you see how God is seeing you? It should be a mind opening moment!



When God sees you He sees you in Christ, a perfect creation, loved. Now it is our responsibility to live like Christ to the best of our ability! You are a child of the King! You have overcome this world through Jesus, now let us be showing the world our love, and bring them to Jesus so they to can live a victorious life!



Tom

Who are you from God's perspective? #1

In life we tend to view ourselves from many different views. How we were raised, beliefs we have developed, successes or failures, others opinions, and the list goes on. Some of these may be truth and some may be false. When you give your life to Jesus, God has a view of you that is the only view that counts! We must learn who we are in Jesus so we can live a victorious, joyful life! So over the next several days I want us to see how God sees us, remember what God says is most important....all other opinions are worthless even if they are our own opinions!



The first thing we need to realize as a follower of Jesus is this:


2 Corinthians 5:17

17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.



You are brand new! Wow! Thank God. Whatever was in your past is now gone in God's eyes! So we need to forget it too. The devil will try to bring up your past, just remind him of this verse! God says you are new so live like it! You are free fro all your past sin, oh that should make you smile this morning! It sure does me!



The next view from God we need to grasp is:




2 Peter 1:3-9

3 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, 4 by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. 5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. 8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins.



So what does divine nature mean? The short and sweet answer is Love and Righteousness. When we follow Jesus and give him our lives we supernaturally have God's divine nature in us through the Holy Spirit. We have all things needed to live in righteousness and love. Corruption is gone unless we allow it back in! So we are to live our lives in this manner showing others our godliness, not in a boastful manner, but in humility as our new life in Christ is shown to all we come in contact with. God sees us with a divine nature, do you see yourself with this? Don't really matter if you do or not God says you have it so live like it!



So today we see God sees you in two ways so far...a new creation with a divine nature. Live like God sees you, He is truth!



Tom

Are you here in life?

Check these verses out:Psalm 30:11-12

11 You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; you have loosed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness,12 that my glory may sing your praise and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever!



Are you joyful this morning? Seriously, can you say I am glad and just plain full of joy. Most folks can not say this. Nobody can it it honestly unless they have placed their trust in Jesus. I can say with out hesitation, I am joyful and blessed this morning, because my circumstances does not have any bearing on my relation ship to God! Most likely something will test me today...anger, sadness, patience, people, or a number of other things will try to jump in my day and try to bring me down. It won't work! I may lose my composer for a short time, but it still don't change who I am in Christ! I am victorious, I am loved, I am saved from the depths of hell, I am a child of the King, I am an heir with Jesus!!!! Whewwww! You see where my joy comes from? Not from anything that can be taken away, but from my Jesus! He never lets me down.



So this morning, do a little dancing, do a little singing, do some praising, and what ever you do...give thanks if you are in Christ Jesus! Smile and tell others whom you belong too!



If you are not a follower of Jesus...what is stopping you? Ask Him into your life today and enjoy victory over life! If you need help just ask!



Tom

Time,Time,Time!

Yesterday was an awesome day for me as I got the blessing of taking my two kids fishing. We caught nine bass and had three keepers. It was a beautiful day on the Tennessee River. I can't stress enough how important it is to spend time with your kids.My son in now 15 and my daughter is 9, soon they will be leaving the nest! Life is very busy. Time spent with our children passes by so very quickly. We are the ones who need to be training our children up in the Lord. The world will not teach them godly things! So we must.



Deuteronomy 6:5-7

5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. 6 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.



Did you catch the command part? We are commanded to teach the love of God to our children. The only way we can do that is to spend time with them. Every moment we can we must stress the importance of God in their lives. In reality our children are not really ours! They are gifts from God! He has given us the responsibility of raising them in Him!



Psalm 127:3

3 Behold, children are a gift of the Lord,The fruit of the womb is a reward.



Oh my friends, time is flying by, spend time with your kids, and be sure to teach them about Jesus! You won't regret a second of it!



Tom

Summer slide from Church....Don't!

For some reason when school gets out a major shift takes place in most churches. Attendance takes a major decline. This should not be folks! Now I know vacations and things take place, but that is no excuse for not attending church somewhere! Praise God that He does not take time off from us! It is a great expirience to join other believers in worship on your vacation! Don't miss out on that opportunity for yourself and your kids. Set a good example for your kids to make worship a priority no matter what you are doing! Sadly, many folks skip church for selfish reasons....just to spend the day on lake or a million other reasons, when they are at home during the summer. Remember God made seven days in the week, don't neglect His command to set one aside for Him! It is the very least we can do, after all He did die for you! He deserves our worship! God's Word says this for a reason:


Hebrews 10:25

25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.



Don't be the "as is the habit of some", God's Word has spoken. Have a great Summer, enjoy yourselves, But don't neglect the assembly of the church for worship, it is not an option, it is a command!



Tom

Let's Pray.

So far this morning I seen reported that over 50 have died including over 20 children in that tornado that ripped through Oklahoma yesterday. So let us spend time in prayer that survivors will be found, the injured to be healed, and those who have loved ones to be comforted at this time.



Psalm 119:50

This is my comfort in my affliction, that your promise gives me life.



Pray brothers and sisters, pray



Tom

Your choice!

God in His marvelous love has given us many choices. We are not robots! In those choices are consequences. My Pastor Mark Warren shared these verses yesterday and it gives us something to think about:



Deuteronomy 30:19-20

19 I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live, 20 loving the Lord your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him, for he is your life and length of days, that you may dwell in the land that the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.”



Some things I want you to see in these verses:



1. God has witnesses of what He has offered us in choices! v.19 says heaven and earth are the witnesses! So we are with out excuse as to what God has offered.



2. v.19 God sets before us life or death! Think on that for a while. Jesus is Life:



John 14:6

6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.



So that means without Jesus death will come....separation from God when we die:



John 5:24

Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.



3. v.19 God also sets before us the choice of blessings or curses! I don't know about you but I want the blessings!!!



Malachi 2:2 If you will not listen, if you will not take it to heart to give honor to my name, says the Lord of hosts, then I will send the curse upon you and I will curse your blessings. Indeed, I have already cursed them, because you do not lay it to heart.



Heed that warning my friends!



4. God tells us in v.19 to chose life! Where is true life found???? In Jesus Christ refer back to John 14:6 verse posted above! Not only are we to chose life for ourselves but for our children! Parents it is your job to raise your children in the training of the Lord so they have a chance to make right choices according to the Word of God!



5. In verse 20 God tells us three keys to making right choices...loving God, obeying His voice, and holding fast to Him in good times and bad! Don't let go! If you are doing these three things, you are making right choices!!!



Life is full of choices, if you are being obedient to God....loving Him, obeying Him, holding onto Him then you are doing well....keep the faith! If not well what is stopping you? It is your choice and as we have seen true, victorious, and joy in life can only come through the choice of following Jesus! Make that choice today!



Tom

Take a minute....

To stop and think! Great video by Francis Chan:





Psalm 46:10

10 “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”



Take some time today to stop, be still, and think about God! Then praise Him for HE IS WORTHY!



Tom

You have everything you need!

I am read a book right now called "Getting your life on Target" by Steve Austin. A very helpful and insightful book designed for those of us who need the dumbed up version of how get in tune with God and to live for Him with victory and joy! Get a copy and call him to come speak at your church, you won't be disappointed! Last night I read this verse as I was reading the book, check it out:2 Peter 1:3

3 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence,



Wow! I hope you caught this part: "His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness". If you have received Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of your life, you immediately were indwelt with the Holy Spirit, which in turn gives you everything you need to live a victorious life, and most importantly a godly life! Makes me want to SHOUT!



How is your life right now? Are you happy in Jesus, living day to day the victorious abundant life? Or are you defeated and struggle to get through each day and just plain down? The good news is you don't have to live that way, God's Word says He has provided all we need to live the victorious life full of joy and happiness. Look at this verse:



John 10:10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.



Did Jesus lie? No way!!!! He said we can have abundant life, and that my friends is not the life many are living. So how, well to dig real deep in this subject get the book I mentioned above! (Thats a plug for my brother Steve..Ha!) But to make it as simple as I can, look at the verse again of 2 Peter 1:3, "through the knowledge of him". To live the victorious joyful life God offers you must have a deep knowledge of God. Get in the Word and learn about our heavenly Father, His love for you, His promises, and what He desires for your life. Did you catch that? WHAT HE DESIRES FOR YOUR LIFE! Not what you think, what God thinks! This is key, without total surrender of your life, the victorious, joy filled life is impossible!



Thank God, He have given us all we need to live a godly, joyful, and productive life for His glory!!!! Are you ready? It really is all up to you! Go for it! You won't be disappointed I promise!



Tom

Killing babies.

Been thinking about this case and the verdict:

http://www.foxnews.c...test=latestnews

From what I read from God's Word, all abortionists should be convicted of killing babies. Read these verses below and see for yourself:For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. (Psalm 139:13)

Your hands made me and formed me. (Psalm 119:73)


Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart. (Jeremiah 1:5)

My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. (Psalm 139:15-16)

I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the LORD your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. (Deuteronomy 30:19-20)

"Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy. Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked." Ps 82:3-4

Defend the helpless and oppressed; don't harm strangers, widows, orphans, or other innocent people. Jer 22:

The people of Ammon are guilty of wanton cruelty against the helpless, the expectant mother, and the unborn child. God is the defender of the helpless and the weak (Psalm 68:5).

Pure and undefiled religion is to show kindness, warmth, and generosity and to care for the widow and the orphan in their affliction (James 1:27).

Did you see Jeremiah 1:5? God knows us before we are even in the womb! Abortion is wrong. Now I know I will get the argument about rape, incest, and the mother's life in jeopardy. These make up less than 3% of all abortions. What about the other 97%????

President Obama made the remark that if his daughters were to get pregnant before they wanted to, he did not want them to have to live with that mistake for the rest of their life. Well Mr. president according to the Word of God a child is not a mistake, God knows them! That is the sick mentality of our society today! If something is an inconvenience then let's just get rid of the problem, even if it is a human life! What are we doing?????

Over 55 million babies have been aborted in the United states alone since Roe vs. Wade. Think about that. Maybe the doctor who could cure aides or cancer was one of those. Maybe a great peacemaker was one of those. Does 55 million babies being killed even phase us?

Abortionists are murders plain and simple from what I see in God's Word, am I wrong? God is giver and taker of life not us!

Tom

Looking out for others!!!

I don't tear up often. Don't ask why, just the way I am made I guess. This did it for me. Don't just watch the video but read the story too.




I have no idea what Matt Kemp's faith is, or even if He has any(he did mention God), but I do know one thing....I am a fan of his now. To take time for someone who is very sick and to give him the shirt of his back, well is something the bible tells us to do...look here:

Hebrews 13:16

Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.


Philippians 2:4

Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.


Galatians 6:2

Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.


Acts 20:35

In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”


You see everyday we have the opportunity to help those around us, especially those who are in need or are sick. Jesus love is shown through this. Way to go Matt Kemp!


So as I close, when is the last time your light has shown for Jesus? For me, I need to get busy!


Tom

Guard your heart!

One must keep their heart guarded with the proper protection....God's Word. You see we are brought up with certain values and thought processes that may be right or may be wrong. Our guide must be the Word of God for that is where ultimate truth comes from. Check this verse out:


Proverbs 4:23

23 Keep your heart with all diligence,
For out of it spring the issues of life.


Did you see the later part of that verse that says "for out of it spring the issues of life"? Answeres to our everyday problems come from our hearts and without the proper heart training, God's Word, we get most answers to our problems wrong! Let me give you an example: Joe has been raised to think everything he has gained in life has been his doing. All the money he makes is his and thus he is very stingy with his money. He doesn't help anyone. Now God has told us that all belongs to Him, yes even our money. For all blessings come from God. He gives us the ability to work, and thus we make money. God also tells us we are to helps others and share what we have for it is not ours to begin with. So you see Joe's heart has been taught one thing but God's Word says another, so our training must come from God's Word and then we can solve the issues of life correctly....God's way!


Guard your heart my friends with the truth! God's Word! Issues of life will be solved!


Tom

What is in a name?

We all have had to give a name to either a pet or a child. Sometimes this is an easy task and others times it takes some time. Many times these names have a certain meaning to them, other times they don't. For a pet it may be the way they look or something that reminds us of another important area of our life. For a child it may be a name of a past family member, or something that goes along with our faith, or maybe something unique. God had a very important name for His Son, check these verses out:

Philippians 2:9-11

9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.


Wow, the name above all names! Jesus Christ! So exactly what does Jesus Christ mean? The name Jesus means "Savior." It is the same name as Joshua in the Old Testament. It is given to our Lord because "He saves His people from their sins." This is His special role. He saves them from the guilt of sin, by cleansing them in His own atoning blood. He saves them from the dominion of sin by putting in their hearts the sanctifying Spirit. He saves them from the presence of sin, when He takes them out of this world to rest with Him. He will save them from all the consequences of sin, when He shall give them a glorious body at the last day. The word “Christ” comes from christos, a Greek word meaning “anointed.” It is the equivalent of the word mashiach, or Messiah, in Hebrew. So, to be the Christ, or Messiah, is to be “the anointed one of God.”


So what is in a name? In the case of Jesus Christ...Everything! One day ALL will bow to Him, believers and non-believers alike! Every tongue will proclaim "Jesus Christ is Lord!" God will receive all the glory for this! Whew! I am praising God I have already proclaimed this....willingly! Have you?


The name above all...Jesus Christ....makes me smile just saying that!


Tom

God made a hunter.

Very cool video!

Chasing turkeys!

Well I just got back from a little trip of fishing and hunting. Part of the agenda was chasing a turkey. The Lord blessed us with great success! Four turkeys in 3 hunts! As I was thinking about this is come to my attention that hunting turkeys is much like trying to take the gospel to the lost world. For example, some turkeys respond quickly to the calls. The lost sometimes respond quickly to the call of the Holy Spirit. Some turkeys take much time to respond to the calls. The lost in many cases also take much time to respond to the call of the Holy Spirit, thank God for continuing to come after those of us that take awhile! Then some turkeys never do respond to calls. Likewise, much of the lost never do respond to the call of God through the Holy Spirit. See how interesting that is?

Turkeys are a interesting animal. Their sight is exceptional. But they are not the smartest of all birds. They can be tricked easily. It reminds me of us humans, God has blessed us with great minds, emotions, senses and many other things but we can be tricked easily by the lies of the devil if we are not well learned in the truth of God's Word!

John 8:43-45               
43 Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word. 44 You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45 But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me.


John 8:31-32

31 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”


So let us learn this morning two things:


1. People are like turkeys, go after them with all you got and leave the results to God!



2. Humans are tricked easily by the devil, get in the Word of God and learn his tricks so you won't be deceived easily!


Take a kid hunting and talk about God, it don't get much better than that!


Tom

Faith of Duck Dynasty's Phil Robertson

Interesting article about Phil and his faith. Awesome to see a show about faith in Jesus Christ and family values top the charts. The last episode this year, which aired last week, was the top watched show, out dueling American Idol!

http://www.christianpost.com/news/duck-d...mPuwww8GTVYb.99