Tuesday, March 31, 2015

Do you realize how special you are to God?



As we know God is the Creator of all. Birds, stars, trees, water, planets, us, angels,....everything. BUT there is only one chosen for this:

Genesis 1:27
27 So God created man in his own image,
in the image of God he created him;
male and female he created them.

Mankind is the only thing God created in His own image. Have you ever stopped top think about that in the grand plan of scheme of things? You and I are created in the image of God nothing else! This alone shows us how loved we are by God. We are loved by God above all else! This is the very reason He sent His own Son Jesus to die for our sins. So He can spend eternity with the ones He loves. 

On this Easter week stop and think about this today. Meditate on this for a while. When we do the things of this world are not so important as we realize we are not made for this world but an eternity with the One who created us in His Image!! Give God some praise!!!!

Tom

The Lord's Servant Part 3 3-31-15

Thursday, March 26, 2015

Very little but very important!



Have you ever studied the universe? How massive it is? Matter of fact we don't even know how big. Billions of stars and more being made every second. Sun and it's massive power. It is simply amazing when you look at God has created. Look at this verse:

Psalm 19:1

19 The heavens declare the glory of God,
    and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.

All of it placed exactly where God wants it for His glory. When we look out at the stars at night we are seeing so little of the known universe, but to know God put each star in its place is just overwhelming.

Psalm 33:6

6 By the word of the Lord the heavens were made,
    and by the breath of his mouth all their host.

All by the Word of God...BOOM...it's there!!!!

Isaiah 40:25-26

25 To whom then will you compare me,
    that I should be like him? says the Holy One.
26 Lift up your eyes on high and see:
    who created these?
He who brings out their host by number,
    calling them all by name,
by the greatness of his might,
    and because he is strong in power
    not one is missing.

God even names the stars...each one!!! Whew! The awesomeness of God!!!

Isaiah 40:12

12 Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand,
    or with the breadth of his hand marked off the heavens?
Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket,
    or weighed the mountains on the scales
    and the hills in a balance?

With His Hand He measure off the universe, can we grasp the magnitude of God?????

I say all that to say this, God is huge, the universe in so huge we can't even grasp it, God's creation is huge, but there is only one who is made in His image....man!

Genesis 1:27 
So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.

Do we understand this? He made us like HIMSELF! Not only did He make us in His image, he knows our sinful nature so He provided a way for us to spend eternity with Him even though we don't deserve it:

Philippians 2:5-8

5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant,[b] being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Jesus left heaven for us! To die for us! We may be small in universe standards but we are huge in the eyes of God! He loves us like nothing else!

Do a little research on the universe, see how small you really are, but then compare it to how big your are join God's eyes. It will blow your mind!

I just want to praise you Lord Jesus for who you are and for how much you love us! All glory and honor belongs to you!!!

Tom

The Lord's Servant. Part 1 3-26-15

Wednesday, March 25, 2015

The "I AM" is for you!



Need some encouragement today? Listen to this song and then we shall look at the Word of God!

Hawk Nelson - Drops In the Ocean



The more I listen to that song the more it grows on me! God is so good! A few things I want us to grab out of this song that are biblical:

1. I am for you! God is for followers of His Son! He is even for those who don't follow His Son desiring that they will submit to Jesus!

Matthew 28:20
20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

2 Peter 3:9
9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you,[a] not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

God loves us so much! He gives us all the opportunities in the world for an eternity with Him, He is for us!!!

2. Hands and feet of Jesus are proof of His love for us!

John 20:26-28
26 Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” 28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!”

Oh the scared hands and feet of Jesus for our sins, what love!

3. You are forgiven! Multiple times! Oh thank you Jesus for your mercy and forgiveness!

Matthew 18:21-22
21 Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” 22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.

God forgives His children so many times when they ask! He expects us to forgive in return the same way to others!

So this morning be encouraged! God is for you! The hands and feet of Jesus prove how much He loves you! God forgives us over and over again if we will just ask Him! What an AWESOME GOD we serve!

So play that song one more time...turn it up and give Jesus some praise!

Tom

Bow every day! 3-25-15

Tuesday, March 24, 2015

Your heart reveals who your in Christ!

You heart reveals who you are in Christ #2

Are you hurting?



It seems right now I know of so many folks who are hurting in so many different areas...physically, spiritually, emotionally, and relationally. I want to share a song and some scripture to those that flow Jesus. First the scripture:

Psalm 9:10
10 And those who know your name put their trust in you,
for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you.

1 Peter 5:7
7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

Know that God loves those who follow Him and He is with you! Call out to Him! He is right there beside you. Cat all your worries upon Him for He is faithful and true and will handle them as He sees fit! Jesus will never leave you.

Now this song really spoke to me yesterday and ministered to a special cousin of mine just when she needed it, I pray it will do the same to you. Thank you Jesus for artists like this who sing for your glory and your honor!

Are you hurting?

It seems right now I know of so many folks who are hurting in so many different areas...physically, spiritually, emotionally, and relationally. I want to share a song and some scripture to those that flow Jesus. First the scripture:

Psalm 9:10
10 And those who know your name put their trust in you,
for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you.

1 Peter 5:7
7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

Know that God loves those who follow Him and He is with you! Call out to Him! He is right there beside you. Cat all your worries upon Him for He is faithful and true and will handle them as He sees fit! Jesus will never leave you.

Now this song really spoke to me yesterday and ministered to a special cousin of mine just when she needed it, I pray it will do the same to you. Thank you Jesus for artists like this who sing for your glory and your honor!



I am praying for you today, if I can help in any way feel free to contact me.

God bless, Tom

Children a blessing and a responsibility. 3-24-15

Monday, March 23, 2015

What path are you on?




I seen a saying the other day that caught my attention. It may be more truthful than we would like to admit. It said something to effect of this: Maybe we are always in a traffic jam because we are on the "Highway to hell" instead of the "Stairway to heaven". Of course this is a play of words of the songs by AC/DC and Led Zeppelin. Not only is this of some value for us to think about it is also somewhat scriptural! Look here:

Matthew 7:13-14

13 “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. 14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.

To be honest I do not like this verse at all! To know many are not the path to hell breaks my heart as it should any follower of Jesus. I want you to grasp two things from these verses:

1. wide gate-is easy and many enter this gate to destruction(Hell). It is easy to follow the ways of the world which is ultimately the ways of the devil. Most choose this path.

2. narrow gate-is hard but leads to life(Heaven), few find it. Jesus tells us over and over in the Word that following Him is not easy, it is very hard. Denying self, being made fun of, persecution, and yes possibly even death are hard! Jesus tells us these things will come to those who follow Him and do His work of sharing the gospel. In the end it is all worth is....heaven!

So what path are you on? The very unworn path to narrow gate or the worn down to the mud path to the wide gate??

Jesus said these things for a reason, it is truth, may we take notice!

Tom

When will the end come? 3-23-15

Friday, March 20, 2015

So Thankful!



Short and sweet today! I just want to praise God this morning and hope you will join me! I am so blessed. A God who loves me enough to send His only Son to die for my sins so I can live in heaven for ever! A loving godly wife whom I don't deserve. Two awesome kids, Eric and Kaylea, whom also love Jesus. A mom and dad who taught me right and wrong. A good family. All my needs met by my loving God and then he blesses me with so much more. An awesome church family who allows me to serve them. Faithful friends who I know I can call on at anytime and they will be there. Oh God you are so good me and I lift up those who are not as fortunate as me and ask your blessings to be poured out on them. I love you Lord Jesus.

1 Thessalonians 5:18
18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

If you have time share what you are thankful for this morning in the comments! Give God some praise!

Tom

The Righteous for the unrighteous! 3-20-15

Thursday, March 19, 2015

Heart #15



Today we wrap up this look at the heart. I hope it has enlightened you as much as it has me! It really comes down to who you are as a person. You heart reveals that. It all begins and ends with this verse:

Matthew 22:37
37 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.

Do you love God with everything you have? The way you live is proof of your love or not loving God! If we choose to be selfish and live for self and the world this is what happens:

Romans 2:5
5 But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God's righteous judgment will be revealed.

Hell will be waiting! 

But for the one who believes, loves and follow God with their life:

Romans 10:10
10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.

Heaven awaits! An eternity with God! 

And this is the proof we are in love and followers of God:

Ephesians 6:6
6 not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart,

A bond servant in a slave, we serve God because we love Him and want to please him with our lives!

Don't be caught here my friends:

Romans 1:21
21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.

Thinking you know God but in reality your heart is darkened!!! Bad news in the end if you are here! Wake up! Repent and surrender you heart and life completely to the ONE who died for you! Then live for Him every second of every day!

So how is your heart?

Tom

God knows the way! 3-19-15

Wednesday, March 18, 2015

Heart #14



Take a look at this verse and think on it very hard:

Matthew 15:18
18 But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person.

What is coming from our mouth? God tells us here that our heart is revealed by what comes from our mouths. Hmmmmm just think about what is going from your mouth. What is it saying about your heart? Gossip, slander , lies, bribes, trickery and the such reveals you have a defiled heart! A defiled heart will not stand with God in heaven! 

So what comes from our mouths that reveals a pure heart?

1 Thessalonians 5:11 
Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.

Edify means to build up or encourage. Is your mouth doing this? 

Romans 14:19
Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another.

Psalm 15:2
2 He who walks uprightly,
And works righteousness,
And speaks the truth in his heart;

Speaking the truth reveals a pure heart! Even when it hurts. We must also speak the truth of God's Word and not water down! 

Proverbs 8:7
7 For my mouth will speak truth;
Wickedness is an abomination to my lips.

Proverbs 16:13
13 Righteous lips are the delight of kings,
And they love him who speaks what is right.

We are commanded to put away foul talk:

Colossians 3:8
8 But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.

Ephesians 5:4
4 Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving.

For some reason many so called Christians think they can still tell dirty jokes or curse or even allow this junk into their ears and eyes by willingly watching movies or listening to music that promotes this foolish, crude talk! No! God says this reveals a defiled heart which means DANGER!

We must also speak with love for anything else is nothing but noise!

1 Corinthians 13:1
13 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.

This is the result we are looking for as we speak in love representing our Lord:

Ephesians 4:15
15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—

Growing to be more like Jesus everyday! 

Remember in everything we do we are to:

Colossians 3:17
17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Evaluate your life my friends, if your heart is defiled make some changes now through the power of the Holy Spirt, come to Jesus whose shed blood can cleanse your heart and make you pure!

Tom

Deep roots in Christ! 3-18-15

Tuesday, March 17, 2015

Heart #13



I can not emphasize this verse enough:

Proverbs 3:5
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.

Folks our knowledge is limited. God's is not. He has given us His Word and the Holy Spirit to give us partial knowledge but we are still wayyyyyy short of what God knows. So we must not lean on what we think we know but go with what God has told us in His Word, follow it as closely as we can. We must listen to the leading of the Holy Spirt. If we do these two things we have the knowledge we need to bring glory to God and live life to the fullest non this side of heaven!

This verse is leading us in the same thinking:

Proverbs 16:9
9 The heart of man plans his way,
but the Lord establishes his steps.

Check with God, let Him lead us because our ways many times are not His ways!

So we see this morning if we give God our heart and let His lead our every step, we will be doing the will of God!

Tom

Where is your delight? 3-17-15

Friday, March 13, 2015

Heart #12


What is your the thought deep in your heart right now? What was it last night? Has you thoughts in your heart been here recently, or ever?

Psalm 19:14
14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be acceptable in your sight,
O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

This place above is when we are so in love with God that our every move, desire, and want is filtered through our Lord and Savior. Then we obey with whatever it is He leads us too according to His Word! When we get here in our lives we can be assured then that every thing we say and do will be acceptable to God. Oh how I pray I am in this place more than I am not!!! Amen?

Here is the key to it for all of us:

Proverbs 3:5
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.

I don't always know what God is doing or where He is leading me, I just have to trust in Him with my life and do what He commands! It really is that simple but oh yet so hard to do!

So today ant the meditations of our hearts be on Jesus and may we trust Him with everything we got, this will equal a fulfilled and blessed life...guaranteed! 

Tom

Last days! Sound familiar? 3-13-15

Thursday, March 12, 2015

Heart #11



How many times have I heard this "A loving God would not send anybody to hell!" Oh my friends don't listen to such foolishness! In reality we choose where we go because God has provided the way to heaven through the shed blood of His Son Jesus! Judgement will come:

Psalm 10:13
13 Why do the wicked renounce God?
He has said in his heart,
“You will not require an account.”

We will give an account one day to God! Did you give your life to Jesus or did you follow your own selfish ways? What have you said in your heart? 

1 Peter 4:17
17 For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?

John 3:18
18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

Romans 2:1-5 
Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things. We know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who practice such things. Do you suppose, O man—you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself—that you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God's righteous judgment will be revealed.

I think God's Word is pretty clear that judgement will come one day! So whats the answer?

Psalm 13:5
5 But I have trusted in your steadfast love;
my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.

Your heart must trust in the salvation God has given us and that is found only in Jesus Christ!

Judgement is coming are you ready?

Tom

Do you fear the Lord? 3-12-15

Wednesday, March 11, 2015

Heart #10



If you were to sit before a judge and you could pick anybody to be your lawyer who would you pick? I know with out a shadow of a doubt who I would pick:

Psalm 7:10
10 My defense is of God,
Who saves the upright in heart.

I want Jesus to be my lawyer!!! He has given me the evidence I need before God to rescue my soul from a hell I deserve! Jesus is the evidence!! Whew that gets me excited this morning!

Let me give you the evidence provided by the Laywer whom if trusted and followed can free all from their sins:

Matthew 26:28
28 For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

Luke 22:20
20 Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you.

John 6:54
54 Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.

Romans 3:25
25 whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed,

Romans 5:9
9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.

Ephesians 1:7
7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace

Ephesians 2:13
13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

Wow how many lawyers do you know that provide the evidence themselves to set you free???? Only ONE that I know of...Jesus the Savior of the world!

I am so thankful this morning for Jesus making my heart right before Him by allowing me to receive His shed blood to cover my sin! Oh how our God loves us!

Tom

Rich to give! 3-11-15

Tuesday, March 10, 2015

Heart #9



I know I return to this truth often but it is of great importance for the follower of Jesus to get it engraved deeply into their hearts and it is this:

Job 22:22
22 Receive, please, instruction from His mouth,
And lay up His words in your heart.

Brothers and sisters the only way for us to follow Jesus as He desires is to know His word. It is a must to follow Jesus! How do you know what He expects from His followers if you do not know His word. Again as I have said other times it makes no sense for a follower of Jesus not to have read and reread His word many times over their life time. Without question it should be the number one book in a believers life every day and every year! Is it in yours?

Here are a couple other verses on this same truth:

Psalm 119:36
36 Incline my heart to Your testimonies,
And not to covetousness.

Help us Lord to desire your Word not things of this world!

Proverbs 3:1
3 My son, do not forget my law,
But let your heart keep my commands;

So does your heart desire and love God's Word? Do you then do best everyday to follow what you learned? If yes AWESOME! If no, today is the day to discipline yourself to a love for the Word of God! Then apply it!

Tom