Respect Authority! 10-29-15

Do you have Jesus on today?

Romans 13:14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.

Look like we to make a choice today and everyday. Jesus or fulfill our lust in something else. What are you going to chose this day? Our lust is temporary, Jesus fulfills for eternity. Is it really that hard to decide? It seems to be, but if you ever taste and see how good the Lord is, it isn’t hard at all!

Psalm 34:8 Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!

You have a choice, whats it gonna be?

Tom

Don't leave me here! 10-28-15

Worship day holy???

I know this is part of the law but do you think God desires for us to keep a day set aside just for worship of Him? I do. So read the verses below and then I have a couple of questions for you to ask yourself:

Exodus 20:8-11
“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates. 11 For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

Just in case you need a new testament reference:

Hebrews 10:24-25
And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

Do you keep a day for worship to God?

Do you allow things to get in way of that worship?

Do you try to get rest that day?

Is God your number 1 priority that day and everyday?

What do you think God thinks if we chose something (football game, shopping, hunting, ect.) other than worshipping Him on the Sabbath? Those things then become idols!

Something to very seriously think about!

Tom

Goshen!! 10-27-15

Nepalm girl finds hope-Jesus! A must watch!

A must watch for followers of Jesus! We have a purpose! God is good!

https://youtu.be/yyrTvIkxym8

Are you ready to die? 10-26-15

What you gonna speak about today?

A great weekend, huh? Football, Halloween parties, big hurricane, ect., ect. We got a lot to talk about don’t we? Now check out this verse:

Romans 15:18 For I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me to bring the Gentiles to obedience—by word and deed,

Do we have anything to talk about now? Did we tell anyone about Jesus or what Jesus has done for us? It is THE MOST important aspect of our life ya know. 

The verse says by word and deed. Did you actions show you are a follower of Jesus? Did you lend a helping, loving hand to anyone? 

This verse put s a different perspective on a days accomplishments huh?

Tom

God reassures!10-23-15

Final Word

I ran across this verse in a devotion this morning and it spoke to me, I pray it does to you too!

Hebrews 1:1-2

1 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son....

In the past, in the present, and in the future many will think they have the final or most important word but my friends the final most important Words have already been given...by Jesus! We must remember this as His followers. No other word is more important than the Words Jesus gave us, He overrides all!

We are in the last days, they days after Christ ascended to the Father and Jesus told us one day soon He is coming back for His own, are you ready? 

Is The Word of God the final authority in your life? Does your life prove it? Remember Jesus is the FINAL WORD!

Tom

Forget past move on! 10-21-15

God deserves our blessings!

God blesses us everyday even though we don’t deserve it, we need to bless God everyday with every aspect of our lives for He is 
worthy! Read and this about these verses:

Psalm 103:1-5

103 Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and all that is within me,
bless his holy name!
2 Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits,
3 who forgives all your iniquity,
who heals all your diseases,
4 who redeems your life from the pit,
who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
5 who satisfies you with good
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.

Wow! Soak this in! The word speaks for itself. Bless the Lord this day my brothers and sisters!

Tom

Come running back to God!

I just heard this song on the radio and it reminded me that we at one time were all prodigal sons or daughters. You may be there right now, but guess what God wants you back no matter what you have done. Listen to this song by Sidewalk Prophets called “Prodigal”



Thats awesome! Here is the story in the bible to refresh your memory:

Luke 15:11-32

The Parable of the Prodigal Son

11 And he said, “There was a man who had two sons. 12 And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them. 13 Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. 14 And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to[a] one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. 16 And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything.

17 “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father's hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.”’ 20 And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 But the father said to his servants,[c] ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. 23 And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. 24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.

25 “Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. 27 And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.’ 28 But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, 29 but he answered his father, ‘Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’ 31 And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. 32 It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’”

Are you home with the Father? Or is God the Father waiting upon you right now? He loves you! What are you going to do?

Tom

Got good news? Share it! 10-20-15

God preserves lives! 10-19-15

Foolish but justified!

Oh what a word for us this morning!

Titus 3:3-7
For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another. 4 But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, 5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

I have to admit I was foolish at one time, rejecting the truth of Jesus for the ways of the world! Thank God He did not give up on me and finally the Holy Spirit broke through and I seen the light! When I received Christ I was justified before God. It is the only way to be right before God....by the blood of Jesus.

I was then blessed even more...I became an heir with Jesus. Wow! An heir of eternal life and heaven. You can have the riches of this world for they have nothing on the riches of heaven! Being with God forever! 

What a merciful loving God we have, who is so patient with us! I just want to offer up praise to Him this morning as He alone is worthy of all praise! What an awesome God we serve!

Tom

Speechless! 10-16-15

God wants all worship!

A truth to chew on this morning:

Exodus 34:14 Do not worship any other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.

God created us to worship Him and Him only. If we worship anything else He is jealous. He will let us reap the consequences of worshipping something else because He has given us free will. To force someone to love you and worship you is not love or worship at all. 

So this day what are you worshipping? Are you worshipping whom God designed you to worship....HIMSELF? Or have you chose something that was never designed to be worshiped? Keep in mind, God is a jealous God!

Tom

Grow up! 10-15-15

Shut up and listen!

I wonder sometimes if I/WE would just shut our mouths, settle in listen to God how much better off we would be! It seems we always must say something. No matter what it is, we just got to put our two cents worth in, even with God! Look what the Word says here:

Job 6:24 “Teach me, and I will be quiet; show me where I have been wrong.

Psalm 46:10 He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”

Lamentations 3:26 it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.

1 Peter 3:4 Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.

So let us just think about this word from God today, may we listen to God more than we speak for God always knows best!

Tom

Still messing with siblings! 10-8-15

Clues that God is in control. 10-7-15

Done in Love??

This day will you do everything with love? Everything? Wow you talk about a challenge! Look here what God says:

1 Corinthians 16:14 Let all that you do be done with love.

Think about this for a moment...when your student cusses you, when your boss asks you to work the weekend, when your spouse doesn’t do as you want, when your child brings home a failing grade, and now you fill in the __________.

It is easy to do things with love when they are easy and good, but when they are hard and bad not so much. It can be done with Christ though no matter the situation. Slow down, take a deep breath, and concentrate on how Jesus would handle the situation. 
You just might be surprised at how others respond when you show love instead of rage!

So this day and everyday live with love being shown in all things!

Tom

An Acts church is a healthy church part 2

An Acts Church is a healthy church part 1

Dreaming up worries! 10-6-15

Jesus wants all of us!

How much of you are you going to surrender to the Lord today? Each day we have that choice. The bible makes it clear that Jesus wants all of us.

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

Are we holding anything back? We need to look at that closely because we may have an idol of some sort that is more important to us than Jesus himself! Not good! 

Brothers and sisters give all of yourself to Him this day and everyday for that is the abundant life which causes us the joy we desire. It can only be found in Jesus, everything else will fail us! 

Tom

A dad must do what he has to do! 10-5-15

Only Place to find true satisfaction!

Psalm 37:4 Delight yourself also in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.

In life we are so ignorant! We try to find delight in the world! Once we finally figure out (if one ever does) that satisfaction and delight are only found in Jesus, life becomes a joy! Hard times will still come but we know we have Jesus and nothing can take our joy away! 

I can tell you from my own life, for 21 years I tried the worlds ways, I knew there had to be more than partying and doing things my own way. I was never satisfied I always needed more. That all changed when I found Jesus!!! Now I delight myself in him and He has never let me down and He never will. I have very thing I need, He meets the desires of my heart! How can I say that you might ask, my desires now are not of the world but of Jesus. He meets those every time!

Folks if life is a let down for you it will continue to be until you give your life to Jesus! We are made for Jesus and nothing else can satisfy the soul but Him!

Is your delight in Jesus??? I pray this morning it is!

Tom

It's the heart not guns! 10-2-15

“Are you a Christian?”

It is said that the crazy man that killed so many college kids in Oregon yesterday asked them what their religion was before he shot them. If you said Christian he shot you in the head if something else or nothing he shot you in the leg. What would you have said?

Remember these two verses if you even end up in such a situation which I pray you don’t!

John 15:18 “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you.”

Jesus told us if we followed Him we would be hated. Why? Because He is the truth and many do not want to hear the truth.

Mark 8:38 For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”

The only reason we would deny Jesus is because we are ashamed or afraid and neither is a good excuse! Fear in not of God but the devil!

Stand my brothers and sisters for Jesus is worthy! and oh what a homecoming it was for those who stood yesterday!!! Praise the Lord!

Let us be in prayer for the families of all involved.

Tom

Kids cause grey hair! 10-1-15

God is God

Something very simple for us to remember this morning:

Isaiah 45:6
that people may know, from the rising of the sun
and from the west, that there is none besides me;
I am the Lord, and there is no other.

There is only one God! The God who created all including us. There is no other.

Tom