Can anyone tell a difference?

God makes it clear in His Word that there should be a very noticeable difference in a follower of Jesus and someone who does not. Look at these scriptures:

1 John 2:15-17
15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life[a]—is not from the Father but is from the world. 17 And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.

2 Corinthians 6:14-15
14 Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? 15 What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever?

It is very easily understood here we are to be like Christ not the world. Sadly the church is failing in many ways of being different and thus I believe Charles Spurgeon was right on the money with this quote:

"I believe that one reason why the church of God at this present moment has so little influence over the world is because the world has so much influence over the church...Put your finger on any prosperous page in the churches history, and you will find a little marginal note that says: 'In this age, people, could readily see where the Church began and where the world ended'".

So think about your church and think about your self....is there a noticeable difference? If we claim to be followers of Jesus we should not even have to think about it....it should be an overwhelming YES!

Tom

The Rainbow-a promise from God! 5-29-15

This may tell where your heart is!

Are you excitedly awaiting the return of Jesus? Seriously? Or is Jesus just your ticket to heaven and nothing else? Your answer just may reveal something about your heart! Look at this verse:

Hebrews 9:28
28 so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.

Did you catch that "eagerly awaiting for Him"? You see for those who have truly given their lives to follow Jesus, we are watching eagerly for Him to return because this place we are at now is not our home!

Check out these verses:

Philippians 3:20
20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,

Hebrews 13:14
14 For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come.

We must be very careful to not want to hold onto this world and the things of it. Are we eagerly awaiting Jesus or are we wanting the worldly pleasures and don't want Jesus to interrupt our plans? Ouch!

Remember what our love for is to be like?

Luke 14:26
26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.

Our love for Jesus is be incomparable to anyone or anything else!

So what is your heart telling you right now? You longing for Jesus? If not you might ought to pour out your heart to God and spend sometime with Him!

Oh come Jesus come! Take me home!!!

Tom

What is my goal for today?

According to the Word of God, for the follower of Jesus our goal for each day is this:

1 Corinthians 10:31-33
31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 32 Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God, 33 just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved.

Here is what we see as our gaol each day from these verses:

1. Bring glory to God in all I do! This is the very reason we were created! To bring glory to God in everything! That is a tough task everyday as life comes our way but it can be done through the power of the Holy Spirit.

2. Live like Jesus as to cause no offense to others. This is to show love to all. Be sure to remember though when you stand for Jesus you will cause offense to some by being faithful to God. Always stand strong on the Word!

3. Try to please others by putting them first for the main purpose of bring them to Jesus for salvation. As we know from scriptures the bible teaches this order in life...God, others, you! Are you upholding that teaching?

So are these your goals? If you are a follower of Jesus they should be! With the ultimate goal of bringing glory to God in everything we do!

Tom

Murder will cost you! 5-26-15

Do you know who your help is?

So many times in life we look to all the wrong places for help! Books, TV, people, and the list goes on. The bible is clear for the follower of Jesus where our help is:

Psalm 121:1-3

I lift up my eyes to the hills.
From where does my help come?

2 My help comes from the Lord,
who made heaven and earth.
3 He will not let your foot be moved;
he who keeps you will not slumber.

When things are good or bad look up!!!! That is where the help comes from! So thankful that God cares about us aren't you? In verse 2 the psalmist reminds us where our help comes from....the LORD! No one else can do what the Lord can do, so why try anywhere else??? For God is all as we see He made us and everything else. 

Not only is He our help, He also is our protector as He will not let be moved from Him. Once we are His we are His forever! Praise the Lord!!! Another important thing to remember is God never is absent for His children. He never sleeps and is everywhere all the time.

When we add all this up why in the world would we go to anyone else for help???? 

Tom

In God's timing! 5-21-15

You don't belong to you!

If you are a follower of Jesus you don't belong to you! Did you know that? Look here:

1 Corinthians 6:19-20
19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? 20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.

You as a follower of Jesus have given yourself to Him and your life now is all about glorifying Jesus! Wow! Think on that for a while and then ask yourself, is your life lived out in that fashion? 

Verse 19 tells us that our bodies are the temple of God...the Holy Spirit. What kind of home are you providing for God? Are you taking good care of God's home? Remember you are not yours! If followers of Jesus can grasp this point it will totally redefine their lives. God owns me!

Verse 20 tells us we were bought a price. What was that price? The shed blood and death of Jesus for our sins!! So because of this we are to glorify God with our bodies and our spirits because they are now God's! 

Each day we may need to remind ourselves, I am God's! Let me not do my will today but the will of my Father in heaven for He owns me!

Dwell on this today...it is deep!

Tom

You think you have peer pressure????

Talk about slap in the face!

This will be short and simple. I read this verse this morning and just want to fall to my knees asking God to forgive this nation:

Acts 10:35
35 But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him.

I know this is verse is on a individual basis but think as nation what this verse is saying.....rejected!

Pray folks, pray.

Tom

What are you putting your trust in? 5-18-15

Are you a pattern to follow?

When you are making something you often use a pattern to follow. What about your faith/life to others? Is it something to be followed? Or would it lead others away from Jesus Christ?

Titus 2:7-8
7 in all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility, 8 sound speech that cannot be condemned, that one who is an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of you.

Don't miss this list: good works, integrity by keeping the Word of God, reverence for God, incorruptibility, talk that can't be held against you!!!! If through the Holy Spirit we do these things no one can put us to shame! They won't be able to find anything evil to say about us! This should be the follower of Jesus pattern everyday!

So how about it, is this your pattern??? 

Tom

Find favor in God's eyes! 5-15-15

Evil day has started!

Just to remind you this morning to be ready! Everyday is a battle against the devil and his demons so be ready!!!!

Ephesians 6:13
13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

Have you put on your armor of God today? It is a must everyday! Here is the armor:

Ephesians 6:14-17
14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;

Your armor equals...truth, righteousness, gospel, peace, faith, salvation, Spirit, and the Word of God!!!! When you have these you are ready for the battle of everyday life in this world! Wrap all this up in prayer and STAND!!!!!

You are a child of the King!!! King Jesus is with you! When we add all this up we have nothing to fear and a battle to win as we know as followers of Jesus.....We WIN!!!

Tom

Be like Enoch!

Everything done in love!

Here is a reminder as you head out the door today in tis adventure called life:

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

Now that is a tough task isn't it? Some smart aleck kid mouths off, your cut off in traffic, you lose your job, a boy breaks your daughters heart, and you fill in the blank with a million other scenarios! I do not see any other options according to God's Word. In the good times and the bad we are to love! God is love and we are to be of God and show His love to others!

So as you head out today think about this! It can be done through the power of the Holy Spirit!

Tom

Have you called upon the name of the Lord?

Take a taste test!

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Every been in the kitchen when mom was cooking something and she says come taste this and see how it is!!! I don't recall ever being disappointed! The psalmist of Psalm 34 challenges us to the same thing with God:

Psalm 34:8

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

Some may say how do we taste the Lord??? Well just look around! watch a sunrise, watch a sunset, look at your children, look at your spouse, watch it rain, eat some food, read your bible, pray, and the list goes on. God is awesome and we are blessed....taste Him for yourself and see!

The number one way we see the Lord is good is through Jesus. God sent His son to die for you and I. Anyone who puts their trust in Jesus will see how blessed they are and how good God is!!! Oh the love God has shown us through Jesus. We sure don't deserve it but God loves us that much!

So on this Monday stop and taste and see how great God is....you won't be disappointed!

Tom

The Cross is foolishness! 5-11-15

Fire in your soul!

Oh brothers and sisters I pray we all have a fire in our souls for our Lord and Savior Jesus! Do you have it or does the embers need to be stirred? When we have that fire we become a light for the world to see! Light my fire Lord and may it become a forest fire to your glory and honor!!

Psalm 43:3
3 Oh, send out Your light and Your truth!
Let them lead me;
Let them bring me to Your holy hill
And to Your tabernacle.

Matthew 5:16
16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

Jeremiah 20:9
9 Then I said, “I will not make mention of Him,
Nor speak anymore in His name.”
But His word was in my heart like a burning fire
Shut up in my bones;
I was weary of holding it back,
And I could not.

Luke 24:32
32 And they said to one another, “Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?”

Here is a great song from Unspoken called "Start a Fire". Worship and pray for the fire in all Saints to be light for the glory of the Lord!

Called to be Holy! 5-7-15

God doesn't owe us a thing! 5-6-15

What are you shouting?

Your life and your words are shouting something, what is it? Is it greed, money, love, racism, pride, self-control, love of an idol, worship of a celebrity, or a million other choices? For the follower of Jesus our lives should shout the love of Jesus and His gospel. Are you keeping Him a secret or are you shouting Him from the roof tops?

Matthew 10:27 
27 “Whatever I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; and what you hear in the ear, preach on the housetops.

Romans 1:16 
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

Mark 8:38
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.”

I pray this morning that we are not ashamed of Jesus and shout out to all who He is, how wonderful He is, how much He loves us, the mercy He has shown us, the grace He has given us, and that He died for each of us so we can live forever with Him!!! That is worthy to SHOUT, amen?

So what are you shouting this day? It just may reveal much about your heart!

Here is an awesome song to worship the King too! Rooftops by Jesus Culture



Tom