Monday, December 26, 2016

ALWAYS be a friend to Israel!



A friend of mine posted these words today intended for the President Obama administration as they turned their back on a recent vote about Israel’s land.

12 Now the Lord had said to Abram:

“Get out of your country,
From your family
And from your father’s house,
To a land that I will show you.
2 I will make you a great nation;
I will bless you
And make your name great;
And you shall be a blessing.
3 I will bless those who bless you,
And I will curse him who curses you;
And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

As followers of Jesus we must know this basic teaching of the bible. Israel, the Jewish nation, is God’s chosen people! As you see in verse 3 above that God used this nation to bless all people by sending Jesus, a Jew, to save the world! God gave them the promise land and know one has the right to change that! We must be an ally to Israel!!!!

As followers of Jesus stand with Israel and condemn any administration that does not! 

Tom

Wednesday, December 21, 2016

God is all!

Why do so many celebrate Christmas?



Have you ever wondered why so many celebrate Christmas when a good many of them don’t believe Christ is Savior of the world? I sure have. God gives us an explanation here:

1 Corinthians 2:14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

I think it awesome how God uses the celebration of Jesus birth or bring attention to the Savior of the world even to those who don’t believe. Think about it, the message is spread even among the unbelievers!!! I pray that us that are followers take every opportunity we get to speak of the wonderful news of the birth of Jesus and what that meant for the world! 

This is Christmas: 

John 3:16-17 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

Our biggest mission day of the year! Let us not miss the opportunity God has given us and the lost! The greatest gift of all!!! Even to those who have not yet believed!

Tom

Tuesday, December 20, 2016

Don't be shaken.

Are you growing?



As followers of Jesus we must ask ourselves often....am I growing in grace and knowledge of Jesus my Lord? It is a lifelong process and a must for all followers!

2 Peter 3:18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.

Three points to grasp here:

1. Growing in grace: As defined in the bible dictionary grace is undeserved acceptance and love received from another. So we have received this from Jesus and as we grow in grace we are to give it to others unconditionally! Are you growing in grace?

2. Growing in knowledge: The number #1 way to grow in knowledge of Jesus is to be in the word for He is the Word!

John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Just like in any relationship, our relationship with Jesus takes work, so work at learning all you can about your Lord!!!!

3. Why do we show grace and why do we learn all we can??? To bring Jesus glory! For He alone is worthy of all glory and honor from us in worship! It is our purpose in life!

So chew on this today and evaluate if you are growing!

Tom

Monday, December 19, 2016

What are thinking about today?

Do we really have faith?



If we read Hebrews 11, it is a chapter full of stories of true faith. Read the chapter and it says “by faith” the different followers of God stood strong even when nobody else was! It really makes one wonder about their own faith....are we willing to stand no matter what? The better question may not be are we willing but ARE WE???

A few examples....Noah building the arc. Would you continue enduring all the mockery and ridicule? He did...faith!

Moses going toe to toe with a Pharaoh. Laying it all on the line to obey God and lead God’s people out of slavery. Faith!

Saul/Paul who opposed Jesus in a mighty way but seen the light on the Damascus road and then lived for Jesus like no other! Faith!

So how is your faith this day? May we have a faith that can never be moved!!!

Tom

Friday, December 16, 2016

Be a star!

What did Mary know?



One of my favorite Christmas songs is “Mary did you Know?” It is an interesting song to think about. We know God revealed some things to Mary but how much did she know and how much did she have to learn? That may be an interesting Bible study for you this Christmas! One thing we do know is she knew this:

Luke 1:31-33And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. 32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. 33 And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.”

Mary would give birth to the Son of God and He would be a King but did she know He would be Savior of the World??? The answer is YES! 

Matthew 1:21 And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”

Now the question is how much of this did she really grasp??? I will leave that up to your study. Chew on this for a while and watch this video “Mary did you know?”



Tom

Thursday, December 15, 2016

Love others!



Just a reminder during this Christmas season and for all year...Be the eyes, hands, and feet of Jesus!!!! 



Tom

Wednesday, December 14, 2016

Remember where you were!

Prince of Peace



As we are nearing the day we celebrate the birth of our Savior Jesus, let us this day remember what He brings to the heart of the follower of himself.

John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

This world has gone crazy. Our lives are very busy. Bills come pouring in. Sickness is every where. Guess what? When one is right with God, through Jesus, you can have peace even in the midst of all these things going on.

How is that possible? Because the Prince of Peace, Jesus, gives it to the believer. Place everything in His hands and worship Him. This is the true peace He provides and it can be found in no other!

I have experienced this peace myself! Why it took me so long to figure it out is beyond me because Jesus is always before us calling out to us. All we have to do is give ourselves to Him!

Have you found peace yet? You can right now! Call out to Jesus! If I can help in any way just ask! 

Thank you Prince of Peace for giving yourself for me!

Tom

Wednesday, December 7, 2016

Desires of your heart.

Make sure focus is right.



Living on this ole crazy earth we tend to get our focus wrong, so I want to remind you this morning of where our focus as followers of Christ must be!!!

2 Corinthians 4:17-18 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, 18 while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

We are on this earth for just a short time compared to eternity and that is why God’s word tells us to keep our focus on the eternal things not the temporal things of this earth! It is so easy to get wrapped up on the things of this world, that is what the devil wants to do! Don’t be tricked and stay focused on the things of God and that will matter for eternity!

Is your focus right? 

Tom

Tuesday, December 6, 2016

Slow down

Know it up front!



Since the life of Christ on earth persecution and being made fun of has happened to the follower of Jesus. If one never faces these things one must check and see if He is doing the work Christ has called us to do in spreading the gospel. I know of no one who was bust about the Father’s business that has not faced opposition! 

So we must remember our Savior’s words:

Matthew 5:11-12 “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. 12 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Our reward is not here on earth but in our home in heaven! Rejoice! Let us remain faithful to our calling until Jesus comes to take us home for it is great joy to please the Father!

Tom

Monday, December 5, 2016

Fullness of the time.

Jesus must be first love!



Jesus made it very clear, that a true follower of His will love Him above all else and there is a heavy cost in following Him. Read here:

Luke 14:25-27 Now great multitudes went with Him. And He turned and said to them, 26 “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. 27 And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.

Do you love Jesus so much more than anyone else that your love for them is like hate? Thats what Jesus is calling us too here. Are you willing to pay the cost of following Him no matter what it is? Death, prison, lack of popularity, lack of material things, going where ever He says, ect.? 

So again we must ask ourselves...Is Jesus our first love?

Tom