Cell phone vs. The Bible

I received an email some time ago that really spoke about the times we live in right now that I would like to share with you. Feel free to share it with others. I believe it really made the kids in my youth group do some thinking. It should make all of us do some thinking. Here it is:





> Cell Phone vs. Bible
>
> Ever wonder what would happen if we treated our Bible like
> we treat our
> cell phone?
>
>
> What if we carried it around in our purses or pockets?
>
>
> What if we flipped through it several times a day?
>
>
> What if we turned back to go get it if we forgot it?
>
>
> What if we used it to receive messages from the text?
>
>
> What if we treated it like we couldn't live without
> it?
>
>
> What if we gave it to the Kids as gifts?
>
>
> What if we used it when we traveled?
>
>
> What if we used it in case of emergency?
>
>
> This is something to make you go....hmm...where is my
> Bible?
>
>
> Oh, and one more thing. Unlike our cell phone, we
> don' t have to worry
> about our Bible being disconnected because Jesus already
> paid the bill.
>
>
> Makes you stop and think, where are my priorities? And no
> dropped calls!

I want to ask you something? Has our cell phones become idols in our lives? In my opinion I believe it has. Now don't get me wrong a cell phone in its proper place is a great thing and very useful. But I am afraid it is not kept in its proper place. I have heard many folks say " I would die without my cell phone" and they were serious!! Remember what God's word says:

Exodus 20:4-5 (New King James Version)

4 “You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; 5 you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me,

The cell phone may not be made out of wood but we have created a monster. People risk their lives everyday driving down the road playing with their cell phones. I have even heard of a church who encourages people to use it during church...I guess telling others what the message is about....now how is that person using their phone worshiping God???

Go back and read the email again...some pretty good points huh? Let's use our Bbiles more than the cell phone and be sure we are not making our cell phones more of priority than God or His word!

Let me know what you think on this subject.

Have a great Memorial Day weekend. Pray for our soldiers. Be safe.

God bless....Tom

Have ya gone fishing?

As I shared a few days ago my dad was in for a visit and we got to go fishing. It was a great afternoon on the water. Since then God has given me some thoughts about this adventure that I want to share with you this morning. For those of you who read your Bibles this probably won't be anything new but maybe a reminder of a few things.

If you recall Jesus rounded up a few fishermen to follow Him. Look at Matthew 4:18-19:

18 And Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. 19 Then He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” 20 They immediately left their nets and followed Him.
21 Going on from there, He saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets. He called them, 22 and immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed Him.

The first point I would like to make is the fishermen immediately dropped everything to follow Jesus. Are we willing to do the same? I know many hunters and fishermen who will drop everything to go hunting and fishing but are not willing to drop everything to do the Lord' work....these four guys were willing.

The second point is this. While we were bass fishing we would cast and reel in, cast and reel in. Then every once in a while we would get a bite! This is much like being fishers of men with the gospel. We cast the word to one and they are not interested so we reel in. We cast to another one and they are not interested so we reel in. Then cast to another and BAM we have a hit. They take the Word as we say in fishing hook, line and sinker!!! What a catch for the Lord. There is a major difference in fishing for men for the Lord than in fishing for fish. When we are fishing for the Lord all we are really doing is baiting the hook and God is doing the catching. Well now that I think about it when we are fishing for fish we bait the hook and God blesses us with a fish or not!!!

The third and final point I want to make this morning is fellowship. Jesus loved fellowship with the fishermen and the disciples. When we went fishing the other day a friend of mine took us in his boat. We had a great time talking and sharing the Lord's creation together. Enjoying the outdoors with lost friends is a great opportunity for a great catch!!! Take advantage of these times and share the bait (the Word of God) with them. God may bless you with a great blessing....leading someone to Him. On Monday I am going to do just that. I have a good buddy of mine coming into town to go fishing. He is not saved. Please pray for me and for him. I am going fishing in more ways than one!!! May the Lord bless me with a catch! And I am not talking about a bass!

God bless you this day my friends,

Tom

Return to the Word of God Part 13 (Final of this series)

A beautiful day outside! Praise God for it and get out and enjoy it!

We have looked at four points over the last several days about how we pick and chose what God's word has said we should do. Today I want us to think more on God's word itself. Hebrews tells us:

Hebrews 4:12-13 (New King James Version)

12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.

Did you catch all that?? His Word is alive, powerful and convicting! We can not hide from His sight and one day we will give an account to Him...wow...stop and think about these words for a moment.

I am afraid our nation has become like Israel. If we take time to study the word of God the similarities are almost scary. God told Israel what their problem was and it looks just like us....proud, stiffnecked, arrogant. We think we know more than God! The only time we want God around is when we have a problem...example 9-11. Everyone wanted God then. Church attendance soared. Over time though many faded away. When Israel turned away from God he chastened them. We as a nation have turned from God. Could it be God is chastening us??? I think so. Look at our economy. Don't expect to see a turn around any time soon unless there is a turning back to God by our nation! All revivals have started with a return to God's Word. Our nation CAN change and return to God but it must start with you and I. Joshua 24:15 says "As for me and my house we will serve the Lord". Are you and your family ready to make that commitment?

Take time to listen to this song and worship. Then get out God's Word and read it, study it and obey it!

http://www.tangle.com/view_video.php?viewkey=22aad70815f91fae04e4

God please lead us to revival and back to you. Amen

Tom

Return to the Word of God Part 12

Your note has been published.

I have had a great visit with my dad. We put a roof on my porch and yesterday got to do some bass fishing. My dad caught this carp which was well over 20 lbs. We caught some bass too! I am praising and thanking God for allowing me to spend time with my dad!!!

Now last time we were together we talked about how we pick and choose who and when we are going to forgive but that was not what God's Word tells us! Today I want us to look at how we pick and choose our worship. When I was saved I was filled with the desire to attend church and worship God pretty much every time the doors were open. Now I am not bragging when I say that I am just saying that when we give our lives to Jesus we should have a longing to worship him every chance we get. Look at these scriptures:

1 Chronicles 16:29-30 (New King James Version)

29 Give to the LORD the glory due His name;
Bring an offering, and come before Him.
Oh, worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness!

30 Tremble before Him, all the earth.
The world also is firml

Hebrews 10:25 (New King James Version)

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.

I like that first verse give the Lord the glory due his name .....how by worship! Bring an offering...how by going to church. In Hebrews it is pretty simple to see God wants us in church as He tells us not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together and He even tells us that some do forsake coming to church! Again as I have said before God's word is pretty clear.....He wants us in church to worship Him but it is a sad day right now in America as many of our churches are struggling as folks chose to worship other things than the King of Kings.

Now let me say this also we are to worship God outside the church too! Not only should we get our families to church but we should be leading our families in worship at home. Daily devotion and prayer should be standard in each of our homes. You have heard it said in the past the family that prays together stays together. I also think we need to open God's word and worship together.

There are also other times and places we can worship such as listening to Christian music, driving down the road, exercising, hunting, and many others. Let me say this though substituting a hobby like hunting instead of worshiping God at church is choosing to be selfish in my opinion. I have done it in the past myself. What is boiled down to was I wanted to hunt instead of going to church. Oh yeah I prayed well I was there but I was also forsaking the gathering of God's people!!! Now I believe you can worship while hunting but deciding to hunt over church is disobeying God!

So how are you doing in Worship??? Are you making the right choices? I hope and pray you are.

Have a great day in the Lord and worship Jesus today!

Tom

Sorry!

My dad is in town visiting...I will get back to devotions on Tuesday!

Ten Commandments #11

I come to you this morning with a heavy heart. A young man in our community drown yesterday afternoon. Jeremy Vandevoir was only 21 years old and will be sorely missed in our community. My prayers go out to his mom and dad, may God comfort you in this time of great sorrow. Today's devotion is dedicated to Jeremy.

Our third example of how we pick and choose which part of God's word we are going to follow is Forgiveness. I think when we first think of forgiveness some of us may think I do a pretty good job in this area. Oh really? God's word is very clear in this area and when I examine myself I see once again God's Word convicts in a very powerful way.

Luke 17:3-4 (New King James Version)

3 Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. 4 And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you,[b] saying, ‘I repent,’ you shall forgive him.”

Forgive more than once??? Well they don't deserve it and well you just don't know what they have done to me and my family!!! Sound familiar? It does to me. The Bible says as long as they ask for forgiveness we are to keep forgiving even if it is seven times in a day!!!

Matthew 6:14-16 (New King James Version)

14 “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Oh my chew on this for awhile.....if we don't forgive God says we won't be forgiven. So what choice do we have in forgiveness???? None!

One last example....

Luke 23:34 (New King James Version)

34 Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.”

As Jesus was hanging on the cross He prayed for forgiveness of those who crucified Him. Is there a better example for us than this?? Can anyone in our life wrong us more than we have wronged Jesus? We must be able to forgive as Christ has forgiven us!

It is not a choice it is a command.

Tell someone about Jesus today! We are not promised tomorrow!

Tom

Return to the Word of God Part 10

Good Tuesday Morning to all. I pray God will use you in a great way today. Are you ready for what ever it is He wants you to do?

Yesterday in our first example of how we pick and choose what parts of God's word we want to obey, we looked at our first example which was our children. Today we are gonna look at Love! As I read through my Bible I don't find any options for not loving. Now I want you to really examine yourself this morning. Do you love others??

Matthew 22:39 (New King James Version)

39 And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

Jesus tells us that the second greatest commandment is to love others as ourselves. Now I don't know about you but this is extremely hard for me. I run into people daily who are very hard to love! They may have a bad attitude or they may cut me off when I am driving or they may not believe as I believe. I bet you have some folks pop in your head as you are reading this. Let me also say it is of my understanding that neighbor is basically anyone we come in contact with from day to day. Now let me ask are you a picker and chooser of who you love?

Let's go even a little further. How do you feel about Muslims? Blacks? Whites? or Hispanics? Or any other nationality? It has always amazed me how Christians can be prejudice. It must irritate God in a way I can't even imagine for any of us to disrespect his creation. No matter what nationality we are there are some bad apples in the bunch but on the other hand there are always some nice ripe apples to behold too! Look at this scripture:

Luke 6:27-33 (New King James Version)

Love Your Enemies

27 “But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you. 29 To him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also. And from him who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either. 30 Give to everyone who asks of you. And from him who takes away your goods do not ask them back. 31 And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise.
32 “But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same.

Talk about God slapping us up side the head! This is totally opposite of what we generally do. Meditate on this scripture today. Think about what it is saying. Pray that our hearts and minds will be shaped into the mind of Christ because this is the way he treated people. He loved with no strings attached. As verse 32-33 say above it is easy to love those who love us even the lost do that but loving our enemies that is what God expects from us.

Love all of God's created people....he has commanded it. Don't pick and chose for that is what those without Jesus do!

God bless and have a blessed day!

Tom