Liars

It seems in recent days we have a problem with liars being exposed for example Lance Armstrong. I guess when I thin about it, telling lies has always been a problem and I suppose on this side of heaven always will be. Two things seem to get under my skin, liars and thieves. So what does God have to day about lying?



Revelation 21:8

But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”



John 8:44

You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.



Psalm 31:18

Let the lying lips be put to silence, Which speak insolent things proudly and contemptuously against the righteous.



Psalm 52:3

You love evil more than good, Lying rather than speaking righteousness.



Psalm 119:163

I hate and abhor lying, But I love Your law.



Proverbs 6:16-18

 16 These six things the Lord hates,

Yes, seven are an abomination to Him:

17 A proud look,

A lying tongue,

Hands that shed innocent blood,

18 A heart that devises wicked plans,

Feet that are swift in running to evil,



Proverbs 12:22

Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, But those who deal truthfully are His delight.



Proverbs 13:5

A righteous man hates lying, But a wicked man is loathsome and comes to shame.



Proverbs 26:28

A lying tongue hates those who are crushed by it, And a flattering mouth works ruin.



Ephesians 4:25

  Therefore, putting away lying, “Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,” for we are members of one another.



Two things I want to point out here: First, Satin is the Father of lying. That alone should make us want to tell the truth. Second, lying is hated by God, flee from it!



The solution to lying is this and I pray that Lance Armstrong and others find this truth:



John 8:31-32

31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”



Jesus can set you free from any sin....we all need to know that!



Tom

Lessons from Ecuador 2013 #6

Are you prejudice?



On final thought about my mission trip to Ecuador. When I was growing up I had some prejudices develop in my life. I am not sure how they got there. I guess I heard it from others and slowly developed them for my self. No matter what though I have to answer for myself. Through my high school years I believe I put most of those prejudices behind me. I found many friends of different color and backgrounds. As I have grown in my relationship to Christ it is clear in the bible that we are all the same. We all descended from Adam and Eve, our skin color may be different, or we many not talk the same, but God says we are created in His image:



Genesis 1:27

So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.



The above verse should be enough for any of us to get over our prejudices. Think about it. Going to Ecuador, this is my third time, has helped me see even more how much God loves every single one of us. God desires that none of us should perish:



2 Peter 3:9

The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.



Think about that. God loves all of His creation. We should love all those whom God has created in His image. In Ecuador I have found some folks who will love me forever, I have also met a few who do not like me. All I can do is continue to share God's love with them. God will take care of the rest. It is the same for us here at home. Some desire for me to share God's Word and love them, some do not. My job is to be faithful to what God has told ALL of us to do....GO AND MAKE DISCIPLES! I see no provisions for color, race, sex, religion, or anything else.



So let me ask you this morning, are you prejudice? Will you share Jesus with others? It is really not an option according to God's Word. So what are you waiting on? Remember God doesn't want any to perish in hell and neither should we.



Thank you my Ecuadorian friends for helping me see more of Jesus through you. I love you!



Tom

Lessons from Ecuador #5

This is a picture of the church!



Are we all one color? NO! Are we all one race? NO! Do we all speak one language? NO! Are we all from the same city? NO! Do we all worship at the same church? NO! Do we all love Jesus and want to serve Him with out lives, talents, and gifts? Absolutely! We did serve Jesus and Jesus did some amazing things through this group...HIS CHURCH!

The church is not a building as you can see in the photo above we are not in a church but in the lobby of a hotel. The church is not people who come once on Sunday and then do not serve, worship, praise, pray or anything else for Jesus in whom they claim they serve.

The church in the bible is referred to as the body in several places but I want you to check out these verses:

Ephesians 4:15-16

15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

1 Corinthians 12:12-26

12 For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. 13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. 14 For in fact the body is not one member but many.

15 If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? 18 But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. 19 And if they were all one member, where would the body be?

20 But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. 21 And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” 22 No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. 23 And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty, 24 but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, 25 that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. 26 And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.

Did you catch what the church is here? Individuals who come together to serve Jesus with their God given gifts and abilities. It is essential that all believers come together to serve Christ because you can do things I can't and I can do things you can't. We need each other! Christ formed, loved, and died for the church. Get involved and serve our King Jesus. It is not an option, Jesus told us to do so!

Tom

Lessons from Ecuador #4

Not to young to serve God!

I want to share with you a couple of young fellows who gave up some of their time to serve God on this mission trip to Ecuador. First, let me share Jesse. Jesse has surrendered his life to missions. This was his first mission trip outside the United States. There is one other note on Jesse, He is hearing impaired. Jesse could have made all kinds of excuses as to why He could not serve God, but He didn't. Jesse shared God's Word, told his testimony, and sang. He was outstanding and God used him in a mighty way. This is Jesse in the black jacket:



Also in the above picture in Preston, he is in the blue jacket. Preston is 14 and lives in Quito, Ecuador. Ironically, Preston's parents are both hearing impaired. He is not. His parents are missionaries to Ecuador. Preston speaks both English and Spanish, so He served as one of out translators in the city of Sigchos where we shared Jesus. Preston did an awesome job. This also was his first missionary trip. What a breath of fresh air to see this young man serve God with that great big smile he has. He chose to help us even though he was on a break from school, Preston God was pleased with your choice!

Look at God's Word here:

1 Timothy 4:12

Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.

These two young brought a smile to God's heart in their service to Him. As the above verse says they set an example. I want the rest of us to see that when we bring our children up in the training of the Lord like these two young man have been, God can and will use them if they are willing. We must put our young people in place they can learn from God and serve God. It is our responsibility. The world will not lead them to God but we can!

Thanks Jesse and Preston, it was an honor to serve our King Jesus beside you!

Tom

Lessons from Ecuador 2013 #3

God revealed in His creation.



We take for granted the beauty of God's creation where we live. Have you ever noticed that? When I go places it seems I notice God's creation so much more. The reason for that is we take for granted what we have at home. This mission trip to Ecuador was no different. We were at high elevations and we seen some of the amazing creation of God. It was breath taking. The picture is just a small example of what we seen.



God tells us in His Word that we can see His attributes in creation, and thus we should know that God is real!



Romans 1:20

For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,



God tells us in this verse that because of His creation we are without excuse! He is the Creator, maker of all. I am a hunter and am able to see the sunrise and sunset on many occasions. I am in awe of God. I often wonder how anyone can question if God is real. It is so obvious! God tells us in this verse because He is the Creator, one day when we stand before Him in judgement we will be without excuse! God will say to us, everyday you seen my creation, what else do you need!



One other creation from God I want to share with you in closing. God has created us. But with sin creeping into our lives we become corrupt. We can become new once again through Christ Jesus, if we will receive Him into our hearts. Then we become a new creation!



2 Corinthians 5:17

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.



Don't do what we do with God's beautiful creation of the world and become numb to what you have, God has more for your life through Jesus. Become that new creation in Jesus and praise God not only for His creation of this earth of ours but for the new creation of YOU through Christ Jesus!



Thank you Jesus for making me NEW! I am forever Yours!



Tom

Lessons from Ecuador 2013 #2

Longing for God's Word.



Here in the states the majority of people do not have time for the Word. Well let me say they do not want to take the time to hear and learn the Word of God. My Pastor and I have been out visiting many times only to be turned away from sharing God's Word. Many times we have seen folks look out the window and see it was us and not even answer the door! When we don't have time for God we are in a sad state!



In Ecuador we went door to door to share Jesus. After our visit we would ask if we could come back for bible study, 90% of the time they would say yes and invite us back! Many times we were stopping their business to teach God's Word but they did not care...they wanted to learn. If they were to busy at the moment they would ask us to come back at a time where the business would be slower. Many times when we arrived at house for bible study, they would invite other family members and friends over so they could here they Word of God!!!! Where is this in the states?



1 Peter 2:1-3



2 Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, 2 as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, 3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.



Let me ask each of you a question....do you desire God's Word? It is the only way we can grow, that is what the bible says. For our nation to be blessed by God again we need a returning to God's Word and a desire to follow what He says, not what we want to pick and choose what we follow, but everything God says!



Pray for God to help you desire to learn and share God's Word...we can't live without it!



Tom

Lessons from Ecuador 2013 #1

Thank you, thank you, thank you for all the prayers for our mission trip to Ecuador. God answered in a great way! Jesus saved 85 while we were in Sigchos, Ecuador.  We also were able to disciple many more into a deeper understanding of God's Word. God showed out and we give Him all the glory.

LOVE!

Today's devotion is one of the lessons I learned and seen in action on our mission trip. Many times while sharing the good news of Jesus my team mate Bill said these words "We may not live in the same place, we may not look alike, we may not talk the same language, but to God we are all the same." Think about those words for a moment. Why do we have so much prejudices in the world? Most of it is because some have taken advantage of others and hurt is hard to forgive! BUT we must look at others through God's eyes not our own. We ALL are created in His image:

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

Since God created us in His image then we should not only love God but love our fellow man. God does:

John 3:16
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.

In Ecuador we were not welcomed by all but that is ok....we loved them anyway. In our home towns here, not all like us, love them anyway. This is the example Jesus showed and he expects us to do the same:

John 13:35
By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

The love of Jesus will win many, are you a disciple of Christ? Only if you love others!

Tom