Integrity

Edward Everett Hale, the distinguished poet and former Chaplain of the U.S. Senate, eloquently captured the essence of every American’s duty: “I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. What I can do, that I ought to do. And what I ought to do, by the grace of God, I shall do.” Source unknown

Key Passage: Titus 2:7-8 “In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine [shewing] uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.”

I. Pattern of Good works
Good: excellent, commendable
Works: an act, deed, thing done
a) Matt 5:16 = having good works won’t get you saved, but others will see them. This will give you the opportunity to not only help people, but plant the seed of the gospel in their lives.
b) Jam 2:18 = Works are required for us to show the world our light. We cannot keep our faith to ourselves. Faith will not grow if it is not exercised.
II. In doctrine (teachings) shewing (your lifestyle, how you conduct yourself):
1) Uncorruptness (only time used in the Bible)
incorruptibility, soundness,
2) Gravity
the characteristic of a thing or person which entitles to reverence and respect, dignity, majesty, sanctity
3) Sincerity Phil 1:9-11
freedom from deceit, hypocrisy, or duplicity (www.dictionary.com)
4) Sound speech
Sound: metaph. teaching which does not deviate from the truth

This is not an easy thing to be done in ones life. But through constant study of the scriptures and prayer, God can help you achieve the above characteristics in your life. 2 Timothy 3:15-16 tells us the scripture is profitable to teach us, to show us what we are doing wrong, to tell us how to do it correctly and give us the tools to live "the condition acceptable to God" (Blue Letter Bible. "Dictionary and Word Search for dikaiosynē (Strong's 1343)". Blue Letter Bible. 1996-2009. 16 Jun 2009).

Till death

Job Chapter 27:5 “…till I die I will not remove mine integrity from me.”

Integrity: adherence to moral and ethical principles

Job went through a lot. He lost all of his wealth, his children, his servants and his health. His own wife told him to curse God and die (Job 2:9). But through all the pain, the loss and emptiness he never once considered straying from his integrity. The LORD recognized this and mentions it in Job 2:3. What are we going through in our lives? Is it worse than Job? Have we stuck to our integrity? God is always with us, He does not leave us nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). Why at the first sign of adversity do we not run to Him? Throw away our integrity and our testimony? Psalm 46:1 tells us, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” When the trouble comes, when the trials are set before us, when the floods wash us away from our comfort zone; remember God is ready and willing to help and to be our shelter. Never look to man to comfort you and help you during those difficult times. Man will fail, but God cannot. May God give you the peace (Psalm 29:11) and rest (Matthew 11:28) that you need from whatever may be going on in your life. Lean on Him, and you will maintain your integrity as well as be a witness to many others.

My Redeemer Liveth

Job 19:25 “For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:”
It is sad to say, but in the world we live in now, it is really easy to forget who God really is. Life takes over, and before we know it our Christian lifestyle doesn’t look so Christ like. With the internet, DVR and all of the new technology that comes out daily, we have to be on guard to not forget. I have said it before, but I still struggle with it; our focus needs to be on Jesus.
Proverbs 3: 5 tells us that we need to “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart;” and verse 6 goes on to say “In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct your paths.” These two verses give us two commandments. First we need to trust God with our whole being, every fiber that makes us human. Secondly we need to always acknowledge God in everything that we do. If we do both of those commandments, then God will direct our path.
The one thing that people tend to forget is that “all means all”. There is no mediocrity here; it is 100% or none at all. This is something that all Christians need to strive for. Take a second, sit back, and contemplate how much control God has on your life. I made a commitment to God last night. I have given everything to Him, and will follow His path. Are you willing to let go? I will pray for everyone to be able to give God the control of their lives. Psalm 78:35 says, “And they remembered that God was their rock, and the high God their redeemer.” Lets all remember who God is today, tomorrow and everyday.

TRUTH

John 16:13 "Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, [that] shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come."
John 16:14 "He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew [it] unto you."
John 16:15 "All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew [it] unto you."

Spirit : (Strong's G4151 - pneuma ) the third person of the triune God, the Holy Spirit, coequal, coeternal with the Father and the Son

While an estimated 74 percent of Americans strongly agree that "there is only one true God, who is holy and perfect, and who created the world and rules it today," an estimated 65 percent either strongly agree or somewhat agree with the assertion that "there is no such thing as absolute truth." (Christianity Today, September 16, 1991, p. 48, from George Barna, The Barna Report: What Americans Believe, 1991.)

A) The Holy Spirit will guide us to the truth, not from itself, but what He hears will He tell us (13).
B) The Holy Spirit will receive from Jesus, and then show us (14).
C) Everything that God the Father has, Jesus has also. Therefore, the Holy Spirit can show us all truth. (15)

1) What is truth?
a) God is truth!!! Deut. 32:4; Psalm 31:5; Psalm 33:4; John 14:6
2) Where is truth?
a) Truth is in the Word of God John 1:1,14; John 17:1,17; Col 1:4-6; Eph 1:13
A) Word: (Strong's G3056 – logos) In John, denotes the essential Word of God, Jesus
Christ, the personal wisdom and power in union with God
3) What do we do with the truth?
a) Learn the truth Psalm 25:5; John 8:31-32; 2 Tim 2:15
b) Walk in truth Psalm 25:10; Psalm 86:11
c) Serve God in truth 1 Samuel 12:24; Joshua 24:14
d) Speak the truth Matthew 28:19-20; Proverbs 22:17-21; Acts 26:22-25

The Holy Spirit will teach us what the Bible says. We simply need to have the faith to listen. When you say, “I can’t understand that.” Then you are saying, “God cannot fulfill his scriptures”. Since when are we more intelligent than God? 1 Cor 1:25 tells us that the “foolishness of God is wiser than men”. Why are some limiting God’s power? God has all the answers, we simply need to seek them and allow the Holy Spirit to teach us.

Tough Times

We all will go through tough times. Some people may go through more, longer trials, but we all will be faced with some type of trial or tribulation. Getting saved and having a personal relationship with God does gurantee an easy life. These tribulations are used to strengethen us, help us to lean on God when we are in need of help (Psalms 37:24; Nahum 1:7). Through all the hard times, we need to keep God in the forefront of our lives.
It is easy to allow circumstances to control you, but we need to let God control our circumstances. Make the decisions His way. Proverbs 3:5,6 tells us that we need to trust the Lord, acknowledge him in all our ways and He shall direct our paths. There is no but or a contingency statement. If we do those things every day, then God will direct us in all aspects of our lives. John 16:33 says, “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” Nothing we go through is beyond God's power. Stay in God and "thou shalt forget [thy] misery, [and] remember [it] as waters [that] pass away:" (Job 11:16).

Always

Matthew 28:20 "...I am with you alway, [even] unto the end of the world."

This really touched my soul this morning. To think that God will be with me until the end, no if, and or buts about it. I am not worthy of such dedication. If only I could show such dedication to Him. But in turn it is also a lesson. We call ourselves Christians (which means "Christ like"), so we need to act like them. I learned a very valuable lesson when I was a kid. Things learned must first be external, than internal, than external. Essentially what this is saying is, we learn from the Bible externally (i.e. Church, Bible Study). We then need to allow those principles to enter our heart and take root. Once they have taken root, then they will be shown externally in changes in our lifestyle. Until this cycle has been completed, you will never truly be Christ like. Take a moment today, examine yourself. How much dedication have you been giving to God?

CAST ALL YOUR CARES

1Peter 5:7 "Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you."

Worrying, how many of us worry? I think that all people worry at least once in their life, some of us have made it an art form. But God does not want that for us. He says in the key passage that He cares for us. God wants to take all of our burdens. Matthew 11:28-30 says, “Come unto me, all [ye] that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke [is] easy, and my burden is light.” Twice Jesus tells us that we will get rest if we merely cast our cares to Him, and focus our life on God. The burdens of the world can be too much for us to carry, but the burdens of God will never be more than we can handle. Philippians 4:13 tells us that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. Therefore, giving God all our cares and burdens; and taking on His yoke will allow us to focus on God and not on the things of this world which will pass away.

RISETH UP AGAIN

Proverbs 24:16 "For a just [man] falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief."

When we get knocked down we need to get back up. We do not have to do this on our own. We are told in Psalms 37:24 that, “Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth [him with] his hand.” The devil can do his best to push, trip or throw us down. God is already there to keep us from hitting the ground. He also will be there to strengthen us and support us. We need to lean on Him and not ourselves (Proverbs 3:5-6). God is not going to let us drown. It is only when we take our focus off of Him we began to sink. If you fall, allow God to help pick you up, you are not alone in this.

I AM WITH THEE

Isaiah 41:10 "Fear thou not; for I [am] with thee: be not dismayed; for I [am] thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. "

When the going gets tough, the Christian seeks God. This verse is an inspiration for all Christians. First God tells us not to be afraid because He is with all of us. He then tells us to not be discouraged, because He is your God. He continues this verse with promises to strengthen us and help us, but also to uphold with His right hand of righteousness.
This is such a powerful verse. In one verse God takes away all worries that we have and promises to help and strengthen us through it all. There is nothing in this world that could ever replace or even come close to what God can and will do for us if we let Him. Take a moment and contemplate this verse and the effect it has on your daily life. We have nothing to fear, we have no reason to be discouraged because God is always with us and there for us.

WHY ARE WE ASHAMED?

Why do we hide our faith in Jesus from the world? Is it because we want to be accepted by the unsaved? Do we detest our decision to follow Christ? I have often thought about this and have also been there. I did it in High School because I was trying to be someone else instead of myself. Some people might even feel as though they need to protect it. But in all reality, this is something that needs to be shared. I’m not saying that you need to put on shirts with verses and shout while you are at work. People should be able to see a difference without all that. They should be able to know and feel the difference. This can lead to an opportunity to share the gospel with someone. The Bible says in Romans 10:11, “For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him, shall not be ashamed.” There is no reason to hide your faith in Christ. Let it shine and illuminate the dark world that we live in. This is not an easy task; it takes some work on your part. You have to be willing to study the Word and be ready to share your testimony. 2 Timothy 2:15 tell us, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” This may be “scary”, but the more you are willing to show God in your life, the closer you will get to Him. This will then improve all aspects of your life, and may lead to someone receiving Christ as their Savior. There are five things that we need to do to be a good Christian:
1) Read your Bible
2) Pray
3) Be faithful in Church
4) Give to the Lord’s work
5) Tell people about Jesus
The Lord is not something to keep hidden. Every day that you hide your faith, is another lost opportunity to save someone from Hell.

God is wiser than men

1Corinthians 1:25 "Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men."

No matter how much we try and learn, it will never be near God's foolishness. I wonder how we keep convincing ourselves that we don't need God. Its easy to stop, sit down in the middle of the path, and refuse to move. This world can crush us in a heart beat. But that is where we need to realize that God is our refuge, "...a very present help in trouble." (Psalm 46:1) We see this message clear in Proverbs 3:5 which states, "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding." If we follow this verse than the world has nothing on us. Only Christ can keep us safe from the wilderness we call the world. If you are not careful, you can end up wondering this wilderness forever. Our understanding will never be more than that, our limited experience and intelligence. God has much more experience, and according to our key passage a vastly larger intelligence than us. It makes no sense to flee from God, we should be running to Him. Psalm 125:1 tells us that, "They that trust in the LORD [shall be] as mount Zion, [which] cannot be removed, [but] abideth for ever." Praise the God. We need to wake up and realize that this is not a game. We have but one chance to do this right. We need to let God be in charge of everything, and not wonder the wilderness alone.

It shall not prosper

Numbers 14:41 "And Moses said, Wherefore now do ye transgress the commandment of the LORD? but it shall not prosper."

We need to seek God's will when making decisions. If we do not, then it will be of our power and it will not prosper. Just because WE want to do something, doesn't mean God wants us to. This goes for anything, from starting a ministry to buying a car. If God is in it, then He will bless it. If we do it on our own, then we suffer the consequences. Jesus says in John 15:5 that, "...for without me ye can do nothing. " This verse will never change. God needs to be the King of our life, which means He makes all the final decisions, and we listen and obey.

NOW IS THE TIME

Romans 13:11-14
11. And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.
12. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.
13. Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.
14. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

It is time, time to awake out of the sleep that the world can lull you into. The day is at hand, we need to put on the armour of light, put on the Lord Jesus Christ and fight. Live in the light, and never again sleep while the darkness rages war against us. No more will the flesh blind us from the light, the light shall have itself defended until the end. May God guide us, and praise the Lord for victory already won.

We have no reason to fear

2Ti 1:7 "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."

Fear: timidity, cowardice

Love: The Greek word agape (love) seems to have been virtually a Christian invention -- a new word for a new thing (apart from about twenty occurrences in the Greek version of the Old Testament, it is almost non-existent before the New Testament). Agape draws its meaning directly from the revelation of God in Christ. It is not a form of natural affection, however, intense, but a supernatural fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22). It is a matter of will rather than feeling (for Christians must love even those they dislike -- Matt. 5:44-48). It is the basic element in Christ-likeness. (James Packer, Your Father Loves You, Harold Shaw Publishers, 1986.)

Power: inherent power, power residing in a thing by virtue of its nature, or which a person or thing exerts and puts forth

Sound Mind: self-control, moderation

A. There is no Fear in GOD

1Jo 4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
Psa 27:1 [[[A Psalm] of David.]] The LORD [is] my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD [is] the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
Psa 56:11 In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me.

B. Nothing can take us from GOD

Rom 8:38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
Rom 8:39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

C. Jesus already has the victory

Mat 14:26 And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.
Mat 14:27 But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.
Jhn 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

Ready Always

2Ti 4:2 "Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine."

Preach: public proclamation of the gospel and matters pertaining to it.
Instant: to be at hand; be ready
Season: opportunely; when the opportunity occurs
Out of Season: untimely; inopportune
Reprove: to convict; refute; confute; to find fault with; to correct; to chasten or punish
Rebuke: to adjudge; award in the sense of merited penalty
Exhort: to encourage; strengthen; instruct or teach
Longsuffering: patience; endurance; constancy; steadfastness; perseverance
Doctrine: teachings; instructions

We have 3 commands given:
1) Publicly proclaim the gospel
2) Be ready always
3) To correct, encourage, strengthen, comfort in all patience and perseverance in God’s teachings and instructions.

These are commands for all christians to follow. Are you ready?

Here I am...

Isa 58:9 "Then shalt thou call, and the LORD shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I [am]. "

The Lord is always there. It is us that runs away, turn our backs to Him. Today let us turn and face Jesus, let him be the King of our life. Choose to serve.
Isa 43:10 "Ye [are] my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I [am] he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me."
God has chosen you to serve Him, don't let His decision be in vain. If you have accepted Jesus as your personal savior, then you are going to heaven. Please don't send others to hell, because you want to be selfish or lazy. There are only five things that you need to do to be a good christian:
1)Pray
2)Read your Bible
3)Go to church faithfully
4)Give to the Lord's work
5)Tell people about Jesus
If you do these five things, then God will not only bless you, but you will grow and desire to serve more. God is always there, but we are not. Let today be the day you take a stand for Jesus and serve.

One Foundation

BUILD ON JESUS’S FOUNDATION

What does this mean to you? Think about it for a second, “Build on Jesus”. Everything is being held up by Him and the foundation that he lays with His Word.

The great architect Frank Lloyd Wright was given the challenge of building the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo, one of the most earthquake-prone cities in the world. Wright's investigation showed that a solid foundation could be "floated" on a sixty-foot layer of soft mud underlying the hotel, which would provide a shock-absorbing but solid support for the immense building. Shortly after the hotel was completed it withstood the worst earthquake in fifty-two years, while lesser buildings fell in ruins around it.
Today in the Word, March 1989, p. 6.

Key Verses:
Mat 7:24¶ Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:Mat 7:25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.Mat 7:26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: Mat 7:27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

A. We can not do it in our own power

Jhn 15:5 I am the vine, ye [are] the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

How many times have we tried to build our own life? How many times did we fail? Fallen flat on our faces, and laid there wallowing in our own failures? WE are not able to build anything, we need to BUILD ON JESUS!

B. The LORD must be the builder

Psa 127:1 Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it:

Isa 28:16¶ Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner [stone], a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.

God promises us a sure foundation, but that foundation must be built on the corner stone. If the foundation is not strong, then the whole building will collapse.

C. We are the building

1Cr 6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost [which is] in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

2Cr 6:16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in [them]; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

Why would I try and build a building on someone else’s land? A building I know will fail? Why would I spend all that time and effort to put together a failure, when if done correctly, with the proper corner stone, the building can be built up higher than anyone can imagine. God wants us to succeed, with him holding us up and on His time. God will not rush the process, but will build us up with the proper tools and materials. Good craftsmanship takes time and effort.

D. Where to find the materials

Eph 2:19¶ Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; Eph 2:20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner [stone]; Eph 2:21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: Eph 2:22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.The Bible is where the materials are.

The Bible is where the materials are. You must be willing to search God's Word in order to find the proper materials to be built up.

A Builder Or a Wrecker
As I watched them tear a building down A gang of men in a busy town With a ho-heave-ho, and a lusty yell They swung a beam and the side wall fell
I asked the foreman, "Are these men skilled, And the men you'd hire if you wanted to build?" He gave a laugh and said, "No, indeed, Just common labor is all I need."
"I can easily wreck in a day or two, What builders have taken years to do." And I thought to myself, as I went my way Which of these roles have I tried to play?
Am I a builder who works with care, Measuring life by rule and square? Am I shaping my work to a well-made plan Patiently doing the best I can?
Or am I a wrecker who walks to town Content with the labor of tearing down? "O Lord let my life and my labors be That which will build for eternity!"
Author Unknown, The Increase, 35th Anniversary Issue, 1993, p. 9

Our building is not physical but spiritual. God promises us a “sure foundation”, if we use the “chief corner stone”. You can continually try on your own, but until you let Jesus build you up, you will never be able to stand against the wind, floods and rain of this world.

Isaiah 25:1 "O LORD, thou [art] my God; I will exalt thee, I will praise thy name; for thou hast done wonderful [things; thy] counsels of old [are] faithfulness [and] truth."

Today I am going to stop and remember just how wonderful GOD is and what HE has done for me. My goal today is to be positive and joyful. I will smile by faith, knowing that no matter what circumstances I am going through, GOD is always with me. 2Timothy 4:18 "And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve [me] unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom [be] glory for ever and ever. Amen."

Follow the Path

Proverbs 4:26&27 "Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established. Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil."

GOD's path for us is straight and narrow. Matthew 7:13&14 "Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide [is] the gate, and broad [is] the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:Because strait [is] the gate, and narrow [is] the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." We need to let GOD guide us as we trek across life. It is easy to get lost if we are not established. GOD has already given us the map, its the Bible. Psalm 119:105 "Thy word [is] a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." Only if we are in our Bible on a regular basis can we stay on the narrow path. I challenge you to examine this morning, which path are you on. Establish yourself daily in the Word, and "he shall direct thy paths." (Proverbs 3:6)

GOD...

Pro 9:10 The fear of the LORD [is] the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy [is] understanding.

fear: respect, reverence, piety
How often do we get busy with every day life and forget who GOD really is? Of course we never stop believing, but we stop realizing how insignificant we really are. I challenge you to begin the path of gaining true wisdom, and think about what GOD truly means to you, then tell someone else.

Serve

1Corinthians 9:19 "For though I be free from all [men], yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more. "

What does that mean to you? To serve. It evokes the image of people working hard. Not sitting around while others do all the work. Jesus said that his servants will be honored by GOD the Father. John 12:26 "If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will [my] Father honour." 1Corinthians 7:22 tells us that we that "... [being] free, is Christ's servant." If you are saved, then you are Christ's servant. You must serve him. Why would you not want to? He bled and died so that you can have a chance at life. All he asks is that we work for him, and not serve ourselves or other
men. 1Corinthians 7:23 "Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men." Jesus paid the price for us. He only asks us to do His will. Please, don't let this world be your life. Don't be an average christian, be above average and do something for GOD today.

Keep your eyes on Jesus

Proverbs 4:25 "Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee."

We need to keep our eyes on Jesus while we are going through this life. It is easy to go through a daily routine and forget about the purpose of our life. We are to tell people about Jesus and glorify him daily. You can not tell someone else about Jesus, if you yourself are not focused on Him. It takes discipline to do this, but with prayer and work God will help you. This is a lesson that we all need to hear. Matthew 17:8 "And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only." When we lift up our eyes, we need to see nothing of the world, only Jesus. God teach us to see Jesus only in our life, so that others may see Him through us.

But mine eyes [are] unto thee,

Psalm 141:8 But mine eyes [are] unto thee, O GOD the Lord: in thee is my trust; leave not my soul destitute.

My eyes have not been on GOD like they should. My life will never be important enough to take precedence over Jesus. But, alas, it has. Forgive me LORD Jesus for putting me above you. I am reminded of Proverbs 3:5&6, which says, " Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." Thank you LORD for loving me to the point of sticking with me through these times. From now on, let us all put Jesus first in our lives, and he shall direct our paths.

whatsoever ye do...

Colossians 3:17 " And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, [do] all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him."

This is a simple commandment, but very hard to follow. To me this verse is saying: no matter what the task, do it for the LORD. It could be photocopying, typing, cleaning, shredding any mundane or otherwise meaningless task. You should do them "all in the name of the Lord Jesus". The Bible also tells us in Colossians 3:23, "And whatsoever ye do, do [it] heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;". Our lives are for GOD and not to please men. It is GOD who gives us our reward. Colossians 3:24 " Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ." We serve GOD and not man. Thank you Lord Jesus for sharing this with me and allowing me to share it with others. Let us pray for each other, so that we may condition ourselves to follow this simple commandment.

RUN

1Corinthians 9:24 "Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain."

It has been a constant thing that I have seen through out my church going time. Certain people doing all the work. I know that life can get really hectic, but GOD needs us to give Him time as well. One of my battles lately is trying to read my Bible everyday. I am reading through the book of John, and some days I just don't want to. I have to admit, there have been days where I didn't. Praise the LORD for his mercy and grace. What I am trying to say is, no one is perfect (Romans 3:23), but we are all in the race. You may not run as fast as the other guy, but that is okay. GOD needs you to run the pace He has set for you, and to never give up. You will fall, but GOD says, "be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." (John 16:33)

Blue Letter Bible. "King James Version." Blue Letter Bible. 1996-2009. 13 Feb 2009. http://www.blueletterbible.org

Bold

Pro 28:1 "The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion."

Bold: fearless before danger

("bold." Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary. 2009.
Merriam-Webster Online. 12 February 2009
)

It is a good thing to have meekness sometimes, but there are times that we need to be bold. Depending on the person you are witnessing to, a bold attitude is what they need to see. But more importantly, we need to be bold when going to the LORD for help. Hebrews 4:16 says, "Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." This clearly states that GOD does not want us wetting ourselves scared of him. Remember, GOD loved us so much He sent us Jesus to die for our sins. Hebrews 13:6 "So that we may boldly say, The Lord [is] my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me." The LORD is our helper, fear not what man can do. Whether it is asking for help or witnessing, being bold in GOD is the way to be.

(Blue Letter Bible. "Dictionary and Word Search for 'bold' in the KJV". Blue Letter Bible. 1996-2009. 12 Feb 2009. < http:// www.blueletterbible.org/search/translationResults.cfm?
Criteria=bold&t=KJV > )
(Blue Letter Bible. "Dictionary and Word Search for 'boldly' in the KJV". Blue Letter Bible. 1996-2009. 12 Feb 2009. < http:// www.blueletterbible.org/search/translationResults.cfm?
Criteria=boldly&t=KJV > )

lean not

Pro 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.


To often we forget this simple verse. All we do is get in the way. The
Bible says in Jeremiah 17:5 that, "...Cursed [be] the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD." Today at the beginning, lets lean on the LORD, and not on ourselves. Thank you LORD for teaching me this lesson and allowing me to share it with others. Amen.

Jesus...

Mat 1:21 "And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins."

I was at the website (www.blueletterbible.org). I was reading Spurgeon's Morning devotional and it really hit my heart. To many people get all mixed up with the politics and reindeer games of the 21st century church and forget why we do what we do. It is for GOD, not for us. Take a minute, right now, and remember what the name of Jesus really means to you. He bled and died for our sins. Until you think about what it would be like to go through it yourself, you can never appreciate it. GOD loved us so much, that he let His Son die on a cross! Galatians 3:13 says, "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed [is] every one that hangeth on a tree:" If that doesn't pull at your heart, then you are lost. GOD loves us more than I can describe. Take a minute, and find out what Jesus means to you.

Micah 2:10 "Arise ye, and depart; for this [is] not [your] rest: because it is polluted, it shall destroy [you], even with a sore destruction."

GOD needs us to be His servants, not pew warmers. I am guilty of this, but have made a commitment to be at church every service. Pastor Noffsinger has mentioned this in church recently and it really hit home. This is not my life to be enjoyed; it is my life to give to GOD and serve. We are promised rest, Hebrews 4:10 "For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God [did] from his." Our work is not done, nor will it be until that day the LORD calls us home to be with him forever. I have been to war and I have seen death. I was willing to die; but my work is not done. GOD forgive me for wasting so much time, and thank you for teaching me this lesson. I pray that this will help others also. Serve Him, and he will give you rest.

What if Jesus was hid from you?

2Cr 4:3 "But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:"



This verse caught my eye. It is a shame to think that people would not want to share the wonderful love, hope and joy in Christ. What if someone had kept Him hidden from you? Don't do the easy thing, share the Gospel. Jesus tells us in John 12:26 that, "If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will [my] Father honour. " God honors those that get out in the world and serve Him. People are dying and going to Hell everyday, and there are too many Christians that just sit on their butts and do nothing. It sickens me to think of all the people who are hurting, and feel as though there is no one that is able to help them; God wants to help them.
Rom 10:14 says,"How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?"

Preacher: (Strongs g2784) used of the public proclamation of the gospel and matters pertaining to it.

Don't let another day end without giving someone the opportunity of salvation.

Ashamed?

As my previous post stated I went in the hospital for 4 days. I was ashamed, of myself, and of my weakness. The Lord tells us that we are not to be ashamed, because we have Jesus in our hearts.
Psa 25:20 "O keep my soul, and deliver me: let me not be ashamed; for I put my trust in thee."
Rom 5:5 "And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. "
Rom 10:11 "For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. "
It was hard, but when I realized that God had put me in the hospital to not only receive help for myself, but also to help others, I got down on my knees weeping and asked for forgiveness. God did wonderful things during those 4 days. 2Ti 1:12 states that "For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day. "
God let this experience be an eye opener, but more importantly a soul opener. I know that God is using me to reach people who are hurting in Leavenworth, KS. I give all the glory to God.
I am now looking to the future, and praying that the Lord will help me to learn His word more each day, 2Ti 2:15 "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. " I know that it will take work, but I am excited about that, and praise the Lord I can be here today to do this for Him. I will post my journey and share things that God has taught me, and pray that they will be able to help those that will also be able to use them.

"...great things he hath done for you."

1Sa 12:24 "Only fear the LORD, and serve him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great [things] he hath done for you."

I went to the hospital recently for 4 days. At first I was sad and depressed and couldn't understand why God let this happen. Then I prayed, and prayed and prayed... for a very long time. I got up one morning and met a young man who was hurting a lot. Jesus tugged at my heart for this man, but I was scared and walked away. Jesus continued to tug until I had no choice but to talk to him. He accepted Christ an hour later. The Holy Spirit was speaking to this man the whole time. It was so amazing to feel and see God working and using me. Little ole me. Praise the Lord. Then the next day I met a girl who was also hurting a lot. She accepted Christ that day. Then she met a girl that was hurting, God used us both to lead her to Christ. 3 people trusting Christ in 4 days, I never thought I would ever be used in this fashion. God can use anyone to further his work, if we are willing to do it.
I put that verse first not to preach or teach, but because it means so much to me now. I pray that this is an encouragement to all, and a blessing to those who need it. Remember all the things that God has done for you, and talk to those people God asks you to, because you never know how He will use you. Serve God, with all your heart in truth, and He will bless. Praise the Lord for all the great things he has done for me. I pray I never lose sight of that, and that you never lose sight of that either.