God Knows: You Can't Hide Anything From Him

"Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity." 

2 Timothy 2:19

King James Version (KJV)

I love the fact that the Bible is straight up with people. People can't pull wool over God's eyes & think He does not know. People cannot fake their way into Heaven. If you call yourself a Christian, if you claim to know Jesus, you should not continuously be sinning. Let's not mention the fact that your fruit should be good fruit. Matthew 7:20 lets us know that we can tell by the fruit people are producing if they are really for Christ or are just winging it. 

Believe it or not Saints, there are many people in church, claiming to be saved, sanctified, baptized in the Holy Spirit, Christians, but are little more than wolves in sheep clothing. I know many of us don't want to believe that people are in church for anything but the Word of God. But the fact of the matter is that church as become the social event on Sundays to, how do I delicately put this, snag a husband or to show up someone. Church has become a place to socialize or one up someone. What do I mean by one up? Many people go just to show others that they are going to church. They like the status that goes with it, and are primarily focused on that instead of focused on the worshiping of the Lord & Savior Jesus Christ or receiving a Word from God. But God knows. 

People will be standing up on the day of Judgment, expecting to be with the sheep, but are departed in the group of the goats, receiving the dreadful words from Christ "I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity" (part of Matthew 7:23). Looking good in the face of man is not worth looking ugly to God. 

I encourage all that claim to be Christians, examine your hearts & minds. Make sure you are truly following Christ. Do not make a show of it. What does it profit you if you lose your own soul?

Until Next Time...Lord's Willing.

Bounceback

I get knocked down, but I get up again, he's (Satan) never gonna keep me down. I love the Lord. God is so Great! That setback was not that long. Praise Jesus! The Lord led me back. God doesn't give up on us. Unfortunately, often times it is us that give up on ourselves & in essence Him, but PRAISE God, He doesn't give up on us! Wow! My Lord is an awesome God!

The Lord brought me back to reality. Why was I not receiving the answers I sought? Probably because I was my own hindrance.You know God is not a man that shall lie (Numbers 23:19a). If His Word says it, than it is true. He said in Matthew 7:7 "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock and it shall be opened unto you." I was my own hindrance.

Hindrance # 1: Believe: When you ask God for something, you have to believe and receive it. People, including myself, have been guilty of asking, but not having anything to back it up. There was no belief in there. You have to have belief that God can do all things. Luke 1:37, "For with God nothing shall be impossible". Key words, with God, nothing, impossible. Nothing is impossible with God. We have to believe in order to receive. I want another job, I want my own place, I want a husband, I have to ask BELIEVING that God is more than able to supply these things. I have to believe that God will provide.

Hindrance # 2: Meaning what I say: We have to really want a change in our lives. For example, I have said time after time (just ask my friends) that  I want to lose weight. No! Not true! Had I really want to lose weight, by the power of God I would have lost it by now. Instead, I'm gaining. God knows my heart. He knew that I really did not want to change my physical attributes. Philippians 4:13, "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." Had I wanted to lose weight, I would have been able to through Christ. Clearly, there was no desire to lose weight.

In essence, all of my problems were brought on by myself. I sabotaged my own self. The Lord is an awesome God. As Christians we must know that we have to have 1)Belief (Faith) 2)A Sincerity of Change 3)Receptive of the change. If we lack these things, we are guaranteeing ourselves failures & disappointments, not because of Him but because of us.

I leave you with this:

 "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding" Proverbs 3:5 (KJV)

Until Next Time...Lord's Willing.

Set Back

With a sad heart, I must confess that today has seen a BIG set back in my life as a Christian. I don't want to get into specifics, but I will say that I feel so defeated. I know God loves me, but I don't feel it. I ask, knock, and seek. Yet, I'm not receiving, the door is not being opened, neither am I finding anything. I feel so low. My mother called me a hypocrite. You know what, she is right. Things have just gone from bad to worse. How will I make it through?

I can honestly say right now, that I'm feeling so down. I'm contemplating stepping down from my church duties and taking a break from my church family. I need some alone time with just God & me. I have to fight this thing off.

I ask all that read this to pray for me. I really don't know what to do at this point. Why am I writing this? I want to be able to look back and say "Remember when you thought you were down-you definitely weren't out." I pray that I'm not out although it sure feels like that.

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Update: 6:30 pm- Fasting & consecration-Draw closer to God is needed.

Do You Have a Man in Your Life?

I was asked this question the other night by a former co-worker. He was asking about a boyfriend or a husband of course. The answer to that would have been no. However, I do have a Man in my life that is better than any boyfriend or husband. His Name is Jesus. So, I told him that I did have a Man in my life. This Man is far better than any other.

I started thinking about this question a few minutes ago. The fact of the matter is that I'm grateful that I have Jesus. I don't need a boyfriend or a husband (although a husband is preferred). All I need is Jesus. He is the Great Love of my life. He is the One that will never leave me or forsake me. He does not pick on me for being overweight or nit pick on my height or hair color. He does not complain about the horrible decisions that I make but gently pulls me back with Him. He cares about me and wants the best out of me. It's amazing how we as society get so silly about getting married. Many women hear or say to themselves this My biological clock is ticking or I'm going on 30; it's time to get married. When the fact of the matter is that they need to be focused on the other area of their life-the other Man that matters. His Name is Jesus.

I can guarantee any woman that Jesus is the best Man that anyone can attach themselves to. He is the ultimate Picker Upper in time of sorrow or depression or anger. He is the ultimate Lover of us. He cares if we fail or succeed. He gladly listens to us and how our day has went. Never does He roll His eyes thinking Not this again. Instead, He desires to hear from us. He desires to know how our day has went. I'm so grateful for Him.

So yes Mr. Ex Co-worker, I do have a Man in my life. His Name is Jesus. He is the Great Love of my life. Is He yours?

Until Next Time...Lord's Willing.

By the way, Merry Christmas/Feliz Navidad!

Putting on Christ Series 12/17/11

12/17/11
"No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon."

Matthew 6:24

King James Version (KJV)

Mammon is the "Greek form of a Syriac or Aramaic word for 'money', 'riches', 'property', 'worldly goods', or 'profit'...He meant that no one can be a slave of God and worldly wealth at the same time. The undivided concentration of mind to money-getting is incompatible with wholehearted devotion to God and His service," Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary. Who are we loyalty to? We can't be loyal to God while being loyal to materials. We have to be focused, solely dependent upon our God. I have my eye on a husband. Well, I'm not serving God by this. I should know that worrying & seeking after things besides God is not making me a slave to Him, but to this world. Psalm 23:1 says it the best, "The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want." Fully focusing on God, putting on Christ, walking in the Spirit requires all of me-not just partial.  

Putting on Christ Series 12/16/11

12/16/11
  ²²The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.

 ²³But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!

Matthew 6:22-23

King James Version (KJV)

My KJV Life Application Study Bible sums it up best: "Spiritual vision is our capacity to see clearly what God wants us to do and to see the world from His point of view. But this spiritual insight can be easily clouded. Self-serving desires, interests and goals block that vision. Serving God is the best way to restore it. A 'single' eye is one that is fixed on God." We have to constantly live on doing the will of God. Jesus told us this: "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you," Matthew 6:33. This is about worrying in the below passages of 25-44. We can allow things to block our spiritual vision when we focus on things that God does not want us to focus on. We need to be fixed on God, even when things get tough because the last thing we want is to be overcome by darkness. Putting on Christ & walking in the Spirit requires us to keep our focus on God & pleasing Him.

Putting on Christ Series 12/15/11 too

12/15/11
  ¹⁹Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:

 ²⁰But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:

 ²¹For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Matthew 6:19-21

King James Version (KJV)

Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary defines treasure/treasury as "what one values, whether silver and gold or something intangible, and the storage place of what is valuable." What do we value? What are we storing up as values? Are we placing value/worth on some perishable item such as jewelry, houses, cars, or are we placing value on the Word of God, spending time with God, communing with God? All of these materialistic things will not profit us. Hence, there is no value in them. We prosper by spending time with God, talking with God, walking with God. We can't take these items (cars/homes) with us when we die. So why emphasize a value on these items. Proverbs 23:4 tells us to "Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom." The energy & time we consume by wanting needless items & trying to acquire them is precious time we lose with God. We don't need to rely on what we believe to be right & wrong, but rely on the wisdom of God, allowing Him to direct our every paths. James 5:2:3 provides a great description of these needless items: "²Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten.

 ³Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days." Matthew 19:16-23 shows a man wanting to know who to acquire eternal life, but unwilling to sell his possessions & follow Jesus. Jesus states in verse 23, "...Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven." I'd rather have Jesus than 10 cars, a mansion, or any other mess in this world. According to 1 Peter 2:11(a), we are pilgrims & strangers. This is not our permanent resting place neither should we treat it as it. Putting on Christ & walking in the Spirit requires us to do the following: "Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life" (1 Timothy 6:19). Lay up heavenly treasures-not earthly ones. Where our treasure is, is where our heart will be as well. 

Putting on Christ Series 12/15/11

12/15/11
  ¹⁶Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

 ¹⁷But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face;

 ¹⁸That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.

Matthew 6:16-18

King James Version (KJV)

Fasting often details either (a)no foods or drink (b)no food, but drink (c)a restrictive diet. Either way, "fasting is the laying aside food for a period of time when the believer is seeking to know God in a deeper experience...Fasting can be a time of seeking a deeper prayer experience & drawing near to God in prevailing prayer (Ezra 8:23; Joel 2:12)," Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary. Fasting is about God. One way to ensure it isn't is to publicize it. Fasting is NOT a third party platform. It involves only you & God. Otherwise, the published ones would be all about the faster. They'd be applauded & glorified. Prayer, fasting, & alms are about God. He should be the only One we publicize these things to.. It should ALL be about Him. To put on Christ & walk in the Spirit meas no self advertising but  a genuine communing or experience with God without advertising it. Its ALL about God :)

Putting on Christ Series 12/13/11

12/13/11
 ¹⁴For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:

 ¹⁵But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Matthew 6:14-15

King James Version (KJV)

Trespass is a sin. Merriam-Webster online describes it as "a violation of moral or social ethics." Forgiveness is defined as "pardon for a fault or offense; to excuse from payment for a debt owed" (Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary). I'll be candid here. I've messed up multiple times in my life-too numerous to count. Saturday, I got argumentative with my mother as she proclaimed I was pushing religion on my niece & her boyfriend. I ended up calling her a butthead. She hasn't spoken kindly to me since. Rather, she has avoided me. I repented to God & told her I was sorry. She didn't accept it & showed me with her fingers out of her room. I feel bad about it. Mark 11:25, Ephesians 4:32, & Colossians 3:13 emphasize forgiveness. We have to forgive others. We can't hold things against others & expect God to forgive us. That would make God a hypocrite if He did, which He is not. It would make us a hypocrite as well. Jesus' death paid for our sins. We can get forgiveness because Him. A Christian believes in & follows Jesus & His teaching. When we have put Him on & walk in the Spirit, offenses raging from minor to huge need to be forgiven, which we do with Christ & in Spirit.  I'm grateful because of the forgiveness offered up by Jesus' sacrifice. 

*FYI: The argument with my mother & her reaction towards me afterwards, has   bee resolved after a week...Praise God*

Reason For the Season is Jesus

The reason for Christmas is not shopping. It's not shopmas, but Christmas. It's not about shopping and certainly not about some dude in a red suit, delivering gifts to good children in the world named Santa Claus.  I look at the ending three letters of Christmas which is mas. Mas is Spanish for more. That's what we need more Christ. Instead, we are so consumed by consumerism we forget that this day is not about us, our gift giving or gift receiving; it's about Christ. It's about Him coming down in human form. It's about what He did for us. He was the gift of our Heavenly Father. Jesus gave us the gift of salvation through His blood when He died on the cross for us. Through His resurrection we have the victory; Satan was defeated! Thank You Jesus! Hallelujah! He is worthy to be praised! As my Pastor preached last Christmas, Jesus is the Gift that keeps on giving. So true.

As we shop for our loved ones, let us also reflect that this time is not about our gift giving, but our Heavenly Father's Gift. Let us give Him the praise, the honor, & the glory every day of the year.

Until Next Time...Lord's Willing.

Putting on Christ Series 12/12/11

12/12/11

 ⁵And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

 ⁶But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.

 ⁷But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.

 ⁸Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.

 ⁹After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

 ¹⁰Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

 ¹¹Give us this day our daily bread.

 ¹²And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

 ¹³And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

Matthew 6:5-13

King James Version (KJV)

Prayer is a two way communication between God & us. It's an important time. Jesus gave us an example of prayer. Our prayers should be private. We want intimacy with god. Yes, we do have public prayers in church, which shouldn't be motivated for praise, but to commune with God. Public prayer helps the church commune with God. Prayer is not for our glory, but it is our dialogue with God. We shouldn't have to go on & on in prayer. Rather, it should be to the point, in private, & with faith. Praying is not about us. Rather, it is about God. It's a form of worshiping Him. We let Him know it's about Him & not us. Prayer requires sincerity. It requires alone time. "Jesus also corrected some abuses, and misunderstandings regarding prayer. First, prayer is not to be offered to impress others. Disciples should rather seek a storage closet or a shed and pray in private. Jesus did not reject group prayer, but His warning might apply to a believer who prays to impress a congregation (Matthew 6:5-6). Second, Jesus also prohibited long-winded attempts that try to manipulate God. While Jesus prayed for long periods of time (Luke 6:12; Mark 1:35) and repeated Himself (Mark 14:36-42), He called for people to trust their Father and not their own eloquence or fervor" (Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary). 

Putting on Christ Series 12/9/11

12/9/11
 ¹Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.

 ²Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
 ³But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:
 ⁴That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.

Matthew 6:1-4

King James Version (KJV)

Alms = good deeds. When you do acts of kindness, it should be between you & God. Don't let others know. Kindness & doing good to others are good things. The problem arises when people want to advertise it. They want glory from man, not God. That my friend, will be all the reward they get. Whereas when we do things in private God sees & will reward us openly. We don't do good acts for the rewards. That is not what it's about. It's just a perk. Putting on Christ & walking in the Spirit is not about self advertisement. Rather, it's about God advertisement-telling people about the wonderful salvation from Christ, glorifying the Lord through our acts, which should be done for Him & Him alone. Do good in private & be rewarded openly by God Whose reward is the only reward all we need.

Putting on Christ Series 12/8/11

12/8/11

 ⁴³Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.

 ⁴⁴But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

 ⁴⁵That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

 ⁴⁶For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?

 ⁴⁷And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?

 ⁴⁸Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

Matthew 5:43-48

King James Version (KJV)

Our love has to be different than others. We can't just love those that love us. We have to love even our own enemies. We have to love our enemies, bless them that curse us, do good to them that hate us, & pray for them which despitefully use us & persecute us. God doesn't hate people, who are His creation. He loves all of us even the wicked. Ezekiel 33:11 states the following "Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?" God does not take pleasure in their death. He wants people to turn from their ways. It's the evil ways, the sin, that God hates. Psalm 45:7a states, "Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness." It's the wicked ways God hates.

John 3:16 lets us know that God loves the world so much that He gave His only Son so that those who believe in Him will not perish, but have everlasting life. God loves us. We have to love others as well, including our enemies. We have to be like God is & do as He instructed. In terms of vengeance, Leviticus 19:18 tells us not to avenge or bear grudges, but to love our neighbors as ourselves. Galatians 5:14 lets us know that love is "the sum of the whole law" (Matthew Henry's Commentary on biblegateway.com). James 2:8 > love is the royal law. Hence, if we love others, we do well. Proverbs 25:21, "If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink." Stephen exemplifies what Christ did (Luke 23:24), by praying to God for them-that their sins not be held against them in Acts 7:60. When we help our enemies, being nice & loving them, our actions are actually heaping coals of fire on their head (Romans 12:20), which is not our desire. 1 Corinthians 4:12(b)(c) > we are blessed when we are reviled, & suffer(endure) persecution. Like Ephesians 5:1 goes into, we need to be "followers of God, as dear children." We have to be perfect as the Lord is. This kind of perfection is not perfect, perfect, but perfect in the sense in striving to live, striving to obey His commands. 1 Peter 1:16, "Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy" (Leviticus 19:2). We have to be representatives of God, & that means avoiding rendering evil for evil (1 Thessalonians 5:15). We have to love others, think about them, minister to them, show acts of kindness, bless & love them. God has done this for us through His Son Jesus. If we are to put on Christ & walk in the Spirit, we are to do this.

The Neglected Gift

Isaiah 9:6

King James Version (KJV)

"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace."

This Child is Jesus Christ. He is the Gift that God has given this world. The Gift that has given us salvation through His blood. Yet, like many Christmases, this Christmas seems to have people worrying about what gifts to give others, what gifts they are getting-in other words, it is about them. They neglect the most important Gift that is freely given & the only one that matters & that is life through Jesus Christ. John 3:16, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." God has given us life through His Son Jesus. Yet, the world does not open this gift, neither does it acknowledge this gift. Instead, Christmas is a time of consumers consuming materials that will eventually perish. They won't accept the Lord & His wonderful gift. They will be too busy buying into the, It's the giving, more giving, what is given, and what I get message that we see through all households.

People, if you have failed to open this gift, it is not too late. The Lord wants you to accept His wonderful & most precious Gift. He wants us to have life & more abundantly. John 3:17, "For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved." God wants each & everyone of us saved. This season, open up the Gift that matters, accept Jesus as your Lord & Savior & receive the Gift of Salvation that comes through Him.

And Christians don't forget this is a time of rejoicing & celebrating the birth of our Lord & Savior. Let us remember the true meaning & celebrate it with our family members. Don't fret about what we give, how we give it, or what we give; instead focus on Jesus.

For the unsaved that seek this gift, I leave you these scriptures to help you:

Romans 10:9-13

King James Version (KJV)

 ⁹That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
 ¹⁰For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
 ¹¹For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
 ¹²For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
 ¹³For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

If you are confused on how to start off your prayer to God, let me just tell you be real with Him. Say something to this affect: Dear God, I'm a sinner. I have fallen short of Your glory. I have messed up, but Lord I know that You are able to fix me. Lord, I know that You are able to save me. I accept Jesus as my Lord & Savior. I confess that He died & rose from the dead so that I would be saved. I pray that You forgive me of my sins & help me. Lead me in the path of righteousness for Your Name sake. Help me Lord. I give my life over to You to take control. It's in Jesus Name I pray, Amen.


Accept His Gift of Salvation. Accept Jesus as your Lord & Savior & make this Christmas the Christmas to rejoice over not fret over.

Until Next Time...Lord's willing.

Putting on Christ Series 12/7/11

12/7/11
 ³⁸Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:
 ³⁹But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.

 ⁴⁰And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also.

 ⁴¹And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.

 ⁴²Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.

Matthew 5:38-42

King James Version (KJV)

Putting on Christ & walking in the Spirit requires us to turn the other cheek, to give, to do good instead of wrong. Two wrongs don't make a right. "When we are wronged, often our first reaction is to get even. Instead Jesus said, we should do good to those who wrong us: our desire should not be to keep score, but to love & forgive. This is not natural-it is supernatural. Only God can give us the strength to love as He does. Instead of planning vengeance, pray for those who hurt you," KJV Life Application Study Bible. Exodus 21:24, Leviticus 24:20, Deuteronomy 19:21 all about the eye for an eye. The punishment had to fit the crime. However, Jesus has commanded us to turn the other cheek. Jesus turned the other cheek when He was crucified. He even prayed for them. Romans 12:17 lets us know not to repay evil for evil & to do what is right. 1 Peter 3:9 "Not rendering(repaying) evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing." When people spit at us, hate us, persecute us, we need to love them. We need to turn our cheek & pray for for them just like Jesus :)

Putting on Christ Series 12/5/11

12/5/11
 ³³Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths:
 ³⁴But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne:

 ³⁵Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King.
 ³⁶Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black.
 ³⁷But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.

Matthew 5:33-37

King James Version (KJV)

Leviticus 19:12 instructs us not to swear by His name falsely, neither profane the name of the Lord. Numbers 30:2 further goes on to emphasize that if you make a vow to God, you keep the vow, or oath. Deuteronomy 23:21 makes reference to this as well. Not only that, but God will require it of you; it would be a sin not to. Jesus goes further with this. DON'T SWEAR AT ALL! We should let our yes be yes & no, no. People seem to think that someone swearing is being honest-not so. Christians should be able to say yes or no & mean it. Heaven is God's throne, the earth is His footstool, Jerusalem is the city of the great King, & the head = we can't make our hair white or black. James 5:12 reiterates verse 37. If we put on Christ, if we walk in the Spirit, we should not swear, but let our word speak for itself. Of course, we as Christians, clothed in Christ, walking in the Spirit, should not have any lies in us for the lies belong to the devil (John 8:44). 

Putting on Christ Series 12/1/11 again

12/1/11
 ³¹It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement:

 ³²But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.

Matthew 5:31-32

King James Version (KJV)

Marriage is a covenant; it's a unity of a man & a woman. The Holman Bible Dictionary defines marriage as "the sacred, covenantal union of one man & one woman formed when the two swear before God an oath of life long loyalty & love to one another, the sign & seal of which is sexual intercourse." Marriage is the ideal relationship between one man and one woman. It began with Adam & Eve. The only exception for divorce is adultery. If adultery occurs, one is allowed to divorce their spouse. Matthew 19:16 > What God puts together in marriage must be respected. People need not try to ruin this. In marriage, people are no longer two, but one. 1 Corinthians 7:10-11 further illustrates the importance of not leaving a spouse. If the woman leaves, she needs to remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband. He does not need to put her away. Marriage is an important union that should not see any separation. We have to respect this. Putting on Christ & walking in the Spirit requires that we respect marriage & God's design of it.

Putting on Christ Series 12/1/11

12/1/11
 ²⁷Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:
 ²⁸But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

 ²⁹And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.

 ³⁰And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.

Matthew 5:27-30

King James Version (KJV)

Merriam-Webster online gives us definitions of lust which include: pleasure, delight...intense or unbridled sexual desire; an intense longing; craving. Exodus 20:14 is the Commandment not to commit adultery. Jesus here, broke it down. Nothing physical has to happen in order to commit adultery. Simply lusting after someone = adultery. We have to understand that lust is an issue. 1 John 2:16 gives us two sets of lust: (1)lust of the flesh & (2)lust of the eyes. The lust of the flesh is "preoccupation with gratifying physical desires" (KJV Life Application Study Bible).j The lust of the eyes is "materialism-craving & accumulating things" (KJV Life Application Study Bible). Lust takes us out of wanting to please God to wanting to please ourselves. Therefore, we commit spiritual adultery through lusting. We have to not literally pluck out our eyes or cut off our hand. Rather, we need to drop kick things to the curve. We have to get rid of things that are distracting us-that are harming us spiritually & physically. If you want to get rid of lusting, you have to STOP participating in the thing that is causing the issue. Doing this my friends, is an example of putting on Christ & walking in the Spirit. FYI: Lust is of the world & the world will pass away, along with lust. We Christians are not of the world & should not be dominated by this.

Putting on Christ Series 11/28/11

11/28/11

 ²¹Ye have heard that it was said of them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:

 ²²But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.

 ²³Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;

 ²⁴Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.

 ²⁵Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison.

 ²⁶Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing.

Matthew 5:21-26

King James Version (KJV)

"In verses 22-24, the Scribes & Pharisees said that a person who referred to another as Raca, meaning 'empty head', was in danger of being sued for libel before the council (or the Sanhedrin). Jesus said that whoever calls another a fool will have to answer to God (Nelson's Compact Series Compact Bible Dictionary). Fool is defined by my KJV Life Application Study Bible as "one deficient in intellectual, practical, or moral sense." The Bible tells us not to kill (Exodus 20:13; Deuteronomy 5:17). We can kill people more than one way: physical, spiritual, emotional, mental. We have to watch what we say & watch our anger. Ephesians 4:26, "Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath." Why hold on to anger; why allow it to turn into sin. We need to throw it away. I love James 1:19-20 because it says it all: "¹⁹Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: ²⁰For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God." 1 John 3:15 lets us know that those that hate is a murderer, which don't have eternal life in them. We also have to get right with others. We don't need to let an offense hinder either person, but quickly resolve our issues. Luke 6:37b tells us to forgive & we will be forgiven. Jesus instructed us on this. Heeding to His command, being a hearer & a doer of His Word (James 1:22) is what we need to do. It's apart of Putting on Christ & walking in the Spirit. 

Putting on Christ Series 11/21/11

11/21/11


^"17Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.

 ¹⁸For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

 ¹⁹Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

 ²⁰For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven."

Matthew 5:17-20

King James Version (KJV)

"Here 'law' refers not only to covenant obligations revealed at Sinai but to the entire Pentateuch. Here 'fulfill' means to bring the OT revelation to its intended goal. Jesus goes on to declare the enduring, validity, & authority of every detail of the law until it is fulfilled. With Christ's first coming may aspects of the law are brought to complete fruition. As the eschatological fulfillment of the old covenant, in His person Jesus brings to an end to the ceremonial shadows (sacrifices & festivals) & transforms old covenant customs into new covenant realities (baptism, the sign of the covenant made with the church, appears to replace circumcision, the sign of the covenant made with physical Israel). The Lord's Supper both replaces the Passover meal (Matthew 26:17-29 Mark 14:12-26 Luke 22:13-20) & anticipates the eschatological covenant meal (Revelation 19:6-10) of which the meal eaten on Sinai (Exodus 24:9-11; cp. Luke 22:20; 1 Corinthians 11:25) was but a foretaste. However, other aspects of the law were to remain in force until Christ's return. When we read the OT law, we should always be open to both continuities & discontinuities with NT demands," Holman Illustrated Dictionary. Christians must not only talk the Christian talk, but walk the Christian walk. We can't be as hypocrites, teaching others the Commandments, while we are breaking them. Neither are we to teach others to break them. James 2:10 lets us know that if we break one, we're guilty of all. We have to pay attention to the law. We have to be better than false teachers/hypocrites. We have to clean the inside & out. 

Tebowed Out

I love sports. Ask anyone of my friends. They will let you know that sports are my cup of tea. I have to say that my favorite football team is the Carolina Panthers. I'll admit that their seasons have been very disappointing, but I still love them. I like the Pittsburgh Steelers as well, along with the Denver Broncos. Both have two quarterbacks that have been in the limelight. One was in not so good reasons & I'll leave it at that. The other, Tim Tebow is in the news because of the way his team has responded to him and how they have gone 7-1 with him as the starting quarterback. People have discredited this guy. Many say that they have discredited him because of his stats, but Christians around the world shake our heads at that, knowing that the reason why they are discrediting him is because he is a Christian. 


May football players get in the news for bad behavior off the field. Ben Roethlisberger, the quarterback of the Steerlers, was accused of rape awhile back. He has not been well liked by the sports reporters. Yet, his troubles did not stay in the news for very long. Whereas, a praying, 24 year old, Christian quarterback gets flack about his performance. Granted, he may not perform well in the first half, but he sure pours it on in the second. It's not about how you start, it's how you finish. He is finishing. 


Having said these tidbits, I'm really about Tebowed out. Its not him. Rather, it is the constant negative stories about him, and the hoopla as well. Many people are now calling him the Mile High Messiah. One commentator from CNN on the link of http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2011/12/12/my-take-confessions-of-a-tebow-convert/?iref=allsearch makes references to "The Church of Tim Tebow". I'm drawing the line right now. He is a great quarterback, a good kid with great parents, and a striving Christian, but that's it. He is not the or a Messiah. He is simply Tim Tebow-Heisman winner, son, Christian, quarterback. I'm implore people to stop the hating, but also the overextended, out of your mind, love that many are giving him. When I mean out of your mind, I mean how dare you use the word Messiah to describe this kid!


So, impart, I'm a really big fan of Tim Tebow. I'm just not a fan of the fanatics or the haters.


If we showed Jesus this much love as we show Tim, this country would be full of Christians, and we would be pleasing to our Lord. Instead, here is another person that is getting either: (1) thrown under the bus by the haters or (2)loved so much that people are idolizing him. The madness has to stop people. 


Go back to God. Go away from the idolizing, and go back to the Lord, our Savior, Jesus Christ, Who longs for each and everyone of us to recognize Him, to accept Him, to love, honor, & obey Him.


Until Next Time...Lord's Willing.


P.S. Pray that I do not get knocked out from being Tebowed out. Lol! 

Putting on Christ Series 11/20/11

11/20/11


  ¹⁴Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

 ¹⁵Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.

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

Matthew 5:14-16

King James Version (KJV)

Christians have to shine our light even when things are tough. We have to persevere, be examples to others. We are to never turn off our lights. In a world that is overwhelmed with darkness, we are to be the light to go against this darkness. John 1:9 lets us know that Jesus is the true Light. If we have Jesus, we should be walking in the light. We are to show people this so that they may see this & glorify the Lord. Keep on shining Christians. Keep on shining.

Putting on Christ Series 11/18/11

November 18, 2011 11:08 pm "Salt"


"Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men."

Matthew 5:13

King James Version (KJV)

Merriam-Webster online defines salt as "a crystalline compound NaCl that consists of sodium chloride, is abundant in nature, and is used especially to season or preserve food or in industry...an ingredient that gives savor, piquancy, or zest." My mother once made this rice. Ugh, I thought as I ate it. The rice was actually rice and chicken. It was very bland. There was no taste. I definitely did not enjoy it. A bland Christian is not enjoyable either. We can spice up our surroundings in a positive way, helping each other, being courteous towards another. We need to be an effective Christian. My King James Bible Life Application sums it up best, "If a seasoning has no flavor, it has no value. If Christians make no effort to affect the world around them, they are of little value to God. If we are too much like the world, we are worthless. Christians should not blend in with everyone else. Instead, we should affect others positively, just as seasoning brings out the best flavor in food."

Putting on Christ Series 11/17/11

November 17, 2011


  ¹⁰Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

 ¹¹Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.

 ¹²Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.  

Matthew 5:10-12

King James Version (KJV)

Suffering comes with the territory of being a Christian. This life style will attract persecution even from family members. 2 Timothy 2:12 lest us know that "If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us." Suffering sounds better & better. It's definitely better than denying Christ & being denied by Christ. Our suffering is temporary. Eternal life is forever. 1 Peter 3:14 provides further instruction. We should be happy to suffer for righteousness' sake & not be afraid of what others will do to us. We know that many of us will lose our life for Jesus. Therefore, we should not be worried  or troubled by this, but accept it-embrace it. Matthew 10:22, "And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved." It's about endurance people. We have to ride the wave of terror/hate out because it's not worth turning our backs on Christ because of it. Hell is not preferred. We will be hated & persecuted. We have to tough it out. 1 Peter 4:14 further goes on & reiterates being happy when we are insulted for the name of Christ. The spirit of glory & God rests on us. They speak evil of Him, but we glorify Him. 2 Chronicles 36:16, "But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused his prophets, until the wrath of the LORD arose against his people, till there was no remedy." Isaiah was sawed in half. Persecution happened then, & it will happen now. We're not different as far as persecution goes. God's people are constant targets. Matthew 23:37 > They killed the prophets which was sent unto them. Jesus wanted to gather them in, but they would have none of it. Acts 7:52 > Way back, the people killed the prophets. They had participated in killing Jesus. Hebrews 11:32-38 provides us with examples of these that went through. James 5:10 > Those prophets that spoke in the name of the Lord suffered affliction & they are an example of this & patience. There is a long list of those that suffered for righteousness' sake. Instead of saying why me, why not say why not me?.

Heart of Worship

The heart of Worship is God. We have to remember that worship is not about us, but about Him. There is a song called this, and I have posted it for your hearing.

Lessons that I have Learned

I'm finishing up watching a movie called The Heart of Christmas. Wow, it is a real tearjerker. Yet, it's a reminder. It reminds us of the importance of Christmas, but also of life & what we make of it. We treat Christmas like a holiday where the biggest sales occurs. Though the biggest & best sales come during this time of the season, I can reassure you that this is not the reason for the season. Jesus is the reason for the season. God's love for us is so strong that He sent His only Son to die on the cross for us so that hell would not be our permanent homes, but have eternal life through His Son for those that believe, for those that submit their live's to Him, for those that come back to Him. Yes, I'm tearing up right now. If crying could lose weight, I would have lost about 50 lbs so far.

Back to the point. The point is that this movie centered around a family who loses their 2 year son to leukemia. The people came together. The parents cherished every moment with their son. They prayed for their son. They loved their son. They went through. People, & I am one of them, often times complain about what they don't have & what they want instead of appreciating what the Lord & who the Lord has given them. I'm blessed. I thank God for a wonderful family, a wonderful church, wonderful brothers & sisters in Christ, wonderful friends, & yes a job that I do complain about, but a job that is a blessing to me. Thank God for this. With this said, I'm going to start putting down things that I have learned. The number does not signify the importance-just what I'm working with that day. With that said, let's get to the list:

Lesson # 1. It's not what you have or don't have, it's what & who God brings you.

Lesson # 2. The world may see what God has given you as mediocre, but to God it is anything but mediocre-it's a blessing. See what He has given you as a blessing, & don't succomb to the world's idea system of what is great & what is mediocre.

Lesson # 3. Always thank God for everything.

Lesson # 4. Live for God.

Lesson # 5. Christians are not perfect. We are constantly in a learning process.

Lesson # 6. It's not about me, it's about Him.

Lesson # 7. Worship is not about us; it is about Him. It is about giving Him the glory, honor, & praise. We should not be ashamed to glorify Him.

Lesson # 8. Pray. It is an effective weapon that needs to be used more often.

Lesson # 9. Satan is a liar (John 8:44) & a murderer. He is a also, according to John 10:10(a) a "thief" that "cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy."

Lesson # 10. Rely on the Lord for deliverance & salvation.

Lesson # 11. Gird my tongue. James 3:8, "But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison."

Lesson # 12. While pushing others to salvation, one can end up pushing themselves from salvation. Pray for others, focus on your own salvation, & let the Lord work it out for others.

Lesson # 13. Our ultimate guide is God.

Lesson # 14. Most Important One: Jesus died for my sins. Jesus is my Lord & Savior. Without His sacrifice, none of us would make it to Heaven. 

Putting on Christ Series 11/4/11

11/4/11

"Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God," Matthew 5:9. Hebrews 12:14 lets us  know that we must pursue peace with all men & holiness (to be clean). without this no man will see the Lord. Christians cannot be disruptive, peace breaking people with animosity towards others. Rather, we are to be peaceful towards others, seeking a pure, clean life. James 3:18, "And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace." People that make peace will sow the fruit of righteousness (harvest of righteousness). "The 'peacemakers' are those who invite men to be reconciled to God & to one another (Romans 10:15; 12:18/2 Corinthians 5:20)," Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary. "The God of the Bible, however, is a God of peace (1 Thessalonians 5:23; Hebrews 13:20). He is the author of peace (1 Corinthians 14:33), and His messages is the "gospel of peace" (Ephesians 6:15). He sent Christ to bring peace & reconciliation between Himself & mankind & among people themselves (Luke 2:14; 2 Corinthians 5:17-20; Ephesians 2:11-18). What then, do peacemakers do? They prove that they are children of God by being like Him (Matthew 5:9). Having made their peace with Him, they become His instrument of reconciliation in the world. They are at peace among themselves (Romans 14:19; 2 Corinthians 13:11; 1 Thessalonians 5:13), and they seek peace with their neighbors (Romans 12:18,21). Beyond this, they bring the message of reconciliation to others, urging them to accept God's peace by faith (2 Corinthians 5:18,20). Peacemakers are not appeasers who seek peace at any price. Therefore, they are often not appreciated, even by those in their own family (Matthew 10:34-35). Preaching God's peace entails conflict with the world (John 16:33), but His peacemakers can enjoy His peace in the midst of it (Matthew 14:27)", Robert E. Wenger, Bible Expositor and Illuminator. Christians strive to be peacemakers, telling people about the reconciliation we have  with God through Jesus. We don't let the trouble that is bound to come our way deter us from this. We don't keep the pace, but make the peace. There is a difference between being peacemakers & peacekeepers. Peacekeepers try to keep the peace at all cost, including sacrificing what they've learned from the Bible in order to keep the peace. Peacemakers want to make peace. They seek to tell others about the reconciliation. Peacemaker or peacekeeper-it's up to us. Remember this, true peace comes from God.

Putting on Christ Series 11/3/11

11/3/11
"Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God," Matthew 5:8. Psalm 24:3-4 > Having clean hands & a pure heart are always beneficial with our relationship with the Lord. Those with this will receive the blessing from God & the righteousness from God of salvation. "To be 'pure in heart' refers to that internal cleansing necessary for entering God's presence," Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary. "The pure in heart are those whose inner person-thoughts, emotions, and will is clean before God. They worship Him and conduct their lives with integrity, honesty, and sincerity. They do not resort to the hypocrisy that parades external observances & ceremonies to cover a deceitful heart. God delights in their worship (Psalm 24:3-4; 73:1) for it expresses who they really are. The pure in heart are blessed in that they will see God. This is true in 2 ways. First, they see Him now with the eyes of faith. They walk in His light & know His cleansing (1 John 1:7); they behold His glory & are transformed  by it (2 Corinthians 3:18). Second they will one day see Him in His fullness (1 John 3:1-3; Revelation 22:4)," Bible Expositor & Illuminator Fall Quarter Sept, Oct, Nov. 2011, Robert E. Wenger. We must not be only externally clean, but also internally clean with pure thoughts & motives. No one wants a clean cup on the outside & a dirty cup in the inside. Neither does God!!!

Putting on Christ Series 10/29/11

10/29/11


"Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy," Matthew 5:7. Matthew 18:22-35 is a great example of one showing mercy & the other not. The king had compassion on the servant & released him, & forgave him of the debt. The servant did not show this same courtesy towards one that owed him & had him thrown in prison until he paid the debt. The king was informed of this & was angry & gave him to the jailers until he paid what was due. James 2:13 > If we don't have mercy towards others, God will not show mercy towards us. Ephesians 4:31-32 states the following: "(31) Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: (32) And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you." "The 'merciful' are both forgiving and compassionate (Matthew 6:12-15)," Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary. The merciful will obtain mercy. We have to be forgiving & compassionate towards others. God has shown this towards us. He was willing (& did) to sacrifice His Son for us. As Christians, we must be kind, loving, merciful, compassionate towards others. The Lord, through His acts, has shown us this. We have to serve others. In order to do this, we must be understanding of them. I'm not saying this is peaches and creams, but it's not difficult-not unless we make it difficult.

Putting on Christ Series 10/28/11

10/28/11


"Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled," Matthew 5:6. Isaiah 55:1-2 > God gives us free nourishment. He takes care of us. What He offers money can't buy. We need to go to Him for this. "'Hunger and thirst' is a vivid description of those who crave God's righteousness (Psalm 42:1-2)," Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary. Psalm 42:1-2 shows us a description of thirsting after God; of seeking Him. We need to go after God. Matthew 6:33 makes it clear that we need to seek the Kingdom of God & His righteousness first & food, drink, clothes, & other things will be added. We must not worry, getting ourselves caught up in a tangle of web. Rather, we are to diligently seek God & His righteousness. Our Father takes care of us. He is the supplier of our needs (Philippians 4:19). The Lord is our sustainer; we must continually chase after after Him. Jesus gives us a water to which we will never thirst again. This will be a well of water springing up into everlasting life! All we need is in Christ. The only One that can satisfy is our Heavenly Father :)

Do You Have a Cain Attitude or an Abel Attitude?

I'm reading Genesis. Right now, I'm in chapter 4 where it is now talking about Cain & Abel. What struck me was that both were completely different in their offering to God. Now, from what I have read, I have not found the exact cause of why Abel's was offered and Cain's was rejected. Multiple commentaries indicate that Abel had the right attitude. Of course, in retrospective, when we see the reaction of Cain after being rejected, we see that Cain could not control his anger. After, he killed his brother & heard what his punishment was, he had no concern or repentance of what he had done. Rather, he was upset with his punishment. As Christians, we definitely don't want a Cain attitude or reaction. He couldn't control his anger, & ended up killing his brother. Instead of heeding the Lord's warning, he went ahead & lost control of his anger. He didn't take rejection well.

Christians have to make the right offering to God with the right attitude and motives behind it. Some people offer their services to God for the reasons of getting glory and respect from others. Clearly, those are not the right motives or attitudes. People have to offer to God for the right, unselfish reasons. We don't need to be upset with God's response. His response will always be right. We just have to do what the Lord would have us to do. The problem occurs with us when we want to do what we want & not what He wants. When we get unexpected results, we want to be angry. How can you be angry if you knew that is not what He wants?!  Prayer is not a one way communication where you talk & God listens; it is a two way communication with talking & listening to God. If we listen to Him & obey Him we will be fine.

I don't know about any of you, but I definitely want an Abel attitude. I want to do the right thing. I want to be pleasing to the Lord. I don't want to be upset by the response by God. Rather, I want to heed what God is saying & do the right thing. We should always strive to obey God. When we obey Him, we will find that this is a much better place.

So Christians, obey God. Present to Him the right offering with the right attitude and motives. Don't be Cain, but be Abel in the attitude and actions.

Until Next Time...Lord's Willing.