F4S: 2012

Saturday, December 29, 2012

Christ said, "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life."

Those who would seek to bring Sonshine instead of religious accusation, weirdness, or condemnation into the lives of others, how can they really bar such light away from themselves? 

"..in Your light we see light." Ps. 36:9

"In Him was life, and the life was the light of men." Jn. 1:4
Check it out, believers. I just started a new Christian community page that you can join in Google+ if you want. It's basically for the purpose of edifying one another for His purpose. 

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Why reach out to lost people during the holidays, or on any other day?

Here’s why…

* People are hurting, broken, guilty, lonely, empty and afraid to die.

* People are living in the last days and need to decide. Just look around you to see what is happening and how things have accelerated. And no matter your eschatology one thing is for sure… you and I are living in our last days. Life here is so brief. It’s like a vapor (Ps. 39:11, 62:9, Jam. 4:14)—gone so quickly.  

* People cannot gain and enjoy righteous fellowship with God by money (the God who hates destructive sin can't be paid off), by good works, by suckin'-up or by any other efforts. 

Many people believe that they will have a chance to talk fast and get right with God postmortem (after they die and face the Judge), but it ain’t gunna happen. They Bible makes this clear—gotta make your reservations in advance through Jesus Christ. Remember Lazarus and the right man?  

* People cannot even reach out to God for forgiveness by their own efforts. We all need to respond as the Holy Spirit woos and draws us to Jesus.

* People have value - they matter. Christ reached out and He still deeply loves lost people, wanting each of them to repent, believe and be saved.

* People can have all their needs met by faith in God. True fulfillment, inner peace, eternal purpose, and real satisfaction can only come to a person once they have been forgiven by Jesus.

“When Jesus came by, he looked up at Zacchaeus and called him by name. "Zacchaeus!" he said. “Quick, come down! For I must be a guest in your home today. Zacchaeus quickly climbed down and took Jesus to his house in great excitement and joy.” Luke 19:5-6

The Lord ain’t so much into where a person is coming from as in where that person is headed. He ain’t so much into how much sin a sinner has committed per se, but is very much concerned that all have sinned and all need to turn to Him away from it today. Of course Jesus will accept those who humble themselves in repentance and He will show them his unconditional love as they come to the cross willing to be changed.

* People have great potential - there's potential there for all who are made righteous, that they each will grow spiritually, become fruitful and will be used of God for world-changing exploits—yes, to accomplish great things for the glory of the Lord. Christ catches His fish so to speak and then He cleans them.

That which I used to loath (talk of truth and the things of God), I now love and that which is used to love (sinning) I now loath. Religious folk try to change sinners from the outside in (remember the Pharisees?), but Jesus can change any of us from the inside out.  

“Meanwhile, Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, "I will give half my wealth to the poor, Lord, and if I have overcharged people on their taxes, I will give them back four times as much!" Luke 19:8

Witnessing to lost people domestically or overseas.. for the purpose of winning them to faith in Christ (..meaning to the Jesus in the Bible) is the heartbeat of God. It’s the mission of every believer. And newborn baby Christians are the lifeblood of the local church.

Some believers who say they aren’t called to evangelize or discipleship in Christ need to re-read their Bibles. Some with an honest heart might even say they don’t like evangelism, but what they don’t like is some off-base, strange, or religious “caricature of evangelism” that ain’t the soul-winning that Jesus did cuz all true believers really love evangelism the way Jesus won people.

I love how Zacchaeus humbly turned and received Christ. He repented. Repent means to be sorry for what you’ve done and then stop doing it. Too many people confuse feeling remorseful with this, but they are not repentant. I love how Christ dealt with Zac. 

And it all happened so simply rather than religiously. Zacchaeus repented, trusted Jesus and was transformed from greedy to generous, from selfish to selfless, from a person with a thieving heart to one with a heart of thanksgiving. God made him content and changed him from a person of full loneliness to one of true excitement and joy, from one of rejection to one of good acceptance in the Beloved.

“Jesus responded, ‘Salvation has come to this home today, for this man has shown himself to be a son of Abraham. And I, the Son of Man, have come to seek and save those like him who are lost.’" Luke 19:9-10

That can happen for you today. It can happen right now! Do you need get right with God? Don’t put it off. Come to Christ just as you are.. before anyone or anything can distract you from this. Nothing, no nothing at all is more important!

I wish there was some wonderful place called the land of beginning again. Where all our mistakes and all our heartaches and all our sickening sin could be dropped on the floor like an old shabby coat and never be put on again. ~ Anon.

Simple talk to Him in your own words. Ask and allow God to forgive you and then make you loving like Christ—one who is strong spiritually and seeks to rescue the lost. He is completely sovereign not kinda sovereign, and He desires to use you in His exciting plan.  

“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.'" John 14:6

"Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” Acts 4:12

You simply receive Jesus by humble turning and sincere invitation.

Jesus said (in Revelation 3:20), "Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if any one hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him."

It's about turning to God from a self directed lifestyle (repentance) and appropriating His forgiveness for your sins.  It involves trusting Him to transform you and then maturing you into what He wants you to be. Many intellectually acknowledge the facts of Christ's deity (Jesus being God), and about His crucifixion, bodily resurrection and ascension, but agreeing with the Bible alone is insufficient for obtaining salvation.  Having had emotional or supernatural experiences are also inadequate.  By an act of your will, you receive Jesus with His full-orbed redemption by faith and that solely is enough!

Kurt, what specifically are you asking me to do? This...
1. Recognize that you are a sinner (admit your need) 
2. Repent of your sin (be willing to turn) 
3. Realize that Jesus Christ died for you on the Cross and rose from the grave. 
4. Receive Jesus as Lord into your life to empower and control you by the Holy Spirit (through prayer). Stay with Him in fellowship with a Bible teaching church. 
5. Resolve to do it publicly. Everyone, who Jesus called, He called openly and publicly 
6. Respond to Christ now! Why NOW? Because God says now, Today is the day of salvation, now is the acceptable time. The Devil will say “tomorrow,” but Jesus says now.

Biblical “Salvation” begins with:
1. Repentance – a change of mind, we have a new mind about God.
2. Conversion – a change of life, we have a new life from God. 
3. Regeneration – a change of nature, we receive a new heart from God. 
4. Justification – a change of state, we have a new standing before God. 
5. Adoption – a change of family, we get a new relationship toward God. 
6. Sanctification – a change of service, we have a new condition with God.
"As many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His Name." John 1:12

"For whoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." Romans 10:13   

Check it out in context. Prayerfully read: Luke 19:1-10 facebook.com/shareJesus

Friday, December 14, 2012

Tears. Prayers. The entire nation weeps.

Another senseless massacre. The gunman opens fire inside of Sandy Hook Elementary. Little kids saw things they never should have seen. Young parents and teachers too. So many executed for no reason.

How could this happen again?

So sad.. so shocking and tragic, a whole classroom dead...

..20 children among 28 dead. Particularly heinous! They were 'lil kids and it's only 11 nights from Christmas! How will their crushed families get through this season when all those gifts are left unopened under the trees?  

Pure evil, such needless pain - unimaginable!!!

And why do they keep putting the names of the killers on TV....when more will only lust after this sort of fame? They'll get pain and shame non-stop.

Comfort the crushed in spirit, the brokenhearted, the hurting and the wounded, Lord. Show us who we can help, as your body. "Now we exhort you, brethren… comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak.." Paul, (1 Thess. 5:14).

All the wrongs will be righted one day at the final Judgment. All the tears will be wiped away. The Lord is there and ready to bring His comfort to all those who are grieving now in Connecticut.

Man, so sad.. I just learned of that horrific shooting-slaughter at the elementary school in Connecticut with 28 dead, Including 20 little children. No words really. I don't think they've even discovered the motives of the shooter from couple days ago at that other shooting yet! Our prayers go out for those dear family members and the mega-shocked co-workers as they all are still trying sift through the details just to learn which loved ones have been lost.

I really don't get stuff like this.. stupid senseless killing. 

Our hearts are so heavy today, but together our hope is in our Savior, Jesus Christ.

P.  Lord, please be there to hold each of those in shock.. brokenhearted, hurting family members and friends in CT...in Christ's Name. Minister peace to their minds. They really need you bad. More grace Lord, pour out your Spirit and minister during this time. Amen.

"On the cross, we sufferers see that God now knows too what it is to lose a loved one in an unjust attack." ~ Tullian Tchividjian

Let’s pray and continue to pray for these parents. How will it be this week when they're seein' empty little shoes laying around the house that will never be worn again, or when there'll be empty chairs at the breakfast table?

This type of thing keeps happening and God just weeps with all those crushed inside. I'm lookin' at the words of Jeremiah the prophet that addressed another similar attack on children. "A voice was heard in Ramah, Lamentation, weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, refusing to be comforted, because they are no more." (2|18mat).

Our Lord is right there with those hurting family members, Immanuel (God with us – that was what the incarnation was all about). Cast all your cares on Him and He will sustain you, parents.

And I believe those little children are there with Him, never to be wronged or hurt again. I get those ideas from the Bible. And Jesus will bring His comfort to us as well as we put our trust in Him. 

Christ said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the Kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these" (19|14mat). And when Jesus voiced these words, He just wanted to love them, to hug them, to protect them, to help each child as best He could. He still does.

But these little kids were ruthlessly attacked today, cut down.. and this shooter will now face eternal consequences for the choices made. This wasn't at all God's fault. He didn't will this at all. He hates all destructive murdering and murderers like the one who killed my little sister years ago will be judged by Him.

And these children have now come to Jesus in different way their parents could have never foreseen and they are in heaven - it belongs to such as these. Makes me so want to be there to help somehow. You too I'm sure. 

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Freely you have received, freely give. This is a good season for that.

I'm not at all in an ideal spot to hunt–n–peck this out on a mobile device but who cares?

OK, God cares.

Why be "out on the take" as so many empty, lonely and fearful souls are doin' when instead you can, of Christ's fullness, go give His love away today?

Ever been around dry sponge kinda people, only talking about themselves non–stop? So graspy, distracted and uber–needy cuz their focus has been all wrong for quite awhile? Hey, it can happen to any of us..... especially this time of year.

Man, we need to pray at home and on the go, to have pity, to have some compassion and also get real with them in hopes of them stopping to refocus on the Lord and His will for their lives.

We don't need to use too many words with em (they might already be hurtin'..), but we do need to use some. True words. Isn't that what you would want? Sure.

You know this. God cares no matter the condition we're in, and so can we care.. in His Son.

We love Him.. and others because He first loved us.

"Our capacity to love others is grounded in God’s love. Any ability of ours to consistently show selfless love for others is primarily a reflection of His love. Any love that comes from us is simply sharing with others what has been lavished on us by Him." ~ Ed Rea

If I'm taking time away from it all to get with God to listen and simply receive from His Word, then I will indeed have.. to give away in His Name. This time of year is about being a blessing to others right? facebook.com/shareJesus

Thursday, December 6, 2012

Ever been backslid, no-slid, side-slid, or front-slid?

Not sure if I've ever been side-slid or front-slid per se. I guess I've done this while snow-skiing and surfing before, but I've never done this spiritually. Not fun or good. Going forwards for me never seemed to be about sliding too much. It seemed much more intentional than that. It had to do with discipline in regards to God's gentle lead. God has a part and I have a part and I respond and obey Him.    

I remember how the Apostle Peter backslid right before Christ's crucifixion ..yeah, after he said that he never would ditch Christ. I think that anytime any of us believers sin, it's showing that we can be hypocritical to some degree. Christ has never been that way and won't be. It was a very sad time for Peter when he denied Christ three times. He trusted himself too much before and while he was warming himself at the fires of the world. Yup, Peter had followed at a distance. Are you currently doing that? 

Believer, the moment that we quit moving forward spiritually is the moment that we begin to go backwards. Don't do it

Backsliding can be a process that deals with neglect in prayer, pride, compromise or perhaps self-confidence. Did you know that prayerlessness is a sin.

I know for me prayerfully living in the pages of the Bible..to read and try to do what it says in a non-religious kinda Way..really helps me hate sin and love God more.   

When you spend too much time hanging out with the wrong crowd doing the wrong things, they can pull you down. Be a witness for sure. Represent Christ in public with His love, but don't let them pull you down spiritually. Bad company corrupts good morals. This is the most basic stuff, but I love to be reminded of it.  

Why do people fall away from a close relationship with Christ? Is there a way back into right standing with Him if you have done that? Sure and just like when you met Jesus, it starts with repentance and faith.

When you blow it, get back up again. Get up more time than you fall down, and learn how not to stumble again – Christ will teach you.

Feel like bailing out at times, hiding away from the shame and all? I've been there. We all sin though we try hard to avoid it, but we can have a new start and learn from it all. We can receive power from the Holy Spirit to overcome sin, Satan and our fleshly nature that tells us to do what it tells us to do. Hey, need some fresh hope today? I love what the psalmist wrote, "You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in Your Word" (Psalm 119:114).

The Lord was so gracious to restore and strengthen Pete and that's what I want Hm to do for you as well. I want to encourage you in the basics today. Please start with prayer, and then read for a bit in the Bible, and then seek out fellowship with growing Christians who are spiritual rather than carnal or worldly. And then… when you are on-fire and solid in your walk with Christ again..guess what. You will naturally desire to help others who are hurting, depressed, disappointed, and who have backslid or who have never even met the Word of God. facebook.com/shareJesus

"Christianity is Christ plus nothing!" ~ Leonard Ravenhill

"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast." 2|9eph.

P.S. Have you never backslidden before because you've never front-slidden? Have you ever repented (I mean hung a 160 degree turn away from all sin to God..), or trusted Christ by faith in a personal way? God wants you to Believe in His Son, Jesus Christ. So talk it through with Him  today asking for free forgiveness and to be born again spiritually (according to John 3 in the Bible). This is rad-important for you. Nothing is more important.   

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Got At Least A Few Things To Be Thankful For This Christmas Season?

Christmas time seems to be a time where everything gets sorta amplified huh. 

For many it's a very hard time with pain, heartbreak, financial strain, emptiness, regret and loneliness… because of the loved ones who used to be there, but for some reason or another are no longer there. I'm sure that you've heard how the suicide rate climbs during this time of year so it's good for us all to be sensitive and vigilant. 

Did you know that every 13.7 minutes someone in the United States dies by suicide?..that men are about 4 times more likely to die by suicide than women are?..that women actually attempt suicide 3 times as often as men do?..and that suicide rates are highest for people between the ages of 40 and 59? That's all true, but God can give us a hope that's living. Christ is our Hope, He has a plan for you and He really loves you.  

For many Christmas can be a big challenge to deal with. So many simply endure it and just want to get through it. Please know that full and abundant life ..Life during life.. can be had for free during all the holidays and even in between.     

Can you believe all the jewelry and other tech-gift ads that we get hit with? And the Christmas event never seems to live up to all the worldly hype does it? They pour the pressure on with hope of gain. So let's forget the hype and simply focus on what they call the real reason for the season—Jesus Christ. And He, His virgin birth, His coming here to die a sinless death for the sins of the whole world, and His physical resurrection really are the reason. No one could know His saving mercy and grace apart from all that and being born twice.

If you're born once, you will die twice, if you are born twice, you will only die once..and that is physically..unless the Rapture happens first.  

The birth of Christ; that's what brought God to man, and the cross of Christ; that's what brings man to God. He draws us to Himself and to lay it all down at the cross. How? By His Spirit. Who would die to self and to their own way on their own? No one.

In Adam all are toast, but in Christ all are not. They'll all pop up. The Bible says, "For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ's at His coming" (1 Cor. 15:22-23). So let's remember the Lord and His beautiful Scriptures…

"When the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son." Galatians 4:4

"Unto us a Child is born; unto us a Son is given." Isaiah 9:6

"God sent forth His Son, born of a woman... to redeem those who were under the law." Galatians 4:4-5

When God stepped out of heaven above and came down to this earth, He clothed Himself in human flesh—a Child of lowly birth. ~ D. De Haan

"Thou Bethlehem, though you be little among the thousands of Judah…" Micah 5:2

"Unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord" Luke 2:11

Mild He lays His glory by, born that man no more may die. Born to raise the sons of earth, born to give them second birth. ~ Wesley

"I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness." John 12:46

Come to the Light, 'tis shining for thee, sweetly the Light has dawned upon me; once I was blind, but now I can see—the Light of the world is Jesus. ~ Bliss

Grant us, Father, hearts of worship at this time of Jesus' birth; we would see anew His glory shine throughout this sin-cursed earth. ~ D. De Haan

"Glory to God in the highest!" Luke 2:14

Heaven's lovely choir came down to worship. When? It was when heaven's most glorious King came down to save. Let's remember that, and all the specific blessings that God has given to us.

We have reason to honestly express thanks…even though I just totally burned my breakfast to a darkened crisp just now while typing this thing. Hah!

Hey, Thanksgiving didn't need to end on the day after. Even if some things are whack, what can I thank and praise God for?

1. I am grateful that all around the globe they are singing our songs out there…kinda mixed in with their reindeer and frosty songs. How cool is it to be in all these public places where you can hear lyrics about Jesus our Savior..and some of these songs have beautiful Scriptures in them. There is no other time of the year where this is allowed in happen in my part of this planet. I'm enjoying it a lot and am joining in as I walk through the crowds.  

2. I'm glad for a Christmas minus all the drama. But that doesn't mean I've never experienced or seen all the drama. There used to be a lot of drinking alcohol in my world and family. I feel grateful my parents were reunited minus all the drinking after spending one Christmas at the "Haven House" (a place for escaping and battered families) in a really poor part of town, and I also feel grateful the Haven House was there. I personally quit drinking in '77 and my dad hasn't had a drink in 43 years. He always says, "Glory to God" when I bring this up and he means it. I even remember one Christmas where I was visiting another family where some drinking was going on and there was a full explosion of drama if you will. How cool is that? Man, it's so awkward to be among a strange family when all hell breaks loose so to speak. One time I was asked my a believing mother to do a funeral for her husband who had passed away, but when her lost relatives arrived at the funeral they caused a whole lot of drama mainly towards my wife who wasn't saying anything at the time (cuz I was a stranger just trying to behave).

3. I thank God for the presence of Christ in my life—that's an awesome and indescribable Gift. He is the Gift of all gifts. Such forgiveness, companionship, purpose, and peace; that's so SO great to enjoy in His Spirit! And what an adventure we have!

4. I am happy that even though many things haven't gone my way in life (as perhaps in yours as well..), all things will work together for good in my life cuz I love the Lord and have been called according to his purpose (See Rom. 8:28).  

5. I thank the Lord for loved ones and friends around me, who really care, and for Christ's Church (that might sound real religious to you, but I mean the born again believers who are real).. they keep edifying me even when I least expect this and don't ask them to.

6. I am glad that even though some people around me go through tribulation, I don't have to go through the soon coming Great Tribulation because there will actually be a Rapture of the Church (a snatching away in one sixth of a nanosecond… though I of course won't pick a date for that). The important thing for you and me is to be ready.

Are you suffering, lonely, or feeling guilty? Are you facing what seems like an insurmountable obstacle standing real strong right before you in your life? Like our country has, do you have debt that you just can't pay off all alone?  

Maybe it is an addiction of some kind? Do you drink too much, but never plan to before you end up doing that? Has gambling got out of hand, and it's now thrown a hangman's rope around your neck? Do you have an incurable illness, when you used to be healthy for many decades? Do you have one or two prodigal adult or non-adult sons or daughters out there in the world partying away..that simply refuses to grow up or even face all the huge problems that they've ..over years.. created for themselves?  

Have you tried everything to remove the negativity, the depression session, and that monster's ugly face (whatever you've gotten all bound by), but it just doesn't seem like this obstacle will move even one inch. Perhaps you are sick of even bringing it up in conversation now, cuz you now know that other people just can't fix it either…they don't even know where to really start in addressing it. Christ is your victory..and stands by waiting patiently for you to turn and call upon Him in faith.  

7. I thank God for all the excellent godly teachers we still have among us (and I don't mean all the money grubbing Word-faith false teachers who masquerade as Christians through our media), but those who are real.. that can reach and equip us through so many cyber-avenues now. Remember when it was just through the radio or in person? Praise God we can hear em through our laptops. Love hearing them via TV through my Android tab and smart phone as well. Man, even though the Taliban is again on the rise (though we are seeing a collapse of our American culture due to many depraved American minds [literally minds that are not able to reason on behalf of their own best interests], and though our top leaders don't want us to see all this), we believers still have great reason to rejoice. It's all speeding up exponentially now, and even if you don't like these terms, we are in the last days.  

To simply warn people, but not to scare you allow me to say this.. the mainstream media transmitting through the airways, and Iran.. with the Muslim Brotherhood of course having the Koran, and Russia are not your friends today. The real enemy.. the prince of the power of the air that now works in the sons of disobedience ..ain't your friend either. He comes to steal, to kill, and to destroy people. And things seem to be going so fast now.   

"And unless the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect's sake, whom He chose, He shortened the days." Mark 13:20

Man, who could survive any nuke attack and still even have breath to repent, believe and be saved? 


Perhaps you are ready and are praying for someone who is just miserable right now. Keep on with that and expect God to use you in helping them while they are open. Visit facebook.com/shareJesus

Monday, November 26, 2012

On average only 8 minutes per day, and only 12 minutes per day.

Got a few minutes free. Think I'll try to encourage you a bit. 

It's never bad to be reminded of truth that we've already been told. Can I ponder out loud for a few minutes? 

Thinking about prayer...yup, enough to pause and go at it. Don't always do that, but I should let the Spirit cause my shoe leather to be directed. Mr. Torey from Great Britain has always stimulated me in this regard. He was surely a man of prayer and was led by the Spirit. Feel so grateful for him and of course for the Lord Himself who is our primary Example in the area of prayer.

I purpose to do this stuff some more.....more than before, the Lord being my Helper. And He will help you as well. Hey, I'm not an expert by any means in this area—wanna do it more though. This nation is basically far beyond what mere words and deeds of mortals can fix.  

So what am I thinking? Well… I'm thinkin' that prayerfully reading in the Bible will indeed stir us up in prayer. That's on my mind first. Wanna pray the Word and remind God of what He has said.. as if He needs that. But He does like that. 

I'm musing about this Bible "time investment" daily...it's so rad-important for us all. And it will actually stir us up in prayers that changes the world, cuz world-changing is so on God's heart. Yes, people around this globe are so very much on the Lord's heart. He wants to save them and He wants us to partner with Him in this..starting with prayers of faith. So let's study the Word of God today and let those powerful Words in God's Book abide in our minds, cuz triumphant prayer and subsequently the authentic revival.. are spawned when we allow His eternal truth to take hold in our hearts. 

When we see how in happened in the book of Acts, it'll make us wanna pray for a spiritual awakening as well. What God has done before, He can do again. Real revival and awakening are equally easy for Him to grant us.. if we will but take some time to worship Jesus.   

"We are too busy to pray, and so we (the Church) are too busy to have power. We have a great deal of activity, but we accomplish little; many services but few conversions; much machinery but few results." ~ R.A. Torey

I'm thinking about the early church today. They prayed together and separately like they meant it, cuz they really did. People mattered enough to do the main work for their benefit. They prayed regularly, biblically, and customarily (according to the already established set times of prayer). 

They prayed instinctively (it was their natural response—the first thing they would do when facing new issues), and they prayed fervently (it was heartfelt, it was to the point, it was simple instead of religious, it was very earnest with godly zeal and passion).

They didn't quit early when the Spirit was saying.. Go! The Bible says, "These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren."

"We sometimes fear to bring our troubles to God, because they must seem small to Him who sitteth on the circle of the earth. But if they are large enough to vex and endanger our welfare, they are large enough to touch His heart of love." ~ R.A. Torey

There is no concern too small to pray about so the early church prayed about everything. They depended upon the Lord, not on committees, high-tech (duh, can you even find any) or on their flesh. 

Do we pray about everything today? Are we looking to God to meet all or only some of our needs, believers? Do we quickly get bored down on our faces calling out to God? Do we still fast and pray? A couple reliable friends of mine told me yesterday that.. 60% of Americans claim that they pray every single day. Who are they praying to? I hope it is to the God of the Bible cuz the address on those prayers is so important. My friends also said that Western Christians pray for 8 minutes per day on average, and that Western Christian leaders pray for 12 minutes per day. 

Man, I say we all add some minutes in there, and add some heart in this wonderful discipline as well. Have we not been beat up enough with weird laws and wrong statues forced upon us from our twisted leaders. Questions for self first: Have we not been awakened to the reality of our times yet.. have we not been enough to give this prayer thing with Jesus some more time? Will we wait for more full-on persecution and deaths to happen here before we invest more minutes? 

I say we pray for the lost and for the saved, for strange and balanced leaders.. and for the followers, for those in our Land and for those in another Land, for the rich, the poor and all those in-between. I say we pause, get away, and pray to the Father in Jesus Name today. I say.. if we can, let us do this now. 

"The reason why many fail in battle is because they wait until the hour of battle. The reason why others succeed is because they have gained their victory on their knees long before the battle came. Anticipate your battles; fight them on your knees before temptation comes, and you will always have victory." ~ R.A. Torey

What else do I say? I say we war not against flesh and blood around us today, but by the Spirit for the Kingdom's sake. This world has enough people fighting in the flesh huh.

"Oh, men and women, pray through; pray through! Do not just begin to pray and pray a little while and throw up your hands and quit; but pray and pray and pray until God bends the heavens and comes down." ~ R.A. Torey

"All that God is, and all that God has, is at the disposal of prayer. Prayer can do anything that God can do, and as God can do everything, prayer is omnipotent." ~ R.A. Torey

Pray without ceasing today. I agree with Mr. Torey, let's pray thoroughly until God's will is done on earth, 'til we get an answer from Him and there is peace within, yes, 'til the unregenerate currently loving their own and other's sins ..are completely changed from the inside out.. yep, turned around to Christ, redirected, and hating all sin just like God does and are loving other sinners greatly as He does. Yes, 'til they are walking closely with the Lord in righteousness, holy fear, and love, and spiritual maturity...and until we ourselves are doing that as well, going the distance with Him as Lord of every area. 

Gotta run now. Read more at: facebook.com/shareJesus

Friday, November 23, 2012

In a day where mere shoppin' has replaced all of our major holidays, let's opt to love one another instead of one another's perishable stuff.

Hope you had a really wonderful Thanksgiving with family and friends that love you.
It's starting to get kinda wild out there now.
You know, believers, it's a real good day for us to encourage each other towards relating to the Lord, towards love in Him, towards doin' what's right, and even towards sharing our faith instead of towards loving one another's temporal junk, towards the world's system or towards what's flat out wrong.  
Don't get me wrong, I'm not really encouraging unbelievers to turn themselves good or "do good," (would hope they will) or to "do bad" per se (really hope they wouldn't do wrong and will stop em if someone is getting hurt), but their nature ain't like our inner new nature.....yet. I mean, it would be an exersize in futility to try and reform (aka moralize) them instead of just win them to Christ.
But we do pray fo them cuz someone once prayed for and witnessed to us. And we now desire to do what's appropriate instead of ..like they do.. commit to loving widgets, gadgets, and cheap motorized toys this season of the year.
He honest, a whole lot of people that you earlier couldn't even imagine doing so, simply aren't doing what's right or loving. I wonder if the holiday pressure coupled with economic hardships is really intensity everything. So many want to love things far more, but will probably be sorry about that when it's all said and done...and the shiny novelty is gone.  
The bottom line is this: People who refuse to love others or do what's right simply ain't of God. How come? Well, because the Bible clearly says…
"Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in Him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God." 1 John 3:10
Like me.. do you remember those days when stores were closed on big holiday weekends. I even remember when 7-11 stores were actually open from 7am until 11pm (Ok, enough reminiscing. It was like that far more when I lived in Europe, but perhaps you don't remember anything like that and just mentioning only dates me).
Just know that family time was so cool and can be for your family. Something to perhaps keep in mind for your own personalized/tailored future. Yeah, family members actually had more time for each other, rather than just for perishable tech-stuff, cuz what else were they going to do when all the businesses where closed or a few family rules where in place.
Looking around you, doesn't it seem like the aggressive type of extreme Black Friday "shopping" we see (after widgets, toys and cheap gizmo has become fairly expensive in relation to our post-election ever-reducing quality of lifestyle) has replaced all of our major holidays? What a shame.
I'm not totally sure how it is where you live, but people have been camping outside of big stores here in my city since Monday and now it's been a week long. I think they're just bored. And for what? Don't they remember how fast all that junk turns obsolete or how it looks with a really low garage sale price tag stuck on it?
But, Kurt, there's nothing wrong with shoppin' in and of it self. And you're so right, unless your spirit is so wrong inside. Get this...
There's already been an all out 'gang fight' at a simple Black Friday sale.
One man was punched in the face, actually pulled out a gun on a "line-cutting" shopper trying to score a deal.
A woman was just busted after throwing merchandise at people...
There's been total mayhem at a Omaha Nebraska mall..the very same place where 9 people were murdered in 2007...and a shoplifter now tries to mace the security guards...
There's been an I-N-S-A-N-E  BATTLE over cell phones.
People are feelin' desperate for love and are willing to pay to loo good if they can. And Victoria's Secret seems to be a real draw at the Oak Park Mall in Overland Park today.
Men steal a boy's shopping bag outside of Bed, Bath and Beyond.
One man left his girlfriend's two year old child in the car, just so he could go into the K-Mart at the Liberty Street Plaza to buy that must have 51 inch television. He was charged with reckless endangerment to a child.
One woman calls the cops on a Salvation Army worker ringing his bells for a cause. 
Hey, I really want you safe. Personally, I'm gunna stay clear of this mess. You might do that as well. Who really wants to get pushed, punched or shoved during this Black Friday chaos?
Now one of my wild friends in town here, Michael (who I still need to win over), says he was so tempted just to hit it on over to Best Buy last night in his "Sasquatch costume (that none of us knew he had) to tear through all the tents of the many kids sleeping in the parking lot with his bear-like growl, just to make everybody stop and think.. and then go home and into their more normal lives."
Looking around you… watchin' what's happening with Israel, with the Muslim Brotherhood, and also with natural disasters that have been happening with greater frequency and intensity.. do you ever wonder if we are living in the for real last days?  
Been re-checking-out some Scriptures that seem to be pertinent to these days we live in. Jesus warned us, "..you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows. Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name's sake. And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved" (Matt. 24:6-13, nkjv). Some of these things will of course happen in days to come, but no one can deny that some have already happened and are happening.
I'd say it's a real good day to turn your Black Friday into a white one of sorts, and just be ready for anything.    


Wednesday, November 21, 2012

What's clearly stated in the Bible ain't up for debate...

..it ain't up for tweakin' according to opinion..it ain't for addition to, or for subtraction away from.
 
We don't judge the Word of God from our hearts or minds. No. the Word judges our hearts and minds. God even judges what my attitude and human spirit is about. He will yours as well cuz He loves you and wants you totally free.
 
The Word of God is there to know, to trust, to love and to obey.. even if our culture doesn't like some of those terms. We are to commit to the Word even if our culture hates the word commit.
 
We worship Jesus the living Word of God by choice. We don't really wait for a feeling to start that or to confirm that the Word is with us.
 

Live not for fleeting pleasures, fallible people, or corroding stuff—we are convinced of better things concerning you.

"Dream as if you'll live forever, live as if you'll die today." ~ James Dean, see 5|24john

Do you have an uber-sorry, lame past.. or still have some heavy baggage that you've been haulin' around? If so it's time to deal with that.. by the Word of God. Yeah, no worries. Your heavenly Father has given Scriptures that clearly address all the needs of people, and He can still use you when you off-load all your burdens and junk to Him. In fact He delights to use His disciples as they fully trust in His Word. Too good to be true? Well, it is true. Yes indeed, because there is a grace that is greater than ALL your sin! And greater than all my sin as well. Praise the Lord for that.

Never forget how the disciples believed and then effectively proclaimed the Word.. about Christ being alive. We should do the same today. "And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all."

The Word is for you, not against you. It's for all people everywhere.
 
What's written in the Bible (the written word) always agreed with what Jesus said. He, the Father, and the Holy Spirit (God the Trinity) never ever change, but we are called to change our minds (to repent, turn around and go towards God) and believe in Him. We give ourselves to Him first, rather than to Christian works. Yes to Him before edifying believers and evangelizing other sinners. You know that our worship of Him is more important that all else.  

Please teach, preach and explain the proper application of the Wordplease help people clearly understand what the Word is really about. It's about pure love. People so are hungry. Let's feed em what's good. Yes, even believers regularly, for it is well-fed sheep that naturally ..or should I say supernaturally.. reproduce for God. Malnourished, poorly fed sheep don't reproduce, they just fall by the wayside unproductive and we never want that to happen. All matter to God and He has a purpose for each one.   
 
"And he (Paul) continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them." 18|11acts facebook.com/shareJesus