F4S: March 2016

Wednesday, March 30, 2016

"...look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal." ~ Paul who was once religiously-mean Saul, 2 Corinthians 4:18

http://kurtwvs.tumblr.com/post/141964114488/live-for-what-will-last-and-be-totally-goodwhat

Young people I meet still want to be truly successful. Why not privately, out loud meditate on Bible passages day and night so you'll be prepared to do em? There's lots of success in the Word!

Be principled daily–biblically disciplined, but not in a chilly mean or religious sorta way. Love what you do cuz you know it’s absolutely right for such a time as this. Wisely, practically work hard–too many are superstitious, irresponsible, inconsiderate of others, lazy, make tons of excuses and just work dumb. ‘Be cas so to speak’ and laugh a lot. Life never get’s so bad that you can’t find something to laugh about. I mean enjoy your Lord, time with people, a casual sorta living with some healthy-humor, not taking yourself too seriously. Don’t believe in luck. Be careful what you allow in your ear and eye gates so you’ll be authentically pure-minded. You’ve got to know about proper application and momentum– understand both by prayerfully going through the entire Bible. Don’t lose your momentum or love your work too much–more than you love Christ. If you do lose forward momentum, then pray and listen more. Ask up, adjust to His plan for you, and righteously reclaim it ..for God’s glory not your own. Give Him the credit. Please go be real and tell (the Gospel in accurate but fresh way)–enjoy the mighty MO! Who do you know that is enjoyin’ that right now? Are there things you can learn from that? What real and felt needs are they addressing? What needs are you personally addressing and how smart-aggressively are you? Want real success? Do what Josh did when he took he Land for Isarel. Never give up. Know well, practice and share the Word tactfully--the principles of truth. Do it all God’s way with his timing and blessing on it. What else are you going to do with your life that’s so worth it?
— 
“This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” ~ Joshua

Saturday, March 26, 2016

I love a Good Res and Resurrection-day! Happy Easter To You and Yours!

Done.. it is finished by a Finisher. If we start right.. it's good to run right and it's good for us to finish too.

Posted by Kurt von Schleicher on Friday, March 25, 2016

Thursday, March 24, 2016

Easter, a.k.a. Ress-day--it's all about God's Love.

God's great love for you transcends it all. All you now face!
It’s transcendent--this Resurrection agape! Divine love is based on the Lover not the love-ie. His love guarantees our security--God loves you. He loves your friends too.
Jesus said, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live." —John 11:25

“O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?” The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law." ~ Paul, 1 Corinthians 15:55-56

Human love is not quite so big–it is based on the one loved. I is like..I love you because I like to be seen with you. I love you because of what you do for me. I love you because of your sense of humor, what you have, your position and what you drive.. on how you look. And if that changes then I’ll find somebody else to love. You need more than just human love.
It’s not that we first loved God, but that he loved us and gave his son Jesus for us.. as a propitiation for our sin. I told my sweetheart Liney that she loves me because I first loved her. But I love God because he first loved me. He is the initiator and I am the responder.
God initiated, yes, because of His great love. Easter is all about God's love for you--it's about the sting of death being taken permanently away!

God's agape love is so SO Big, but man's love is so small. People can run out of love, but God never stops loving you. It's a Resurrection kinda love!

Think about a bumblebee for a minute. The bee might land a sting on you while you're here on earth, but it sacrifices all just to burn you with that sting. When a bumblebee or honeybee stings a person, it pulls out the bee's barbed stinger and leaves it behind, but along with the stinger goes part of its digestive tract, muscles and nerves and it might fly off, but it will die. Satan sure landed a sting on Christ at Calvary, He died there. But in so doing.. it sealed Mr. Lu-Cifer's future fate. Death died when Christ rose--He is alive! For born again believers, death is not the end of the road, nope it's only a slight bend in the road Home. Soon death and hades will be thrown into a real placed called "the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire." And very sadly, "if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life" (see Revelation 20:14). Please do address this early--make your own reservations in advance.


"One day, a mother and her two children were in the park having a wonderful time. They were enjoying the outdoors until a big bumblebee landed on little Brother and then stung him! He began to cry and scream like any child would as the wound on his arm became swollen. The bee was still buzzing around, and his little sister was petrified. The mother comforted her daughter by saying, 'Darling, wait a minute.' As she was wiping Brother's tears away, she said, 'Look down here on your brother’s arm.' Right in the middle of that swelling was the bumblebee's stinger. 'You see that, Sweetheart? That bee can buzz and fight you, but he can’t hurt you. You see, he can only sting once and he has left his stinger in your brother.' While death is a decided fact, Death is also a defeated foe. We are able to laugh in the face of Death if we know the Lord Jesus Christ. I want to tell you, friend, Death may buzz around you and frighten you, but our elder brother, the Lord Jesus, bears that sting. Jesus took the sting out of Death, and He has given us a hope that is steadfast and sure. Jesus told Death that he couldn't keep Him. You see – Jesus willingly and vicariously laid down His life. The wages of sin is death, but Jesus was not a sinner and did not have to die. Jesus willingly, voluntarily, vicariously laid down His life. Death thought he had a victory. Old King Death laid his icy, bony hands on the Lord Jesus Christ and shackled Him with the bonds of death. Jesus lay cold, stiff, and stark in that tomb. Old King Death possibly clapped his bony hands, shrieked a hoarse laugh and declared, 'I have Him! He's mine. I am going to keep Him.' But after three days, the Lord Jesus stirred, and He majestically rose from His resting place. Jesus did more than survive death. He defeated and decimated death in that tomb!" ~ Adrain Rogers

Prayerfully meditate upon these verses this holiday season, "But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by Man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive... For He must reign, till He hath put all enemies under His feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death." 1 Corinthians 15:20-22, 25-26 knowGod.org

Sunday, March 20, 2016

If you make peace upwards the results will be peace with those outwards. They might not opt to gain peace, but you'll sure have peace towards them--it'll help.

Prayerfully make each day count as a friendly peace-maker is wise to do, because you and I don't get a redo.. get to do that particular day over again. The consequences good or bad are indeed a product of our decisions.. whether they be good or bad.
"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God." —Matthew 5:9
The wisest of peacemaking efforts may be fully rejected, but the alternative for not trying is continued hostility. When was the last time you met an anxious person who really needed to make peace vertically with God through Christ.. via faith and His gracious forgiveness.. so that the subsequent fall-out of that would result in peace-making and forgiveness on the horizontal plane.. yes, peace with many people who had been offended by him or her?
"He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near." —Ephesians 2:1
When you listen to.. give careful heed to.. yield to.. truly surrender your life to the Prince of peace--Christ, the living word of God--you will simply abide in peace. Yup, no matter what others decide to do.. no matter the various circumstances that happen in or around your life.
How blest are those who persevere
To bring a conflict to an end;
And if the peace of Christ takes hold,
An enemy becomes a friend. —D. De Haan
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law." Let's daily make them ours.
What this world needs now.. is love with peace ..peace that passes all misunderstanding and even passes understanding.
O Prince of Peace, keep us, we pray,
From strife and enmity;
Help us to speak with loving words
That quell hostility. —JDB
Remember Ms. Abigail, she was a smart peacemaker and her courage spared the future king of Israel from a big blunder that would have been very problematic inside later on. She helped him avoid committing a terrible sin. Do you remember what happened?.. her story?
David had basically been forced to live out in the wilderness just to escape King Saul’s jealous crazy religious wrath.
A group of about 600 needy men and their needy families had gathered all around David. Where were they at this time? For several months they camped out in the countryside near Carmel where the flocks of a fool named Nabal (that was Abigail’s husband) had been grazing.
And David’s guys ..team if you will.. had been kind to help Nabal’s shepherds protect the sheep from robbers passing through. Now the shearing time had arrived, and David with others in mind.. sent his messengers to simply request some basic compensation from Nabal, who was rich and could easily afford it. But Nabal was coarse and refused David’s men such a repayment of kindness. He was rude and disdainful.
Then in spontaneous anger David rashly decided to kill Nabal and all the men in his household for such a mean put-down.. but Abigal the peacemaker jumped in to quickly help David get a grip.. yes, to see the bigger picture and she talked him out of sinning. facebook.com/shareJesus

Friday, March 18, 2016

Want better relations and improved nations? Believe ..and do the next indicated thing.

Do the next thing, believer. Be led, go, SERVE, know, clearly SAY what's so. PRAY and diligently OBEY. Do it His way. Show sincere LOVE from above.. to the next person you meet ..yes greet, be freed, do as Jesus leads. Do that next thang before you. Encourage and build em up one by one until He comes. Feed well, with no smell, and win em one by one.. even standing before a crowd.

The ultimate Answer hasn't changed--that's Christ! 

If we Americans would but humbly turn away from our wrong doin's, pray honestly, be regenerated inside (a must), deny our old nature that tells us to do what it tells us to do.. and we actually deny our ears from all the racist messages of racist leaders here (we're surrounded by them).

Then those racial tensions would just evaporate and race-relations would be made far better--our nation would be better! 

We would be much less likely to misread and judge others motives, intentions, hearts, messages and we could really love one another as we were designed to do in the Holy Spirit. It really doesn't need to stay as it is! Desire lasting peaceWithGod.net
"While they were ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, 'Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.'" Acts 13:2
"If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit." Galatians 5:25
"For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God." Romans 8:14
In a culture obsessed with looks, feelings, pleasure, prejudice, vulgarity, celebrity and novelty. In a Land where all sorts of highs.. and where emotional highs with first-hand experiences seem to rule. I've found that I'm just one ordinary human with an extraordinary God who can change this world. I've found that real life here is mostly lived in the daily mundane that often seems the same. 

Much of life is in darker valleys, it's not always lived on bright mountaintops, and gobs of it isn't all that impressive enough to become a tweet or Facebook status update. It really ought to be a series of uncelebrated steps of faith--the next indicated thing and then the next... a series of steps, of edifying disciplines, the next good things with eyes on a good God. Yes, of hidden habits to help others by His power. 

This month you’ll perhaps do two hundred unspectacular ordinary things.. like drive a car, or old bike, and brush your teeth, and eat food, and wash dishes, and do laundry, and answer questions or the phone, and pay some bills, and run some laps, and gas up your car, or wash it--you know it needs washing.. or rinse your hands, and make your bed as you have prayer and Scriptures in your head etc. Please be led, not driven. Dumb ranch-cattle are driven, but sheep get led.
"Then the Spirit said to Philip, 'Go up and join this chariot.'" Acts 8:29
"But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth.." John 16:13
"They passed through the Phrygian and Galatian region, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia; and after they came to Mysia, they were trying to go into Bithynia, and the Spirit of Jesus did not permit them.." Acts 16:6-7
You’ll do the next indicated thing. Spend time with Jesus and let Him indicate over and over again. And then, after that, you’ll do the next thing again, believer. Step by step. Go tell. One little seemingly insignificant but important moment at a time.

Do you remember Christian martyr, Jim Elliot, as a missionary he did this. He was led by the Spirit? Perhaps you've read some quotes from him? Was it always easy and pleasant for Jim? No, he still had trials, testings, JOY and persecution. Remember in the rain forest of Ecuador how attached to that Auca Indian spear that killed him, was a Gospel tract he had lovingly handed to his murderers. And you surely remember reading the thoughts of his faithful wife who passed away just last year, Elisabeth. Well, she had gleaned so much practical from an Old Saxon poem entitled "Do the next thing!"

Do it immediately;

Do it with prayer;

Do it reliantly,

casting all care;

Do it with reverence,

Tracing His Hand,

Who placed it before thee with

Earnest command.

Stayed on Omnipotence,

Safe 'neath His wing,

Leave all resultings,

DO THE NEXT THING.

If you do the work of Jesus in the way of Jesus with the timing and manner of Jesus after your whole-hearted worship of...
Posted by Fish For Souls Evangelism™ - Kurt von Schleicher on Friday, March 18, 2016

Wednesday, March 16, 2016

Other Christians can and will righteously go do something that you do not think is right or approve of, but is it really sin according to the Bible? Let's unify around Christ and the Essentials!.

Why not we maintain a clear conscience in the Lord? Who is God leading you to vote for this election season and why? (don't answer that--rhetorical). There are of course factors, circumstances, messages.. to judge ..but this morning I was looking at a verse on judging people that would be helpful for us all to prayerfully memorize. “Who are you to judge the servant of another? Before his own master he stands approved or falls out of favor. And he who serves the Master—the Lord will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.” Romans 14:4 

I was for 18 long years feelin' pretty empty inside, a fully loved lost-sinner. But now a fully loved saved-sinner and guess what.. I wasn't the one who initiated this. God did, and I simply responded to Him. Feelin’ so grateful for a clean conscience today and everyday after that great day.. yes, even when not all Christians or non-Christians approve of all that I do to try to help others! They won't always of all that you do in the Lord as well. Hey, no biggy. No worries. Jesus Himself did stuff that some didn't approve of. Remember when he turned over tables? You know we're not to live for the approval of man anyways, but live for the approval and glory and pleasure of God.

“But God proves His own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us!” Romans 5:8

I have a simple story–hear it. Now, what’s your story?

Have you been tempted to judge the hearts of other people? No need for us doing that. Are you in need, or do you have a needy friend? “So, I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe, that you have received it, and it will be yours.” ~ Mark 11:24


Listen UP.  The Lord's mouth still works--it agrees with the truth of His Bible.  How you view and value other people ..I mean believer or non-believer.. is the way you will treat them.  So be very careful to view them as God views them according to His word.  He’s been very kind.  Important!.. the way you speak to and treat other people is how those people often become. 

Monday, March 14, 2016

Joy ain't just some girl's name.

Is your joy level at ten on a ten-scale today?  It can be regardless of your outward circumstances.

Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls. ~ I Peter 1:8-9

Can death bury your joy deep in a dark and dirty hole? Nope, cuz the Lord has already been there and He is greater than death.

Can personal failure rob you of your joy? Nope, because Jesus is greater than your personal blunders and sins.

Can the betrayal of a dear friend take your joy away? Nope, because Jesus is the friend that will never bail-out–He'll never ditch you.

Can sickness pull your joy downwards? Nope, cuz the Lord is your healer leading you upwards. He's promised–whether on this side of the grave or on the other side–to completely heal you.

Can false expectations and disappointment pluck your joy from the heart? Nope, because though your own ideas, best efforts, and thorough plans may not quite work out, the God who made and greatly values you still has a good plan for your life that will indeed work out.

Death, failure, betrayal, sickness, expectations and disappointments cannot take the JOY of Jesus away from you because Christ lives on the inside and can't be taken away, believer. Let Him daily live big as Lord inside of you and choose to sing His praises …cuz not one of His good promises will ever fail you. 

Jesus promised, No one will take away your joy. ~ John 16:22.

Rejoice that your names are written in heaven. ~ Luke 10:20

Have you been walking in His truth and joy? 

Any of us can start today. And remembering how God graciously blessed and showed His love in providing for you yesterday can help to release thanks, JOY, hope and even strength for today.

Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; He is to be feared above all gods. Psalm 96:4

God does not need our thanks, service, or praise, but we need Him. He doesn't need us at all, but He delights in us and we need Him. By basking so to speak in His presence we can drink deeply of His joy and infinite love. We can daily rejoice in this best-of-em-all relationship–in the One who came to show us how to live as well as to redeem us."In Your presence there is fullness of joy" expresses the psalmist  "At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore." Psalm 16:11 es.

http://kurtwvs.tumblr.com/post/141038265653/kurtwvs-dream-live-read-pray-write

Sunday, March 13, 2016

You know Christ wasn't a pacifist, or some self-seeking bully.

Jesus is the prince of peace, He gives peace with God the Father through the forgiveness of sins. Why? Well, He is a peacemaker as we too should become, but Jesus is not a pacifist.


“Praise be to the Lord my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle.” Psalm 144:1


Kinda similar thoughts to what we read in the 18th psalm. This was penned by David right before he was promoted..yes, before his accession to the crown, when he was troubled and persecuted by lost religious Saul. It seems he was still in trouble at this time (for all believers have struggles and none have an exemption from trials that are allowed in our lives to help us grow strong). The neighboring nations were pretty much harrassing and molesting him spiritually--giving him disturbances, especially the Philistines. (See 2 Sam. 5:17). Here David acknowledges, with triumph and thankfulness, the great goodness of God shown to him in personally advancing him forward as a leader.

The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies.. Psalm 18:2

You are my strength, Heavenly Father and I’m thankful for Christ a mighty warrior. He fought and won as Your Son.


Jesus said, When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own house, his possessions are undisturbed.~ Luke 11:21

Now some days I feel a million miles away.. from god, but still I pray. Feelings are fickle--they lie. But I still want to pray and to hear all that You Lord have to say. You connect me in your Way and in your church. Feelings may sway--they come and go, but make me know as a real bro.. so I can go and show. Please show Yourself strong through me.

Connect me real tight. With You, let me burn bright and put up a fight..a good one. So that others can get redirected to Your light and connect as well.

I choose to worship You in Spirit and in truth. And I want to do that with JOY ahead of everything else I do and am. Yes, I want to seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and trust you to provide all that I need--I know you will. You always have. Thank you. Your grace and kindness makes me want to tell somebody about you. It makes me want to type in right and explain how you really are. Perhaps if I write the truth in a way that accurately describes Your character Lord, yes, write about your holy, faithful, gentle and really good character, then others will want to draw near to You.. will come to You by grace through faith. If I was a musician I would play music with all my heart, I would pick riffs and strum on strings as best I could I'm right lyrics that would please you. But all this with make the devil and his minions squirm and fight To confuse, to deceive, to mislead people away from the cross.


What have you heard 'bout “spiritual warfare” lately..or ever? We can review what’s true about it. What does God in the Bible say about it?

There are two primary errors when it comes to spiritual warfare—over-emphasis and under-emphasis

1.) Some blame every sin, every conflict, and every problem on demons that need to be cast out. Well, real Christians can contend with their old fleshly nature, but they never need to have them (demons) cast out because the Holy Spirit who lives inside of the believer doesn’t have Mr. Lu-Cifer inside or any of his fallen-angel-buds as roommates enjoyin’ some time-share or seasonal vacation arraignment or other kind of agreement with them. Duh!

2.) Other people completely ignore the spiritual realm and the fact that the Bible tells us our battle is against spiritual powers. 

The key to successful spiritual warfare is finding the biblical balance

Jesus sometimes cast demons out of lost unregenerate people; other times He healed people with no mention of the demonic. The apostle Paul instructs Christians to fight the good fight of faith..to wage war against the sin in themselves (Romans 6) and warns us to oppose the schemes of the devil (Ephesians 6:10–18).

Ephesians 6:10–12 says, “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” This text teaches some crucial truths: we can only stand strong in the Lord’s power, it is God’s armor that protects us, and our battle is ultimately against spiritual forces of evil in the world.

Ephesians 6:13–18 is a description of the spiritual armor God gives us. We are to stand firm with the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, the sword of the Spirit, and by praying in the Spirit. What do these pieces of spiritual armor represent in spiritual warfare? We are to know the truth, believe the truth, and speak the truth. We are to rest in the fact that we are declared righteous because of Christ’s sacrifice for us. We are to proclaim the gospel no matter how much resistance we face. We are not to waver in our faith, trusting God’s promises no matter how strongly we are attacked. Our ultimate defense is the assurance we have of our salvation, an assurance that no spiritual force can take away. Our offensive weapon is the Word of God, not our own opinions and feelings. And we are topray in the power and will of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus is our ultimate example of resisting temptation in spiritual warfare. Observe how Jesus handled direct attacks from Satan when He was tempted in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1–11). Each temptation was combatted with the words “it is written.” The Word of the living God is the most powerful weapon against the temptations of the devil. “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you” (Psalm 119:11).

A word of caution concerning spiritual warfare is in order. Nowhere in Scripture are we instructed to cast out demons or even to speak to them. The name of Jesus is not a magic incantation that causes demons to flee from before us. The seven sons of Sceva are an example of what can happen when people presume an authority they have not been given (Acts 19:13–16). Even Michael the archangel did not rebuke Satan in his own power but said, “The Lord rebuke you!” (Jude 1:9). When we start talking to the devil, we run the risk of being led astray as Eve was (Genesis 3:1–7). Our focus should be on God, not demons; we speak to Him, not them.

In summary, what are the keys to success in spiritual warfare? Glad you asked. We rely on God’s power, not our own. We put on the whole armor of God. We draw on the power of Scripture—the Word of God is the Spirit’s sword. We pray in perseverance and holiness, making our appeal to God. We stand firm (Ephesians 6:13–14); we submit to God; we resist the devil’s work (James 4:7), knowing that the Lord of hosts is our protector. “Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken” (Psalm 62:2). 


God, I'm willing to change, to mature, and to grow strong. I'm willing to turn the page to engage.. in biblcial spiritual warfare however you want me to, Lord. Please fill me with Your Spirit. Thanks.. that You train my hands for war and my fingers for battle. Amen.