Merry Christmas...

Only a few days until the world celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ. I know many actually celebrate anything but his birth. It is a carnal celebration of lights, music, gifts and food. There is nothing wrong with these things as long as we take time to remember our Savior just like we take time to remember those in our families when they have birthdays. Then we should really take it a bit further to remember the Lord just like we would someone in our family who died saving our life. "Wait" you say, "I would never celebrate the birthday of a loved one who died; it would just be too sad!" I agree with you but what if your loved one rose from the dead? Christ did! He's alive!! His Spirit is here with us and when we celebrate His day, He knows it and He celebrates with us. When we pray "any" day He knows and He hears our every word. Remember Him this CHRISTmas...
Happy Birthday Jesus!

Have you ever wondered if we're missing it?

"It's crazy if you think about it. The God of the universe — the Creator of nitrogen and pine needles, galaxies and e-minor — loves us with a radical, unconditional, self-sacrificing love. And what is our typical response? We go to church, sing songs, and try not to cuss.

Whether you've verbalized it yet or not... we all know something's wrong. Does something deep inside your heart long to break free from the status quo? Are you hungry for an authentic faith that addresses the problems of our world with tangible, even radical, solutions? God is calling you to a passionate love relationship with Himself. Because the answer to religious complacency isn't working harder at a list of do's and don'ts — it's falling in love with God. And once you encounter His love, you will never be the same. Because when you're wildly in love with someone, it changes everything."

"With an urgency that seeks to awaken a sleeping church mired in the comfort of middle ground, Crazy Love gets to the heart of the matter and leaves you wanting more — more of the matchless Jesus who offers radical life for all." — LOUIS GIGLIO, director of Passion conferences

Social Media Revolution: UPDATED

I will give you rest...

For the past few weeks I have been very weary. I have been told that my thyroid is inactive so I'm sure that has something to do with it. Sometimes we all have things that interfere with our lives, whether it's fatigue, depression or something else. When you feel weary go to the Lord and ask him for strength. He is willing and able to help you!

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28

Good Friday (good for who?)

Today is "Good Friday", the day our Lord was crucified dying a horrendous death. Because of His sacrifice we can be forgiven of our sins. So that day is a good day for us, but not so much for Christ. Could God have simply said you are forgiven and allowed His Son not to suffer for us? The answer is no; it was the only way. For hundreds of years mankind offered sacrifices of animals and crops but this was just a temporary solution. The sacrifice needed to be clean (animals) and the first fruits (crops) were to be offered. You see Jesus was and is the only true pure sacrifice. Blood had to be shed. Why? Because a perfect being (God) looked at all the options and said it was the ONLY way!

Take some time today and thank God for His sacrifice of His only Son; also, thank Christ for being willing to die so we could live.

The Most Important Thing...

What is the most important thing in your life? Is it your family, God, your health or something else. I bet your saying, here we go, a writing on why God should be first. Even though I agree with that statement, that is not the purpose of this post. If something is the most important thing in your life are you acting like it? Do your actions confirm your words? Are you willing to forsake all things for that important person or thing in your life? I bet we all fall short of giving our all for whatever holds the most value to us. Why is that so? Well, we become comfortable thinking that person or thing will always be there for us. We think our actions or inaction will not really change anything and that my friend... is selfish. As humans we are basically selfish beings that really want to put ourselves above everything else. We are really saying that the most important person or thing is there for our pleasure; there to make our life better. Do we want what is best for us or for the most important person or thing? Think about it! If you really put that important person or thing above yourself you will see a change for the better... better for you and everyone else involved.

This is a presentation with audio clips by Paul Washer. (pause background music prior to playing)

Pure as snow...

"Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD. Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool." Isaiah 1:18

Snow in the Bible is often used as a symbol of purity. If you travel to run down parts of a city you will find trash and an ugliness that most community leaders are embarrassed of. Now cover the broken bottles, old newspapers and other unsightly pieces of trash with snow and they disappear. The area now looks nice in fact it's beautiful. What once was an eye sore is now something to behold.

In comparison if you take a life marred with sin you will see a person who is tired, broken and dirty. Cover that life with the blood (like snow) of the Lamb (Christ) and you will see a transformation from ugly to beautiful. The life is like the streets covered with snow only it's truly pure and clean (not just hidden trash).

If you place trash on top of the snow (or back into the life) or allow it to melt or fade, then the ugliness returns as it does when a forgiven Christian turns his back on Christ.

Ask Christ to forgive you and to help you stay pure...

Test or temptation?

Does God test us? The answer is yes! "... we speak as men approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please men but God, who tests our hearts." 1 Thessalonians 2:4 Does God tempt us? No! "When tempted, no one should say, God is tempting me. For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone;" James 1:13. So what about Genesis 22:1? "And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am." (KJV). The NIV states it this way - "Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, Abraham! Here I am, he replied." One must study Hebrew to understand how translating certain words to English often causes issues that may lead to doubt of the Bible's accuracy. So what is the difference? Testing shows we are sincere in our efforts to serve the Lord and makes us stronger. Tempting on the other hand is a form of trickery. Satan tempts us because he wants us to fail. God tests us because he wants us to succeed!