Don’t get fooled again

So last night I have a dream (nightmare) that my wife leaves me for someone else.  This morning I listened to Richard Ellis (love this guy) talk about Satan and how we let him get a foothold, I felt the Holy Spirit begin to work on my heart.  Then I listen to Dr. Jack Graham talk about love in the little things.  Yep, God was definitely getting my attention.  I realized this week I have not been very loving to my wife, my kids, others or myself.  I was giving Satan a foothold and not realizing it.

“Be wise as serpents—and harmless as doves.” Matthew 10:16

Unnecessary Amputation

God’s body was never meant to be disassembled…why is it that we don’t or can’t see the value in others?

I hate days where I let other peoples behavior keep me from seeing their value.  I am not saying that its not important to realize when someone is not following Christ, but when we use it as an excuse to push or write people off – how Christ-like is that?  How do you balance keeping in your head what is righteous in Christ without losing mercy and compassion?  I also understand that sometimes people cut themselves off – we should pray for them.

Romans 12:4-5

“Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.”-

Second Chance

My father-in-law was coming back from vacation when he had an aortic dissection.  By Gods answers to many prayers – he has survived the condition and the surgery when the doctors were certain he wouldn’t.  He has been given a second chance.  More importantly so have I.  I have been praying, ministering and serving to help out the family but its my faith that has been greatly touched.   There are others in the hospital that didn’t make it.  A second chance is not when we cheat death – its when we cheat life.  We cheat life when we don’t take the opportunity to let someone know who Jesus is or what he’s done for us.  We cheat life when we don’t love on people when its VERY CLEAR that God wants us to.  We cheat life when we get so complacent that we have a job to earn a living, food on the table, a roof over our heads and family that love us.  Why is it that we hate when people cheat man’s law but we love to cheat and rationalize when it comes to “Gods law”.

Matthew 6:25-34
Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

mark

Political Correctness

Ok, so as a nation, the U.S. have gone totally insane.  You can’t talk about religion, you can’t talk about politics, you can’t event tell someone they look nice today without potential litigation.  Political Correctness started out as a courtesy that has evolved into law.

Christian beliefs are going to be worked into the hate crime bill so we won’t be able (legally) to speak the Word (truth) of God.  The U.S. claims to be the #1 country in the world when it comes to freedom, and yet our government is working harder and harder to limit what people can say.  Does anyone see how hipocritcal that is.  Soon all we will be able to talk about is sports but I am sure that will eventually be off limits.

The only thing that we need to remember is it doesn’t matter what they legislate, Gods word wins.

I for one will not turn away from it nor will I deny it.

mgh

Working to Live

I heard a lot of people mention that today Michael Jackson is in heaven.  Only God truly knows but MJs life by most counts was not a reflection of his love for Jesus Christ.  So I am not sure how people can say they know something that only God could know.  Why I am ranting about this is because I am frustrated with religious relativism and the carnal view of God and salvation.  Jesus died for all sin but that doesn’t mean we are saved.  I also heard recently that the question is not “can you lose your salvation” but “were you ever saved in the first place”.

Romans 10:9

That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Matthew 7:21-23

²¹“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. ²²Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ ²³Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

I think that when people talk about salvation they discount works.  I think that is a big mistake.  I believe that Christ died for my sins but the expectation is “sin no more” and “love God” and “love my neighbor”.  I have yet to find someone who will deny that real love takes work.

I will love and I will work.

My point is not to judge but to clarify that salvation was hard work – why wouldn’t God expect us to work for him.  He has already paid us.

Peace

Speed Limits

One of the justifications for establishing speed limits is accident prevention.  Given that premise, how many of these games do you play?

1. I can go __ miles over the speed limit and not get pulled over.

2. Traffic is going __ so as long as I am going the same – I’m ok

3. I can speed because cops only come out at the end of the month

4. I am late for __ so its ok that I speed

So God set up speed limits (laws) for us – but how many times do we break those laws by playing games like we do with speed limits.

Think about that next time you break the speed limit.

God Bless

mgh

Everyday is Father’s Day

Every year at this time, it seems that most of us are thinking about what we are going to do for our fathers on Fathers Day.  Maybe its a gift certificate to Home Depot, dinner at dads favorite steakhouse, etc..  The goal is to let our dad know that we love and appreciate him.

I had a different thought – what am I going to do for my Heavenly Father on Fathers Day?  I soon remembered that I should do for him everyday not just Fathers Day.  So my new take on Fathers Day is that its a reminder that I should love and appreciate my Heavenly Father EVERYDAY!

I pray that as a servant of the Lord, I open myself to the opportunity that my Heavenly Father gives me everyday to serve him and be truly free.

mgh

Last Man Standing

There are some that feel that the way to deal with extreme Islam is to make them all leave this country.

The earthly part of me says “Hell Yeah!!!”….

… then the spiritual part of me reminds me that part of our purpose is to bring others to God but we can’t do that if we can’t develop a relationship with them and show them the love of Christ.  Hard to do that if they are not here.  Not to condone what they believe but one of the reasons that people don’t respond to Christians is because we push them away.  We expect them to be part of us but we don’t give them a reason to be us.  I also am reminded of scripture that says to take the log out of my own eye before pointing out the splinter in my brothers.

So we could tell everyone who violates Gods Word regarding ______to leave….

1. Murderers
2. Pedophiles
3. Adulterers
4. Domestic Abusers (Wife/Husband)
5. Rapists
6. Thieves
7. Drug Addicts

Oh, lets not forget, we also need to include EVERYTHING that is a violation of Gods word …

7.  Lying
8.  Hatred
9.  Selfishness
10. Lust
11. People who take Gods name in vain
12. People who don’t honor their father/mother
13. Envy
14. Gluttony
15. Sloth

I don’t think there would be many people left.

Some people might say that the first set of sins is greater than the second set so if we aren’t in the first set – we are ok to stay.  If we look at the sacrifice that Christ made – it was made for all – no exceptions.

I do struggle with things like this but when I pray, think and reflect about it in Gods terms – no more struggle.

I don’t say these things because I am by no means any expert or image of spiritual perfection.  I am called to speak what I believe.

Do I want them here … not a chance
But let Gods will be done … not mine … and I will praise him always.

Amen

God’s Word – Weapon Or Tool?

A great friend of mine posed the following question:

Our country, the greatest, free-est, most generally affluent, and most powerful country on the planet was born out of Christian values and principles  Today we are a land questionable values [abortion rights, gay marriage, tortured prisoners, etc.].  How do you think we, as Christians, should line up on these issues and the like?

1. Should we do as we are told?
2. Should we stand up for what God has told us and let the chips fall where they may?  And, how far is too far?

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Ephesians 6

5Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. 6Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but like slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. 7Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, 8because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free.

9And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with him.
10Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12For 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. 13Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.
19Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, 20for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.
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I think that the line that we don’t cross is Gods word – we don’t do anything contrary to it.  God’s Word is our greatest tool as well as weapon.  I say that because it helps us defend against evil and helps us to show Gods love to others both at the same time – beautiful!

I also think about what Christ did when he was faced with injustice against his Father – he loved, he forgave and he healed – even on the cross.  We are called to do the same.

1. We should always pray for, serve and show the love of Christ to everyone who is either engaging in behavior that is against God’s word or people that support that behavior (politicians included).  We should also actively support groups/organizations that show the love of God to these people.  I am not talking about Planned Parenthood or the Rainbow Coalition – I am talking about groups that minister to those we are not following the word of God.  For example – there is a group called XXX Church that ministers to people in the pornography industry.  Many people scoff at groups like this – but this is exactly what Christ did.

2. We should vote for candidates that support our Christian values.  That requires some work and prayer on our part.  Unfortunately most people don’t even try to see what the candidates stand for.

3. We should always speak the truth in love.  Remember I said that Gods word was a weapon and a tool at the same time – most people confuse the two and use his word as a weapon instead of a tool.

Love of God to everyone

mgh

Hello world!

Hi.  It’s me.  I know you’re out there.
I know you’re working as fast as you can to catch me.
I thought I should call and let you know how things stand.
I know you’re real proud of this world you’ve built, the way it works, all the nice little rules and such, but I’ve got some bad news.
I’ve decided to make a few changes.