I Don't Want to Gain the Whole World and Lose My Soul

I was listening to Toby Mac's song on the way to the office this morning, Lose My Soul. Wow! What a message! That certainly caused me to have a Big Gulp Gut Check!

It sickens my heart as I look at the world and see people who are living their lives so carelessly. God instructs us to come out from the world and be separate but in churches all over the world we seem to be in a contest to see who can be most like the world and still expect to be recognized as a "church". Compromise has become common and morals and Christian values are "ole fashion" and "out of date".

I recently heard of a pastor in a mega church that tells his congregation (of mostly young families and young adults) that he has a "cuss" jar and places money in it throughout the week each time he says a curse word! What is with that????! What ever happened to Christians pursuing holiness and Godliness? Oh yeah - I forgot - that is not cool anymore and it doesn't bring crowds into our churches. We have become so number conscious that we are willing to compromise and preach watered down, warm and fuzzy sermons so we don't offend anyone for fear they may leave our church. Pulpits are filled with false prophets who are preaching heresy and people are buying into it hook, line and sinker! We don't have time in our busy schedules to read our Bibles and pray so our foundations are weak. When you don't know God's Word it is easy to succumb to compromise. Many of those folks have bought into the lie of deception from the enemy and are clueless as to what being a true Christian is all about.

I don't want to gain the whole world and lose my soul! NOTHING this world offers is worth missing the opportunity to spend eternity with Jesus Christ. Gaining notoriety, fame and fortune is certainly not worth losing my soul over. My Bible says that few will enter heaven. Unpopular teaching but folks we are living in the last days and fewer and fewer pastors are preaching the truth. Fewer and fewer Christians are willing to stand up for Christ and show the world what Godliness and holiness is all about. People are dying and going to hell and we are sitting back watching the devil win. It is time that we take a stand for what we believe in. SIN separates us from God. 1 Peter 1:16 says, for it is written: "be holy, because I am holy."

I don't want to gain the whole world and lose my soul......... What about you?

Blessings and hugs!

In "other" Words - Faith

This week Denise at Shorty Bears Place is hosting "In other Words" on her blog. Be sure to check out the other ladies comments on this week's quote.

In chapter 5 of the Book of Mark, the woman with the issue of blood had such passion, determination and FAITH that she overcame what seemed to be illogical. Logic said, "There are so many people around Jesus. You cannot possibly get through that crowd." Logic said, "You are ceremonially unclean and cannot go near Christ."

But her faith and passion and determination said, "I can get to Jesus no matter what my situation or circumstance. He will make it right."

A woman in the crowd had suffered for twelve years with constant bleeding. She had suffered a great deal from many doctors, and over the years she had spent everything she had to pay them, but she had gotten no better. In fact, she had gotten worse. She had heard about Jesus, so she came up behind him through the crowd and touched his robe. For she thought to herself, "If I can just touch his robe, I will be healed." (Mark 5:25-28, NLT).

This woman had suffered enough, and she was determined to get her healing. Her faith led to a release of Christ's power. "Jesus realized at once that healing power had gone out from him, so he turned around in the crowd and asked, 'Who touched my robe?'" (Mark 5:30, NLT). Jesus was not angry with this woman for touching him. He knew she had touched him, but he stopped and asked who did it in order to teach something about faith. Although this woman was healed when she touched him, Jesus said her faith caused the cure. Genuine faith involves action. Faith that isn't put into action is not faith at all.

As Christians, we must demonstrate faith in our lives. God wants to perform an incredible work in each of us but we limit what he can do when we doubt him. He has placed passion in our hearts and we demonstrate a lack of faith when we are not willing to take that first step to pursue that dream and passion.

God selected twelve disciples. He is choosing you and I today. He is calling us to be world changers for the Kingdom of God through our faith in Jesus Christ. He has placed passion and purpose in each of us. When we have faith in Christ nothing will be impossible.

Blessings!

Thankful Thursday - Prayer

I can't imagine living my life without prayer. Prayer is the encouragement to my soul when life becomes confusing, overwhelming and simply doesn't make sense. There is power in prayer even though God doesn't always give us the answer we want. Sometimes God says "No".
Sometimes God says "Slow down". Sometimes God tells us to grow more. And sometimes God gives us the green light to go! I am thankful today for prayer and a God who listens and answers my prayers.

I am thankful for a great group of ladies who faithfully support the "Chocolate and Coffee" Bible study at my home each month.

I am thankful for a committed leadership team in my women's ministry at church.

I am thankful for the results from a recent CT Scan that showed no tumor in my lung.

I am thankful for what God is doing in our church. He is so faithful!

Lori is hosting Thankful Thursday this week. See what other ladies are thankful for today.

Blessings!

God Is Asking Us To Use Whatever Is In Our Hands

This is a post from three years ago but it certainly is applicable today.

God is calling us to be Great for Him in 2009. He will never ask us to go where He has not provided the means to assist us. He will never call us to do a work without completely equipping us to be successful in accomplishing the task.

In Exodus, chapter 4, Moses is involved in a discussion with God regarding his suitability to represent the Israelites.

"What if they do not believe me or listen to me?"
he asks God. "What is that in your hand?" the Lord
replies. "A staff,", Moses says.

Then God tells Moses to throw the staff on the ground, and when he does, it immediately becomes a serpent. God gave Moses the ability to use whatever was in his hand at the moment to demonstrate not Moses' power, but God's power!

A shepherd's staff was commonly a three-to-six-foot wooden rod with a curved hook at the top. The shepherd used it for walking, guiding his sheep, killing snakes, and many other tasks. Still, it was just a stick. But God used the simple shepherd's rod Moses carried to teach him an important lesson. God sometimes takes joy in using ordinary things for extraordinary purposes. What are the ordinary things in your life - your voice, a pen, a musical instrument? While it is easy to assume God can use only special skills, you must not hinder His use of the everyday contributions you can make. Little did Moses imagine the power his simple staff would yield when it became the rod of God.

What's in your hand that God wants to use for this New Year? Is it a wooden spoon? Bake a cake or cookies and take to a neighbor or a shut-in. Is it a steering wheel? Volunteer to drive an extra carpool or take an elderly person to the doctor. Whatever is in your hand, God can use it for His glory. He has blessed us with many talents and gifts. How can He use you to further the Kingdom of God?

Blessings!

Expecting great things in the House today! I am excited about what God is doing!

Don't Wimp Out on Jesus

Wimpy Christians Are Welcome Mats for Satan!

Can you remember when you were in elementary and junior high school, there always seemed to be at least one bully in the class? He or she seemed to always attach themselves to the most wimpy kid in the class, and of course, they would be the target for the abuse the entire school year. Their wimpy attitude invited the bully to target and ridicule them. The bully would make their life absolutely miserable that school year.

Satan chooses to operate in the same manner. When we are not intentional about serving Christ and making Him our first priority satan selects us for his attack. He becomes our personal bully. You see, a Christian who is lacking quality prayer and devotional time with the Lord is setting themselves up for defeat. When we are not reading our Bibles and equipping ourselves for what the enemy is planning to punch us with, we become WIMPS FOR JESUS. When challenges come knocking at our doors we wimp out because we have nothing to stand on. Our foundation is very weak and unstable and the bully wins. Our power punch is nonexistent and we no longer have what it takes to knock satan out of the fighting ring.

This is a fresh new year with a multitude of opportunities and challenges. We have choices to make. Will you be intentional in ALL areas of your life serving Christ with your entire being or are you choosing to WIMP OUT ON JESUS and become that wimp satan will devour? I shared with my leadership mentoring group of ladies last night that I am going to be intentional this year in growing in the things of Christ. God has so much for His children to accomplish and it cannot be completed if we are lazy about serving Him.

God is the God of the impossible. He can do anything, anywhere at anytime. We limit what He can do in our own lives because of our small thinking. Let's rally together and stand up for Christ this year and be intentional about serving Him. Don't allow satan to bully you. He is the wimp and I know exactly who will take care of him!

Blessings to you!

Awesome Prayer

Someone sent this to me today via email and I wanted to share it. It is an awesome prayer!

I understood God to say,
'You need a miracle tomorrow'
so here goes...Prov. 29:25

Dear Lord, I thank You for this day,
I thank You for my being able to see
and to hear this morning.
I'm blessed because You are
a forgiving God and
an understanding God.
You have done so much for me
and You keep on blessing me.

Forgive me this day for everything
I have done, said or thought
that was not pleasing to you.I ask now for Your forgiveness.
Please keep me safe
from all danger and harm.
Help me to start this day
with a new attitude and plenty of gratitude.
Let me make the best of each and every day
to clear my mind so that I can hear from You.

Please broaden my mind
that I can accept all things.
Let me not whine and whimper
over things I have no control over.
And give me the best response
when I'm pushed beyond my limits.
I know that when I can't pray,
You listen to my heart.

Continue to use me to do Your will.
Continue to bless me that I may be
a blessing to others.
Keep me strong that I may help the weak...
Keep me uplifted that I may have
words of encouragement for others.

I pray for those that are lost
and can't find their way.
I pray for those that are misjudged
and misunderstood.
I pray for those who
don't know You intimately.
I pray for those that don't believe.
But I thank You that I believe
that God changes people and
God changes things.

I pray for all my sisters and brothers.
For each and every family member
in their households.
I pray for peace, love and joy
in their homes; that they are out of debt
and all their needs are met.

I pray that every eye that reads this
knows there is no problem, circumstance,
or situation greater than God.
Every battle is in Your hands for You to fight.
I pray that these words be received
into the hearts of every eye that sees it
in Jesus' name. Amen!