Be Still

This morning as I watched the news as I do every morning, I started to feel so burdened down about the way this world is heading.  It seems all we hear about is fighting and anger and chaos.  It seems like things have gone so far downhill so fast recently.  I can't help but be reminded that God is coming soon.  Things are really starting to fall apart in this world as our nation has rejected God and calls it "equal rights for all".  A nation that rejects God will surely fall.  If we're not careful, we can get so caught up in the news of the turmoil of this world and forget that this is only our "temporary home".  We are only on this earth for a season. Yes, I am concerned about the things going on in our nation and across the world, but I believe that if we dwell on these things constantly, we'll only get angry and bitter and forget that God is preparing a better home for us.  That's the home we should be more concerned with.  As this world deteriorates more and more, we need to look to God more and more.  Keep your eyes on Jesus, not on the storm surrounding you.  Where is your faith today?  Yes, we try to stay informed as all citizens should so we can make wise decisions and  we certainly should exercise our rights that we're fortunate to still have in this country and stand for what is right and fight to keep God in America as long as possible.  I'm not saying we should isolate ourselves by any means or be ignorant.  What I'm saying is the more we see the end time approaching, the more we need to look up-look up to Heaven, look to God.  Our God is an awesome God. This world is just a foot stool to Him.  He has a plan that's been foretold in scripture and must come to pass, but if we keep our eyes on Him, we can have that hope that we will see Him one day face to face.  He loved this world so much that He suffered and gave His life for us before we were even born so that we could have a hope, so that we could have fellowship with Him and really know him personally.  He wants to be a friend to everyone of us, but we must believe that He is and humbly ask for forgiveness from our sin and lay our lives at His feet and ask Him to come into our hearts and make us more like Him. He'll take the burden that you carry and give you a new hope, a new life. The Bible says in John 3:16-"For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth on him should not perish but have everlasting life."  And when people truly understand all that Jesus sacrificed for us and how much God loves us, how can they not want to spend the rest of their lives showing Him how much they appreciate all He's done and sacrificed for us.  But, if they choose to reject Him...if our nation chooses to reject Him...God does not force Himself on anyone, He's given us a free will to choose for ourselves. He calls and He pleads with us, but it is still our choice to heed His call.  If we choose to ignore His voice and say "thanks but not thanks, I want to live the way I want, I don't need you", then we've made our choice to refuse God's love.  But if we turn to Him, with our whole hearts, He will keep us in this end day.  The time is truly short and God will one day say "it's time" and call his people home to be with Him.  So, let's keep our minds and hearts tuned into Jesus.  Keep our minds stayed on Him.  This world is lost and needs Jesus.  Let's redeem the time we have left and reach as many as we can with the gospel of Jesus Christ so they can have that same hope in Jesus that we do.  When things get rough and the battles come, and they will certainly still come, whether you're saved or unsaved, look to Jesus all the more...go to the word of God and get encouragement for your soul...sing a song throughout the day at work, keep joy in your heart in the midst of it all and most of all, stay on your knees, don't neglect your prayer time.  Keep in tune with God, heed His voice and keep that communication line open and just keep on praising Him.  He loves to hear the praises of His people.  Whatever you're going through, I encourage you to put your faith and trust in God-He WILL see you through.  Let your heart rest in Him and Be Still...

            

"But I'm a good person"

If you're my age (40ish), I'm sure you remember Candace Cameron from the television series Full House. I'm sure you're also aware that her brother, Kirk Cameron, is one of the best-known christian actors in Hollywood.  As I was browsing the net, I found this testimony and thought it really made a point.  How many of us judge ourselves by what we see going on around us?  There's so much evil in the world, so many doing such horribly disgusting things, so many with seemingly no morals or values at all and we say to ourselves, "I'm not THAT bad...at least I'm not doing what THEIR doing."  We consider ourselves to be good people.  No, we're not perfect, but we try to follow the golden rule and hey, we're only human, right?  Well, like Candace mentioned in a separate video: when a sheep is viewed against a background of green grass, it looks strikingly white, but when a sheep is put next to a cotton-white sheet hanging on a clothesline, you see how dirty the sheep really is.  It's the background that you hold it against that determines how white the sheep really is.  There's a scene in the movie, Left Behind:Tribulation Force where a man doesn't think he's a sinner, but Kirk Cameron's character shows him just what God's word says a sinner is and he realizes he is one, after all.  When we line ourselves up with God's word, the Bible, the holy scriptures, and really examine our lives, and our secret sins, we realize that we have come short, that we indeed have sinned and are guilty of violating God's laws.  We, too, are in need of a Savior to forgive us, set us free and help us to live for Him.  What you're doing may not seem as bad as what someone else is doing, but sin is still sin.  Have you lied before, even once?  You're a liar.  Have you stole something, even something small?  You're a thief.  Have you lusted after a woman/man that you've seen?  You're an adulterer.  The Bible says even if a man looks at a woman to lust after her, he's already committed adultery with her in his heart.  A liar and a murderer are both sinners and neither will have any inheritance in the Kingdom of Christ. (Eph. 5:5) (Rev. 21:8) We've ALL sinned and come short of the glory of God. We ALL need Jesus to forgive us of our sins. God hates the sin, but he loves the sinner.  That's why He sent Jesus-to give us a way out.  He provided the ultimate sacrifice for our sins. He wants to take all the pain, all the hurt, all the guilt that you have and He'll wipe it all away.  In His eyes, you will be a new creature.  All we have to do is ask Him.  Accept the gift God's given to us.  Ask Jesus to forgive you and come into your heart and make you a new person.  Like the woman in the Bible, who was a harlot, Jesus said to those who would've stoned her to death for being caught in the act of adultery, "He who is without sin, let him cast the first stone."  No one did and they walked away.  But what did Jesus do then? He said "Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?"  and Jesus said, "Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more." (John 8:1-11 KJV) What an awesome gift!  How can we ever repay Him for what He's given for us? 

So, who are we trying to impress?  Who's approval are we really looking for?  Does it really matter that other people seem to be getting away with things or that they've turned their backs on God yet seem to be thriving? It'll only be for a season. God is the final judge.  We're all going to stand before God one day and be judged for all we've done.  What will you say then as your defense?  So-in-so did it so I thought I could too?  It wasn't that bad of a sin? The Bible says in Phil. 2:12, that we must work out our own salvation with fear and trembling. Take it seriously. Read and Know what God wants for yourself.  It doesn't matter what someone else does, all that matters is what God says about it.  No matter how long you've been serving the Lord or what title you hold in church, we are all human and we need to choose to serve Jesus everyday and stay spirit-filled and stay in communication with God or sin can easily "beset" us too and we'll lose out on Heaven and wonder how that could've happened when we were "good, christian people".

Candace's testimony really spoke to me and I hope it helped you too.  No matter how good a person we think we are, we always need to make sure our lives are lining up with God's word-with His commandments and how He says we should live our lives.  We make that choice everyday-to listen to God or give in to the temptations of this world.  Keep in prayer and reading your Bible daily, examine your self and say "God, show me if there be any sin in me."  so you can deal with it and become pleasing in God's sight-He's the only one who's opinion really matters in the end.  How white will your garment be?