Please pray for me!

Please pray for me, are words that many people should say and for one
reason or another they don't. Sometimes it is because of pride,
selfishness, shame and doubt. It says in *James 5:16 Therefore, confess
your sins to one another [your false steps, your offenses], and pray for
one another, that you may be healed and restored. The heartfelt and
persistent prayer of a righteous man (believer) can accomplish much [when
put into action and made effective by God—it is dynamic and can have
tremendous power].* Prayer can be powerful if done with the right heart and
motive. Prayer is not twisting God's arm to get what we want. It is trying
to get our lives in line with what God wants us to do, to be, and to
glorify Him. Then there are times that there are specific needs and yet
they are not prayed for specifically. The Bible says in *Ephesians 6:18
With all prayer and petition pray [with specific requests] at all times [on
every occasion and in every season] in the Spirit, and with this in view,
stay alert with all perseverance and petition [interceding in prayer] for
all God’s people.* It says to pray for all of God's people. For many of us,
ALL of God's people, are only those that we know and associate with. Social
media and technology have opened up the world of believers to be able know
each other that we never met before. Brethren, even though we may never
meet in person, until we get to heaven, know that Jesus loves you and I do
too.

Douglas 

Comfortable Sin. Matthew 18:8-9 NLT

sin [sin] NOUN

an immoral act considered to be a transgression against divine law:

"a sin in the eyes of God" · "the human capacity for sin"

synonyms: immoral act · wrong · wrongdoing · act of evil/wickedness · transgression · crime · offense · misdeed · misdemeanor · trespass · wickedness · wrongdoing · wrong · evil · evildoing · sinfulness · immorality ·

 iniquity · vice · crime

How do you define sin? If you are a follower of Jesus, sin is listed in the Bible. We can also identify sin because the Holy Spirit convicts us when we do something that grieves God. We make amends, move on and try to not fall into that sin  again.

What if we are not following Jesus. What shows us our wrongdoing? Social standards? That's can be  pretty ambiguous. Human laws? Many don't adhere to those. What if our hearts are hardened? I guess anything goes.

I think most people continue in sin even when convicted what they are doing is wrong because they are comfortable in their sin. That's part of the heart hardening process. Change can be hard and why work at something your comfortable with?

I don't think Jesus is telling us in the following verses to literally amputate parts of our body we use when we sin. I think He's telling us to cut sin out of our life even if we are uncomfortable with the process. It's better to face our sin now then face God with it later.

Are you willing to do what's uncomfortable to overcome what's comfortable in your life?

Matthew 18:8-9 NLT

8 So if your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It’s better to enter eternal life with only one hand or one foot than to be thrown into eternal fire with both of your hands and feet.9 And if your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It’s better to enter eternal life with only one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell.

Blessings, Cecilia

Hebrews 6 Act your age!

A Call to Maturity
1Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith in God, 2instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. 3And this we will do, if God permits.

A call to Christians to be mature. When we were growing up did you ever hear the phrase, act your age? This was a call to act mature. It's no different for the Christian. Man inherently seems to think he has to do something for his salvation. The writer here reminds us anything we do for salvation is considered dead works.
How do we go on to maturity in Christ? It's simple, you believe salvation is a gift from God through Jesus Christ. You read and study His word daily. You follow instruction of baptism, laying on hands, and believe in the resurrection of the dead and eternal judgement. And if God permits we will become mature.

What is His will for you today?

Blessings, David

Seen and Not Heard. Matthew 18:6-7, 10

"Children should be seen and not heard". We've all heard and maybe said (jokingly, I hope) this phrase before. This is, however, a perfect summary of what a servant of Christ should be like.

Jesus tells us to become like little children. He is telling us is to be humble, willing, believing, trusting and yes, seen and not heard. To be unremarkable in our serving, in the background, not looking for acclamations but serving in all humility. Not boastful or proud of our deeds.

As children of God, those who lead us astray, cause us to stumble and sin are in jeopardy of a greater punishment then the Christian who was lead into sin. Jesus is telling us it would be better for them to be drowned in the sea then face Him on their judgment day. And those that merely mock Christian's for their faith? Jesus tells them to "Beware", their angels, protectors, ministers are in the presence of God.

So what is their hope? Repent and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Matthew 18:6:7, 10 NLT

 6 But if you cause one of these little ones who trusts in Me to fall into sin, it would be better for you to have a large millstone tied around your neck and be drowned in the depths of the sea.

7 “What sorrow awaits the world, because it tempts people to sin. Temptations are inevitable, but what sorrow awaits the person who does the tempting. 

10 “Beware that you don’t look down on any of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels are always in the presence of My heavenly Father.

Blessings, Cecilia

Drug Addiction

My heart aches. Recently, I have learned of 2 different men who have died
due to drugs. Austin, who I did not know and Cole, who I tried to minister
to over a few year period of time. I remember the day of my salvation like
it was yesterday, and it has been almost 17 years. The T.V. was on that day
to a Christian show. The guy said that there was a man in Tucson Arizona
that has a drug problem and that God was going to help him with it. There
were a lot of guys in Tucson that were on drugs. I know for a fact though,
that God helped me get off of the meth and stay clean. But what about these
guys and so many others? Sometimes it is because of who we hang out with.
*1 Cor 15:33 Do not be so deceived and misled! Evil companionships
(communion, associations) corrupt and deprave good manners and morals and
character.* Many times it is because of issues that draw people to excess.
*Prov 23:29 Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has
complaining? Who has wounds without cause? Who has redness and dimness of
eyes?* and then *31 Do not look at wine when it is red, when it sparkles in
the wineglass, when it goes down smoothly. 32 At the last it bites like a
serpent and stings like an adder.* For those that have no idea what it is
like to be addicted to drugs, Guns and Roses sang a song, Mr. Brownstone,
about heroin. A few of the lyrics explain the need, "I used ta do a little
but a little wouldn't do So the little got more and more I just keep tryin'
ta get a little better Said a little better than before". Please pray for
these 2 families that are dealing with loss as well of all those who are
affected by drugs all around us. And praise God along with me for all of us
who survived the claws of this evil nightmare.

Douglas 

Hebrews 5 Are you drifting away?

Warning against Drifting Away
11We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain, because you are dull of hearing. 12Although by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to reteach you the basic principles of God’s word. You need milk, not solid food! 13Everyone who lives on milk is still an infant, inexperienced in the message of righteousness. 14But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained their sensibilities to distinguish good from evil.

Dull of hearing, ought to be teachers, reteach you the basic principles of Gods word.
Stinging words of rebuke!
Are you inexperienced in the message of righteousness?
Or have you trained your sensibilities to distinguish good from evil?
When it comes to Gods word and His ways, do you drink milk or eat solid food?

Brethren, make a plan, take a few minutes daily and chew on His word to learn the message of righteousness. It will train your sensibilities to distinguish good from evil, it will keep you from drifting away!
I am reminded by these verses to put on the Armor of God.

Ephesians 6
The Armor of God
10Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. 11Put on the full armor of God, so that you can make 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 world’s darkness, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
13Therefore take up the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you will be able to stand your ground, and having done everything, to stand. 14Stand firm then, with the belt of truth fastened around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness arrayed, 15and with your feet fitted with the readiness of 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. 17And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Blessings, David

The ultimate Sacrifice!

Sacrifice of ones own life for someone they love is not uncommon. To
sacrifice ones own life for people that they don't know or even people that
don't like them is something special. Memorial Day in itself is not a
"Happy" occasion for the most part. It is an American holiday, observed on
the last Monday of May, honoring the men and women who died while serving
in the U.S. military. The estimate from all the American wars, there have
been 651,008 Battle Deaths; and about 1.2 million deaths during service in
war time. It says in *John 15:13 No one has greater love [no one has shown
stronger affection] than to lay down (give up) his own life for his
friends.* Today as we remember the loss and sacrifice of our past, may we
reflect on the ultimate sacrifice by Jesus Christ upon the cross for all of
mankind. May we not forget what this day is all about, not about a 3 day
weekend, a time to have a party and barbecue and go to sales. It is about
Love. Love for our country and love for our citizens. For all those who
have suffered loss and today is not easy, you are in my thoughts and
prayers. Brethren, and for us, everyday is a Memorial Day, because of the
sacrifice of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Douglas 

Remember The Sacrifice. Psalm 91:1-16 NLT

Memorial Day is not about camping or BBQ's or great sales at the stores. It's not about a three day weekend or parades or even celebrating.

It's about remembering the sacrifice of life for our freedom. The sacrifice of family, of parents, of children. The soldier that came home to a permanent resting place, the soldier that didn't come home at all. The spouse that was suddenly a widow, the child who would never know a parent, the parent that would outlive a  child. Lives forever changed by death.

Today as you take advantage of a sale, a day off or celebrate with a BBQ,  take a few minutes to remember the sacrifice, the fallen and the grief that provided you the freedom you have today.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2429903/Peace-Day-Reminder-millions-lives-lost-war-artists-stencil-9-000-bodies-Normandy-beach.html

 Psalm 91:1-16 NLT

1 Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. 2 This I declare about the LORD: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; He is my God, and I trust Him. 3 For He will rescue you from every trap

and protect you from deadly disease. 4 He will cover you with His feathers. He will shelter you with His wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection.Matthew

5 Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night, nor the arrow that flies in the day.

6 Do not dread the disease that stalks in darkness, nor the disaster that strikes at midday. 7 Though a thousand fall at your side, though ten thousand are dying around you, these evils will not touch you. 8 Just open your eyes, and see how the wicked are punished.

9 If you make the LORD your refuge, if you make the Most High your shelter, 10 no evil will conquer you; no plague will come near your home. 11 For He will order His angels to protect you wherever you go. 12 They will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone. 13 You will trample upon lions and cobras; you will crush fierce lions and serpents under your feet!

14 The LORD says, “I will rescue those who love Me. I will protect those who trust in My name. 15 When they call on Me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue and honor them. 16 I will reward them with a long life and give them My salvation.”

Blessings, Cecilia

Hebrews 5 How did you learn obedience?

7During the days of Jesus’ earthly life, He offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the One who could save Him from death, and He was heard because of His reverence. 8Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from what He suffered, 9and having been made perfect, He became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey Him 10and was designated by God as high priest in the order of Melchizedek.

Obedience, we all failed at it one time or another. I recall in my early teens we were on a camping trip driving in the car pulling a tent trailer with my parents and six children. I wasn't behaving. My father scolded me and told me if I didn't straighten up he would leave me in the park. I ended up getting out of the car as the family drove off. No one else was around and I sat on a picnic table. A big spider crawled on my shoulder and it startled me. Shortly after my parents drove back. I was asked by my father if I was going to behave? I replied yes.
I was a son, but was disobedient and learned obedience from discipline.

If only I had some of the obedience the Son did in these passages! I am ashamed of many things, actions and behaviors before Christ. But because of Jesus' obedience to the Father He became the source of eternal salvation to all.
I am eternally grateful!

How did you learn obedience? 

Blessings, David

Stop it!

Sin is something that everyone does, but not something that everyone lives
and walks in. Christian's come in all different degrees from established
and mature, to babies and unknowing. I know what it is like to have
desires, give into them, and then feel horrible about it. I also know what
it is like to be a "Christian" and have an active lifestyle of sin and not
really care about what God thought of it. Conviction and justification come
differently to everyone. There is a list of people that will NOT be
welcomed into the kingdom of heaven, *1 Cor 6:9 Do you not know that the
unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived.
Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor
sodomites, 10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor
extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.* I used to have multiple sins
from that list that I was a part of. There is another verse that I think
about regularly, *1 Cor 10:31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you
do, do all to the glory of God.* I want to encourage all those that are
actively living in sin that call themselves a "Christian", STOP IT. If you
are single and in a relationship, do not live like you are married. If you
quote scripture one minute and curse words the next, think before you
speak. If you fall anywhere on that list, be careful, Jesus is coming back
soon. My thoughts are, when Jesus comes back, will what I am doing be
glorifying to God or will it cause me to be left behind.

Douglas 

Hebrews 5 The forever high priest!

The Perfect High Priest
(Psalm 110:1-7)
1Every high priest is appointed from among men to represent them in matters relating to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. 2He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and misguided, since he himself is beset by weakness. 3That is why he is obligated to offer sacrifices for his own sins, as well as for the sins of the people.
4No one takes this honor upon himself; he must be called by God, just as Aaron was. 5So also Christ did not take upon Himself the glory of becoming a high priest, but He was called by the One who said to Him:
“You are My Son,
today I have become Your Father.”a
6And in another passage God says:
“You are a priest forever
in the order of Melchizedek.”b

God had a calling for the high priest, He set the order who would serve.
"The priesthood itself came through Aaron, the brother of Moses, of the family of Kohath. Aaron’s family and their descendants made up the priests and the high priest, those able to serve in the tabernacle itself and to offer sacrifice to God." Guzik

Jesus was the perfect high priest, the perfect sacrifice for sins who gave His life and blood for all. He was the final sacrifice and upon His resurrection He assumed the role of high priest. This is an important contrast because all high priests that descended from Aaron, none of them resurrected from the dead.
Jesus became the perfect high priest forever.

Take your sins to the forever high priest, Jesus. He is the only one that can forgive them because He is the perfect high priest, the perfect sacrifice for your sins.

Blessings, David

Do not answer a fool!

There is only so much 1 person can do. Recently someone posted an account
of a local mission trip that they were on. The purpose in sharing was not
to bring attention to them self, but attention to the situation of another.
Many people do not realize it, and yet, they are only 1-2 paychecks away
from being homeless, on the street with no place to stay. Every one has a
story, and many times, others are too busy to listen and care. The story of
a young homeless woman, Jessica, from Virginia, was posted to Facebook. A
little help was given, a little hope was restored, a little love was shared
by another that had been in a similar situation before. It says in *Prov
21:13 Whoever shuts his ears to the cry of the poor Will also cry himself
and not be heard.* and in *1 John 3:17 But whoever has this world’s goods,
and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the
love of God abide in him?* There are many ways to help the less fortunate.
I have heard it said, "If you cannot feed the world, feed one person".
After this story was shared, the attacks came. "Why didn't you do more?",
"It would of been better never to approached in the first place.", "Why
didn't you take her home and get her off the street?" I do not know the
heart of the man that said vicious things, but God does. *Prov 26:4 Do not
answer a fool according to his folly, Lest you also be like him.* The heart
of the matter is the matter of the heart. There are 3 primary people that
were affected by this mission trip. The person who took a step of faith,
the homeless woman, Jessica, who needed to know that someone cared, and the
man who attacked someone that they don't even know for doing a selfless
good work. May we pray for all 3 and for ourselves as well, to have
boldness to help the less fortunate, not become the less fortunate, and not
be judgmental to others for the works that they do.

Douglas 

Welcome Him. Matthew 18:1-5 NLT

I use to believe I had no time, no patience and no desire to be around children. I thought I was quite happy with my life the way it was. I worked full time and so did my husband. We could pick up and go when we wanted. I was proud we were "Double income, no children".

Once I dedicated my life to Jesus, I asked Him what He wanted me to do for Him. One of the places He put me was in Childrens Ministry. Me with kids? Are you serious Lord? I started serving in Sunday school then I helped with Vacation Bible School. That led to special event's for kids.

"Okay Lord, I've done the Children's Ministry thing. We even adopted and raised a boy. Is there some other area I can serve you in please?" After testing the waters in a few other areas of ministry, the Lord led me to Gospel Rescue Mission. Going there I thought I would start ministering to women. Maybe I would get to use my office skills for Him.  Where did I end up? With the children! God has such a sense of humor.

During my two years at the Mission, God taught me why children are so important to Him. You see, its harder to believe when we become tainted by the world. We develop cynicism, prejudice and indifference. We start to believe it's by our power instead of His. We become selfish and we start believing we don't need Jesus.

So you see, God took an inpatient, unhappy, selfish and proud person and turned her into someone doing something she never considered doing. He turned my cynicism into hope, my prejudice into love and my indifference in care. He showed my why children are His crowned jewels and how to  love them as much as He does.

Matthew 18:1-5 NLT

The Greatest in the Kingdom

1 About that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?”

2 Jesus called a little child to him and put the child among them. 3 Then he said, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven. 4 So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.

5“And anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf is welcoming me".

Blessings, Cecilia

Hebrews 4 Another birthday, thank you Jesus!

Jesus the Great High Priest
14Therefore, since we have such a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we profess. 15For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who was tempted in every way that we are, yet was without sin. 16Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Great high priest, this is the first time great is used to describe a high priest in the bible. Jesus ascended into heaven and is there preparing a place for you. He lived as a man and was subjected to all of the same temptations as we are but was without sin. You can approach His throne at any time, without lofty words to receive His mercy and to find His grace to help us in our time of need. But you don't need to stop there with only needs! How about praises?
We're your needs met today? Did you thank Him?

Talk to Him today, open your heart up to Him. Lean on Him and receive His understanding.
When I perform daily projects I pray silently to Him, asking for guidance, asking for help, asking that I don't damage something or hurt myself, asking for traveling mercies.
It's easy and habit forming, try it!
Dear Jesus guide me today in everything I do, guide me to do Your will and thank you for another birthday.
In Jesus name I pray.

Blessings, David

Encourage each other to endure!

Rejoice, a trial is coming, you are in one now or you just got passed one!
It says in *James 1:2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into
various trials...* Everyday there are people that I meet in passing, ones
that I know and even ones that I dearly love that are going through
something that they are not joyous about. Health of themselves or a family
member, financial problems, work issues, relationships that are a struggle
and the list goes on. Sometimes life gets overwhelming. There are times
that people are having mental and emotional challenges and they just want
the pain to stop. I have heard it said that God will not give you more than
you can handle. I know there are certain scriptures that say, *1 Cor
10:13...but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond
what you are able...* and *Phil 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who
strengthens me.* These are all well and good, but, I know for myself at
times, God has given me more than I can handle. But I have never been given
more than He can handle. A friend sent me a message recently saying, "I
pray you survive the day". My response was simple and to the point, "I pray
I don't". I pray over the words of Paul, *Phil 1:21 For to me, to live is
Christ, and to die is gain. 22 But if I live on in the flesh, this will
mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell. 23 For I
am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with
Christ, which is far better. 24 Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more
needful for you.* Brethren, may we encourage each other to endure and know
that God is in control and will help us through.

Douglas 

Go Fish. Matthew 17:24-27 NLT

A long, long, time ago, in a land far, far away.....
(okay, it was sometime in the 1990's in the White Mountains of Arizona)
David and I had gone camping and fishing at Big Lake, a well stocked lake in Arizona. We were standing on the shore with many other fishermen when I had a tug on my line. When I reeled it in, there were two fish on the line. I yelled "Look, I caught twins". We all had a good laugh. In reality, my line had also snagged a cut line with a fish on it.

For Peter, a professional fisherman, to be told to "throw in a line" would have seemed somewhat awkward but he obeyed Jesus. Maybe he kept an eye out for fellow fisherman hoping to not be seen and ridiculed. Once Peter caught the fish and removed the coin, he went and paid the tax for himself and Jesus. 

Jesus didn't have to pay the tax but through God's provision He did. Jesus didn't have to pay the price for our sin on the cross either but he did. And in paying for our sin, He paid for Peter too.

Matthew 17:24-27 NLT

Payment of the Temple Tax

24 On their arrival in Capernaum, the collectors of the Temple tax came to Peter and asked him, “Doesn’t your teacher pay the Temple tax?”

25 “Yes, he does,” Peter replied. Then he went into the house.

But before he had a chance to speak, Jesus asked him, “What do you think, Peter? Do kings tax their own people or the people they have conquered?”

26 “They tax the people they have conquered,” Peter replied.

“Well, then,” Jesus said, “the citizens are free! 27 However, we don’t want to offend them, so go down to the lake and throw in a line. Open the mouth of the first fish you catch, and you will find a large silver coin. Take it and pay the tax for both of us.”

Blessings, Cecilia 

Hebrews 4 Direct my footsteps!

God's Word is Living and Active
12For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it pierces even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight; everything is uncovered and exposed before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.

Gods word diagnoses mans condition with surgical precision laying open the heart and revealing our spiritual condition. "It is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart."
How were your thoughts and your intentions before you came to Christ?
How are they now? Is there a discernible difference?

If you don't have a discernible difference in your thoughts or your intentions it's because your are not reading and studying the word of God!

You will not be able to rid yourself of your hurts, hang ups or habits without reading and studying His living and active word!
Hurts, hang ups and habits are the root causes of addictions.
Take a self inventory of your thoughts, your hurts, your hang ups, your habits. Write then down and examine them, pray to God over them, read and study His living and active word with them. What does He reveal to you through His word?
He will speak to you, and eventually your hurts, hang up and habits will be reduced or replaced with His love for you.
You may need to seek Godly consul to work through them.
Do you have an addiction? Seek Godly counsel for it.

Nothing is hidden from Him, everything we have done or did will be exposed. We will have to give an account of our life.
But remember, with Jesus your sins will be wiped clean, your account will be paid in full!
Don't let guilt guide your future, let go and let God.
For it is written:
Psalm 119:133 Direct my footsteps according to your word; let no sin rule over me.

Blessings, David

Defenseless

Defenseless - is a position that no one ever wants to be in and yet so many

people choose to live in. I remember when I first became a Christian, it

seemed like every aspect of my life was in chaos. People think, come to

Jesus and everything smooths right out. For some, it probably does, for me,

everything was always worse. I think of the verse, *Ephesians 6:12 For we

do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the

authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against

the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.* Never really

understood that in the beginning. The more that I got into the Word, and

the more the Word got into me, my eyes were opened to the spiritual warfare

going on all around. I look to how the Lord Jesus responded to the enemy

attacks in Matthew after Jesus had been fasting, the devil came and said,

*Matt 4:3...“If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become

bread.”* Jesus response was to the point. *Matt 4:4...“It is written, ‘Man

shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the

mouth of God.’”* There were 2 temptations following the first and the Lord

Jesus' response started off the same, "It is written". Brethren, may we

understand, that if we do not know what is written, we won't have a prayer.

Douglas 

Hebrews 4 Are you being diligent?

And yet His works have been finished since the foundation of the world. 4For somewhere He has spoken about the seventh day in this manner: “And on the seventh day God rested from all His works.”b 5And again, as He says in the passage above: “They shall never enter My rest.”
6Since, then, it remains for some to enter His rest, and since those who formerly heard the good news did not enter because of their disobedience, 7God again designated a certain day as “Today,” when a long time later He spoke through David, as was already stated: “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.”c
8Now if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken later about another day. 9So there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God. 10For whoever enters God’s rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from His. 11Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following the same pattern of disobedience.

 From David Guzik commentary:
b. Ceased from his works as God did from His: This cessation from works as a basis for righteousness fulfills our “Sabbath rest.” God rested from His works on the original Sabbath of Genesis 2:2 because the work was finished. We cease from self-justifying works because Jesus finished the work on the cross.
a. Let us therefore: This phrase, or this idea, appears repeatedly in the Book of Hebrews. A doctrinal truth is presented – in this case, the truth of a remaining rest available by faith – then the truth is applied.

"Be diligent to enter that rest", is another version. I like the word diligent over every effort. (Having or showing care or conscientious in ones work or duties).
Let us therefore be diligent in our faith, be diligent to enter that rest. If we aren't diligent we could fall into disobedience and fall in the wilderness like those before us.

Are you being diligent?

Blessings, David

Are you committed for life?

"Christian" was a name that was given to the early church in Acts 11, after
the death of Stephen in Acts 7+8. Many people believe that the term
"Christian" was a derogatory name, meant as an insult. This word
"Christian" has come to explain who we strive to be like and represent, the
Christ. For myself, when I had my, "come to Jesus moment" everything
changed. I remember a statement that my father said to me, "You went
overboard on the drinking and the drugs, now, you are going overboard on
this Jesus stuff too". My response was simple, "This is what I was meant to
do". I have seen many people come to church, get baptized, wave their hands
in the air like they just don't care, and when they walked out of the door,
go right back into the person they were before. Everyone knows the
difference between right and wrong, good and evil, the ways of God and the
ways of the world, and yet, they can't leave the temptations and lust of
the world to completely follow after the Lord Jesus. It says in *2 Cor 6:17
“So come out from among unbelievers and be separate,” says the Lord, “And
do not touch what is unclean; And I will graciously receive you and welcome
you [with favor]* There are many things that must change in our lives to
bring glory to God, the things that we watch, read, say, and do. When we
invite Jesus into our lives, it is a commitment for a life time. Remember,
*Deut 23:23 You shall be careful to perform that [vow] which passes your
lips, just as you have made a voluntary vow to the Lord your God, just as
you have promised with your own words (mouth).* When we accept Jesus as
Lord and Savior, may we live like it!

Douglas 

Sin of Omission!

Sin - Hebrew hata "sin" originates in archery and literally refer to
missing the "gold" at the centre of a target, but hitting the target. There
are many different types of sin that we commit everyday. Willful
disobedience, we know it is wrong and we do not take the efforts to stop
it. There are many unknown sins that we commit, sometimes due to the fact
that we are unaware of what God has spoken through His word. Then there is
the one that I probably struggle with the most, the sin of omission, not
doing what I know without a doubt God has called me to do. A classic
example is found in *Luke 10:30 Then Jesus answered and said: “A certain
man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who
stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half
dead.* Three different people came by, the first saw and passed by, the
second came and looked and passed by, the third had compassion and helped.
Many times I have put blinders on, saw something and did not want to get
involved because I was too busy. Other times, I came and looked and then
passed by, maybe said a half-hearted prayer. These are the moments of my
life that I am ashamed of before my God. God has given all of His children
the responsibility to show compassion and the love of Jesus Christ.
Brethren, if you are led by the Spirit to do something, do it! Whether it
is uncomfortable or not. It says in *James 4:17 Therefore, to him who knows
to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.*

Douglas 

Hebrews 4 Enter His Rest

Hebrews 4
Berean Study Bible
The Sabbath Rest
(Genesis 2:1-3; Exodus 16:22-36)
1Therefore, while the promise of entering His rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be deemed to have fallen short of it. 2For we also received the good news, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, since they did not share the faith of those who comprehended it. 3Now we who have believed enter that rest. As for the others, it is just as God has said:
“So I swore on oath in my anger,
‘They shall never enter My rest.’”

From David Guzik commentary:
The old Puritan commentator John Owen described five features of this rest for the believer:
· Rest means peace with God.
· Rest means freedom from a servile, bondage-like spirit in the worship and service of God.
· Rest means deliverance from the burden of Mosaic observance.
· Rest means the freedom of worship according to the gospel.
· Rest means the rest that God Himself enjoys.

Adam Clarke on come short (fallen short): “It is an allusion, of which there are many in this epistle, to the races in the Grecian games: he that came short was he who was any distance, no matter how small, behind the winner.”

The Jews that wandered through the wilderness for 40 years heard the Word, saw the miracles but never attained the rest. As they wandered they dug many graves. "but the message they heard was of no value to them"....because of their hard hearts and their stiff necks!

I pray that those of you that read this devotional enter His rest and don't come short.

Blessings, David

Is prayer your steering wheel or your spare tire?
Corrie ten Boom

Pure Faith. Matthew 17:14 -20 NLT

You've done it before and it always worked the way you did it. You get use to the task and complete it with ease each time. It becomes repetitive. Then one day it doesn't work, no matter how hard you try, it's just not happening. Where did you go wrong?

That might be how the disciples felt after trying to rid this man's son of the demon. They may have fallen into a pattern, a repetition, complacency. They may have stopped recognizing their need for Jesus. Maybe pride was creeping in.

Jesus descended down the mountain where he had just spent time transformed into His true glory, renewed by a little bit of Heaven on earth, and descended into the world of sin, pride, doubt, and weak faith. Such a contrast to where He had been. Jesus had been with the twelve for a couple of years by this time, and they still didn't have pure faith in His power.

A small amount  of pure faith is better then a lot of faith with doubt.

Matthew 17:14-20 NLT

14 At the foot of the mountain, a large crowd was waiting for them. A man came and knelt before Jesus and said, 15 “Lord, have mercy on my son. He has seizures and suffers terribly. He often falls into the fire or into the water. 16 So I brought him to Your disciples, but they couldn’t heal him.”

17 Jesus said, “You faithless and corrupt people! How long must I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring the boy here to me.”18 Then Jesus rebuked the demon in the boy, and it left him. From that moment the boy was well.

19Afterward the disciples asked Jesus privately, “Why couldn’t we cast out that demon?”

20“You don’t have enough faith,” Jesus told them. “I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it would move. Nothing would be impossible. "

Blessings, Cecilia

Hebrews 3 Persistence to Persevere

16For who were the ones who heard and rebelled? Were they not all those Moses led out of Egypt? 17And with whom was God angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? 18And to whom did He swear that they would never enter His rest? Was it not to those who disobeyed? 19So we see that it was because of their unbelief that they were unable to enter.

Hebrews 3 teaches us Jesus is superior to Moses. It was taught because the Jews always referred to the Law of Moses.
The Jews who were freed from Egypt failed to keep their faith in God after witnessing the seven plagues, the sea parting, all the miracles in the wilderness. They failed to have Persistence to Persevere.

In a Clint Eastwood movie, an old Indian Chief commented after all his tribe went through, the wars with other tribes, the wars with the pale faces, he visited the great white chief (president) and the president told the chief he had Persistence to Persevere because he had survived all the wars and trials of his people's.

What about you, do you have Persistence to Persevere? If you do, you will be able to enter in His rest. If we stay the course, keep our belief in Jesus Christ, don't grieve the Holy Spirit we will receive the crown that God has set aside for us.

We can't conquer sin, but with Jesus sin is conquered.
I ask again. Do you have Persistence to Persevere?

Blessings, David

How can I know the day of my death?

What is the meaning of life? What is my purpose? Are questions that many
people contemplate everyday. The answer is simple and was spoken by the
Lord Jesus, *Luke 10:30 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your
heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your
strength...* This seems easier said than done. So many things get in the
way and the biggest one is "Life". Many people, me included, do not spend
enough time loving God and spending time with Him. Getting so busy taking
care of things and not taking the time to spend with the One, that is
taking care of me. It says in *James 4:14...For what is your life? It is
even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.* The
simplest way to stay close to God is through prayer. There is a story, “One
day, a young boy asked an old man: “Sir, which is the best day to pray?”
The wise old man replied: “My son, the best day to pray is the day before
you die”. The boy was astonished and replied: “Sir, how can I know the day
of my death? ”And the old man answered: “No one knows the day of his death,
that’s why we need to pray everyday.” There were people that were alive
yesterday, that were looking forward to today and did not make it through
the night. There will be people that will die today that have great plans
for tomorrow and will not see those plans come to pass. I read, "Those who
pursue God and His righteousness, who take seriously the command to love
Him above all else, are those who are consumed with the things of God. They
are eager to study God’s Word, eager to pray, eager to obey and honor God
in all things, and eager to share Jesus Christ with others. It is through
these spiritual disciplines that the love for God grows and matures to the
glory of God." Brethren, may this be our legacy.

Douglas 

Listen Up. Matthew 17:9-13 NLT

There's a difference between listening to someone and hearing them. You can hear someone but not actually listen to them. When you are having a conversation with someone, are you hearing what they say or are you thinking about what you want to say and waiting for your chance to speak? Are you so excited about what you want to say that you interrupt?

Here's some abbreviated definitions:

Listen-give one's attention

Hear- with the ear the sound made by (someone or something)

Conversation-the informal exchange of ideas by spoken words

God had just finished telling the boys (Peter, James and John) to listen to Jesus, yet I don't think they heard what He said. Jesus made a profound statement about His resurrection and instead of asking for clarity, they ask a question that have nothing to do with Jesus's statement. But it is a good question. And here's the answer:

Matthew 17:9-13 NLT

9 As they went back down the mountain, Jesus commanded them,“Don’t tell anyone what you have seen until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”

10 Then his disciples asked him, “Why do the teachers of religious law insist that Elijah must return before the Messiah comes?”

11 Jesus replied, “Elijah is indeed coming first to get everything ready. 12 But I tell you, Elijah has already come, but he wasn’t recognized, and they chose to abuse him. And in the same way they will also make the Son of Man suffer.” 13 Then the disciples realized he was talking about John the Baptist.

A comparison of the life and work of both Elijah and John the Baptist.

· Elijah was noted as being full of zeal for God; so was John the Baptist.
· Elijah boldly rebuked sin in high places; so did John the Baptist.
· Elijah called sinners and compromisers to a decision of repentance; so did John the Baptist.
· Elijah attracted multitudes in his ministry; so did John the Baptist.
· Elijah attracted the attention and fury of a king and his wife; so did John the Baptist.
· Elijah was an austere man; so was John the Baptist.
· Elijah fled to the wilderness; John the Baptist also lived there.
· Elijah lived in a corrupt time and was used to restore failing spiritual life; so was it true of John the Baptist. David Guzik

Blessings, Cecilia

Hebrews 3 Do you hear His voice?

14We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly to the end the assurance we had at first. 15As it has been said:
“Today, if you hear His voice,
do not harden your hearts,
as you did in the rebellion.”

Did you hear His voice in these verses?
Living life can be compared to riding an horse in a race without a saddle and holding firmly onto his mane. If you hold on firmly you may stay on his back and finish the race. But what if he bucks you off, do you get back up, dust yourself off, jump back on and finish the race?

Christ gives us the spiritual and physical strength to finish the race to the end.
When life kicks you to the ground we are able with Him, to get back up, dust ourselves  off, jump back on and continue to run the race holding firmly onto Him to the end.
The world doesn't understand this concept in Christ. The world drowns their sorrows with alcohol, drugs, sex or anything they can find trying to fill that God shaped hole in their heart. Our creator created us to depend on Him. Jesus gave us the avenue, that is the (Romans) Road to Salvation. Follow that road to finish the race!

Are you familiar with the Romans Road to Salvation?
https://www.gotquestions.org/Romans-road-salvation.html

Blessings, David

86,400 Seconds

86,400 seconds in a day. By the time you complete reading this, 90 seconds
will be gone. For many people, they have never "used" every second of every
day, and think about what would happen if they could. There was a time when
I was on drugs that I was awake for 2 weeks. In the beginning, I got a lot
done and then everything spun out of control. I have always been a person
that has had "too many irons in the fire". I have also lived by the
principal of, take care of what is screaming the loudest, and as a
mechanic, remembering, that the squeaky wheel gets the grease, lol. It says
in *Ecclesiastes 3:1 To everything there is a season, A time for every
purpose under heaven: 2 A time to be born, And a time to die; A time to
plant, And a time to pluck what is planted...* Busyness of life can be
overwhelming at times. In life, we have many "Got too's" . A person has to
work a job, and for many, that job is challenging. Family responsibilities
are important. Taking care of the home is needed. Trying to find balance
and have time management can seem impossible. And then we have the "Get
too's". Ministry becomes a blessing when it can happen, and then there are
times that we need to step away for a season. For many, we look at ministry
at church and sometimes we neglect the ministry in our own homes. Parents,
children, grand-children, need to experience the "Get too" time as well.
Jim Valvano wrote, “There are 86,400 seconds in a day. It's up to you to
decide what to do with them.” Brethren, only God knows how many seconds
each of our lives will have. May we "use" all that we have been given, to
glorify God, further His kingdom and love the people around us as much as
we can.

Douglas 

Chhose Wisely!

"What is there to live for?" This is a question that fills the hearts and
minds of both Christian's and non-Christian's alike. This is one of many
questions that we contemplate everyday. What is "Your" life going to count
for? Every one of us is investing our lives into something. What is it in
for you? More importantly, for the believer, will it stand the test? 2
Corinthians 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ,
that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he
has done, whether good or bad.* What are you building with? In the great
day when all people see things the way they truly are before God, will you
be filled with joy that your life was invested in what stood the test and
contributed to the glory of the Lord Himself? *1 Corinthians 3:14 If
anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward.*
I believe that there is no-one, who is a Christian, who will not have some
degree of gold, silver and precious stones, because God guarantees it by
having come into our lives. But there can also be a lot of wood, hay and
stubble too, built upon the philosophy of the flesh instead of the work of
the Spirit. Will you be ashamed that you wasted all your years making an
impression on people for selfish reasons and having that investment be
burned up in the fire? One day, every one of us will give an account for
how we lived. I do not believe that God is concerned, as we often think,
with what we do, so much as why we do it. The heart of the matter is the
matter of the heart. The materials we use to build the church – His church,
are important, CHOOSE WISELY!

Douglas 

F.A.I.T.H.

Drug overdose and suicide are happening all around us everyday. I have
heard it said that there is a God size whole that we all try to fill. Some
make worldly choices, chasing after fame, fortune and popularity. Then
there are others that seek to fill that hole with drugs, alcohol and
relationships. The problem is, the only "thing" that can truly fill that
hole is a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. The reason that I can
say that with confidence is because I have tried to fill that hole with
many of those "things", and then when I failed, the devil got a hold of me.
I survived the drug overdose and by God's grace, did not use the bullet
that had my name written on it. Surrendering to God's will, can be painful
in the beginning, but I want to let those that are struggling to make it
through the day, know, it is worth it. True comfort and peace can only be
found in the arms a loving God and not in anything else. The perfect
example of true love is found in *John 3:16 For God so loved the world that
He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not
perish but have everlasting life.17 For God did not send His Son into the
world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.*
There is a acronym, F.A.I.T.H. - Forsaking All I Trust Him. Dear Heavenly
Father, I am sorry for not trusting You in the past. I am sorry I have
failed You, time and time again. Thank You for Jesus in my life. I
surrender to Your will in thought, purpose and action. Help me please, to
love You more. In Jesus name, amen.

Douglas 

Jesus Only. Matthew 17:7-8 NKJV

"They saw no one but Jesus only." I'm going to summarize David Guzik and share some quotes from Charles Spurgeon  because they explain this better then I ever could.

"It would be sad to exchange the grace and truth that came by Jesus for the law that came by Moses; but there are those sad ones who see Moses and his law only. It might have been that after the events of the transfiguration, only Elijah remained for the disciples. Theoretically, when the experience was over, there would have been only Elijah. Elijah was a man great for the power of his word and the boldness of his national reforms. Yet all this doesn’t compare to the person and work of Jesus only. It might have been that after the events of the transfiguration, all three remained. At first, this might have seemed to be the best – why not all three? Yet now that Jesus has come, Moses and Elijah can fade into their supportive roles, and never be put on the same level as Jesus." David Guzik

“Though the apostles saw ‘Jesus only,’ they saw quite sufficient, for Jesus is enough for time and eternity, enough to live by and enough to die by…O look to Him, and though it be Jesus only, though Moses should condemn you, and Elias should alarm you, yet ‘Jesus only’ shall be enough to comfort and enough to save you. ‘One is our Master,’ and that one is enough, for we have learned to see the wisdom of God and the power of God in Jesus only. At this day, my brethren, we have no Master but Christ" Charles Spurgeon

Matthew 17:7-8 NKJV

 7 But Jesus came and touched them and said, “Arise, and do not be afraid.”
8 When they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only. 

Blessings, Cecilia

Hebrews 3 [calling God a liar]?

The Peril of Unbelief
12See to it, brothers, that none of you has a wicked heart of unbelief that turns away from the living God. 13But exhort one another daily, as long as it is called today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.

 “The great sin of not believing in the Lord Jesus Christ is often spoken of very lightly and in a very trifling spirit, as though it were scarcely any sin at all; yet, according to my text, and, indeed, according to the whole tenor of the Scriptures, unbelief is the giving of God the lie [calling God a liar], and what can be worse?” (Spurgeon)

“Hearken, O unbeliever, you have said, ‘I cannot believe,’ but it would be more honest if you had said, ‘I will not believe.’ The mischief lies there. Your unbelief is your fault, not your misfortune. It is a disease, but it is also a crime: it is a terrible source of misery to you, but it is justly so, for it is an atrocious offense against the God of truth.” (Spurgeon)

"13But exhort one another daily",
"we must be around other Christians who will exhort – that is, “seriously encourage” us."
i. If you are out of fellowship altogether, you can’t exhort or be exhorted. When we are out of fellowship, there is much less around us to keep us from becoming hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
ii. Some think that Jesus’ command to not bother with the speck in our brother’s eye while we have a log in our own (Matthew 7:5) indicates that we should not exhort one another daily. Yet Jesus told us to first deal with our log in our own eye, but then to go and deal with the speck in our brother’s eye. He did not tell us to ignore their speck, only to deal with it in proper order.

All of today's quotes are from David Guzik
He is my go to commentary because I like his style in outline form and I've sat through his teachings at Pastor and Leaders Conferences and when he substituted for our pastor on leave.
https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/hebrews-3/

Do you know anyone that has unbelief [calling God a liar]?
Blessings, David

Awkward! Matthew 17:1-6 NLT

Sometimes it's better to just remain quiet. We open our mouths and before we know it the wrong words fly out. Or what we say was not at all what we intended  to say. We end up  slapping out forehead wondering why we just said what we said. I can think of a couple of times just this year for me.

Peter had a habit of saying some really awkward things. In verse 4 he says "Lord, it’s wonderful for us to be here!" Wow, Peter, how profound. Then, as if that wasn't enough, Peter says  "If you want, I’ll make three shelters as memorials—one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” Way to insult Jesus, Peter, you just claimed Jesus, Moses and Elijah to be equals.

How about getting rebuked by God? Can you think of anything worse? God reminds Peter who he is referencing, "My dearly loved Son who brings Me great joy" and tells Peter to be quiet and listen to Jesus. The disciples are terrified and fall face down on the ground. I know I'd be face down on the ground trembling in fear if God spoke audibly to me! Poor Peter, here he is witnessing the glory of Jesus in full display, he opens his mouth and out comes.....awkward!

I can relate. Can you? 

Matthew 17:1-6 NLT

The Transfiguration

1 Six days later Jesus took Peter and the two brothers, James and John, and led them up a high mountain to be alone. 2 As the men watched, Jesus’ appearance was transformed so that His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as light. 3 Suddenly, Moses and Elijah appeared and began talking with Jesus.

4 Peter exclaimed, “Lord, it’s wonderful for us to be here! If you want, I’ll make three shelters as memorials—one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”

5 But even as he spoke, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings Me great joy. Listen to Him.” 6 The disciples were terrified and fell face down on the ground.

Blessings, Cecilia

Hebrews 3 Are you following His urgency?

Do Not Harden Your Hearts

7Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says:
“Today if you hear His voice,
8do not harden your hearts,
as you did in the rebellion,
in the time of testing in the wilderness,
9where your fathers tried Me by testing Me,
and for forty years saw My works.
10Therefore I was angry with that generation,
and I said,
‘Their hearts always go astray,
and they have not known My ways.’
11So I swore on oath in My anger,
‘They shall never enter My rest.’”

These verses are a Quotation from Psalm 95:7–11
When the Holy Spirit speaks to use today, when you feel that tug on your heart, we are reminded of the urgency He speaks to us in. He is saying now not tomorrow.
When you walk by someone, has He put on your heart to speak to them about Jesus?
Did you follow His urgency?
When someone asks for prayer, did you pray immediately for them or did you say I will add you to my prayer list? Are you following His urgency?

Brethren there may not be a tomorrow for you or them!
Do not harden you hearts in disbelief! If you don't follow His leading, if you don't abide by His request, isn't it the same as disbelief? And if disbelief isn't it rebellion? And if rebellion isn't it testing? How many years will you only see His works and not be of His works?
Don't let your heart go astray, but follow His ways, follow His prompting of your heart.
Listen to His urgency and enter His rest.

Blessings, David

Cure for eternal death!

If you knew that someone had the cure for cancer and kept it to themselves,
would you be angry? There is something worse than that to be angry about,
people who do not take God at His word. "Christians" who know the cure for
eternal death and separation from God and keep silent. *Romans 10:9 that if
you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that
God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart
one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto
salvation.* Many believe that if a "Christian" lives a good life it will be
good enough and others will see and yet, this is contrary to the
scriptures. Romans 10:14 How then shall they call on Him in whom they have
not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not
heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they
preach unless they are sent? As it is written:“How beautiful are the feet
of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good
things!” I think of the quotes by Charles Spurgeon - “Have you no wish for
others to be saved? Then you're not saved yourself, be sure of that!” and
also, "You have never truly found Jesus if you do not tell others about
Him!". I have to ask those that keep silent, where is the love that is
suppose to be shared? Why are you keeping silent and not proclaiming to all
the love of Jesus? I know that there are times that I fall short and am
broken over it. Brethren, time is short, Jesus is coming back. One final
thought to those who are proclaiming and are told not to by others. Acts
4:18 So they called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach
in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John answered and said to them,
“Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God,
you judge. 20 For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and
heard.”

Douglas 

Check Mate. Matthew 16:27-28 NLT

There was a man who had worked all of his life and had saved all of his money.

He was a real miser when it came to his money. He loved money more than just about anything, and just before he died, he said to his wife, “Now listen, when I die I want you to take all my money and place it in the casket with me. I want to take all my money to the afterlife.”

So he got his wife to promise him with all her heart that when he died, she would put all the money in the casket with him. Well, one day he died.

He was stretched out in the casket, the wife was sitting there in black next to their best friend. When they finished the ceremony, just before the undertakers got ready to close the casket, the wife said, “Wait a minute!”

She had a shoebox with her. She came over with the box and placed it in the casket. Then the undertakers locked the casket and rolled it away.

Her friend said, “I hope you weren’t crazy enough to put all that money in there with that stingy old man.”

She said, “Yes, I promised. I’m a good Christian, I can’t lie. I promised him that I was going to put that money in that casket with him.”

“You mean to tell me you put every cent of his money in the casket with him?”

“I sure did,” said the wife. “I got it all together, put it into my account and I wrote him a check.”

Matthew 16:27-28 NLT

27 "For the Son of Man will come with His angels in the glory of His Father and will judge all people according to their deeds.28 And I tell you the truth, some standing here right now will not die before they see the Son of Man coming in His Kingdom. "

Blessings, Cecilia

Hebrews 3 We are His house

3Jesus has been counted worthy of greater glory than Moses, just as the builder of a house has greater honor than the house itself. 4For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything.
5Now Moses was faithful as a servant in all God’s house,a testifying to what would be spoken later. 6But Christ is faithful as the Son over God’s house. And we are His house, if we hold firmly to our confidence and the hope of which we boast.

We are His house. Do you understand this? Jesus is building a spiritual house in you!
If we hold firmly to our confidence and the hope in our faith, God slowly builds our foundation out of stone making us stronger spiritually so we can withstand all this world throws at us. Through our experiences God molds us and shapes our home, building us up until the day we die and we enter our heavenly home.

With our faith in Jesus we have hope which those living for the world do not.
Boast about Jesus so others can find His hope!
Blessings, David

Hebrews 3 What is your Heavenly calling?

Hebrews 3
Berean Study Bible
Jesus Our Apostle and High Priest
1Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, set your minds on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess. 2He was faithful to the One who appointed Him, just as Moses was faithful in all God’s house.

Setting your minds on Jesus. Sometimes it's not easy. I must confess as I watch or listen to the news I have murdered in my heart towards the opposition party, the resistors, throwing roadblocks and lies towards our president and his administration. And when I catch myself I pray for forgiveness and pray that our God who appoints kings to shine His light on the lies and expose the evil in Washington DC.

What is our heavenly calling? To follow Jesus, to display His love towards all mankind, to set OUR minds on Jesus. Jesus was faithful unto death to the One (Father) who appointed Him. Remember His prayer in the garden?
Luke 22:42 "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done."
His will was for His Son to die on the cross for you.

Brethren, remember Jesus is your Apostle, your High Priest who intercedes for you to the Father. He earned that position (right) on the cross with His blood.

Blessings, David

The Cross

What is the "Cross" of Christ to you? No matter what you do for work,
hobbies or pleasure, is the "Cross" always on your mind? Paul makes it
clear that there are only two categories of people: the “perishing” and the
“saved.” *1 Corinthians 1:18 For the message of the cross is foolishness
[absurd and illogical] to those who are perishing and spiritually dead
[because they reject it], but to us who are being saved [by God’s grace] it
is [the manifestation of] the power of God.* Do you accept the
"foolishness" of the cross, or have you accepted Christ as your Savior?
Once you truly confront the cross and its meaning, you find yourself unable
to live your life the same way ever again. The work of the cross, this
gospel preaching, is what we need to stay strong in the faith and encourage
others not to drift away. The "Cross" is the word that will be your anchor
when everything else in your life is spinning out of control and will
assure you that, in spite of everything else that appears to the contrary,
God does indeed love you. The wisdom of all humanity cannot begin to
comprehend the capacity God’s love for us. That is why we preach Christ
crucified. Why we preach the "Cross". When all else fails, we can always go
back to the cross and bond around our love for the One who died for us
there and remember *1 Cor 1:23 but we preach Christ crucified...24...Christ
is the power of God and the wisdom of God.*

Douglas 

Set Free. Matthew 16:25-26 NLT

There's a song by Toby Mac with lyrics that say "I don't want to gain the whole world and loose my soul." That completely summarizes what Jesus is saying here. It's one or the other, you can't have both. You can't live your life for the things of this world, and expect eternal life in Heaven. 

I'm feeling "selfish" today. Selfish I mourn for Sandy. I am also feeling happy for her. Oh the joy she must be experiencing! One day I will experience that joy too!

"You don't lose a seed when you plant it, though it seems dead and buried. Instead, you set the seed free to be what it was always intended to be." David Guzik

Matthew 16: 25-26 NLT
25 If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for My sake, you will save it. 26 And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul? 

Blessings, Cecilia

Hebrews 2 Do you suffer when you are tempted?

16For surely it is not the angels He helps, but the descendants of Abraham. 17So He had to be made like His brothers in every way, that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, in order to make atonement for the sins of the people. 18Because He Himself suffered when He was tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted.

Ethnically Jesus was made like the sons of Abraham but in a physical sense He was made like all of us in every way. He was tempted like us but did not sin.
How else could He understand us?

"Many persons are tempted, but do not suffer in being tempted. When ungodly men are tempted, the bait is to their taste, and they swallow it greedily. Temptation is a pleasure to them; indeed, they sometimes tempt the devil to tempt them . . . But good men suffer when they are tempted, and the better they are the more they suffer." (Spurgeon)

Yes Jesus suffered when He was tempted!
Do you suffer when you are tempted?

Blessings, David

Prayer is powerful!

Prayer is powerful if done properly. Before we bring our petitions we must
bring our praise. The Lord Jesus showed us in the Lord's prayer what manner
and order works best. As we look throughout the scriptures we can see the
power in a simple prayer and the parallels from other scriptures. (1) *Matt
6:9...Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.* *Prov 18:10 The name of
the Lord is a strong tower; The righteous run to it and are safe.* (2)
*Matt 6:10 Your kingdom come...* *Luke 10:11...know this, that the kingdom
of God has come near you.* (3) *Matt 6:10...Your will be done On earth as
it is in heaven.* *Matt 6:33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His
righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.* (4) *Matt 6:11
Give us this day our daily bread.* *Phil 4:19 And my God shall supply all
your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.* (5) *Matt 6:12
And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors.* *Eph 4:32 And be kind
to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ
forgave you.* (6) *Matt 6:13 And do not lead us into temptation, But
deliver us from the evil one...* *1 Cor 10:13 No temptation has overtaken
you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not
allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation
will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.* (7)
*Matt 6:13...For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.
Amen.* *Jude 24 Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, And to
present you faultless Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy,
25 To God our Savior, Who alone is wise, Be glory and majesty, Dominion and
power, Both now and forever. Amen.* Brethren, may the Lord richly bless you
my beloved!

Douglas 

Jesus first, others second. Matthew 16:24-28 NLT

I have several cross necklaces. One, my parents gave me probably when I made my first communion or was confirmed in the Catholic Church. It is worn and has the figure of Jesus on it. I don't wear that one anymore. David gave me one years ago that is covered in amethyst, my birth stone. I wear that one when I wear purple (my favorite color). Another one I wear often is a beautiful sterling silver one Sandy gave me.

If the people of Jesus's day saw us wearing cross necklaces, they would be horrified. The cross was an instrument of torture and death. It would be akin to wearing a small electric chair figure around our neck.

Taking up our cross doesn't just mean we will have troubles as a Christian. Oh we will have troubles, but taking up our cross is so much more then that. It's setting ourselves apart from the rest of the worlds expectations of us. It's accepting persecution for our faith, maybe even death. It's putting Jesus first and others second. Its an attitude of servitude wherever we go, whoever we encounter at all times. It's being willing to fight the hardest fight, through the toughest of times, in the worst possible ways all for the glory of Jesus, the salvation of others and the fulfillment of the promises we will receive when we see Him face to face.

Matthew 16:24 NLT
24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If any of you wants to be My follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow Me. 

Blessings, Cecilia