Matthew 12:33 & Titus 3:2 Fruit, Gentleness and Humility!

Matthew 12:33 Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad; for a tree is known by its fruit.

There is a husband and wife that use the nursery at our church. Every week they seem to complain about something. I don’t know what is going on in their lives and I’m not judging them.

I can handle computers that act up, I can handle crying babies but when you add contentious parents it drains you. They tend to go on and on. Then they go up the chain of command and come back and go on and on.

Cecilia finally told the mother if she was unhappy with the quality of care in the nursery she had the option of taking her children to the cry room.

I heard the parents want to go into the mission field. 

I’m not convinced this is an area of service is where God is calling them.

“for a tree is known by its fruit.”

Titus 3:2 NIV They must not slander anyone and must avoid quarreling. Instead, they should be gentle and show true humility to everyone.

I like how the NIV translates, “must avoid quarreling. Instead, they should be gentle and show true humility to everyone”.

Do you avoid quarreling and are you gentle showing true humility to everyone?

Blessings, David 

The Way Psalm 1:6 NKJV

What caught my attention in Psalm 1:6 was the word "way". 

Psalm 1:6 NKJV 

6 For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, But the way of the ungodly shall perish. 

In the early church, Christian's were referred to as "The Way" because of Jesus own words. 

John 14:6 NKJV  Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

Matthew 7:13 “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. 14 Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it. 

What path are you on, what way are you going? 

Blessings, Cecilia

John 3:35-36 A Promise and a Warning!

John 3:35The Father loves the Son and has placed all things in His hands. 36Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life. Whoever rejects the Son will not see life. Instead, the wrath of God remains on him.”

A promise and a warning! Because Jesus was obedient, God has placed  all things in His hands. 

The Promise; “36Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life”.

If you believe in Jesus Christ, if you accept what He did for you, if you accept Him as Lord and Savior then you have eternal life.

The Warning; “Whoever rejects the Son will not see life. Instead, the wrath of God remains on him.”

This is putting it mildly! Look at it this way, God sent His Son to save the world. He allowed Him to suffer persecution and a brutal death on the cross for your sins. But you reject His Salvation! 

How do you think God will deal with you? I would not like to be in your shoes!

You have two choices, the Promise or the Warning!

Which one do you choose?

Blessings, David 

Ezekiel 3:7-Hitting your head against the wall?

All the house of Israel have a hard forehead and a stubborn heart. Ezekiel 3:7

If God’s chosen people had this condition why would we be any different? We’ve all been guilty of having a hard forehead and a stubborn heart! 

How many times has the Lord whispered in your ear to talk to someone about Jesus? But our head was hard and our heart was stubborn. We were afraid of the reaction we might get, but our hard head doesn’t realize that God has already softened the heart of the person He asked us to talk to. 

We can be His light 💡 or we can have a hard head and stubborn heart and turn the light switch off.

If you don’t do what He asks He will raise up another.

Stop hitting your hard head against the wall and having the heart of a mule! Follow His leading next time. 

Leave His light on so everyone can see!

Blessings, David 

2 Corinthians 6- Patience, patience!

2 Corinthians 6: in purity, knowledge, patience, and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; 

Why are some people so inpatient, they interrupt, know everything and are the center of attention?

When you interrupt someone you are essentially telling them their speech isn’t important and yours is.

They can test your patience, so the best method is to be quiet and let them carry on.

God could also be testing you to teach you patience and to see your reaction. Any reaction other than His sincere love and kindness would be wrong.

When you get annoyed with someone who interrupts remember what your mother taught you, “(your name) patience, patience!”

After all, the Lord has patience with you and your sins, doesn’t He?

Blessings, David 

What's Your Excuse? Psalm 1:5 NKJV

I've heard a lot of excuses over the years, you probably have too. Maybe you have even used those excuses in the past, I know I have. Maybe you're still using them. 

The church is full of hypocrites. 

Church is boring. 

I can worship God anywhere. 

I haven't found a good church. 

I'm too busy. 

Sunday is my only day to sleep in. 

The service is too long. 

I need to clean up my act first. 

Verse 5 continues on the thought of separating the chaff from the wheat. It tells us at the time of judgment, sinners will not be able to stand before the Judgment Seat of God. Unbelievers will be separated from believers just as Matthew 25:31-34; 41-46 tells us:

31 “But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit upon His glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered in His presence, and He will separate the people as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will place the sheep at His right hand and the goats at His left.

34 “Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by My Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. 

41 “Then the King will turn to those on the left and say, ‘Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his demons.  42 For I was hungry, and you didn’t feed Me. I was thirsty, and you didn’t give Me a drink. 43 I was a stranger, and you didn’t invite Me into your home. I was naked, and you didn’t give Me clothing. I was sick and in prison, and you didn’t visit Me.’

44 “Then they will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help You?’

45 “And He will answer, ‘I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help Me.’

46 “And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life.”

Psalm 1:5 NKJV 

5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. Psalm

So, what's your excuse? 

Blessings, Cecilia

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Proverbs 16:9-Steps!

Proverbs 16:9 The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps.

The Bible is full of examples of men that planned their way but the Lord established their steps.

One that comes to mind is Joseph, his brothers were jealous of him and planned to kill him. They threw him in a pit and ended up selling him as a slave. As a slave he became the head of a household and was accused of a false crime and thrown in jail. While in jail he interprets (God explained them to Joseph) two dreams. Later he becomes the second in command in Egypt. He uses his position to prepare for famine by storing up grain and saves a nation and his family.

Do you believe The Lord established his steps? How about his brothers steps? They wanted to kill him but one brother spoke up and changed their minds. 

I believe the Lord established my steps too. From salvation to adoption, from Arizona to Michigan. 

Our heart may plan the way, but the LORD establishes our steps.

Do you believe the Lord established your steps too?

Blessings, David 

Luke 1:46-55 Are you a control freak?

Luke 1:46And Mary said:

            “My soul exalts the Lord,

      47And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.

      48“For He has had regard for the humble state of His bondslave;

            For behold, from this time on all generations will count me blessed.

      49“For the Mighty One has done great things for me;

            And holy is His name.

      50“AND HIS MERCY IS UPON GENERATION AFTER GENERATION

            TOWARD THOSE WHO FEAR HIM.

      51“He has done mighty deeds with His arm;

            He has scattered those who were proud in the thoughts of their heart.

      52“He has brought down rulers from their thrones,

            And has exalted those who were humble.

      53“HE HAS FILLED THE HUNGRY WITH GOOD THINGS;

            And sent away the rich empty-handed.

      54“He has given help to Israel His servant,

            In remembrance of His mercy,

      55As He spoke to our fathers,

            To Abraham and his descendants forever.”

And Mary said.....

My soul exalts and my spirit has rejoiced!

Is it a wonder God used her? She had a humble heart.

She exalted God and gave Him glory.

Read these verses several times and let them sink in.

Remember, God is in control.

The question is, are you trying to control your world or allowing Him (The Creator of the Universe) to control your world?

The difference is, allowing God to move from the passenger seat to the drivers seat.

Don’t be a control freak, let God take the wheel!

Blessings, David 

Luke 9:3 Journey’s in life!

Luke 9: 3“Take nothing for the journey,” He told them, “no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no second tunic. 4Whatever house you enter, stay there until you leave that area. 5If anyone does not welcome you, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that town, as a testimony against them.”

Cecilia is going to the Orange Conference today in Atlanta GA, it’s a leadership conference that has about seven thousand people in attendance. 

Unlike this scripture she packed a bag and is taking a cooler as three souls will be driving straight through to Atlanta from northern MI.

In this scripture Jesus was instructing his apostles how to travel and to rely on God to provide for their journeys.

How often do we travel but forgot to pray and ask God to provide His hand of protection over our journey and to bring people into our path He wants us to spread the word of salvation?

Blessings, David 

Proverbs 14:29 & John 16:8 Repent and Forgive!

Proverbs 14:29 CSB

A patient person shows great understanding, but a quick-tempered one promotes foolishness.

Sunday morning is our ministry of serving in the nursery. Cecilia is the Nursery Coordinator.

 One of my jobs is to stand in the entrance of the hall of the nursery and to politely request to see the parents pick up tag for their children at the end of service.

We use this method for several reasons, congestion: to restrict the number of people in the hall for children safety, to reduce confusion with volunteers verifying the numbers on the pick up tag to the child’s tag and if we have a “runaway” child they are easier to control.

But one dad doesn’t like this method and he gave us grief several weeks ago. When I asked this Sunday to see his tag he stopped to retrieve it and the expression on his face was one of a person about to blow his stack. As he was leaving he started to say something but then said something of the effect, never mind. Cecilia witnessed the incident and told me if he says anything to you refer him to her.

Later the man came back and apologized. He said he was sorry for his reaction. 

The Holy Spirit’s Job is to convict us of sin as stated in John 16.

John 16:8 “And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment;”

It’s important when the Holy Spirit convicts us the we follow His leading. Conviction can also be forgiving someone who has sinned against you. 

Mark 11:25 BSB “And when you stand to pray, if you hold anything against another, forgive it, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your trespasses as well."

Is there sin in your life that He has convicted you about?  

Have you not forgiven someone? Be careful and don’t let bitterness find root in your heart.

Today’s lesson, repent and forgive!

Blessings, David 

Titus 1:15, 2 Cor 4:3-4 Unbelievers!

Titus 1:15 To the pure, all things are pure; but to those who are defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure, but both their mind and their conscience are defiled.

2 Corinthians 4:3-4

And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

Worldlings (Unbelievers) may well be afraid, for they have an angry God above them, a guilty conscience within them, and a yawning hell beneath them. Spurgeon 

I read Spurgeon’s quote this morning several times and it struck me! Jesus told us that the path to hell is wide.

Wouldn’t it be interesting to be able to see people as God see’s them from the standpoint with His mark or without? You would know right away which souls were going to “a yawning hell beneath them.”

Would you be moved like Jesus was to be amongst them to spread the gospel?

Blessings, David 

John 1:19-23 His Voice!

John 1:19And this was John’s testimony when the Jews of Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him, “Who are you?” 20He did not refuse to confess, but openly declared, “I am not the Christ.”

21“Then who are you?” they inquired. “Are you Elijah?”

He said, “I am not.”

“Are you the Prophet?”

He answered, “No.”

22So they said to him, “Who are you? We need an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?”

23John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet: “I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.’”c

The religious establishment, the swamp comes against John.

His response; Isaiah 40:3 (NKJV)

3 The voice of one crying in the wilderness:

“Prepare the way of the Lord;

Make straight in the desert

A highway for our God.

In our country the left is decrying; there is no god!

http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2018/04/21/how-long-will-be-allowed-to-remain-christian.html

How long will you be able to remain a Christian?

Will you be like John or will you bend to the ones decrying there is no god?

If you look at history and realize how authoritative governments gain control over people, first they have to remove God from society so their form of government can take His place. It’s beginning here in our country! Read the article at the link I sent.

Will you be like John? 

Will you be His voice?

“I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.’”

Blessings, David 

Romans Road to Salvation, The Lost Bible!

Romans Road to Salvation 

Romans 3:10

Romans 3:23

Romans 5:12

Romans 6:23

Romans 5:8-9

Romans 10:9-10

Romans 10:13

I’ve shared this story before and it’s on my heart this morning.

Our church counselor, Jack was leaving church one day and had set his bible on top of his car and drove home. During his drive home it had rained heavily and when Jack had turned in the bend of the road his bible slid off the roof and landed on the side of the road unbeknownst to him. 

He searched everywhere for his bible and couldn’t locate it.

Sometime later a woman approached him in the parking lot and asked him if his name was Jack? She had explained to him she found his bible alongside the road and when she got home she opened it and saw a note written on a page “Romans Road to Salvation”. She followed the notes and read through the passages and became saved. She continued reading his bible, the notes and highlighted verses and began attending church. One by one her whole family came to Christ and was saved.

When she returned his bible, it wasn’t damaged by the fall or rain. 

God uses circumstances in our lives to bring souls to Him. In this instance he used Jack’s lost bible.

Do you markup and make notes in your bible? Have you ever misplaced it? Maybe God will use your bible also!

Blessings David 

Master Healer. Psalm 1:4 NLT

I remember one August while living in Tucson we had gone on vacation during the rainy season. When we came home, our back yard looked like s field of tall grass. Of course it wasn't long before the sun dried it out and it was now dead grass. We had two siberian huskies at the time and the back yard was all theirs. Soon, we noticed the dogs limping and discovered tiny long seeds embedded in their paws. We tried removing them with tweezers but some of the sores became infected and required a trip to the vet for medication. I learned from that experience to get the weeds out of the yard before they went to seed.

I thought about that experience while thinking about this verse:

Psalm 1: 4 NLT 

But not the wicked! They are like worthless chaff, scattered by the wind.

In case you don't know what chaff is, here is the definition:

Chaff,  

the husk of corn or wheat which was separated from the grain by being thrown into the air, the wind blowing away the chaff, while the grain was saved. 

The carrying away of chaff by the wind is an ordinary scriptural image of the destruction of the wicked and of their powerlessness to resist Gods judgement.

To me, those seeds were like chaff. They were good for nothing, causing pain, infecting the surrounding area. Removing the cause of the pain wasn't enough. To get rid of the infection, you need a master healer.

Jesus IS the Master Healer.

Blessings, Cecilia 

Ecclesiastes 8: 2I- Keep the command of the king!

Ecclesiastes 8: 2I say, “Keep the command of the king because of the oath before God. 3“Do not be in a hurry to leave him. Do not join in an evil matter, for he will do whatever he pleases.” 4Since the word of the king is authoritative, who will say to him, “What are you doing?”

People don’t seem to understand God is in control. He anoints rulers, meaning He puts kings or presidents in power for His purpose.

So when scripture tells us, ““Keep the command of the king because of the oath before God.” It means, follow the laws of your government because of your oath, your belief in God. To not do so, is not believing God is in control and sinning against God.

The only exception in this would be if the laws contradict Gods law.

We have situation unfolding right now with the FBI and the Department of Justice in which the previous administration unlawfully spied on a incoming president, installed people in power to resist his incoming authority committing a conspiracy with felonies by violating law and the constitution. Yesterday congress sent the DOJ a letter asking for indictments of powerful individuals in the previous administration. Wether you agree or not with our current President these people who are named in this letter broke Gods law.

What can you do? Pray that Gods will be done, pray for our government, pray for your president and his administration and pray for his family.

Jesus, on the cross prayed to the Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.

If Jesus can pray for His persecutors you can pray for your government wether you agree with them or not.

Blessings, David 

Persevere. Pdalm 1:3 NLT

Psalm 1:3 NLT

3 They ( those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers.) are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do.

I read this verse and  started wondering about trees. Someone told me once that trees don't drop their leaves until the new bud forms. I thought that was an interesting idea so I looked to see if I could collaborate it. I could not. To their credit, when they told it to me, they said they didn't know if it was true.

We live in the woods. The last few days we had the worst snowstorm we have experienced in over 30 years. Yeah, I know, we just moved here 2.5 years ago from Arizona but still! I remember some bad winters the FIRST 24 years I lived in Michigan.

Anyway, during this snowstorm I noticed a pine tree in the back yard that was decimated by the snow. And I mean decimated. From the window, it looked like a shrub. I mentioned it to David and he went out, Grace the dog in tow, to shake the snow off it so it could stand tall again. If he hadn't, it may have broke from the weight of the snow and the tree would be lost.

I imagine, trees growing along a riverbank with an unlimited source of water would do great. All nice and green with plump juicy fruit. But what about the tree that suffers hardships? Did you know without the wind, a trees roots won't go deep? It has no reason to "hold on". Without the cold, it has no reason to slow down it's growth and conserve it's energy. Without the heat, it has no reason to persevere.

Without the storms and the trials a tree  has no reason to grow strong. And either do we.

Being a Christian doesn't mean we will have an easy life. What it DOES mean is that when the storms and trials of life come our way, because of our faith, we will persevere.

Blessings, Cecilia 

Luke 4:13 Temptation & Compromising Situations!

Luke 4:13 When the devil had finished every temptation, he left Him until an opportune time.

Temptation comes in many forms, to an alcoholic it may be driving by a liquor store. To a struggling financially person it may a handling money at work. To a porn addicted person it may a sexually revealing ad on the internet. To a lustful person it may be staying in housing on a trip with members of the opposite sex.

Why do we even tempt ourselves by allowing compromising situations? 

King David allowed himself to peer on Bathsheba while she was bathing when he should have be engaged in war alongside his army.

But Joseph fled from temptation when Potiphar’s wife tried to seduce him.

The devil will return at an opportune time!

What will you do when temptation strikes?

I recommend you run and pray and don’t allow yourself to be put in compromising situations!

Blessings, David 

In the Beginning John 1:1-5, Genesis 1:1-2

John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was with God in the beginning. 3Through Him all things were made, and without Him nothing was made that has been made. 4In Him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

Genesis 1: 1In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2The earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters. 

Do you believe God created man or do you believe in evolution? I believe God created man, the heavens and the earth.

I have a twist on the word evolution (eviloution), after all if Satan can put doubt in you and lead you astray that’s evil isn’t it?

God created you, not Darwin or his theory. You have a soul and it’s up to you where your soul goes when you die. 

Will is be gate number one (heaven) or gate number 2 (hell)?

It’s your choice, that’s free will!

Blessings, David 

Why Do People Get Sick?

Why do people get sick?

Sin is one reason, when Adam and Eve sinned it brought disease into the world. So we live in a cursed world.

But sickness isn’t necessarily due to your sin.

God can use disease for His glory.

John 9: 2 And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” 3Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him.

Sin can cause disease as we see in John 5:14 Afterward Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, “See, you are well! Sin no more, that nothing worse may happen to you.”

Satan can cause disease.

Mark 5:9 And Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” He replied, “My name is Legion, for we are many.” 10And he begged him earnestly not to send them out of the country. 11Now a great herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside, 12and they begged him, saying, “Send us to the pigs; let us enter them.” 13So he gave them permission. And the unclean spirits came out and entered the pigs; and the herd, numbering about two thousand, rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned in the sea.

It’s best not to get hung up on the cause of your illness, rather pray His will be done and that He uses your sickness for His glory. There have been many deathbed conversions, not the person dying but the onlookers, unbelievers when the saint passes and goes into the glory of God. 

To whom will we be an example to?

Blessings, David

https://www.gotquestions.org/God-allow-sickness.html