Friendly Fire

friendly fire - incidents in which members of the military deliberately fire on their allies or fellow soldiers.

     I heard a minister in the Midwest share with his congregation that before he and his wife started their church several years ago they prayed it would be a place where people who have messed up in life can come for refuge--a place where they can start all over again without being judged. That is a wonderful, prayer, straight from the heart of God!
     Unfortunately, there are many "walking wounded" in the church today---those who live lives of quiet desperation and shame. They've been criticized and maybe even ostracized by their own, the people of God, because of past failures. They are victims of friendly fire. 
     If we think for a moment, don't we, the critics, have our own set of failures, most of which the public is just unaware of? Think about how it would impact our lives if our dirty laundry was aired! It might make us a little less inclined to fire on our own when they are down.
     We must realize who our real enemy is-----satan, whose only purpose is to steal, kill and destroy. He does so in the church by pitting us against each other so we can destroy ourselves.
     If we would recognize our enemy, take authority over him and demonstrate the unconditional love of God toward our hurting brothers and sisters, it might cause unbelievers see that we really are different, ultimately draw them to Christ and give hope to a dying world.
     Let us not kill our wounded, but help them to restore and rebuild their lives.

Scripture Links: Ephesians 4:31-32; Proverbs 8:5-8; Proverbs 10:12; John 10:10

To Receive Jesus as Lord ad Savior:(Sinner's Prayer) Dear God, I am a sinner. I need a savior. I need Jesus. I believe Jesus died for my sins and rose on the third day. I ask Jesus now to come into my heart and to become Lord over my life. Satan has no more power over me. I say with my mouth that Jesus is Lord. Father, help me to live for you, and thank you for saving me. John 3:16.

To Rededicate Your Life to the Lord (after falling away):Dear Heavenly Father: I confess to you that I have sinned. You said if I confess my sin you are faithful and just to forgive me and to cleanse me from all unrighteousness. I turn away from sin and turn to you, and I ask you to forgive me. I forgive myself also. Father, thank you for forgiving me, remembering my sin no more and allowing me to have right standing with you again. In Jesus' name, AMEN.

A Few More of Life's Instructions

      In my July 8th posting I wrote about some of my favorite "life's instructions." Here are a few more, including a couple I have adopted along the way:

Geese going for a morning swim at the lake at
Limestone College in Gaffney, SC

• Learn three clean jokes.
• Have a firm handshake.
• Keep your word. It means everything.
• Feed a stranger's expired parking meter.
• Be forgiving of yourself and others.
• Sing in the shower.
• Wear polished shoes.
• Remember other people's birthdays.
• Have a firm handshake.
• Look other people in the eye.
• Don't be afraid to say, "I was wrong," or "I don't know."
• Don't make permanent decisions with temporary people.
• Live your life as an exclamation, not an explanation.
• Be kind to everyone you meet. Most people are fighting some king of battle.
• Obey God quickly.

       Most all of these nuggets can be linked, in one way or another, to the Word of God. When I began serving the Lord years ago, I was amazed at the practical, daily wisdom I found in the Bible, particularly Proverbs. This book will tell you pretty much everything you need to know about how to live life day to day. Read it. It'll give you wisdom.......and hope! 

Scripture Links:  I Kings 3:6-13; Proverbs 3:13; Proverbs 4:7; 

To Receive Jesus as Lord ad Savior:(Sinner's Prayer) Dear God, I am a sinner. I need a savior. I need Jesus. I believe Jesus died for my sins and rose on the third day. I ask Jesus now to come into my heart and to become Lord over my life. Satan has no more power over me. I say with my mouth that Jesus is Lord. Father, help me to live for you, and thank you for saving me. John 3:16.

To Rededicate Your Life to the Lord (after falling away):Dear Heavenly Father: I confess to you that I have sinned. You said if I confess my sin you are faithful and just to forgive me and to cleanse me from all unrighteousness. I turn away from sin and turn to you, and I ask you to forgive me. I forgive myself also. Father, thank you for forgiving me, remembering my sin no more and allowing me to have right standing with you again. In Jesus' name, AMEN.

What's Your Dream?

You’ve had a long, hard week, and the weekend can’t get here fast enough. Friday’s here. You exhale at the end of the day, strip off the week and put on the weekend.  Then, like a blur, it’s over. Monday’s staring at you-again. Ugh! “I really don’t think I can do this again,” you complain. But, somehow, you drag yourself out of bed and into the shower.....and you show up at work or school.....one more time. 

You begin to wonder, “Is this what life’s gonna be like? Somewhere in the past, you began to dream. You dreamed of better days, finding a job better suited to your talents and abilities, finishing school, etc. What’s happened?

        The only reason men fail is broken focus.  

        Every dream, once conceived, must have a written plan attached to it, or we will inevitably retreat to our old ways of thinking and before we know it, life just happens. 

         It's never too late, though! But, we must get in gear. We are only here on earth for a window of time, and we are all given the gift of time. What we do with our time has everything to do with how our lives will play out.
         Take those dreams today that have been etched on the canvas of your heart and do something with them. Don't let them slip away! Here are some keys to setting worthwhile goals: 

1. Fix in your mind exactly what you want; 
2. Establish a definite date;
3. Create a definite plan for carrying out your desire and begin at once, whether you are ready or not; 
4. Write out a clear and concise statement of your dream; 
5. Read your written statement aloud twice daily, once when you rise in the morning and just before you retire at night. 

         Write your visions, make them plan and run with them! 

Scripture Links:  James 2:20; Habakkuk 2:2; Mark 9:23; Mark 11:22-23

To Receive Jesus as Lord ad Savior:(Sinner's Prayer) Dear God, I am a sinner. I need a savior. I need Jesus. I believe Jesus died for my sins and rose on the third day. I ask Jesus now to come into my heart and to become Lord over my life. Satan has no more power over me. I say with my mouth that Jesus is Lord. Father, help me to live for you, and thank you for saving me. John 3:16.

To Rededicate Your Life to the Lord (after falling away):Dear Heavenly Father: I confess to you that I have sinned. You said if I confess my sin you are faithful and just to forgive me and to cleanse me from all unrighteousness. I turn away from sin and turn to you, and I ask you to forgive me. I forgive myself also. Father, thank you for forgiving me, remembering my sin no more and allowing me to have right standing with you again. In Jesus' name, AMEN.

Normal Christianity

         My pastor taught a message last week entitled, Welcome to the Supernatural--Normal Christianity. He began by answering the question, "What is Christianity?" As defined, Christianity is "a relationship with Jesus Christ, with an acceptance of and adherence to His values, teachings and lifestyle. It is to leave the carnal and mundane limitations strapped upon man and to soar upon a life with no constraints."
         Sounds like something special. Sounds like we should be living lives superior to natural, everyday living---lives of a "super" natural kind. So, here are some questions we should ask ourselves:

• First, have I invited Christ in as Lord of my life?
• Secondly, are my values the same as His? In other words, do the values I base my life on coincide with those outlined in the Bible?
• Thirdly, do I listen to and follow His teachings? Do I make a conscious effort on a daily basis to know Him and to do what He says?
• And finally, does my lifestyle reflect the life of Christ? Can people tell I am a Christian by the way I live? 

Danxia landform in China. The color is a result of
an accumulation of many years of red sandstone and rock.

         Normal is not generally exciting--but in this case it is! It's exciting to get wisdom ahead of time and avoid mistakes. It's exciting to have favor in circumstances when no one around you can explain it. And, it's exciting to know that there is still hope when all appears to be lost--hope through a life in Christ. 

         That makes "normal Christianity" special!

             

Scripture Links:  I John 3:1; Matthew 8:23-27; Matthew 15:32-38; Matthew 9:35; John 14:12; 

To Receive Jesus as Lord ad Savior:(Sinner's Prayer) Dear God, I am a sinner. I need a savior. I need Jesus. I believe Jesus died for my sins and rose on the third day. I ask Jesus now to come into my heart and to become Lord over my life. Satan has no more power over me. I say with my mouth that Jesus is Lord. Father, help me to live for you, and thank you for saving me. John 3:16.

To Rededicate Your Life to the Lord (after falling away):Dear Heavenly Father: I confess to you that I have sinned. You said if I confess my sin you are faithful and just to forgive me and to cleanse me from all unrighteousness. I turn away from sin and turn to you, and I ask you to forgive me. I forgive myself also. Father, thank you for forgiving me, remembering my sin no more and allowing me to have right standing with you again. In Jesus' name, AMEN.