The Eyes of Christ

How we look at the world depends on each of us. WHO we are, and WHOSE we are. Interacting within this world can be challenging at times. It's supposed to be than way. How we meet the world's challenges today is what defines us for eternity.

There is a scene in the movie The Matrix where Neo (Keanu Reeves) tells Morpheus (Lawrence Fishburn) the he knows Kung Fu. Morpheus quickly replies "Show me."

The ensuing fight scene is a training exercise. You and I face training exercises in our lives too. And God is watching. Just when we think we've mastered something in our Christian walk, time for another lesson!

After this brief battle scene in the movie, Morpheus explains why Neo failed in his training. But then he does something unique. Morpheus gets Neo thinking about the world he is living in. Questioning his beliefs. Then, with that new knowledge, Morpheus utters a word we have heard all too often in OUR training. "Again!"

You and I are bound to repeat the earthly lessons God sets before us if we don't learn from them and grow in our faith journey. Do you think you are a strong Christian and know everything you need to know?

"Again!"

Each day brings a news lesson to be learned or a new test. How we do depends upon our willingness to let go of this world and submit to the will of our Father - our training instructor.

As you walk through each day, be on the lookout. The next person you meet, the next encounter at work, the upcoming family get together, they are all training exercises designed just for you.

When God says, "Show me" in our day today, will we show him OUR strength and what we've learned" Or will we show Him our weakness and how much we need Christ? Where do we get our strength for battle?

How we do in the battle today depends upon whose eyes we are using to see the world with. Are they OUR eyes or the eyes of Christ?

"I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
where does my help come from?
2My help comes from the Lord,
the Maker of heaven and earth.

3He will not let your foot slip—
he who watches over you will not slumber;
4indeed, he who watches over Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.

5The Lord watches over you—
the Lord is your shade at your right hand;
6the sun will not harm you by day,
nor the moon by night.

7The Lord will keep you from all harm—
he will watch over your life;
8the Lord will watch over your coming and going
both now and forevermore." -Psalm 121

Morpheus Fighting Neo

The Ultimate Question

By now, everyone has heard of the death of Kobe Bryant and eight others this past weekend. What a sad, sad story. Still, I have one burning question.

Many will wonder what happened to the helicopter that made it crash. I will leave all of those unimportant questions to the news media. They're professionals at dirt-digging.

We, as Christians, always ask this one question first, before any of that trivial stuff gets resolved. You have probably already asked the question yourself - "Was he a Christian?"

I went to visit a friend a few weeks ago whose wife had just died. That was the first question I asked? Why? Why do we ask that question before all others? Because we have compassion and we don't like to see others perish without hope.

Death is our line in the sad. Drawn by God, it is our make or break point before which we need to answer that very question about ourselves. Before each of us passes away we MUST come to grips with it and answer it. Not to answer is to answer.

God knows how many days each of us has left to live. For Kobe, his time was up yesterday. Same for the others on the helicopter. I hope he and the other passengers and crew had answered that question before they took off.

"Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, 28so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him." - Hebrews 9:27-28

Christians have one advantage over non-believers when it comes to death. Our faith in Jesus Christ, our repentance of sin, and the belief that He, the Son of the Living God, died on the cross - once, for all - saved us from death. Eternal death. I choose life! I choose Jesus!

Was Kobe a Christian? I don't know. I sure hope so. I hope the same for the others onboard as well. But the truth is, no one truly knows except God Himself.

Kobe's death accomplished something positive in a way. It gave Christians an open door to talk about death, and life after death, with others. Now we are the ones who have another choice to make. We are the ones with non-believing family members and friends. Are we going to say something? Or are we going to watch them get onboard the helicopter as we wave goodbye?

"And everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved; for on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be deliverance, as the LORD promised, among the remnant called by the LORD." - Joel 2:32

I Choose Jesus - Moriah Peters

Dangerous Dreams

I had a weird dream last night. This morning I found myself trying to figure out what it meant. Based on clues from my dream I have come to the conclusion that I should not go swimming if the door to the pool leads to a skinny ledge hundreds of feet above the ground.

Joseph could interpret dreams. He did so quite easily - with God's help. He once interpreted a dream for pharaoh that featured healthy cows being devoured by ugly skinny ones. Here's what Joseph told Pharaoh.

“It is just as I said to Pharaoh: God has shown Pharaoh what he is about to do. 29 Seven years of great abundance are coming throughout the land of Egypt, 30 but seven years of famine will follow them. Then all the abundance in Egypt will be forgotten, and the famine will ravage the land." - Genesis 41:28-30

Of course! Why didn't the pharaoh think of that!!

In my dream, I was with a friend - a friend who is struggling in real life. In my dream we decided we would go for a swim. There were many people in the pool. Too many for my friend. All were having fun and enjoying themselves. Something we were hoping to do.

There was a door at the far end of the pool which led to an outdoor pool so we decided to go there. But as soon as we stepped out of the door we were on a narrow ledge that sloped downward. Someone was walking ahead of us and, when they reached the end of the ledge, they climbed down and out of sight.

I started climbing down that same ladder but my friend would have none of it and went back inside. That is where my dream ended.

Several people in my life are struggling right now. Some have a drug or alcohol problem, others have lost a loved one or lost a job. All are afraid of what lies ahead for them in one way or another. Many are afraid to take the steps required to make it to "the pool" - their desired destination. However, God did not give us a spirit of fear.

"For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind." - 2 Timothy 1:7

So, how do I get my friend to the pool? The answer is simple. I don't. Only God can do that. My job it two-fold - to walk along with them and to pray.

Who in your life needs a walking partner today? What are they afraid of? Are we as Christians willing to walk with them and encourage them and pray with them, and for them? If not, our dreams, and theirs, will become nightmares of what could have been.

Dreams - Van Halen

True Fellowship

"Time sure flies when you're having fun." That phrase couldn't have been any more true than on Monday morning when I met with a friend for 270 minutes. Or the next day when I visited some friends at the place I used to work. Be careful what you pray for. If it's something that God wants anyway, you are sure to get it.

My Monday friend and I talked about disc golf, marriage, God, ministry, sharing the Gospel, and life in general. The time sure did fly by. Four and a half hours! Why? Because we were both doing something that each of us enjoyed doing - fellowship.

Fellowship is not hanging out after church and talking about the Packers. Fellowship is hanging out after church and talking about God. Fellowship is sharing things that you are struggling with and having someone pray for you. It's lifting someone up who is going through a low point in their life. It's praising God for the opportunities you prayed for and then acting on them.

The best thing I did LAST week was pray for opportunities to share my faith. THIS week those opportunities arrived and it was time to get busy. What a joy it is, serving the Lord!

Monday was a busy day. I had that meeting with a friend that lasted all morning and into the afternoon. I left that meeting with a sense of direction and a new way to spread the Gospel. Prayer and hugs. Then I checked my voicemail and heard of another friend who had just had a heart attack. More prayer and virtual hugs through those prayers.

Tuesday was another busy day, visiting some friends at the place I used to work. Sharing life, sharing the Gospel. More encouragement and hugs. What a wonderful day.

Turning off the television and disconnecting with social media are not only possible, they are actually enjoyable!

What opportunities will today bring? I have no idea. One thing I DO know though. I will be serving the Lord and enjoying every minute of it.

"Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing." - 1 Thessalonians 5:11

"Not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near." - Hebrews 10:25

"That which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ." - 1 John 1:3

Rise Above It - Switchfoot

Yours To Hold

There are times, I think, when our faith gets stale. We kind of flat-line in our growth. That's when God intervenes and says, "Clear!!!"

I was praying with a friend of mine last week and afterwards, on my way home, I found myself thinking about why prayer and compassion are so important.

Think about God and the compassion He showed for us and why God created us in His image. It's for relationships! It's true.

Think about the first relationship - the one between God and Adam. What did God do for Adam? He created Eve. Why? Because "It is not right for man to be alone" (Genesis 2:18) And when God came walking through the garden in the next chapter He was looking for His two creations. Why? Because God had a relationships with them. Even AFTER they sinned.

Fast forward several thousand years to when Lazarus died. "Jesus wept." Why? Why did Jesus cry when He already knew He was going to bring Lazarus back to life? Why did He cry? He didn't cry for Lazarus. He cried for those who were hurting.

"When Jesus saw her (Mary) weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. 34 “Where have you laid him?” he asked.

“Come and see, Lord,” they replied.

35 Jesus wept." - John 11:33-35

Jesus wept because of the pain and sorrow Mary, Martha and the rest of them were feeling about the loss of someone they loved.

If we were created in God's image and we feel all these emotions, God can, and does, feel the same things about us. God is not this absolute ruler of all things. Well, He is. But that is not ALL He is. Think about that for a moment.

And Jesus is our example.

"I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you." - John 13:15

Think of all the emotions Jesus exhibited. He loved deeply, He got angry when we turned God's temple into a marketplace, He wept for His friends in their grief, He prayed so deeply that He bled, He prayed for His enemies while hanging on the cross.

And now look at OUR relationships. If Jesus is our example, how do our relationships compare? Is the way we pray for people deep, to the point of tears? When we see someone hungry, do we feed them? Do we clothe the naked? Do we look after the widow and the orphan?

I have some work to do. How about you?

We are God's to hold. He wants that relationship with each of us. Don't you think we should want that relationship with Him? With others?

Your To Hold - Skillet

Hope

What does hope look like? You're looking at a picture of it right now. More in today's story.

For the past several years my wife and I have been visited by our neighbor's cat. His name is Paulie. Whenever he shows up at our back door my wife always goes outside to pet him and take him a saucer of milk. My wife loves Paulie. Paulie loves the birds at our bird feeder.

This fall however Paulie was absent from our backyard. That was odd we thought. Then we saw a plywood sign at the entrance to our subdivision. "Lost Cat" it read, along with a phone number and . . . a picture of Paulie.

My wife was very sad, hoping that her, I mean our neighbor's cat, would be found. A few weeks later the sign came down. No sign of Paulie either. We kept looking for him but he never showed. We figured the coyotes must have gotten him. Or a car.

This past week we received some snow. I always check in the backyard after a snow to see how much we've gotten. And so I did. And there, to my surprise, were some cats tracks in the snow.

No other cat ever came up and looked in our door like Paulie did. Was it him? We don't know. We haven't seen him. But one thing is for sure we are now hopeful! We are looking forward to seeing him one day, if indeed it is him. Wouldn't that be nice?

Why aren't you and I this excited, this hopeful, about see Jesus' soon return? We just go on with our lives like it's any other day. Our pastor tells us that there is absolutely nothing that HAS to happen in the grand scheme of things before the rapture of the church. It could happen any day. Why aren't we super excited . . . every day?

"And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draws near." - Luke 21:28

Do we not really believe Jesus is coming back? Or just that it probably won't happen in our life times? Unknown. But I think we SHOULD be hopeful. And I think we need to be SO hopeful that people will ask us why. And then we get to tell them the reason for the hope that we have in our hearts.

I used part of this passage last week I think but this whole paragraph is good.

"Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? 14But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened.” 15But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. 17For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. 18For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit. 19After being made alive, d he went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits— 20to those who were disobedient long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, 21and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him." - 1 Peter 3:13-22

Living Hope - Phil Wickham

Power In The Blood

What do Chip and Joanna Gaines have to do with sharing the Gospel? Well, let me tell you about my day!

I had an appointment yesterday to donate a pint of blood. Blood donations have given me the opportunity to share my faith on several occasions. Like yesterday.

After filling out all the paperwork my name was called and I followed the name caller into a little 4'x4' room. Blood pressure checked, iron level checked, temperature taken. Not a lot of opportunity to share the Gospel with this lady. I was the last appointment of the day and she wanted outta there!

She took me into the main donation room and asked me which arm I preferred getting poked in.

"Left."

She pointed me to a chair and said, "Someone will be with you in a moment."

They have several television sets for the donors to watch. Unfortunately for me my "left arm" choice placed me right in front of HGTV's Fixer Upper show. My wife watches that all the time but I'm not a super big fan. Oh well.

Just then a young lady came over and started prepping my arm for my donation. I took a chance.

"Do you watch Fixer Upper," I asked?

"Oh yes, we all LOVE it."

And there it was. God had provided an opportunity for me to share my faith, just like that. CHip and Joanna Gaines are Christians.

Would it surprise you at all to learn that just one hour earlier I was praying with a friend and actually had ASKED God for opportunities to share my faith?

I started telling this young lady about how I had taken my wife down to Chip and Joanna's Magnolia store in Waco.

"Really? That's so cool!" she said as she swabbed on the iodine.

"I wear this I Am Second bracelet (strategically placed on my left wrist, in full view for her). Chip and Joanna did a video for them. You should watch it."

"Really? Cool! I will for sure watch it."

Will the young lady really go home and watch it? Maybe. But at least she knows about it. All it takes are little things like that to make people think of you more than just a non-caring blood donor and maybe even listen to what you say.

Observe people. Find our what makes them tick. What are they interested in? Then, how could their interests be linked to Jesus?

"Wow. That's a cool tattoo. Why do you like Batman so much?"

Batman is a superhero. Guess who MY superhero is?

Sharing your faith is not as hard as you might think. We just have to live like Christ. Okay, that might be tough but we are to live in such a way that will make others think about Him. We are supposed to ALWAYS be ready to give an answer for the hope that we have in Christ.

"Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord." - 1 Peter 3:15

Chip and Joanna Gaines - I Am Second
There Is Power In The Blood - Alan Jackson

Angels of Light

When Jesus was talking with His disciples on the Mount of Olives, He was asked what would be the sign of His returning to earth one day. And what were the first words out of His mouth? Do not be deceived.

"3 Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?”

4 And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many." - Matthew 24:3-5

It seems like everybody has their own idea about who God is and what He is like. Pastors, politicians, television hosts and celebrities all seem willing to talk about what THEY believe to be the truth, whether it is actually THEE truth or not.

I once followed a young pastor named Rob Bell. He was young and hip and had these really cool videos about God. He pastored a mega church in Michigan. I bought his book and downloaded his videos. But then he started saying some things that didn't seem right to me. Things about God that didn't seem true. It wasn't long before his church kicked him out. But people are still thinking he is a Christian. People are still following him.

Rob Bell is a false teacher. Why? Because he teaches things that are contrary to God's Word - The Bible

"For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. 14And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. 15It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve." - 2 Corinthians 11:13-15

The guy in the picture above is named Deepak Chopra. He is another false teacher. Here are some of his teachings taken from an interview with Oprah Winfrey (courtesy of Stand Up For The Truth).

• We are constantly reincarnating
• Jesus, Buddha, etc. are great teachers
• When we die, we fetch our memories and simply exist in space
• We are all part of a collective ocean of humanity; we live in each other forever and are inseparable
• Our soul is part of the universe and the universe is a part of our soul

All these teachings conflict with the Bible. Deepak Chopra is a false teacher.

Sadly, the lady in the picture is guilty of false teaching as well. Her show often has New Age teachers on, yet she claims to be a Christian. Wait until you see her reply to this statement by Deepak Chopra.

Deepak: God is an infinite being who did not create the universe, but rather, becomes the universe. God is the evolutionary result of the universe.

Oprah: I think that is a great definition.

Wow! So how do we know who is telling the truth these days and who is twisting it? Read the Bible!

Do you know how banks teach their employees to detect counterfeit money? They hold it up next to some money that they KNOW to be genuine. If the two bills do not look the same and feel the same, one of them is a fake. They KNOW that one bill is real therefore the other HAS to be the fake.

The same is true of the people who tell us things about God. Take me for example. How do you know if what I am telling you is true or not. You don't. Compare the things I say to what the Bible says. God's Word is true! If my words match those in the Bible then what I am saying is true. If not, I am a false teacher. Do your research.

Jesus told us there will be many false teachers in the last days. Most indicators are that we are living in those last days right now. Find the false teachers who speak into your life. Compare everything you hear to the Word of God. God cannot lie! Do the words you receive as true match up with God's?

In the following video you will hear someone who once was part of the New Age Movement offshoot of Christianity. He talks about a book called A Course in Miracles. The book was written by Marianne Williamson. Do you recognize that name? She was running for president. She has a great message of peace and love. She is also a false teacher. Be watchful!

Let's pray for Oprah, Deepak, Rob and Marianne. That God might open their eyes to the truth of God's Word.

A Course In Miracles - Warren B. Smith

Believe It Or Not

If I told you the sky was falling, would you believe me? Probably not - unless you live in Wisconsin. It's snowing outside you see. Ha ha! But how can we truly tell if someone is telling us the actual truth or not?

There was a day when we could trust what appeared on the news. Not any more. It doesn't matter what channel you watch. Every reporter and news editor has an agenda. Can ANY news report be totally objective?

The news is sponsored by companies who also have an agenda. A news station could easily not run a news story on "itchy underwear" if the underwear maker in question is one of the sponsors of their news reports.

Did you see the news reports out of Australia?  Initially the news reports featured "global warming" or "climate change" as their main theme. Turns out it that dozens of protestors have been arrested for setting them.

Did you see where Iran said that engine failure was to blame for that airliner crash this week that killed 176 people. Turns out the Iranians shot accidentally down the plane, killing dozens of their own people.

I don't trust anything I see on the news unless I hear it from someone I trust.

Who do you trust? That guy who said he loved you so he could get in your pants? He left you an empty bed and baby to care for. How about your auto mechanic? Do you trust him? Your doctor? Your weatherman?

Back in the day a prophet whose prophecies did not come true were taken outside the camp and stoned to death because of their lies.

"It is the Lord your God you must follow, and him you must revere. Keep his commands and obey him; serve him and hold fast to him. 5That prophet or dreamer must be put to death for inciting rebellion against the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt and redeemed you from the land of slavery. That prophet or dreamer tried to turn you from the way the Lord your God commanded you to follow. You must purge the evil from among you." - Deuteronomy 13:4-5

The only news source I trust is God. He actually cannot lie. It's not in His nature. And God has commanded US not to lie.

"You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor." - Deuteronomy 5:20

When you tell someone you are a Christian, will they believe you? How have you gained their trust?

Trust in The Lord! His Word is truth. And if you are a Christian, act like it. Look after the widow and the orphan, feed the hungry stranger among you, and ALWAYS tell the truth. It is a command from God.

Trust - Prince (Batman)

A Different Story

There are God-filled stories all around us. All we have to do is open our eyes to see them. But we must be careful. We might injure our knees as we drop down on them, thanking God for revealing those stories to our hearts.

I saw something in church on Sunday that moved me rather deeply. We were singing a particular worship song and I happened to glance over at the lady sitting in front of me. She rubbed at her wedding ring and then reach for her purse to pull out a Kleenex.

One might think, "Wow. She is really getting into worship." Maybe. But the rubbing of the wedding ring tells me a different story. The lady in front of me is a widow.

I got thinking, after witnessing her still-broken heart, how near each of us is to being in the same situation. Lord, help us to love here and now those who may be gone tomorrow. That's literally everybody.

My newsfeed is too full of obituaries and those mourning the loss of someone who captured their hearts. We need to look at things from a different perspective. We need God to create a different story in the hearts of those we love. And in us.

What if all those who have died in our lives were Christians - believers in the One True God? Wouldn't our tears of sadness then be turned into tears of joy, knowing we would be seeing them again one day?

"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." - Philippians 4:4-7

I spoke with my friend about her husband. She told me how he had died and how much she misses him. Love is a beautiful thing, especially the kind that transcends time.

"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." - James 1:7

The Voice of Truth - Casting Crowns

Who's The Loser Now?

Just about everybody was happy to see the New England Patriots lose this past weekend. Everybody except little Tommy that is. Why is that?

Well, part of our joy in seeing the Patriots lose is because they are always winning. How many Super bowls have they won? Five? Six?

And, even though Tom Brady will go down as one of the greatest quarterbacks in league history, nobody likes the guy. Why? They see him as a whiner and a cheater. Remember "Deflate Gate? And look at that face! Poor little puppy.

Maybe if Tom Brady was a little more humble. Maybe if he cared about others more than he cared abut himself. Maybe if he was just a little more "human."

So, what does any of this have to do with God? Not much really. But it has a lot to do with us. Take a step back for a moment and look at the person in the mirror. Are you seeing what I'm seeing? These are the words of Jesus.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect." - Matthew 5:43-48

We like to sit back in our recliners and on our couches and tell the people on television exactly what we think of them. We cheer when someone we don't like has a bad day. Are we any better than the politicians we elect or the opinion shows we watch or the people we are trashing with our words?

Nope.

So how can we change all this - these negative attitudes towards our fellow human beings?

As always, Jesus is the answer. The world needs more of Him. But how do we do that? Look, we all have a "Tom Brady" in our lives. Let's "be Jesus" to them and BE the example, like Christ did for us.

"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen." - Ephesians 4:29

The Perfect Gift

Have you ever had one of those mornings when you just did NOT want to get out of bed? Every morning, right? Lol! I had one of those recently and as I lay there my mind went to a wonderful place, filled with the best gift anyone could ever receive. Love.

We humans spend a large part of our lives looking for love. It's like we were created to love and to be loved. Hmm. Perhaps that's why Jesus told us the first and greatest commandment in "To love . . ."

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and love your neighbor as yourself.” - Luke 10:27

Whether it is God or our neighbor we are commanded to love. Seems simple, yet people have a hard time doing that for some reason. Instead, we hate, we kill, we ignore, we talk trash. Satan is good at what He does. But he can't stop our desire to love and to be loved.

As a former youth leader at church I have seen many young men and women "looking for love in all the wrong places." They seem to think that having sex is the same thing as love. It's not. That's called lust and lust is a sin.

Sadly, today as I look at these same youth group kids, now adults, I see many of them with children. There are no fathers in their pictures on Facebook. The guys who said "I'll love you forever, Babe" are now with someone else. Sex does not equate with or create love. It creates children.

Here's another thing that people get wrong. Living with someone and having sex with someone without their being married FIRST. Having sex without being married is called fornication in the Bible. Here's what the Apostle Paul says about it. There are many other examples to choose from as well.

"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,
nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God." - 1 Corinthians 6:9-10

Ouch! Did you catch the part that said "will not inherit the kingdom of God?" Yet today many of these things take place as if it's a "lifestyle," not a sin. Why? Because it is something that our culture teaches. It's rampant in our schools and universities. It is even condoned in some of our churches, even though the Word of God clearly calls it a sin.

Like I said before, Satan is very good at what he does. And if we are following Satan's plan and not God's, what does that make US?

Satan worshipers. Not God worshipers.

Let me return to my warm comfy bed where all is right with the world. Where love is pure and unconditional. And where I can pray to a God who loves, not as the world loves, but as GOD loves. It's how we were CREATED to love.

Let's not mess with God's prefect plan. We need to repent of our sins and turn / return to God. Only then can we find true love. We will find the love we always knew we wanted because we will no longer be looking for it in the wrong ways or the wrong places. True love is the perfect gift. Not because we receive it but because we first give it.

"He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." - Micah 6:8

Looking For Love In All The Wrong Places - Johnny Lee
Courageous - Casting Crowns

Best Intentions

Happy New Year!! Did you stay up and watch the ball drop? Me neither. What's the point? A new year happens on this same day every year. There's no stopping it. So what's the big deal? It does have kind of a "starting over" feel to it and perhaps why we all make resolutions but, unless we actually make a change, nothing's really new.

And by "change" I'm talking about something permanent. A change made without true commitment is not change. It's a pause.

We can say we're going to eat better but if we grab a six-pack of Glazers at KwikTrip on January 2nd and they're gone before we get home we've accomplished nothing.

New Year's resolutions are where "best intensions" go to die.

It's nice when people wish us a Happy Birthday, a Merry Christmas or a Happy New Year but really, unless WE ourselves commit to it, unless life's events allow for it, all those wishes for us will fall flat.

In order to lose weight we need to make a change in our diet or exercise more than we do. We have to actually DO something along with our best intentions. It's called commitment.

I was chatting with a young friend of mine who lost her sister this year. Another friend of mine lost her husband. Can we really say Happy New Year to them and expect a smile in return?

If you really want to impact someone's life in a positive way you are going to have to do something to effect that change. Resolutions mean nothing. Actually doing something does.

Most resolutions disappear within a few days, whether it's New Year's Day or not. Would you like to see an actual change in your life this year? Make your resolutions a prayer. And make those prayers a daily thing. Hourly. As often as needed. We ourselves can do little but pray to God, someone who actually can change the human heart, and watch what happens.

To those who have suffered a loss this year, I am sorry that your heart has been damaged. I pray that God would heal them and stop the pain that took away the love you had stored there. But you will need to pray too. If you do that one thing, a change will happen. You can be assured of that.

God answers our prayers. But He will only answer them if you are His - a son or a daughter - and if we are praying according to His will in the first place. And how do we do that? It's called surrender.

Try this prayer on for size and see if it fits your life right now.

God, this past year has been the worst year of my life. I just don't know what to do anymore. It seems like when ever I try to change things for the better, something happens and I end up right back where I started. I am tired of failing. I am tired of hurting. I've tried things my way and they never seem to work out. I am ready to try something new. Something different. I'm going to quit trying to change things for myself and to allow YOU to make a change in me. Would you please come into my life and change me? All those things I did last year, make them fade away. Replace them with new hope. I need hope. I know I have done wrong, sinned I guess you call it. I'm sorry. Help me make a change. I'm ready to try things your way. Thank you. Amen.

If you are willing to make that change I guarantee you that 2020 will be your best year yet. And if you've already made that change, pray for opportunities to speak into someone's life and tell them how God changed YOUR life. It might be just the thing someone needs to hear to finally convince them that God is the place where true change is found.