BEFORE AND AFTER

When we built out home several years ago we took "before" pictures of
when it was just a empty bare lot, next while in progress, and
"after" pictures when it was completed. People attempting to lose
weight may take a "before" picture followed several months later,
hopefully, with a successful "after" picture. A girl getting her
long hair cut may take a "before" picture followed by an "after" with
her new hairdo. There may be "before" pictures of a city before a mall
was built and later "after" when the mall was complete. These are
just a few of many examples.

In the Bible we are told after we accept Christ into our hearts and
start to live for Him that we are new, inside and out. How can you
take Jesus into your heart and not be? The verse is found in 2
Corinthians 5:17(NIV) and it reads 'Therefore if anyone is in Christ,
he is a new creation. The old has gone the new has come.'

When a person accepts Christ he indeed is a "new creation". You are
now to have the mind of Christ and want to do things to try to be more
and more conformed into His image(See Romans 12:1-2). This is done
primarily though your new found hunger for the word of God.

I can remember back in 1975 when I rededicated my life to Christ I
was finally excited about being a believer. I wanted to get to know
Him more and more and hungered for the word of God. My sister got me a
version of the Bible called the "Open Bible" which was an excellent
tool for my daily Bible reading and study. It was fun, not boring at
all! My journey has included ups and downs, bumps in the road,
setbacks, backsliding, and coming back. God is good and faithful all
the time. The point is loving Jesus is more than being "religious".

I remembered after the "new me" came into being, wanting to carry my
Bible to church. I was visiting a church one time, and a lady who knew
me commented it was "cute" that I was carrying my Bible. Oh my
goodness, aren't we supposed to? A friend of ours we met through
Officers' Christian Fellowship in the military commented if you forget
your Bible you forgot your "sword" and were not armed for battle or
something to that effect. Almost "spiritually naked" in a sense.
>>
>> So many people take the Bible for granted. That is just fine with Satan. The more you read it the more you will learn to be like Christ and not believe the world's lies. Satan may put the idea in your head that you do not need to take it to church as the scriptures are up on a screen for us to read. Or maybe the thought is, my priest tells me all I need to know. There could be a number of excuses. But my friend, they are just that. Excuses. Make it a point to look forward to reading your Bible. If you are in a church that is not teaching you to get excited about Jesus, then find another one. 'I can't do that' you may say. 'That is the denomination I was raised in' or 'what will my relatives think if I leave the church and go somewhere else?' Knowing Jesus and loving Him is not because of a denomination but it is about Jesus and wanting more of Him in your life.
>>
Which is you want to be? Do you want to stay as only a "before" image
or do you want to be conformed to the glorious image of Christ for a
stunning "after" image? One thing is certain we can not be like Him
if we do not commit to spending time alone with Him.

I will leave you with a verse from Micah 6:8(NIV) which says 'He has
showed you, Oh man, what is good. And what the Lord does require of
you? To act justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your
God.'

PRAYER: Thank you Lord that you give me a chance to be a brand new
creature in Christ and after I am complete in you to keep growing and
learning daily through the reading of your word. Give me the power to
resist the lure of the world which will try to captivate me and draw
me away from you. Also Lord help me not be holier than thou or self
righteous around others. Give me grace and love. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Click link below for a wonderful song to get your Saturday started off in a awesome way:
http://youtu.be/oYCcFtFwcxo

NEW STUFF

 When something is new it is special and treated with the utmost care. Take a new car for instance. When it is new we take the extra care to hand wash and wax it and do not let people eat inside of it. When someone has a new baby, particularly their first child, they may be overly protective and make sure no one picks it up if they have a cold and insures the infant is safe and secure. If you have a new home you take good care of it and keep things in place and keep it neat and clean. Recently I was in the food court of a newly remodeled and restored mall after a flood devastated it two years ago. People are looking at awe as they walk by newly cleaned up and rebuilt stores. A cleaning crew walks around picking up the tiniest scrap of paper someone leaves behind. The place is 'spic and span' as the saying goes. When you get new clothes you take good care of them and make sure they are kept clean and repaired. When you are in a relationship that turns into romance then into marriage you do everything possible to stay in love and do wonderful special things for your  beloved. As a new Christian you are excited and hunger and thirst for God's word and want to do things that draw  you closer to God.

Like anything new we become used to it and take it for granted over time and become complacent and let things fall into disrepair. In a relationship this can be devastating. As a married couple you need to insure you love and respect each other and remember why you fell in  love in the first place. Don't stop dating and men, keep opening doors.  As a Christian if you do not stay in the word of God, have fellowship with other believers, and do things to bring you closer to God the enemy will use that as an opportunity to throw you off course. When trials of life come your way, and they certainly will, you need to be grounded in the word of God.

 It is good when we do accept Christ He wipes our sin slate away. It says in 2 Corinthians 5:17 "if anyone is in Christ he is  a new creation the old has gone, the new has come." That  is such a good thing to be brand new babes in Christ. We can move on and try to live for the Lord casting off works of darkness that separated us from Jesus.

 Do not let your new life in Christ be taken or granted. Stay in the word and continually seek to become more mature. Don't let others lead you away from the truth. When you know something is wrong and disappoints the Lord then run fast the other way. Sin can easily entrap us. Stay excited about Jesus and keep on the path that leads you to a heavenly kingdom.

Don't lose you first love which is Jesus. Revelation 2:4 says this "But I have this complaint against you. You don't love me or each other as you did at first." Start keeping Jesus love in your heart fresh and alive. Do it by getting into his word daily. Start today. Read the 12th Chapter of Psalm and 12th Chapter of Proverbs to coincide with it being the 12th day of month. From here on out purpose in your heart to give Christ first place.

 PRAYER: Thank you Lord for my life in you. I want to stay excited and never become complacent or bored. I know the enemy would love to have me stumble off course. I look to you for my daily strength. In Jesus name. Amen.

Click link once again for a wonderful song.
http://youtu.be/HDJjHOJw5bM





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NEW CREATION

2 Corinthians 5:17 says "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" When you accept Christ and give your heart to the Lord you feel different. You may not stop doing everything bad and we all have sin in our lives. But old things pass away and we are to forget the past and to start to live a life pleasing to the Lord. Life is not going to be perfect. You will still mess up and still have things to work on. Only Jesus is without sin.

God can help set you free from sins that have been weighing on you. You only need trust Him and ask Him to take the controls of your life. Once you have asked Jesus to 'take the wheel' as the country song says, there will still be rough times but you will know who to call on to help get you through the bad times and to be able to rejoice in the good times.

For this writer, when I rededicated my life many years ago to the Lord, I had a hunger for the word of God. All of a sudden I wanted to know more. I was on a journey to learn what God's word had for me.

If you are not sure that you are saved or born again you can be sure today. Say "Jesus come into my heart. I hear you knocking at the door of my heart and I want to let you in. Forgive me for my sins and help me Lord as I seek to learn to be Christlike in the things I say and do. I want to live for you and serve you. Thank you for coming into my life. Amen."

After this if you are not in a good 'on fire' Bible believing church you need to find one so you can grow in the Lord. If you do not stay connected to the 'vine' you will whither. For those of us who have been saved and walking with the Lord already we too need to remember to stay connected to the source of nourishment, the Bible, or we too are in danger of not growing and wilting. Stay growing for Christ by feeding on the word of God. For starters read John Chapter one.

John 15:5 says "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." Phillipians 3:13 says "Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead".

PRAYER: Father I want to live for you and serve you. Come in to my heart today and take control.In Jesus Name. Amen.

Praise song: An oldie but goodie 'More Than Wonderful' sung by Sandi Patti and Larnelle Harris
http://youtu.be/Zvmly122rqc

To help find a Bible teaching church if you have no clue where to start click on link below:
http://www.flockfinder.com/