BAD REVIEWS

 For actors in live plays either locally or on the Broadway or Off Broadway, stage reviews from critics can make a performance or break it. Likewise for a Hollywood movie if a critic happens to not like the movie, even if you thought it was wonderful, that too can kill it at the box office.

Let's see, if we had a review of our life would it be a good one bringing glory to God or just so so? Do you attract or repel people away? Do the things you say and do bring honor and glory to God or do you wish you could take them back? Have you acted foolishly and then are very ashamed of yourself? Are you salt and light or are you hot sauce and darkness?

There will come a time when this life on Earth will be over. Romans 14:12(NIV) says 'It is written: "'As surely as I live,' says the Lord, 'every knee will bow before me; every tongue will acknowledge God.'" In the military they have this ceremony called "Pass and Review" where units will be marching and pass the General's location so he or she can review them. We as believers should always be ready to "pass and review" past God because in fact He knows all you do anyway. Do you suppose right now He is pleased with your life or sad that you have either forgotten Him or strayed from the faith? Maybe you are away from the Lord right now believing lies of the enemy. You may in fact be deceived and not even realize it. There may be some of you reading this having family members who have gone astray but you continue to pray that they will be back one day. Keep believing and keep praying. There is always hope!

You will always be a better person if you put Jesus first and live for Him. This is not to say struggles will not come but it is how you handle these hard times that count. You go through trials to make you stronger.

If Jesus were to come back today would He be able to say "well done thy good and faithful servant"(Matthew 25:21)?

PRAYER: Lord I want to be your servant. Sometimes I just serve myself. I know we do not get into heaven by our good works like some churches may teach but it is because of a heart change and asking you to be Lord and Savior. Even sometimes when I know what to do I do otherwise Lord and for that I ask your forgiveness. I ask you to be Lord of my life. In Jesus' name. Amen.

SHAKE THAT SALT OUT!!

If you are a Christian are you keeping your faith all to yourself? Do you like it in your Holy Huddles where everything is comfortable or are you going out into the world as we are commanded in  Mark 16:15 and being salt and light for the kingdom? Matthew 5:13 says "You are the salt of the earth but if the salt loses its' saltiness how can it be made salty again?  It is no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled by man." Salt flavors food and makes it  taste better and we as believers are supposed to make our world better.

The world is in a pretty big mess right now. One of the few Christian nations on earth, the United States, is under attack by evil forces yet many within the church either refuse to believe it as if in a stupor, do not want to get involved, or are just plain complacent. How are we to heal this world if Christians do not get out there and shake some salt out of that shaker? Many say that we should not get involved in 'politics' and I ask where do they see that in the word of God? When evil forces come in and try to go against our Christian principles and the Ten Commandments, which were part of the structure for the Founding Fathers, and we sit quietly by not getting involved, then we only have to blame ourselves when we fall into tyranny. Others say "God is in control" which is in fact true but he still does not like us to just sit by when the Bible is being ignored in the halls of our leaders. It is a scary thing when a nation forgets God. When prayer was taken out of the public schools many just sat. "It is someone else's  job" they probably said. When killing babies in the womb was approved in 1973 many did not speak up. Now today millions of babies are killed in the name of 'choice' and 'women's health'. We can not continue on the path we are on and expect to be blessed by God.  When we redefine marriage in this politically correct world then look out.

Psalm 33:12 says " Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord." Simply saying "God Bless You" after a speech is all fine and good but then actions have to follow. Just because a person has 'Reverend' or 'Minister' as their title does not make them a Christian. You will know them by their fruits it says in Matthew 7:16. 1 John 4:1 says " Beloved do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see if they are from God for many false prophets have gone out into the world."

Today be on your knees for this great land of freedom. Each day more freedoms are slipping away yet hardly anyone notices. We know God is on the throne. Get out there and salt your world.

PRAYER: Father I thank you that I can go out into my world and be your salt shaker. Forgive me if I have become complacent and taken freedom for granted. Lord help me make a difference in the world you have placed me in. In Jesus Name. Amen.

Click on link to enjoy a wonderful worship song. I include these in hopes to introduce some of my readers to songs they may not have heard before. Be blessed.
http://youtu.be/d61LamkXfwk

MISSIONARY TO AMERICA

When you think of missionaries what comes to mind? Africa perhaps or Honduras or India? Have you ever considered that where you live is a mission field?  We are all called to share Jesus love with those around us. You do not need to spend thousands of dollars and go to Africa although that is a worthy cause and helps to fulfill the Great commission and is a good heart changer I hear. You may be reading this not from America but from perhaps Europe or Asia somewhere then where you live and work  is your mission field if you are a believer.

Where are you right now?  A doctor waiting room perhaps?At home? Maybe the service waiting area of your local car dealer waiting for oil change or waiting for a child to get finished with lessons at some sort waiting area with other moms.  Maybe you are at work. Perhaps you are getting ready to go out with friends. The point is wherever you are or wherever you go as a follower of Christ we are to be his witnesses or 'missionaries' to a hurting world around us. Smile at people. You rarely see many people smiling so that alone is a good witness. Be courteous and kind to others. Help with a need if you are able to. Get beyond yourself and make an impact in someone else's life. Do not walk around angry and revengeful but walk in peace and love.


Matthew 5:13-16 says “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven."

Now go out in Jesus love and be a light in your world!

PRAYER: Father thank you for equipping me to go out and share your love with others through my words and actions. Help me recognize opportunities to share your love with those you put in my path daily. In Jesus name. Amen.

IMPACT YOUR CORNER OF THE WORLD

When you see injustice in the world or culture caving in to immorality do you just sit idly by thinking it is someone else's job to 'fix' things? You may say well "God has a plan" or "God is in control" which is true but we still have a job to speak out against evil. Or maybe you do not see any harm with the downhill slide we are on now due to being 're-educated' (brain washed) by the culture and you have become desensitized. This can happen when you do not feed your mind and heart with a steady diet of the truth which is God's word. If we as believers do not do things to impact our culture for Christ what good are we doing? We are told to be salt and light it says in Matthew 5:13-16. If we just sit there and see the government enacting laws against God's word but do nothing at all, that is wrong. We all need to speak up in love. We need to be in prayer for our leaders who are supposed to be our servants.

There is plenty wrong in the United States right now. Our Founding Fathers would probably not recognize the America they loved so dearly. But brothers and sisters in Christ, we have a responsibility to not let Satan take control of America. Sure we are told to obey our leaders but what about when they are going against God's word and tyrannizing the people they are to serve?  Let's say your man or woman in office is definitely not following God's word. You know it is not right, hopefully, if you have not be caught in Satan's deceptive trap too. But, you are of a 'particular party' so you are faithful to this party because that is way your family always voted. But you know in your heart immorality is occurring and the country is on a slippery slope. Shame on you for supporting things that go against God's word. Today people are trying to rewrite the Bible to justify certain sins. Perhaps they will get by with this behavior here on earth but God will have final say.
James 4:17 says "If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them." Do you know in your heart certain things are wrong but do not speak up? There is a saying that 'evil triumphs when good men do nothing' and how true that is. Do not always think it is someone else's job to call out sin. Sure we all have sinned and fallen short of God's glory it says in Romans 3:23 but if we sit idly by and watch our Christian nation be destroyed we will have no one to blame but ourselves.

Psalm 33:12 says "Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people he chose for his inheritance." You have to stay in tune with God's word to know the truth. Colossians 2:8 says "
See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ." Are you allowing the world and the news media to shape your thinking or are you studying and getting into the word so you can combat the lies and deception of the enemy? Satan does not like this great nation founded on Christian principles. He does not like a nation that is prosperous and can help other people in other countries who are in need. No, indeed the enemy wants this great land of ours to fail and crumble. This is why you have to stay alert to what is happening and speak up in love when necessary. Do not always think someone else will make the phone call or write the letter. One person even told me once it was not 'their gift' to do politics. Each of us has to do our part. This includes not just the government but if you see bad television shows, commercials, billboards, and on the list goes you need to speak up. Don't allow sin to run rampant.

Deuteronomy 7:6 also says "For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession." So if you are holy, act holy and think holy. If you know in your heart certain things are against God's word do not be fooled and support leaders who are doing things to take this nation away from God and morality.

 Perhaps in the new year, coming up in 6 days from now, you can purpose in your heart to start speaking up against the wrong things that tear our great land apart. Above all stay on your knees in prayer. 2 Chronicles 7:14 says "if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land."

PRAYER: Lord Jesus I pray for this great nation which you have continually blessed. I know you will not continue to bless us if we continue to ignore you and not pay heed to what it says in the Bible. Help those whose eyes are blinded be opened to the truth. Help those leaders who do not know you to come to know you as their saviour. Help us to speak up when we see wrong around us. Give us a gracious spirit when doing so. In Jesus Name. Amen.

Click on link below to enjoy Lee Greenwoods' 'God Bless The USA'.
http://youtu.be/sWC8liHX_G8