Free Thinkers

For it is written: "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate." 1 Corinthians 1:19

I was blocked on Facebook by a college sorority sister years ago who was afraid her children would see my page and says she was teaching them to be ‘free thinkers’. What is that exactly? The absence of guidance by a parent maybe. I am not sure. But most of the time free thinking does not include God or Jesus.

Often times when a person becomes too intellectual they can find a way through science or philosophy to kick God under the bus. It breaks my heart as these are lost souls trying to find their own way through their own efforts.  Every one needs discipline and especially children need guidance to make the right choices in life. It is beyond me why some are so against God. Reminds me of the time of Jesus’ crucifixion when the crowds yelled ‘crucify Him’ and he had done nothing.

Perhaps you know free thinkers or maybe you know people just not too excited about Jesus. All you can do is pray and let Holy Spirit work.

PRAYER: Father so many need you but don’t know it. I pray for those I know who only have a head knowledge of you and seemingly want nothing more. I ask that you take captive wrong thinking in those I know. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

I Don’t Belong There

When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, "Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her." John 8:7

In the recent Hollywood movie about the life of Bart Millard lead singer of the Christian band Mercy Me, and  the story behind the mega hit cross over song ‘I Can Only Imagine’, Bart’s dad played by actor Dennis Quaid, when asked to accompany Bart to hear him sing in church his response was ‘I don’t belong there’. Bart’s father had been angry and abusive most of his life. 

This response is probably not uncommon for people who feel like they are not ‘good enough’ for church. Who is good enough? No one. Church is for broken, hurting, shattered, lonely people and if you have been hurt at a church or judged then you have not found the right church that teaches forgiveness and grace. 

Church is not about religion but should be about relationship with the savior Jesus Christ and how through Him we have forgiveness and can be redeemed and set free. No one is beyond help. It is not about dressing up, punching your attendance card, and ritual but is about the love of Christ who died so you might have life. You may not be good enough for some churches but you are always good enough for Jesus. 

PRAYER: I am very thankful for what you did so I could have life. I know many who are trapped in dead churches or who simply follow ritual. I pray for those people to come alive and be courageous enough to find a church filled with love and grace. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Wet Clean Up In Aisle One

Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out. Acts 3:19

You may be old enough to remember the first store announcement I can recall and that was K Mart Blue Light Special in such and such aisle. Now you hear a myriad of store announcements in addition to music. One of the most common I used for today’s title. A wet clean up indicates someone dropped something and it is all over the aisle an embarrassing moment for the customer but hey accidents happening is all part of life. No one is immune. 

Sometimes an accident may even happen for a reason or it could be simply just an ‘accident’ thus the name. In the big scheme of things there are no real accidents in life and God can redeem stuff too. God can restore, renew, redeem, and revive. Sometimes these mess ups have a way of pointing you to the Savior Jesus. 

Where are you at today? Have you messed up someway and need a clean up? Jesus can give you that clean up and indeed make all things new. Just ask Him into your heart today. 

PRAYER: Oh Lord how I love your words of life in the Bible. I ask you to guide my going in and my coming out and direct my paths. Thank you for being able to use my mess ups for your glory. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Watch Out!!!

“For among my people are found wicked men: they lay wait, as he that sets snares: they set a trap, they catch men. As a cage is full of birds, so are their houses full of deceit: therefore they are become great and waxen rich." Jeremiah 5:26-27

There are good people and there are evil people. The evil people are being captivated by satan whether they know it or believe it. Just as the Bible gives us truth and the way to live life, satan and his demonic forces are cunning and lay wait to attack similar to what it says in 1 Peter 5:8 “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” 

If you tell a lie long enough people start to believe it. Sin when it becomes common place and part of the fabric of everyday life causes you to become desensitized to it. This is why it is so vital to stay immersed in God’s word. This way you will be able to recognize deceiving lying spirits working through people. 

My prayer for those close to me is for God to break their hearts by what breaks yours. This is a good prayer for anyone. Go and live a life pleasing to God and be careful out there. 

PRAYER: Father I thank you for your love for me. I thank you for the word. I thank you for conviction of right and wrong. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

Infected?

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12:21

Do you have an infection or know anyone who does? Not a medical physical type of infection but an infection inside your spirit. This occurs when false god’s are worshipped and untruths are perpetuated and the victim gets infected when they believe the evil being spread and become influenced by it.

The way to get inoculated against being infected by the teachings of this world is to take your prescription daily that being reading God’s word. The Bible does not do much good as a coffee table decoration gathering dust. It has to be used, not just looked at and admired. It can’t help you unless you read it and get it in your heart.

It is your choice. Saturate your mind daily with the world and its ways and lies or get on the path to health God has for all by staying on your knees in prayer and reading His word daily. Do you give more time to the morning news or to God? Just a question to ponder. Have a blessed day.

PRAYER: Oh Lord you’re beautiful. Daily I seek your face. Forgive me for the times I have allowed the world’s ways and untruths to get into me and make me stumble. I choose truth. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

The Drifter

We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. Hebrews 2:1

When you hear the word drifter what comes to mind? A person without roots perhaps going from town to town never settling anyone place with no real root system. A tumble weed of sorts being tossed to and fro in the dessert winds. 

As a believer you need to insure you do not become a spiritual drifter unsure of anything in life and wandering aimlessly around. The world can throw lots of confusing choices at you but if you are not grounded in God’s word it is easy to drift off into false teaching, wrong activities, polluted thinking. Don’t let yourself become a victim. 

The moment you start having a day when you just don’t ‘feel’ God is around don’t escape into the world’s form of life believing lies and becoming hardened in your heart. Pick up God’s word and let it get down deep into your soul. Turn on some uplifting praise and worship music. Get excited about Jesus. Run fast and far from your drifter lifestyle into the arms of your Heavenly Father. 

PRAYER: Oh Lord You are beautiful. Your face is all I seek. When I become tempted to drift away pull me back and crush the stronghold of wrong thoughts and actions. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

No Fooling....Jesus Is Alive!

For  what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that  he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures. 1 Corinthians 15:3-4

Happy Resurrection Day everyone. Kind of odd it has to fall on the secular holiday April Fools Day but we can deal with that by saying only those who don’t believe in the resurrection story are being foolish. Don’t mess with eternity.

This indeed is a day to celebrate. There is some Christian meaning to eggs and bunnies I have heard but don’t let that become your focus. The focal point is to rejoice that after being in a tomb three days Jesus rose from the dead as He said and is living today and someday He will appear again. In the meantime we are to share His story of love, redemption, and hope with others.

I hope you have a blessed day. For many this is the only day besides Christmas they attend church as if by compulsion. Pray for those people to come under strong conviction of their need for Him daily.

PRAYER: Oh what a glorious day back over 2018 years ago when the tomb was found empty. We thank you for what you have done and celebrate your resurrection today and everyday. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Click link for a powerful Easter song:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mBqoQJRNepo&sns=em