Category: when you feel His call in your heart

What kind of mask do you wear?


In our societies all over this world we are afraid of a virus and it’s “offspring” so we wear masks to protect us from them. But have you ever considered the kind of mask that we wear around each other because of religion? Our religious masks make us seem to be “Christians” so we pull them out and wear them on the days that we feel like it such as on Sunday morning or Easter or Christmas but when we leave the company of those we are in at those times we take the mask off. We are ashamed of being identified with Jesus Christ outside of church so we remove the mask and just be ourselves until we either need God’s help or we feel like being a “christian” again for a time.

What will this mask accomplish? Nothing for your eternal salvation that’s for sure. It will only make those who know you feel that being a Christian is useless and hypocritical because it isn’t real. That is the way the world looks at the church and Christians in particular because of Who we claim to believe in and follow. This mask of religion has changed the view of those outside of the church because of this. Religion doesn’t save you.

The mask of religion makes us look very convincing as a Christian but our heart hasn’t been changed! Because with the mask of religion on we haven’t really given our heart to Jesus Christ! Why? Because, like the Pharisees we don’t think we need salvation nor do we need Jesus Christ. This mask causes many people to think that they are saved and that they are Christians but in truth it is a lie of Satan. He knows it and he laughs about it every Sunday in church.

So, how can we get rid of this mask and become Christians for real? First, we have to admit that we need Jesus Christ as our savior and then make Him to focus of our daily lives. Seek to follow Him in prayer and study His Word a little every day because if we don’t we will be living a lie to the outside world and to God as well. We will be behind the mask all over again. What difference does studying God’s Word make in your life and mine? Because it gets your mind and heart in tune with God and His voice so that whenever He speaks to you one day, you will know Who is speaking!

The closer that you draw to Him through reading His Word the closer He will be in your mind and heart to give you strength and purpose to serve in His Kingdom here as well as into eternity. The words that you read in the Bible were inspired by God’s Holy Spirit so they read your spiritual condition while you are reading them. They will be there in your mind when needed even if you haven’t “committed them to memory”, the Holy Spirit will bring them to your mind when you need them. I pray that all who read this may feel the love of God in their hearts and turn to Him and His Son, Jesus Christ, for salvation. Amen

The parable of the workers


One day a wealthy man needed some work done in his fields, so he went to the marketplace and found many men standing around. He offered them “whatever is right”, a penny (denarius) for their day’s work. They agreed and began work at an early hour. He did this again at about the sixth and ninth hours. He even went and found others looking for work at the eleventh hour and offered them the same.

Not long after he called his servants and told them to bring the workers in so that he could pay them their wages. Many of them who were there for most of the day ventured that they would receive more than their agreed pay. He began to pay them from the last workers first. The others saw that he was paying them also with a denarius and grumbled about it. When it came time to pay the first workers they were angry about it but the owner of the field said, “Friend, did you not agree to a denarius for a day’s wages?” Take your pay and go, I will do with my money what is right because it is my choice to do so.

Granted, I paraphrased this parable a bit, but it shows the grace and mercy of God to all of us. Just as the thief on the cross was one of the first to attain salvation by his faith and belief in Jesus Christ, he received the reward of being in Heaven. The very last person on Earth who is saved prior to the rapture (catching away) of the church will also attain entry into Heaven through the blood of Jesus and His righteousness. There will be no real difference in reward save for those who worked for God’s Kingdom in their lifetimes and their rewards will be the crowns that they are given for their faith and their work for His Kingdom. The book of Revelation tells about these crowns and what they represent and that we will cast them at the feet of Jesus because He is worthy to be praised! The book of Revelation is the only book of the Bible which has a blessing in the beginning chapter for all who read it and seek the meaning of it. I pray that you will read it and seek the One Who gives its meaning and purpose to all who believe.

Amen

What can we do?


Jesus did all of the work for us to have salvation, so what can we do? We really don’t have to do anything except to believe in Him and His provision for us through that belief because with faith coupled with our belief in Him our salvation is given to us by the grace of God. After we are saved there are many things that we can do regardless of the attitude of some that Christians have all of these rules and are just very boring. Compared to what we did in our “old life” without Christ, whatever that may have been, it could be boring to your friends from that time. After your heart has been changed by the Holy Spirit you no longer need to do the things that you did before. You may not feel like hanging out with your old friends but you will have new sisters and brothers through Christ in a church near you. Join a Bible study and learn more about your risen Savior that provided you with this gift of salvation. Study your Bible each day and learn about how much you are truly loved by God, the Creator, and the Sustainer of the universe. Imagine being loved by the One Who created you to be who you are and Who knows you far better than anyone else.

The Savior and God of all keeps every part of you and the world around you together and working for your blessing and for His glory. Every part of the universe is held together by His will and for His purpose just like we are. The Bible, God’s Word, is full of all kinds of stories about loss and pain, love, anger, regret and yet He can guide you through them all if you will let Him.

God comforts us…


God is always near us and He never leaves. He is always within a whisper of a prayer, regardless of what has happened. The best part is that He will never leave you or me out in the cold. No matter what, He is always by our side.

You are my Strength


Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord , my strength, and my redeemer. Psalms 19:14 KJV (https://bible.com/bible/1/psa.19.14.KJV)

David wrote this and it was his prayer to God that He would accept David’s prayer and give him strength for this endeavors. He also recognized God as His redeemer and Savior. God has been watching over the entire world for a very long time. He loves the Jewish people but He also loves us as well. God gives us the blessings of life and the freedom to choose to follow Him and be His servant if we choose to but many people don’t choose to be a follower of Jesus. Some because they are enslaved to another religion and some simply because they don’t believe the Bible is true and they don’t believe in God.

We have a Sun that isn’t unstable so there’s a blessing right there. We aren’t too close to it so our summers aren’t too hot and our winters are bearable as well. The gravity of Earth is perfect for us so everything good about this is influenced by God’s design of it all. Even the outer planets tend “guard duty” for us against any comet or asteroid which might want to wander in at an angle which would bring it toward Earth.

Our solar system is balanced so that every part of it is doing God’s work in keeping it balanced according to God’s design. So why can’t we look at the night sky and realize that God’s handiwork has been declaring all along that His hands designed everything that we see? Because mankind doesn’t want to see God’s hand in everything. They don’t want to believe that He is in control of everything in the universe. He has control but He doesn’t force His control on us, especially in regards to our belief in Jesus. Yes, He wants us to come to know Him as our Savior but God also knows that not everyone will. The evidence is here on Earth and in the heavens. It is in His Word and in the lives of those who do believe in Him. Seek Him while He can be found because one day soon it will be much harder to come to know Him.

If you want to know Him read the book of John then read the book of Romans, both will give you a picture of Him and His love for us and the reason why all of the disciples were martyred to the last man except for John. There have been many millions killed because of their belief in Jesus over the past two thousand years which is proof that it is true because nobody would die for something that they thought was a lie.

What if?


In the story of Job, he went through some terrible hardships because God wanted to show Satan that His servant was faithful no matter what. God blessed Job with twice as much wealth and gave him a good long life after he proved his faithfulness through his trials.

My question is what if we had to endure trials like he did? Could we persevere and last with our faith through the loss of wealth and family the same way? I’m not sure how many Christians could do this. I’m not sure that I could do it. But…God doesn’t require this of us. All that we have to do is seek to be forgiven, realizing that we are sinners and are in need of a Savior. Granted we will not be given over 170 years of life like Job was just because we come to salvation through Jesus Christ but we will be entered in the Lamb’s book of Life. We will be granted a home in Heaven where all believers will be one day. This is a greater reward than anything we could have or imagine having on Earth and worth more than any amount of wealth as well.

Many Christians in America and Europe have never experienced persecution like those in Russia or China and in some Muslim controlled countries but even this will change one day. The Tribulation will soon happen. I can’t tell you when but after the church is taken to Heaven the world that most people know today will change and it won’t be in a good way. It may not be too bad for the first two or three years but not long after that things will turn much worse. Read the book of Revelation if you want to get some idea of what is coming because God’s Word is true!

I pray that whoever reads this post and searches for the Truth will seek Jesus Christ as their Savior before the events of Revelation begins. Seek to know Jesus and repent so that you can be saved from the hell on Earth that is coming.

Life…


How do you define life? Is it just living from day to day or is there more to it than that?

I like to think that it is much more than just living day to day because that’s surviving, not living life! Jesus Christ came to give us a more abundant life but what does that mean… exactly? There are lots of scriptures that point in His direction but what is a more abundant life? It is a life filled with joy because you have Jesus as your Savior and you are looking forward to eternity and not dreading it or wondering what it will be like.

Sometimes we get caught up in our problems and forget about the blessings we have in Jesus. This robs us of our hope and our joy. But…we can get back into the Bible and get our joy back because it’s not gone for good.

The joy of the Lord is my strength and we can have that joy when we think about the blessings that we have because of our relationship with Jesus. Many people don’t have this joy because they don’t want a relationship with Jesus. They may know about Him and they might attend church but head-knowledge doesn’t bring salvation.

God knows what is in your heart and He gives those who will decide enough faith to decide Who they will follow when they are convicted of their need for Jesus. Does that mean that God is choosie? Yes and no. You have to understand that He lives outside of time so He can see what you will do even before you do it. This is why we sometimes have a feeling that we should go this way rather than the other. That’s God trying to get our attention before it’s too late.

Make sure of what you believe and Who you believe in before tomorrow if possible because none of us are guaranteed to wake up in the morning. If you don’t care about eternity then feel free to ignore this advice but eternity is a long, long time regardless of where you spend it. Myself, I’d rather spend it with friends and family in Heaven.

Stay connected to Jesus


Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. John 15:2 KJV https://bible.com/bible/1/jhn.15.2.KJV

Living with Jesus every day is not a chore, it is a choice. Make it your choice every day so that others will see Him living through your life!

A wake-up call


I had a dream this morning and God used it to wake me up to the world around us. We’re living in the end times right now and if we don’t wake up to this fact, no one will recognize it. The church has to tell others before it is too late because that’s our job and if we don’t do it, who will?

Alcohol is a poison and it’s effect on families has always been to divide and cause more problems. Emotional problems and spiritual problems too. It takes your reasoning away and if you had a witness, it kills it in the eyes of those who see it or see you drinking it.

Jesus called each of us to be His representative in this generation. We have to be His if we are, if not we are fooling ourselves about our salvation and the witness that we have.

I’m no longer a pastor but I can’t lay down the calling that He placed on me. I have to be true to that and to Him or I should just go away and my heart won’t allow that. I pray that anyone who reads this will seek their Savior in Jesus Christ because He’s the only way into eternal life with God.

It is revealed to babes


In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight. All things are delivered to me of my Father: and no man knoweth who the Son is, but the Father; and who the Father is, but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal him. And he turned him unto his disciples, and said privately, Blessed are the eyes which see the things that ye see: For I tell you, that many prophets and kings have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them. Luke 10:21‭-‬24 KJV https://bible.com/bible/1/luk.10.21-24.KJV