ONE JUNK AT A TIME

Your body is a temple for the Holy Spirit- what do you feed it?

I feed my body a lot of JUNK. 

In 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 it says “…your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God, you are not your own, for you were bought with a price, So glorify God in your body.” 

In this particular verse, Paul is referring to sexual immorality. He states that our bodies are members of Christ and he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him. Even though Paul is referring to sexual immorality in these particular verses, they are true in all areas of our lives and our bodies. I began thinking about what I feed my body. My thoughts did start with food. I love food, especially sugary food. I love cakes, cookies, Coke, and made from scratch cookie dough. My body has become addicted to these foods. I know they are bad for me and my health, but my body screams for them like a body who is addicted to drugs. It is almost impossible to say no. Our culture thrives on unhealthy foods. There is a drive-thru on every corner, with food filled with grease and artery clogging ingredients. There is a Krispy Kreme and Dunkin' Donuts tempting us as we drive by. We love it. My husband brought me a dozen Krispy Kreme doughnuts last week and I ate half of them- YES- SIX chocolate covered glazed doughnuts 😮. They were delicious. 

My daughter will stand in front of the open fridge or open pantry and scream there nothing to eat. She’s looking at plenty of food while she screams this. Her flesh wants what it wants. It doesn’t want what we have in the kitchen. It won’t compromise. The cravings of the flesh take over. If it’s not exactly what she is craving, forget it. I am starving her. 

When I was a child and did this exact thing- my mom would name off multiple items I could eat. Rightly available. But I didn’t want THOSE foods. She always ended up telling me to eat cereal. I think that’s why cereal for dinner works for me. If I let my daughter eat junk and feed on junk, how is that healthy for her?  I let her feed on junk all day with her phone, etc. I don’t feed her the meat of the Word or God. My spirit stirs me everyday. I know God will help me. I don't want to fail again. God is gracious and merciful. Please God give me the strength in my Spirit to feed my children your life-giving word. It is not only life giving, it is life saving!!! 

I can't leave out alcohol either. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, eph 5:18. I like the occasional beer, wine and martinis.....and occasional drunkenness - I have no reason for doing this but to satisfy the flesh. I feel guilty afterwards. My Spirit knows better, but I ignore it to do what I want.
      
I go to the grocery store (or my refrigerator and pantry!) and there is a small section of fruits and vegetables in a corner when I walk in. But the remainder of the store is filled with aisles of processed food and sugary drinks. There are two aisles of soda and sugar packed drinks, two huge aisles with beer and wine, and a small section with milk. In America, we love our junk food. We thrive on it and it is advertised constantly. It is pushed down our throats, almost literally. I have tried my entire life to give up the foods, knowing they are harmful. But I always fail. I try again, and fail.

I have been praying that God help me with this. I need to be healthy. Not only for myself, but for the good works God has planned for me to do.

"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared 

beforehand, that we should walk in them." Ephesians 2:10.

I can't be unhealthy and still have the strength that I need to fulfill my mission on this earth. I need God to help me. I cannot do this on my own. Just like I cannot save myself from God's wrath. Jesus did that for me. I know Jesus can’t stop me from putting junk in my mouth, but he did give us his word in the Bible with instructions. The verse about my body being a temple kept running through my mind. My body houses the Holy Spirit. How amazing is that? Everyone who is a Christian has the Holy Spirit living in their body. It got me thinking, what am I feeding my body? My body is earthly flesh, but it still houses the spirit. My body needs to be strong. If I am feeding it junk, it loses its effectiveness. The spirit cannot move in me if I can’t get up off the couch or move away from my desk! Now it is time for me to put this in action. Will I succeed? Not on my own. My flesh wants what it wants. I have to call on the spirit to give me strength. I have to remember who I am feeding. Do I want to feed my flesh and the Holy Spirit junk? Would anyone want to feed the Holy One junk? Think about it. God has given us a gift in the third person of the trinity. He is there to help us and guide us. If we chose to ignore him and feed him earthly junk all day, He can't work properly. Our bodies can’t work properly and our Spirit cannot be connected to God as it should be.

        I have never had many health issues. As we age, these issues arise. I am 43 now. In the past two years, I have had high blood pressure. Never thought much of it, just thought it would return to normal. It hasn’t. It concerns me now. I look for any supplement that claims to help lower blood pressure. High blood pressure leads to heart disease and stroke. Heart disease is the number one killer of women in the U.S. Everything I read says exercise and follow a healthy diet- no processed food, more fruits and vegetables. Cut out as much sugar and salt as you can. All sounds good, right? It’s the follow-through that I fail at.

As I have been reflecting on the Bible verses, I have come to another alternative for motivation. It is not about me. It is not about me “looking good” and being skinny. It is about my body housing the one who is holy. It is about my earthly body being healthy so I can live out God's will for my life. 

So here it comes- the next step in my thinking. What else am I feeding my spirit? In my earthly flesh, it is a lot more than unhealthy food that I feed him. It is hundreds of awful things. If you are a Christian, what are you feeding him? Here is a few examples of my poor diet- I feed him laziness, pride, worthless television shows, the internet, games on my phone, social media, greed, lust, envy, to name a few. I feed him negative thoughts, pity, anxiety, stress, guilt, depression, anger. I sometimes feed him the Word of God. I sometimes feed him prayer. I sometimes feed him time listening to a sermon or reading a Christian book. But which takes most of my time? Which do I look forward to and which do I sometimes dread like it’s a chore? Over the years, I have come to love God's word. I do look forward to reading and studying it. Every time I do, I wonder why I don’t do it more often. My flesh is pulled away so quickly onto other responsibilities. Of course we have responsibilities in this life. I have to work and raise my family. But I tend to do that in my own strength. It doesn’t always work out.

What are you feeding your temple? What are you encouraging your children to feed theirs? It is sports, TV, friends, video games, the internet, you-tube, Instagram, grades, looks, busyness? Satan loves busyness. It is one of his favorites. So easy in America. We are so busy, we don’t have time to think about eternity. We have a life to live on this earth. We don’t have time to sit down and teach our children the word of God- (that is what the two hours of church a week are for, right? Maybe a Wednesday night activity? Maybe a Sunday night youth group?). They have schoolwork and after school activities. They want to play video games. They sit on their i-phones. They want to watch TV. We don’t want to bore our kids. We want them to be happy. Also, it makes it easy for us. The video games and TV and phones can babysit our kids so we don’t have to deal with them. It is easy. We need to realize that Satan is the one laughing. He is in control in these situations. He loves it because it makes his job simple. We allow it and he sits back and laughs. We need to wake up. Satan cannot have our children. Do we want so-called happiness and ease on this earth in exchange for our souls? In exchange for our children's souls?

"And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell." Matthew 10:28

I fail. I am guilty. I have tried to control it on my own. I have failed again and again. It takes strength in the Lord to give up ourselves. Our flesh can't do it, we must walk in the Spirit.

"But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh." Galatians 5:16.

The Word says we are to be selfless and we are not our own. We belong to Christ. Oh Lord, I can’t do it. My flesh doesn’t want to. But God's word says " if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live." Romans 8:13.
My flesh doesn’t want to think about eternity. It wants to think about the here and now. I want all the American dream can offer. But the American dream won't last. 

For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. Romans 8:6.

"For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot." Romans 8:7. 

We MUST use the Spirit in us to lead us, teach us, and help us flee from our fleshly desires!


LIFE will fade like a flower. Our lives will be gone as a wisp of air flows.

"Yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes." James 4:14.

I can't trade a mere vapor for eternity.

Oh Lord, help me. I cannot do this. I need you to take control. I give myself to you. I surrender. 

One at a time. I’m relying on the spirit. One day at a time. I have gotten excellent at choosing his Word. I don’t turn on the TV much anymore.

Now that the junk from the TV is removed. I don’t want it!! I know it’s junk!!! Yuck!

I have a long way to go. I have started removing junk from my life. I’m feeding myself truth and life, now it’s time for me to start feeding my family the same thing. 

I can’t do it on my own. I cry out for help.  The spirit overpowers the body at anytime I cry out. Choose the spirit first. Flesh last. And watch your choices get easier and easier. Your flesh will slowing stop winning. And it feels amazing!!

The Gospel is good news and God is good- His mercies are new everyday. 
God is faithful to forgive, to give us grace and mercy, and to give us strength to defeat our flesh on a daily basis. He has given us the greatest gift- Himself.

GOD IS HELPING ME RELY ON HIM AND REMOVE TRASH FROM MY LIFE.

ONE JUNK AT A TIME

“If you love me, you will keep my commandments, And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. John 14: 15-17.

But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you" John 14:26.

When your flesh doesn't know how to pray, hear his Word.

"The Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words." Romans 8:26.

When the flesh wants to hate, be angry, impatient, rude, prideful, unfaithful, harsh, disobey, and break the commandments, hear his Word.

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law." Galatians 5:22-23.

"If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!" Luke 11:13.

"Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom." 2 COR 3:17.

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope." Romans 15:13.

"And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules." Ez 36:26-27.

"And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual." 1 Cor 2:13

"You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him." Romans 8:9

"In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit." Eph 1:13

"And hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us." Romans 5:5

"Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me." Psalm 51:11

"And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit." 2 cor 3:18

"In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory." Eph 1:13-14

"If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you." Romans 8:11

"And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God." 1 Cor 6:11

"For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control." 2 Tim 1:7

"The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God." Romans 8:16

"And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:32

"Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple." 1 Cor 3: 16-17

"He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior." Titus 3: 5-6

We know the author of truth!

"Truth is that which corresponds to reality as it is perceived by God" RC Sproul

 I am a deep thinker. This causes me trouble if I dwell on the wrong things. It causes sleepless nights, anxiety and depression. My mind can think itself to exhaustion. My mind can instill fear that shouldn't be there. If my mind is controlled by my flesh, I am miserable. I am anxious. I am depressed. I am fearful. My thoughts in my mind are powerful. My mind can repeat the same negative thought over and over again and I feel as if I can't stop it. It might repeat a sin that Satan won't let me forget. It might be worrying and stress over something I have no control over. It might be lies from Satan that I have bought.

This used to be my life. Occasionally, it still is. However, I know that the flesh has no power over the Spirit of God. I am a Christian. I am saved. God chose me! Why he chose me, I have no idea because I have no good in me. It is all grace. This truth leads to humble worship. HE CHOSE ME!!! I know I don't deserve his grace. I deserve nothing but Hell. BUT GOD, BY HIS GRACE, snatched me out of hell. That also means he snatched Hell out of my mind and my spirit!!

God has given us a HELPER- and boy do we need help while living on this earth in our flesh!!!! He is the spirit of truth and we know him, for he dwells with us and in us (John 14:15-17)

Now why would I allow hell to lead my thoughts when I have the Spirit of God in me? Why would I allow this when I have the Word of God- not only in my hands, but dwelling in me?!!!!

Now back to my thinking- I like to think deeply in God's word. My husband can read the Bible and simply ingest it and move on to the next truth. This is great and nothing is wrong with that! But I want more- I want exceedingly more wisdom from God. I want all the wisdom that my small human brain can fathom. I want to pick apart every verse, every thought of God- not pick apart being critical, pick apart to uncover the deepness of God. 

In 1 Corinthians 2:16 it says "WE HAVE THE MIND OF CHRIST." Meaning, if you are a believer and you have the Holy Spirit, you have the mind of Christ. WOW. Our earthly mind cannot understand the things of God. Unbelievers think God's word is nonsense. That is what you will think if you are pure flesh. No one can understand without wisdom and truth from the Spirit. "The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly (nonsense) to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned," 1 COR 2:14.

The Spirit of God COMPREHENDS the thoughts of God for us (1 COR 2:11). And that Spirit dwells in me!!!! We know the thoughts of God by reading the Bible- but the Spirit helps our mind understand the truth, interpret the truth, process the truth and speak the truth!!!! The Spirit grows our understanding from a child drinking milk to an adult eating meat! You don't need a degree in theology to get this wisdom. Read the Bible yourself- don't always depend on your pastor, etc, to tell you what it says. We must study it and understand it ourselves, through the Spirit, so we can discern truth. 

The Spirit ILLUMINATES scripture- shines a bright light on it, lets us see it clearly with wide open eyes. He gives us more than just a cognitive understanding. He gives us a deep affection for God. Jonathan Edwards defined the spiritual light as an awakening in us for the excellencies of God. The Spirit gives us the delights of God, the loveliness of God, the affections of God, the love of God. It reaches down in our heart to transform it. This is not new information He is giving, this is KNOWING God, this is building the personal relationship with the God we cherish. It goes beyond simply head knowledge and pierces the soul, awakens it with joy!!! 

God has given you his SPIRIT. Use it. Don't look to flesh to think deeper, look to the Spirit. Don't look to the flesh to awaken your love for God, look to the Spirit. Don't always expect someone else to teach you, you have THE teacher with you. Use this to discern. We MUST know the truth to speak the truth and recognize the truth. In our world today, more than ever, we need the truth. Don't take the Spirit for granted. He is THERE- look to Him that dwells inside instead of searching outside for truth. 

You have the author of truth dwelling inside of you. 

Let that sink in.

"Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit that is from God, that we might understand the things freely given to us by God" 1 COR 2:12

THERE IS ONLY ONE GUARANTEE IN LIFE

Death.

Everyone will die. It is guaranteed. Everyone will end up in one of two places- heaven or hell. Once you arrive, it is forever. Eternity. Never Ending. 

No going back. You are guilty. 
We are all guilty. There is only one who can plead your case and that is Jesus. That is why Jesus had to come to earth. He pleads for us to his Father. He died and took all of God's wrath that was meant for us. He is the only way to the Father. He is the only way to enter heaven. Without him, you will not enter heaven, you will enter hell. You cannot get to heaven on your own, but you will get to hell on your own. If you want to depend on yourself, that is fine. But be ready to only have yourself in hell. 

There will be no one to help you once you arrive there. 

• There is no escaping.
• No blaming others.
• No second chances. 
• There are no lawyers to come into a courtroom and plead mercy for you.
• You won't get a second trial. 
• You cannot appeal your sentence. 
• You cannot get out on good behavior. 
• There are no works you can do to earn your way out. 
• Your parents can't plead for you when you get there.
• Your pastor can't help you.
• There is no bail.
• There is no parole.
• There is no mercy.
• There is no grace.
• There are no re-do's.
• No re-test.
• No second time around
• No begging.
• No convincing.
• No two out of three.
• No delays.
• No more time for improvement.
• No more time to get it right.
• No next time.
• No negotiating.
• No social justice "group" in which to hide

A wisp, one breath, a second of time, in an instant. If at first you don’t succeed, try again- NOPE. Can't try again after your final breath. You will instantly be before your maker.  No delays, no thinking about it some more, no working on it to improve or get it right the next time. God will not give in to you like we do with our children on earth. You can't blame others. You can’t make excuses in front of God. None. You can’t speak before him. You will only fall on your face before him as he makes his final judgement on your soul.

You can choose to lose your soul for pleasures on earth if you want. You won't be able to get your soul back if that is what you choose.

Want your best life now? Fine, but your eternity will be your worst life ever.

But..... you can plead now.  Jesus will save you. Ask him to save you. Admit you are a sinner who needs a savior. When you confess your sin, Jesus covers you in His grace.

Don't put it off until it's too late and you are standing before your maker. If Jesus is not your savior, covering your sins, you will be sent to everlasting destruction.

If Jesus is your savior, He stands in the gap between you and the Father. Jesus tells the Father, "she is with me." We enter in with our Savior, with our Lord, Jesus Christ.

Our only hope is in Jesus Christ,

He’s coming soon and will judge the world,

His is the Lord of all Lords

He is the true king

So look to him

Before you lose everything

It will be only you before his throne,

you will stand alone!

Don’t let Satan deceive you and snatch you away,

he whispers lies in your ears; 

He wants your life,

don’t give it to him in your hatred and strife

Once he has you in chains, he will mock you and say -

don’t you wish you had one more day???

Are your past sins causing you to sin?

* Update- over the past year since I have written this blog post, God has been so good to me, finally healing me of my sin and my reliance on self.

I now clearly see that salvation is outside of myself. 

I can go to the cross one time for my sins, empty myself completely, and Jesus removes my sin. It’s gone. I can’t go back to the cross over and over for the same sin because I do not have that sin to repent of anymore (as long as I am not continuing in that sin, of course). It’s gone and replaced with forgiveness. My FLESH cannot forgive. My FLESH accuses me and shames me. But Jesus takes this nasty, sinful flesh and replaces it with His righteousness. My FLESH cannot save me, it is worthless. Once I remove it, give it to Jesus, it is gone. It can't accuse me or make me feel guilty anymore. My salvation is secure in Jesus, not in myself.

Is there a particular sin or sins that you just can't get over? That you can't believe God can forgive? A sin that you won't receive His mercy for? I do and it is causing me to sin.

My past sins are killing me. Maybe that is a little dramatic, but they are causing me to stop growing in my Christian life. They are crippling me. I am at a standstill. I am blinded by the enemy of this world. I am in UNBELIEF (it might be better worded as "doubting", but am using unbelief for now). It is a SIN to doubt God's Word!!!! I am not believing what God's Word has told me. How can this be? How can I be a Christian and not believe His Word? How can I be doubting??
This is why- I am still in misery for past sins. I lay down my sins at the cross and later I go back and pick them up and lay them back on myself. I do it over and over again. I feel like I can't stop it. I dwell on particular sins and it makes me miserable. Aren't I supposed to have joy in Christ? I can't. I am not believing that God has dealt with my sins and it is robbing me of my joy. It is causing the opposite affect- spiritual depression. I am wasting time looking back on something that I cannot change. I always think... IF ONLY I could go back..... but that is foolish thinking. It is these thoughts that the devil has me dwelling on. He loves that I am stuck in a crippled, crying wad of myself. I am preoccupied in myself- (yes, a sin) and that is causing me to NOT be preoccupied with Christ!! The more we are focused on Christ, the less and less we focus on ourselves. I have been doing all of it backwards, stuck in a rut of self-pity, shame and guilt, instead of joy and grace!

I think I know doctrine. I love theology, which is simply the study of God's Word. I even have a t-shirt that says "Theology Matters." And all of this time I was kidding myself if I am ignorant of basic doctrine!!! If I can't get the basics down, how am I going to grow in knowledge and wisdom? I am an doubting Christian... well if I can call it that for now. Oh, don't get me wrong, I THINK I have the basics down- short version- God made the earth and heavens, humans rebelled, He sent His perfect son to earth to take our punishment, if we believe in Jesus, we are saved from our sins. We are cleansed- made righteous with Jesus. We are FORGIVEN of our sins..... Jesus made ONE SACRIFICE for past and future sins....that is where my problem comes in. I think I believe this, why wouldn't I? I never questioned it before...but I have learned that it is a mockery to God to keep asking for forgiveness for the same sin or sins over and over and over again.
I am not saying we shouldn't pray and ask for forgiveness- sin keeps us from God. What I am saying is, once it is forgiven, it is forgiven. Period. Finished. We think we have "BIG" sins that aren't as forgivable as "small" sins- NOPE, that is a lie. There is no qualification against sins. If you break one part of the law, you have broken it all.
"For the person who keeps all of the laws except one is as guilty as a person who has broken all of God’s laws," James 2:10

YES, we still ask for forgiveness because sin blocks us from reaching God (and God commands us to repent). God welcomes us before him. "Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need." Hebrews 4:16.
Our sins are washed away and our prayers are heard.
Read this quote from Samuel Lee and think about it- "Sin is a thick cloud that hides the face of God, so our prayers cannot enter." That is an astounding quote to me. It gives us a visual look of how sin blocks out God. I have prayed many times when I haven't repented in weeks or even months!
How many prayers are going up and being blocked by sin. How many people who are unbelievers throw up prayers to God when they need it- those prayers aren't even heard. "We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does his will, God listens to him." John 9:31.


We should never look at our past sins except in a way that causes us to praise God and magnify his grace!!! Rejoice in his grace!! He has blotted out my sins and remembers them no more!! MY SINS!!!! And I don't deserve it! Oh, thank you Jesus, thank you!!!
"I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more," Isaiah 43:25

These truths have finally freed me! I give much credit to Martin Lloyd Jones sermons on spiritual depression. It is as if he looked me in the face and said STOP THIS. I don't need to ask for forgiveness again and again for the same sin- that is mocking God.. that is unbelief in His truths of forgiveness and grace. I repent of my unbelief. I must renew my mind every time the devil tries to take me back to my rut. I will not go back. I will replay God's truth's over and over in my head, just like I used to play my sins over and over. I have to take back my mind!!!! God has given us HIS WORD. It is right there in front of me- for studying, believing, knowing, memorizing. Any time you doubt, open His Word. I have learned that it is easy for someone to say "I believe in Jesus", but if you don't know Him through His word, you are likely to fall back in unbelief and doubt.
I am forgiven and healed!

"A forgiven soul is a healed soul" Samuel Lee

UPDATE! MORE OF GOD'S GOODNESS..

ok, so this post is about my regrets and how I wish I could go back and do them over and I’m reminded that there’s no going back. I’m not gonna live my life thinking of the past and thinking about something that I cannot change . God promises that my election and salvation cannot be changed. GOD DOES NOT CHANGE. He’s got me in his hands. Jesus says you can’t go back, but you’re still in my arms and that can’t change. He says I will never be snatched out of his hand, "I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand." John 10:28

Now this also got me thinking about spreading the gospel (which I am currently failing at). Just like we regret things and can’t go back in this life, imagine being in Hell and spending every single second of eternity thinking and wishing that you could just go back for a second. But there is no going back, there are no second chances. That’s why we must be diligent in spreading the gospel now! Even though now in this human life we can’t go back, we still have the hope and love of Jesus that leads to everlasting life. But as soon as one gets to Hell, there is no hope! Take this short life you have right now (life is a wisp!) and RUN to Jesus (or RUN to others and tell them the good news). Beg Him now to save you! He will! Admit how wretched and wicked you are and confess your sins. Jesus will take those dirty sins and replace them with His righteousness. If you are reading this right now, you still have time. Don't wait another minute because when you take your last breath, there is no more time- it will be finished and your destination will be one of two places- Heaven or Hell. 

If God is good and all powerful, why is there evil and suffering?

If you listen to most unbelievers, their main opposition to Christianity is evil and suffering. They claim our God won't stop it, so He can't be good. Critics say, how can God be good and allow such evil?
The suffering and horrific evils of this world are difficult to understand. If there is an all-powerful God, why doesn't he just stop it? How can He know that his creations are being abused by others that were also created by Him? The children that are in sex trafficking and are raped day in and day out, the children that are starving to death with no food, the children that are dying because they don't have the medicine needed to cure them (many times they die from diseases that are preventable), the people that are suffering in utter pain with cancer and other diseases, the families who lose loved ones everyday to death and children are left without parents, wives without husbands, parents without their children.
The evil in this world is unstoppable. It can never be erradicated. We are evil. All of us.
Many can talk about world peace and everyone has their ideas on how to achieve it.
But there will never be peace on this earth. This earth is corrupt. Why do we seek so much from a corrupt world anyway? Ever think about that? Why are we digging for gold in a barren, dead earth that is doomed for destruction?

Ever notice how millions of humans say they are "good people." I used to say "I am a good person", how can God reject me? We fail to realize that NO one is good, not one! If you think you are saved because you are "good", you are badly mistaken.
As the Scriptures say, “No one is righteous— not even one," Romans 3:10

How can WE HUMANS claim to be good and allow such evil? We sit back in our so called goodness and just watch and complain (believers and unbelievers alike). Why don't we act? We sure expect God to act. Maybe we need to look at ourselves. God hasn't left us empty handed on this earth. Look what he has provided- food, water, sunlight, ability to love, resources for shelter, and on and on.
We take and take and don't think we need to give! Maybe we should suffer to eliminate others in their suffering? What would suffering look like to most Americans- less eating out, buying new cars and SUV's, going on vacations, living in smaller homes, not spending millions on church buildings.....

God could ask us the same question- why is their such suffering? Is there not ways that you could stop it? Is your greed more important than ending suffering?
God's people (everyone) are so full of themselves. We want to blame God for everything. Where is our responsibility? Has God not given us resources to use for good? Why are we so quick to blame others instead of looking at ourselves and asking what are we doing?

Look at the world as a whole and really think about it. Has God not provided many resources that we don't use! That we could use to end and prevent evil? Maybe we need to stop accusing God for the evil we create. Maybe we need to stop saying- God, this is all your fault because you aren't ending it. God you allow this (which He does, but that is besides the point for now).
We are so self righteous!!

Most people in my world don't want to die. They want to live forever - death is scary. Why are our lives so short? Why are we a mist and then gone? Why are we like a dying flower in the field? I used to think this way until I realized-
It is a MERCY that God allows us to have short lives on this earth.
Who would want to live hundreds or thousands of years on this earth amongst the pain? I wouldn't. If you were someone who was abused daily and knew it could go on for hundreds of years, it would be the worst news possible. Our cry is PLEASE JESUS, COME NOW!

Remember what God has not taken from us as we live in this world- his loving kindness, the truth that we will never be separated from him (no one can take us out of his grasp), His grace will never end, nor shall his mercy. The Holy Spirit is always with us and will not abandon us.

In due time, God delivers his children out of trouble. "A tree, which in the winter seems dead, revives in the spring. The sun emerges after a storm" - Thomas Watson

We are immortal (we have a beginning) souls that God is gifting eternity in glory and perfection for those who believe in Him.

The truth is God will END EVIL. He already has. Evil has been defeated.

The most disturbing lies of the prosperity gospel

The #1 and #2 reason the prosperity gospel is false

Here it is: 

#1 If it cannot be preached around the world as truth, it is false!!!

#2 The Bible doesn't teach it! (But we want it to be true so we twist God's word to line up with our selfish desires)

#1  If it cannot be preached around the world as truth, it is false!!!

The Bible teaches us to go out in the world and preach the gospel. 

The prosperity gospel is a false gospel. It is a lie from Hell.

How do we go to countries that are poor and preach the prosperity gospel? If a women is trying to feed her family on a day to day basis, are we really going to tell her she doesn't have enough faith and that is why her children are hungry? If children are dying by the thousands from preventable diseases, do the people need to hear that God wants them to be rich? 

If people have to travel miles on foot everyday to get their water, do they want to be taught that God blesses people in the U.S. with multiple cars!!!??? How about that bigger house that God "blessed" you with? The people in the dirt huts can really use that Biblical knowledge (sarcasm!)!!!!

Did you know that in China Christians meet in underground churches? If they are found out, they will be imprisoned, beaten, or killed. Christians meet late at night so as not to be seen. They may only have one or two Bibles. Do they need Joel Osteen to tell them to have their best life now?

Check out Open doors USA to learn about and pray for persecuted Christians throughout the world.

Pray for China

In many countries, the Bible is illegal, burned, or banished. Believers are beaten, imprisoned, and murdered.

Where is the Bible banned?

According to genocidewatch, Nigeria is a killing field for Christians. 350 Nigerian Christians were massacred in the first two months of 2020. Over 11,500 Christians have been murdered since June 2015. Four to five million Christians are displaced. 2000 churches were destroyed.

Nigeria source- please read!

There are hundreds of more resources on the internet- I urge you to learn more!

#2 The Bible doesn't teach it! (But we want it to be true so we twist God's word to line up with our selfish desires)

Everyone in America has heard it and seen the books displayed in the stores: How to live your best life now! God wants you to be rich, healthy, comfortable and enjoy all the pleasures this world has to offer! American Christians are loving this false gospel and flock to churches that teach it. It says you can have Jesus, Heaven, and all the pleasures of the world. The prosperity gospel is a lie. It feeds to our selfish desires.

Satan is the ruler of this world and the prosperity gospel makes his job very easy.

I often ask this question- If the church buildings with the comfy pews, air conditioning/ heat were gone. And all we had was our bibles. Church met outside in the cold or the heat. With the flies. Uncomfortable. Who would show up? How many would come? This would be the way to separate the sheep from the wolves. Would you go? 

Jesus had nowhere to lay his head. Jesus walked in sandals. Jesus never talked about earthly goods as a blessing from the kingdom. Jesus wasn’t concerned about your possessions. He is only concerned with your soul.

The Bible instructs us to lay up treasures in heaven, not on this earth. Matthew 6: 19-24 states "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

I am extremely guilty of laying up treasures on earth. I want the nicest treasures this world has to offer. I work hard for money in order to buy these treasures. I don't know what treasures on this earth that you store up. They may be different from mine. But I urge you to look at your life and examine it. What are your wants in life- is it to wear the designer clothes and carry the designer bags? Maybe Coach or Louis Vuitton? I know I love Tory Burch handbags and shoes. Her brand is expensive and just like other designer goods, we buy them and carry them to because deep down we want to express our wealth and show our standing in society. No one can argue otherwise because theses assets are not needs. They are pleasures and they indicate where we store our treasures. They expose our hearts. We love getting dressed for church in our nice clothes, wearing our expensive shoes, best jewelry and carrying our showy handbags. Why do we feel like all that is necessary, especially at church?
The Bible says that we aren't to worship in costly attire, stand out jewelry and perfectly polished clothing. That is not to say we aren't to dress appropriately in clothing that honors God, of course.
In 1 Timothy 2: 9 it is stated "that women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pears or costly attire." It is common for women to wear more of the costly attire and accessories to church. We may even overdo our jewelry. I have a ring that I only wear on Sundays. It is a nice ring that is too large to be comfortable during the week and my work on computers. How materialistic is that?
We are supposed to be welcoming to outsiders in our places of worship. We are to welcome the poor, the dirty, the unwanted. How can we be welcoming when we present ourselves as higher class? I know most would deny that they do this. I urge you to look at the surrounding churches in your area. The multi-million dollar buildings filled with the best dressed people with their expensive jewels, and of course you can't forget the parking lots. Most church parking lots have vehicles worth more money than most people make in years. How do we rationalize this? I rationalize my expensive SUV as a "need" for work and a "need" to drive around and fit numerous children in my vehicle. But why do we have to buy the flashy cars? Why do we as Christians want to show our wealth in our church parking lots? Why do we feel that expensive cars are necessary when they are not. I could have easily bought a used SUV without as much bling or that was not as flashy. I rationalize that I need a brand new SUV so that I can drive it for ten years. There is nothing inherently evil about that, but Christians aren't showing their beliefs when they drive in these cars. They are showing their selfishness. It is the opposite of what Jesus teaches. We are to be selfless. We are to use our wealth for the kingdom of God, not for our personal kingdoms on earth. We put our self indulgence on display for all to see. I write this and I know it is true. I have come a long way in fighting these desires, but I have a long road ahead. I am guilty and I know it. I have to learn to pray more often and to ask myself if these material assets are giving God glory.

"The only way you can have your best life now is if you are going to hell when you die." Voddie Baucham

Do we realize how teeny-tiny we are?

Do we realize how teeny tiny we are? We are like insects, tiny grasshoppers. I imagine we are much, much smaller, but the Lord had to explain it in a way for our finite (limited) minds to understand. 

Isaiah 40:22-23 states "it is he who sits above the circle of the earth, and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers; he who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, and spreads them like a tent to dwell in; who makes the rulers of the earth as emptiness."

Have you ever been 28,000 feet above ground in an airplane and gazed down from the window?  I am always in awe when flying. I love the window seat so I can gaze out on a sliver of God's beautiful creation. I look down to the ground and see the houses, so small from above. Then I imagine the people in the and around the homes that are so small I can't even see them! We think we are so big. So strong. So smart. So mighty. Humans think way too highly of themselves! We are so minuscule and insignificant compared to the universe. Yet we puff up with pride while living on our earth that is the size of a grain of sand in our solar system! The picture below is a representation of the scale of Earth in our solar system, The Milky Way. The arrow shows where we are, not even visible to the naked eye in this picture. 

"The Lord created the heavens and stretched them out, He spread out the earth and what comes from it, He gives breath to the people on it and spirit to those who walk on it," Isaiah 42:5.

As I write this, we are on a plane heading to Houston. I look out the plane window and see clouds floating above the earth. We take clouds for granted, not realizing what an amazing gift they are from our creator. He has given us clouds to rain down water that is needed for our bodies for survival. Needed to grow our food and water our plants. Needed for our lakes and rivers. Clouds shield us from the hot sun. We just expect them to be there, not appreciating their wonder and significance, and absolutely our dependence on them for survival. 

"For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater," Isaiah 55:10.

I can see the sun here too, it doesn’t look much larger than it does from the ground. Looking directly at it makes me squint and see flashes of light when I blink my eyes. It’s the largest star in our galaxy. It’s a flaming ball of fire, up in the sky- for us- giving us life on earth. It’s the perfect distance for our survival. Any closer we would burn and any further we would freeze. 

God  said, "Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night. And let them be for signs and for seasons, and for days and years, and let them be lights in the expanse of the heavens to give light upon the earth, and God made the two great lights- the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light (moon and stars) to rule the night." Genesis 1:14-16.

"The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork," Psalm 19:1.

John Brady at Astronomy Central shows just how small we really are compared to the sun in the image below:

Here is a photo from NASA:

From up here in the plane, the largest mansion looks smaller than a postage stamp. I can't even see a vehicle from up here. My large SUV doesn’t seem so big anymore! Its like a small matchbox car in which my family can fit inside. No wonder god says GO GO! Spread the good news! Tell everyone! Don’t sit in your teeny home and think your something big! You're not! Anyone who thinks they are something deceive themselves,
 "for the wisdom of this world is folly with God," 1 Cor 3:19. Life is a wisp of air, James 4:14 "what is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes." 
It's gone just as fast as God could end the earth in his one breath! A vapor! 

We are descending. We are in the clouds. I cannot even see earth. It's hidden under the clouds. I can see miles and miles of land. It's so different from the small distance I can see while on the ground. Imagine God seeing it all in one picture, but seeing every move and every thought of every human on the earth.  The land is all green with specks of muted color. Roads look like drawings in the sand made with a stick. Acres and acres of trees look like the top of a piece of broccoli. I see homes, still appearing as if I could hold them in the palm of my hand, coming into view as we descend. Huge light posts with lights shining that appear as small as a candle flame. The earth is lit with small candle flames. I can see car lights moving like little glowing specks. Small white clouds floating just above. Huge buildings that look like they were built out of Lego's. Rooftops perfectly positioned in rows. Swimming pools that look like a drop of blue water. I see a other plane in the distance that looks the size of a bird. From my view, I contemplate how people can be inside something so small. I see more Lego buildings in the distance that look like a city on a hill. I see an 18 wheeler, again like a matchbox car. It felt like I could put my fingers on it and push it, or pick it up, like in a super hero movie. Finally, everything is coming into view. We are back to our size. Small. As I gaze into the sky, I ponder what I have experienced in the past 2 hours. Its amazing, a split second glimpse from heaven at an earth the size of a grain of sand.

Gaze at his glory- a gorgeous sunset, floating clouds, and rippling water. Spectacular!