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Monthly Archives: August 2012

The time is near

21 Aug

The time is near

Revelation 1:1-3 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants–things which must shortly take place. And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John, who bore witness to the word of God, and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, to all things that he saw. Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near.

The book of Revelation is the most fascinating and the most misunderstood book in the bible. It is an ‘apocalyptic’ literature, or an unveiling, or disclosure. So this book is about Christ, from Christ as the author. The apostle John was given these visions and words to pen for us to read. The summary of this book is found in verse 3 Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near. For the “time is near’. You must realize as a believer in Christ the state of the world around you, and you must realize the importance of these days to share the Gospel of Christ to those around you who do not know Him.

We live in a fallen world, and the world’s sin seems to be escalating again. Throughout history their have been evil men who did horrible things, yet society condemned them for it. Society as a whole seems less likely to condemn now, but to blame and let it pass on the merits of where that blame is placed. There seems to be less power in the condemnation of judgement. The book of Revelation speaks to that coming judgement upon Christ’s return, and the eternal sentence. Revelation 20:12 And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books.

Is your name written in the Book of Life? Do you know Christ as your Savior from the pit of Hell as the only Way(John 14:6)? Do you confess him before men? Matthew 10:32 “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. 33 But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven. You cannot simply deny these coming days, for the book of Revelation speaks clearly of them. All roads do not lead to God and heaven; and living as a good person without the understanding of the Gospel will lead you down the path of destruction. The days you spend here on earth are the paths you prepare for eternity. The time is near; are you prepared?

 
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Posted by on August 21, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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Time management 101

20 Aug

Time management 101

Mark 13:33 Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is.

We all have the “to do” lists. There are multiple lists for work, play, and even the dreaded ‘honey do’ lists at home. We are bombarded continuously in every arena for precious amounts of our time. We are expected to pack eight days into a seven day week in todays society. And mostly because of the instantaneous satisfaction this world demands, we are expected to do it now. Time management is at the top of every to do lists. I have to explain my time management as a ‘triage’ list like the TV show MASH many times: consistently re-prioritizing. This does not fair well in a self centered society.

Does God and the things of God make your lists? Do you make time for Him? What will you say before Him when He asks you how you managed your time? How will you explain all the things that were more important than Him? His return could be at any time, but His return will be a surprise and not predicted as some have tried and failed. Mark 13:32 “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. In the book of Revelation Christ is speaking to John about the church at Sardis and of their dead faith. Many had backslidden away from their church and into the world. Their focus was not on Christ and He strongly warned them of their hypocrisy. Revelation 3:3 Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you.

God knows your heart and there is nothing you can hide from Him. There is a day coming that everything will be refined by fire. We all must account for our every action, word, deed, and thought. I dread that day, but I rest in the assurance of that day that Christ has covered all my sin at Calvary by sacrificing Himself for me, and you. How can we not seek to honor the ultimate sacrifice by sacrificing our time and putting Him at the top of all lists? I would hope to stand before God and say I tried, rather than ‘well you see I had to _______” . Make today a day you manage some time to spend seeking Him in His Word and prayer.

 
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Posted by on August 20, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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Will ya?

19 Aug

Will ya?

Matthew 6:6 But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.

I cannot accurately tell you the peace I have in this chair early every morning. Of how God meets me here, and we spend time together in His Word and in prayer. Of how He never fails me, always there waiting on me to draw near to Him. I can tell you the days I miss it, are incomplete. That word is a very simple summary; somethings missing and I feel it all day. We just returned from a great vacation, but this time was sporadic, and the enemy took every opportunity to make it difficult, or even almost impossible to be honest. I felt the world creeping in.

I bet you have a daily routine. The alarm clock,  breakfast, and most likely the news in some way. Out the door to face the world you go with all the pain of society placed in your mind first by either the newspaper or a local media. Your mind has been dulled to the things of God in less than an hour from getting out of bed. Christ spoke of this in His ministry fulfilling a prophecy of Isaiah. Matthew 13:15 For the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, And their eyes they have closed, Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, So that I should heal them.’  Christ is speaking of those who cannot hear Him due to their attention to things of this world and closing their minds to the things of God. Matthew Henry says of that heart; “denotes sensuality and senselessness.”

Would you pursue a routine, that will become a habit, that will move to a labor of love? Will you make the conscious effort to pray for the strength to change how you start your day? That change will be more than just the removal of the evil, but the injection of the love in it’s place. The time spent with God alone first thing every day will give you a different outlook on the day, and an awareness of Him around you that you have never noticed before. God has given you free will. What will you do with it? “Seek Ye first the kingdom of God…..” Matthew 6:33

 
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Posted by on August 19, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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Friends

17 Aug

Galatians 2:20  I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me.I am almost scared to begin here again. I lost this devo twice yesterday and I cannot describe the disappointment I went to bed with. I laid there this morning thinking about the events of the past few days realizing my enemy hates theses days. I have been spending quality time with a man my own age who gets it. That is gets the scripture above; and is totaly selling all and out for Christ to dedicate his life in the mission field of Indi. Satan is not pleased with the influence he is having on me and my family. Satan knows my wife is headed on herfirst mission trip next year too. Why would theses days be easy? I had one of the most edifying phone calls yesterday from another man of God who’s ministry lies in the trucking field. He boldly shares his faith and lives as a fisher of men on our highways and the airways of a CB radio. Both of these men were sent by God into my life for a purpose anthose purpose will be found by the time I spend with God. Does the company you keep build you up or drag you down? Do you hear Godly wisdom coming from the lips or worldly garbage? The importance and influence of those you surround yourself with shows where your heart lies. 1 Corinthians 5:33 “Do not be deceived: Evil company corrupts good habiyou’ll You cannot surround yourself with people who do not believe in Christ as you do without Godly influences also. You can share your faith with your old friends but you cannot allow them to be the predominate influence in your life. Seek building relationships with those who have a heart for God and the things of God to help you AND THEM along this road of liheaded axed home.

I apologize for this mess below.   Part of the problem I have been having.
1:1-2. In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
When I go to the beach or the mountains my spirit is usually stirred by God’s creation. Their is always something that grabs me about it’s beauty; of its majestic scope of the size, and the awe of the details. I do not argue evolution for I feel evolution isn’t worth argument. God could have created it in a big bang or let it just per chance happen, but He chose to take 6 days and do it perfectly. Genesis 1:31 Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was good.
Do you ever sit back just marvel at God’s creation? This time spent in awe of all that is around you will humble you before the Creator. You cannot help but be overwhelmed by the complexity of creation and moved to a state of thanksgiving to Him. Time spent alone in nature will provide a great means of connection with God in these prayers of adoration and awe of all that surrounds you. A great way to get close to our great God is to get alone with him in the midst of his creation and just be still. He will meet you there.
Sent from my iPhone

Sent from my iPhone

On Aug 14, 2012, at 8:29 AM, michael anderson <woodsracer2001@yahoo.com> wrote:
It changed that day Matthew 4:19 Then He said to them, “Follow Me and I will make you fishers of men.” As I sit here in the peace of the beach in the early hours I prayed a prayer of thanksgiving for all this place brings to me. Of His creation of the tides, rising and falling only feet all over the world. This done for centuries with little variance and to a pof that He is askto change pray to Him for that binder to be revealed and removed. There might be a day in your history that you look back and reflect on the day everything changed in your relationship with the Creator of it.

=

 
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Posted by on August 17, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

Sit in alone in awe

15 Aug

Sit in alone in awe

Genesis 1:1-2. In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

When I go to the beach or the mountains my spirit is usually stirred by God’s creation. Their is always something that grabs me about it’s beauty; of its majestic scope of the size, and the awe of the details. I do not argue evolution for I feel evolution isn’t worth argument. God could have created it in a big bang or let it just per chance happen, but He chose to take 6 days and do it perfectly. Genesis 1:31 Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was good.

Do you ever sit back just marvel at God’s creation? This time spent in awe of all that is around you will humble you before the Creator. You cannot help but be overwhelmed by the complexity of creation and moved to a state of thanksgiving to Him. Time spent alone in nature will provide a great means of connection with God in these prayers of adoration and awe of all that surrounds you. A great way to get close to our great God is to get alone with him in the midst of his creation and just be still. He will meet you there.

 
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Posted by on August 15, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

It changed that day

14 Aug

It changed that day

Matthew 4:19 Then He said to them, “Follow Me and I will make you fishers of men.”

As I sit here in the peace of the beach in the early hours I prayed a prayer of thanksgiving for all this place brings to me. Of His creation of the tides, rising and falling only feet all over the world. This done for centuries with little variance and to a predictable timetable. I watched the shad running up and being gobbled up by larger fish right below me and thought of many years ago it may have been a morning like this for Peter, Andrew, James, and John when they were fishing. They left everything THEN and followed Christ. They stepped out in faith. Their lives were never the same as the became disciples and fishers of men.

Is Christ tugging at your heart asking for more from you? What is holding you back? The parable of the rich young ruler speaks clearly to many of us today that covet our money and “stuff”. “You cannot serve God and mammon(money).” (Matthew 6:24) If He is tugging at you it may be that He is asking simply what do you put before Him. If you truly want life to change pray to Him for that binder to be revealed and removed. There might be a day in your history that you look back and reflect on the day everything changed in your relationship with the Creator of it.

 
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Posted by on August 14, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

What comes First?

13 Aug

What comes First?

John 15:4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.

You’re a Christian and you want to be closer to God right? You sporadicly pray or read the bible, and go to church on Sunday’s most of the time. Is any of this honoring God, or giving God your left-overs? John 15:4 shows us clearly we must seek to abide in Him first. He will reward us with a heart that seeks Him every day in all things. This is from my research paper:

One cannot abide without a consistency of time spent in God’s Word. One cannot claim an intimate relationship with someone they invest little or sporadic time with. Intimacy is found through invested time and communication. Intimacy with Christ is found in time, and the communication is found through prayer and His Word. As His disciple we take the lessons learned there and apply them to our lives though fellowship and obedience. “A Christianity that does not have as its primary focus the deepening of passions for God is a false Christianity, no matter how zealously it seeks conversions or how forcefully it advocates righteous behavior.” (JD Greear) You cannot abide without a humble obedient heart that obeys His words. A heart that is moved to obedience from love is a heart that abides. A heart that does this from duty is a works driven faith, and self reliant and prideful.

Matthew 6:33 Seek Ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.  It starts today with your pursuit, or lack thereof. Will today be the day that changes the rest of your life, when you change your habits and move to seeking God consistently? You will keep getting what you have been getting if you keep doing what you have been doing. (Alan Higgins)

 
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Posted by on August 13, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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Your Fruit Basket

12 Aug

Your Fruit Basket

John 15:5 I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.

I spent the afternoon yesterday with a friend who is living out his life for Christ. I wish we had gotten to know each other better before he left Huntersville, but it is so awesome to see and hear how God has and is working in his life. He lived for the world many years, made lots of money and had lots of stuff, but God took it all away. He now sees Gods work in it, and is using his life in seminary and missions to draw glory to God. David you are a true disciple of Christ, and a huge encouragement to me. You get it.

I have been spending much time in study of John 15 and how we are to bear the fruit of the true vine. We are to be so close to Christ, that He gives us the sap of life from His vine, and we bear the fruit of our lives through it. That fruit is how you live your life every day; your witness as a professing Christian. David poured out bushels of fruit in my living room floor. A true believer will abide in the true vine, and as a result any true believer will produce fruit. John 15:4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. Are you a true believer if you are not producing fruit?

Some of the scariest words in the bible are found in Matthew 7. 21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ What have you done with the knowledge of Jesus Christ, the savior of your soul, in your life. Has Is there evidence of Him in your life (fruit)? Is this the question God will ask of you on judgement day? Most likely so. Make today a day of seeking His Will, His guidance, and your heart for seeking Him with all of it. Deuteronomy 6:5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. When you truly do these things, your basket will be poured out and refilled by Him daily. Their WILL be fruit in your life.

 
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Posted by on August 12, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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Pass it down

11 Aug

Pass it down

Deuteronomy 6:4-9   “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one! 5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. 6 “And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. 8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

I was sharing a paper I wrote on the Kingdom of God with Russell last night. He read it through, and handed it back to me. “Well dad, I can read all the words, but I just don’t get it”. You could see the puzzlement in his face. I went back through it aloud with him simplifying it as I went to help him understand. You could see the light go on in his eyes; “Nowwwww I see”. It always amazes me how God works explaining His Word to a child. He reveals it’s simplicity to us as we pass it on to them. In that conversion our eyes are many times opened too.

Pride will creep in and make our hearts hard, far from the soft heart as a child. The disciples even wished to know who was going to be the wisest and greatest man in heaven (prideful). Matthew 18:1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” 2 Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, 3 and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Can you see how strongly Christ is speaking to the sin of pride in these scriptures? Many have said that pride is the root of all sin, and pride and humility cannot co-exist. Humility is key in the life of a Christian who sees themselves in the light of sin and the Savior who redeemed them from it eternally.

Spending time with God’s Word and your children can pass them on to eternity. You are able to share with them creation, sin, grace, and hope all in one book. Life lesson after life lesson by the One who created life. Their is nothing you can ever pass on to your children that will exceed their hope in Christ. As you teach them to love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength, you also will become encouraged through your Fathers teaching you, as you teach them. He is passing it down to your generation, just as you are passing it down to yours.

 
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Posted by on August 11, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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Can’t find the words

10 Aug

Can’t find the words

Romans 8:26 Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

I overslept this morning. As usual my mind starts to hammer me with the “to do” lists of the day. Of the importance of things and how it will effect the entire day. Satan loves days like this where he thinks he can grab ahold and run with it, keeping your focus from God. If you let him, he will, and your day will go downhill most likely from there. Stop and take time to pray, and hopefully get into the word for if nothing else, a daily scripture to focus and hang onto when Satan attacks.

As I began to pray, those thoughts flooded, and I struggled with prayer. I have always struggled with praying for myself, and I rely on knowing there are those close to me that are speaking my name before our Lord. Proverbs 15:29 The Lord is far from the wicked, But He hears the prayer of the righteous. There is strength that lies in being open with a circle of brothers and sisters in Christ that pray for each other. We all have our struggles, and sharing those struggles of life is a way you feel God work in your life, knowing you have people praying for you. Christianity is not a solo sport, it is a way to do life together, with prayer for each other a central theme.

In most all of the apostle Paul’s letters, he began them by letting the recipient know that he had been praying for them. This is always a huge encouragement to them. The greatest encourager is Christ’s Spirit living inside of you, interceding for you in prayer before God as in Romans 8:26 above. There is a divine communication existing in a realm you cannot see between the Father and the Spirit inside of you. Romans 8:27 Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. On those days when you just can’t seem to pray, make it a simple pray of thanksgiving. You can be thankful for the Spirit that is taking care of it for you, and hopefully those brothers and sisters you have confided in are petitioning God on your behalf.

 
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Posted by on August 10, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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