a better hope

I saw this and laughed. It's true in the physical. I even try not to look at the ingredients sometimes because I know it means I'm not going to buy that product. But, my next thought was we put so much emphasis on the flesh, but what about what goes into our spirit being? What feeds our spirit? Is it highly processed and devoid of nourishment? Is it laced with something poisonous? Is it making you healthier or weaker? Does it contain the newest ingredients (I think of 3D printed food) and leave out the tried and true? What is left out to cut costs and boost profits? You can carry those questions as far as you want, but you see my point. Our spirit food is important, too.  I'm fed at my church. That's why I tithe there. If you're having trouble in an area of your life and feel hindered, one of the first things I would look at is if you're tithing enough. This isn't an offering. Tithes are mandatory. Offerings are above 10%. God will bless you for doing what i...

I personally don't care if someone celebrates Halloween. Its roots go back to some pretty satanic stuff, but putting on a plastic mask and asking for candy doesn't align with outright satanism. But, the spiritual roots to things matter in ways we sometimes don't realize. I won't tell anyone not to celebrate a holiday. That's between them and God and it isn't my place. I'm not a preacher or a teacher, just a guy. However, when I saw a local church was sponsoring a Halloween party (called Trunk or Treat), I realized how innocuous many Christians see the holiday. It isn't the only one, either. It's one thing to let your kids go trick or treating, but it's quite another to put on a party for the holiday. That didn't seem right.  As with everything, I think it's wise to take something we feel convicted about to the Lord. A few years ago I carved a pumpkin for Halloween and then a few days later had this feeling that wouldn't budge. I felt ...

I never would have seen this on my own. A preacher (I listen to a lot of radio and YouTube sermons while I work) relayed this one day. It stuck with me because, well, don't we all want God's blessings?  Jesus was preaching one day and was pressed upon sorely by the people, so He asked Peter (notice He asked) if He could stand in his boat while He preached so He didn't end up in the water. Peter said yes, and then Jesus gave Peter a command to put out his nets somewhere specific. So Peter did. He was fishing all day and didn't catch a thing. But he obliged and his nets were so full, they almost broke. We all know the story. It ends with Peter saying, "Go away from me, for I am a sinful man." The progression is so subtle I missed it all these years, but it speaks of how God blesses us.  It starts small. With an almost unnoticeable request. Do this little thing for me? Let me stand in your boat? Yes, Lord. Peter had been listening to Jesus preach so knew He was a...

This is something I'm working on. Adding to my faith. Lots of things come after believing. I don't want to stop where I am and say, "This is good enough." Jesus didn't do that. He went all the way. I intend to do the same. God made me a warrior, but what sets Christians apart from others is love. We are to love in the same way Jesus did, which is hard to imagine. Sometimes, in my daily battles, I forget to love. Lord, please remind me love is what changes hearts and minds, and also that You were exceedingly gentle. You are gentle with me, and I need to be gentle with others. I need to set myself aside and tend to their needs, for this is what you've called us to do. Cause me to seek out the poor and the sad and the needy and present to them the thing they need most: You. Amen.  Thank you for reading. And God bless. My Tumblr .  And my other blog, None Dare Call It Treason.

Self-sufficiency, independence, and self-reliance are things God has been dealing with me about. Imagine God taking away the thing that has driven you and guided you your whole life. Imagine where that puts you and how you feel about yourself and the world. It's quite a shock. But, we are the sheep of His pasture, and He is the One who guides. He knows best. That's something it took me many years to learn. I'm learning it now. Self-sufficiency leads to ruin. I'm glad I'm no longer on that path. If anyone actually reads here, please pray for me, as this is very difficult. God is telling me to rest in Him and let Him take the wheel. That doesn't sound so bad, but for someone like me it's scary. Pray I learn to trust. I've been through so many storms. I've been in many battles. But this is what makes me tick. This is at the very heart of me. God knows what He's doing. This is for the best. God, do what You have to do. I trust you. Remove whatever in...

Every Christian has been there. Maybe you're there now. I've been there. Maybe I'm there now, too. We all endure trials. I'm not talking about things that happen after we did something stupid. Those are consequences. That's just life. Trials are something ordained of God (and, of course, He can use our mistakes, as well) to teach us something. To refine or purify us for a future task. And other purposes. Anyway, Charles Stanley says it better than I do. I used to watch Charles when I was in high school on the little TV between the kitchen and dining room. He always made sense. Now he's 90 years old and still preaching. God bless that man. He blessed me many times over. It's a short video but I got a lot out of it.  One thing God mentioned to me a while back was I had a god in my heart that was getting in the way of our relationship. I thought it was something else. He made it very clear. The god in my heart was my independence and self-reliance. I was always...

After the Israelites drove out many of the inhabitants of the promise land, the Bible says God gave them rest. It's an important notation, as many think we should always strive for something. No, there is a time for fighting and a time for rest. I feel barren in the latter category, perhaps because I have not fought enough. Or perhaps because I haven't allowed myself an important blessing: rest.  Rest is an important and beautiful reward God gives His people. If you feel you lack rest in your life, ask the Lord why. It could be something incredibly simple is hindering it. Ask for rest. You need it. Most likely, you want it. God wants you to have it. Get it!  Yesterday, I suddenly realized I felt bizarrely grumpy and took a moment to lay down. I lacked rest. All the things I wanted to do (there were many) would have to wait. I laid down but didn't sleep. It was still enough to gather strength for the rest of my day.  If you are God's soldier (and you are), allow time for...

Blogger is being weird with this one. Imagine that. The media attachment that was supposed to be here says, "God never gives us discernment in order that we may criticize, but that we may intercede." Oswald Chambers.  How often have you been given insight into something? It just came out of nowhere and there it is in your lap, looking at you like a lost puppy. What do you do? God gave you discernment or insight into something, and that is a gift. What did you do with it? You just went "huh" and went about your day? Did you say something? Think about it a while and then no more? I've done all of those.  Many times we take these things to that person or situation and work on them ourselves. I think that's okay but not the best way. If God absolutely tells you to go take that person into your home and take care of them or whatever, go do that. But, often the answer of what to do with that insight that ends up in our laps is to pray. Be humble about what God gav...

What is the purpose of abundance? When blessings come, what do we do with them? God doesn't give us things for no reason. If we are blessed in some way, we should seek Him about how to use those blessings. Maybe we have a talent that could enrich someone else's life. Maybe we have monetary wealth. Maybe we are blessed with extra time each day. Influence. Connections. Success. A teaching spirit. A listening ear. The gifts of the Spirit. Those are all wonderful, but they fall into our hands for a reason.  It's seems to be a two-part process: recognizing our blessing and using them. When I am blessed somehow, my first thought should be "Thank you, Lord," then my next thought should be to seek Him for how to use those blessings. I believe that is a way forward. Too often I feel stuck because I haven't recognized my many blessings and don't even think to use them properly. I pray my blessings turn into blessings for others. Amen.  Then there are the blessings w...

Some of us are given the gift of starting over. It may not look like a gift at the time. It may be a major catastrophe comes to your life or something to reset your focus and point of view. God can use those moments to get you into a better place with Him. It happened to me. This is a little more personal post, so please allow me a moment. I don't know how long I'm going to live. I gave my remaining days to God. What He does with them doesn't concern me. My job is to be faithful to follow.  Recently, I questioned something God did. It was a big thing and I had questions. And then I asked what to do next. When I brought it up, I felt in my spirit God answered to pick up a book I started reading months before (actually by the author quoted above and a rather dry book in my estimation at that time). It was a strange answer, but I got the book down and picked up where I left off. And then what I read a few pages later answered everything. It was like it jumped off the page. In ...

The following was sent to me quite some time ago. I don't know the book in question, but I believe the quotation is true. There is so much that is hidden from our mortal eyes yet visible in the spiritual. I believe that, just as God has a plan for each of us, the devil (counterfeiter that he is) also has a plan. It's up to us which plan we follow. Though we each have a God-created plan for our lives, not all will attain it. What separated those who did and didn't attain God's plan? I believe it comes down to obedience. We see David burst onto the stage and kill Goliath and wonder in amazement, but what we didn't see was how he grew in knowledge and faith while tending sheep. God will never give someone something big without first testing them with something small. David was tested. He was faithful. His obedience made him a man after God's own heart. This is something we can all have!  From the book from the English deliverance ministry: “It is clear from the scr...