A Trail of Breadcrumbs

I just finished reading a comment posted online... you gotta see it to believe it:
“Religion is a crutch for weak minded people. (period) Also, think about it. If 'god' came and took all the religious people off this earth think how nice the planet would be. No more terrorism, blue laws and children could get vaccinated for dangerous diseases. It would just be a much nicer place”
I’ve heard this argument time and time again, and it’s sad but it’s nothing new. It brings to mind the Scriptures: Romans 1:28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
The essence of this verse in today’s vernacular would probably go something like this; (God speaking)- You don’t want to realize all that I’ve done for you, and you audaciously want to see ME as the problem? Fine…Have it your way…I’m out!
Now the truth of the matter is (2 Peter 3:9) It is God’s will that none should perish
(not experience eternal separation from Him), which is the reason why He’s so patient.
Christians, we have been given the Blessed & Broken Bread of Life, not only for our own benefit, but for the benefit of those starving souls like the one mentioned above who just can’t see the truth of the matter……yet. Are you sharing your Bread? I personally believe that we’re in a day where it’s important to start leaving a trail of crumbs for those who will be scrounging for Truth once we’re gone….that’s one reason why this blog is here…online.

You Were Worth the Wait

It seems more and more often that the headlines are bringing tears to my eyes (really, real tears). And that wrenching sadness in my gut just screams what the Scriptures record in Revelation 22:20 “… Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.”

And there’s several verses that helps me see that its okay to feel disheartened about the state of the world today; “love not the world, neither the things that are in the world”1 John 2:15
as well as others. But the wind in my sails that makes me able to ‘occupy til He come’ is what Christ said in John 20:21 : ”Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.” and each day that we wake up still here on earth means something; Somebody who doesn’t know Christ is still worth the wait. Christ is still in the business of loving the unlovable, and through us He continues to ‘woo’ sinners to Himself.

Judgment is a horrible reality for those that die rejecting Christ and it’s inevitable….INEVITABLE. What if the end came 2 weeks before you accepted Christ?

You know why it didn’t?…you were worth the wait.

Prince of the power of the airwaves

This title is a play on words from Ephesians 2:2

‘Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:’

To keep scripture in its proper context, Ephesians 2 speaks to our deliverance from death to life through Christ’s redemptive sacrifice on the cross as a propitiation for the sins of the entire world.

Quick definition: Propitiation: its basically two words with one meaning; ‘satisfying sacrifice’.

In the Old Testament Jewish sacrifice system (sin offering, guilt offering, burnt offering and the peace offering.) sacrifices had to be repeated over and over again because the sacrifice wasn’t sufficient. Christ’s sacrifice of Himself satisfied God’s wrath in regards to man’s sin, once and for all.

Now verses 2 & 3 speak to how we once filled the desires of our flesh & minds just like a lot of people we now turn or noses up to…..can I talk about it?

Fact of the matter is this, there is an influence. Someone’s at the wheel with an agenda, driving this world to destruction. And if you doubt his direction…turn on the TV. So many perverted aspects of life. News isn’t even just straight news anymore, everything is on the spin cycle. So much drama that it’s simply pathetic. But what are we doing about it? Are you a positive influence for what you and your household are exposed to? Does your ‘water cooler talk’ boost the ratings of the prince of the power of the airwaves? or does it follow Colossians 4:6

“Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.”

In closing; All television is not all bad….but it definitely aint …..all good, and I don’t even need to mention the internet.

Love Songs

Hello all,
There are several books in the Bible that just don’t seem to get as much ‘airplay’ as others. The book of Revelation being one of the chart toppers, and if you’re not part of a couples ministry, the Song of Solomon is also on that list. But wait, I’ve got good news……we won’t be covering Revelation today.
I’m a bit older now and I don’t listen to secular radio as much as I once did. But from my secluded opinion, there doesn’t seem to be as much in the way of Love Ballads anymore, at least not to the degree that I remember. Names like The Commodores, Luther Vandross, Stevie Wonder, Teena Marie, Anita Baker, etc. Seemed like back then everybody had a favorite 'slow jam' and romance was nice, not profane.
Gary Chapman wrote a book entitled “The Five Love Languages”. And it’s interesting to see the evidences of the love languages in ‘Song of Solomon’, The 5 are: Words of affirmation, Quality time, Gifts, Acts of service & Physical touch. These same elements you see in a good love ballad and are also evident in the Scriptures as a whole. We’re all different, but one language appeals to you more than the others…which is yours?
Affirming Words – Phil 1:3 I thank my God upon every remembrance of you.
Quality Time – Heb 13:5 …he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee
Gifts – Rom 6:23 the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Acts of Service – John 10:15 …and I lay down my life for the sheep.
Physical touch – After the Marriage of the Lamb one of our greatest truths:
1 John 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is
Whichever your love language….God’s got a song for you.
Now get out there, learn some else's language and return the grace!

John 15:7 These things I command you, that ye love one another.

Happy Valentine’s Day.

What’s God’s credit score with you?

It’s not a stretch to admit that we live in a credit –based society. New information from the ‘Fed’ (Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve) is awaited with bated breath because of its affects on how banks loan money. And your personal financial ‘track record’ determines if you get the best rates…your ‘Trustworthiness score’. Trust me; this is not an economics lesson. I just wanted to point out that most of us are already involved in a faith-based situation where we don’t think twice about trusting the powers that be to act a certain way based on promises. ‘Regulation Z’ (also called the Truth in Lending Act) is the promise that protects you the consumer from getting ‘jilted’ in lending matters. And you trust that it will.

Not only was Jesus establishing the foundations of Christianity, fulfilling age old prophecies and teaching 12 men in particular (as well as many others) the tenets of a true relationship with the One True God…..He was building His credit …proving Himself worthy of unwavering faith in Him.

Here’s the Word. (from the Psalms)
34:80 taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.
37:25 I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.
37:40 And the LORD shall help them, and deliver them: he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him.

God has fulfilled more prophecies than statistics can compute: We see examples of his Faithfulness in His Word and the world around us. He would prove Himself just as worthy in your life…If you would just trust Him. What’s God’s credit score with you?

God would still be God; Worthy of adoration, praise and obedience even without promises of Heaven or widespread distribution of His ‘Truth in Lending Act’. And I don’t have to exegete the fact that God is far more trustworthy than the “Fed”.

Seen yourself in the mirror lately? Is it time for a faithlift?

Hello family,
There are more than a 'few' makeover shows on television and I'm not here to weigh in on if getting some work done is right or wrong (another word for another day). What I'd like to draw attention to, however, is the process:
People are viewing themselves in relationship to some sort of (internal or external ;to be 'normal' or to be 'happy') standard and their coming to the conclusion that they're not measuring up to the ideal of that standard. Now the fact that they don't meet this standard is such a pressing issue that they, in turn, conclude that SOMETHING MUST BE DONE!!!........you get me?

Here's the Word - James 1:22 -25
But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. 23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass (mirror): 24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. 25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

Here we see the Scriptures (' perfect law of liberty') related as mirror. When we look into THAT standard and see that we ALL are lacking in areas. Are we driven to DO SOMETHING? or do we walk away and forget about it 'in pursuit of happier thoughts'?

I know people who would contend that "God's not through with me yet" & "He does it in His own time." Yes, how true. But if you're obviously in need for some internal medicine by a God who specializes in reconstroctive surgery :), how much time are you spending in the Doctor's office?

Closing Word.
Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.


***The task ahead of us is never as great as the power behind us***

In Him,
Cros