...too small a thing...

Reality... Do you know what it is?

Fake News is now a term that is used everyday. Some stories are made up and some we might not like get labeled "fake news" so we do not have to believe them. Snopes has a web site that is well known for dealing with and debunking things that are not true. Now they have added a top 50 to their site so that they are dealing with the top fifty things that are going on in the news that people are struggling trying to decide if they are true or not. When I googled the term fake news there were 79 million references that Google found. So I asked myself what is reality? 

The definition of reality is: The world or the state of things as they actually exist. As opposed to the idealistic or notional thought of them. We are all aware that we can think things are one way when they are not really that way. We can think we are doing a great job at our work and be blindsided by being fired because someone did not like the way we did our job. We can feel unloved and like no one cares but the reality is many are there to support us if we just ask for a little help. We can think and believe many things that are just not so depending on the moment. 

Now you all know where I am going with this post. Is there a reality to your faith? Do you believe in your heart there is a God? Do you believe in the person of Jesus Christ and that He died on a cross for you? Do you believe that salvation comes this way into your life. Is this the reality that is most important in your life. 

Of is the reality that you do think and wish you knew for sure about God, the Bible, and wether or not these things are true. You want to believe them but your faith comes and goes. This is a reality you struggle with everyday. 

Learn a lesson from the fake news world. Most anyone can tell you that if you watch Fox News you will likely believe some things that CNN or MSNBC are saying is false. But if you watch the other two stations you may think FNN are a bunch of loony tunes. I am not here to settle that argument but I am here to state for sure that you will struggle with your faith unless you make God's Word your most important source of information. 

The Lord told us when He was on earth: 

33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. Matthew 6:33 NLT

This is a real bible verse. There is ink on the page that says this truth in every copy of the bible that you will pick up and read. But do you believe it? Our need to have the Lord in our lives is the greatest of all needs but do we realize this? 

It is easy to find something that will distract us from seeking God first. Most of the time it will be either ourselves or one of our family that will be the focus instead of the Lord. So just give it a moment of thought. What is your reality?

Getting "IT" Done...

Has your "get up and go," got up and gone? Do you find yourself full of good ideas that seem to be ready to burst forth, but they have been laying around on the top of your head for a while and they are rusted in place. I do not think you are alone in your plight.  Whatever "IT" is that you plan to do, no matter what the thing is that needs to be done, there always seems to be another something that suddenly becomes the thing you need to do right now, and so your "IT" changes.  So how do you get "IT" done? What is "IT?" I am not sure for you, but I bet you know the thing. You know the "IT" that needs to be done today in your world. And deep in your heart you know that you probably will not get to "IT", today. So maybe some blabber of ink you read on this page will help you along your path today to get "IT" done.

Some people are "list people" and they make a list and just determine that they will not rest until their list is done. This helps them to keep on track and not get deterred. I usually lose my list and the "IT" becomes making a new list.  But when they put "IT" on their list, they get "IT" done.

Some other people will not be deterred when they start something, and short of the house being on fire they will keep doing what they are going to do. You and an act of congress will not stop them from getting "IT" done when they get started. These kind of folk are sometimes very rude in the process, and they make some of us a bit annoyed as they seem self centered. They will often put you off to finish what they are doing. Do not keep them waiting even for a minute or two if you are trying to go somewhere important. Because people like this it seems if they were to finish what are doing they will start on something else and you will have to wait until that "IT" gets done too. 

Some people seem to have enough money (or credit) so they just pay someone else to do "IT."  Most of us just feel real guilty about this when we know we can and should do "IT" ourselves. 

Some others just know that "IT" needs to be done, but they never seem to care that "IT" needs to be done. So they just wait on someone else to do "IT."  Now for most of us we feel even more guilty if we do not get our own "IT" done, and someone else has to do "IT" for us. 

DRUM ROLL PLEASE...

Then there is the moment we reach deep within our being and boldly step out of our easy chair, and start on "IT."  Now we are rolling and and we are getting the job done. Once completed we stand back with great admiration and a deep sense of pride and think I did "IT," I finished "IT." 

And as you do so someone will inevitably cone along and say, "Hey that looks great can you do THAT for me?" 

So I do not know what the "IT" is that you need to do today. But with all of the good southern accent I can must I can muster, I will try to encourage you with this phrase,  "Git er Done."

 

 

The Voices of Today - Is Jesus Included?

Yesterday on a daily television show there were some voices that were saying words that influence people. And to some who are easily influenced the words they speak might seem to be true. They were openly questioning faith in the Lord Jesus. The show was "The View" and while I am not a watcher of the program there are things said that I have reviewed by way of a replay. I am a bit appalled by the things said. Here is a article with the clip if you want to see it.

Here are the words that were offensive to me, and they should be offensive to anyone who says they have a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.  Joy Behr is speaking about The Vice President of the United States. "

Joy Behar then said: “It’s one thing to talk to Jesus. It’s another thing when Jesus talks to you.”

Behar said hearing voices is a “mental illness” before Sherri Shepard offered a limited defense of Pence.

I think that a visit to the Scripture is the best answer for anything and especially this type of foolish ridicule of a man who takes a very public stand to acknowledge Christ as Savior. Take a look at what Jesus did say. This is written in the text that has survived over 2000 years. And I will state openly that the Lord has spoken to me through these words many times. ( I do not think I am mentally ill.)

8 “And I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man also will acknowledge before the angels of God, 9  but the one who denies me before men will be denied before the angels of God. 10 And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but the one who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. 11 And when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not be anxious about how you should defend yourself or what you should say, 12 for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.” Luke 12:8-12 ESV

Mike Pence is acknowledging Jesus before the world and I will trust that the Lord is going to hold true to what he has said. The Lord will speak a word of truth through Mike Pence or you if you will speak up too. The Lord will speak to you today and you will know it is him if you will listen.  When the Lord does speak to you  are you willing to speak up? The voices of today may be critical of you. But the fact is the Lord will speak through you. 

The problem so often is that people are so busy speaking that they are not listening to the Lord. In this silly television show the women were so busy trying to say something to make themselves look good they were not even listening to themselves. 

The words of a wise man’s mouth win him favor, but the lips of a fool consume him. Ecclesiastes 10:12 ESV 

Just Blame God - ????

When real bad stuff happens this is the path that some people take. There are sometimes events in the world that are just too gruesome to write about, or really even to talk about. Events that break hearts, destroy lives and scar people forever. Divorce, death, war, and tragedy are far too real, and we are all exposed to some things we cannot explain. 

People who are touched or experience such events sometimes begin to think, "If God is good, how could He let this happen." Do you see the problem with that thinking? It is found in the first word. If! You see God is good. All the time God is good. There is never a moment when something slips up on God. Nothing takes Him by surprise. So when awful or dreadful events occur in the world He knows. Some will say this makes the thought worse. How then can He allow it to happen? He can change things right? How then does He "allow" bad things. 

Put on your thinking cap with me for a minute. If He allows you, or me, or anyone to make decisions good or bad then He does really take a hands off approach to us and has given us "free will." You see God does allow things we do, to be what happens. People's choices are allowed by God.  If God controls things the bad things to stop them, then it would be that He only allows good things. Then we are merely puppets. This is the rational for saying that God does not control every single thing that ever happens. He allows us to do and to choose. If God controls "All" the bad then we are not really "free" to make any decisions. 

Man is wicked in so many ways. Bad things are a way of life in the world. How many of these bad things does God stop that we never really realize how close we were to danger, but God stopped it. Does He do this? We often say He does. People will often say, "The Lord was with me, or I would not have made it." We look to people who survive and proclaim God's goodness. 

But sometimes people do not survive. Sometimes there is tragedy and evil seems to win. So some will at this reality, blame God. 

Job answered this question during his horrible time of suffering. His wife told him to blame God. She told Job to curse God and die. But Job said this to her, 

But he said to her, "You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God and not accept adversity?" In all this Job did not sin with his lips. Job 2:10 NAS

Blaming God for the trouble in this world is never the correct answer. The real Truth is that Jesus made a path and gave to each of us a way to be in a relationship with an all powerful, all knowing, ever present, loving God. We are given this great Hope for eternity and this is the most dynamic and important thing in every human life. What God has done for us was to give us His great plan and perfect answer to the evil of mankind. You cannot blame God if you reject this reality. 

The circumstances of life cause us to see an awful lot of tragedy and pain. This makes a smoke screen that seems to hide God's goodness for some people who want to blame Him for bad stuff. God has made a way to leave this behind one day. I choose this Truth. I choose Jesus. And though I could never, nor could anyone ever, explain the bad and evil that we see, the good that is coming by our choice in life is not to be blamed on God. 

Going to Church?

It is Sunday so I what to ask you a question. Are you thinking about "going to church?" That is a phrase we would commonly say in the south. Later today someone my ask you, "Did yall go to church this morning?" You see "church" is a part of the culture in the south. But going to church too often has little to do with your relationship with God. You see you can go to church and see the people who who like, and avoid those who  you do not like. At church you can talk about sports, what you did on Saturday, or a thousand other things going on in your life and just ignore God. You will listen to a teacher or preacher a little and even open a bible and read the Scripture. 

But all these sort of church things are certainly not bad, but let me ask you the real question that is more important. Are you going to worship today? This phrase has become common too. Many mean the same thing by this as the previous question, "Are you going to church?" Or maybe they mean a little more specific that you are going to the "preaching service."  But I want to ask you to search your heart for a moment and answer the question when you go to the local church building this morning and enter to talk to friends and others do you think in the time you are there, you will submit in your heart your life to God? 

Will you attempt to realize who God is? Will you think about the love of Jesus Christ who is God in the flesh and submit in your heart and mind your life to Him? Will you have some time of submission of everything about you, to the will of the one who know you better than you know yourself? Will you Worship Jesus? 

Going to church does not mean you will automatically worship God? I hope that you do do go to church today but a million times more I pray that you will worship when you get there. Or maybe you need to start the worship NOW, and then go to church. 

Psalm 145:1-7

I will exalt you, my God the King;
    I will praise your name for ever and ever.
² Every day I will praise you
    and extol your name for ever and ever.

³ Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise;
    his greatness no one can fathom.
⁴ One generation commends your works to another;
    they tell of your mighty acts.
⁵ They speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty—
    and I will meditate on your wonderful works.^[b]
6 They tell of the power of your awesome works—
    and I will proclaim your great deeds.
⁷ They celebrate your abundant goodness
    and joyfully sing of your righteousness.