Friday the 29th

Philippians 4: 12-13

¹²I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. ¹³I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

TO have nothing and to have more than enough….success and failure, the two liars of our world. Success is viewed as having abundance, and failure is to have nothing….or not as much as the next guy. What a shallow, self serving, pointless way to define a life. The key to living is to understand that both ends of the spectrum are only temporary, they are just another season that will pass through our life. I do not know many successful people, who did not either start with nothing, or have had reversals that have brought them very low. Just the same, people with little means, but abound in dedication, drive, and determination can reach heights no one thought possible for them. It comes down to your focus. What is the centerpiece of your life? Where do you draw your strength? If you have to check your bank account each day to assure yourself that you are successful, you have missed the point. If you look at your feeble surroundings, and think that you will never amount to anything more than what you are now, you have lost before you started. It is the Peace of the Lord, the contentment of Christ that matters most. When Christ is at the forefront you realize that what matters is your heart, the measuring stick is not where you are, but where are you helping others get to in their life? Learn to embrace the current season you are in. strive for contentment, not the false euphoria of success, nor the lying whisper of defeat. We can do all things through Christ which strengthens us. There we will find the level path, devoid of the highs and lows that plague so many today. In Christ we are always content. HE is the beginning and the end of our needs. All encompassing, all sustaining, all loving, and ever faithful. The contentment of Christ is far better than any success we might attain in this life.

Peace,

Brian

Bigger fish to fry

Titus 3:9

 

⁹But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless.

 

You have bigger fish to fry! Monitor yourself for a couple of days, do you find yourself trapped, and sucked in to these types of useless conversations? You were meant for better things. You were placed here to answer a higher call. Make it a point to cut those conversations out of your day. They do nothing for you, and will only drag you down with the rest of the negative people. Oh I know that you might think, well ”just this once” or maybe “they are really asking for it” Don’t do it….it is a trap! These people want to drag you down to their level, they want to bring you down from the high places in your life so that they might feel more secure in their mediocrity. Do not allow your self to slip, and if you find yourself in that situation….find the closest door. The Lord has great plans for each of us. HE will use you to accomplish things that you thought you could not do. You will not be able to hear the call, or see the signs if you are caught up in useless, and unprofitable arguments! Let the dead bury their dead, you continue on to everlasting life. Follow the Lord, and you will find that the meaningless conversations will pass you by. You will find that there is not much to argue about, when you are talking to the Lord!

 

Peace,

Brian

 

 

Thursday the 28th

Philippians: 4: 8

 

 ⁸Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

 

Be careful of your thoughts because they turn to actions. Where we allow our mind to reside for the day will end up being the attitude we follow for the day. What better way to guard yourself from sin, than to meditate on the things listed in this passage. We all have a tendency to take the “low road” from time to time. It is easy to get caught up in the gossip of the day, or to follow along with the talking heads, and let the gloom and doom set in and ruin your heart. Don’t allow yourself to be one of the masses. Train yourself to look for what is right, what is pure, look for the excellence, not the sub-par! You are a child of God, a sibling to the Prince of Peace. You do not worry about the sky falling because you know that the Lord will hold the roof up until he returns! If you will spend your time focused on the pure, and the admirable, then you will find that you become more noble, more righteous yourself. We strive to find Christ in everyday life, we profess Christ crucified, we are victorious in the hardest fought battles of the soul. Focus on what is true, and noble. We wear the signet ring of the Lord, let out actions flow from our thoughts, let our thoughts be noble and praiseworthy!

 

Peace,

Brian

 

 

Strength for the day

Titus 2: 11

 

¹¹For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. ¹²It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age

 

Turning to the Lord is the first of many steps on the path to salvation. There is no doubt that turning to the Lord, and admitting then repenting of sin, is an integral step. Yet it is the first of many you will take. For once we start down that path, we must work to remain on it. It is by the grace of God we are saved, it is by that same grace we will find our strength to live a life worthy of the label Christian. The present age that Paul was referring to, is not much different than the age we find ourselves in today. We are all tempted daily by the ungodly, and by worldly passions that this world has to offer. Yet we know that the Lord will not allow us to be tempted more than we can endure. That being said, it is obvious that the Lord has more faith in us that we have in ourselves sometimes! It is important to remember that by the grace of God we were sent a savior, not because we deserved it, not because we earned it, but because we needed it, and God loves his people. Start your day with that truth. Wrap yourself in the understanding that with the Lord we can resist any temptation that this present world can throw at you. Nothing is impossible, but we have to make that choice, and we have to take that step. Will you take it? Will you allow yourself to live in the grace, and peace of God? That is where he wants you, safe and secure. There you will find the strength to say no to ungodliness, and live a godly life in spite the temptations of the present age.

 

Peace,

Brian

 

 

Wed the 27th

Philippians 4:6-7

 

⁶Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

 

The day the day, the pressure of the day! Are you familiar with that feeling that so often overcomes so many? The feeling of oppression that pushes down like a weight? The nervousness that come with your plate being so full that you need a bigger plate? How will you get it done, what will happen, where will you go next, what is expected??? That feeling of coming unraveled and your world might implode…….do you know the feeling I am talking about? Let it go! That is not how you were meant to live! There is one place that we should strive to wake and lay our heads down at night, and that is in the peace of God. The Lord will guard your heart, he will guard your mind. He will make the crooked path straight, but you have to have faith in him. Don’t spend your time wringing your hands and waiting for the other shoe to drop. Spend that time in prayer and petition. As the Lord for direction, for guidance, for understanding, and for PEACE. We all have jobs to do here, I am not suggesting that we lay our responsibilities aside, however, if you will start your day out in faith, and look for the Lords direction, instead of the direction that you THINK you need to go, you will find that peace that Paul is talking about. As Christ told us, today has enough worry of its own. Let us live our lives for the Lord, and live in his peace. It is there we will find the strength, the courage, and the direction we need to quiet our fears, and quell our anxiety. Trust in the Lord, give him thanks and praise for what you have. Let him direct your steps, and you will soon find that the day holds no pressure for you. You will find that today is the day that the Lord has made, let us give thanks and rejoice……not waste it with anxiety!

 

Peace,

Brian

 

 

Be reverent

Titus 2:3

³Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good.

 

Every time I read this I can’t help but think that there must not of been very many locker rooms in Paul’s day! I say that because this passage is not just about older women! We all need to be reverent, and not slanderous. Men have become just as bad (if not worse) as women on this subject. We have become a society that craves the latest gossip, regardless if the gossip is true (typically it is not). We each in turn end up slandering others, and dishonoring ourselves, and the Lord. Notice how Paul follows with addicted to much wine. It seems these two go hand in hand. People fall off into a bottle, and the slander becomes more jagged, and the truth becomes harder to find. This passage is really a call to each of us. We should be mindful of what we pass on as the truth, and we should be mindful of all of the excesses in our life. Be reverent, and teach what is good. Then there will be no need for explanation later.

 

Peace,

Brian

Tuesday the 26th

Philippians 3:20

 

²⁰But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ

 

 

There is a clothing line that you can find in many Christian stores the brand name is Not of This World. While the clothing is geared for the younger generation, the message is universal. Our citizenship is not of this world any longer. We work now for what lies beyond the grave. We labor for rewards that will not be tasted tomorrow. AS we come back to work today, and settle in to the grind; before the pressures of the day start to mount, and the workload starts to pile up, let us each reflect on the main point and purpose of our lives. TO bring glory and honor to the Lord. Let us start this week, and each day after, raising his name and his plan above all other things in our lives. Let us each recommit to serve the Lord first, others second, and ourselves third. AS we wait for our Savior, let us stay free of the thorn bushes, and the snares that lay in wait for us. Let us remember that we are working towards a heavenly goal, not a earthly one.

 

Peace,

Brian

actions not just words

Titus 1: 15-16

 

¹⁵To the pure, all things are pure, but to those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure. In fact, both their minds and consciences are corrupted. ¹⁶They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good.

 

Actions speak louder than words. We all have people in our lives that “talk a good game”, yet when it comes time to put those words into action they fall short of the mark. Yet we must at the same time remember that to the pure all things are pure. The pure can see the truth behind the action, and understand that all that happens is part of God’s plan. God does not make mistakes, nor is he a liar. We all go through seasons of change, or times of being uncomfortable, but we must remain among the pure, and recognize the opportunity to praise the God who gives, and takes away. To talk of Godly traits, and spout righteousness, then turn and act out of selfishness, and betray our words, is a blight to God. If our actions do not match our words, we become that which we despise. We become corrupted. We must live our lives with faith in Christ Jesus. As a result, we must be a living breathing example for the world to see. Christ gave us a living example to strive to follow. Let us all proclaim as Paul did, “follow me as I follow Christ”. Then our words will only be needed to reinforce our actions, the world will know us by our hearts, not by our mouth.

 

Peace,

Brian

Friday the 22nd

Philippians 3:12-14

 

¹²Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. ¹³Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, ¹⁴I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

 

Two things strike me about this passage. First, Paul makes it clear that we are not on a train heading to a specific point or station that we can see coming down the track. We are more like the runner that leaves the house and when asked how far they will run, they respond, I do not know. We are reaching out for our salvation; it is not a point on the map that when we arrive we say Ahhhh FINALLY! Our salvation is a progressive sanctification, we always have more work to do, and until the day we die, we must work towards that goal! Second, this reminds me to beware of the Christian “guru” we all know someone like that. The fella who believes that he has reached the pinnacle of his spiritual achievement, and can now sit back and tell others how to live. There is no perfection, only the race for it. There was only one perfect man…..and we nailed him to a cross. So are you riding a train, or going out for a run? I suggest the second. Lace up your Nikes and hit the path. Where it will take you, the Lord only knows for sure, but don’t stop running. There are many checkpoints along the way, but the finish line is at the feet of Christ!

 

Peace,

Brian

Rebellion

Titus 1:10

¹⁰For there are many rebellious people, mere talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision group.

 

 

A big problem in the early church….and one we still have today, is influence by outside forces. It is very easy to allow the rebellious to seep in and skew the churches progress. If it can happen at church, then it most certainly can happen at your home, your office, and your social circle. Each of us must remain vigilant when it comes to our hearts, and the hearts of those we love. A lie is often easier to believe than the truth. A lie is often easier to tell than the truth. It is a tool that the rebellious, the talkers and the deceivers have used for thousands of years; and we must be on guard for it. The devil does not have to get you to hate God to win. All he has to do is get you to turn away from the Lord. You do not have to follow Satan, just don’t follow the Lord. This is the point behind the rebellious, they creep in and work on doubt, and insecurity. We have to stand firm in faith, and not allow ourselves to become caught in the snare, more importantly, we have to help others see the folly for what it is; a diversion, a trap, and a step away from the Lord. Protect yourself, your family, your friends, and your church.

 

 

Peace,

Brian

Thursday the 21st

Philippians 3: 10

 

¹⁰I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death.

 

Sharing his sufferings and becoming like him in death……Of course Paul is not talking about dying in the physical sense, at least for him self. He is speaking about the death that comes to all of us spiritually. The death to sin. Christ did not die naturally, nor did he die, peacefully, or humanely. His life was ripped form his body one lash at a time, one fist at a time, and one nail at a time. It was a painful, and drawn out ordeal. Such is our death to sin. It is not like ripping a band-aid off. One quick rip and the pain is gone. We struggle, we have conflict, we suffer the loss of our old self, and if we are honest, while we are glad to be rid of it, shedding that old life can be difficult. We would do well to remember the death of Christ when we feel the calling of our old life, those old habits that try to creep back in, the old tricks of the trade that we used to exploit others, and advance ourselves. Remember the sufferings of Christ, remember the sacrifice that was made. Rejoice in the opportunity to use your life as a living example of the love of the Lord. Work to shed yourself of the old life. We are dead to sin, do not let the call of the old life call  you back. As Christ told us, once you put your hand to the plow, you cannot look back. Welcome the struggle, and the conflict that comes form separating yourself from this world, bury your old self as Christ was buried, so that each day is a new resurrection of your mind, and spirit. Let us live triumphantly as people dedicated to the power, and the fellowship that is Christ Jesus.

 

Peace,

Brian

 

 

Alone? I think not!

2 Timothy 4:16-17

 

¹⁶At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them. ¹⁷But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion's mouth.

 

 

Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you just knew you were right, and that all of your friends would support you, and back you up on that point; only to find that when the time came you were left alone? You look over your shoulder thinking that everyone will be there, and you see no one! Don’t you hate that feeling at that moment? You know, where your mouth goes dry, and your stomach drops all the way to the floor like you are on a carnival ride! I can promise you that it will happen again! Humans are….well….human! We all get caught up in our own world from time to time, and we just don’t show up for our friends, and family. I wish I could say it does not happen, but it does. At our time of need we will be let down sometimes. But pay careful attention to the last part of the first verse, and the second verse. We have that same promise, we have that same hope. While our friends might leave us high and dry every now and again, there is always one constant. There is always one thing we can count on, and that is the Lord. Do not hold it against people who did not come to your defense…..I will let you in on a little secret, you have let someone down as well. Someone has depended on you, and you did not show up. So do not hold it against them for the same crime you are guilty of! Take strength, and find your courage in the fact that the Lord is ALWAYS by your side. You never go into battle alone. Depend on him, call on him, make yourself holy so that he might delight in your happiness, and sustain you through your struggles! The Lord will deliver you form the lions mouth as well. HE is the one person you can count on to show up, for he has never left your side!

 

Peace,

Brian

 

 

Wed the 20th

Philippians 3: 8

 

⁸What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ.

 

By today’s standard this has to be viewed as one of the most ridiculous statements ever written. Give up everything? All material things are rubbish? This is exactly why it is so important for us to go out and spread this message. Yes knowing Christ is like finding that pearl, then hiding it in the field and selling everything you have to buy the field. Christ is not something that we want to have, or would be nice to have. You HAVE to have Him! Without Christ, we have nothing. No matter what else you might possess. Without Christ as the foundation it will all be washed away in the first strong storm. I cannot do justice to the concept of life without Christ; it has become an unimaginable death sentence that I do not want to entertain. Today, so many are content to go to church on Sunday then call it a week for the Lord! Sorry that is not going to cut it. AS I see people on the street, as I drive in my car, and see people passing in such a hurry to get to the next destination, I cannot help but feel true grief, sadness fills my heart at the thought that these people I am looking at all might not make the trip into eternity. They have put Christ on the back burner, or have allowed the struggles of the day to turn their faith into a lukewarm careless association with life. We have to not only realize for ourselves, but also go out and profess that a life without Christ is no life at all. Each day we let pass without Christ as our focus, is a day we have handed over to the devil. All is rubbish when compared to Christ; Let that be our battle cry for the day, and our mantra to pass on to all who will listen.

 

Peace,

Brian

 

 

itching ears

2 Timothy 4:3

³For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.

 

Many would say that we are at that time now. People do not want to hear what they are supposed to do…unless it means they do not have to change anything. That is why all of this new age religion is going over so well. It is the same as the Gnostics back in Paul’s time. DO what feels good, do what you want…..People want to find something that they can put their faith in, but they want to mold that faith around their life, instead of molding their life around their faith!  This passage should be a two-fold call to everyone. First we have been given a blueprint for our lives, it is the bible. If we will take the time to put God squarely into our day He will continue to give us guidance. Second do not allow yourself to become the person who professes what everyone wants to hear. We are called to the great commission; we are to carry the Word of God to all the nations. We are not to shape it to meet our needs, or manipulate it for our gain. Guard yourself against the teachers of false doctrine, but most importantly do not let yourself become ensnared by the easy way out. Do not change the Word to suit your life, change your life to suite the Word!

 

Peace,

Brain

 

 

 

 

Tuesday the 19th

Philippians 2:16

¹⁶as you hold out the word of life—in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing.

 

It is important to keep in mind when reading this scripture that the phrase “hold out” is “epecho” meaning to “hold upon”, or to “hold on to” and the “word” is “logos” as in the spoken word (Strong’s Hebrew and Greek dictionaries). So Paul is urging the Philippi to hold dear the spoken word of God. Why do I point this out? Because it is so important for us to be still and listen for the Lord. Psalm 27 tells us : Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD Psalm 38 tells us: I wait for you, O LORD; you will answer, O Lord my God.” The Lord speaks to us, HE uses His spirit to give us direction, and guidance. We have to hold on to that word. It is the living breathing Word of God. You hear it in prayer, you hear it while reading scripture, you hear it in the times in your life when you get quiet and wait….. For many of us the Lord comes on like a freight train at first, He hits us over the head with all of His grace, and love, like a sledgehammer driving a 16 penny nail!…..a lot of us need that moment to break free of this world;  but once we are given to Christ, once we start down the path with him, we must remember to listen. He will flood us with love, He will show us where we need to go, and what we need to do, He will keep in constant contact if you will stay in constant search of Him. When He speaks, hold on to the Word, hold on to the direction, not only to honor all of those that have gone before us, but to give praise, and glory to the living God! It is in the Word that we find peace, hope, and love, there we will find the strength we need for the day. So hold on!

 

Peace,

Brian

 

 

Monday the 18th

Philippians 2: 12

 

¹²Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling

 

So often today we like to gloss over the image of God. What I mean by that is the Lord is not a God of half measures. While life is good to bask in his love, grace, and glory. Soaking it all up like rays of sun that warm our bodies, but we don’t like to talk about the alternative. I know there has been much talk about how we do not need to beat Christians over the head with fear, and honestly I have to agree, faith gives you eternal life not fear of hell. Yet it is that exact picture that is neglected when we talk of the Lord. Yes coming to Christ is a wonderful experience, yes, your life will improve, and you will see a marked difference when you finally let Christ in to your heart. However, for us to leave the consequences off when talking to non-believers, and believers alike is to rob them of the full picture of the love of Our Lord. To leave off the aspect of eternal damnation, and the full wrath of God, is to leave the impression that God is indifferent. Make no mistake about it, He is NOT indifferent. This is why Paul urges to continue the work of salvation with fear and trembling. Not to save ourselves from damnation, but because the thought of an eternal life without the love of God in it is a fate worse than any hell fire or brimstone. We must remember from time to time that even the most devout can fall. To love the Lord is righteous, to have faith in Christ is imperative, but to lose the love of the Lord, or to never allow that love in to your heart is unimaginable. That is the pain of a thousand deaths, and the never-ending eternity of hell. A point that must be heralded from time to time to believers, and non-believers alike. So I remind us all that yes the love of the Lord is a great thing, we should tell all we can reach about it, but let us not forget the depths of that love, and the pain that can and will come from turning our backs on it; or allowing others to believe that it does not exist!

 

Peace

 

Brian

Friday the 15th

Joshua 24:15

…….But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.

I love music a couple of songs that I really enjoy sum this thought up. So I thought I would include a few lines

“You’re gonna have to serves somebody, it might be the devil, or it might be the Lord, but you are going to have to serve someone.” Bob Dylan

“Is this one for the people is this one for the Lord, or do I simply serenade for things I must afford. You can jumble them together, but the conflict still remains. Holiness is calling in the midst of courting fame.” DC Talk

The one question that you must answer each and every day, the question that will decide your attitude, your outlook, your position in life, and your path for the day. It is a very simple question……who will you choose to serve? We all want fame, and the recognition that comes with a job well done. We want the pat on the back, the raise, the promotion. On one hand there is nothing wrong with trying to better your life, but on the other hand you have to make sure you are serving the Lord first, and yourself third. Money is not the root of all evil, but love of it is. Who are you going to serve today? How will you decide to impact the world around you today? Will you buy in to the tripe that says that you must put yourself first, or will you make a trail for others to follow, and show the world all the things that can be accomplished when you work for the Lord? Who will you serve? As for me, and my household, we will serve the LORD!!!

Peace,

Brian

Thursday the 14th

Philippians 2: 5

 

⁵Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus

 

Quite a calling there! This very much reminds me of when the teacher told me that “ I was not living up to my potential” or when my Mom told me not to eat a lot of sweets. I know they were right….they still are right today, but that does not make it any easier to do! The same can be said about our attitude. We know we do not always have the best attitude….ok often we have a bad attitude. We know it, we identify it, but we do not change it! Why would we not make the change if we can see it right in front of our face?…… Because it is hard, because it takes sacrifice, and you will end up putting yourself at risk to make that change. All big reasons not to make that leap of faith, all the more reason to swim with the pack and make life easy for yourself. There is one small problem with that attitude, it is not the attitude that Christ had…..that is not the attitude that he wants from us. Paul is reminding us to look to Christ as the example, and that is the best example you can find. Don’t look to your friends, don’t look to Oprah, don’t look to your political leaders. There is only one attitude to emulate, the attitude of the one that stands nothing to gain from us following Him. The attitude of Christ. He loves each one of us, and that is his drive to help up, to protect us, and to strengthen us. There is nothing that we can do for him, that He cannot do for Himself. We need Him, He does not need us. Mirror the attitude of the one that loves you best, emulate the attitude of Christ.

 

Peace,

Brian

 

 

 

Love and Paitence

2 Timothy 4: 2

 

²Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.

 

 

How should we encourage, and rebuke? With great patience and careful instruction. Sitting in judgment, damming people to hell, telling people that they will get anything their heart desires….these are reckless ways to profess the Word of God. It is reckless for all parties involved. The person needing the help typically will be pushed away. Who could blame them? Who would want to follow a God that allows its followers to spit forth hate, and exclusion? It is reckless for the person trying to help because they become the hypocrite that they hate. Christ did not come for the righteous, he came for the sinners, and that is who we are looking for as well.  We must be careful when we try to help; we have to make sure that we are not actually hurting! It does take great patience, and it does take careful instruction. It most of all takes understanding and the knowledge that we are all the same. We are cut form the same cloth, we are all precious in the eyes of the Lord. When we judge others, we judge ourselves; it is though love that we all will be healed. It is with love that we will conquer the darkness of this world. The love that Christ showed us defeated death! We have that same love to give, imagine the possibilities if we all were to put forth that love instead of the judgment, and hate that come so easy! The darkness would not stand a chance! Take the time to show patience, and love, and let that love provide careful instruction!

 

 

Peace,

Brian

 

 

Tuesday the 12th

Philippians: 3 1-2

 

 ¹If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, ²then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.

 

If you even have an inkling of what it is like to walk with Christ, it will change your life. That is what Paul is telling the people. If you even kind get it, please be like minded, love, and be one in spirit…….So does that mean that all of the people who go to church every Sunday, yet spit venom, and incite strife and struggle all the rest of the week are lost? I hate to say it but, yes, yes they are. It is our job to make sure that first we do not allow ourselves to become like that. This is why Paul calls for us to love, and be one in spirit and purpose. It will keep us unified instead of tearing us apart. Yet we need that cohesive bond between us so that we might not forget about those in the church that are lost. Church….or life is not about going around patting each other on the back and telling each other what a great job they are doing. Liars, love liars, thieves love thieves. It is easy for the Christian to love the fellow Christian. It is our duty though to love the lost, to love the sinner (are we all not sinners). This is why we need to be united in purpose, love, and mind. We work in the name of the Lord, through Him all things are possible, in him we all find purpose.

 

Peace,

Brian

 

 

Your time Your Choice

2 Timothy 3: 16-17

 

¹⁶All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, ¹⁷so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

 

How often have you found yourself in uncharted waters? How often do you find yourself asking why me? There is a place that you can find solace, and direction. Most likely it is right under your nose. It is tucked away on a bookshelf, or maybe on a side table. Yet the answers are there waiting for you to uncover them. Of course I am talking about your Bible. So often we turn on Oprah, or grab the latest self-help book, when all we really need to do is open up the one book that holds the truth. Spend some time daily with the Lord. Oh I know, you do not have enough time……. www.biblegateway.com put it in your book marks. Instead of reading the gossip rag, click and read the Word of God. Instead of burning that extra time playing solitaire, search the scriptures for the answers you are looking for. We all have some time tucked away somewhere. We can choose to burn that time or we can utilize it for the betterment of our lives. The choice is yours. Which will it be?

 

Peace,

Brian

 

 

Monday the 11th

Philippians 1: 27

 

²⁷Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel.

 

The end of this verse really says a lot. Contending as one man for the faith of the Gospel……The battle really starts and ends with you. None of us are perfect. Those of us that are searching for the Lord realize just how imperfect we really are. Yet the choice remains and is presented to us daily. What is the attitude that we will project? Will we stand firm in one spirit? Will we have a Christ like attitude, and while we know that we will never be perfect, will we try to put for the attitude of Christ anyway, or will we join the masses on the sideline, and say that it is too hard? Will we strive to let the light of Christ radiate from us, or will we cover that light with a bowl, and only brining it out on Sunday when we know it is safe? Choose to stand firm! Choose to put Christ first in your life, and be a living example of faith in the Gospel. Just one person can make a difference. Just one person can be the difference between a spark of light, and darkness. All it takes is one spark, will you be that light?

 

Peace,

Brian

 

 

Persecution

2 Timothy 3: 12

¹²In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,

 

Folks it is going to happen. When you head out to the fields to work, it is not a question of IF you will get dirty today, it is a question of HOW dirty will I get today! When we make the commitment to follow Christ, when we make that turn in our life, and quit chasing all of the earthly things that always leave us empty…..we change. Oh it might not be a HUGE change on the outside, but it will be noticed, and when it is noticed, you will get grief from at least one person in your life…..honestly it will most likely be more than one! You will go from being a “normal” person to some kind of Jesus Freak. Well all I can say to that is LET YOUR FREAK FLAG FLY! Expect it, even welcome it; when people do not understand something they attack it. The world did not understand Christ, and they killed him. Do not let others dictate your spirituality? Do not worry about the flack you will catch, there will always be sideways looks, and raised eyebrows from those that do not understand, if you thought they were your friends you will see them for what they really are, and for the true friends in your life, well they will still be there, as a matter of fact do not be surprised to find out they are welcoming you to the group! Expect the persecution, revel in it, wear it as a badge of honor, I would rather be hated for loving Christ, than loved for loving this world!

 

Peace,

Brian