A look into a life being changed by Christ

Drifting Away from fellowship and Church

You see it around Easter and Christmas. The church population grows a bit. Believers who do not fellowship come to assemble with other Christians to worship and pay tribute on those special days. I will describe the scene across the world’s churches. The pastor of the church looks out over the crowd and smiles and exclaims "I wish we had a crowd like this every Sunday". The next week the crowd is markedly smaller. A few individuals and families come back for a few weeks or months. A small number of folks may even become members; then, some begin the drift away.

 

 

 

What’s the problem then? We, the regular members of our churches need to look no further than the nearest mirror. Members of churches are so ingrained in their duties to the fellowship body they are "short’ with new folks who try to engage them in conversation. We are about 60% of this drifting problem. Are we putting our best foot forward to keep folks in fellowship? Perhaps that "best" foot forward is the problem. We are careful to show the non fellowshipping Christian, or undecided soul the path to a spiritually alive life and we demonstrate how a Christian is supposed to live by example. We give them; sermons, prayer, the passion of Christ DVD, wisdom, telephone calls, help with food, help with children, books to read, devotionals to listen to, conferences to attend, fellowship dinners, small groups, bible studies, group trips to Christian concerts. ALL great things that every church should do….alas…they drift away.

 

 

 

Perhaps we have forgotten something…

 

 

 

This goes specifically for those who were blessed enough to grow up in home that echoed the precious words and songs of our savior.

 

 

 

If you did not grow up in a Godly home, but found salvation I will remind you.

 

 

 

Folks who do not fellowship are either disenchanted with church, non believers, or the spiritually confused. We have got to start being real y’all! If we portray ourselves as one who zips through life with no struggles in our Christian walk we are inadvertently being a little bit deceitful. We are also displaying a life that seems impossible to live up to by the non churched individual.

 

 

 

DO you really want to gain a church member?

 

 

 

Start by being open.  I believe that one of the first things we should do is discover who the new person is through conversation. Once we gain some insight on the person’s life we need to be open about ours! Common since and the ability gauge personalities are vital here. If you are raised in church and life wasn’t that bad of a struggle you may want to pair the new person off with someone who struggled with sin in the past.

 

 

 

 

 

Commonality is key!! If the person is a partier you may want to talk about your beer bashing days and point out how it was wrong. You might even want to bust out the picture of you passed out on the couch with the kiss t shirt on with a beer cans all over the place. Share your thoughts! Tell them of your PAST and current struggles. Tell them about the grace of Christ! Tell them they are saved forever if they believe in Christ. Make sure they know that after salvation sin still has consequence in their present life….even consequence unrelated to the sin committed.

 

 

 

Some just do not understand that Christ died for sins past, present, and future. Once someone has believed and the Holy Spirit has occupied them the individual has to become incredibly black hearted through the self decision of their free will to loose salvation. Once someone knows the truth they are changed for life and the ability to be evil is diminished greatly.

 

John 10 verse 27 to 30

 

 

 

27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. 30 I and the Father are one.

 

 

 

I was the one who was un churched. I was the one who visited a church and saw all the "clicks" engaged in conversation, NONE bothering to pause for a minute to extend the common courtesy of a hand shake to a new comer. Do you have any clue how awkward it feel to come to church as a single man who is alone and not knowing anyone? Do you know how it feels to try to start a conversation with someone and you get the feeling you are distracting them from their "church job" and conversation with their fishing buddy.

 

 

 

Do you want more folks in your fellowship? Do you want to increase the Harvest of souls for Christ? 

 

 

 

Read this blog twice then.

 

 

 

Christ’s Servant,

 

 

 

Thomas

Worry...A look into a time wasting problem!

Worry is one of my very worst strongholds. Planning ahead can quickly turn into plain ole’ fashioned worry if you ain’t careful. 

My definition of worry is (a planning thought gone into hyper drive).  

Worry is like a crashing airplane that never hits the earth, the horrible feelings of impending doom resound constantly without the finality of “the crash” the plane is eternally crashing, it never ends…it is self torture!!!! 

Please stop! 

I struggle from time to time with worry even now, but my walk with Christ has eased this enormously. 

Worry is an enormous waste of time. 90% of the things we worry about never come to pass. If we worry enough we can think bad things into existence. If we worry about having a bad day, then we probably will have one!  Worrying accomplishes nothing because the situation typically has not come to pass yet; and if it has, little can be done to un-do what has come to pass when you just sit and fret! Worry can weaken your mind enough to where the evil one can start flipping switches and influencing your thoughts…YIKES!! 

Yes, you can actually worry yourself sick. You can also be worried to death! 

“Well brother Tom…what do I do then” 

Pray about the situation and admit to Christ that you have fallen victim to worry and doubt.

 

Get to work! 

Worrying never gets anything done, if you are worrying it is a sure sign that it’s time to get something done. 

If the situation is in physical existence, and if you can, and if it is safe and will not cause harm get off your tail and run to the problem if it is possible. Face it! 

If the situation has not come to pass yet or if it is unsafe to confront the situation,

do not give the opportunity for Satan to create turmoil. 

Pray until you have prayed! Under girding the situation in prayer helps enormously!

Give the situation to Christ. No, you don't bring it to Christ and leave it, that won't work. No, all the thoughts won't go totally away, BUT Christ can take the load off. His yoke is easy! What this means is he will take the weight off so that the load is lighter..."his yoke is easy! Walk in freedom!
 

Matthew 11 (Today's New International Version)

 

28 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
 

Some other tidbits 

Worry in the dictionary it is defined as… 

1. to torment oneself with or suffer from disturbing thoughts; fret.

2. to move with effort: an old car worrying uphill.

–verb (used with object)

3. to torment with cares, anxieties, etc.; trouble; plague.

4. to seize, esp. by the throat, with the teeth and shake or mangle, as one animal does

5. to harass by repeated biting, snapping, etc.

6. a worried condition or feeling; uneasiness or anxiety.

7. a cause of uneasiness or anxiety; trouble. 

A word from the bible on worry 

Matthew

6: 25

to 34 (Today's New International Version)

Do Not Worry

25 "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?     28 "And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in his entire splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

A Video

It was time for a change...Christ tapped me on the shoulder

Have a look at this short video

I have no riveting story to tell. I have lived a decent, GOD SHELTERED life. No near death experiences, nothing spectacular.  Their have been many incidents in my life where I have been protected by the hand of God.  I'll illustrate one occurrence and then I will press on with this article.

In the ancient days of my youth my cousin and I always played in the church yard across from my grandmother’s house.  One day I was in a live oak climbing it like any 11 year old.  I fell about 10 feet straight down and planted on my wrist.  The pain shot through me like red hot lightning.  I freaked!  I kept thinking my parents were going to be angry.  Time passed, the pain subsided, and the little swelling that started went away in days.  No broken bones. 

I'm a different man than I was 5 years ago.  No manifestation of miraculous proportions.  I was just prompted by the familiar inner voice of the Holy Spirit to think about how I have never been allowed to crash and burn in the failures of my life. I have always survived to fight another day.

I have learned that being a Christian isn't about a church dress code, or wearing the best clothes to church.  It's not about running laps around the sanctuary and jumping pews because you were "touched by the spirit".  It's not about tithing 10 % and above when you have to buy fuel to get to work for the next week and food to sustain life. 

Being a Christian is knowing the love, grace, and forgiveness of our Savior.  In return for what Christ does for us he wants us to do the same for each other. It is NOT religion...NOT EVEN CLOSE!  Praise the Lord!! I have discovered that being a Christian isn't as big of a choir as it was presented to me in my youth.

I was more or less disappointed by the church where I found Christ as a youth in the early 80's. I went to an alter call after the service and I knew I was changed and that I wasn't "alone" anymore.

The church I attended was a religious type of  fellowship; in other words, they put their own spin on a whole bunch of rules and stipulations in how one was to live their life  No television, short hair cuts for the guys, long hair for the girls, no jewelry, ect. There was a trip to Disney World (imagine that) hosted by the church I attended.  I think my Mom and I both contributed to the fund.  I approached someone about the trip and I was told, "You can't go to Disney World unless you have spoken in tongues". Further more they said, unless you have spoken in tongues to PROVE you had the indwelling of the Holy Ghost, you are doomed to hell".  I was 13 years old; I had some bad feelings about church and fellowshipping for a long time.

After an 18 year absence at age 31 I came back to fellowshipping with other Christians. I am still learning and growing in the Lord.  I am a work in progress.

There are a few I'd like to thank that clarified my view on organized fellowship.

Family Worship (

Pensacola

,

Florida

): This was first church I have ever felt comfortable in.  I was assured that what I experienced as a youth was un-scriptural. They lovingly showed me the path to return home to Christ, and I was reunited with the presence of God.

I loved the folks at Family Worship, but the majority of the congregation tended to be against contemporary worship.

Harvest

Outreach

Church

(

Pensacola

,

Florida

):  I was captivated by the contemporary worship; the flow of Christ's love was WIDE OPEN there.  The outward focus and the LOVE of this church were AMAZING!  The come as you are atmosphere provided a feeling of belonging.  This is where I was baptized, and thanks to the evangelism and agreement in prayer I overcame my cigarette addiction.  Thank God for fellowship at Harvest!

God had answered a prayer for me and gave me turbo charged motivation to focus on the restoration of my home.  I over did it and focused too much. It monopolized all of my time. I drifted from fellowship for about 9 months.

Christian

Life

Church

(

Milton

,

Florida

):  This is my present place of fellowship and worship. I wanted a church closer to home where I could serve the Lord more effectively. I look forward to the blessings that I know will flow from this church.  I am stoked about the future of this church and ready to serve!

Churches like the ones I mentioned above exist all over... all you have to do is find it, then again the right church for you will probably end up finding you.  Don't give up on fellowship; Jesus is the greatest love you will ever know!

Christ's Servant,

Thomas

 

Leaving the "old person" behind to change for the better

I am Thomas, and that's good enough for Jesus. The best decision I have ever made in my life was my decision to follow Christ. If you truly follow Jesus you know that it is not about being better than your neighbor. I do not profess to be a learned man, nor do I claim to be above anyone. One of the gifts that have been given to me is this ability to write about my changing life and my savior. 

The purpose of this article is to show I'm a work in progress, all of us are "in progress" one way or another. I'm not claiming to be a preacher, nothing special here to show. I'm just a man doing what his creator motivated him to do. I'm a man in the middle of changing for the good. The thing that has been placed on my heart tonight is to show my struggles with leaving the "old person" behind.   

Old person = the person I was before walking closer with Christ. 

Many get discouraged after giving their lives to Christ; the thief "SATAN" waits to steal the seed. After church folks return to their cars, cigarettes on the console with the lighter near by. When they crank the car the radio is tuned to garbage. Before they get a block away they are being attacked by Satan. After a few days many give in. Little did they know salvation still belonged to them, all they needed to do was confess the mistakes, and learn to turn away from the sin. They didn't understand that Christ died for all sins, past, present, and future. They have forgotten, or know little about grace.  As soon as someone at your fellowship is saved please talk to them about this! 

Some of us give up on leaving the old person behind. Instead of going back to Christ to confess our wrong doing and asking for strength we anguish in guilt. We try to take on things on our own power without the benefit of Christ sharing the yoke to help pull the load. By ourselves we are futile in trying to change the old person. 

Matthew 11:30 (New International Version)

30.) For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

Christ will share the yoke with you!  He takes the load off!

I'll use an illusration.

Ever have a car break down? Remeber when your buddy started helping and the load got lighter? In a way similar Christ helps us.

How do we get to that point of giving up?  What happened to that feeling of elation after the church service? Why do you wake up stressed out before your feet hit the floor and feeling like you've been in a bar fight? Why do we let worry tear us up in our dreams and waking moments? We are listening to Satan. Satan is a LAIR!  He convinces you that you are doomed because you've made a mistake in your walk.

Satan is the perpetrator of worry and anger.

He is the one that gives the single finger salute in traffic jams.

He is the one that makes the snide hateful remarks in the lines at the grocery store when the new cashier is struggling with her new job.

He is the one that says "take it, after all my employer is rich and I haven't got the raise I deserved". 

My weaknesses that are healing: 

I get upset sometimes when things don't go just right, I get frustrated too easy.   

I worry about my past mistakes that people can point at.   

I think about lying to get my way. 

I often worry others will think I am weak…plain old pride ! 

Those are just a few weaknesses I have.

 

Tell you what…. 

Leave a comment! While you leave a comment, identify a weakness that bothers you and I will under gird it in prayer. Those who see the weaknesses identified should also pray for that person. God has you reading this article for a reason. I am doing what God told me to do, you do it too! 

Respond to this and watch Christ work in your life!

 

Christ's Servant, 

Thomas

A definition of Prayer...you know how?...my friends pray until you have prayed. ( a revised-improved) repost

Your comments are welcome; however, they will not post immediately. I have to screen them first before they are posted. Please leave your comments if you wish.

This subject of PRAYER has been on my mind lately.   I feel a burden make this my blog this to you this evening.

In my walk with the Lord I have learned some eye opening things AND STILL LEARNING about prayer.  I would like to share them in this blog.

(A quick history lesson before I proceed)

When Christ the son of God 100% FLESH 100% GOD was sent from heaven to the Earth to become human flesh he endured ridicule, rejection, disbelief, ect. The list goes on for miles. He died, nailed to the cross, killed by man.  During his fleshly life the greatest hero OF ALL TIME constantly prayed to the father "God" and gave him praise. Upon his flesh death Christ took our sin upon him.  He took God's wrath of sin upon mankind with him to the grave.  From that point our sins are gone past, present, and future.  Greatest of all Christ defeated death three days later.

ALL WE NEED TO DO IS: BELIVE IN CHRIST, CONFESS OUR SINS TO CHRIST, AND REBUKE OUR SIN. 

 

Prayer is the communication done through Christ who is the advocate for us to the father "God".  Our Prayer is a constant communion with the Lord done in a myriad of ways. In other words, have the Lord on your mind at all times. 

Some examples:

· Give thanks for the little things within the daily routine.

· Talk to the Lord while driving, walking, ect, “without closed eyes”. ha!

· Give thanks for those cool little miracles.

· When worries cross your mind, lift a brief prayer to God.

· At tense moments ask him to strengthen you.

God wants us to rely on him and to cast our troubles upon him.

Quoting Pastor Paul Stanley: Christ has told us "take my yoke upon you, my burden is easy".  Giving your trouble to Christ doesn't mean to run to him and download your entire load.  Christ can't live our flesh life for us, but he can make the burden easier.  He can share the yoke and help you tow your burden.  Thats why he says my yoke is easy! 

We are the children of God, as a child needs his or her father, we need God! I've walked far from God in my life. Please believe me, there is nothing like being spiritually alive and speaking directly with Christ.

We should try to change up our routine prayers; an example would be the way we give pre meal thanks, ect. Doing this ensures that we are focused on the subject at hand, and it helps us to avoid it becoming a monotonous religious method.

 

If by chance this falls upon the eyes of a non-believer; or a not so sure person, confess that you believe he died for your sins and ask Jesus to remove the stench of sin from your life.  As you grow in the word and communication with the Lord you will see first hand that this is truth.

God is our friend.

Like we talk to our friends, God wants us to speak TO HIM as a friend, “with Godly respect of course”.

James

2:23

(New International Version)

23And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness," and he was called God's friend.

Our prayer identifies us as belonging to the Christ.

The evil one is crushed when we communicate with Christ.  We are the children of a king; our prayer identifies us as such!

We pray to intercede in other Christians lives. AGREEING IN PRAYER IS VITAL. 

Matthew, chapter: 18, verse 18 to 20.

18"I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.  19"Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.

Eyes closed?

I had the misconception that you had to have your eyes closed in order to speak to God, I've learned better since then. We should always try talk to God as much as possible; busy, or not. 

Eyes should be closed during quiet time, during deep meditation, and when you are in focus and reverence to the Lord to remove distractions.

This subject is ever expanding as a Christians walk through their lives. I think we all need to constantly hone or prayer activities as our life situations change.

Your comments are welcome

 

Christ's Servant,

Thomas

 

 

 

The kids are alright...not so fast my friends...

 

The thoughts below crossed my mind Thursday morning.

 

I passed a bus stop.  Several kids and...well...about 4 adults.  Sad!

 

The condition of this world is degrading friends!  We can't even let our children stand alone with their friends to catch a school bus for 10 minutes.  The contrast of the years gone by is sobering folks.  This ain't scientificly researched, but I think it's pretty accurate. Contrast between say... 1987 and 1957, they weren't too different as far as the moral condition were they?  Compare 1987 with 2007....is enough said?   The gap of moral degeneration and society change between 1987 and 2007 is the same as between 1917and 1957.  The pace of this is frightening and astunding!

 

We are zipping right along.....double time!  The deteriorating world has caught up with us.  We better get busy people!

 

At ten years old my freedom went as far as my bike and energy would let me.  I could go HOURS unattended without my momma worrying about some sicko approaching me.  The only worrys on my ten year old mind was where I was going to build my next fort, and keeping the chain tight on my bicycle. That went ALL THE WAY UP TO MIDDLE SCHOOL! 

 

I think it's sad to see the kids seated in front of the television, controller in hand, and the mp3 blaring away in the ears.   They are pale skinned and unhealthy looking.  Sad! Don't get me wrong I like video games too, but IT'S TOO MUCH.  This inactivity has caused the following modern conditions.  I will note the real causes below.

 

ADD: aka: "Another Disillusioned Diagnosis"

 

HYPERACTIVE: aka: "Not Enough Activity"

 

This is caused by a severe lack of activity in children AND adults.  All children aren't the same and some need to have INTENCE PHYSICAL activity during free time in order to chill out during quite focused moments. Recess is pretty much phased out in many public schools; therefore, your going to get a heapin' dose of some "ADD" and "Hyperactivity" For some folks when physical activity stops, the activity in the brain keeps going.  Yes, it's as simple as that!  Doctors throw pills at it to squelch it. 

 

Stop it!!!! You are breaking the spirit of children!!!

 

Did you know it is VERY difficult to estimate and retain the correct dosage.

The side effects of this poison hurt too!  Cramps.....depression...indifference!

 

I believe that this condition is real, but is WAY over diagnosed and medicated.

 

If I didn't get enough activity as a kid I had this very problem! Fortunately, growing up I had CHILDHOOD FREEDOM.  Running up and down the road screaming like a fool, peddling my bike until my legs hurt, and getting disciplinary corrections from multiple people from a myriad of walks of life rounded me out as a silly kid!

 

My heart is breaking because I hold my childhood experience, and it's FREEDOM close to me, and todays kids don't get to have this unless they live in the woods...even that is dangerous now!!

 

We had a chance to grow a little before the world hit us square in the face.

 

Do I think today's kids are weak?  NO...Absolutely not!  Today's children face more as 7 year olds than we did as 11 year olds. 

 

Our middle schools are full of lascivious behavior in the dark corners and bathrooms where eyes aren't looking. Yes, it is horrible, yet it happens.  We don't like to think about it; but, the more popular your youngin' is the more likely he / she is going to be subject to this.

 

The times are what they are....what we can do is let our kids know we trust, love, AND we care.  We have to establish an understanding of violence and sex WAY earlier than we did with our rents!  Its a shame, but it looks like we have to have that talk around 7 or 8 years old now.....I know...it's shocking, but we better tell em' before someone else does.

 

We need to control what our children see and hear.  Not level four lock down, but at least try!  Television is the worst culprit of society decay!  Stop being greedy! Get a DVR and watch it later!!!! Adults can handle the language, violence, and smut on the TV. Children can't process it properly.  They sometimes end up trying to live it out. They emulate the personalities they see, this include profanity, ect. The key is talking with your kids constantly about what they see on TV; explain to them that it is not the way they should behave if they accidentally see it.   Hellooooooooo!!!!!!!! Remember when you were a kid?  How did you learn how the world worked and life?  By watching others right?  If  11 year old mike sees a man grasping and other "soft" sex scenarios repeatedly over time guess what he might try to do with little Emily up the street!!!! 

 

 

Don't even think you can keep them from trying this out by saying...."now Mickey....that's what adults do...not kids"......EEHHHH YEAH!

 

 

Nice try. Ask any middle school teacher if they have ever caught kids in sexual acts.

 

TALK to your children about the stuff they see on TV.  A five second statement will not deter them from acting it out if they take the notion to do so.  They need to know it is not proper.  They also need to know and be reminded that you care and love them CONSTANLY.  Their eyes may roll in the teen years, but they do listen folks.

 

(The below article was extracted from Probe Ministries) "Violence in Society"

 

The Bible teaches that "as a man thinks in his heart, so is he" (Prov. 23:7). What we view and what we think about affects our actions.

 

Defenders of television programs say that isn't true. They contend that televised imagery doesn't make people violent nor does it make people callous to suffering. But if televised imagery doesn't affect human behavior, then the TV networks should refund billions of advertising dollars to TV sponsors.

 

 

 

I could write a novel

 

Thanks for reading

 

Christ's Servant

 

Thomas !

 

 

There IS a God... In my words...

I am amazed at the gall of the SOME OF "non-believers". Most acknowledge the existence of a supernatural realm that can't be "seen", BUT they are QUICK to look away from the creation theory... GOD...and THREE TIMES QUICKER to point at the UFO theory...ghosts...psychics...zodiac sciences,ect...ect. THEY ARE ALL DIVERSIONS TO GET YOU AWAY FROM THE GOD WHO LOVES YOU.

 

Sometimes I reminded that their are many who have NO CLUE of what Christ is all about. They have never felt the supernatural embrace and connection.  The spirit side of them...asleep.

We NEED to get crackin' and go to work and do what Jesus has commanded! All of us; including me, must think on the cutting edge on winning souls for Christ.

I have personally come to know this.

The Evil One: 

Has the ability to influence the EARTH...that’s ALL that we lay our eyes on...including US and what is (apparently) visible, but can't put our hands on. Examples, UFO's, Ghosts, ect.  Evil also is able to influence our thoughts.  EVIL will stop at nothing to get us off the path of thinking right. If it takes a few "ufo's" AND the psychic hotlines to get us off the path of thinking right, evil forces will do it! They are clever in design and very convincing. They may not appear evil, but when you boil it down the sludge that remains is evil. This Earth is dying...and will pass away. You see it all around you....murder, rape, torture, and worse...much worse.

 

 

God: 

Has control of the world we "could go to", and this world, to an extent.  Don't get me wrong, God is always in control, but humanity is of free will and has fallen as a whole. For lack of a better word it is  "according to our faith in SOME issues". IF our FREE WILL allows him, and If we believe, worship, and respect him, we live FOREVER AND JOIN our creator. The world we are going to AND our spirits will NEVER ROT in a grave. No more pain....no more hunger...no more evil.

Why doesn't God stop the murder and rape, ect...ect?

We (gave up) eternity in the present Earth we are standing in THOUSANDS OF GENERATIONS AGO when we originally listened to the evil one and violated the trust and rules of our creator. When we did that we lost our "original eternity" Worse, EVIL was loosed on the Earth. From that moment of violation the Earth began to die. Like the Earth; from that point, we were to: be born, to live, to age, and to die. Like a tree sapling that first breaks through the earth; it grows, lives, and falls back to the earth in its death. We are in likeness to that!

Evil influence causes all the horrors we see, and we ALL can be attacked, especially if we try to live under our own power.

HOPE IS NOT LOST...THE GOOD NEWS IS...

Jesus:

Is God's son that became human.  100% God, and 100% man. Becoming human skin and bones he endured the utmost of humiliation, the worst of pain, rejection by man kind even his closest friends, temptation from the evil one, and unimaginable grief.  While suffering all of this he glorified his father!.   When mankind killed him he took our wrong doing upon himself.  By doing this he took our sins: past, present, and future! The best news.....As he said, he was resurrected from the grave! We can't approach the father, we must go through Jesus in with our prayers and requests.  All we need to do is confess our wrong doing and admit that we know the only way to God is through the son!  Jesus is our advocate to God.  When we commit wrong doing we are to confess our folly to Jesus, and turn from it.  We are still on the dying Earth in this life and subject to its horrors due to the original sin, but our eternal life is safe in Heaven, AS LONG AS WE BELIEVE AND CONFESS THAT JESUS IS LORD AND DIED FOR OUR SINS!

Keep in mind:

IF WE ARE IN CHRIST We can STILL die a horrible death, and face the worst violations of our bodies, but when we leave this world we WILL be with our God in eternal heaven...AND NOTHING HORRIBLE WE FACED HERE will matter THERE!

 

(SOME OTHER POINTS)

We NEED TO  open our mind, heart, AND SOUL and quit trying to live under our OWN power.  We can't do it by ourselves, that’s why we struggle so much...God wants us to trust him AND RELY ON HIM.

 
We live forever... All of the atrocities that we see around us are not of the world we will go to if we are in Christ. 

This (Earth) WILL pass away. The planet is screaming it's in its death convulsions now. To see this just turn on the WORLD news at 5:30 pm and you will see the proof!

 

This was written by an imperfect man

I mess up all the time.

BUT, one thing is a fact.

I asked Christ and the Holy Spirit to live within my soul.

I am being changed, and starting to do what Christ motivates me to do.

 

The End

 

Christ's Servant,

Thomas

 

 

 

 

Cooler Heads Prevail !

One of the things that I am struggling with the MOST in my "re-assumed" Christian walk is refraining from angry thoughts towards others. For example; Someone behind me in traffic speeds past me "with attitude".  I can't resist giving a smart smile and wave when I pull even with them at the NEXT traffic light to prove the point that they have NOT gained any advantage with their petal to metal driving style in urban traffic.   I even get a little riled thinking about it!   Another scenario is the driver that ACTUALLY SEES the closed lane ahead, but change lanes anyway to take advantage of those of us with common sense.  NOTHING GIVES ME MORE PLEASURE THAN TO SEE THEM bottle neck 50 feet ahead!  I know my attitude towards this should be different. Christ says to "love one another", and he also says to "cast my worries upon him".  I'm getting better at catching myself, but its a struggle sometimes.  I am making "some" progress, but keeping that part of my humanity squelched is going to be hard to overcome, but I am doing it.   I have prayed and asked Jesus to have the Holy Spirit to have me notice immediately when I'm about to mess up.  It seems to be working!  Giving the bad emotions to God has helped me feel a whole lot better at the end of the day, and  it nets a better nights sleep!  It is true, we can find rest in our savior!

Flooring Frenzy !

I haven't posted any new blogs due to my time being monopolized by the flooring of my house.  This weekend I finally had a window of few days of wonderful weather.  Apparently laminate glueless flooring is only supposed to be installed in situations where the humidity doesn't exceed 70%. It's too early to run the a/c, so I had to wait....and wait.....annnnnnnnd wait.  Finally, decent humidity during the weekend!  Installing this stuff wasn't as daunting as I had envisioned, yet it sure wasn't easy; down right frustrating may be the better word, this was never mentioned in the installation guide!  Some pieces were slightly damaged, and some were warped.  If their is a slight variance in the condition of a piece it sticks out like a sore thumb once it is installed, you also have to remember to leave about 1/8 to 1/4 inch space between the wall and the flooring because it expands and contracts because the floor "floats". Needless to say I had to take some rows back up...two or three times.  Their were a few occasions where I had to confess loosing my temper to the Lord.  All I have left to do is the hall, then I'm done!   One defining deference between my old self and the improving self is that I have more drive, courage, and patience to take on new things that I would automatically opt out of because I thought I didn't have the skill to learn to do it.  Christ is empowering me to do more. Keep in mind I have never done this before, and had nobody to help.  With God ANYTHING is possible

Christ's Servant,
Thomas

The Fur is Flying !

I own a Husky...a very animated Husky "Dameyune".  The weather is doing the normal 76 degrees one week, and then 40 degrees the next week kind of thing.  That kind of shift is normal for North West Florida.  This is not normal for a Husky...lol! The poor little guy's shedding cycle is going haywire!! I have brushed out enough fur in the past two days to  stuff a small couch pillow.  I am starting to wonder if this is okay.  Dameyune appreciates the brushing when I can get him to sit still long enough, it's like trying to brush a Wolverine sometimes.

The fur!

Dameyune

Christ's Servant,

Thomas