A look into a life being changed by Christ

WIll The Real Jesus Please raise your hand!

One of the things that perplexes me the most about being a follower of Christ is the presentation of his image.  The description of Jesus was NEVER brought up in the New Testament!  Mankind just has to have an image of Jesus for us to "see". One of the first things folks are inclined to do when discussing the possible images of Jesus is to point out that Jesus was Jewish or Aramaic in lineage.  Anthropologists have said that the Jewish belong to the Caucasian race which ranges from north of the Sahara, through the Middle East, and into Europe.  The ethnic groups Jewish, Arab, and European are really misleading in their name value.  Within the caucasian race are "common groups" that potentially can share the same features.  All to often people have been mistaken for being a part of a particular ethnic group.  Believing certain groups all have the same features is a horrible, ignorant assumption!

If one were to try to have an artist rendition they would have to be somewhat stereotypical to portray a realistic rendering.  One thing is for sure…he wasn't lily pale white!  I say this because as he went about his Holy business OUTSIDE in the elements! This means his skin had to have a darker shade than most of the pictures hanging in some of the Christian living rooms of America.  I don't think he was frail and wimpy looking either!  It is illustrated that Jesus was a workingman by trade, which means he was pretty strong. He had to have been especially strong to withstand that horrible beating before his crucifixion at the end of his life!

Long hair? Jesus was from Nazareth.  The ones that were under the Nazarite vow could not drink wine, touch dead bodies, AND they had to keep their hair long as a sign of humiliation. Refer to these bible verses; Ezekiel 44:20, Num. 6:2-3, 6, Matt. 2:23, Matt. 9:25, and Matt. 11:19. The two problems here are; our savior drank wine, and touched dead bodies. My best guess is that he was not under the Nazarite vow, at least during the time of his ministry he wasn't.  As a matter of fact at the end of the vow the man was to shave his dome, Num. 6:18! Are we thinking yet, and we wonder what happened to Christ between 13 and the time he began his ministry hmmmm.  The culture of the time in Judea was Grecian in influence, Acts 6:1.  The Romans came on the scene after this influence.  Their hair length of choice, short!  Short hair was in before Christ, during Christ, and after Christ.  With this being said if Jesus would have had long hair he would have stuck out like a sore thumb.  If he would have been the guy in the crowd with the log hair Judas would not have had to kiss him to identify him to the Roman Soldiers.  AS far as long hair goes; 1 Corinthians 11:14, that book of the bible is very Christ inspired!

If you haven't guessed, ignorantly rendered pictures and statues of Jesus kind of irk me!

Really, if we are becoming mature in our walk do we need to know? This scripture is about as good as it gets as far as what our master looks like.

Isaiah 53:2 (Today's New International Version)

2.) He grew up before him like a tender shoot,
and like a root out of dry ground.
       He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him,
nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.

I see Jesus often folks!  I saw Jesus at McDonalds, he was inside turning the empty paper coffee cup between his thumb and index finger, twisting it round and round as he was in his thoughts.  His dog was tied up to the pay phone outside the door.  I was on my way to the car.  I started to get in and head off, but then I was motivated to go back.  I asked him if he wanted something to eat discreetly.  He looked up smiled and said "no, I'm alright".  With a different face I saw him by the Walgreen's entrance door.  He asked me if I could spare a dollar.  I said, "hang on a second, I forgot to pay for this soda, I'll be right back." I returned, looked around and said "how bout Burger King, I'll take you over there and buy you something to eat".  He said; "no…I'm good man". 

 

This is how I see Jesus.

If someone must paint a picture of our savior I wish that they would please be aware our Savior was not likley to be pale, wimpy, and frail as man has illustrated in many paintings.

I agree with what Pastor David Jeremiah had said.  He said "if one must paint a picture of Christ don't make him look like a pushover", he'd like to see a picture Of Christ storming the temple courts overturning the money exchangers tables and smashing the cages to release the sacrifice animals.

Our savior was meek and mild, but when it was time to get rough, he did!  May this be a teaching you will remember and research for yourselves.

I issue a challenge to the Christian blogsters of Myspace! Jesus was not a lily-white wimp!

Resources: Tom Brown Ministries, The Restored Church of God website, Biblegateway.com, and my brain!

Can Sin Make You Sick ?

If only we objected to sin the same way we object to the foods we don't like. 

 

Watch the video below!

      

If we could only be that animate in objecting to sin!!!

      

WOW!!! 

 

   

The third weekend of October of 1979, I was eight years old and at the Pensacola Interstate Fair. Like any eight year old I loved the fair rides and fair foods. In between the excitement of the fair rides and the exhibits I wanted some cotton candy and a coke. I got the large cotton candy along with the large coke to wash it down. I remember it like it was yesterday. The fair ride called the "scrambler" caught my eye. I stuck my sticky, grubby hands into my pocket and pulled out a wadded up string of tickets and eagerly waited in line as I joyously finished devouring my treats. Finally, MY TURN! I hurriedly passed off my tickets to the ride operator and boarded the "scrambler". The scrambler lived up to its name. My tummy was scrambled and I barfed! To this day I haven't eaten any more cotton candy. 

      

Folks tend not to eat foods that they dislike, nor do they eat foods that have made them sick in the past.

 

Like the foods that makes a person sick, sinfulness can make you ill too. I for one can attest to that! 

   

Here are some signs of sin: worry, mental strife, misery, guilt, remorse, depression, anger, frustration, and severe stress.

   

All of these can make you physically ill! 

   

They can cause: Nausea, vomiting, tremors, nightmares, panic attacks, irregular heartbeat, irrational behavior, and much more.

   

Why do people go back to a transgression after it has caused such misery? Could it be that the taste of the indulgence is so sweet that one is willing to suffer the consequences just to partake of the moment in time? 

   

The very thought of cotton candy still repulses me! Unlike the reaction to offending foods we tend not to ascertain that it is our sin that makes us despondent. The symptoms make us so ill we cry out to our master for deliverance. Our souls are not equipped to handle those signs and symptoms. God doesn't want us to reach the point of desperation. God wants us to lean on him daily to stay spiritually healthy. Our sin results in infirmity. The sickness drives us to the cross. It is by God's design. Christ said "my yoke is easy" 

   

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."

      

In my first writings I indicated that my purpose is to illustrate my changing life as I learn to walk closer to Christ. By walking in the light, our wisdom will forever be expanded by the master of our lives, Jesus Christ.  I am learning to lean on Christ daily! A relationship with Christ is an everyday fixation on the master. I am learning with every approaching challenge to give my burdens to Jesus. Praise God! He has taken the weight of it off. He walks by our side carrying the burden. He sees us through the trials of this fallen world.


The scope of this blog is to illustrate that sin can indeed make you sick. Our spirits can't cope with these types of sickness alone. God did not design us to live independent of him. The fact that we are showing the symptoms of mental turmoil prompts to stay close to the master while suffering through it.  I was not pointing out that sin is the basis of all sicknesses. Anger, depression, and severe stress are all "signs" of an individual attempting to govern his or her life independent of God; they are not a final indication.  If a body has a chemical imbalance in the brain, indeed it is the physical make up of the individual's body that has caused the illness.  However the person's physical condition doesn't preclude the individual from taking it to the cross.   These words are still important to the one suffering from the results of nervous system chemical imbalances, evil manifestations, and individuals who are attempting to live a life independent of the master.

 

p.s. 

   

Today I lost my job due to the lazy, unfair, and irrational thinking of the management of the company I worked for. I am not the only one who has fallen prey to this company.

   

Behold the hand of God that plucks us out of harms way and places us on safe ground!

   

Tomorrow will be a better day! 

   

Christ's Servant, 

 

Thomas!

 

 

The Lonley Road

The lonely road winds through every soul… 

 

Sometimes by choice is why they walk alone… 

 

Thoughts of sorrow… 

 

Feelings of fear… 

 

Follow the hearts of those who travel here… 

 

On the lonely road. 

 

God only knows a sad saint's heart…. 

 

It's never too late to believe and let God make a new start… 

 

On the lonely road… 

 

Walk with God on this road less traveled… 

 

On the lonely road… 

 

If hope is the only thing a sad soul can poses… 

 

Then wait on God, he will give you rest… 

 

You're never alone… 

 

On the lonely road… 

 

Many souls travel here… 

 

All are different, but shed the same tears… 

 

On the lonely road. 

 

God feels sorrow… 

 

For us who travel here…

 

His grace embraces those who draw near… 

 

On the lonely road… 

 

Our wisdom is a gift from God… 

 

That we pass on to our brethren who try too hard… 

 

On the lonely road… 

 

Listen well… 

 

And perhaps

 

You won't have to walk…

 

On the lonely road.

Is my Salvation Forever

This subject will be forevermore debated. I had some serious reservations about posting this. Satan does not want me to post this! I LOST an hour and a half of work on my first writings. Please be in prayer for me! The last time I drew my sword and attacked Satan I was unprepared and I was lead astray for about ten months! I say again, Satan does not want me working for God! I feel that I am stronger in my faith and I have more folks praying for me now… SO, without further delay here we go!

 I will post the bulk of this blog in question form. I will keep it short and sweet… yeah right!

THREE QUESTIONS 

Were you serious when you accepted Christ?

 

Doubt is a sure sign that you are not fully convinced. Before I came to full acceptance I was sure that the supernatural realm was real, but I was blinded to the HOLY supernatural dominion. In my doubt, I prayed one day. I asked if God if he was real. I can't put my finger on exactly when it happened, but it seemed as if one day a vale was lifted from my eyes, I could see! God is in control of the Holy supernatural world. The evil one has less power, but has a stake in the supernatural as well. The evil one can make us see and hear things; UFO's, psychics, zodiac sciences, and ghost. They can be quite real and fully convincing, but they are not truth. Satan can even make you see your dear grandmother who has been dead for years. The first vision may seem sweet and fulfilling, but if it is Satan motivated he will lead you away and deceive you! If you have witnessed something like this it is important that you leave the experience alone! NEVER try to relive it! NEVER try to conjure up another experience. Take things as they are…never dwell on them!

Do you understand what Salvation is?

When you fully believed you were INSTANTLY a changed person, you became spiritually alive. You are still Earth bound by your flesh; however you are connected to the benevolent supernatural father FOREVER. The Holy Spirit guides our steps and reminds us constantly of this!

Psalm 37:28, "For The Lord loves justice and does not forsake His godly ones; they are preserved forever."

John 6:37, "All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out."

John 10:27-29, "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand".   

1 John 2:1, "My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous."

Hebrews 6:17-20, "In the same way God, desiring even more to show to the heirs of the promise the unchangeableness of His purpose, interposed with an oath, so that by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have taken refuge would have strong encouragement to take hold of the hope set before us. This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil, where Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek."

Do you feel driven to confess your wrong doing?

You will sin! We are not perfect. The best evidence that you are saved is a constant drive from the Holy Spirit to confess your sin until you have confessed your folly. I am not speaking of guilty accusation here, that's important! guilty accusation is a combination of our own carnal thoughts and the accusation of Satan. Our sin is forgiven forever! Christ didn't step down to become human to die for the sins of that time period and before! He died for the SINS OF ALL TIME!  Once you are truly in Christ it's a done deal. You are forgiven forever. You can go in the bible and extract passages here and there that seem to say you can loose your salvation, but don't read into the word too much. DON'T LOOK for a reason of impending doom! STOP DOUBTING and live! 

Satan lies and accuses! He will speaks damnation into the ears of your soul! He can accuse all he wants too! The truth is Christ smashed the head of evil upon his death on

Calvary

.

IN CLOSING!

It is TRUE belief more than anything! If you KNOWINGLY sin and you have no remorse…you are in trouble!

You never believed in the first place!

People can argue as much as they wish! It is written:

Romans 8:33-35, 38-39, "Who will bring a charge against God's elect? God is the one who justifies; who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?... For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." 

 

Does THIS mean that if you REALLY believe in Christ you can do as you wish? No…the Holy spirit will not let it happen! YOU WILL ALWAYS confess your folly post salvation if you are truly saved. You may find yourself committing the same sin, BUT you will find that you are doing it less and less! A SURE SIGN OF SALVATION!

 

REST MY FRIENDS!

May you reflect the face of God in your walk!

 

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