Is it OK to Disagree with Another Christian?

Is God Ready to Spit you Out of His Mouth?

Our luke warm devotion to God of the Bible makes Him upset and He is ready to spit us out of His mouth.

Are you even a threat to Satan? Is he even aware of You? He doesn’t bother with those who don’t resist him.  If you are resisting him he will work overtime to keep you and your love for Christ from threatening his interests.

Satan trembles when he sees the weakest saint upon his knees. William Cowper (1731-1800)

It is hard at best to be strong against the temptations that Satan sends our way. He keeps telling us it is Ok to have a little fun, or a small sin won’t hurt anyone. He likes to divide us and conquer us. 

It is a battle that can’t be taken on alone. What can you do? Who will help you?

You may feel very alone. You may even feel like a speck of sand on the beach of life when it comes to God caring for you. There are millions of people worshipping Him, but He still loves you as His own.  God wants us to plead with Him when he appears not to care.  When we feel the most sinking feeling that God is far away is when we should seek Him the most.

Actually God checks on us days, months, and even years after we have been saved to see how we have progressed.  He may not seem near, but He is and He does care enough to worry about how you are growing in the knowledge of Him, and in the love you should have for Him.

God wants to grow enough that we will come out of our comfort zone. It is easy to stay where we are and not grow. God made many people in the Bible come out of their comfort zone.

  • David was forced to hide in a cave until he realized that he needed to call on God to rescue him. Then he was brave and eventually became king.
  • Moses felt he wasn’t qualified to even speak to the people about God, but he led them out of Egypt into the promise land.
  • Jonah even tried to run from God because he didn’t want to do what God asked. A huge fish swallowed him and later spit him out. Jonah went on to speak for God to the people.
  • Noah was just and ordinary man that did an extraordinary thing.  He was ridiculed by all of his friends, but he still obeyed God and saved all the animals and his family.

What is your comfort zone? Are you staying where you are because it is much more comfortable for you?  

Don’t stay in just one spot. Come out of your comfort zone and take the step of faith, knowing God is there with you. Also realize that your comfort zone changes. What you comfort zone is now may be totally different a year from now. God will be helping you grow and you will seek new horizons down the road.  When God taps you on the shoulder, obey! Growing for God can be like peeling the layers of skin from an onion. There is a new layer each time you shed the old one.  Each new one is a new comfort zone. 

No matter what you think about yourself, God made only one you, and then He threw away the mold. You are one of a kind, and you are the child of God. He made you in His image.

I had another thought tonight…..

If I accuse you of being a sinner because you have a meal with one, then I am wrong. If I try to make you feel shameful because of whom you choose to spend time with, then I am wrong. If you and are threatened by someone’s success and say “They are of the devil,” then we are both wrong. If another Christian disagrees with me and I think he is not a Christian because of that, then I am wrong.

We are not to judge or choose our friends on what they do or think. We should be open to anyone, and try to share with them the love we have for not only them but for God. Then we shouldn’t condemn them if they choose not to agree with us at the time.

If we just reflect the love of Jesus in our faces, hearts and lives, people are going to want what we have.

 

 

Throw Your Net on the Other Side!

* The give away for free books has finished. The winners will be notified. It was a huge success. Look for further give aways in the future. Free books are always fun to win.

I am back to sharing excerpts from my new book: Signs of Hope: Ways to Survive in an Unfriendly World. It will be coming out in late August or early September.

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Are You Standing on a Whale Fishing for Minnows?

                                                                             

I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service, and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first.

Revelation 2:19

 

One of my favorite pastimes is fishing. I don’t go as much as I would like to, but when my two sons, my son-in-law, and my good friend Jim go fishing each year, we have a great time. We have a contest to see who catches: the first fish, the most fish, the biggest fish, and the prettiest fish. It makes the time out in the boat a little more exciting.

So, of course, I am always looking for that first fish. I never seem to be the lucky guy who catches the first one, but when someone lands that first one, it is the most exciting moment. Everyone in the boat gets pumped. They begin to watch their own lines more closely. It gets the game started to see who will win in the other categories.

Many times in the past, I have looked for something that would help me be a better person—to be a winner. I needed to catch that first fish to get me excited about having a purpose in life. I tried to find ways that I could help others. This was a struggle because of my own insecurities and doubt. I thought at one time that I would not succeed at anything—that I would never catch any fish. I didn’t know what my purpose was. I questioned why I should keep looking for something that would improve me. I also thought that I shouldn’t be trying to help others if I couldn’t even help myself. I wasn’t getting any bites.

I see many people with this affliction. They go through life trying to find their purpose and never accomplish anything. Vincent Van Gogh said, “What would life be if we had no courage to attempt anything.” We spend too much time doubting that we can accomplish anything. But there is one thing we are successful at: Accomplishing nothing!

Teddy Roosevelt also had something to say about this: “In a moment of decision the best thing to do is the right thing; the worst thing to do is nothing.”

            It’s very possible that what you’ve been looking for in your life is right under your nose. It is the old, “I can’t see the forest for the trees” thinking. There are many things God gives us that are part of His purpose, but we never realize they are part of what He wants for us.

Try looking around and see if God has a purpose for you—something that is staring you right in the face. It could be that first fish wanting to bite your bait. It could be right in your home church. Do you enjoy talking to children? There are many volunteers needed in the Sunday school department. People are needed to usher (that’s what I do), sing in the choir, help in your church’s information center, be a greeter, or be on a prayer team.

It could be somewhere at your workplace. Your work is not only how you provide for your family. In fact, your job might be more rewarding if you realized God put you there for a purpose. Since God has placed you there, find ways that you can serve Him as you do your job.

            Many people are Christian soldiers on Sundays—and AWOL on Mondays. We need to think about God and how He may want to use us for His glory. He talks to us all the time, but sadly, many people do not listen. He gives us all we need to catch many fish. We have many possibilities for close encounters with God and we often let them pass by.

            Try fishing in the morning newspaper. Look over the articles. Study the stories. Where is there a spot where you can have fun and still serve God? God may want you to volunteer at the YMCA or as a Big Brother or Sister. There are many children who need adult guidance, who do not have a parent to give it to them.

            As the verse at the beginning says: “I know your deeds ….” I wonder what God thinks of my deeds at this point? Does He think I have served Him well? Am I listening to Him and following His lead? Or am I standing on whale fishing for minnows?

            We need to open our eyes and thinking to what God has in mind for each of us. He wants the best for us, and it’s time to stop fishing for minnows! There are many big fish out there, and He wants us to catch some of them for Him. Let’s not delay. Let’s cast out our lines and catch that first fish.

 

Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning.

Luke 12:35

 

It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in that faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

Ephesians 4:11–13

 

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

Galatians 6:9–10

 

Further adventures

Think about what your goals in life are. Do you have something you feel you would like to accomplish? Is it the purpose God has in mind for you for serving Him? Go for it! Step up to the plate and hit a home run.

 

Something to ponder

Isn’t it funny that when you give rather than receive you feel much better?

* Excerpt from: Signs of Hope: Ways to Survive in an Unfriendly World

Being meek and Mild will get you Farther Than Being Tough

Before I share an excerpt from the book: Signs of Hope: Ways to Survive in an Unfriendly World, I have some exciting news:

On Friday the 15thof January, I signed a publishing contract with Winepress Publishers. The book will be coming out at the end of August or the first of September.

Much of the success is due to you my followers who have been telling others about the book on the social networks. The word is spreading, and now my dream is coming true. Follow the posts here to see the progress of the publishing of the book. You will be the first to know. Now for the excerpt. It is Chapter 64:

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Compassion Is Difficult to Give Away Because It Keeps Coming Back

 

Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

Matthew 5:5

 

I was warming up one day before playing a round of golf. I had been looking forward to a relaxing day, a chance to get away from it all, and was hitting a few balls at the driving range. I was hitting the ball well when a young man in his 20s to my right also started hitting balls. He was hitting the balls very far, which was distracting to me. I felt intimidated by his skills.

I continued to hit, but my shots started going in all directions. I was so distracted by this young man’s abilities that I couldn’t concentrate! I tried to regroup, and stepped up to the tee, saying to myself: I have to ignore the person to my right and hit the ball straight. I took a big swing, and the ball went directly right, hitting the young man on the outside of his left knee. He went down to the ground, grabbing his knee in pain. I was horrified!

I ran over to him, repeating how sorry I was, to ask if he was all right. He looked up at me.

“I’ll be OK,” he said. “And don’t feel bad—you weren’t trying to hit me.”

I could see he was in a great deal of pain, but his first action was to try to calm me down. Here was young a man who had every right to be really mad. God had given this young man the right things to say. That was another of my close encounters with God!

I couldn’t believe how calming his answer was. I was very upset, and I bet it showed! He, the injured party, calmed me by his loving spirit! He could have cursed at me, but he used the moment to show his Christian attitude toward another person.

How do you know he was a Christian? you wonder. Well, I really don’t know because our conversation never went to that subject, but if I were a betting man (and I’m not!), I’d say he was a believer because he never hesitated to show compassion for someone in spite of his own discomfort.

Can people look at you and tell you are a Christian by your actions?

I’ve always felt that you don’t have to grab a Bible and “preach” to a person to have a large effect on them. This young man had a tremendous effect on me, and he didn’t do much. He just forgave me, and let it go at that!

Have you had the opportunity to be a witness to someone by your actions, and let it pass you by?

We can be a witness to someone without trying to impress them with what we know about the Bible. It’s wonderful if you have that knowledge, but most people don’t care how much you know; they want to know how much you care. Many times a people will say, “I want to be like that person,” just by what they see us do. A calming spirit will win more people over than an angry, hateful spirit.

Aim straight for the heart with your love, and the feeling will become a part of those around you.

 

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.

Philippians 2:3

 

Further adventures

The next time someone is angry, try the gentle approach. You may be very surprised to see that it will calm them down much faster than yelling back at them. Your friends or family will really look up to you if you are consistent in your approach to stress and pressure. Your example may help them to also be meek and therefore be an example for the next person.

 

Something to ponder

Isn’t it funny that the more we show kindness to someone, the more we get back in return?

 

 * Excerpt from: Signs of Hope: Ways to Survive in an Unfriendly World