And They Will Know

Scripture:
John 13:31-35
1 Corinthians 13:13

If it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, looks like a duck then chances are it is a duck.  If it looks like a pickup truck, drives like a pickup truck chances are it is a pickup truck.  If it looks like a watermelon, if it tastes like watermelon, if it smells like watermelon then chances are it is a watermelon.

We look, feel, taste, and hear things all around us.  We identify people, objects, plants, and animals by how they look or sound.  You can identify a Christian by their actions.  I have seen people go to church religiously every Sunday.  They look and act like perfect angels, that is until they get home.  Then it is back to their usual self.  I have talked with people who hold the love of Christ deep within their hearts but hardly go to church.  So how do we identify a fellow Believer?  By who they are on the inside.  Their actions everyday will reveal what’s on the inside.  It is what is in our hearts that define who we are.  What is in our heart will be what fills the mind and come out our mouths.  Our actions will reveal who we are.  They will know we are Christians by our love, by our walk, by our faith.  We are the lighthouse for Christ to shine into the world.  Our faith needs to shine into the world.  The best way for that to happen is by our love…

I have published an e-book, a 90 day devotional.  It is a combination of the first 90 emails I have sent out.  The book will become available as a paperback soon.  If you would like a copy of the e-book you can find it at Amazon.com, Lulu.com, and Barnes & Noble.
http://www.sgly.org/Daily-Devotional-Thoughts.html

Thank you
May the peace of Christ be with you Always...

Be A LightHouse...

Scripture:
Matthew 5:14-16
1 Peter 2:9-10

A lighthouse sits high and majestic on the cliffs by the shore.  Its light shines bright for miles for all to see.  Ships passing through the night can safely navigate past dangers in the water.  However, should the light go out the lighthouse is just another building.  There is nothing special about the building and it serves no other purpose.  Without its light it becomes an empty shell.  Sure they can be a beautiful sight to see.  I have seen many beautiful lighthouses over the years.  But without its light it has no purpose.

Jesus tells us we are the light of the world.  That His light shines through us for the world to see.  We are the lighthouse and Jesus is the source of the light.  It is His light that shines through us brightly for all to see.  Do we try to dim the light or hide it?  Do we let it shine bright so that it is a beacon for the world to see?  Can people navigate to Christ because of you?  Our lives are more like the lighthouse than we think.  We can serve a purpose and shine bright.  The other option is to dim the light and become an empty shell serving no useful purpose. Joshua 24:15 (NIV):

But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.”

As for me, I want to be a lighthouse with the light of Christ shining brightly for all the world to see…

God Bless,
Ja

A follower of the Way...

"In God We Trust"
www.sgly.org

I have published an e-book, a 90 day devotional “Daily Devotional Thoughts”.  It is a combination of the first 90 devotional thoughts I have done.  The book will become available as a paperback soon.  If you would like a copy of the e-book you can find it at Amazon.com, Lulu.com, and Barnes & Noble.
http://www.sgly.org/Daily-Devotional-Thoughts.html

Prime Real Estate

Scripture:
Jeremiah 32:17-22
Colossians 1:3-14

The key to any business being successful is simply location, location, and location.  It is a theme we hear over and over.  When I am driving and need to stop for gas I always look for the gas station on the side of the road that will give me easy access out.  I look to make that right hand turn.  I will pass up the gas stations on the “wrong side” of the road.  When you are looking for a place to live or have a business you want the right location.  We look at the neighborhood and the school district.  Is the house located in an area that is acceptable?  How is the yard?  Is it what we want?  Do we have easy access to the things we want access to?  We are very particular about the location of our home or business.

God promised the Israelites a land flowing with milk and honey.  OK to be honest I never quit understood the reference of milk and honey.  I always vision in my mind streams of milk or honey flowing through the land…  However, the point is that Israel was promised, and given, land in the best possible location.  They were given the choicest of lands.

God promises us the same.  When we leave this world we will go into heaven where we will have the best possible real estate.  When we accept Christ as our savior we are redeemed.  Jesus tells us He is preparing a place for us.  It is ready and waiting for the time when we arrive.  The best part about it is there is room for everyone.  We cannot fill heaven but wouldn’t it be wonderful to try.  God doesn’t want any of His children, that’s us, to be lost.  Salvation is ready and available to any and everyone.  We just need to share God’s love and the good news of redemption.  Real estate in heaven is prime location, it is also freely given.  All you have to do to claim your mansion is show up.  There is a catch though.  In order to show up you must believe Jesus is the Son of God.  Jesus lived a perfect life and died on the cross.  That He paid the price of all sin, you sin.  Simply put accept Christ as your savior and messiah.  Grace is freely given to any and everyone willing to accept it…

Are You the Sloth or the Ant?

Scripture:
Proverbs 6:6-11
Ephesians 3:20-21

There is nothing better than a lazy Sunday afternoon, especially when the sun is out and the temperature is just right and with no clouds in the sky.  Last weekend after church we pack lunch and headed to the park for a few hours.  We grilled hamburgers and enjoyed the time with the kids.  We all need time to rest, reflect, and to just get away.  However we run into danger when we let recreation take precedence of our lives.   I groan at some of the projects I have to do around the house.  I would rather just play around with the kids or go places with the family.  However, if I do not work on the projects the house will fall apart.  Well maybe not literally but it will quickly get into a state of disrepair.

God did not intend for us to just sit around and do nothing.  He expects us to work.  In Genesis God tells Adam and Eve to take care of the garden.  Genesis 2:15 “The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.”  Jesus tells us that anything we ask for in His name we will receive.  He doesn’t expect us to just sit around in our rocking chairs waiting for Him to hand it to us on a silver platter.  We must do our part.  We must be willing to work and fulfill the tasks He sets before us.  After all if we are the hands and feet of the Body of Christ we cannot just sit around.  If we do none of God’s work will get done.  We can say no to God but we will not be happy with the results.  Look at Jonah.  He said no and tried to run.  He ended up in the belly of a whale or large fish.  In the end he did what God wanted in the first place.

Have no fear if you do not do the task God asks you to do someone else will do it for you.  You probably will not like the end results and will miss a blessing.  God intended for us to work.  God compares working diligently to an ant and a sluggard, a slothful person.  A sloth is an animal that lives within one tree all its life.  The sloth hardly ever moves and then very slowly.  Are you the sloth or the ant?  The ant is considered wise in its work.  The sloth will find poverty knocking on its door…