Leftover Spiritual Food
Try it again......For the first time
Not
my King!
When
I opened my computer newspaper today I was appalled at what made the headlines.
A woman pictured with such intent in her eyes. You could see the concern
in her face. Her mind and her very
will were focused on a specific purpose. The headline read, “ Remembering the
King”. Other introductions to the
article were, “Fans Can't Help
But Continue Their Love Affair With the King and Once,
it was a symbol of his success; now, it has become a beacon for the faithful.”
I
haven’t even mentioned whom this woman was remembering or whom the fans
continue their love affair with, but every one of us knows who is being featured
in the article. Every one of us
knows who is being lifted up and given praise to.
If this hits a nerve with anyone who reads this, it’s supposed to.
If
anyone is going to keep a vigil for someone, it needs to be our Lord and Savior,
Jesus Christ! The Bible says in the
Gospel of Luke chapter 12 verses 35 – 40 to be watchful.
This is a devotion of time well spent, which will not go un-rewarded!
The
time given to this earthly king mentioned in this computer article will have no
reward. This person is dead and the
time given in honor of his accomplishments is wasted forever.
There
is a spiritual war going on in this world today and the enemy is keeping us off
guard with devotions such as this. The
god of this world is Satan and if people allow him to continue to be an
influence he will continue to win in certain circles.
Satan hates you and me; he wants to see us channel all our efforts and
waste our time on things with no meaning. If
you are saying that a vigil such as this shows how I appreciated this
entertainer’s ability, I say to you, there is only one person who deserves my
utmost respect and it is Jesus Christ!
Jesus
is the constant we need! He is the
way, the truth, and the life. I
don’t know where you are going today, but if you are following the ways of
this world, you will surely die. However,
if you are following the ways of the Lord, you will have everlasting life.
If you have questions contact me.
As
always, I welcome any response to any nerves I touch with my views.
I will only entertain responses that deal with the topic at hand.
If you just want to sling mud, sling it with yourself. If your are upset,
it is not with me you find fault; it is with yourself.
Email me at bodiesforchrist@cox.net
Grace
to you,
Rich
Garrison
Freedom
There have been a lot of articles written on freedom in the past. Freedom from high debt, freedom from over eating, maintenance free flowerbeds, maintenance free exterior siding for your home. Different ways to experience freedom in our lives are almost overwhelming when you consider the list of possibilities.
Freedom from debt is my most favorite because of the common misconception there is here when someone mentions this. Right away people begin a course of evaluation in their minds as to all the different get rich schemes they’ve heard of over the years. All the different how-tos there are “How To Get Rich”, “How To Rise To The Top Of Your Stature With This Revolutionary New Gimmick”. And gimmicks they are.
Have you ever heard the expression, “If it sounds to good to be true, then it is”? That is exactly what these “How-Tos are”; and we need to recognize them for what they are and recognize who the author is of these systematic plans, these schemes, and cleverly devised lies we hear so much about through out our daily lives in this secular world in which we live today. The author of these carefully orchestrated ways is of course the prince of lies, the master of deceit, the Devil. He is clever and cunning.
Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 4: 4 “The god of this age, the Devil, has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God our Heavenly Father”.
Friends, the Devil hates us. He hates the time you spend in your quiet place with God, the time you spend in reverent prayer with a loved one who desperately needs you, the time you spend with a neighbor talking about God’s goodness, the time you spend thanking God for the food you are about to eat and especially thanking God for His faithfulness at the end of a trying day when you lay your head down on your pillow to rest.
The Devil dislikes everything about us, yet so many of us continue to allow ourselves to be persuaded, lied to, and therefore lead into valleys in our lives that we cannot get out of on our own. And this is just what Satan wants. He wants us where he can keep an eye on us. He wants to see our families hurting from all the turmoil he creates daily in this world. He wants to see us struggle each day. I don’t know about you, but I’m tired of struggling each day in my life and I’m glad to know of a better way to live my life and I’m thankful for the freedom our heavenly Father offers and the alternative there is from all the cleverly devised schemes and lies in this life today.
Yes, there are a lot of good things being accomplished in this world today. I was discussing this with a neighbor the other day and I agreed with many of her findings. I am aware of many peoples involvement in today’s world that would appear to be helpful to others. However, on the other hand, there are groups that are cleverly portraying the very schemes that their master (Satan) is giving them the know-how, initiative, and foresight to accomplish. But, make no mistake about this. If the involvement people have in this world, helping others, does not glorify the Lord God Almighty, the Creator of this world, then it glorifies Satan! In other words, if it sounds to good to be true, then it may be. Praise God He knows the hearts of people! Amen?
No doubt it started out to help people and to do the right thing. But now, with the corrupt worldly influence that has come to be a part of this internet free service, this website is paving the way for people of all ages to do things that are completely out of control.
My views on this are not shared by many and I can accept that. A lot of people I talk to about this website see it as a place to bring people together and express themselves. I’m told, “It’s a chance to expand relationships and grow in communication skills.” Please!! Never the less, it is being used as a tool to aid in the influence of misguiding people, young and old, in our society today.
I have a question for you today. It’s a harsh one but I believe there are many of you living a harsh life. I believe there are many of us in this world if given an alternative to our current situation would leave our troubles behind and follow a positive influence for once if truly shown the proper way. I believe there are people who are seeking a new and different direction in this world today. Are you hurting from the decisions you're making today? Are you tired of living to the left of what you know is right? Are you looking for a road to travel that will satisfy your sense of direction? “Are you a child of the devil or a child of God”? I ask this in such a direct manner because it says in the book of James 4: 4 (my translation) “Don’t you realize friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Any one who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.” How can we expect to have a relationship with God if we are having an affair with the world? We can’t serve two masters in this world!
Jesus says in the book of John 8:42
“If God were your Father, you would love
me, for I came from God and now am here. I have not come on my own; but he sent
me. Why is my language not clear to
you?"
This is such a compelling question in
today’s society. People all over
this world and even in your own city are wondering why things are happening the
way they are, why people are acting the way they are, why there seems to be no
respect any more for the simple things and most of all why is God’s sovereign
Word being ignored? The answer lies
in verse 44. And Jesus
goes on to say, “You belong to your father, the
devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desire.
He (Satan) was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth,
for there is no truth in him. When
he lies he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of
lies.”
Many adults have a difficult daily task of just living their lives because of all the influences there are in this world. If it is so difficult for an adult to discern the world, imagine what our young people must be going through? Can you, for just one moment, give thought to their world? Many of our young people would have no direction to go in if it weren’t for what they see out on the streets. Lord knows many kids come from homes so entangled in problems they receive absolutely nothing of any substance inside those four walls. I feel it safe to say there are some kids who feel they are a mistake and feel no self worth what so ever. Heaven forbid they should adapt to what they see on our streets today.
Praise God there is Freedom from all the lies, the deceit, and all the schemes the Devil puts forth in our paths as deterrents to us from being adopted into God’s family. Praise God there are churches willing to be heard in communities where they would other wise be stifled.
“Let the little
children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs
to such as these.”
At first during this meeting with the children, the Bible says the disciples rebuked those who brought the children to Jesus. I tell you today, we as adults have a duty to all children in this world to bring them to Christ and allow Him to place His hands on them and bless them. For the kingdom of heaven truly belongs to the children!
If you are unfamiliar with what the Bible says about making sure little children are guided properly in this world, I invite you to read Luke 17: 2 and think deeply about what Jesus says here. Jesus says, “It would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around his neck than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin. So watch yourselves.”
Freedom. What does it mean to you? What does it make you think of? What does it make you want when you hear the word? What does it make you feel when you know that you deserve it but your particular involvement in this world precludes you from experiencing it? I hope it makes your heart race with excitement to think that you could be free from the personal hell you are putting yourself through. I hope it makes you consider, for just once in your life, that you are not able to win this race alone. I hope it makes you wonder, what do I have to do to experience a difference in my life. If any of these questions hit home in your heart today then Praise His Mighty Name and say His name out loud right where you are. Call on Him right now and He will hear you and come to you right where you are. You hold the key to the very door that, when opened, allows Jesus the access He needs to make a difference in your life. This door is the door to your heart. It is a door well guarded many times but many times we guard it for the wrong reasons. Today is the day you can let your guard down and allow Jesus to become the new guard of your heart.
Are you ready to begin a new life with the freedom you deserve? Are you ready to allow Jesus Christ to come into your heart and your mind and cause you to begin a new way of thinking and living? I hope you’ll say yes. He’s patiently waiting for you to say yes. Whether you know it or not, it’s your hearts desire to live-forever and you can begin your journey to eternal life with Jesus Christ right now.
What I want you to do now is agree in your heart that your life, up till now, is one you never want to live or experience again. I want you to admit to yourself it is not a life you ever want to go back to. I want you to agree to repent and make a change for the better in your life and by doing this you will make room for Jesus Christ to come and live in your heart. There is also a prayer I want you to pray and it's called “The Sinners Prayer.”
“Father,
I know that I have broken your laws and my sins have separated me from you. I am
truly sorry, and now I want to turn away from my past sinful life toward you.
Please forgive me, and help me avoid sinning again. I believe that your son,
Jesus Christ died for my sins, was resurrected from the dead, is alive, and hears
my prayer. I invite Jesus to become the Lord of my life, to rule and reign in my
heart from this day forward. Please send your Holy Spirit to help me obey You,
and to do Your will for the rest of my life. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.”
If
you prayed this prayer you decided to repent of your sins and receive Christ today.
Welcome to God's family. Now, as a way to grow closer to Him, the Bible tells us
to follow up on our commitment.
- Get baptized as commanded by Christ.
- Tell someone else about your new faith in
Christ.
- Find your “Quiet Place” and spend time
with God each day. Develop the daily habit of praying to Him and reading His
Word. Ask God to increase your faith and your understanding of the Bible.
- Seek fellowship with other followers of
Jesus. Develop a group of believing friends and together pray and begin
studying the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
- Find a local church where you can worship God
and get further involved in His work and continue to spread the good news of
our Lord and Savior.
I
realize this is all new to you and your heart. But, I promise as
each day passes you will become refreshed with your new way of thinking and the
feeling in your mind toward things in this world.
Oh, the world will still be the same old world, but your position in the
world will change and you will be guided differently everyday by Jesus.
He will never leave you. May
you be blessed in your journey with the Lord.
You can be very pleased with yourself today and your commitment to follow
Jesus Christ. Take a stand for what
He means in your life from this day forward.
Read in your Bible James 4: 7-8. God
is good…All the time! He is
forever faithful!
Thank
you for reading my input for this week. I
welcome your comments and input, only if they add insight to the topic at hand;
and that is “Being of Those Who Believe,
One Savior For Me!”
Grace
To You
Rich
Garrison
Wake up America, God’s wrath is knocking!
God’s
wrath is knocking louder than it ever has before in this world.
Everywhere you look there is something going awry.
Don’t say you haven’t had the same observations because you would be
sadly mistaken. Consciously you may not want to admit it but when you have
the opportunity to think about it and evaluate your daily existence you become
more and more aware of people being in bad moods, relationships going south, and
a general attitude amongst people that just isn’t what it used to be.
The
following is a quote from a book by author John MacArthur.
A Bible study series on the book of Revelation entitled “The
Christian’s Ultimate Victory.”
“The Bible teaches that the world is headed inexorably not toward peace and unity, but toward a final, cataclysmic war, the Battle of Armageddon. Until that climatic holocaust, things will continue to deteriorate as the world falls deeper and deeper into chaos, confusion, and sin. As the end approaches, wars will increase, crime will escalate, there will be economic upheavals, and the world will experience unprecedented natural disasters, such as earthquakes, floods, famines, and diseases. All those calamities will mark the outpouring of God’s wrath on the fallen, rebellious world.”
Now, this is not where I start to outline all the terrible things that have been happening in this world, because you already know and can see what is going on all around you. Just pick up a newspaper, or go on-line, with your computer, to your favorite news website and read for 10 minutes about the chaos in this world. Don’t think it can’t come to your house or your street or your town. It can and it will unless we come together and fight against the evil one in this world of ours. The evil that is taking place in this world today is not what our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ intended to take place. It is a slap in the face to God and this is the place where I am drawn by God to ask any and all who would read this to start right now by trying to make a difference in this world. I am asking you to start with your small encounters with people in your everyday world. Start talking about the love Jesus has for you and spread that knowledge to others. If we would start right in our own backyards and work out from that point, don’t you think it could make a difference in our particular worlds? You better believe it would. This can work exactly like the theory in building one of those home businesses. I know 5 people, and you know 5 people and they know 5 people and pretty soon we have people all over meeting and greeting one another in the mighty name of Jesus. Wow, what a concept!
I used to live my days in a world of unrest and uneasiness. I thought my worth was all self-made. I thought I was the greatest. I was listening to Satan, the prince of lies. Well guess what? As my troubles started to compound daily I could see that I was not as great as the man in mirror told me I was. Then one day when I was out walking along life’s road, I discovered I was not self sufficient. I discovered I was not able to make it by myself. It took a near break down of everything I held near and dear to my heart before I was low enough to seek help. That help was Jesus Christ. I learned of His tender mercies when I was a younger man, but I had left those days and went my own way in life. I am not proud of the life I used to live but Jesus has taken those worries all away from me too. I do not worry anymore about those days. I just trust in Jesus everyday for my daily strength and guidance and you can do the very same. I am so glad I heard His tender voice at one time in my life.
What we have here is not rocket science. It does not take a PHD to figure out that if you’re hurting from all the nonsense out there in this wicked world in which we are subjected to everyday, then give the Christian world at least half of the time you are giving to Satan and you will be forever changed! You will be hooked on Jesus just like his disciples were when they first encountered Him. I know without a doubt you are tired, weary of the long nights dancing with the Devil out there in those clubs or just setting alone and drinking a bottle of whiskey. Please believe me I know the emptiness in your heart and I’m here to tell you God will give you a brave new start. He can and will make you different than you were yesterday. All you have to do is agree to do one thing. Yeah, that is what I said. Just agree to do one thing. Just believe that Jesus died on the cross to save you from your sins and that He is Lord and make an honest effort to follow Christ and seek His will and give Him as much time as you are giving to the desires of your heart. I promise, you will never return to those days of uneasy but you will look forward to the days of joy, happiness, prosperity, and fellowship with other Christians! You are not in this alone when you follow Jesus. You are in it alone when you follow Satan, because he is wandering around with no direction and he and his followers are the ultimate losers in this world. It is written in the book of Revelation that Jesus will defeat Satan and Satan will be thrown in the lake of fire along with his followers. Now, you think you had a hot time at the club the other night? Don’t wait, make the choice of a lifetime and become the ultimate winner.
Wake up America, God’s wrath is knocking!
IHS
Rich Garrison
The End Times
To be at the end of something may be a feeling of relief for some of us or it may bring on a feeling of anxiety for others. We pretty much know, or can judge, when certain things are going to end or when we are going to run out of supplies either in our pantry or our workshop, and based on our knowledge and judgment we make preparations, such as a list of things to do or supplies to buy that will bring these areas of our lives back in order for the future. Getting our lives in order for the future is exactly what we are in need of today. I believe we need to look at the world we each live in, and evaluate just what we are personally involved in and ask ourselves these questions:
If
today were my last day on earth, where would I go?
Based
on my knowledge and judgment, do I have enough supplies for where I am going?
If
today is my last day on earth is this all there was, or might there be more in
store for me?
There
will definitely be more in store for everyone after our lives here on earth.
That is why we need to be concerned with these questions and know the
answers to them.
Question
#1
So
my friend, if you are not sure where you are going after your life here on
earth, you are in luck today because you can make the correct choice right now.
All you have to do is become aware of the world you are living in and if
you are not living a life that finds favor with God, give it up!
Ask Jesus to come into your life right now and become the Master and Lord
of your life. “The wrath of
God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of
men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about
God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them.” (Romans 1:18-19)
Question
#2
Question
#3
On
the flip side of this coin is the other place where one will end up should they
continue to live a life orchestrated by the wicked one!
I absolutely despise even mentioning the Devil when I write because of
what I almost allowed him to do to me when I was living on the other side while
journeying through life. It is
necessary to explain that the Devil is very much alive and wandering around
seeking the weak and lonely hearted and filling them with false hopes. Those who serve the Devil through wicked thoughts and deeds
will pay dearly one day for their actions should they continue to ignore the
call from Christian Disciples such as myself.
I
remember a time in a hospital when I was standing in the hallway talking with a
gentleman and he asked me if I was a Christian.
I sadly said no because at the time I was not.
It bothered me at the time because I was raised in a Christian home and
always taught to love the Lord. But
for one brief moment in my life I denied Him and it scared me.
If you are at that point in your life where you find yourself denying
Jesus Christ for whatever reason, get on your knees right now and ask God for
forgiveness. Also go to my Prayer
Page and write me an email and I will contact you just as soon as I read it.
Send me your phone number and I will call you as soon as I can.
I will pray with you and start you on the journey of a lifetime.
A hand in
hand journey with Jesus Christ. You will
not be sorry for your change of heart, I promise.
The
end times may be near for us in many different ways.
Maybe a contract you have is coming to and end with no chance of
negotiations for a new one. Maybe
the manufactures warranty is running out on an automobile you own and you just
can’t believe you didn’t buy the extended warranty.
No need to worry about the warranty or contract that Jesus Christ offers
us. It will never run out.
Jesus settled all negotiations when He was on the cross. He
is our constant in the chaos, our source of strength unchanged.
Every day Christ remains the very same as He was yesterday and He will be
right there tomorrow giving us a new anointing filled with a desire to start our
day and live it as a guiding light for others who need to find their way home.
Yes, we are no doubt living in the end times, and
we need to be concerned about others in these times. That is why I created this
Website so my poetry and writings could be published in the hopes that someone
would be encouraged. I walk with Christ daily
and if I die before He comes again I will be one of the dead in Christ that will
rise when He comes in the eastern sky. Should
I be alive when He comes again, then I will be transported into the clouds to
meet the Lord in the air. And so we
will be with the Lord forever. Take
these words and encourage one another. God
Bless you my friends. See you in
the air!
IHS
Rich
Garrison
Daily Instruction Manual
When we were first born we were not responsible for our actions because we were brand new to this world. We cried when we wanted, we laughed at all the funny looking people that came close to our basinet, and if we had the opportunity I’m sure we convinced some of those funny looking people to never get to close to us again – at least not without knowing what to do in advance. Many of us may not remember our actions but I’m sure we were without blame because we were to young to know any better. As the numbers increased, in our age, we became more aware of what was allowed and what was not allowed based on the voices and faces we saw and heard daily.
I believe the same holds true today in our “grown up world.” With each voice we hear and each face we see, we either envision acceptance or rejection from our actions. This is why we need to know which direction to go so when we are out and about, in our “grown up world”, we have some idea of what is expected and what to expect from others that we come in contact with.
The Daily Instruction Manual is the Bible. The Bible will give us all the direction we will ever need; and without it, we will never experience the qualities in life that God intended us to have and share, as well as experience from others. Paul outlines these qualities in the book of Colossians 3: 12-14. Yes, the Bible is the only book you will ever need in order to live a life that is pleasing to God and according to His laws! The Bible is the number one selling book of all times and, I believe, every house has at least one, maybe two. So there is no excuse for not knowing what direction to go in when we are out in our “grown up world.”
Take some time today and read your Daily Instruction Manual. It will set you on a journey you will be proud of and show you how to have the strength and courage to kindly tell others that their actions are not what God would have them do, or the way they are speaking are not the words the Lord would have them bring forth from their mouths. For it is written, the mouth speaks the things that are in the heart.
Go in the peace of the Lord and be proud of who you are – for you are a child of God!
IHS
Rich Garrison
What kind of nourishment do you like?
When I think about nourishment I think about food. I mean food that will fill my stomach early in the morning and stay with me at least until lunch time. A bowl of oatmeal is really good for sticking to my ribs along with a piece of toast and a glass of pulp- free orange juice. Other days I like bacon and eggs with some sausage gravy and a biscuit. If I can get enough of this kind of nourishment, first thing in the morning, then I'm good to go.
Spiritual nourishment is the other kind of food our bodies need and if you're like I am, you'll need it as often as you can get it. Spiritual nourishment will last for eternal life, when taken slow and allowed to settle and satisfy. When we make a decision to completely submit to the meaningful lessons taught through this type of nourishment we will be fed and filled with a never ending desire to have more and more Spiritual Food.
It is written in Deuteronomy 8: 30 that man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. Just as the Israelites cloths and sandals did not wear out, neither will our lives when we nourish our bodies with His Word. John 6: 35, Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty".
Now that, my friend, is some food that will stick to your ribs and certainly last longer than lunch time. That is exactly what God's word is intended for; to last for eternal life.
Where else can we go? The Disciples asked the very same question of Jesus after they grumbled about His teachings in Capernaum along the lake side. Jesus asked if they wanted to leave Him and Simon Peter answered Jesus saying, "Lord to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God".
I hope you know and believe Jesus is the Holy One of God and believe He has the words to eternal life. There is no where else to go, and no other rock to build your foundation on for life except Jesus Christ.
Go in peace. Be of those who believe, 1 Savior For Me.
IHS
Rich Garrison
This Is Love (John 3:16)
After reading this beautiful and meaningful verse it shows me once again, for the first time, just how much God demonstrates His own love for us; even while we still sin. How many acquaintances do we have that we can say the same thing about after treating them carelessly? How many people do we know who would still want to spend the day with us after we put them aside because they are different than the new friend we just found?
There are many of us who still don't understand the very basics of this meaningful verse in the book of John. God sending His son is how He showed His love among us and for us. He sent Jesus into this world that we might live through Him. In 1 John 4:10 we read, "this is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins". God sent Jesus so He would be the Great Counselor, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace, and The Almighty God! AMEN.
Even in this modern day world there are many who still fail to see the Love from above that was shown through the birth of a child.......The Christ Child. This act of unselfish Love is what will save you! Believing on and having faith in the Christ Child will save us all from the ways of the world.
Go and spend some quiet time alone with Jesus and read John 3:16-18 and behold the new way of life that awaits you in these beautiful and very meaningful verses.
If you are a new believer in Jesus Christ and want someone to pray with you, please contact me through my . I remain committed to the Gospel and helping anyone with their personal "journey to the foot of the cross".
Rich Garrison
Where
Make no mistake about it. Jesus is alive and well living in the hearts of all who will come to know Him. He is everywhere we look in this world. He is waiting for us to make the choice of a lifetime. He is waiting for us to come to Him, and receive His grace and mercy. Hebrews 4:16b He is in the widow and the orphan; He is in the new born child that needs the opportunity to be loved and nurtured; He is in the elderly person on the street that needs your help in their time of need. He wants to be in you. He wants you to feel like you belong and have a purpose in this life. It's an excellent feeling to have a sense of belonging...to have a sense of purpose and worth . He hears us when we're calling, He catches us when we're falling and He tells us who we are.....We are His!
Jesus Is Everywhere You Will Let Him Be
He wants to be in your thoughts, your words and deeds. He wants to be a part of the riches you claim to achieve on our own. He wants to be a part of your child's good grades that were brought home today from school. He wants to be a part of your vacation that you have worked so hard to make happen this year. He wants to be thought of every minute of the day; and rightfully so! He came to this earth born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate; was crucified dead and buried. Jesus did this for you and me so we would not have to walk through this life alone and be lost in the ways of the world. When we make the right choice and accept and believe what He did for us by dying on the Cross at Calvary and truly start to follow Him, I promise you my brethren, God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.
Build Your Treasures in Heaven or be Lost in The Ways of The World
As it states in Ephesians: We are dead when we insist on following the ways of the world! Satan is the ruler and what he's preaching is a lie! All of us have lived there at one time following the desires and thoughts of this wicked being.
But no more says my heart; for I am tired of following an endless path full of broken dreams; tired of witnessing desperate souls crying out for help along the pathway of despair. Hear my cry oh God; have mercy.
It is time to take a stand for what we know is good and just in this world. It is time to be alive and become "One in Christ." Psalm 34:8 -14 and 37:3 It is time to turn our lives from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it, trust in the Lord and do good, and come home to dwell in His house forever. Go ahead and make the "Choice of a Lifetime". When you make this choice you begin to see evil for what it really is and you begin to see past the ways of the world. You begin to see Jesus and you will have a new sense of purpose and worth.
Where is Jesus? In your heart is where Jesus needs to be today! In this ever-changing world in which we live, He is as solid as a rock. Hebrews 13: 8. "Jesus is the same yesterday and today and forever."
I hope after reading this it makes you say just one thing..."Praise God for what He means to me and Blessed Be His Holy Name."
Rich Garrison 1 Timothy 4: 6-10
Made For Eternal Life
I am a Christian, but am I all the Christian I can
be? Am I trying to hard in places
that I don’t need to, or am I not trying hard enough in areas that require
more of my time and better focus?
These questions are ones I think we all
struggle with everyday in our lives as Christians.
God has a purpose for each one of us and it centers on helping us
understand that we are made to last forever.
In Ecclesiastes 3: 11 the
Bible talks about planting eternity in the human heart.
We all have an inborn instinct that longs for immortality.
This is because God designed us, in his image, to live for eternity.
Lets explore what immortality might mean to
us if we were not focused on God. For
the next few moments or so, I want you to be confident in the fact that you are
immortal but here’s the twist; I
want you to do it with out the confidence of having or knowing Christ in your
life.
These maybe some of your feelings:
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What on earth am I here for?
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Why do I have this feeling of being alone?
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Why do I feel un-loved?
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Why do I feel that I have no direction in life?
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Where will I go when I die?
I don't know about you, but it scars me to think a life
without Jesus. Praise God there is hope in having eternal life when you make the right
choice. Life on earth offers many choices and when you choose Jesus you have
made the choice of a lifetime.
In other words, you have made
the right choice and you will discover the answers to all these feelings
when you come know Christ in your life!
Take
a look at the book of Jude verse 21. Setting your eyes upon Jesus everyday will give
you great insight to the complete meaning of life.
Having a relationship with God on earth will
determine our relationship to him in eternity. This is so true. If
we do not know Jesus as our personal Lord and Savior we can never hope to know
the great things in store for us one day in Glory Land.
A non-believer may say "nothing is free in
this world”! But I say,
"Eternal Life with Christ is free and there is even an instruction manual
that comes with it. The Holy Bible"!
Eternal Life with Christ is FREE!
Romans 6: 23 (NCV) says: "When people sin,
they earn what sin pays – death. But God gives us a free gift – life forever
in Christ Jesus our Lord". AMEN!
When you search for Jesus and truly feel the need
to have Him in your life, He will seek you out in every aspect of your daily
living.
When you go out into your world on Monday you will not feel comfortable
around people who are engaged in tainted conversation about someone else; and
you will learn to seek out those who are filled with the Holy Spirit.
You know what that is? That is the
new you starting to grow through God’s promise.
That is the new you tired of the same old things in your life day after day.
That is the new you standing on the promises of God. And you will learn to
stand firm on those promises because everyday with the Lord is sweeter than the
day before! Amen.
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"God will give to each person according to what he has done. To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life".
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Doesn’t that sound like something you would want to be a part of........doing something that would be pleasing to your Lord and Savior?
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Doesn’t it just make you want to stand up and shout Glory to God because you have found a way out of the hurt you may be feeling right now?
Please admit to yourself that you want to be apart
of doing things that are pleasing for God.
God knows your heart right now. He knows you are struggling with
something to big for you to handle on your own. Please ask the Master into
your heart. He will take that struggle and He will handle it.
Won’t you please make the Choice of A Lifetime?
Won’t you take the gift that’s offered you?
Dear God,
Thank you for this opportunity to share your word today. Let Your love come down upon us as we walk daily knowing You are in control. Grant us Your peace and Your wisdom so that we may share Your Good News with all who will listen. I ask this all in Your Name and for Jesus' sake, AMEN.
a. These are verses from the Bible.
Rich Garrison
Holy
Week
It was just another
week for many in the city of Jerusalem. A
time when merchants were selling their wares and exchanging different kinds of
money. Enter Jesus, the Son of
David on a donkey. Ah, what a grand
entrance it was. Imagine people
everywhere shouting praises to His Holy name.
Many people spread their cloaks on the road while others cut palm
branches and laid them down for the tiny donkey to carry Jesus into the city.
People continued to sing praises to Him as they walked before Him and
those behind Him shouted, “Praise to the Son of David!
God Bless the One who comes in the name of the Lord!
Praise to God in Heaven!”
The excitement was overwhelming as Jesus entered Jerusalem. Can you imagine the thrill of it all? Only the most popular man, ever, was coming to their city. Who wouldn’t be excited? He was popular now, but in just a few short days His life, including the lives of many, would be changed forever! He went from fame to agony and pain in just a matter of days.
His coming was to be a time of teaching in the temple courts. However, while teaching the chief priests and elders were becoming quite angry with Jesus and challenged Him in his authority. Jesus stood firm on His position of authority and gave no indication as to why He was doing these things. Jesus continued to teach His story of love, hope, and respect for all. He continued to give, to all who would listen, great insight about the kingdom of God. The Pharisees knew Jesus was talking about them and planned on arresting Jesus. They were afraid because the crowd loved Him. The people adored Him. He was Jesus, the prophet from the town of Nazareth in Galilee. So the Pharisees quickly abandoned that idea for the time being. Jesus continued to speak in parables to many.
The Pharisees continued to look for ways to trap Jesus but they failed. Back and forth they went with their silly games and all they could do was come up empty handed each time. Jesus continued to preach God’s word. Then the Sadducees and the Pharisees got together and quizzed Jesus about the greatest commandment in the Law. Jesus said, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. The second commandment is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
The hours came and went as Jesus became more and more loved and despised by many as well. As Jesus finished His teachings and gathered His disciples, He made them aware that the Passover was two days away and the Son of Man must be handed over to be crucified.
Now the high priest, Caiaphas, was teamed up with the crowd that despised Jesus. They plotted in some sly way to arrest Jesus and kill him. Even one of the Twelve—the one called Judas Iscariot—became filled with the wicked one and went looking for a way to betray his Lord.
As the disciples made preparations for Jesus to eat the Passover, it became clearer and clearer to them that things were coming to pass just as the Master had said. The evening passed and Judas was filled with an overwhelming urge to suggest that Jesus couldn’t possibly be talking about him as the one who would betray Him. Then Jesus took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them. He said, “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it anew with you in my Father’s kingdom.” They went to the Mount of Olives and it was there that Jesus predicted Peter’s act of denial.
Jesus was beginning to experience some difficulties with His followers. In the garden He instructed his disciples to sit and wait and keep watch as He went and prayed. They fell asleep. Jesus was overwhelmed with sorrow this night in the garden. He begged them to keep watch and pray so they would not be tempted. He returned to them once again only to find them asleep. He couldn’t take it any longer and left them again to go and pray for a third time and when He returned the hour was near and the Son of Man was handed over to sinners.
We all know the rest of the story. Jesus was arrested and we all know the pain and suffering Jesus went through, as He became sin on the cross. The humiliation He felt there on that tree the day he died on Calvary. He did it all for you and me, so we may have everlasting life. What a tremendous sacrifice Jesus made for us. One that will never be matched. One that would not even be considered by anyone.
This Holy week is a special time for Christians all over the world. As we go to our places of worship this week and as we pray and give thanks for the greatest sacrifice of all times, let us also share Jesus with a friend. Share the Good News just as Jesus shared it with all He came in contact with over 2000 years ago. This week start your journey to the cross and do it for Eternal Life! Make the choice of a lifetime and “Be of those who believe, 1 Savior for me.”
IHS
Rich Garrison