Archive / September, 2013

How Do I Lead My Kids To Jesus? ~ Luke 18:15-17

Luke 18:15-17 ESV: Now they were bringing even infants to him that he might touch them. And when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. But Jesus called them to him, saying, “Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” Bringing Their Infants To Jesus: There are so many questions people have in regard to the salvation of children. Should they be baptized? Should they be dedicated? Should they receive communion? How early can they understand the redemptive story of the gospel in regard to self application? When can they have genuine saving faith? The Bible is not totally clear on the subject, but one thing is sure, we as parents are instructed to train our children in the […]

Don’t Go Back to the Pen ~ 1 Peter 1:14-16

“As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.””. 1 Peter 1: 14-16 I can so relate, and at the same time am so convicted, with the opening of verse 14 in this chapter. If I had a nickel for every time I used the word “obedient” in a day while interacting with my three children I would be the wealthiest woman in the world! I am constantly expecting obedience from my children (who are 7, 3.5, and 2 by the way) and yet as a grown adult I sometimes catch myself acting like a spiritual three year old. God is speaking to me to get up and go do something and I just continue on scrubbing […]

First Things First ~ 1 Peter 1:13

“Therefore, preparing your minds for action (girding up the loins of your mind, KJV), and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 1:13 (ESV) God the Father held nothing back to save us. He walked on our earth, felt temptation to sin through our flesh, suffered the poverty of going from riches to rags, and gave up his life into the hands of the ones He gave life to. Jesus won us a glorious salvation through sacrifice greater than we can even comprehend. How should I respond? With devotion. Devotion is described in the dictionary as “profound dedication“. I have gotten in the habit of calling the time I spend reading my Bible and in prayer, my devotions, as I’m sure many contemporary Christians also would. I can honestly and sadly say, however; that […]

The Ultimate Fool!

THE ULTIMATE FOOL! (a conversation I just had with someone) The God who created you and the God that you will one day stand before, He is GOOD, JUST & TRUE. The Bible calls it a foolish thing to look at the creation of the world and to declare that there is no God. The evidence stares us in the face & yet so many of us refuse to acknowledge Him or His wonderful works. The Bible also says that the reason we refuse to acknowledge Him, is that we love our sin. I don’t care to win a debate about God, because it’s not up for debate, not for you and not for me. We have all broken His commands. We know in our hearts that lying is wrong, stealing, adultery, using God’s name in vain. Yet we have all done it knowing it was wrong. Jesus said that hating […]

Prayer Of The Damned – Luke 18:9-14

Luke 18:9-14 ESV .. “He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” The temple was a place for prayer, anyone […]

The Cure Is Salvation – Luke 17:11-19

At this point in my life I really don’t care if anyone reads my blog posts, although it was not that long ago I found myself working really hard to get readers and subscribers. For what? So I could justify the countless hours that I spend researching the scriptures? Or so I could feel good when the odd person left a comment and told me how great it was? Vanity, vanity, vanity. It’s all vain and self seeking if those are the reasons. If all my research, writing, and efforts are not to bring glory to God alone I have wasted my time and heaped judgment upon myself, for this is all the reward I will ever get. Our hearts can be so deceptive at times, it’s nearly impossible to decipher what your own intentions really are, which is why David said in Psalm 139:23-24, “Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and […]

Handle with Care – 1 Peter 1:10-12

“Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories. It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look.” 1 Peter: 1:10-12 It is so easy for me to get caught up in life…. Not the true and fulfilling life that is spent in God’s service and fellowship, but in day to day life….looking only at the duties of today and forgetting to keep eternity as my lens. I hate being inconsistent but I am deeply thankful for God’s patience […]