Who gets remembered?

Who gets remembered... Consider this that a year after a funeral service it is not those who where rich or into their career, investment portfolio, fancy cars, expensive home, prestige, me first attitude, pleasure seeking, yacht owning, country club setting, its all about me person that gets remembered.
The person who will be remembered not only in one year but thought of fondly a decade after their funeral is the person who took care of their families needs before their own, visited the sick, helped not only the poor but those who needed someone to take time to care about them as an individual and show them real love. The person who did not try to get ahead by putting others down and was always willing to help meet a need or just be there for someone during their hard times. The person who did not seek to be the center of attention but tried to make sure no one felt left out at a social gathering or in a work environment. The person who could be called on whenever there was a need and they would rearrange their schedule to help meet the need and do so happily, being a blessing without thought thereof. So if we all realize that it is the people who lived a life of service to others rather than themselves that are remembered, makes you wonder why so few choose to commit their life to serving others. The essence of service boils down to those who are willing to not only acknowledge God and His love for people but those who are willing to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. Those who have repented of their sin and received forgiveness through Jesus the Christ have been freed from being self-absorbed to become others directed. What is your choice, remember life is short and eternity is forever.

Good decisions required

Good financial health requires planed action, right choices, debt avoidance, good work ethic, self-control, and commitment. These requirements are manifest through honest assessment of needs vs wants, prioritizing of needs in order to plan necessary purchases to enhance opportunity for savings, research of products or services in order to make good choices, not giving in to temptation for impulse actions, not borrowing funds on depreciating items thereby reducing interest payment, putting in work required to generate income, stay committed to avoiding out of control living and thereby achieve financial health.
In like manner to have good spiritual health there are some requirements. You must first acknowledge that all that is did not happen by chance but was created by God. Next you must seek to know what God requires of you by study of the Bible which reveals His plan for mankind. By repenting of your sin and accepting the payment made by Jesus the Christ for that sin you will be changed from the inside out and be given understanding of truth with light see the right path for your life avoiding the traps and pitfalls of immoral bankrupt living. Through daily Bible study and conversation with God through prayer you will grow in wisdom and favor with God. Commitment to serving God allows His peace and love to flow in and through you so that you are not only blessed but are a blessing to others. God loves us and wants to grant eternal life to all, He provides in the Bible all the information needed to make correct decision. He even points out how few will chose the narrow path that leads to eternal life with Him and warns that many will stay on the broad pathway that leads to living death entering into the wide gate of eternal suffering. But God has given us a free will and therefore leaves the choice up to us as to where we want to spend eternity.
When you look around you see many paying the price for poor financial decisions and many others who have not learned from the easily seen mistakes of those around them. So it is with the spiritual the examples are limitless in the lives of those on the broad pathway who have chosen to remain thereon, apparently wanting to do it their way in spite of the love of God and His desire for them to have an overcoming life that ends in victory with Him through His son Jesus paying their sin debt.
May you obtain good financial health in this life, but let the primary focus be on securing good spiritual health. The choice is ours to make but choose well for this life is short and eternity is forever.

Never seem to learn

Time passes but people never seem to learn. From Presidents, Governors, Senators, Congressmen, Sports Stars, International power brokers, etc. too many to name with multiples to represent each group. With political power, fame, money, celebrity or position of authority too many times those who obtain such status start to feel they are special and entitled to live to please themselves and are so powerful that no one will ever discover their illegal conduct or immoral lifestyle. The end is always the same, their secret conduct is found out and broadcast around the world. Their families are embarrassed, friends and supporters wonder how it was discovered and are dismayed that their anointed one is now tarnished. Forgotten to often is that hypocrisy may be covered for a time but in time will be revealed and made known. That which is done in the secret place under the cover of darkness, will be found by the light and the secret revealed to all carried by the airwaves and printed page for all the world to know. People who think they are little gods have become like fools not realizing that there is a Holy God who is the final Judge. We are warned not to fear any man who can only kill the body but instead we should fear and reverence God who is able not only to kill the body but cast the soul into hell. When someone does not wish to retain God in their knowledge they start down the path of self-destruction which always ends in ruin. Their is hope for those who will repent and turn from their sin seeking the forgiveness of God through a personal relationship with His son Jesus the Christ. It is the same for all no matter their position or status in life, God is not a respecter of persons, but offers forgiveness and peace to all who accept.

Self-Worth

What value do you place on yourself or do you allow others to decide your value. If you value yourself higher than others you will have few real friends and be a real challenge to those who must come into contact with you. You will most likely be prideful and boastful, while rarely being truly content. On the other hand if you let others determine your self-worth you will ride an emotional roller coaster and never feel you are of value, unless you are pleasing others. You will be easily discouraged and subject to periods of feeling down or depressed. Schools now try to instill feelings of self-worth into students, even to the extreme of not wanting to keep score in games. Sometimes they even consider not grading students on test or exams, but then what purpose would they really serve. Where we get our self-worth from will determine how we handle our life experience, so it is important that we have correct self-worth. Our value should be based on fact we were created in image of God and that He loves us so much that His son Jesus the Christ died to pay the price for our sin. That being the case we then will realize that no one is more important than someone else, all are of equal value where it counts - with God.
Now accept your value and the forgiveness of sin that Jesus has paid for already and desire to grow in the grace and knowledge of God. With properly understood self-worth you will not only be a blessing to those around you but be blessed.

Willing to be a mirrior?

Have you noticed that there are times you can not do what you want to do. Do you sometimes struggle to understand why that is. When it comes to your personal relationship with God through Jesus you must be willing to wait. Waiting is not easy but many times necessary to allow us to get ready for the next phase of our lives. Sometimes you can see clearly where God is leading and it is full speed ahead, but there are also times when there is doubt in understanding God's guidance. It is in those times of doubt that you must be ready to wait for God to make the way clear. When the way is clear you must move forward and follow God's clear guidance, no matter whether you want to or not. It could be something as simple as ending a personal or business relationship that is stunting your spiritual growth and development. It could be a family member or long time friend who does not care for the deeper things of God or maybe does not want to have anything to do with God. It may be time to break away from those negative relationships and allow God to grow you as he works in their lives. It is not easy to take a stand or to redirect your social networks. However, we are not called to a natural devotion to Christ but to a supernatural one that leads us on to a higher calling. It is through obeying the clear direction of God that allows us to become mirrors for the love of Christ.

Clouds of Fog

Many who have not been changed by the Spirit of God believe the teachings of Jesus to be not only simple but for the simple minded. But for those who have been changed the dense cloud of fog lifts and the light of the word of God begins to shine through that they may be able to see truth. The more that the teachings of Jesus are studied the stronger the sight becomes. Many pretend to have sight but they show they are still surrounded by the fog with their flippant attitudes toward and seaming familiarity with the things of God. Those who have been introduced to and have a personal relationship with Jesus as Lord and Savior understand with reverence the great price that was paid so they could have that relationship. They delight in the liberty given from the power of sin over their lives. God gives life and His spirit to those who have been changed from the inside out. Jesus words are spirit and life to all who will accept Him by faith. Those who will walk in the light rather than stumble in the clouds of fog must renounce their self directed life. It must be replaced with a Spirit directed life which is possible only through a completely surrendered life to God and His word. Truth will come by hearing and the hearing comes through the word of God.(Bible)

Never ceases to amaze

God never ceases to amaze. Just as I was giving serious consideration to reduce some of my time pressures and fatigue by quit blogging for a while, received message which showed that is not where the time should be saved. Started blogging because people are important to God as shown by Jesus His son dying to pay the price for our sin. That kind of love requires those that have experienced it to be willing to do the same. People must come first even before our own comfort. To everything there is indeed a season and a time, but it is not now the time to quit as it relates to blogging.
So will continue to try to post each week and visit blogs to invest in the lives of those who must be more important to me than time for myself. God is good and all need to know of His love for us especially in these dark times. May you find the Light for your journey through life.

Whose way will it be

Knowledge begins with respect for the Lord, but fools hate wisdom and discipline. Study the Bible for instruction in wisdom and let it teach you in the way of Truth
and do not forget it's advice on life. Make it a part of your apparel like a necklace or a watch that it might remind you through out the day of the beauty of the creation of God and that all time is God's time. Be warned that the teaching of man will try to lead you away from Truth into things that are pleasing to self at the expense of eternity. Always remember that Truth is not relative and does not change with time, knowledge can be increased and wisdom can be gained but always through Truth. With Truth comes the knowledge and wisdom to live a disciplined life, one that needs not to be regretted. To know and have a personal relationship with Jesus the Christ is to have Truth because Jesus is Truth.
Live your life to it's fullest potential by living it as an offering of service to God and you will not only be blessed but a blessing to those around you. Two choices for life God's way or our way, all start with our own way but it is how we finish that counts.

3 in a row

Over past 3 weeks a former co-worker, father of a friend and my aunt all died. One per week, 2 from cancer and 1 from heart failure. Death will come one day to us all. I have seen the young die and the old along with those in between. Not one of them knew in advance the day they would die but each knew that upon death they would have to stand before a Holy God. Two of them acted on that knowledge to insure they were ready and one had not. That which has past can not be changed but if you are able to read this you can still make the change to insure you are ready when your last day comes. The key is will you be prepared to stand before God when your time is up, have you accepted the forgiveness of your sin by faith in Jesus the Christ who died to pay the price for that sin. Many have not because they do not see the need to repent and allow God to change them nor are they willing to count the cost. How about you?

Not just another book

About the only book that people want to ban or otherwise remove from public discourse is the Bible. It seems to strike fear in the hearts of the elites, progressives, others in academia, the media and now many in the general public. If it is just a book what is the big deal with it being read, studied or discussed. Maybe the problem is simply that if it is true then we will have to give an account for how we have lived our lives. We may also have to answer for why we did not humble ourselves to God Himself and repent from our sins. Why not accept His forgiveness and allow Him to change you from inside out so you can follow His path for your life. This might be a very scary concept for those who seek to control their own life. Many do not believe in prayer while at same time hoping they are not wrong. The Bible talks about dark days and warns us of the signs of the times, are you paying attention to the news and what is occurring all around you. What is needed is a little faith to look for wisdom and to know Truth when it confronts us. May God grant you sight to see in the darkness and faith to allow Him to change you through faith in His son Jesus the Christ. Grab a Bible while it is still legal in your country(if already outlawed you will have a tough time securing one) and read it to see why so many are afraid of it....