Got any plans for today? What are they?
How about any plans for tomorrow.
Made plans for next week and ready to roll.
Made your plans or at least started to plan for Christmas.
Plans and goals for next year in place yet.
What about 5 years from now what are you planning.
20 years from now what have you got lined up as to what you plan on doing and goals reached.
After retirement got your plans lined up and prepared to implement.
Okay so far so good right....
Now for the next plan have you prepared for your death.. life insurance, funeral arrangements and burial ready.
Now the most important of all plans, have you planned for your future after your funeral?
You will spend maybe as much as 100 years on this earth that you planned for but what about eternity. Did you plan and are you prepared to live forever with God in Heaven.
Or have you dismissed the need to prepare for eternity and just planning to accept the default location and hope it is not to bad.
The choice to plan or not is yours but remember you will be where you have prepared for in your planning forever.
Plan Well!
Friday, July 29, 2011
Friday, July 22, 2011
Past, Present, Future...
Our present is primarily the result of our past decisions. The choices we make in the present will affect our future. If we do not like how things are going for us in the present then we need to learn from our past decisions which resulted in the things we do not like in the present. Many have taken the path of least resistance, going along with the crowd and the culture. When we look in the wrong place for direction we limit how satisfied we will be with our future. If we make excuses for our past circumstances or try to blame others than our future will be no better than the present.
To have a different future we need to change our present actions, relationships, thought process and make decisions that history has shown to work so there will be no reason for future excuses. It will take time and there are no easy fixes to overcome the poor decisions of the past. We have to change direction while still hindered by our past. With time the harvest of past decisions will diminish. Be patient for in due time present decisions will overcome those of the past. Then we will be on track for a changed future. But a lot of past good can also be overcome by poor decisions in the present.
Commit to change the future with divine help and Godly counsel in the present which will overcome past choices. Remember it will not be quick and amount of time needed will be dependent on how far off the past decisions were. As long as there is life there is hope. The path to a better future begins with a personal relationship with God through His son Jesus Christ today.
To have a different future we need to change our present actions, relationships, thought process and make decisions that history has shown to work so there will be no reason for future excuses. It will take time and there are no easy fixes to overcome the poor decisions of the past. We have to change direction while still hindered by our past. With time the harvest of past decisions will diminish. Be patient for in due time present decisions will overcome those of the past. Then we will be on track for a changed future. But a lot of past good can also be overcome by poor decisions in the present.
Commit to change the future with divine help and Godly counsel in the present which will overcome past choices. Remember it will not be quick and amount of time needed will be dependent on how far off the past decisions were. As long as there is life there is hope. The path to a better future begins with a personal relationship with God through His son Jesus Christ today.
Saturday, July 16, 2011
There is Hope
Serious health issues battle.....There is Hope.
On the verge of becoming homeless.....There is Hope.
Martial strife and stress overwhelming.....There is Hope.
Children out of control and headed for crash.....There is Hope.
Unemployed and no job prospects in sight.....There is Hope.
Medical bills crushing you.....There is Hope.
Life full of turmoil.....There is Hope.
No joy or peace.....There is Hope.
Drowning in debt with no way out.....There is Hope.
Addicted to alcohol.....There is Hope.
Addicted to other drugs.....There is Hope.
Gambling controlling your life.....There is Hope.
Lust for power, sex, or money controlling your thoughts.....There is Hope.
More expenses than income weighing you down.....There is Hope.
Single and feeling all alone.....There is Hope.
No friends and no one to care about.....There is Hope.
Feeling down or depressed.....There is Hope.
Believe you are worthless or not appreciated.....There is Hope.
Do not care about anything anymore.....There is Hope.
Fearful about your future.....There is Hope.
Tired of things not working out as planned.....There is Hope.
Lost your best friend.....There is Hope.
Having trouble coping with life.....There is Hope.
Feel all is lost.....There is Hope.
Your problem is______________.....There is Hope.
No matter what you face in life there is Hope. The key is to know where real Hope comes from. Real Hope comes from having a personal relationship with God through His son Jesus the Christ. It is both a simple matter but also a difficult thing. Simple because Jesus died to pay the price for your sin so you can be changed from the inside out and be given strength, joy, peace, wisdom with light for your journey through life. Difficult because you have to repent of your sin and by faith accept that God loves you and His son Jesus died and rose from the dead to set you free from the bondage of your sin nature. One born blind can not fully understand sight until their eyes are able to see.
Open the Bible and start reading in the book of John. Ask God to open your eyes that you might have faith to accept the Truth of who He is and allow Him to set you free.
On the verge of becoming homeless.....There is Hope.
Martial strife and stress overwhelming.....There is Hope.
Children out of control and headed for crash.....There is Hope.
Unemployed and no job prospects in sight.....There is Hope.
Medical bills crushing you.....There is Hope.
Life full of turmoil.....There is Hope.
No joy or peace.....There is Hope.
Drowning in debt with no way out.....There is Hope.
Addicted to alcohol.....There is Hope.
Addicted to other drugs.....There is Hope.
Gambling controlling your life.....There is Hope.
Lust for power, sex, or money controlling your thoughts.....There is Hope.
More expenses than income weighing you down.....There is Hope.
Single and feeling all alone.....There is Hope.
No friends and no one to care about.....There is Hope.
Feeling down or depressed.....There is Hope.
Believe you are worthless or not appreciated.....There is Hope.
Do not care about anything anymore.....There is Hope.
Fearful about your future.....There is Hope.
Tired of things not working out as planned.....There is Hope.
Lost your best friend.....There is Hope.
Having trouble coping with life.....There is Hope.
Feel all is lost.....There is Hope.
Your problem is______________.....There is Hope.
No matter what you face in life there is Hope. The key is to know where real Hope comes from. Real Hope comes from having a personal relationship with God through His son Jesus the Christ. It is both a simple matter but also a difficult thing. Simple because Jesus died to pay the price for your sin so you can be changed from the inside out and be given strength, joy, peace, wisdom with light for your journey through life. Difficult because you have to repent of your sin and by faith accept that God loves you and His son Jesus died and rose from the dead to set you free from the bondage of your sin nature. One born blind can not fully understand sight until their eyes are able to see.
Open the Bible and start reading in the book of John. Ask God to open your eyes that you might have faith to accept the Truth of who He is and allow Him to set you free.
Friday, July 8, 2011
Latest evidence
Wisdom and commonsense are getting more and more difficult to find. Latest evidence of same comes from a recent court case in Florida. Two year old child's decomposed body is found in swamp after being missing for over 6 months. The child was not looked for or reported missing until more than 4 weeks after last being seen. Even then it was not the mother of child who reported the two year old was missing but the grandmother. What was the mother doing you might ask, well she was out partying, clubbing, getting tattoos and lying to police each time she was questioned by police as to where her 2 year old daughter was. After the child's decomposed body was found in the swamp the mother was arrested and finally tried for the death of the child.
The lawyers representing the mother threw out all kinds of garbage and speculation to earn their pay. When the case was finished not one of the 12 jurors voted to convict the mother for the death of her little 2 year old daughter. They justify their decision by saying the death of the child might have been an accident and that the evidence presented did not prove exactly how the child died. Now think about that reasoning, they in effect thought the death might have been an accident set up to look like a murder. The police will be quick to tell you that many a murder has been set up to look like an accident, but never an innocent person staging an accident to make them look like a murderer. Now think about the 'well evidence was not clear on how the child was killed'. It was clear that the child was dead what difference does it make if they were suffocated, stabbed, beat or shot multiple times. Dead is dead and the only difference is how much pain they might have endured before dying.
Now the other evidence is the response by legal community and many in media as well as some in general public. The jurors and legal process are defended based on points of law and how they must prevail in our great judicial system. However think about this, how great can any judicial system be when justice is not the main object in every case nor is it the desired goal.
The lawyers representing the mother threw out all kinds of garbage and speculation to earn their pay. When the case was finished not one of the 12 jurors voted to convict the mother for the death of her little 2 year old daughter. They justify their decision by saying the death of the child might have been an accident and that the evidence presented did not prove exactly how the child died. Now think about that reasoning, they in effect thought the death might have been an accident set up to look like a murder. The police will be quick to tell you that many a murder has been set up to look like an accident, but never an innocent person staging an accident to make them look like a murderer. Now think about the 'well evidence was not clear on how the child was killed'. It was clear that the child was dead what difference does it make if they were suffocated, stabbed, beat or shot multiple times. Dead is dead and the only difference is how much pain they might have endured before dying.
Now the other evidence is the response by legal community and many in media as well as some in general public. The jurors and legal process are defended based on points of law and how they must prevail in our great judicial system. However think about this, how great can any judicial system be when justice is not the main object in every case nor is it the desired goal.
Monday, July 4, 2011
Freedom is not free
The cost of this nation's freedom from the bondage of England was with the suffering and shed blood of many of her patriots but all did not chose freedom. The Tories chose to fight with England and remain in subjection to her rule. The cost of freedom from the bondage of our nation's slaves was also obtained by the shed blood of many of our citizens. However some chose to continue to live and work on the same plantation for the same master even after their freedom was mandated.
Today many continue to chose to remain in bondage to sin even though the price has been paid for their freedom. The payment for sin was death and God sent His son Jesus the Christ to pay the price. Although Jesus shed his blood to pay the price many chose not to accept the payment. They prefer to remain in bondage to sin and allow it to be their master. Too many would rather believe a lie rather than come to the Truth and repent of their sin accepting forgiveness through the payment made by Jesus.
Have you chosen freedom from sin or to remain in bondage and allow it to be master of your life. Just as freedom is not free, a gift is no good unless it is accepted. May freedom be your choice.
Today many continue to chose to remain in bondage to sin even though the price has been paid for their freedom. The payment for sin was death and God sent His son Jesus the Christ to pay the price. Although Jesus shed his blood to pay the price many chose not to accept the payment. They prefer to remain in bondage to sin and allow it to be their master. Too many would rather believe a lie rather than come to the Truth and repent of their sin accepting forgiveness through the payment made by Jesus.
Have you chosen freedom from sin or to remain in bondage and allow it to be master of your life. Just as freedom is not free, a gift is no good unless it is accepted. May freedom be your choice.
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
What about you
State of New York confirmed that it has a legislature and Governor that put personal beliefs and supposed financial enrichment ahead of the wishes of the people. Other states have had a few activist Judges who are blinded to truth issue new law edicts but now... Commonsense is in short supply and wisdom is but a memory. With the passage of a law redefining what is to be accepted as a marriage they have quietly placed the final nail in the coffin of sanity and reason for New York state. With acceptance of the vile the road becomes littered with the rotten fruit of that which has been sown. The pathway that started with acceptance of that which God condemned and continued with the allowance of civil unions has now concluded in redefining marriage to be between any two people. Next step will be that marriage can also be between any person and an animal. Why not if your standards are set by man then they will continue to spiral downward to utter depravity.
It is written that God will bring judgement on all sinful, evil men who reject the truth. The truth is known through God given reason and commonsense but they choose to ignore it and push all thoughts of God from their minds. Even though the evidence is so overwhelming that they have to teach the children that there is no real God in order to overcome that which is clearly seen. Still they choose to live a lie rather than accept the truth and acknowledge God. So they will have no excuse when they stand before God on Judgement Day. Yes they know about God but will not admit it or worship Him let alone take time to thank Him for blessings. Instead they think of silly ideas about God and what is required to please Him. The result is their foolish minds have become dark and confused. Claiming to be wise without God they have become utter fools instead. Rather than worshiping the living God they choose to worship their ideas and pleasure. So God has allowed them to go into every sort of sexual sin even to the vile abuse of their bodies. Instead of believing the truth of God and obeying Him they choose to believe lies. Therefore God has given them up to do all sort of evil things with women burning in their lust one for another and men leaving the natural sex relationship with women, choose to burn in lust for other men committing their shameful homosexual acts one with another. So they pay the price within their own body and souls with the penalty for the fulfillment of their evil desires. Being aware of God's death penalty for such wickedness they go ahead and commit their vile deeds and encourage others to do so as well. Society is also paying a high price in health cost both physical, mental and emotional and will continue to do so until those who walk in light stand up to those who stumble in the darkness.
There is still hope but the hour grows late. God loves us and Jesus died to pay for our sin debt but we must choose to acknowledge our sin and repent putting our trust in God as Lord of our lives. Seek the light and you will find it. Deny truth to your own peril.
It is written that God will bring judgement on all sinful, evil men who reject the truth. The truth is known through God given reason and commonsense but they choose to ignore it and push all thoughts of God from their minds. Even though the evidence is so overwhelming that they have to teach the children that there is no real God in order to overcome that which is clearly seen. Still they choose to live a lie rather than accept the truth and acknowledge God. So they will have no excuse when they stand before God on Judgement Day. Yes they know about God but will not admit it or worship Him let alone take time to thank Him for blessings. Instead they think of silly ideas about God and what is required to please Him. The result is their foolish minds have become dark and confused. Claiming to be wise without God they have become utter fools instead. Rather than worshiping the living God they choose to worship their ideas and pleasure. So God has allowed them to go into every sort of sexual sin even to the vile abuse of their bodies. Instead of believing the truth of God and obeying Him they choose to believe lies. Therefore God has given them up to do all sort of evil things with women burning in their lust one for another and men leaving the natural sex relationship with women, choose to burn in lust for other men committing their shameful homosexual acts one with another. So they pay the price within their own body and souls with the penalty for the fulfillment of their evil desires. Being aware of God's death penalty for such wickedness they go ahead and commit their vile deeds and encourage others to do so as well. Society is also paying a high price in health cost both physical, mental and emotional and will continue to do so until those who walk in light stand up to those who stumble in the darkness.
There is still hope but the hour grows late. God loves us and Jesus died to pay for our sin debt but we must choose to acknowledge our sin and repent putting our trust in God as Lord of our lives. Seek the light and you will find it. Deny truth to your own peril.
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Characteristics of lifes destination
What do the following have in common.
Jealousy, strife, envying, drunkenness, revelry, murder, hatred, adultery, drug use, worship of things, false teaching, fornication, homosexual impurity, coarse jesting, wrath, rebellious, and liars, all of these are manifestations of an unchanged heart and God says those who do these things will not inherit His Kingdom. God provides this list so no one can say they were fooled by things like being taught He did not exist and they evolved from something that came from nothing. However those who repent and accept the forgiveness of God offered through the payment for sin provided by Jesus the Christ will be changed and able to enter Heaven. The evidence of those who have been changed are manifest by lives of love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and self-control. These things usually result in the followers of Christ being called intolerant, bigots and the like, but God calls them His children. How we choose to live our lives is up to us but God wants us to make an informed decision. Study of the Bible allows for that informed choice but you have to also choose to get informed. Remember life is short and eternity is forever.
Yes, the above may be controversial but not sharing facts will not change the facts and failure to share would be a characteristic of the first list not of the second.
Jealousy, strife, envying, drunkenness, revelry, murder, hatred, adultery, drug use, worship of things, false teaching, fornication, homosexual impurity, coarse jesting, wrath, rebellious, and liars, all of these are manifestations of an unchanged heart and God says those who do these things will not inherit His Kingdom. God provides this list so no one can say they were fooled by things like being taught He did not exist and they evolved from something that came from nothing. However those who repent and accept the forgiveness of God offered through the payment for sin provided by Jesus the Christ will be changed and able to enter Heaven. The evidence of those who have been changed are manifest by lives of love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and self-control. These things usually result in the followers of Christ being called intolerant, bigots and the like, but God calls them His children. How we choose to live our lives is up to us but God wants us to make an informed decision. Study of the Bible allows for that informed choice but you have to also choose to get informed. Remember life is short and eternity is forever.
Yes, the above may be controversial but not sharing facts will not change the facts and failure to share would be a characteristic of the first list not of the second.
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Dad
This is a tribute to my Father on this Fathers day here in the USA. Thanks for always being there for me whether to play a game or just making time to spend with me no matter how tired your were. Thanks for the little things like taking me shopping and stopping for ice cream. Thanks for helping me with collage expenses and working on my car to get it running again. Thanks for driving 3 hours to pick up my friend and I when the car engine blew, even though it meant you would only have a couple of hours to sleep before going to work. Thanks for taking me to church each time the doors were open and living a life committed to God and our family even when not easy in tough financial times. Thanks for always being there for me and loving me with your actions not in empty words. Thanks for being faithful to mom and instructing us kids in how to not just earn a living but in how to live well by honoring God with our lives. Thanks for being a Godly example not only at church but at home and work. Words can not express how blessed I am because God provided you as my dad. Thanks for being such a GREAT DAD! All of us will always love you for who you are.
Friday, June 17, 2011
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.
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.
Saturday, June 11, 2011
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.
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.
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