Subscription Lists

When you become a believer in Jesus Christ as your Savior, the guilt of your past sin that condemned you is blotted out by the shed blood of Christ. Now, the Holy Spirit begins to live in you, and begins a new creation - a new you! While you are in the flesh, the Holy Spirit begins to cleanse you of every sinful tendency by the shed blood of Jesus - sinful thoughts, sinful mind images, words and actions that are unholy. Wrong sights and images that your eyes have seen in the past, that are unholy and sinful are made to be as if they never were. Your guilt is now gone because…  ( Click for more )

Some time ago, this writer asked the question, "whatever happened to repentance?" Is it here yet? There are times in every Christian's life when a self-analysis of spiritual status is not only advisable, but very necessary. Since that time, there continues to be a strange silence and reluctance to talk - or even to use the word repentance. But we all must give top priority to self-analysis concerning our spiritual condition and status with Jesus Christ. We must realize that perhaps it is later than we think. It's time. It's time for individuals. It is…  ( Click for more )

As Christians, we have, in order to become Christians, been deeply convicted of our past sins. Also, as Christians, we need to be convicted of our forgiveness as well as our sins. Do you KNOW that you have been forgiven? Some of us have trouble accepting and believing that we have been forgiven. It may be due to the memories in our heart and mind of our sinful past that causes us have a very difficult time with their past that hinders our spiritual growth, peace of mind, and can even distort our view of life in general. Much of this problem involves forgiving the old self.…  ( Click for more )

Your Times Just before He ascends to heaven after His resurrection, Jesus has some final words to answer the question asked of Him concerning His return. What He said must have been more than a little discouraging, even shocking to His disciples. Jesus is asked when He would set up the Kingdom and restore Israel to its former prominence. They perhaps assumed that since He is about to ascend to the Father, He (Jesus) must be about to set up the Kingdom of God on earth: "So when they were assembled, they asked Him, Lord, is this the time when You will reestablish the kingdom…  ( Click for more )

"But understand this, that in the last days will come (set in) perilous times of great stress and trouble [hard to deal with and hard to bear]. For people will be lovers of self and [utterly] self-centered, lovers of money and aroused by an inordinate [greedy] desire for wealth, proud and arrogant and contemptuous boasters..." - 2 Timothy 3:1-2 Many places where many earn their livelihood have become virtual battle zones. Perhaps you are in one. In our world, it is not necessarily experienced in hostile bodily contact (although it has happened), but mostly psychological.…  ( Click for more )

If you are a Christian, your life has been, predestined, ordered, directed, guided. You are cared for, guarded, and provided for. You have been begotten and will eventually be born His child and live eternally. There is one condition: all this is true, IF you "believe" in Jesus Christ, which means you believe that He lives, that He died for you personally, and you have now surrendered your life to Him: "For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten (unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to,…  ( Click for more )

God will not interfere in our decisions regarding our lives. Regardless of the wisdom or lack of it, the Lord will not subvert a man who is determined to live a certain way. "But though He causes grief, yet will He be moved to compassion according to the multitude of His loving-kindness and tender mercy. For He does not willingly and from His heart afflict or grieve the children of men. To trample and crush underfoot all the prisoners of the earth, To turn aside and deprive a man of his rights before the face of the Most High or a superior [acting as God’s representative],…  ( Click for more )

Pray For God's Word Have you ever felt that your prayers are somewhat repetitous, when it seems that your prayers seem to have turned to rituals that are repeated over and over? Please understand that prayer about the same issues every day, etc. is not repetitous in a bad sense. However, if essentially every word gets to be the same, the repetition may not be the best way to approach the issue you have been praying about. The Bible speaks abouit those who through "vain repetition" may not be getting the attention of God is desired. Perhaps changing your wording, or adding…  ( Click for more )

"If you forgive anyone anything, I too forgive that one; and what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, has been for your sakes in the presence [and with the approval] of Christ (the Messiah), To keep Satan from getting the advantage over us; for we are not ignorant of his wiles and intentions." - 2 Corinthians 2:10-11 One of the most subtle tricks of Satan is to take advantage of a situation wherein one has repented of sin which has now been forgiven by God, and yet others who know the individual find it difficult to blot out of their minds personal thoughts…  ( Click for more )

"If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples." - John 15:7-8 (NIV) Many have been disheartened by this verse, as they claim Jesus' promise that whatever they ask of Him will be given to them. They have not received that which they asked for... Why? It is easy not to see that there are conditions to receiving whatever we ask of Him. What He is saying does not constitute a "blank check" for whatever we might desire.…  ( Click for more )

Have you ever been stunned, amazed, and shocked with a scene of what God has created in His creation? I have - even to tears. Some "ordinary" sights around us are so beautiful, and, if we allow, can glorify our God in our hearts and minds, inspire us, encourage us, instill joyful and thankful attitudes and feeling of love and admiration to the God who made it all - and who has made us. Just upon seeing an unusually spectacular sunset, a cloud formation, or even the sky. Many dwell in areas and conditions in which a sunset is seldom if ever seen. It is amazing how few…  ( Click for more )

Without understanding how God works with us (not against us), our lives can be cluttered with doubt and confusion, when we do not understand how God works out His will in us. What seems to be unanswered prayer can wreck and make havoc of our lives. The starting point for understanding unanswered prayers is remembering that over all, and above all things, circumstances, or other people, God loves us! Actually, His love is so great for that it is difficult to understand it. This is so very important to keep in mind when life send us a totally inapprehensible circumstance or event.…  ( Click for more )

"Now He said to them, “These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” - Luke 24:44 - (NASB) Here Jesus states plainly that He is spoken of in the Psalms, as well as in the Law and the Prophets, and everything that is spoken of Him there, must be fulfilled. Also, there are many preferences to other events in the future as well. Prophecies are made concerning conditions in the last days, things to take place during the thousand year…  ( Click for more )

There are many statements and combinations of words in the New Testament that can conjure up fear, worry, and feelings of dread. Certainly more than can be addressed in this article. However, there are seven words, according to at least several translations, that must be some of the most dreaded and feared of all recorded words spoken by anyone in the Bible. They were spoken by Jesus Christ. And He spoke them as the words that He will speak in the future to a group of people who stand before Him to receive His judgment of their works as followers of Him. Probably most Christians…  ( Click for more )

In the English language, there are words that refer to an action that are called "action verbs". There are others that do call for action, but only in a state of mind or intent of the mind. 1 Corinthians 13 is a word picture of what love looks like in action. The love that Paul describes is an action verb. Otherwise, it becomes dead and inactive as far is relationships are concerned: As the Apostle Paul describes it: "If I [can] speak in the tongues of men and [even] of angels, but have not love (that reasoning, intentional, spiritual devotion such as is inspired…  ( Click for more )

Do you feel discouraged concerning what you believed was a calling on your life? If you are dedicated to living out the calling on your life, there will be times of testing your will to go on. Perhaps you feel discouraged, disheartened. And even wonder if what you have believed that Jesus put on your heart is a mistake. Perhaps you now feel you were overly zealous, and misread the calling. You feel weak and discouraged. And you wonder if you should have begun. Perhaps it was just a vain idea or wishful thinking. An over-zealous enthusiasm brought on by the joy of your salvation.…  ( Click for more )

Much of Christianity today seems to have accepted a subtle form of complacency as being spirituality. Not as is traditionally referred to, but more of a comfortable Christianity. As long as the majority jump through the acceptable loops, perform the acceceptable performances, it is declared all is well. Form and ceremony is all that is basically required to be declared to be acceptable performance that can be considered a healthy condition. "Acceptable" is the instrument of measure. Acceptable attendance, acceptable lifestyle, acceptable demeanor, acceptable monetary…  ( Click for more )

Once upon a time long ago in the hills of the deep South, a woman had a mission - a personal, self-appointed calling. She traveled from neighborhood to neighborhood, from hillside to hillside with a message. A message for everyone she came in contact with. Her message she had set to the music of her voice. To every farmhouse, every little community, to every individual she would meet, she sang the same refrain: "...let your light shine, where you are; let your light shine WHERE YOU ARE..." - over and over where ever she traveled, she sang over and over: "let your…  ( Click for more )

In 1 Corinthians 13 the Apostle Paul describes what the love of God looks like in action. Perhaps we seldom think of Paul's dissertation about love in 1 Corinthians 13 as being dangerous. How could this be so, in a section of scripture perhaps unmatched in beauty, so direct, so convicting, and - so convicting of all of us if we are honest with ourselves. How could a human being ever do these things (and not do certain other things), and survive in our modern world! If one were to live - REALLY LIVE - this way, one would not survive very long. Many would say, this can…  ( Click for more )

When someone comes to Jesus for salvation and eternal life, it is only because the Father has drawn them. It is not an act of the will of the person, although the Holy Spirit has initiated a desire to believe in Jesus. Knowing this can often be comforting when we are praying for someone. It is God the Father who leads someone to Christ for salvation. This is the source of much frustration, and a sore trial of the faith for those who persevered for so long without witnessing the salvation of a loved one, a friend - an enemy. There have been many times when someone has prayed for…  ( Click for more )

Most of us are familiar the three monkeys each covering eyes, ears, and mouth. This is to convey the principles of seeing no evil, hearing no evil and speaking no evil (I can't recall if this is the original sequence). Generally good advice – at all times and all seasons. For everyone. The principle of the prohibition of each is thououghly bibical, regardless of who originated it. I can still see in my minds eye the little clay image setting on a shelf in our home when growing up. But have we considered the scope and magnitude of this “monkey business” - this…  ( Click for more )

Your life has already been prearranged, predestined, ordered, directed, guided. You are cared for, guarded, and provided for. There is one question however: all this being true, IF you believe in Jesus Christ: "For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten ([a]unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life." - John 3:16 Then... "Even when we were dead (slain) by [our own] shortcomings and trespasses,…  ( Click for more )

One of the most difficult parts in a human life is the need to forget painful things of the past. Some deal with painful things of the past with the saying: "Tomorrow may be better, or it may be worse. But one thing is sure; it will be different"!. Much has been written and said about the past. The concept of the subject is like trying to hold wind and air in the hands. A motion picture that was made available to the public a number of years ago was entitled "That Was Then - This Is Now". Although the movie was less than what one could anticipate, the title…  ( Click for more )

Sin came into the world in the garden of Eden - for a purpose. It was through one person that sin came into the world. This resulted in humanity becoming "prisoners in the earth", convicted and bound up in, and restrained by the consequences of what Adam and Eve had done. They disbelieved and therefore disobeyed their Creator. (Lamentations 3:31-34) God knows all things before they occur. This is a mystery completely beyond mere human analysis or understanding. Sin entered the world through the serpent in the garden. However, it took a human weakness and cooperation…  ( Click for more )