Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world – the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life – is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever. 1 John 2:15-17

 As I get older, I find myself reading obituaries of people, some I know and some I don’t, and read about their life and what mattered most. One guy’s obit said he enjoyed fishing, drinking beer and hanging out with his friends, another said she enjoyed growing a flower garden and knitting. Sadly, in those two obits, God was not mentioned at all. Their life was full of the world, yet they had no investment in their eternal security with God. How sad and depressing for those of us who know how important a relationship with Jesus Christ is in the timeline of eternity.

 Today’s verses offer a recommendation for what should matter most in your life. Don’t get me wrong, fishing, sharing time with friends, knitting, or any moral pursuit is ok, just as long as it doesn’t rule your life. Jesus Christ should come first in every life endeavor, from the relationships you develop, your financial management, your devotion to service. Applying biblical wisdom to your choices and pleasures keeps you from pouring your soul into something (or someone) that can rob you of eternal security in heaven.

 Let God touch every aspect of your life to keep you from drowning in the world’s ways, so you can keep Jesus Christ in perfect view at all times and help you live a life dedicated to the One who gave His all to save you! God bless!   

 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28

Many years ago I stood in the middle of my house and prayed for God's help as I watched my marriage unravel. It was probably one of the most painful moments of my life mixed with a feeling of helplessness. I questioned God and He remained silent. All I could do was continue in my faith that He had a handle on my situation. 

Today I can say that God brought me through it to a better place. Yeah, I didn't like the motions I had to go through, but I kept my focus on God and He took care of the rest. 

If you are a child of God, He has a plan for your life, even when those unplanned events occur. He sees you before your birth until the conclusion of your life (and beyond), and knows the pathway necessary to get you through some of life’s most difficult and painful moments. Your response should be to continue in your faith, trusting God to handle the situation before you. You might not have a clue how to proceed , that's where your faith helps you carry on. 

When faced with a crisis or any unforeseen situation, let today's verse be the hope you cling to, as you look to God for guidance, strength, and a lesson in trust building. God will never lead you down a path of destruction. Good things come to those who put their faith and trust in the Lord. 

 Romans 12:16 Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.

I don't know about you, but the Epstein case and people who associated with him have shocked me, making me question the integrity of the most powerful men and women on the planet. All the big names of people who've built things and financial institutions we use daily are guilty. You've got to ask yourself, why associate with the powerful and rich. 

Today's verse actually encourages us to associate with the humble, the less wealthy, because they are the ones who've not allowed the worldly ways to influence their day to day lives. And because they aren't full of themselves, they have room in their heart for Godly wisdom, to gain a special kind of interest that has eternal rewards that far exceed any financial gain in a bank. 

Don't get caught up in the glamour of the rich, and the movers and shakers of this world, they have bigger issues to deal with than you could ever imagine. Associate with genuine brothers and sisters in Christ, who put God first, are humble in their ways, so you can glean some spiritual wisdom to help you invest in Heavenly rewards. God bless. 

 Ephesians 4:26-27 [26] Be ye angry and sin not; let not the sun go down upon your wrath, [27] neither give place to the devil.

Anger, it's an emotion we all experience from time to time. Our spouse does something we don't like, a reckless driver almost causes you to have an accident, a boss who says something that is infuriating, your child disobeys, and the list goes on and on. Can you relate? 

Today's verse doesn't say we can't be angry, but it does tell us not to sin in our anger. Sounds contradictory, but the truth is, anger can be a true indicator of your spiritual condition. If something or someone angers you and you carry it beyond the moment, you might struggle with a spirit of forgiveness. If your anger causes you to have an opinion about a person's race or beliefs, then you might struggle to love others as yourself. A true indicator of the heart is what proceeds from your mouth when angry. OUCH! 

Not sure about you, but I recognize areas of my life that need the Holy Spirits help to transform my mind and heart to deal with my response to anger. If you are true to yourself, you probably recognize your need for God's help as well. 

It's easy these days to get angry. But don't let it spoil the christ like character you exhibit to the outside world, and certainly don't carry it into the next day. Lord, help me to forgive quickly, love others as you do, and most of all turn angry moments into opportunities to show grace, mercy, and love to the people you've placed in my life. 

 Likewise, you also, reckon yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Therefore, do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. Romans 6:11-12

 My wife and I just got back from a 4-day vacation in Kentucky. We visited three venues: Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill, The Ark Encounter, and the Creation Museum. The Shaker Village was at one time home to over 500 members of the United Society of Believers in Christ’s Second Appearing, commonly called “Shakers”, who lived as a group of sisters and brothers in Christ. They were very specific about how they lived, worshipped, and worked. Everything from the room we stayed in, the buildings, windows, chairs, tables and so forth, was themed after their structured lives. For us, it was foreign, but certainly helped us understand how their way of life was central to the heart of the God they worshipped.

 As children of God, we should have the same attitude about how our life should be lived. Every aspect of our life should be themed after Christ words of wisdom and how He lived His life. Unfortunately, we oftentimes have rooms in our heart that don’t resemble the Christian lifestyle, hiding within its corners are sinful attitudes, actions, and thoughts, that take away the influence our life has on others, especially those outside the faith. We might not think about the influence we have on others, but the truth is our life as Christians should be like a bright light that exposes the darkness of sin. The light’s exposure should convict others, making them want to desire to live in a similar fashion as Jesus.

 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light. Ephesians 5:8

 Take time today to question your life, do all areas of your life carry the same theme of Christ, or are there any areas that don’t resemble the light of Christ? If so, ask God to help transform your heart, mind, and soul, to be partakers of the truth so your life can positively influence those in your corner of this big world.

For he went on teaching his disciples and said unto them, The Son of man is delivered into hands of men, and they shall kill him; and after he is dead, he shall rise the third day. Mark 9:31

Back in the day when someone said they were going to do something, they did it. Deals, loans, and any other agreements were sealed with their word and a handshake. It's always comforting to know when you can trust someone's word. 

As Jesus laid in the tomb, his disciples were worried, fearful, and uncertain of the future. The man that they faithfully followed for 3 years, died and was placed inside a tomb. They forgot or didn't believe in the statement Jesus made in the scripture above. Throughout those 3 years of following Jesus, he always did what he said he was going to do, but yet his disciples lacked faith. 

 Can you imagine if they believed Jesus and we're waiting in eager expectation for his new life? But yet that's not the case, and it wasn't until Mary came and told the disciples she saw Jesus, alive and well, on day three, just as he had told them. 

We too struggle to believe God's word, that he is always with us and will help us in times of crisis, in times of sadness, in times of worry and fear. If only we had the eager expectation of what he's going to do during our time of need, it would change our whole outlook on whatever issues we face.

The next time you feel alone, defeated, fearful, or anything that you bring before the Lord, have an eager expectation of what he's going to do in your situation and trust in God's word. By doing so, you strengthen your faith and belief in every word that is in the gospel. And by doing this, you'll have confidence the next time you bring your concerns to the Lord, know that he will always respond with his best, wrapped in his love for you. Happy Easter. 

 And we know that all things work together for good to t hose who love God, to those who area the called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28

 Have you ever had an issue develop that made you want to tackle it right then? Maybe that issue was a financial burden, a health crisis, or a troubled relationship. Sleepless nights, anxiety, and reckless behaviors were the result of things undone. Sound familiar?  

 Let me share something I’ve learned after many years of living life. Time usually resolves things, and, if you let the issue work itself out, it might turn out better than expected. Yes, some things do need an immediate response like a payment before foreclosure tomorrow, or a court date that you must be present. But for those issues that can truly “wait”, you’ll find that today’s verse will be applicable to your situation.

 You see, God doesn’t work on your schedule. He sees beyond the mountain before you and knows how to get you either over it or around it, using time as a tool to grow your faith and trust in Him. He loves it when you surrender your concerns to Him, because it shows Him that you trust His plan for your life and your devotion to the Lord.

 As I thought about today’s blog, 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 came to mind where Paul had an issue, a “thorn in the flesh”, and he pleaded with God to remove it. God responded with “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness”. Paul learned to trust God with his thorn in the flesh, and actually used it to strengthen his trust in the Lord. Like the apostle Paul, you must be willing to yield it to God for His handling and trust His timeline to respond. Getting into a hurry will only draw you into the chaos, missing God’s best for your situation.

 Let God’s time table help resolve your issues, and soon you’ll develop a pattern of patience and confidence in the One who has a plan to give you good things as you navigate life’s circumstances. Blessings!