TICK TOCK, TICK TOCK…

Do not believe that you are standing still; you are not.  Your pulses each moment beat the funeral marches to the tomb.  You are chained to the chariot of rolling time.  There is no bridling of the steeds or leaping from the chariot. –Spurgeon

Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. James 4:14

Each time a family member, co-worker, or former classmate passes I am reminded of how short life is. With each tic of the clock, opportunities are passing before our lives; for some, the opportunity to be saved. For others, the opportunity to see someone else get saved! Whatever the opportunity you have before you today, do not be so naive thinking you have another day to waste. The clock is ticking and before you know it life will be over and it will be too late to be saved or see someone get saved!

What am I to do Preacher?

We are not told that Jesus ever taught His disciple how to preach, but He taught them how to pray. He wanted them to have power with God; then He knew they would have power with man. - D.L. Moody

Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. Matthew 26:41

There is a constant battle between the flesh and the spirit. We are constantly bombarded by the temptations of life and our flesh is like, “Feed Me!” The world throws every temptation at our flesh so the Spirit of God that abides within will be suppressed and we could potentially cave to our fleshly desires. What should I do preacher? Pray! Pray! Pray! And be reminded of Scripture: Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. 1 John 4:4

What's my purpose?

More men fail through lack of purpose than through lack of talent. –Sunday

Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:13-14

Some people search all of their lives for their purpose in life. They go through job after job, friend after friend, and relationship after relationship only to end up searching for more. If they would trust Jesus as Saviour their eternal purpose would become very evident pretty quick!

Let me remind you of this important truth: The Lord doesn’t call the equipped, He equips the called. What are you saying preacher? The Lord isn’t looking for you to bring anything to the table except YOU! Let your purpose start off by giving your life to the Lord!

Just let it go!

Happy is the man who has learned to do this: to trust the Lord’s plan for their life!

Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah. Psalm 62:8

One of the hardest things to do in life is to: Let go and Let God!

Let go of your selfish desires.

Let go of your sinful deeds.

Let go of your senseless days.   

 

Let God meet your barrenness.

Let God mold your behavior.

Let God make your becoming.

When you Let God…you can’t go wrong!

No time to sit down-- Get busy for the Lord!

Keep us, Lord, so awake in the duties of our callings that we may sleep in thy peace and wake in thy glory. –Donne

I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. John 9:4

There is plenty of work to be done in the church. From mowing the lawn to preaching, there is enough work to keep us all busy. But as someone once said, “Ten percent of those in the church do one hundred percent of the work.”

My friend this ought not to be so! Get involved at your church! Ask your pastor where you can serve! Surprise him by saying, “Pastor, I just want to help you!”

Which way do I go?

The greater thing in this world is not so much where we stand, as in what direction we are going. --Oliver Wendell Holmes

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. John 14:6

Before the times of GPS people used a paper map to get around. Sometimes the husband would yell at his wife, “Which way do I go?” At other times, they would end up needing to stop on the road because many a wives, bless their heart, couldn’t read a map very well. But most of the time, the husband wouldn’t want to read it at all. He would be like, it just up here a few more miles. They drive and drive and finally she would end up asking, “Honey, do you know where we are at?” His response, “Nope, we’re lost!”

Friend, if you don’t know Jesus as Saviour, you’re already lost. You’re on the way to hell. Won’t you GET UP, GET READY, and GO TO CHURCH TODAY? There you will find the direction to get to HEAVEN! And then you can sing with me:

When He shall come with trumpet sound,

Oh, may I then in Him be found,

Clothed in His righteousness alone,

Faultless to stand before the throne!

On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;

All other ground is sinking sand.

What does your check book reveal about you?

Wealth is like a viper, which is harmless if a man knows how to take hold of it; but if he does not, it will twine round his hand and bite him. -St. Clement

No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. Luke 16:13

There are of plenty of people with riches but the problem with many is that their riches have them as well. They are constantly looking to make another dollar. The next endeavour is around the corner. The next big score is over the next hill. I have found in my life that it is better to walk in faith than to walk trusting in the finances this world has to offer.

What’s driving you? Is it the next payday or the promises of God? You can look at your check book and find out!

Don't let sin in or it will stay a while!

No affliction or temptation, no guilt or power of sin, no wounded spirit nor terrified conscience, should induce us to despair of help and comfort from God. –Scott

For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. Titus 2:11-14

Nothing, I said nothing should come between us and our Saviour! But, yet it does. Sin creeps in and before we know it we are drowning in a sea of sin that the Lord has to lift us out of! Child of God, get an accountability partner! Get INTO THE Word! Get in a Bible believing church and every thing else will fall into place!

Broken but mended by the love of Christ!

A man breaks a leg, and the surgeon sets the bone.  That is kindness.  But suppose the man's mother should set the bone.  Oh, how she would do it with lovingkindness!  That is how God has dealt with us.  Oh, how tenderly! –Spurgeon

For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39

The song “I Stand Amazed” says, “I stand amazed in the presence, Of Jesus the Nazarene, And wonder how He could love me, A sinner, condemned, unclean.” How much did God love us; one man said, “He spread His arms and gave His life for us.” We can never exhaust describing how much the Lord loved us! I echo what Spurgeon said, “God deals with us with lovingkindness!” His lovingkindness mended us with a love greater than our own Mother's love!

How do you deal with those that you come in contact with each day? How do you deal with the sinner; with the condemned, with those that are unclean? If not with lovingkindness as Jesus did, you are trying to set what is broken without love!

Contented or A Compromiser?

You say, "If I had a little more, I should be very satisfied."  You make a mistake.  If you are not content with what you have, you would not be satisfied if it were doubled. -Spurgeon

Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. Philippians 4:11

What is it you want out of life? What goals have you set for yourself? It’s nothing wrong with having ambition or having set life goals for yourself in order to better your life. However, when that ambition turns into the only thing you live for—compromise stands at the door!

What are you willing to sacrifice in order to get that promotion? What will you change in your walk with the Lord in order to make a few more bucks? Missing a Sunday service? Allowing your children to go to an inappropriate movie? What you listen to on the radio? Your stance on the abstinence of alcohol and other drugs?

Child of God, be content with what God has given and you will not compromise His Word, His Work, or His Way! 2 Thessalonians 2:15 Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.

Learning along the way.

The best way out of a difficulty is through it. –Anonymous

Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established: Proverbs 24:3

Have you ever been working on something and run into a problem? Maybe you didn’t calculate correctly on the cost. Maybe you didn’t plan for something and in the mist of the project it became a problem. Maybe you didn’t program a thermostat the right way when you originally set it up and well it took you an hour to figure it out…..yep been there done that!

Well if we quit in the middle of the project, who would finish it? Who would get more money, get the finishing supplies or in my case—reprogram the stat? No-one! Sometimes we have to go through the door of adversity in order to learn some valuable lessons!

Out of peanut butter...again?

An excuse is worse and more terrible than a lie; for an excuse is a lie guarded.

For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Romans 1:20

How many lies have we told in our lives? Sometimes the lies we tell are over stupid things that really don’t make a difference. We may as well say, "I'm out of peanut butter." Why? Because one excuse is as good as another. But, For some people lying is a habit; a habit that has transformed their entire lives into one big excuse, one big lie. A habit that will one day lead them to hell.

Are you living a lie? Do the people around you think you are a Christian but in fact you have never confessed, repented and asked the Lord to save you? While you may get away with that lie here on Earth when you stand before the Lord on judgment day He will see right through it. He will say, “I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” Matthew 7:23

How do you need to react to the Word of God?

No one ever graduates from Bible study until he meets the Author face to face. –Harris

Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: James 1:18-19

In these verses I see that we need to react to the Word of Truth in three ways:

1. Swift to Hear—We should be prepared to hear the Word of God when read, when taught, when Preached, or even when sung!

2. Slow to Speak—We should only speak when the Word of God has penetrated our lives. Taking time to meditate on what was said.

3. Slow to Wrath—Instead of having a wicked response to the Word of God we better take the time to consider what the Word means in and to our life.

How you react to the Word will determine whether you live a victorious or defeated life!

Sacrifice or Self glory?

Sincerity is the salt of the sacrifice.  Without it the offering can never be acceptable to God.-Spurgeon

Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come into his courts. Psalm 96:8

I often ask, “Why do you do what you do?” Do you come to church for Mom and Dad? Do you sing in the choir to be seen? Are you in the Youth Group to make friends? Do you give of your time for a pat on the back? For many people if it was not for some type of self glory they wouldn’t do anything in the church.

Dear friend make sure the reason you do what you do is for God’s glory! If not, you will stand accountable for the self glory you get down here!

Living but empty!

Some die without having really lived, while others continue to live, in spite of the fact that they have died. –Anonymous

For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. Philippians 1:21

The day I gave my life to Christ is the day that I truly began to live. Up to that point I had seen places and done things the average person may never get to do. From riding on a train in Chicago to seeing the Statue of Christ in Lisbon, Portugal. But nothing, absolutely nothing compares to the life I have now in Christ.

Have you reached the pinnacle of the status quo? Are you at the top looking down? One famous ball player was asked, “Mike, How is it on top?” He said, “Lonely”. He was as empty inside as a gallon of milk in my house!  Let me tell yah, I am never alone. Christ is always with me. He walks with me and talks with me through His Word! And as another song goes, “You ask me how I know He lives, He lives within my heart!”

What a day that will be!

Earth has no sorrow that heaven cannot heal. –Moore

O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?  The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:55-57

I was thinking about the passing of Sharon’s Grandpa a few years back. I thought of the sweet reunion he and his wife (Cora Bell) of 65 years had when he took his last breath. Much more than that reunion, I do not believe there has ever been a meeting anywhere on Earth like when a Child of God meets their Heavenly Father! So that brings me to the greatest question ever asked on Earth- Are you ready to meet the Lord- face to face? So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God. Romans 14:12

GET READY, GET SET, GO…TO CHURCH!

The difference between listening to a radio sermon and going to church, someone has said, is almost like the difference between calling your girl on the telephone and spending an evening with her. –Moody

I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Galatians 1:6

If you never saw me and my wife together would you think we were married? If I never spent time with her, laughed with her, cried with her, or journeyed around this world together would we really have a relationship? Would we really be married? Marriage is more than a piece of paper, it is a intimate union between two people. Such it is with our Saviour! And if there is not fellowship; no laughing, crying, or journeying together, then there isn’t a relationship at all!

SO IF YOU SAY YOU’RE SAVED, GET UP, GET READY, AND GO TO CHURCH! Spend time with the Saviour and His people at His house!

Sin—the great divide between living right and being religious.

He that falls into sin is a man; that grieves at it, is a saint; that boasteth of it, is a devil. -Fuller

Fools make a mock at sin: but among the righteous there is favour. Proverbs 14:9

The Sunday School teacher teaches about sin. The Choir sings about victory over sin. The Pastor preaches hard against sin and the answer to it. Yet, time and time again we, yes we, chose sin over the Saviour. Paul said, “O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?” We fight against this old flesh day in and day out. Is there victory over it???? YES! Paul says in verse 25, “I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.”

We know where the scripture says, “….be sure your sin will find you out.” And believe me, someone will find out and God already knows! So quit hiding it and confess and forsake it! He is waiting are you willing? He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy. Proverbs 28:13

Power in prayer!

If your knees are knocking, kneel on them. – Sign outside London Air Raid Post, W.W. II

The LORD is far from the wicked: but he heareth the prayer of the righteous. Proverbs 15:29

Prayer is essential to a Christian’s life. While He gave us His Word in the Bible we have opportunity after opportunity to respond to Him in prayer. Sometimes it can be a simple such as, “Help Lord.” While at other times you enter your prayer closet, closing the door behind you, and spend unlimited amount of time with Him. One missionary said, “Find a place to get alone with God and don’t leave until you have an answer to your prayers.”

Have you been neglecting opportunities to pray to our Saviour? Begin today spending a little time with Him and I promise you, it will be the best investment you have ever made!

Ah, Wednesday—Prayer Meeting and Bible Study

The living Church, though never neat, keeps God's world from complete disaster. -Macleod

One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple. Psalm 27:4

Strength, it comes when I go to church. I get strength from the music that is sung. I get strength from the message that is preached. I get strength from the prayers around the altar. I get strength from the people that come. I wonder how weak I would be if I didn’t go….

Church—it’s not a social club, it’s a spiritual journey with fellow believers helping one another in this thing we call life!