Is it you, a dead man walking?

Is it you, a dead man walking? This very moment, you are breathing, talking, thinking, reading, and today have goals to accomplish for yourself and/or family,  and might even say you're enjoying the best of life right now.  But listen,  one day, one moment, you, the flesh and bones making up the physical you, is going to expire. Your "first death" of your outer shell house will cease to be.  But your spirit and soul, the real spiritual you, will continue.  Your spirit will always exist. You see, when you don't ask Jesus into your heart, you are refusing the only way of having your sins redeemed for gaining any right standing with God. Without 'right standing' before God, even though you may not see it, but  you're a dead man or woman walking.  Until you accept Jesus as your Lord and savior, you sins have your spirit as dead though you live. And it's only a matter of time that you will face your 'second death', which is death of your spirit where you will be forever separated from the presence and love of God.

Without Jesus your sins imprison you from any hope of heaven

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If you choose to reject Jesus, (and yes, He IS the only approved way sent by God to save mankind from our sins) upon your last breath, your spirit is destined to hell for a time until Judgement Day. Then, our Holy, just and righteous God will judge you. Those found guilty of sins against God will rightly be banished to the Lake of Fire and you will forever experience your "second death".  This ungodly place is designed for all fallen angels that rebelled against God and sided with Satan . In this place you will wish you could die, but remember your spirit can't cease.  God created Man in His image with a spirit designed to live forever. God wants you to live in heaven with him, forever.  But the choice is all yours to accept God's gift of Jesus who has paid you penalty for your sins for you. God will not force you to make any decision. God's gift is extended to everyone freely and must be accepted freely. Never forced. It's a decision every man, and woman must personally decide for themselves.  If you choose to not accept His gift, then you will have to pay the penalty for your sins yourself, and that payment is forever cut off from God, which is spiritual death.  God doesn't want anyone to choose that path. Jesus came to be The sacrificial lamb for mankind. In other words, without Jesus, you have nothing, no hope, no joy, no purpose, no future, no life, no forgiveness, no light, no happiness, no family, no love, no salvation, no heaven, only hell and the Lake of Fire, and darkness, and fallen angels. In other words, without God, your spiritual existence will be worse than any physical thing you or I can imagine. Without any mercy, or love or hope or light, your spirit will be tortured and miserable over and over and over without end. There will be no friends, no partying, nothing anything good at all to wish or hope for.  You will only wish you could cease existing, but that will be impossible in the Lake of Fire.  And don't think being in the Lake of Fire will be pleasurable in any form or fashion. Your soul will suffer in a way unlike anything your fleshly body could ever tolerate or endure. Remember, this place was meant for fallen angels and I'm sure they won't be happy about their fate, either. It won't be any vacation resort or place to relax or hang out with friends.  It will be beyond the worst experience you could ever imagine multiplied by a hundred thousand times and you can never, ever escape this. And it's all because of sin and your choice to reject Jesus.

Jesus died so you wouldn't have to die.

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Read the conclusion on this blog about fallen angels

What can you do?
Consider making today the day you are no longer a "dead man or woman walking". Get in a quiet place, and talk to God. Tell Him you know you are a sinner and you can't pay for your sins yourself. Only Jesus, His Son, can and has already by His sacrifice on the cross of Calvary. You choose and invite Jesus into your to be your Savior and thank Him for what He's done for you. You want to give your life to Him because He's given His live for you. You want to thank Him for saving you. You want Him to be your Lord. You want to change your ways. It won't be automatic or easy, but with your 'new heart' you will be in tune with the Holy Spirit to help you and counsel you to do better. You have been reborn and have to learn to listen to your spirit rather than your flesh. You have to learn to live spiritually, rather than fleshly. Jesus was resurrected on the third day by the power of the Holy Spirit and He victoriously holds the keys to life by defeating death. Your sin penalty is lifted from you when you choose Jesus to be your Savior and Lord.

With Jesus you have victory over the penalty of sin

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 What happens?
When you sincerely pray and ask Jesus to be your savior and Lord, in the spirit realm, immediately your name is written in the Book of Life, you are sealed for good as a child of God and there's nothing that can break that seal of redemption you now have with God. You may not feel different or think anything has happened.  You may even keep doing the same things you've always done. But God is good on His Word. Jesus has victory over death.  You and I can never be perfect while we are living in our fleshly bodies. But we can be saved from our sins and that path to hell and the Lake of Fire we deserve for our disobedient ways and rebellion against God in our sins. We ought to be nothing but grateful for the dismal destiny we are saved from -all due to Jesus stepping in and loving us while we were sinners, paying a horrible death that we deserve in our stead.  Only because of Jesus can any of us pass from death to life in heaven with God. Praise the Lord!

God is Spirit.

This link to another posting you might like reading to help you decide your eternity.


Until next time......keep on trucking on that glorious, upward, narrow path.

Meeting a princess and the King of Kings

In the news yesterday, visiting Canada were the very popular, rich and royal couple Prince William and Princess Kate.  A little girl, Diamond Marshall, wanting to meet a real princess, got her wish with the help of Calgary's Children's Wish Foundation.  I'm proud she did get to meet a real princess. This precious little girl has been through so much, being just 6 years old and having lost her mother from cancer, the same type of abdominal cancer afflicting the body of this young soul now. You can see her cute smile and her bald head from the medical cancer treatments she's been receiving. My prayer is, "Lord, keep this little girl strong and help her fight the cancer invading her little body. Touch her and if it be your will, heal her body. Amen."

However, I was thinking, she got her wish to meet a real princess, but does she know she can meet the King of Kings? I would say with cancer, she just might not have too many more years or days, if God chooses not to heal her, in which a family member could introduce her to the ruler of Kings. I know she's just six, but if she or anyone has a desire to meet royalty, I'd say meeting the King of Kings is the greatest and most royal person you could meet.  I say Jesus is the King of all kings.  One day every knee will bow and every tongue will confess Jesus is Lord. (see scripture reference below). Even princess Kate, Duchess of Cambridge,  will bow before Jesus, just as every other King, Queen, Prince and Princess, Duke and Duchess, all will bow before the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. The young, English newlywed couple appear to be very happy and most assuredly very nice and good people. It may be exciting and thrilling to meet William and Kate, but they have not one iota of clout with God to get you into heaven.

Even the angels bow on bended knee before Jesus

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God bless all little children and big children. It's so easy to come to Jesus, just like you would speak to a good friend. He's always waiting and He is the only way to heaven and to gain right standing with God, the Father. Even little children are natural born sinners, though we don't want to think they are, but they are. All people are born into sin, being descendents of the first sinners, Adam and Eve. Jesus came to wash our sins away, which is what happens spiritually when you accept Him as your Lord and savior by inviting and asking Him into your heart.  He will.  Ask him to save you from the penalty your sins call for....He will. Ask Him to be your Lord. He will.  Your life will spiritually be changed in an instant, your name will be written in the Book of Life, and you will be in right standing before God. All of this because God loves you and sent His Son, Jesus, whom has redeemed you unto the Father. But you have to want it and ask in order to receive it. That's all. Jesus did all the suffering and dying so you could bypass all that nor will you have to suffer in hell or the Lake of Fire.  Just ask Him, from your mouth and mean it with your heart just like a would child, and God Almighty of heaven will not keep any good thing from you. He wants all, and that includes you, to have life with Him for all eternity, and to have Jesus so no soul would perish the spiritual death in hell and the Lake of Fire. It's humbling and also awesome knowing God wants you, the spiritual you, which will never die, to be in heaven. But remember, no sin can enter heaven. Jesus is your only answer to having your sins wiped away! Jesus is Lord and King and Savior and the Son of God. Now that's what I call royalty! 

Statue of Jesus, the King of Kings, with children

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Scripture references: Philippians 2:10...that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

      
Revelation 1:5  and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood,

2 Peter 3:9:10  The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

Matthew 19:14 Jesus said, “Let the little let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”


                                           ******************
God is Spirit. God is without limits and His plan is perfect. His ways are far above any that man and imagine. God manifests Himself in three forms- Holy Father, Holy Spirit and Jesus, the Lord and Savior. Praise God!



Until next time....keep traveling along that narrow road to Jesus.

Back slidden?

Hey, never be ashamed to admit it. We all, and I mean we all are guilty of being back slidden at one time or another, and most of the time we've back slidden more times than we care to count.

The best thing to do is stop beating yourself up and thinking God has turned His back on you. That's the farthest from the truth and don't allow the liar of all liars keep you believing that. Satan gets his kicks when you believe his lies.  The truth will set you free and satan doesn't want you to be free or to know the truth.


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Now, get this in your brain. God isn't finished with you yet. God never gets fed up with you making mistakes. (but don't be so dumb by keep making the same mistakes over and over). God is plenty big to handle all your screw-ups and mess-ups. There is nothing too big for Him to handle any time day or night. God knows we are imperfect and sway to and fro, and battle with our the flesh and our brains are fickle, and He knows we're selfish and stubborn. God knows all about us already.

Here are some scriptures abou back sliders and what to do about being back slidden.

Now get this. God doesn't need you to be perfect. Only God is perfect. He just wants you to put your trust and faith in Him and in His Son, Jesus, and give your heart to Him, love Him and conduct your life as best you can according to His example, Jesus.  You will do well at times, and you will mess up a times. You will continue to stumble and make mistakes because you are human. The important thing is, is the Lord in your heart?

So don't keep thinking about throwing in the towel because of your back slidding actions. Just get back up. It will take an act of humility on your part to get on your knees and have a one-on-one conversation to tell God you're sorry. That's not very hard to do. Then get up and go forward with God.  He will never turn away from you. All you have to do is turn to Him and He's there for you.

So get over it already! Don't let being back slidden keep you for another minute from all the goodness and forgiveness awaiting you in the loving arms of a very patient and forever loving God.

BONUS- if you backslide 100 times, God will forgive you every time you ask and He will wipe all sins away.  That's His promise. Jesus paid for all sins. With Jesus, by faith, no sin will separate you from the love of God. There's nothing too awful, no mountain too high, no ocean too deep that will keep God from loving you. Now, that ought to be 'good news' and make you want to ask Jesus into your heart right this moment and ask God to help you in any thing keeping you from Him so you can stop whatever is causing you to backslide. It might be an instantaneous deliverance, or it might take some time while God helps you work through some issues, but He is always faithful and true. Don't give up.


Photo credit: jppi from morguefile.com

I like the bow and arrow visual picture- you have to pull the bow back before releasing the arrow to shoot forward.  Never give up- God isn't.  Release what's holding you in the backslidden mode, and move closer to God and see what happens!
You never have to be perfect, only forgiven.

Three- in- one

I've heard scores of great messages and if I could apply even half what I've learned from each of them, I would be a much better Christian today.  I've taken notes and jotted down things in my Bible and underlined scripture and have stars the margins of my Bible.  But today, one scripture I happened upon in the short book of 1John, fifth chapter, got me to stop and think a bit longer. It's the three-in-one.  This three separate entities make the Christian faith very unique. God is the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit is our counselor, our guide for us and bear witness for us during Jesus's absence on Earth.
These three-in-one have the same goal, same mission, same love, just different manner of showing us. They are different, but at the same time inseparable making up one. Sort of like taking three ingredients, mixing them together making it impossible to unmix them. God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit are all Holy in that way we refer or communicate about them, but they are one. There is nothing impossible for God to do for us. That is the beauty and magnificence in which no other religion on the Earth can compare. God has covered it all in all ways for us. In other words, He's got our back no matter what, no matter when, no matter where.

 Inseparable bound by love

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Imagine, all the stories and messages I've heard over the years about God.  His Spirit on Earth has been here to bear witness to me when I hear His truth. His Son, came to Earth as a man, the perfect once-and-for-all sacrifice for any person to call upon Him to be their Savior so their sins would be forgiven. And, the Heavenly Father, which can't be seen by our eyes, ( He's too holy for our eyes to see), and is in heaven loving us. All three-in-one, one-in-three, difficult to explain, but nevertheless, I am so thankful my God is supplying all my needs in every way, even paying and providing my sins be forgiven and allowing me to learn the truth of him and how to live in light of pleasing Him.

What are your comments?

Scripture reference-1 John 5:6-8

On the journey of that Son filled road

Ten Commandments reduced to two

Now and then I see car stickers that read, "Keep the Ten Commandments".   I ask myself why keep the Ten Commandments? In my limited knowledge of what I read in my Bible,  Jesus explained that the Ten Commandments are done away with and replaced with just two. Before Jesus came Moses presented the Ten Commandments from God on stone tablets for people to live by. But that was B.C. (before Christ).  When Jesus came, He summed the entire Ten Commandments into two things to do. Jesus broke it down into......... 

1. Love the Lord God with all your might, all your heart, all your mind and all your soul.
2. Love your neighbor as yourself. (your neighbor happens to be any person other than  yourself).

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The Ten Commandments can be grouped into two categories- what was pleasing to God in your relationship and worship of Him, and, how you are to relate with people.

Jesus summed these two categories also into- love God with all your might and love your neighbor as yourself.  Simple and to the point. Love. If you love, you are doing every commandment.   The Bible is full of stories of love and Jesus definitely showed us about love more than anyone else.

Bottom line- If you desire to know the mind of God and what's pleasing to Him, it's in His written Word, the Bible, and following after Jesus. The Bible is the written story of God's love for us. It's full of examples and people for us to learn from.  It does take time to read and comprehend and apply, but if you really are sincere to know, the Holy Spirit will reveal the mysteries of God's word to you a little at a time. The scriptures come alive and you'll be forever changed as the words in the Bible feed your soul unlike any other words from any other book ever can. Read it for knowledge of who God is, and the mighty love He has for you. God wants His precious creation, us,  to rely upon and trust Him. He is our loving, heavenly Father. When you have the Word in you, there's a change that happens from the inside and expresses itself on the outside in your actions and desires and wants. You'll be more apt to live your life in a manner more pleasing to God, thus showing your love to Him. You will be able to do things you never thought you could with God in your life.  And, when you love your neighbor as you love yourself, you're fulfilling God's Commandments.  God loves all, but hates the sin. We should make it our passion to love as God loves and be patient and forgiving as God is with us. Remember, when you do as Jesus would do, you're doing what's pleasing in God's sight.  Bottom line, the Bible is for you to discover all these wonderful things and to know God's commandments for His people.

Any comments?

scripture references- Matthew 22: 36-40; 1 John 5:1-3;John 14:15; 2John 6

Until next time, keep traveling the upward road with the bright Son as your guide........

Some big pluses are yours?

"What's in it for me?" A very reasonable question to ask. So, let's break it down into little nibblets the big pluses coming your way when you make your choice for Jesus.

#1. Your sins being forgiven and forgotten. This might not sound like you'll be receiving a big plus, but on judgement day you'll be glad your sins are all wiped clean and the dept for your sins paid-in-full. Trust me,this is a big plus because the only way God forgives sin is there has to be some blood shed as payment, and not any old blood will do. The blood has to be from a pure, acceptable sacrifice. That is why there were so many rituals of animal sacrifices in Old Testament time that had to be performed by priests.  For us today the accepted and approved sacrifice we can stand firmly on is Jesus'. Jesus only had to willingly give Himself once to shed His blood. He was the sacrifice that would end the need for any more sacrifices. His sacrifice did it once and for all. God saw it, was pleased and accepted it. So, when you have Jesus, your sins are forgiven through His shed blood on the Cross. Period. Having your sins forgiven is a huge plus.

Jesus was victorious on the Cross 

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#2.  Did you know you some pretty neat rights as an adopted child? And the same goes for anyone in the family of God. Being a child of God, and this pertains to grown-ups as well, gets to be in on the inheritance of all the good God has to shower upon His precious children. And that inheritance is part of the inheritance that Jesus will get as well. Every one of God's children will receive great inheritance with magnificent eternal perks. That's something to look forward when you choose Jesus making you an adopted child of God. So, another great plus you get when you choose Jesus.

#3. With Jesus, you move from darkness into light. Without Jesus, you have no choice but to be in the dark. It's only when you accept Jesus into your heart that the Light of the world comes in and your spirit is awakened.  You're a reborn person because your spirit has been awaken and enlightened with the Light of the world.  I know this sounds impossible, but this is what happens spiritually.  Your spirit is that part of you that is not flesh nor blood but is made in the image of God, and it's the you that will live forever, the true, real you. God is Spirit, and your spirit is what is brought to light when you choose Jesus. So, your spirit moving into the Light is another great plus you get.


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#4.  Your home is being prepared in heaven by the hands of Jesus, and it will be a mansion tailor made for you. All the palaces in the world will pale in comparison to your heavenly mansion because it will be absolutely perfect in every way and made just for you.  Where else and who else has that in store for you? The answer is no one.  Don't miss out by letting another day or minute pass without Jesus in your life.

#5.  This plus has to do with God, the creator of the world, the universe, and maker of all things. Before your sins were forgiven, you were an enemy to God. Sin separated us from God. So, another big plus is Jesus changed all that. Jesus redeemed us back to God when anyone accepts Him as their savior. How to get back in right standing with God is as act of faith. Simply in faith know this is how God wants it. His Word says so.  Ask Jesus into your heart. Be sincere knowing you are a sinner and there's no way you can pay the price that sin demands in order to be forgiven.  But Jesus stepped in and up on the Cross and stood in your place as the one, acceptable sacrifice that God approved of and when you have Jesus, you thus possess great pluses that come as a package with Jesus.

#6. Another plus I can share that you get when you choose Jesus is security. When you are in Him, there is nothing that can happen to you that will alter your inheritance or any other plus. Nothing can change your eternity other than maybe getting to heaven sooner. But no one knows the day Jesus will return. But that really doesn't matter. Your future is secure no matter what. That secure feeling is a good feeling to have even during the worst of days here on earth.

#7.  Purpose. What's the use of going through life without a purpose for living?  As I've gotten older, it's becoming more important to have some purpose in life. Yes, there's purpose to get an education, etc. but the deeper purpose in the end is to have lived a life that was pleasing to God since it's Him whom we all will gave to give an account of how we utilized all the blessing we received during our lifetime.  Purpose gives life meaning. What will you have to leave when your time comes to an end? With a purpose your life can be worthwhile and have deeper, lasting meaning and your legacy will be a worthwhile one to those still here.  God gives us a good purpose and that's to lead others to Him so they can know about Jesus and make their choice for Jesus, too. What greater purpose is there than that? And what a wonderful feeling to know you had a purpose and part in leading another soul to heaven. Knowing that God wants no soul to be lost, I can only bet He has some pretty good rewards for anyone being a part in getting more people to chose Jesus and thus heaven bound. It will be rewarding to see those souls in heaven you had a part in showing them the way there.

Well, there you have it- 7 pluses you get when you ask Jesus into your heart. Remember, Jesus won the victory for all over sin and death and when you have Him, you are brought into right standing with God.  All these pluses (and there are more)are waiting and are instantly yours the moment you pray to ask Jesus into your heart. I think the best pluses are yet to come.  Question is, do you want them?  If you do, Jesus is the key. I can't think of any better pluses in the entire world. 

The light from the Son

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Bottom line- What's in it for you? When you choose Jesus, you get the best God has to offer and you also have some pretty big pluses and so much to look forward to.

Possibly the best message I've ever heard

I was meditating on the Sunday message my pastor gave this week and I think it's the best I've ever heard. I rate it a 10. The message summed up everything about being a Christian, about how to live and about what's really important in life. The message really hit home with me in a big and profound way. The topic of the message was about covetousness, the insatiable greed and desire to have things we don't possess, but to me it was about how to live, conduct myself about life matters and decisions, and how to please God. By touching on all these matters, the message included just about everything in life for today, tomorrow and into eternity.  That's one super message!

The wise don't place faith in money or things

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I sum the message up into four points, along with Bible scripture my pastor gave-

1. Everything comes from God.  Let me clarify that- everything means everything.
2. You're going out the same way you came in.  In plain English, that means empty-handed
    you were born and the same you'll be when you die.  Never are there any exceptions.
3.  Putting faith and importance in things and money is just plain stupidity.
4. And, since it all belongs to God, in all situations it's wise to seek Him first and obey His
    commandments. This pleases God, and it's best to please Him than to not please Him.
    Remember, #1.

Buck naked and empty-handed you came, and the same you will leave

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Hearing this message on covetousness about one rich man in the Bible, who was a fool to think he had it made in the shade with his riches. He was wrong. It's not wise to be selfish or greedy or desire every thing you see or place faith in those things. Things don't sustain anyone. I could store up my personal things, and keep wanting more, but they will not add one second to my life and things do not make me and things are not the source of happiness. Have you ever wondered why wealthy people aren't the happiest people?  It's okay to be content with what you have, and most of us have more than enough to be plenty content with. So lets put into practice the art of being content a little more.  Might even be good to get rid of those extra things and free up some space around the house.  There are millions of people in the world who would think I'm living large, because of what I have. It's silly of me to think I need more, when I have the necessities of life and then some. Many people around the world are not that fortunate to say they have more than enough.  However, need to be very content with what I have while holding onto my dream of living in my two bedroom log cabin home with red roof and wrap around porch.

I know everything I have or possess is a blessing from God. I know there's nothing wrong with having things, but keep it in focus to love the giver, who is everlasting, and not the things, which are temporal.  And, I think coveting things is a sin.

Scripture references- Luke 12:13-21, chapter 12:31-35, chapter 18:18-25
                                   Ecclesiastes 2:18-19 chapter 5:19, chapter 6:7, chapter 12:7,13,14
                                    and Job 1:21

 One added thought- obeying His commandments is not the old 10 Commandments. That was overridden when Jesus came. The  commandments can be summed up into two, and Jesus gave them. 1. We are to love God, the Father with all your might, all your heart, soul and mind. 2.  And Jesus said love our neighbor as yourself. When you obey these two commandments,  you are obeying the old ten commandments.  So, the commandments have been condensed down to two commandments.   I purposefully make it my personal goals to please God the best I can everyday.
Matthew 22: 36-39; Mark 12:29-31 and Luke 10:26-28.

Until next time,


The path is wonderful being lit by the light of the Son.