" MULTIPURPOSE "

Isn't God gooood???

I have so much to be grateful for, I'm very sure that most of you are aware of the problems, the spiritual hits that I've been receiving as of late. You know that I care about you and your family, I pray for all of our readers. Most of the time I feel like a boxer who truly wants to win the fight. Yes I get knocked down often but by the grace of God I'm able to get back into the fight again. Yes losing my laptop was monumental as sitting in a chair at a desk is physically painful for me. God always makes a way! Please understand that no matter what you are going through God loves you very much, and is saying "Don't worry, I've got this".

Last October 12th I shared with you about my wife's new goats. I'm still amazed at these creatures of God, an animal raised for its meat and milk; yet sometimes used in religious sacrifices. These goats are a year old now, they have truly done the job that my wife and son prayed that they would and in a efficient manner. These goats have been employed to keep the vegetation and foliage managable. I truly am a blessed man, I have the opportunity to gaze outside at the wonders of God, and to sit on my front porch and pray. I'm still perplexed at how almost everything in life has a multipurpose. I sometimes watch my bride of 39 years through the window as she tends to her goats. Wow she still captivates me... What was I saying? Oh Walking from one area to another with one or more goats at a time she carries a long stick. As I watch her I also wonder what the Word of God has to say about the staff.

In Exodus 4:2 the staff is mentioned. A shepherd's staff was commonly a three - to six - foot wooden rod with a curved hook at the top. The shepherd used it for walking, guiding his sheep, killing snakes, and many other tasks. Still, it was just a stick. But God used the simple shepherd's staff Moses carried as a sign to teach him an important lesson. God sometimes takes joy in using ordinary things for extraordinary purposes. What are the ordinary things in your life - your voice, a pen, a hammer, a broom, a musical instrument ? While it is easy to assume God can use only special skills, you must not hinder his use of the everyday contributions you can make. Little did Moses imagine the power his simple staff would wield when it became the staff of God.
The most basic usage was as a walking stick or a cane. A man's staff might also be a token of identification which could serve as a pledge, i.e. a symbol of it's owner's authority or responsibility.

The word "multipurpose" having or serving several purposes. When I watch my wife with her goats, herding them from one section to another I find that the staff is a very important piece of equipment for her. I mentioned that her goats are now yearlings therefore at times they can become aggressive. I tell my wife that there's nothing like a good crack on the horns to get the attention of a goat. Before anyone writes in it doesn't hurt them, remember that they love to ram each other at full force. Certain staffs mentioned in the Bible, e.g. that Moses, with special instructions from God used his staff in connection with Divine Miracles. Moses clung securely to the shepherd's staff as he left for Egypt to face the greatest challenge of his life. THE STAFF WAS HIS ASSURANCE OF GOD'S PRESENCE AND POWER. When feeling uncertain, some people need something to stabilize and reassure them. For assurance when facing great trials, God has given promises from his word and examples from great heroes of the faith. Any Christian may cling tightly to these. Read the Bible daily.

Try to pay closer attention to what God has put in your path, I for one have been working at getting rid of stuff. When I think about it many objects in my house can multi-task. Example when I'm thirsty I rarely drink soda/pop now I drink tap water.

Have a great day in the Lord, I'll be praying for you.

Jim

Technical Difficulties

Good evening all,

For the past couple of weeks we have been experiencing intermittent issues with Jim's laptop. This is why there have not been any new posts to the blog since the 10th. Our prayer is that Jim will be blessed with a new laptop. Until then we will have to wait for God to answer our prayers.

In Christ,
Benjamin

"DO YOU NOT KNOW THAT THE UNRIGHTEOUS WILL NOT INHERIT THE KINGDOM OF GOD" !

Good Morning to you all, it's my prayer that all is well with your soul. Know that I'm praying for you my reader, please look to God for everything. Please remember Philippians 4:19 "And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus". If we can trust God with our every need why don't we, why are many not going to inherit the Kingdom of God?

Have you ever really thought about the word "Unrighteous" ? Have you ever wondered who the Bible is talking about? It must not be a holy person, nor someone who has given their life to the Lord, maybe even someone who gets paid for it. Well the opposite of Unrighteous is Righteous. Unrighteous is sinful, wicked, and unjust.

This past week I was lead to 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 and I must tell you that I'm shaken by how many will not inherit the Kingdom of God. Are you doing all you can to assist your fellow man to see the light? How many people each day, each week do you come into contact with that are heading straight to Hell. How many are Unbelievers, Fornicators, Idolaters, many are Adulterers, Male Prostitutes, (Effeminate: marked by qualities more typical of women than men), Homosexuals, Thieves, Greedy People (Covetous), Drunkards, Revilers, or Swindlers are automatically and irrevocably excluded from Heaven. Don't you just shutter at the thought that so many are mislead, but if each of us, will share our faith with those we meet the number in Heaven will rise. If we're honest we Christians come out of all kinds of different backgrounds some of us may still struggle with evil desires, but we should not continue in these practices. How do you react when you slip up and sin, how do you immediately feel ???? Is there remorse or do you not even give it a thought. In 6:11, Paul clearly states that even those who sin in these ways can have their lives changed by Jesus Christ. Our sins are washed away, we are set apart. As righteous men and women we should be about God's business. Webster defines "Righteous" as acting or being in accordance with what is just, honorable, and free from guilt or wrong. The Word of God looks at "Righteous" as moral one, One who lives according to ethical and moral principles. Also to be declared free of the penalty of one's sins because of faith in Christ's Death and Resurrection. Righteousness one of the attributes of God, which speaks of His justice. For man, doing what is right, just and good. No one can achieve or obtain true righteousness through his own efforts, but must instead depend upon Christ to be counted as righteous by God and to live a life of righteousness by His power.

In an over permissive society it is easy for Christians to overlook or even tolerate some immoral behaviors (greed, drunkenness, etc.) while remaining offended by others (homosexuality, thievery). We must not participate in sin or condone it in any way, nor may we be selective about what we condemn or excuse. We must endeavor to become intentional about staying away from more "Acceptable" forms of sin which may be difficult, but it is no harder for us than it was for the Corinthians. We are expected to have high moral standards.

All people choose a master and pattern themselves after him. Without Jesus, we would have no choice - we would have to apprentice ourselves to sin, and the results would be guilt, suffering, and separation from God. Thanks to the Lord, however, we can now choose God as our Master. Following him, we can enjoy new life and learn how to work for him. Are you still serving your first master, sin or have you apprenticed yourself to God? We should not disassociate ourselves from unbelievers but we are to distance ourselves from the person who claims to be a Christian, yet indulges in sins explicitly forbidden in scripture and then rationalizes his or her actions. By rationalizing sin, a person harms others for whom Christ died and dims the image of God in himself or herself.

Until next time think about inheriting the Kingdom of God.

"FOR NOW I KNOW THAT YOU FEAR GOD"

God morning to you all, have you had to face any major challenge(s) this past week? Was this past week just like any other week for you or did it stand out? I must say that my time on this earth has certainly not been challenge free, as a Husband, Father, Grandfather and the Strongman in my household I certainly have to " Totally depend on the Lord ". I don't know about you, but I never know what's coming around the corner. I'm serious I've truly put my life in the hands of the Lord, all I have is Him.
Have you ever just put your trust into someone and let the chips fall where they may? I know every married person out there has just stood up and said Yep I have. Married people depend on each other all the time to come through, but I have to admit that there have been times when I've let my wife down. You see folks as much as I want to be perfect in all ways and in all my promises, I'm not.

I'm on a quest to totally trust God in all things and in all ways. I have a group of men in my sphere of influence who are also my prayer partners. I share things with them that I wouldn't with the general public. These men are my " Wise Council " who I know fear God also.

Do you FEAR THE LORD? Have you ever pondered why you do or do not fear God? I'm talking about "FEAR", to have a reverent awe of God.
In Genesis 22:12 He said, " Do not stretch out your hand against the lad, and do nothing to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me."
Those of us who are parents can truly relate to the UN-Conditional love that a parent has for a child. Abraham was tested by God, read Genesis 22:2 He said, " Take now your son, your only son whom you love, Isaac, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I will tell you".

All Christians who love the Lord, must learn to live through difficult times without seeing signs of hope. We must know that God is directing all things according to His purposes. I myself have been experiencing major problems/headaches with my laptop. Would you believe that a brother in the faith blessed me with a laptop (thanks Josh) and within a week it died, it crashed. I believe that knowing and trusting God puts a target on all our backs. I believe that Satan targets those of us who are sharing our faith, those on the front lines. I'm borrowing this computer for the moment as we speak. God always makes a way and all I have to do is to trust God through this "Test".

" The fear of the Lord" is a key theme in the wisdom of the Word Of God. It means to have respect and reverence for God and to be in awe of his majesty and power. My friends this is the Genesis to finding real wisdom. In this age of information, knowledge is plentiful, but wisdom is scarce. Wisdom means far more than simply knowing a lot. It is a basic attitude that effects every aspect of life. The foundation of knowledge is to fear the Lord - to honor and respect God, to live in awe of His power, and to obey his Word. Faith in God should be the controlling principle for your understanding of the world, your attitudes, and actions. Trust in God - He will make you truly wise.

CAN SOMEONE SAY ABOUT YOU "FOR NOW I KNOW THAT YOU FEAR GOD"

Until next time...

Jim