" THOUGHTS "

Good Day to you all. As always it is my honor to share with you. This week we will be looking into our " Thoughts."

THOUGHT:
(1) is the process of thinking;
(2) Serious Consideration; Regard
(3) Reasoning Power
(4) The Power to imagine; Conception:
(5) Idea, Notion
(6) Opinion, Belief.

Your thoughts reflect your character. Micah spoke out against those who planned evil deeds at night and rose at dawn to do them. As mentioned a person's thought's and plans mirror his or her character. What do you think about as you lie down to sleep? Do your desires involve greed or stepping on others to achieve your goal? Evil Thoughts lead to evil deeds.

Now, as an ex-military man from the sixties, I relate to Paul in his usage of military jargon as he describes the battle against sin and Satan. God must be the Commander In Chief - even our thoughts must be submitted to His control as we live for Him. You know the righteous weigh their answers; the wicked don't wait to speak because they don't care about the effects of their words.

It is important to have something to say, but it is equally important to weigh it first. Do you carefully weigh your words, or do you pour out your thoughts without concern for their impact?

Until next Time...
Jim

" RESURRECTION (BODIES) "

How are you today? I just wanted to thank you for stopping by. Today we will be looking into a very real part of our existence. You see it's vital that each person walking this earth comes to know Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior. Today's subject matter is our " RESURRECTED BODIES."

First things first, if death ended it all, enjoying the moment would be all that matters. But those of us who are BORN AGAIN know that there is LIFE BEYOND the grave and that our life on earth is only a preparation for our life that will never end. What you do TODAY MATTERS FOR ETERNITY.

In light of eternity, sin is a foolish gamble. Have you as a Christian ever been asked about " How are the dead raised? " And with what kind of body do they come? " From the Word of God this is what our resurrected bodies will be like. Question: If you could select your own body, what kind would you choose - Strong, Athletic, or Beautiful? Paul was mindful to explain that we will be recognized in our resurrected bodies, yet they will be better than we can imagine, for they will be made to live forever. We will still have our own personalities and individualism, but these will be perfected through Christ's work.

For God's reasoning the Bible does not reveal everything that our resurrected bodies will be able to do, but we know they will be perfect, without sickness or disease. For those of us who have experienced pain and suffering this is Great News! So that we're clear our present bodies are perishable and prone to decay. Our resurrection bodies will be transformed. These spiritual bodies will not be limited by the Law of Nature.

This does not necessarily mean we'll be super people, but our bodies will be different from and more capable than our present earthly bodies. Our spiritual bodies will not be weak, will never get sick, and will never die.

LAST POINT: Keeping company with those who deny the resurrection could corrupt good Christian character. Beware, never allow your relationships with UNBELIEVERS to lead you away from Christ or cause your faith to waver.

Until Next Time...
Jim

" JUDGMENT "

So how are you doing today? You know I'm often reminded of a phrase that I often heard as a child..." KEEP YOUR WITS ABOUT YOU." This week we will be looking into a subject that we all should be thinking about: Judgment.

Beware time has come for Judgment, God's refining discipline. God often allows believers to sin and then experience the consequences. He does this for several reasons:

1. To show us our potential for sinning
2. To encourage us to turn from sin and more constantly depend on Him
3. To prepare us to face other, even stranger temptations in the future
4. To earthly discipline (Judgment) from God, how much more will unbelievers receive it

If it is hard for the righteous to be saved only because of God's mercy, what chance do those have who REJECT Christ? " FOR JUDGMENT WILL BE MERCILESS TO ONE WHO HAS SHOWN NO MERCY; MERCY TRIUMPHS OVER JUDGMENT."

Now only God in His boundless mercy can forgive our sins. We can't earn forgiveness by forgiving others. But when we withhold forgiveness from others after having received it ourselves, we show that we don't understand or appreciate God's mercy toward us.

LAST POINT: Please pay attention, now this is Christ's Law of Forgiveness as taught in the Gospels. We also see it in the Lord's Prayer - " FORGIVE US OUR DEBTS, AS WE ALSO HAVE FORGIVEN OUR DEBTORS." God does not forgive us because we forgive others, but solely because of His great mercy. As we came to understand His mercy, however,we will want to be like Him. Having received forgiveness, we will pass it on to others.

Those who are unwilling to forgive have not become one with Christ, who was willing to forgive even those who crucified Him. So I say once again " Keep Your Wit's About You."

Until Next Time...
Jim

" BROKEN / BROKENHEARTED "

Thank you for stopping by, this week we will be looking into the " BROKEN / BROKENHEARTED."

For me separation comes immediately to mind when I think of broken. Yes I'm reminded of loss, the death of a loved one, like say a parent or a child. Broken will instantly turn into " BROKENHEARTED," and we will start the process of grieving. " The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. "

God wants a Broken Spirit and a broken and contrite heart. You can never please God by outward actions - no matter how good - especially if your inward heart attitude is not right. Are you sorry for your sin? Do you genuinely intend to stop? God is pleased by this kind of humility. A life without God can produce a bitter, lonely, and hopeless old age. Stripped of God's Spirit, our bodies return to dust. Stripped of God's purpose, our work is in vain. Stripped of God's love, our service is futile. We must put God first over all we do and in all we do because without him we have nothing. Knowing that life is futile without God motivates the wise person to seek God first.

Now a life centered around God is fulfilling; it will make the " Evil Days " - when disabilities, sickness, and handicaps cause barriers when it comes to enjoying life satisfying because of the hope of eternal life. Being young is exciting. But the excitement of youth can become a barrier to closeness with God if it makes young people focus on passing pleasures instead of eternal values. Make your strength available to God when it is still yours - during your youthful years. Don't waste it on evil or meaningless activities that become bad habits and make you callous. Seek God now.

Until Next Time...
Jim