DON’T LEAVE THE CROSS

It is important to keep at the forefront of ones mind the cross. Why? It is the foundation of Christianity. Paul said,  “for I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified (1 Corinthians 2:2). As the days progress there will be more and more challenges to your faith in Jesus.

Evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived (2 Timothy 3:13). How? Through smooth speech and cunning craftiness will men and women be moved by teachers to fulfill the requirements of the flesh and not God.

Be on guard to remember when you are despised for doing well, that Jesus, who was perfect was crucified. Steven a man filled with the Spirit of God was stoned to death. Many others within scripture and within our contemporary setting are being killed for telling the truth.

So, if you feel bad or beaten and you know your living holy, understand the wicked are being set up and they will have their day. Because God is just he will make sure you have your day as well. Your eternal life is on the way.

AN EVIL DISEASE (for Pastors)

There is something amazing about bacteria. It’s ability to change its makeup to remain effective and cause the same damage it once did after a chemical was created to remove it. This evil disease adapts to the environment and like a parasite attaches itself to any moving object. You must be careful believer in Christ. The rider is tricky.

What is moving around in our culture attaching itself to the word of God? One thing I noticed lately is the movement of the homosexual community attaching itself to interracial marriage. Are they the same thing?

What else is moving around in our culture attaching itself to the word of God? Another thing I noticed is secular and Christian music on the same CD. Are they the same thing?

Do not underestimate our internal weakness. Paul said, Oh wretched man that I am who will deliver me from this body of death? He understood that even in Christ there continues to be a war within. We must be vigilant for our adversary the devil is like a roaring lion seeing whom he may devour.  He will destroy your children, marriage, and health if you allow him.

How do we stop him? Having a correct assumption of your strength. I hear so many say, “It does not take all that.” Really? Have you noticed, lately, the amount of ministers of the word of God falling by homosexual relationships, cheating on their wives, sleeping with underage girls and boys? How does this happen? I don’t believe they ALL started that way. They started strong and than listened to weak Christians about what it takes to stay faithful and let their armor rest on the ground.

The enemy like a shark smelled blood in the water and sent the final blow that destroys their credibility and ruins the ministry and places many in the congregation in danger of what it means to serve Jesus. Now we thank God for grace and these men should step down as they are now disqualified by God’s standard. But what will they do? Continue on disobeying the word of God and the flock with leavened bread has lost its lampstand.

It must be this way, because our nation is becoming more and more ungodly. Less and less fruit is being seen. Do you see the same things?

Ex-Girlfriend of HIV Pastor Speaks Out with an Open Letter to the Public

Tacky or Brilliant? Preacher’s Wives Now Want to Be Basketball Wives

Man Gets Hooker on His Honeymoon, arrested along with a Youth Minister

Married Pastor Accused of Sexting with a 14-Year Old Girl in His Congregation

Superman: Flying to a church near you

Lutherans elect first openly gay bishop

Before you get self-righteous, please understand this process takes time. Little by little, you depart from the Scriptures and then you find yourself on your back, in a hotel room with someone who is not your wife. Stay connected to Jesus and forsake all those who say to you, it does not take all that. It takes the FULL armor of God. Never lower your shield and do let go of your sword. Use your other hand to pull suffering people out of the fire. We must remain different from the world.

We are called to love. We are called to stand. We are called to be bold. Being a suitable example for others to follow. If your congregation members lived like you do, would it be a congregation of heaven on earth?

DEATH, LIES, AND VIDEOTAPE

There are many who fear the man with the gun or the man with the bomb. I declare to you today there is someone else you should be concerned with. Someone who is more powerful than you can image. Someone who holds space within his mind and voice. Someone who can speak into existence something out of nothing and make all the mountains of the earth bow before him. This man is so powerful that death could not hold him. Those demonic beings could not cause the temptation within his members to fall. This man is the King of kings and Lord of all Lords. He is the Almighty God.

Kiss his son, or he will be angry and your way will lead to your destruction, for his wrath can flare up in a moment. Blessed are all who take refuge in him PSALM 2:12.

This Son Jesus should be feared of all that may be feared. The devil cannot do anything without the Sons permission. All power belongs to him. Fear him. Love him. He will make your life worth it. He will add value to your existence. He will place within your hand power from on high. And you will be able to declare that you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you. Or else cowardly fall under his might, if you refuse to submit under his authority.

Not sleeping? No peace in your life?

Was it a restless night for you? Did you toss and turn and wonder if you would ever fall asleep? I have been there so many times and questioned, ‘why’? Let me share what I feel the reason was for me anyway. In the natural I had to cut back on caffeine and yes, even chocolate, just a little caffeine had an affect on me. Now when I took care of what I could do in the natural then I started to look at the spiritual aspect of the problem.

Peace? Well I thought I had peace, I mean I sang the song….’Peace, peace wonderful peace coming down from the Father above, sweep over my Spirit forever I pray….’ you must know that song, well most of us that have been in church know the words to that song. But…I still didn’t have the peace to fall asleep at night, not being funny, I would hum it, sing it and nothing. What was wrong?

Written within the pages of Isaiah we find that ‘Jesus shall keep us in perfect peace whose mind is stayed upon him, who trusts in HIM’. Ah…there is that word, ‘trust’ and in the same sentence as ‘peace’ and even the adjective ‘perfect’ was before peace. Was this my answer? Was this the formula that I, as a child of God, a believer in the Word of God could use? YES…YES and YES!

Where is your mind when the sun sets? What are you thinking about? Are you thinking on him, God? Look at the scripture; ‘who’s mind is stayed upon HIM’. What about during the day? Is your mind ‘stayed upon HIM’? What about when you hear bad news? What about when you get the utility bill and it is double? What about when you find out your teenager is having sex? What about when you lose your job? Does your mind ‘stay upon HIM’? When you are determined to trust your Heavenly Father and control your mind to ‘stay upon HIM’ you will gain the perfect peace and you will sleep at night. Oh it might take a few nights of fighting the battle in your mind or it might just take a few hours to break the habit of trying to work everything out from 9 to 12:00 at night each night, but I promise you that you can change, I did.

Today I am going to pray and believe that the Holy Spirit will guide you throughout the day and remind you, to ‘keep your mind upon HIM’ regardless of what comes your way. What is robbing you of your sleep is robbing your health also. Jesus said in John 10:10 “The thief comes not, but to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” I am living proof that lack of sleep can be turned to a ‘good night’s sleep’ when you are determined to ‘keep your mind upon HIM’.

photo by  jdaviddean

by Sheila (Guest Post)

Send guest post submissions to: inimnez@aol.com