Do you love others enough to share the gospel?

Lessons I gleaned from 1 Thessalonians:

 

I have read 1 Thessalonians so many times but reading it this week using various 

translations for further understanding,  I am struck with so many lessons that I never saw before.

I would like to share them with you--because this morning, I am just reading

and the words are just jumping right off the page into my heart!!  So, Im in the 2nd chapter

this morning, vs 8:  So deeply do we care for you that we are determined to share with you not only the gospel of God, but our own selves,because you have become very dear to us.

Do I/you love others enough to share the gospel with them? this includes family members, friends, anyone that you LOVE ...these are powerful words!! they should inspire us to get over our shyness of sharing the gospel.   I know I dont want anyone to be lost..such a hard burden to bear if/when one passes away and I never showed them the gospel, so they could know how to have eternity in heaven!!

 

Moving on, to verse 12....encouraging, comforting, and urging you to live lives WORTHY of God....

I have to stop and think...."am I worthy?"  I mean, REALLY?  my life is so full of sin/mistakes and Im not sure Im worthy....but Christ DIED for me....am I worthy of that, the pain He suffered, the humiliation of the arrest, the false accusations, the beatings, whippings,and nails driven into His hands and feet, so that I (all of us!) can have forgiveness of my sins.  Doesnt this bring tears to your eyes, when you think

of all that He endured....for YOU! 

 

Vs 13....Am I thanking God continually?  these words are found in other parts of scripture as well.

"the word of God is at work in those who believe"   -----is the word of God working in me?  You?

 

14b-15--'you suffered from your own countrymen the same things those churches suffered from the Jews, who killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets and also drove us out"

 

This one struck me as being so true today, with our nation becoming more and more immersed in the evil and sinful ways of the devil.  Christians are suffering from the persecution of our fellow americans, our leadership even....who are trying to make those of us who are living our lives the bible way, look like we are the ones in the wrong.

 

The times ahead are only going to worsen.. we never thought it would happen here in our own America...and yet, it is. 

Join me in sticking to our guns and hanging onto Gods promises that He is working in those of us who believe. vs 16---"in their effort to keep us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved".

Time is running out...we do not know how long we are here on this earth. Make every second count!!  Love your family /friends enough to share the saving gospel while we still can. 

So if you're reading this....and you have not heard/read/seen/obeyed,  the gospel of Christ...you havent read the words from Jesus Christ Himself,  John 3:3,5--unless one is born again, he CANNOT see the kingdom of God.....Most assuredly I say to you, unless one is born of water and the spirit he cannot enter the kingdom of God.     Acts 22;16,  "Why are you waiting?  Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord"!!!!!!        WHY are YOU waiting?  Tomorrow could be too late!  We never know when/how/why we will die our physical death.

 

I welcome your comments/further insights into this chapter. 

Someone Is Watching!!

Someone is watching!!  I thought about this last night, as I was standing out on the front porch praying to God my bedtime prayers, as is my custom.  This morning I penned it to a poem.  

 

SOMEONE IS WATCHING.......
By Lois Stone

  Last night as I stood gazing at the cold night sky,

pouring my heart out to our God Most High,

2 twinkling objects were amidst shining stars,
I spoke out loud, "I wonder what you are?
 

  Could you be a planet now seen by the naked eye?

Or a gadget launched by government spies? " 

A chill went up my spine, not from the cold night air,

but I stood my ground and finished my prayers.
 

  I asked God to bless this nation, please, forgive its sins,

babies being killed, men marrying men,

His name is unrevered by most unholy lips .   

Please bless this country, tho it surely has slipped. 
      

  I paused and wondered about "big brother" spying, 

and laughed to myself, that theres no denying. 

Since the beginning of time God has the techinque-

For a "spy in the sky" Hes got them all beat .

  He knows your thoughts, He knows your face.
The "eyes of the Lord" are in every place.

 God sees it all, be it words, or deeds,

your every desire, your every need.

  All your pain, happiness, joy and despair,

God sees it all and hears every prayer.

He sees the hearts that have turned within, 

He sees this nation burying itself in sin.
 

 He sees the Son He sent as a gift being rejected,

He hears His name being disrespected.

Gods fury, His wrath, has delayed-- but  its coming.
 can feel the beat of the 'end" thats drumming.

Warnings have come-- quakes, storms and drought.

Still people wont listen, if they hear--they doubt. 

Jesus is coming soon, He knows those that are His.

We all were born for such a time as this.
 

 Earthly kings cant save you from hells eternal fires,

the place reserved for adulterers, murderers, athiests, liars.

All  who fall from His grace with unrepented transgression,

must hear His word, believe it, repent and make confession!!

Be baptized for remission of sin and live your life for Christ.

Serve the only King that can save-in Him, is Eternal Life.

Live like someone is watching, because you know, they are.

Be it from someone near, or in the sky afar.

By Lois Stone

"the eyes of the Lord are in everyplace"
Proverbs 15:3
"the Lord knows those who are His"
2 Timothy 2:19
"the Lord hears the prayers of the righteous"
Proverbs 15:29
"adulterers, murders, atheist, liars"
Revelation 21:8

God’s Plan for ManHear God’s Word
Heb. 11:6; Rom. 10:17
Believe the Gospel of Jesus & His Kingdom
Jn. 8:24; Acts 2:32-33; 8:12,35-37
Repent of Sins (Change Mind & Actions)
Lk. 13:3; 2 Cor. 7:10
Confess Jesus’ Name
Mt. 10:32-33; Rom. 10:9-10; Mt. 16:15-16
Be Baptized
Mk. 16:15-16; Mt. 28:18-19; Acts 2:38,41; Acts 22:16; Rom. 6:3-4
Live Faithful Until Death
Mt. 10:22; Rev. 2:10
   

   
 

INFLUENCE!!

Proverbs 22:6 says to train a child up in the way he should go, so when he is old he will not depart from it....and while these children are not my own I love them just as much as they were.     I am am thankful that God has put them in my path so I that I might show them the way they should go.

(Note:This picture is my neice in 2008 adding sugar to her own dough,--we dont use sugar in our communion bread).

I make the communon bread for our congregation.  Connie was only 5 years old when she stayed with me for a month, and during that time she observed what I was doing, and I let her poke some of the peices to prevent air bubbles.  Later that week, I made her a batch of homemade play doh.  she asked if she could use the cookie sheet...and a fork, rolling pin , and the round cookie cutter. Not realizing yet what she was intending to make from her playdoh, I got these out for her.  To my amazement, she rolled it, cut the circles and began pricking it all over , and exactly like I make the communion bread...,and even tho I had figured it out I asked her what she was making and she said "Communion Bread!!". 

I was reminded at that moment just how much influence we do have on others.  Tho my own 2 children were now grown and I we tried to raise them "right", I think I had forgotten,  until that moment, how much influence we have on others. 

Children, it is said, have minds like a sponge...they soak up everything they see/hear.

We all have influence....be it good, or bad influence, we all have it.

and most of the time we dont even realize others are watching what we do.

As a Christian, I (and YOU!) have a big responsibility to make sure that all of my(our) actions, and words

are such that will not profane the christian influence, and not just around children. Adults too, esp those that are not christian and know that you are,  are watching closely to see what you do.

Fast forward 4 years...even now, my neices, and the nephews too, love to help me make communion bread.  Before, I could only let them prick the holes with the fork...but now the girls have learned how to handle the fragile dough and do it from start to finish.    And now, a little older, they ask more questions about the process...and the whys of how/why we do it. 

I am glad for the opportunities like this that open the door for them to ask questions, which they do,--Why is always a circle?  Um....because I dont have a square cookie cutter?

"Why do we do we do communion"?   "because Jesus died on the cross for us, and made it possible for us to go to  Heaven , we break bread every Sunday to remember that He died on the cross for us." 

"Why" ?  "Because when Jesus ate with his disciples the last night before He died on the cross,  He said we are eat this bread and drink this drink, in remembrance of Him".  (1 Corinthians 11:23-26) 

"Why do we do it every Sunday"?   "Because in the bible (acts 20:7), they did this on the first day of the week".  "Oh yeah!! We talked about this at camp"!

Im so glad they are learning bible ways.

And they are teaching/reminding me too, about influence....tho I am just an Aunt...or you may be the Grandma, or even just a close family friend...never give up always doing good!  You never know the influence they might follow, just might be yours. 

Sept 2012

Preoccupied!!!

Preoccupied!!! We in this earthly life tend to get so busy with earthly things. We concern ourselves with earthly worries. My dads pup, a five year old German Shepherd, became suddenly sick a few days ago and was admitted to the vet clinic, where, sadly , she died today. I expressed my condolences to my dad, who replied, "Sometimes the answer is no." I nodded my head in agreement, knowing he was referring to the answer to prayer. Then the attention turned back to another family member, in the midst of marital woe. Peggy Sue did not cross my mind again today, until suddenly, just now, late at night. and just as suddenly, the tears began to flow. It dawned on me, that I did not even cover the health of my dads beloved new pup in prayer....and I suspect he probably thought I did. and just as suddenly, it dawned on me...my dad himself must have even been praying for the recovery of his dog. You see, my dad is not a church going man....and he knows I have prayed for every one of my dogs, when they were in need of good health, or lost, needing found. And always, I have recieved a favorable answer from the Lord. I wonder, was he praying for Peggy Sue? Or did he expect that I was? Or both? He helped me look for my lost German Shepherd several years ago. I had spent 4 days searching for Ginger...I had given her away to a young man who lived in town and she got loose from him within the hour of arriving at her new home. I vowed that if I found her, I would bring her back home with me , never to give her away again. Dad helped me set up a big box trap baited with food, to catch her in. After we set the trap, and headed back home, I told him I had been praying that God would bring her back to me and that I always expected an answer. My dad wisely counseled me that, "sometimes, the answer is No.". the next day we went back to the spot where we set the trap...and there, in trap, was Ginger!! She was very happy to see me again, and happily, I said to Dad, and sometimes the answer is yes!!" the past few weeks have found my mind very preoccupied with the worries of this world. a close family member is going thru a nasty divorce, and the matters of that situation have very much consumed my mind and time. I have even found it hard to focus on my daily bible reading ,and tho I have been prayerful, and I think I did pray once for my dads pet........or did I? Jesus instructs us in Matthew 6:25-34, to not worry...for worrying cannot make anything better. Worrying about the cares of this world will only take our focus off of whats important, choking out Gods word from our hearts. When we let worry consume us , it DOES consume us..it takes its toll on us, mentally and physically. It makes us forget whos in control here...us...or God. Our preoccupation with worldy matters easily ensnares us and weighs us down. "let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus"...(Hebrews 12:1, 2) Sometimes it takes a slap in the face to bring us back to reality of who is in control . Even the death of a dog.

Tomorrow might be too late

As I was busily sweeping the water out of our cellar this morning,
from all the overnight rains, I mentally took note of everything we
needed out there in case we take cover in it tonight. Indeed, in case we
actually needed to LIVE in it for a few days, in the event our house is
leveled to rubbish in coming storms tonight.       I thought about other
people in Okla and KS also, making preparations for just such a horrible
event.  
We take such pains to ensure our bodily /physical safety.
But how many people are taking the trouble to ensure their SPIRITUAL safety? 

This earthly body is but for a short time, life is uncertain.     We never know when we
will be cut off from it.  James 4:14  tells us our lives are just a vapor.  We do not know
if we will be here tomorrow.  Life is just a vapor that appears for a little time and then
vanishes away. 
And yet, there is life after death....in fact, 2 different options.   Heaven, --or Hell. 

But you cant wait til you die to choose.   You must decide TODAY!!     
Acts 2:38 : Repent and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for
the remission of your sins.       See, theres no such thing as 'the sinners prayer" ....you wont
find it anywhere in the bible, and it wont save you.  Acts 16:30: "what must I do to be
saved? a man asked Paul.   Did Paul say, quick say the sinners prayer!!  NO!!  this is
Pauls response:   "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved"....and immediatly
man was baptized.   (vs 33)   1 Peter 3:21--Baptism now saves us.      So many people refuse
see this in the bible. And its really sad because I dont know how much plainer it can get.  
John 3:3-5 the words of Jesus Himself:   "unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot
see or enter the kingdom of God. 

It is my hope that reading this might help even one person to see the Gospel , and desire
to follow the christian life so that an eternal life in Heaven may follow.  Granted,  while baptism
is a necessary step,  once saved, always saved, is not in the bible either.  It is my hopes that
everyone will desire to read the bible and see how to live the blessed christian life. 
So where would you like to spend eternity?  Smoking?  or Non?     The choice is yours.
dont delay!  For tomorrow may be too late. 

the Fragrance of Christ

I love to go walking down our country road, especially on early morning or late evenings in spring.   The  gentle breeze carries the  fresh scent of  wildflowers and honeysuckle.  It carries the scent of  fresh  green pasture grass and the wheat growing in the farmers fields.   The air is so so clean and fresh smelling and makes me feel so good to be alive, and thankful I have no more foot pain and am able to take these walks that rejuvenate my soul. I wish I could bottle it and take it home and  open it up and sniff it when ever I need a pick me up for my soul!! 

While I cant bottle up that country air and diffuse it in my home,  I can open my windows and let it in.  In the same way, friends, we can open up our hearts and let Jesus in.  We can model ourselves in Jesus's likeness, and therefore, carry about the 'fragrance of Christ". 

In old testament times, fragrance was used as an offering:
And the Lord said to Moses, "Take sweet spices,stacte, onycha, and galbanum,and pure frankincense with these sweet spices,there shall be equal amounts of each.  You shall make of these an incense, a compound according to the art of the perfumer, slated, pure, and holy. And you shall beat some of it very fine, and put some of it before the Testimony in the tablernacle of meeting where I will meet with you.  It shall be most holy to you"  (exodus 34-36) 

But today, God uses Christians as diffusers... to carry about the fragrance of Christ everywhere we go: 
  Now thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and thru us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.   For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.   2 Corinthians 14-15  

    

The freshness of the fragrance of Christ,is so light, so sweet, full of love  and true caring for the souls of your fellow man/woman.   It is the rich bouquet of the fruit of the Spirit---love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self control.  (Galations 5:22).

  

While I love a light fragrance, I am allergic to heavy perfume....some sweet ladies wear it on their faces in a lotion or cream, and after being hugged by them, or even shaking their hand, I have to get home and get it washed off, as its effects will cause me to have a headache and  a"froggy throat".      In the same way we will always find that alot of people will not embrace the Fragrance of Christ.  They are "allergic" to it..and will find it repugnant.   They are closed to God, and sadly refuse to give up their sinful lifestyle in exchange for eternal life in Heaven.

(Acts 2:38, 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, Galations 5:19-21 )

...Be still and know that I am God

....Be Still and know that I am God   (Psalm 46:10)

                                   by Lois Stone

   When I am feeling really frazzled, or stressed out, I have to remind myself of one of my favorite sayings.   "a day hemmed in prayer, seldom unravels ."    I find that, if I dont spend time in prayer to God on a regular daily basis, my day DOES unravel.  Doesnt yours?    

 There is no doubt in my mind that the peace and calm that come in times of trouble is God ministering to our souls. When I see how God dealt with others in the Bible, I know He will do the same for me. Because, He said, "I am the Lord, I change not." Malachi 3:6 (KJV)    and because thru my experiences, I have seen God working in my  life, and others, thru the Power of Prayer.      Psalm 38:13  -  In the morning my prayer comes before you.   Psalm 55:17 reads  Evening, morning and at noon, I will will pray and cry aloud, and He shall hear my voice.    Psalm 88:13 -  in the morning my prayer comes before you.      In  Daniel  6:10, we find Daniel praying 3 times a day. 

   In the  New Testament,   we find Jesus prayed quite often.  If the SON OF GOD has to pray to His  Father,  how much more shouldnt we?    We find Jesus praying in the early morning before daylight, Mark 1 : 35.     In Luke 4:42 Jesus departed from a crowd of people and went to a solitary place to pray.     Luke 6:12 we find he went out on a mountain to pray.   

   The bible doesnt tell us what Jesus prayed for in those instances.  One can only imagine with all the stress He would have to deal with, that he prayed for the strength  to deal with it.  Perhaps He prayed for focus... or patience.-- there were alot of people making demands !....courage?  there were alot of people out there against Him !! 

      

 But in Matthew 26, we know what Jesus was praying for.  His appointment with death was coming.    Jesus went to the garden alone to pray to God, and pour out His troubles.    He prayed so hard he had sweatdrops of blood!  He cried out to God,  " please, take this cup from me. "    And  yet,he also prayed,  " NOT MY WILL,BUT THINE " .....he surrendered His will to God.

   

  Being still....surrender your will to God.  Stop trying to take control of everything,  and leave it to God!!    God  has ultimate control over all.   

   God is a very present help in time of trouble. tho the nations rage about us and   even  our own  nation is in turmoil,   we must remember God still has ultimate control of all.    Nothing is impossible for God.... Luke 1:37

    Wherever you are in life remember God has plans for you, Jeremiah 29:11-12  -- "For I know the thoughts I have for you," declares the Lord, "thoughts of peace and not evil, to give you a future and a hope .  Then you will call upon Me and pray to Me and I will listen to you.   And you will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart." 

.   Those that know me really well know that my favorite summer past time is sitting on the front porch step   gazing out and up at the night sky, lit only by the stars and the moon.   I am quite fascinated by the constellations and the cosmic galaxy.  Not only of its beauty, and the awe that God created it, but the fact that, it is under His control 100%.   There is nothing you or I or spacemen can   do, to make the moon go its course , or keep the earth spinning, but just because God wills it to,  the moon hangs up there in space.   and the earth keeps spinning.....LIFE...goes on.    It reminds me, not only of Gods control and headship over all of His creation,  but also, just as the stars twinkle in the darkness, and the moon shines bright, so we should shine our lights in a dark sinful world.    In the moments that I walk farther on out away from the house in total darkness, I stand in awe, just knowing, that way up on past the first and second heaven, God sits on His Holy Throne in the 3rd heaven, looking down over all, with full control over  EVERYTHING . It is then ......I am truly being still...my heart swells with peace and I know, He is God.    After a hard day of work, or a stress filled day, or just a hot day followed by a cool night, sitting under the endless sky and all the earth is quiet ,  I am being  still, and   I  know He is God.