are we friends, or enemies?

 



A beautiful breezy day is upon us, and I enjoyed my morning bible reading
outdoors on my favorite quiet place, the wagon wheel bench.  I got to thinking about how short life really is, and so many friends/family/strangers, even, that are not 'getting" the Gospel of Christ, and its urgency to obey it.
I had tears in my eyes as I thought of those I love who are not walking with Christ,and coincidentally, (?) I read this verse--
For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:  (Philippians 3:18 NKJ)
 to paraphrase that, see the NLT :
"For I have told you often before, and I say it again with tears in my eyes, that there are many whose conduct shows they are really enemies of the cross of Christ."  
This is a rough verse!!  If I am not walking /living my life according to the New Testament, then I am considered an ENEMY to Christ. 

It breaks my heart to know there are so many people that think they are heaven bound , and yet, have not taken a single step towards obeying the gospel, that say, "oh, I have Jesus in my heart, Im good"..but Friends, theres MORE than that.  We have to  LIVE Jesus in your heart, not just believe it.
We have read the bible and see whats in there!! We have to believe it.....we have to OBEY it.   We have to LIVE it.   This is Gods plan of Salvation for us:
Believe in Jesus, as God's Son -- John 8:24.   Repent of your sins -- Luke 13:3.
Confess Christ as God's Son -- Matt. 10:32-33.  Be baptized (immersed) for remission of your sins -- Mark 16:16. And, continue to live a faithful life until death -- Rev. 2:10.

Theres no such thing as once saved, always saved, we can still lose our reservation in heaven, if we don't continually live according to the bible standard, and a horrible day it will be to hear Jesus say, "Depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!!"    For not everyone who says to me, "Lord,Lord, " shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father"    (Matthew 7:21-23)  

 Too many of us think that since Jesus came and died on the cross for our sins, they are automatically just going to heaven for eternity.  And too many of us, think "oh, I got plenty of time, Im young, Im healthy. Im not going anywhere"

Please, friends, family, and strangers...don't wait. be friends with Christ, not enemies!!

 

Our earthly lives can be snuffed out at any moment.  

I have experienced moments just this summer, of how quickly our lives can be taken.  So thankful, that those in my own immediate family, were spared, including myself.  THIS time.    but others don't have that second chance. 

 

"And now why are you waiting?  Arise and be baptized, calling on the name of the Lord"

Acts 22:16.

 

Til next time!!

Your Friend in Christ,

Lois

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Following the Recipe

Like cake?  if you have a time tested cake recipe and you follow the instructions on the recipe you will have a perfect cake! if you don't follow the instructions exactly the cake will not turn out as the creator intended....Like Heaven? If you follow the instructions exactly in the Book you should be able to get there, just like your Creator intended.

so enjoy your cake..and eat it too!    Enjoy Christianity... for your rewards are in Heaven!!

Have a great day, all!!  
Lois

of skunks and scriptures

During the night here at my country home, I was awakened by the dogs ....with the intensity of their desire to go outside, I knew from experience to "sniff the air" first, because if it was a skunk I didnt want to let them out.  
I made them stay back as I cautiously sniffed the night air, opening the door just
a crack. I didnt smell anything...so I let them out.   They took off on a dead run, furiously barking and joining the other dogs outside.    I gave them a few minutes and called them to come back inside so I could resume my sleep!    But it was too late....the air reeked of Peirre LaPhew's presence nearby. 
Reluctantly the 2 housedogs came back in and I sniffed their coats before allowing them further.  They did not have direct contact so I let them by.    Meanwhile, my biggest German Shepherd had since jumped fence to go after the predator...not once, but twice before the night was over.   Unfortunatly, he had direct contact with the perpetrator and I did my best to NOT have direct contact with him while opening the gate while he proudly came back inside the yard.   
This morning I awoke to a house that reeked of  skunk.   I opened windows, plugged in Scentsy burners, and while it covered it up pretty much...still, the odor lingered.

I walked outside to see just where the victim of my dogs big jaws lay.  I was pretty sure I would find it fairly close by.  I did.  I took a long stick from the woodpile and began the gruesome task of shoving the stinky unfortuate dead farther away so we might not have to smell it for days on end , and hopefully, a party of vultures will come have him for dinner. 

As I walked back, I saw yet another one!!  So no wonder it smelled so doubly bad!!  Not only one, but two skunks invaded my  property in the night.   I retrieved the stick (wishing I had just grabbed the pitchfork instead!)and began to maneuver it away to join the other one, thinking the vultures will be happy this week!! 

You are probably wondering by now what does Scripture have to do with skunks?
While I was rolling/shoving/tossing the repulsive skunks away,  it occured to me, that skunks are like sin.   We do our best to stay away from skunks.  They stink!!  No good comes from them..
In the same way, shouldnt we try to stay away from sin?  Sin separates us from God.  Isaiah 59:2--"but your iniquities have separated you from your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear."    We also , just as we stay as far away as we can from the stench of skunks, we should stay away from sin.   Psalm 1:1 warns us to not stand in the path of sinners.    How many of us, would stand in the path of  a skunk, knowing we were going to get sprayed?   Prov 22:5b  says "he who gaurds his soul will be far from them", -just as we stand far as we can away from skunks!!    1Thessalonians 5:22 tells us to stay away (abstain) from every form of evil (sin).    And while we may try to cover up our sins (remember I opened windows, and used scents but didnt quite cover the stink?)--God still knows. We cant hide anything from Him, He sees all--and the only remedy is to confess them to Him.( 1 John 1:9).  Luckily, if we are washed in the blood of the Lamb,- buried with Him in baptism (Mark 16:16; Acts 22:16; Romans 6:4), and living our lives as best we can in an acceptable way (Eph 5, whole chapter) (whole bible, actually!) then we will be a sweet smelling aroma to the Lord, and not a stench to Him.   Dont let your soul be rolled away to the vultures!   
Now I have the task to de-oderize the dog!!  To fully wash him in the blood..of tomatoes...
Thanks for reading, have a nice day!!
Lois

How well are you known?

I have been following along a real life story of someone who is (understandably)
upset that an unknown person(s)has turned them in to an agency and wonders
who would have done such a thing, along with pointing fingers to those
who that person sees to blame for the investigation in the once
private life that person enjoyed...now laid bare for the agency to see.
The agency is apparently quite aggressive in their investigation at times,
and no one wants to be investigated by them.

It makes me think about my own life, and the life of others I know.
Some people come to mind that I know,
without a doubt they are very upstanding folks, and no one
would even think of reporting any bad deeds to an agency, for ,
there arent any. 
One the other hand, I can think of several others who do not live
in a nobly characteristic manner. but probably do nothing to deed
an investigation by an agency.
Still others, well, maybe...but its no business of mine anyway. They know
right from wrong and if they choose to do the wrong, thats their business.
Everyone is known by their fruits..that is, the way they live. The things
they do. The words they say.  The company they keep.

But we should all be concerned about the investigative agency that is watching 
EVERYONE , ALL THE TIME.  

 Yes, even YOU.

The bible says 'we are known by our fruit'.   Matthew 7:16-20  "likewise every good
tree bears good fruit, but a bad a bad tree bears bad fruit.  A good tree cannot bear bad
fruit, a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.  Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down
and thrown into the fire.  Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them".

Now who is going to be the investigative agency to notice if we each are being bad, or being good?

Well, God is. 

"The eyes of the Lord are everywhere, keeping watch on the wicked and the good.
Jeremia 16:17 goes on with these sobering words:  "My eyes are on all their ways, they are not hidden from Me, nor is their sin concealed from My eyes."
1 Peter 3:12 says "For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil."

With this in mind...it would do us all well to pay heed to ourselves, and see that
we each are living each day knowing God is ever watchful of us. 

Yes, we should live in such a way that  a govt agency cant fault us, but even more so, in such a waythat God would be pleased.   For we must all give an account to Him one day...and our eternal destiny is His hands.  2Corinthians 5:10 , Romans 14:12. 

 

Resolutions!!

 I've been pondering New Years Resolutions, and the determination to lose weight. Its important to have good physical health. Many of us use the New Year to get a new start, and begin a new diet /exercise program to get into good shape and be healthy.
 With the focus being on physical weight loss....have you considered "laying aside every weight of sin which so easily ensnares you, and run with endurance the race that is set before you!!!?
The weight of sin wears us down!!  It makes our spiritual shape very saggy and sloppy.  It weakens our endurance.    We need to lay aside those daily sins that weigh us down/slows us down, in our trek to Heaven!!    I want to encourage you to feed daily upon the word of God and exercise daily...drink spiritual water, walk with Jesus, and 'run in such a way to get the prize."     (Hebrews 12:1, 2, 1 Corinthians 9:24-27)..you dont want to be disqualified!!! "Press on toward the goal to win the prize"   (Philippians 3:14)
May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.  (1 Thessalonians 5:23).