"It's in the things that are hardest to give up that you gain the most."So with that thought I picked up the thing and gave it to God.
Proverbs 14:8
¶ The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way: but the folly of fools is deceit.
Proverbs 14:15
¶ The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going.
Proverbs 14:16
¶ A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil: but the fool rageth, and is confident.
This is something I heard from someone on the radio and not only found it very thought provoking but also very profound.
“We make our choices, and then our choices make us”
Romans 6:16
Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
When we make our choices we most likely take no more thought about it, we might however stop to consider the short term consequences. But do we really stop to think about how that choice will ultimately affect our life, both now and for eternity; and not only our life but what about the lives of others around us?
This not only goes for choices we make about what we do, but also the things we do not do. I like to think of this also in respect to God, if I obey Him it has an effect on where I will spend eternity, but when I disobey, do what I want to do, this also has an effect on where I will spend eternity. When I go my own way I only strengthen the un-Christ like nature that dwells within me. When I serve the LORD and do as He would have me to do, I strengthen the Christ within me.
We are living in very dark days and each time we fall short with God we take one more step into that darkness. God’s Spirit is departing from this earth and therefore we are not feeling the conviction we once felt. It is time to wake up and decide what we want, whether we ‘feel’ anything or not. It’s time to do what is right. You only get one chance to choose, when it’s over, it’s over.
With every choice you make you are serving one of two persons…God or The Old Serpent. You may think you are serving yourself, but who is the god of self?
Where are the choices you are making today, taking you tomorrow?
I hope this helps someone to get back on the right track.
Luke 21:34 - And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.
Are we making cold choices or are we becoming cold in the choices we have already made?
POSTED: 12:32 am EDT May 12, 2009
ANNE ARUNDEL, Md. -- Millions of Americans on Social Security are receiving $250 checks as part of the president's stimulus plan -- including an Anne Arundel woman who died more than 40 years ago.
The woman's son, 83-year-old James Hagner, said he got the surprise when he checked his mailbox late last week.
"It shocked me and I laughed all at the same time," Hagner said. "I don't even expect to get one for myself, and I get one for my mother from 43 years ago?"
His mother, Rose, died on Memorial Day in 1967.
Social Security representatives said there is a good explanation. Of the about 52 million checks that have been mailed out, about 10,000 of those have been sent to people who are deceased.
The agency blames the error on the strict mid-June deadline of mailing out all of the checks, which didn't leave officials much time to clean up all of their records.
Agents ask that people return the check if they receive it. Hagner said he'd like to frame it and hang it on his wall. "I just want to keep it as a souvenir. I'll never cash it," Hagner said.
Social Security officials said they aren't expecting to lose too much money to fraud. They're reminding the public that it's a federal offense to cash someone else's Social Security check.
This is the government that people trust and want running our country. I wonder how long it takes them to get a dead person out of their system? Do you wonder why we are so in debt, just do the math on this story. Do they really think people are going to send that money back? They aren’t expecting to lose too much money? 10,000 checks mailed to 10,000 dead people comes to $2,500,000. But to the government that is simply pocket change isn’t it. Social Security is already going broke, after reading this I don’t wonder why. If you trust the Government with your money, think again.
Someone said something to me and I got to thinking about it and so I just thought I would post my thoughts on the matter.
Dependence on God; we should depend on Him for everything in our lives. It is also true that we have to trust God to change us but we have to make right choices and obey the truth we know during that time. Our willful disobedience to the truth we know and the wrong choices we willfully make tie God’s hands in our life. We have to do our part. We can’t just sit back, live life the way we want and expect God to just magically change us. Our choices for Him show Him we are willing to have Him work in us, otherwise we all could stand up on judgment day and say, “well, I never changed because God didn’t change me.” Or “I didn’t get to a certain place because God didn’t get me there.”
Now don’t get me wrong, there are things in us that only God can change, and He does, but to really become what He wants us to become there are conditions we have to meet. I remember years ago someone told me that if I would take one step forward, He would take two. I believe with my whole heart that some of the mountains in me would never have been removed if I hadn’t of made certain choices in my life, certain separations unto the Lord, and being obedient in some of the small things. We go through life and so many times ignore so much of what we do thinking it doesn’t really matter but it does. God is watching and those seemingly insignificant things matter to Him. That still small voice is what He is looking to see if we are hearing and obeying it; or if we even care about it.
Wanting God to change us is a very noble thing, especially now a days; but are we willing to make the changes in our life that He is wanting, do we just want Him to change us or do we want to change for Him? Many times I have wanted Him to change me for me but what about Him, what about my desire and love to be changed for Him? We spend so much of our time pleasing ourselves and then we wonder why our hearts are not being changed. Each day He gives us opportunities to choose for ourselves or for Him. Maybe the reason I’m not experiencing the kind of changes I want is because of what I’m choosing during the day.
So if you are out there doing things you know are displeasing to the Lord or not doing things you know you should and are just waiting for God to change you while you continue on your merry way; I hope this helps you think twice and maybe make an effort to change things in your life, then watch and see what God does for you. I’m quite sure that the changes you are looking for will begin to happen and in a much greater way.
I picked up a book some time ago entitled “In His Steps” by Charles M. Sheldon. I never finished the book for one reason or another but a few days ago I picked up an Adventure in Odyssey book, entitled “The Stranger’s Message” by Paul McCusker. It is a story they did off of the original book. It is written for kids but great for adults too. I really got into this story and it pricked at my heart in such a way I felt to put my own thoughts down in writing and share them with whoever would chose to read them.
I hope this will cause you to take your own life into consideration and search your heart, soul, and very life. This book has examples of people from different walks of life. It is great for giving you examples of things that can happen…if you decide to “Walk in His steps.”
This book is very thought provoking! I think it is a good read for everyone that proclaims to be a Christian; after all, Christian does mean Christ like…
But how often are we only thinking about our self and not reflecting Jesus Christ? No wonder so many are unimpressed with so-called Christians. They don’t see Christ, they only hear empty words; they only hear words of “I’m a Christian” with nothing to back up those words.
What is wrong with us? What are we thinking?
It wasn’t too long ago that it became very popular to buy and wear things that had WWJD on them…A great question! But did we act on that question or just wear it to help dress up our “Christian” appearance?
So let us ask ourselves, not only what would Jesus do but am I walking in His steps? Am I doing as He would do?
What is it really to “walk in His steps?” The only way to find that answer is to sincerely seek Him in His Word and in Prayer, listening for and to His voice and then acting upon the words given to us no matter what the cost; even the cost to our Pride! Remember, Jesus walked His entire life in Humility. Jesus did say in Mark 10:21 “Sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.”
What if one town, one community or even just one family or individual decided to “do as Jesus would do”? Even if for just one month (we as Christians should live our entire life this way) in your home, workplace, church, school, everywhere, in everything and with everyone we come in contact with. What kind of impact would that have on not only on you, but also the recipients of your Christ-like actions?
I’m sure not everything would have pleasurable results but it shouldn’t matter if it’s what Jesus would do or want us to do. Not everything He did was accepted either; we shouldn’t expect anything different to happen to us.
We should ask this question everyday of our lives and in every situation, even the things we like to do, that may seem insignificant, like watching a movie or reading a book; would Jesus read or watch this? What am I filling the mind that God gave me with? What about the places I go for recreation?
This is not an easy thing for me to write about since I myself am guilty almost daily of not checking with the Lord to see if what I’m doing or going to do would please Him and be helpful or harmful to me or someone else. Remember, your life doesn’t just affect you, whether you like it or not you affect others by what you do and say.
What would change in my life if I truly walked “In His Steps?”
Why don’t we all try this for just a couple of weeks and see what happens…see how our life might change and perhaps change someone else’s. Don’t do anything without first asking, “If Jesus were in my place what would He do?”
How do we treat others? If we see a fault, Jesus would pray for them, love them, forgive them, show mercy and be longsuffering. What do I do? What are my thoughts? Are they like Jesus Christ’s? What if Jesus did to me or thought towards me as I do towards others? This doesn’t just apply to others either, what about yourself? How do you treat yourself when you don’t do right? If you find yourself falling short just remember God is merciful and He said at the end of 2 Corinthians 6:2, “behold, now is the day of salvation.” If you just confess and repent He’ll save you from your failures and help you start all over again.
This is a simple challenge but it will not be easy; in fact you will find out how selfish and un-Christ-like you really are and hopefully this experience will lead you to new places of repentance and forgiveness. I’m quite sure you will find through this experience a deepening of your relationship with the Lord and if you don’t have much of a relationship with Him this is a good way to get one going; for who better to help you through this task than Jesus Christ Himself!
Why wouldn’t you accept this challenge? Are you afraid to practice what you profess to be?...a Christian.
After your trial period, who knows, you might just decide to walk this way the rest of your life; like we should be doing already.
The reason sin is running rapid in our country is because we so called Christians aren’t acting like Christ; it is because of our lack of action that we have become a Godless nation. We have fallen short in our prayer and study of God’s Holy Word. We have stopped seeking Him first in all things. We have stopped standing up for what is good and right and we are suffering for it and will continue to suffer for it until the Lord returns and cleans up this old earth. We are reaping what we have sown; we have sown a life apart from the ways of God and now we as Christians are losing our freedoms in the country that was founded on the very principles in the Word of God. Jesus Christ was beaten, hung on a cross and died for our very sins, and yet we are afraid of the small amount of suffering, for a short period of time, that we might have to endure for Him, the one who saved us from an eternity in hell.
Just a couple final thoughts: If you are having trouble figuring out what is like Christ; turn to Galatians Chapter 5:22, 23. You can compare those things by backing up to verses 19-21, which tell very plainly the works of the flesh. It also wouldn’t hurt to read the remaining verses in that chapter either.
Let us also ask the Lord to show us where we try and use what’s in the Bible to conform to what we want to do instead of us conforming to what God’s Word really says for us to. It is very easy to twist the scriptures according our own will.
Remember: What’s done for Christ will last on into eternity. You cannot out-give God, whatever time you give or substance you give, God will give back to you in greater abundance; yes He can even give you more time in your day to do what needs to be done if you but only put Him first before and above anything else in the day. Try it, you’ll be more blessed if you do. Don’t forget, it is He who got you up this morning, He gave you the strength to go to work, ect… and He also has the power to take that all away for He holds your breath in His hands.
I think now I will go back and finish reading the book I started and didn’t finish.
And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment. Hebrews 9:27What are you investing your Time and Choice in today?
