Author Archives: Blanche

What Are You Yoked To??? Bible Ballistics: BBs #528

01 Friday Feb 2019

Posted by in Consider Your ways

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #528    What Are You Yoked To???

 

“Be ye not unequally yoked together

with unbelievers:

for what fellowship

hath righteousness

with unrighteousness?

and what communion

hath light

with darkness?”  2 Corinthians 6:14

While this passage is most often used to refer to marriage, it is also applicable to our lives in general, and I’d like to share a few things this morning about our personal choices in life, particularly in these days of constant bombardment by media—general media of TV, movies, radio, and ‘news’ (good, bad, or indifferent—true of false!)—and social media—the chit, chat and spat of constant  infusions of banter, whether it’s helpful or harmful.

I think much of it is harmful, in the sense that it has and is taking over the lives of a whole generation, and even we older people are allowing it to distract and consume us as well.  It truly is a threat to our well-being if we don’t consider how we ought to use it, and what it has the potential to do to our lives, our relationships and our witness.  People somehow have come to think it’s ‘OK’ to say things on social media, that they wouldn’t say in person.  We have come to accept the lies of the enemy simply because they come with ‘cutesy’ cartoons, videos and shock features.  Paul warned his fellow believers at Corinth to be wary of becoming involved —being “yoked together”—with those diametrically opposed to God, our Lord Jesus, The Word of God and/or anything that calls people to Biblical righteousness! We must examine our hearts, souls and minds to see what we have become “yoked together” with!

We must get our lives in tune with our Lord and His Word; we must get our eyes back on Jesus and not the things of the world.  We must lay some things aside, and once again cling to the things of God rather than the world.

“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about

with so great a cloud of witnesses,

let us lay aside

every weight,

and the sin

which doth so easily beset us,

and let us run

with patience

the race that is set before us,

2 Looking unto Jesus

the author

and finisher

of our faith;

who for the joy that was set before him

endured the cross,

despising the shame,

and is set down at the right hand

of the throne of God.

3 For consider him

that endured such contradiction

of sinners

against himself,

lest ye be wearied

and faint

in your minds.

4 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood,

striving against sin.” Hebrews 12:1-4

We must remember that sin is a “weight” that we are to “lay aside” as we “run with patience”—oh I love this—”the race that is set before us”!  Did you get that?  We are to run the “race that is set before us”—a race that Jesus has “set before” you and me!  We are called to run the race that Jesus has not only called us to run, but HE has set the course for you and me to run. And while there are things that we all are called to do (live holy, righteous, Spirit filled lives), there are differences in our giftings and our individual callings of service. I don’t have to run your race, nor you, mine.  But I would like to share a few things that have burdened my heart of late, and I think these are things that affect most of us; things that we need to appraise in regard to the “yoke” that we may have allowed to join us to things that we need not be a part of, or at the very least not be consumed and controlled by!

Disconnect from our “Phone”—

Reconnect with God, family and friends—

 

Stop living a ‘virtual’ life—

Start (or restart) living a real, people engaging life—

 

Stop the wholesale consumption of ‘junk food’ media— (social or otherwise)

Start spending more time praying, reading and connecting with real people                                   and The Real God—

I have been personally convicted of late that I have allowed these “techno” issues to consume way too much of my time; and they are total ‘time’ stealers. (They can also steal and corrupt our heart, our mind and our conscience!). And our world needs to see The Jesus that we claim to love and worship in us.

“What? know ye not

that your body

is the temple of the Holy Ghost

which is in you,

which ye have of God,

and ye are not your own?

20 For ye are bought with a price:

therefore glorify God

in your body,

and in your spirit,

which are God’s.”  1 Corinthians 6:19-20

We are blood-bought servants of The Most High God and His Son Jesus.  And not just servants but children, children who were adopted into the Kingdom of God by blood of Jesus, which “cleanses us from all sin”—yes from “all sin”; we can rise above in Jesus, by the power of His blood and the indwelling Holy Spirit which He imparts to us!  Jesus is our sufficiency, if we will but learn to lean on Him and not ourselves.  We are to be yoked with Jesus not the world.  How about you?  Will you join me in recommitting to make sure that we keep our heart and life “yoked” with Jesus!!!

“Come unto me,

all ye that labour

and are heavy laden,

and I will give you rest.

29 Take my yoke upon you,

and learn of me;

for I am meek and lowly in heart:

and ye shall find rest

unto your souls.

30 For my yokeis easy,

and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

I pray that God will open our eyes to see the dangers that we face each day and turn to HIM before we fall for the lies of the enemy of our souls.  We can live victorious lives IN Him!

“I can do

all things

through Christ which strengtheneth me…….

19 …..my God shall supply all your need

according to his riches in glory

by Christ Jesus.”   Philippians 4:13 & 19

Are You Tuned In??? Bible Ballistics: BBs #527

30 Wednesday Jan 2019

Posted by in Salvation, Tuned In, Tuned In To Jesus

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #527    Are You Tuned In???

 

There is an old gospel song, “Turn Your Radio On” (By Albert Lee Brumley) that talks about ‘tuning in’ your radio to God; a very timely song, written in the days when almost everyone was listening to the radio.  I believe the song’s message is timely for us as well, even though we have gone from the radio to ‘mass media’ on a mind-boggling scale. Yet we must ‘tune’ our hearts and minds to Jesus—hearing Him over the world—He is our only hope.

“Looking unto Jesus

the author

and finisher

of our faith;

who for the joy that was set before him

endured the cross,

despising the shame,

and is set down

at the right hand

of the throne of God.”  Hebrews 12:2

Jesus paid the price for our salvation—the only sinless, perfect sacrifice for sin!  It’s why He came—to pay for our sin and to save us “from” it, not leave us in it!

“And she shall bring forth a son,

and thou shalt call his name JESUS:

for he shall save his people

from their sins.” Matthew 1:21

We become “His” people by bowing before Him in repentance, and faith in HIS substitutionary, atoning, sacrifice for ‘our’ sin!  For Jesus loves us and willingly laid down His life as payment for sin, and to give us eternal life now, and in heaven with Him!  Again, it’s why He came.

“For God so loved the world,

that he gave

his only begotten Son,

that whosoever believeth

in him

should not perish,

but have everlasting life.

17 For God sent not his Son

into the world

to condemn the world;

but that the world through him

might be saved.

18 He that believeth on him

is not condemned:

but he that believeth not

is condemned already,

because he hath not believed

in the name

of the only begotten

Son of God.”  John 3:16-18

The choice is yours—have you tuned in? Jesus repeated a call at least seven times in the first three chapters of The Revelation.  Will you hear—tune in to—His call?

“Blessed is he that readeth,

and they that hear

the words of this prophecy,

and keepthose things

which are written therein:”  Revelation 1:3

To the ‘churches’ (yes even people ‘in’ the church need to be sure they have ‘tuned in’ to Jesus!) Jesus gave this repeated admonition: “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith….” Revelation 2:7a (2:11, 2:17, 2:29, 3:6, 3:13, 3:22).   I pray that you will ‘tune in’ and hear the message that Jesus is speaking to you; that you will hear and believe, because HE loves YOU!  Amen and Amen!

What’s Your Version??? Bible Ballistics: Vol. 12 No. 24

27 Sunday Jan 2019

Posted by in Abiding In Jesus, Born Again, Saved by grace, Who are YOU following?

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Bible Ballistics: Vol. 12 No.24  What’s Your Version???

 

It’s been a busy week at our house—getting new hardware and software and trying to get it all set up, installed, transferred, and trying to adjust ‘me’ to the new tools and formats.  I wasn’t sure that I could even get today’s article done without throwing the computer across the room, with all the changes.  When we think about the title of this article, several things may come to mind; officers taking accident reports may get several ‘versions’ of what happened, or at the scene of a crime there may be several versions of the who, what, when, where and how the crime transpired.  As Bible students, there are various ‘versions’ of the Bible to study from. But as I was setting up all the new ‘technology’ this week, it was very apparent that ‘syncing’ all the devises required a compatibility of software ‘versions’—in other words, the software had to be compatible across all the devices that I was trying to sync.  I hit a snag several times when some ‘old’ versions of particular items had come over to the new—so I had to remove the ‘old’ and make sure the ‘new’ was ‘in charge’!  The question came to mind that our lives are lived according to our ‘version’ of God, what version are you and I living by?

This will affect our spiritual lives in much the same way as my software/hardware syncing was absolutely essential to the working of my equipment and my being able to efficiently teach, write and post the things that God leads me to share.  But most importantly we must be sure that we have come to Jesus, for when we do, He puts His Spirit in our hearts and I become a ‘new’ version of ‘me’!  Being daily “conformed to the image of His Son”!  A “new creature” “in Christ”!  And that my friends, is what we want to consider today—and every day!

“Therefore

if any man be in Christ,

he is a new creature:

old things are passed away;

behold, all things are become new.

18 And all things are of God,

who hath reconciled us

to himself

by Jesus Christ,

and hath given

to us

the ministry of reconciliation;

19 To wit,

that God was in Christ,

reconciling the world

unto himself,

not imputing their trespasses

unto them;

and hath committed

unto us

the word of reconciliation.”    2 Corinthians 5:17-20

Oh, what a glory that God has “reconciled us to himself”, and not only “reconciled us”, but he has “given to us the ministry of reconciliation”.  God has called us to a ministry for Him, to others—we have the good news, and we are to share it.  But it must be the message of Truth, about The Truth, JESUS—and HE still saves, and changes lives today—putting us ‘in sync’ with the God who loves us!

“So, as much as in me is,

I am ready to preach

the gospel

to you

that are at Rome also.

16 For I am not ashamed

of the gospel

of Christ:

for it is the power of God

unto salvation

to every one that believeth;

to the Jew first,

and also to the Greek.

17 For therein

is the righteousness of God

revealed

from faith

to faith:

as it is written,

The just shall live by faith.”     Romans 1:15-17

Sometimes people misunderstand what faith is—it’s not ‘pie in the sky-by and by’ but it is confidence in The One in whom our faith is placed.  Faith is only as good as the object in which it is placed.  I can place my confidence in many things, but if those things aren’t sufficient to the task, I will be disappointed, but GOD will never fail, for HE always keeps HIS word, and when our ‘faith’ is in HIM, we will have the victory for:

“Ye are of God, little children,

and have overcome them:

because greater is he

that is in you,

than he

that is in the world.”  1 John 4:4 

We must choose our “operating system”!  Will it be God that we choose, or the enemy of our souls.  We can choose to stay in his camp, or we can come to Jesus in repentance and faith.

“And you hath he quickened,

who were dead

in trespasses

and sins;

2 Wherein in time past

ye walked according

to the course of this world,

according

to the prince of the power of the air,

the spirit that now worketh

in the children of disobedience:

3 Among whom also

we all had our conversation

in times past

in the lusts of our flesh,

fulfilling the desires of the flesh

and of the mind;

and were by nature

the children of wrath,

even as others.

4 But God,

who is rich in mercy,

for his great love

wherewith he loved us,

5 Even when we were dead

in sins,

hath quickened us together

with Christ,

(by grace ye are saved;)”.   Ephesians 2:1-5

We who ‘were’ dead in sin, God “quickened”—made alive—and gave us new life in Jesus Christ our Lord! And Paul goes on in this same passage and paints a glorious picture of our new life in Jesus—a life of faith and good works that come out of our salvation, not works that bring salvation; for salvation is by faith—our operating system—through grace, God’s amazing provision for HIS ‘version’ of redemption.  God doesn’t just clean us up and send us on our way!  NO, He saves, delivers and gives us a hope and a future in Jesus.

“And hath raised us up together,

and made us sit together

in heavenly places

in Christ Jesus:

7 That in the ages to come

he might shew the exceeding riches

of his grace

in his kindness toward us

through Christ Jesus.

8 For by grace are ye saved

through faith;

and that not of yourselves:

it is the gift of God:

9 Not of works,

lest any man should boast.

10 For we are his workmanship,

created in Christ Jesus

unto good works,

which God

hath before ordained

that we should walk

in them.”  Ephesians 2:6-10

Praise God for HIS amazing grace—we are delivered from that old ‘operating system’ of sin to the ‘operating system’ of grace, mercy and truth—amazing grace that saves, redeems and transforms.

“Giving thanks unto the Father,

which hath made us meet

to be partakers

of the inheritance

of the saints

in light:

13 Who hath delivered us

from the power of darkness,

and hath translated us

into the kingdom

of his dear Son:

14 In whom we have redemption

through his blood,

even the forgiveness of sins:”   Colossians 1:12-14

Saved by His blood, changed by HIS love, continually being transformed by His indwelling Holy Spirit.

“I beseech you therefore, brethren,

by the mercies of God,

that ye present your bodies

a living sacrifice,

holy,

acceptable unto God,

which is your reasonable service.

2 And be not conformed

to this world:

but be ye transformed

by the renewing of your mind,

that ye may prove

what is that good,

and acceptable,

and perfect,

will of God.”  Romans 12:1-2

I pray that you will examine your own heart today, and just as I worked on making sure all my ‘devices’ had compatible versions of software, may you be sure that you have come to Jesus in repentance and faith—repentance from your sin, and going your own way, and faith in the substitutionary (He took my/your place), atoning (making our wrong right), sacrifice (He paid the sin-debt we owed with His own blood, when He had no sin!)!  Jesus paid it all for you and me, so that we might have Hislife in us.

“I am the door:

by me

if any man enter in,

he shall be saved,

and shall go in and out,

and find pasture.

10 The thief cometh not,

but for to steal,

and to kill,

and to destroy:

I am come

that they might have life,

and that they might have it

more abundantly.

11 I am the good shepherd:

the good shepherd giveth

his life

for the sheep.”  John 10:9-11

“Jesus saith unto him,

I am the way,

the truth,

and the life:

no man cometh unto the Father,

but by me.”  John 14:6

We can have victory in Jesus as we walk INHim and follow His direction in our lives; and one of the best ways to do that is to dig into HISWord that we can “order my steps in your word”!  And we can’t ask God to order our steps in His Word if we don’t avail ourselves of its content!

“Study

to shew thyself approved

unto God,

a workman that needeth not

to be ashamed,

rightly dividing the word of truth.”    2 Timothy 2:15

And His Word is trustworthy to the task—HISversion is dependable!

“All scriptureis given

by inspiration of God,

and is profitable

for doctrine,

for reproof,

for correction,

for instruction

in righteousness:

17 That the man of God

may be perfect,

throughly furnished

unto all good works.”     2 Timothy 3:16-17

What version are you using?  Self or The Savior?  It’s your choice but remember there is a test at the end!

Amen and Amen!!!

Redefining Christianity??? Bible Ballistics: BBs #526

25 Friday Jan 2019

Posted by in Lies, Redefining Christianity?, Righteousness, Stand Fast, The Father of Lies!, Truth

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #526    Redefining Christianity???

 

“Woe unto them

that call evil good,

and good evil;

that put darkness for light,

and light for darkness;

that put bitter for sweet,

and sweet for bitter!

21 Woe unto them

that are wise

in their own eyes,

and prudent

in their own sight!” Isaiah 5:20-21

Isaiah warned those in his day of “woe” that would come upon those who lived and walked diametrically opposed to God and His way; and that message is as apropos today as it was those thousands of years ago, for “there is no new thing under the sun” (See Ecc. 1:9)! We are living in a time when men and women, boys and girls of all ages are determined to defy God and call it ‘ok’! The popular but false refrain says, “I’m ok, you’re ok, we’re all ok!” Well, my friends, we are NOT ok! When a willful people, make a deliberate choice to say that it’s not ‘ok’ for a state to impart the death penalty to convicted criminals, but it is ‘ok’ to kill a real, living baby in the womb right up to the time of delivery, we have totally gone over the edge. We are those people who are right “now” calling “evil good, and good evil”—and those who cry out against it are being ridiculed, marginalized and disregarded as everything but good and righteous.

My heart aches for the lives that will be taken—murdered—due to this horrendous ‘law’! I think of Isaiah and Jeremiah who were the ones called to deliver difficult messages to the people they loved—they didn’t hate their people they were broken hearted for the blindness of those who do not want to see—those who have been blinded by the lies of the enemy of their souls, “the father” of lies, Satan! And yes he is real, and he is busy at work around us at full throttle.

“For such are false apostles,

deceitful workers,

transforming themselves

into the apostles of Christ.

14 And no marvel;

for Satan himself

is transformed

into an angel of light.

15 Therefore it is no great thing

if his ministers also

be transformed

as the ministers of righteousness;

whose end shall be

according to their works.”    2 Corinthians 11:13-15

Those who are caught up in the destructive, life-taking lies of the enemy, not only push their evil agenda, many of them call themselves “Christians”, while promoting the wickedness of the darkness. Paul warned us about these times, and we must commit ourselves to dig into The Word, equipping ourselves for the battle that we are in; while recognizing that we are quickly becoming the enemy of the majority of those around us. They are on a full frontal attack against God, Jesus, righteousness and goodness (biblical goodness, not the imitation that the world is offering!), and we must be aware, prepared and “strong in the Lord and in the power of HIS might” (see Eph. 6:10-18)! They won’t tell the truth and they don’t “play fair”!

“This know also, that in the last days

perilous times shall come.

2 For men shall be

lovers of their own selves,        

covetous,

boasters,                                   

proud,

blasphemers,       

disobedient to parents,

unthankful,                                

unholy,

3 Without natural affection,      

trucebreakers,                    

false accusers,

incontinent,

fierce,

despisers of those that are good,

4 Traitors,

heady,

highminded,

lovers of pleasures

more than lovers of God;

5 Having a form of godliness,

but denying the power thereof:

from such turn away.” 2 Timothy 3:1-5

Oh, my friends, if we are followers of Jesus, and living in obedience to Him and His Word—we will be ‘despised’, and we are on many fronts already. But we must stand fast and follow our Lord into the fray—in HIS power and way, not our own! Jesus Himself told us to be prepared for the lies, and even the church in many cases today, has so compromised the gospel and The Word of God that most don’t even know what a “Christian” really is. Even here in Oklahoma there are billboards all around us advertising that the ‘advertisers’ are “Christians” who understand that abortion is ‘ok’—call ‘us’ not those who call it ‘murder’! Jesus hit the nail on the head.

“And Jesus answered and said unto them,

Take heed

that no man deceive you.

5 For many shall come

in my name,

saying, I am Christ;

and shall deceive many.”   Matthew 24:4-5

Jesus didn’t say a ‘few’ would come, but that “many shall come” saying that they are speaking for HIM! But The Word is the test—not popular polls and opinions! Jesus told the false religious leaders of his day, that they would believe a lie rather than HIS truth—it’s still true today!

“But I know you,

that ye have not the love of God

in you.

43 I am come

in my Father’s name,

and ye receive me not:

if another shall come

in his own name,

him ye will receive.

44 How can ye believe,

which receive honour

one of another,

and seek not the honour

that cometh from God only?”   John 5:42-44

The standard is God’s not man’s! Who are you believing—the true One or the ‘father of lies’? The Word will reveal it in the end.

“For the word of God

is quick,

and powerful,

and sharper

than any twoedged sword,

piercing even

to the dividing asunder

of soul

and spirit,

and of the joints

and marrow,

and is a discerner

of the thoughts

and intents

of the heart.

13 Neither is there any creature

that is not manifest

in his sight:

but all things

are naked

and opened

unto the eyes of him

with whom we have to do.”   Hebrews 4:12-13

And as Paul said to the Philippians, “think on these things”! I know this is a bit lengthy, but it is on my heart and I had to share it with you all today. May God bless you with “ears to hear” and a heart tuned to HIM! Precious Lord, please “deliver us from evil” that we may once again be the recipients of your blessings! ‘Nuff said!

Amen and Amen!

 

 

 

 

 

 

I Only Have Today??? Bible Ballistics: BBs #525

23 Wednesday Jan 2019

Posted by in TODAY, Today And Tomorrow, Transformed life

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #525    I Only Have Today???

 

“This is the day

which the LORD hath made;

we will rejoice

and be glad

in it.”   Psalm 118:24

We attended the funeral of a dear friend earlier this week; a man whom I watched grow in the Lord and become a mighty man of The Word. I don’t say this to brag on anyone but Jesus: to remind you and me that we have today and we can choose to do God’s work this day (and each today that God grants to us) or not. My friend and his wife chose to seek God’s face through His Word, to be what God called them to ‘be’—which led to their ability to ‘do’ what God led them to do.

My friend learned to seek and depend on God for each day. Having physical issues that made him very cognizant of his mortality and dependence on God, he gave testimony that he was truly rejoicing in the “day which the LORD hath made”, and being grateful for each one that God granted him, to use each one wisely and well. We were blessed to visit with him the day he died and he was still smiling and we had a great prayer time together! My friend chose to serve God through it all, and I thank God for the treasure of his friendship through the years! Yet so often I have encountered people who are “on hold” toward God.

What do I mean? I mean that many people put God “on hold” as they are looking for a “better day” to serve God. “I’ll serve The Lord when I get this new job.” “I’ll join your Bible study class when the kids get in school.” “I’ll praise God when things turn around!”   “I can’t serve God ‘now’, I have 7 ballgames to attend.” “I’ll get involved in the church when we get our new house finished.” And this list could go on and on. But the Psalmist brings reality into focus, calling us to recognize that today is all we have to use—yesterday has passed– tomorrow may not come. We are to live each day with, for and by the power of God in all we do!

“Boast not thyself of to morrow;

for thou knowest not

what a day may bring forth.”   Proverbs 27:1

What’s your plan for today? Does it include time for God? Does your day start with God, or do you find yourself at the end of the day, saying to yourself and/or God, “I’m sorry, I just ran out of time to seek you Lord!” We each have the same “time bank balance” every day; we are each given the same 24 hours daily—it’s up to us what we do with them.

Jesus addressed this same issue and calls us to live for Him today, each day, in all that we do, and not plan Him right out of our lives. Jesus never called us to be haphazard nor careless in the care of our loved ones, but He does call us to seek HIM first! I’ll simply leave you with the words of our Lord and Master and let them sink into your heart and mind—use today while you have it. God will lead and guide if we will but listen, hear and obey!

“Behold the fowls of the air:

for they sow not,

neither do they reap,

nor gather into barns;

yet your heavenly Father

feedeth them.

Are ye not much better than they?

27 Which of you by taking thought

can add one cubit unto his stature?

28 And why take ye thought for raiment?

Consider the lilies of the field,

how they grow;

they toil not,

neither do they spin:

29 And yet I say unto you,

That even Solomon in all his glory

was not arrayed

like one of these.

30 Wherefore,

if God so clothe the grass of the field,

which to day is,

and to morrow is cast into the oven,

shall he not much more

clothe you,

O ye of little faith?

31 Therefore take no thought, saying,

What shall we eat?

or, What shall we drink?

or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?

32 (For after all these things

do the Gentiles seek:)

for your heavenly Father knoweth

that ye have need

of all these things.

33 But seek ye first

the kingdom of God,

and his righteousness;

and all these things

shall be added unto you.

34 Take therefore no thought

for the morrow:

for the morrow

shall take thought

for the things

of itself.

Sufficient unto the day

is the evil thereof.”   Matthew 6:26-34

Amen and Amen.