Category Archives: Faithfulness

Living Faithfully TODAY??? Bible Ballistics: BBs #587

13 Friday Sep 2019

Posted by in A Father's Love, Broken Hearts, Comfort, Compassion, Faith, Faithful is He that has Promised!, Faithfulness, Follow Jesus, For Such A Time As This, God of all comfort!, Jesus' Sacrifice, Kindness, Knowing God's Word

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #587   Living Faithfully TODAY???

 

“Boast not thyself

of to morrow;

for thou knowest not

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

Sometimes we get so focused on ‘tomorrow’ that we forget that we are called to live today!  Not one of us knows what tomorrow may bring, and this is heavy on my heart this morning because we had a tragic accident this week in our community, and it took the life of a fine young man; one who God sent into my life many years ago—and he will be missed sorely.  Yet the thing I hope that we will receive in this time of sorrow, is the urgency of the “hour”; that is to say, it is so important to live today!  Smell the flowers, pass along that kindness, share something with those close to you that only YOU can share, make a difference at every opportunity God gives to you and me!

While we live in a culture that says, ‘spend today—pay tomorrow’, Jesus calls us to walk by faith and trust in HIM today and leave the “tomorrow” to HIM!  I really don’t have much to share other than the power of God’s Word!

“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 6:31-34

Jesus isn’t saying to be unprepared, but to trust Him in every thing that we do!  While it seems a simplistic way to live, it is the life that God calls us to live (and I’m not saying that I always do it well, but we are to pursue God’s ways, even when we don’t understand what’s going on around us—and in our world that’s pretty often!) and I pray that we will humble ourselves before Him, pursuing Him in all we do!  It is a pursuit that will bring hope, confidence, and joy to our own hearts as well as to those we are given the opportunity to encourage and help!

“O death,

where is thy sting?

O grave,

where is thy victory?

56 The sting of death is sin;

and the strength of sin is the law.

57 But thanks be to God,

which giveth us the victory

through our Lord Jesus Christ.

58 Therefore, my beloved brethren,

be ye stedfast,

unmoveable,

always abounding

in the work of the Lord,

forasmuch as ye know

that your labour

is not in vain

in the Lord.”   1 Corinthians 15:54-58

And one of my favorite passages (which those of you who follow my writings have seen before—because it is ever true, and we need to be reminded!):

“Let your conversation

be without covetousness;

and be content

with such things as ye have:

for he hath said,

I will never leave thee,

nor forsake thee.

6 So that we may boldly say,

The Lord is my helper,

and I will not fear

what man shall do unto me.”    Hebrews 13:5-6

I pray that God will comfort the hurting and grieving, that He will use those of us around them to encourage, help and minister God’s comfort and hope at every opportunity that He places before us.  And if you are grieving, please know that we on the perimeter are praying for you, and God is the greatest ‘heart healer’!

“Blessed be God,

 even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

the Father of mercies,

and the God of all comfort;

4 Who comforteth us

in all our tribulation,

that we may be able to comfort them

which are in any trouble,

by the comfort wherewith we ourselves

are comforted of God.

5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us,

so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.”    2 Corinthians 1:3-5

Amen and Amen!

A Giver Or A Taker??? Bible Ballistics: BBs #586

11 Wednesday Sep 2019

Posted by in Faithfulness, Giving Or Taking?, Greed, Helping The Needy, Love, Love Is Action

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #586   A Giver Or A Taker???

 

We live in a culture of “gimme’, gimme’, gimme’! It seems that almost everyone wants ‘something for nothing’; everyone wants all they can get for as little as they can do.  As my husband is often heard to say about this mind set, “Get all you can, can all you get, and sit on the can!”  But as followers of Jesus, we’ve been called to a higher standard!  I’d like to simply share a few thoughts with you today to remind us of the biblical perspective of ‘stuff’.

“Give,

and it shall be given unto you;

good measure,

pressed down,

and shaken together,

and running over,

shall men give into your bosom.

For with the same measure that ye mete

withal it shall be measured

to you again.”  Luke 6:38

Jesus said our giving is to be at the least, abundant; but some today teach that we are to give in order to ‘get’ these blessings that Jesus described.  I don’t think so.  We are to give because Jesus gave HIS all for us.  Paul talks about this in his letter to the Ephesians.

“Let him that stole

steal no more:

but rather let him labour,

working with his hands

the thing which is good,

that he may have

to give

to him that needeth.”   Ephesians 4:38

Paul calls believers to work with their hands (or their minds) to earn a living that they may be able to share with those in need, not to ‘get more’ from God or others, but to be a blessing to those in need. Paul covers that most profoundly in his comments on love—he seems to say that if we “give to get” we are not acting in love but greed, and that nullifies our efforts!  You decide (and you might want to take some time and read this whole chapter!).

“And though I bestow all my goods

to feed the poor,

and though I give my body

to be burned,

and have not charity,

it profiteth me nothing.”  1 Corinthians 13:3

Paul also has more to say about the attitude of givers and reminds us that it’s not the amount we give, but the heart with which we give.  And takers—well they’re ‘taken’ care of themselves! (pun intended)

“But this I say,

He which soweth sparingly

shall reap also sparingly;

and he which soweth bountifully

shall reap also bountifully.

7 Every man according as he purposeth

in his heart,

so let him give;

not grudgingly,

or of necessity:

for God loveth a cheerful giver.

8 And God is able to make all grace abound

toward you;

that ye, always

having all sufficiency

in all things,

may abound to every good work:

9 (As it is written,

He hath dispersed abroad;

he hath given to the poor:

his righteousness remaineth for ever.

10 Now he that ministereth seed to the sower

both minister bread for your food,

and multiply your seed sown,

and increase the fruits

of your righteousness;)”.   2 Corinthians 9:6-10

And here’s the message for ‘takers’!

“Mortify therefore your members

which are upon the earth;

fornication,

uncleanness,

inordinate affection,

evil concupiscence,

and covetousness,

which is idolatry:

6 For which things’ sake

the wrath of God

cometh on the children of disobedience:

7 In the which ye also walked

some time,

when ye lived in them.”   Colossians 3:5-7

Let’s measure our giving and taking by God’s standard!  Have a blessed day of giving as we purpose “in our heart”, to please our Father as we bless and minister to those He places in our path!

Amen and Amen!

 

 

 

 

Hush Money Or True Hope??? Bible Ballistics: Vol. 14 No. 03

01 Sunday Sep 2019

Posted by in Abiding In Jesus, Abundant Life In Jesus, Approved Unto God, Changed Lives, Choices And Consequences, Confidence, Consider Your ways, Encouragement, Faith, Faithful is He that has Promised!, Faithfulness, Follow Jesus, For Such A Time As This, Free Indeed?, God's Faithfulness, Gospel, HOPE, I Can Do All Things?, I Know Whom I Have Beleived, If not now? When?, JESUS, Light In The Dark, Overcoming By His Blood, Salt & Light, SIN, Speaking The Truth In Love, Stand Fast, That They May Know, The Word Or The World?, Trusting Jesus?, Truth is True, Witness

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Bible Ballistics: Vol. 14 No. 03  Hush Money Or True Hope???

 

We talked last week about ‘DIY’ and I’d like to take off on that idea and look from another side of the issue.  We are living in a culture that is so full of an “it’s all about me” ideology, and even when we speak truth, we are seen as ‘haters’! I hope that we can let scripture reveal true hope, not placating people with ‘hush’ money, so to speak, by our silence, rather than helping them see Jesus as we speak and share truth!

“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

Jesus IS truth, and without Him, we have no hope, no truth, no opportunity to reach a lost and dying world.  Yet when we follow HIM, we can see great things accomplished in His kingdom (even though the world may disregard what we call great ‘in Him’!)

“I can do all

things through Christ

which strengtheneth me.”   Philippians 4:13

In the way of the world, unless we have ‘riches’ we don’t have anything to offer; but God does things in ways that are so far beyond the ‘worldly’ way, that we can truly come to have hope and confidence in our Lord and HIS ways—and we aren’t to be ‘quiet’ about it, Jesus said the rocks would ‘cry out’ if men didn’t!

“And when the builders laid the foundation

of the temple of the LORD,

they set the priests in their apparel

with trumpets,

and the Levites the sons of Asaph

with cymbals,

to praise the LORD,

after the ordinance of David

king of Israel.

11 And they sang together by course

in praising

and giving thanks

unto the LORD;

because he is good,

for his mercy endureth for ever

toward Israel.

And all the people shouted with a great shout,

when they praised the LORD,

because the foundation

of the house of the LORD

was laid.”  Ezra 3:10-11

When we see God at work, we can truly learn to trust His hand as well as His heart toward us.  Here we have the children of Israel returning to Jerusalem and they are rejoicing that the temple is rebuilt.  And if you read the entire account, you see that some of the elders of the people wept for the remembrance of the original Temple of Solomon, yet God has restored them by His ‘outstretched arm’, and shown Himself faithful to a people (who much like us) had not been faithful to HIM!  They had suffered the judgment of God, and had truly reaped the ‘whirlwind’, yet God wasn’t finished with them!  His faithfulness is so much more than we can even fathom!  God had spoken truth through His prophets, yet they had listened to the false prophets, and ‘hushed’ up the men of God by ignoring them, persecuting them, and even putting many of them to death.  How sad that we are living in a very similar day.  Will we sell out to the purveyors of “hush money” or will we stand and speak God’s truth?

“And ye shall know the truth,

and the truth

shall make you free.”  John 8:32

Notice that He will “make you free” not ‘set’ you free—when Jesus saves us, He delivers us—especially from ourselves; and we are to give ourselves to Him, His way and His truth—all the way!

“And they overcame him

by the blood of the Lamb,

and by the word of their testimony;

and they loved not their lives

unto the death.”  Revelation 12:11

Jesus doesn’t simply issue a “get out of hell free” card; rather He saves and transforms lives to “be conformed” to HIS image.

“And we know

that all things work together for good

to them that love God,

to them who are the called

according to his purpose.

29 For whom he did foreknow,

he also did predestinate

to be conformed

to the image of his Son,

that he might be the firstborn

among many brethren.”   Romans 8:28-29

Jesus is ever at work conforming us into HIS image; but we have a part in that work as well, we are to yield to His Holy Spirit’s work in our heart and life, remembering that it’s ALL about Jesus. It’s not about ‘pride’ but humbly learning from HIM, following HIM, and touching the world as HE gives us opportunity.

“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.

3 For I say, through the grace given unto me,

to every man that is among you,

not to think of himself more highly

than he ought to think;

but to think soberly,

according as God

hath dealt to every man

the measure of faith.”   Romans 12:1-3

We can trust to HIS care, remembering what Jesus said!

“I am the vine,

ye are the branches:

He that abideth in me,

and I in him,

the same bringeth forth much fruit:

for without me ye can do nothing.”   John 15:5

We must keep our eyes on Jesus, as we feast on His Word.

“Shew me thy ways,

O LORD;

teach me thy paths.

5 Lead me in thy truth,

 and teach me:

for thou art the God of my salvation;

on thee do I wait

all the day.”   Psalm 25::4-5

“For the word of the LORD is right;

and all his works are done

in truth.

5 He loveth righteousness

and judgment:

the earth is full

of the goodness of the LORD.”   Psalm 33:4-5

And to bring all of our thoughts together today, I’d like us to consider an encounter that Peter and John had, taking heart from these who had little in the world’s eyes, but who had JESUS, and they knew HE IS TRUTH—and they took no “hush” money!

“Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.

2 And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb

was carried,

whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple

which is called Beautiful,

to ask alms of them that entered

into the temple;

3 Who seeing Peter and John

about to go into the temple

asked an alms.

4 And Peter,

fastening his eyes upon him with John, said,

Look on us.

5 And he gave heed unto them,

expecting to receive something

of them.

6 Then Peter said,

Silver and gold have I none;

but such as I have

give I thee:

In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth

rise up and walk.

7 And he took him by the right hand,

and lifted him up:

and immediately his feet and ankle bones

received strength.

8 And he leaping up stood,

and walked,

and entered with them into the temple,

walking,

and leaping,

and praising God.”  Acts 3:1-8

Peter and John gave of what they had (who they possessed, and who possessed them), and yet they were tempted to cave!  And for time and space we’ll just jump to the response from the rulers.  (You can read chapters 3 and 4 for the whole picture!). They proclaimed Jesus at each turn, and when threatened they stood firm—and weren’t “hushed” up by threats; they were trusting to HIS care!  Remember not everyone is happy with God’s working in the lives of men, women, boys and girls!

“And as they spake unto the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them,

2 Being grieved that they taught the people,

and preached through Jesus

the resurrection from the dead.

3 And they laid hands on them,

and put them in hold unto the next day:

for it was now eventide…

….16 Saying, What shall we do to these men?

for that indeed a notable miracle

hath been done

by them

is manifest to all them

that dwell in Jerusalem;

and we cannot deny it.

17 But that it spread no further among the people,

let us straitly threaten them,

that they speak henceforth to no man

in this name.

18 And they called them,

and commanded them

not to speak at all nor teach

in the name of Jesus.

19 But Peter and John answered and said unto them,

Whether it be right in the sight of God

to hearken unto you

more than unto God,

judge ye.

20 For we cannot but speak the things

which we have seen

and heard.

21 So when they had further threatened them,

they let them go,

finding nothing how they might punish them,

because of the people:

for all men glorified God

for that which was done.”   Portions of Acts 4:1-21

So my challenge for us today is a call to be faithful to our Lord; to grow in His Word, to be bold—but not arrogant, to be confident—but not prideful, to be ready to follow HIM in all—no matter where HE leads us, or what the cost may be.  We won’t let the enemy ‘hush’ us up, but we will “stand fast in the evil day”!  We never know how God will use our willingness to obey!

“But speaking the truth in love,

may grow up into him

in all things,

which is the head,

even Christ:”  Ephesians 4:15.

Amen and Amen!

What Legacy Will You Leave??? Bible Ballistics: BBs #581

23 Friday Aug 2019

Posted by in Choices And Consequences, Commitment Or Convenience, Confidence, Faith, Faithfulness

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #581     What Legacy Will You Leave???

 

 

As I get older each day (as we all do!), I am more and more aware of the import of our life choices.  We are granted the freedom to choose by the God Almighty who created us in HIS image, but with freedom comes responsibility, consequences, and both near and far effects.  My heart is so grieved over the times that I have made poor choices, and that my choices are still affecting others!  I can also rejoice in the choices that have had positive impacts on others, but so often we fail to practice what I call, ‘awareness of our influence’!  Most of us often feel like we don’t have any influence, but each and every one of us have the ability to influence others, for good or evil; for no matter how small we think our circle of influence is, like ripples on a lake our actions have wide-spreading effects on people that we may not even realize.

Think about the person who lead Billy Graham to Jesus, or Dwight L Moody (who was led to Jesus by a shoe clerk!), or any number of great people that we are all familiar with; without someone who told them about Jesus, where would we all be?

“For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink

in my name,

because ye belong to Christ,

verily I say unto you,

he shall not lose his reward.

42 And whosoever shall offend one of these little ones

that believe in me,

it is better for him

that a millstone were hanged

about his neck,

and he were cast into the sea.”   Mark 9:41-42

Reward and effect aren’t appraised by quantity, but by the level of faithfulness and devotion!

“He that is faithful

in that which is least

is faithful also in much:

and he that is unjust

in the least

is unjust also in much.”   Luke 16:10

Are we being faithful to God in our life choices, or are we being led to join the world’s philosophy and foolish way of thinking? Are we being faithful in the little that we have?  If not, how can we expect God to trust us with more? What legacy are we leaving to our children?  A heritage of godliness, or a heritage of compromise, license, and indulgence of the flesh?  As an old adage says, “What the parents do in moderation, the children will do to excess!”  When will we realize the eternal import of our influence? I pray that it is soon, for time is fleeting and Jesus is our soon-coming King!  Oh, how I desire to hear, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.”  We must learn to be faithful with what HE has given us today!

“And he said unto him,

Well,

thou good servant:

because thou hast been faithful

in a very little,

have thou authority over ten cities.”  Luke 19:17

And if you remember the story, it didn’t matter how much each one had, but how faithful they had been.  I would simply like to leave you with the words of one of my favorite songs, which says it better than I could.  May God encourage your heart today to recognize your opportunities and choose wisely!  Remember there is a test coming!

May Those Who Come Behind Us Find Us Faithful

              By Steve Green

We’re pilgrims on the journey
of the narrow road,
and those who’ve gone before us
line the way.
cheering on the faithful,
encouraging the weary,
their lives a stirring testament
to god’s sustaining grace.

o may all who come behind us
find us faithful,
may the fire of our devotion
light their way.
may the footprints that we leave,
lead them to believe,
and the lives we live
inspire them to obey.
o may all who come behind us
find us faithful. 

Surrounded by so great
a cloud of witnesses,
let us run the race
not only for the prize,
but as those who’ve gone before us.
let us leave to those behind us,
the heritage of faithfulness
passed on thru godly lives.

After all our hopes and dreams
have come and gone,
and our children sift thru all
we’ve left behind,
may the clues that they discover,
and the mem’ries they uncover,
become the light that leads them,
to the road we each must find.

o may all who come behind us
find us faithful,
may the fire of our devotion
light their way.
may the footprints that we leave,
lead them to believe,
and the lives we live
inspire them to obey.
o may all who come behind us
find us faithful.

Amen and Amen!!!