What Is Your Will In Christ?

1 Chronicles 16:23-27 (NLT) 23"Let the whole earth sing to the LORD! Each day proclaim the good news that he saves. 24 Publish his glorious deeds among the nations. Tell everyone about the amazing things he does. 25 Great is the LORD! He is most worthy of praise! He is to be feared above all gods. 26 The gods of other nations are mere idols, but the LORD made the heavens! 27 Honor and majesty surround him; strength and joy fill his dwelling." I've wrestled with something that's provided me with some growing motivation. In fact, it's a big part of the reason that I began to write here at all. It was something that came to me as a thought several years ago and it's continued to prompt me at times since. It's simple, but somewhat fearfully inspiring to me and it's this: What if I were suddenly silenced and had no more capacity to give voice to what the Lord has taught me through many years of discovery, hardship, correction, joy, grace and blessing -...

When I was much younger, I exercised something without fully recognizing how significant the method of it was at the time. Fortunately, it was something I would gratefully rediscover later in life and learn to cherish as the only method preferred with prejudice toward any other. It carried true humility and honesty and delivered simple unadulterated content with the overwhelming recognition of one's own small presence and weakness while knelt in true reverence before an unimaginably immense power. The act was simple and had no real reason for any resistance beyond the possibility of some imagined pride, but yet one that seemingly required external forces to initiate at the time. It's result was something powerful and that had the ability to be potentially transformative. It created a connection that over the years and in the course of daily life, eventually became overshadowed by the time consuming cares of daily rigors and duties for a time. I realize fully now that it was...

I'm hoping that this comes out more as an encouragement to some young person that needs to hear it rather than a worn out, tired rant from some old guy leaning closer to sixty than twenty, thirty or even forty.  I've had ups and downs in life and I've experienced and learned a lot. I've gained and excelled and I've also experienced the the feeling of having to go through losing it all. I've lived with an energetic passion that didn't know the word "quit" even when I should have.  I'm no expert or sensational intellectual, I'm just a passionate, but imperfect guy who's learned experience in this life has led him to some very solid and well earned conclusions that might be of value to you. If you're struggling to get traction in your Christian walk with Christ, there are some things that are best set as dominant facts. They can and do defy the world's logic and societal norms sometimes, but they also have the power to change yo...

Reposted from The Jude 3 Fellowship website (http://www.jude3fellowship.com/) with permission from Author Dr. Jim Jenkins Did Hell Disappear? By Jim Jenkins on Mar 31, 2018 12:08 pm The nun turned her back on the class ( we were still not safe from scrutiny…we all knew she also had eyes in the back of her head…) Jimmy Cummings could make these strange voices and sounds and get us giggling…and then when the good sister turned around to find the culprit…Jimmy could instantly take on the countenance of a cherub and someone else would be blamed. His unique ability served him well. He is now Voice Actor Jim Cummings…the voice of Winnie the Pooh! I digress…Back to what the nun had written on the green blackboard…She took the pointer…a weapons grade staff with a rubber tip that looked like a ballistic missile, and pronounced the phrase she had written Ex Cathedra She then went on to explain that whenever the Pope was seated in the chair (also called the thr...

1 Corinthians 8:3 (NLT) "But the person who loves God is the one whom God recognizes." In one of my recent posts, I commented on our need to have a reverent respect for and a holy fear of God. Acknowledging and remembering the truth and reality of who God is and the true frailty of who we are should be sufficient to keep our hearts and minds in a posture of awe and respect. Only the foolish disrespect Him... Deuteronomy 32:39 (NLT) "Look now; I myself am he! There is no other god but me! I am the one who kills and gives life; I am the one who wounds and heals; no one can be rescued from my powerful hand!" Our God IS truly a power that cannot be overcome or even reasonably challenged by anyone. He is due respect. But as true followers of Christ, we're no longer adversary to God's rule or separated from Him by sin. We're made right - redeemed to Him through the price of Christ's punishment and the willing sacrifice of His own life and have the...

Psalm 89:13-16 (NLT) 13 "Powerful is your arm! Strong is your hand! Your right hand is lifted high in glorious strength.14 Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne. Unfailing love and truth walk before you as attendants. 15 Happy are those who hear the joyful call to worship, for they will walk in the light of your presence, LORD. 16 They rejoice all day long in your wonderful reputation. They exult in your righteousness." I wrestled a little with how to tell you what's on my heart at the moment... How do I convey something so deeply held in a way that won't sound strange, but instead compelling and meaningful to someone trying to find their own way into a real relationship with God as opposed to an exercised, hollow performance of religion? How would I help them understand that a real, living relationship with our God is worth far more than anything that it might cost them in this life. How do I tell them that that relationship is what we wer...

As I'm thinking about the passing of a very large figure in the current day family of Christ, I can't get past thinking about who'll rise up to fill the void that he leaves behind. So as is my usual habit, I'm going to share from my heart here. I pray that t hose already being faithfully diligent and obedient are not offended. What I share here  isn't intended for everyone, but I'm comfortable that those that need to hear it will know it in their own hearts, being admonished by the Holy Spirit. I pray that they find themselves lifted to their spiritual feet and strengthened by it.      Romans 13:11-14 (NLT) 11"This is all the more urgent, for you know how late it is; time is running out. Wake up, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. 12 The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here. So remove your dark deeds like dirty clothes, and put on the shining armor of right living. 13 Because we belong to the day, we mu...