672 - Are you ready to give an answer?

Are You Ready to Give the Answer?

Have you ever had something that is your favorite because of what offers, but it is not in real existence just yet? That is the way it is with my favorite radio station, WVYN 90.9. They are actually not on the airwaves yet, but I have had a personal meeting with the engineers of the station and these guys are top notch. They are looking to do things for the local population and want to uphold and support even small ministries like myself. It is just a matter of months, we are praying, that they will be fully functioning!

My second favorite radio station in the area is KLOV 95.3. It too is a Christian station, but is a huge conglomeration of a ton of stations. (There is a technical name to it, but I am not that radio savvy quite yet.) Anyway, as Tucker and I were pulling out of the driveway the usual “fight” began of what we were going to listen to on the radio. Long story short – momma won! 95.3 was the music for the long ride to the church. Ha ha!

I don’t quite remember the song, but I know it was uplifting and always contemporary! As I was enjoying the beat and words for a brief second, or I should say nano second, there was an interruption from 96 STO, not so much my favorite station.

I am telling you Tucker’s head about spun off his shoulders. He sat straight up and said the name of the song and the artist who (tries) sings it asking why that happened and of course if we can go to that song. That particular song was only blurted into my station for a brief moment. Seriously it was not more than a half a second and yet Tucker was well aware of it and knew exactly where to continue on that song after my station cleared back up.

It made me think immediately about 2 things in my life. How often does the Spirit try to change my channels and get my attention wanting me to clue into a certain person, direction, instruction, or voice of conviction and I go right back to the way it was. How many things have I passed by because I could not hear the correct “static”?

I also thought about my inability to quickly refer to the Word when needed. If going on about life I could recall scripture as fast as Tucker recalled a song, the artist, and the next words how much better my walk with the Lord would be.

Power in our walk with the Lord is directly related to the Spirit and to His Word. If or when those two aspects of our relationship with Him are neglected then the ability to truly walk in His will is made more and more difficult. It is hard to be ready for on the spot occurrences when we don’t have the equipment on hand!

“Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope you have.” 1 Pet. 3:15

368 - Got Fruit?

Dear Lord, We had a great weekend with lots going on. Friday night we had a game and then the Black's came over for a while. Alisha made home-made macaroni and cheese, the girl can cook!! Always fun. Then Saturday we had 2 of Tucker's games - hot, hot, hot!! Miserable for my girls, and for me as well. No playgrounds at the second game. It was hot and I was irritable to say the least... phewwwwww, glad it is over! Sunday was a good day too. I hate not getting to see the person you are celebrating on the day you celebrate, but I did get to talk to my dad and wrote him a blog - yesterday's. He said I was stretching the truth - see, he is so humble! Kids went swimming yesterday and that was very refreshing. Maybe some day I will have a pool. I don't know! Of course Andrea and I did our running last night. We were moving - but yet, we didn't get anywhere. It was quite funny!!! 3.4 miles to add to the log.

Today is busy, this whole week is. In the midst of basketball camp in Carmi, the girls have swim lessons in Fairfield. Then in the middle of the week I go to Charlotte to speak on Wednesday night, but am back home by Thursday morning! Holy cow, that is busy!!! I like it. I have one million emails to return and please forgive me if you are one that needs an answer. You are welcome to call my cell. You have that if you have emailed me...

Today, Lord, you gave me some confusing scripture that I am hoping you will help me understand as i type. You have an amazing way of doing that often! Matt. 21:18-22. This the the time Jesus saw a tree not bearing fruit, had leaves, but no fruit and caused it to wither up. OK - I have a lot of questions. This tree was alive, had leaves, but was just not bearing fruit. I understand that Jesus tells us we will be known by our fruit - we are to bear much fruit in John 15. For us, i believe that is a statement for continual fruit bearing - we don't get a break to rest and bear no fruit. But for a tree they go through seasons. Fruit is not always a natural occurrence. So was this tree not bearing fruit and it was the season for fruit? Is the climate over there such that trees bear fruit all the time? Or was there just the purpose of showing the disciples they can do amazing things when they believe. I am not completely sure.

I think it is interesting and can not be ignored that Jesus noted through the scriptures that the tree was alive with leaves, but no fruit. What does that say to me or about me. To sit around with life, potential, possibly growth, green nutrients, but not bearing fruit is not good - to say the least. God did not put us on this earth to be consumed with all that is good or even to consume all that is good and not doing anything with it. We consume, and consume, and consume, but never bear fruit - we got a problem. Jesus noticed there was life, but no purpose. He saw the potential, but no application. He saw that the tree had taken in great nutrients to grow beautiful leaves, but not given it away. How many people do we know or get in the rut ourselves of taking, taking, taking from the church, preachin, sermons, Bible studies, and even quiet time and never doing anything with it!!! We never bear fruit. I know it doesn't please the Lord or bring Him glory to be a back row baptist, but it sounds like to me in this scripture He won't stand for it. WE will wither!

Oh Lord, I am not sure I have interpreted this scripture correctly. I need to get another commentary out that truly understand You Word. Give me the time and desire to study further into this. I don't want to be one that does nothing with the potential you have given me. I want to do so much for you and be used! Lord, teach me to use what I have been given and bear fruit. Help me to not always look for something better! Help me to prioritize my day so that I am getting the things done that I am suppose to! I love you, Lord. Off running!

The Antichrist

Oh Lord, I know I have learned so much in this Daniel study, but i am wondering if it is all going to come together and make sense? I love things concrete and very simple. Prophesy, especially that which has not taken place yet, is not simple or concrete. So i am not going to get definitive answers and many things are interpretation. Beth Moore encourages us to go and study for ourselves to see what interpretation we would agree with - yeah right! I can not even spell eschatology! It is like i want to be smarter, but i am scared i won't get there so why try! I know pitiful!!! There is always amazing power when you pray before trying to study something and I know You could do that for me again and again!

So today's lesson ended in Matt. 25: 31-46. This is a common passage, i just never knew it was about end times! Today she repeated again that the antichrist will most likely come "from the people of ancient Rome". This is found and Daniel 7 and 9. But Chapter 11:36-45 tell the most about him. Evil - we ain't seen nothing yet folks! But anyway, back to Matt. it states, "the Son of Man comes in all his glory". From what i think i have learned this is after the tribulation. It refers to the "nations being gathered" and separated - good from bad. What this means is that after the rapture all the Christians will be taken to heaven to await judgement. The tribulation will be taking place and satan will have been unleashed. During this time people will come to know the Lord. I can imagine those that thought they were Christians, but really knew the truth or those that always played church and yet never committed or those that were just lost and come to realize where everyone has gone and the Jews have the chance to come to know Him personally!!!!!! Those are the ones that might confess He is Lord. But this will not be without a great price. One like we have never seen! So then Jesus comes back His final time to take away those new in Christ and totally destroy Satan - yeah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The whole point of this is that there will a chance for those "left behind" to come to know Him. But those that are left and come to know Him will not be judged on what works they did, but "their works will (helping others come to know Him and that means putting their lives in REAL danger) will prove they are redeemed" - saved. This is so cool - the JEWS are not forgotten!!! But the thing to not forget is that we know nothing as to when this is all going to happen. Is it today Lord? Tomorrow, next year, who knows.... He does! Even more importantly, we don't know when our time will come. We don't know if we will make through the tribulation or be killed before - those that are unsaved now. So if anyone reading this right now does not know Him as Savior - Jesus Christ only - you need to get that right!! Please i beg you!!

1) Confess you are a sinner
2) Confess you need a Savior - Jesus Christ
3) Acknowledge that He died for You to pay the penalty for your sins
4) Ask Him to come and live in your heart and that He is the Son of God
5) Thank Him for dieing for you and you will live for Him.
6) Believe and go tell someone - anyone!!!

It is that simple and amazing!!! He will save you, from terrible times now and ones to come!

Thank you Jesus for my salvation! I can not wait to see You face to face!! I love you!

Burn in the Change

Lord, I still can not get over the deal of the preacher in Colorado that was taking or at least buying drugs and has admitted to be in some kind of homosexual relations. The thing that gets me the most is not that he claimed to be perfect because he did not, not that he claimed to be against gay marriages because he did, but because he was going in and out of everyday some how getting sermons together - i would think you have to be in the Word at least a little bit unless you are giving all repeat sermons - and yet could fall into this can of trap. I do really mean it as a trap. Satan set it up, put in front of him his weaknesses, and then for some reason he was tripped up and fell in. Oh yes, he certainly had a choice and i know that there is a human fault, choice, flesh - whatever you want to call it - but the fact is he fell.

Lord, i don't ever want to fall into sin the way this man has, but you know what, if sin is sin is sin, then i fall everyday. But i guess more than anything i don't want to be in my Word everyday and applying myself to the scriptures, learning new things, and yet walking away unchanged, unaltered, or even passionless.

Lord, burn in the change in me - whatever you have to do to get across to me the way i should be and act and react! I want to think like You, I want to act like You, and I want to love like You. Jesus i want others to look at me and see You! I want others to be draw to me so that i can share You! I want others to be so in love with my Jesus! Lord, do your thing in me and help me to never walk away unchanged by Your Word. Burn in the change in me!

The jewelry party last night was fun! I got some really great stuff! I was able to say goodbye to some people that i knew might be the last time. Thank you for Your Word this morning. Thank you for the way you have revealed so much detail to Daniel through Your angels. It is amazing. I know my future is Your history and i am excited to see it revealed! Burn in the change! I love you!