GOLD MINE IN THE SKY

image courtesy photobucket.com

The bad rap used on many Christians was that we are so "Heavenly minded that we're no earthly good."

I must confess that heaven is part of my reason for being a Christian just like Geheena is the reward for being a Non-Christian. I suspect that I have heaven more in the forefront of my mind than the Christ rejecters want to think about Geheena (hell in the common vernacular).

There are many songs about heaven and many more that allude to heaven. On the whole they are few in number that want to believe that this is all there is to existence for so many religions have popped up with a version an after life.

A song that alludes to a happy after life, “A Gold Mine in the Sky” was popular when I was a kid and was recorded by many singers. Pat Boone even sang it several years ago. Probably the most favorite of most people was Kate Smith’s rendition.

For those who have never heard it or those who want to hear it again click and listen;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pd_wpwETqPI

This post has been linked to Charlotte’s Spiritual Sundays

THINGS I DARE NOT DO

First and foremost thing I dare not do is do despite to the Spirit of grace;

Hebrews 12:29 How much severer punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled under foot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace?

I dare not partake of the elements of grace, the bread and wine in an unworthy manner or with spotted garments.

1 Corinthians 11:26-27 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come. Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.

I dare not measure my self by other men because they are not my Lord of Lords.

2 Corinthians 10:12 Not that we dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of those who are commending themselves. But when they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding.

2 Corinthians 12:18 For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.

I dare not to create a GOD out of my imagination instead of the Word of GOD defining HIM.

I dare not become a mirror image of the world where no one can distinguish me from the people of the worldliness.

2 Corinthians 6:17 Therefore, come out from among unbelievers, and separate yourselves from them, says the LORD. Don't touch their filthy things, and I will welcome you.

Revelations 18:4 Then I heard another voice from heaven say: "Come out of her, my people, so that you will not share in her sins, so that you will not receive any of her plagues;

I dare not walk in such a way to interrupt my fellowship with GOD.

John 1:3-7 what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ.  These things we write, so that our joy may be made complete. This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.

I dare not face GOD on the Day of Judgment being an unfaithful servant

Revelations 22:11 "Let the one who does wrong, still do wrong; and the one who is filthy, still be filthy; and let the one who is righteous, still practice righteousness; and the one who is holy, still keep himself holy.

There are many other things I dare not to do but that is another list.

This post is linked to Faith Barista Jam Thursdays

And with Tracy at Winsome Wednesday

LIL LUKE

We had a couple of dogs already, a Blue Tick Hound and a Black Labrador.

While reading the want ads (a bad thing to do) I noticed that there was some pure bred Labs pups for sale. Reduced price, I told my wife, and she decided to go over to look at them, for we had some Labs in the past and still had one.

After some time she came back with this black puppy and was $150.00 dollars poorer. To me he looked like a Luke so that was the name given to him.

As it turned out Lukey was and is the most selfish dog we have ever had. Even as a young pup he would contest the other dogs for all their toys. He would hang on, and they couldn’t shake him loose. They would turn around and around and he would be sailing in the air hanging onto the toy but he refused to release the toy.

The other dogs finally have given up and just let him have whatever he wanted.

One thing about Lukey is that from the beginning he knew what/who he was; there was no confusion about his nature and the things that was natural to his species. There were a few things he had to learn about what was acceptable to us and for the most part he adjusted his behavior to please us.

Some of his habits had to change or let be droped off in order to be what we considered a good dog.

Lil Luke is a dog’s dog and the other dogs accept him as a dog, this is best illustrated when he approaches a tree, and all three of them do what dogs do on a tree.  (Talk about togetherness).

Wouldn't it be great if all Christians were Christian's Christian in the same sense that Luke is a dog’s dog? Where everything we did was what Christians ought to do, and not do that which is contrary to their new nature.

As I muse (think) about this I conclude that I need to put this in a form that doesn’t confuse me but can be operational in my Christian walk.

Being simple minded I need to have things spelled out for me just “Thou shalt not” is a little too vague for me. Perhaps in my next blog I will have figured things out a little better (or maybe not).

In any case every time I see Lil Luke I’m reminded that he has it all together and for myself - - I need to work on some things.

This post is Linked to Shanda’s On your Heart Tuesday  

MY PRESENT TO GOD

image courtexy photobucket.com

Romans 12:1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

In the entire 12th chapter of Romans the Apostle Paul gives more than simple advice as it reaches to the level of “Must do things.” When I read this chapter it is like a one sided conversation where I want to get more information (argue with him) about some of the particulars he addresses therein.

The implications of the very first verse just blows me away for this is suppose to be a one time, on going and not a on and off proposition.

Then he follows that verse with Romans 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

Not only does GOD want my body HE wants my mind to conform to HIS way of thinking when everything worldly around me wants me to do otherwise. To do this I would have to spend a lot of time thinking about GOD and praying.

Hebrews 4:16 So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most   (WHICH IS ALL THE TIME).

Part of what Paul is getting at is - - do I see myself, as this new creation person he speaks of in
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

It demands that I represent outwardly what I am inwardly, and the way to do this is to change the old mind set.

As I read this my old Mind set wonders if I couldn’t just slowly drift toward being a better Christian over the years without the trauma of any quick or immediate actions, but that doesn’t seem to be what Paul had in mind.

If it wasn’t enough that Paul was on my case along comes Peter and says; 1Peter 2:1-3, Therefore, putting aside all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander, like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to Salvation, if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord.

1 Peter 2:9 But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God's very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.

The pressure to shape up and grow up in Christ is almost more than one can bear and yet HE gives grace to the humble. My tendency is to be an actor as Shakespeare said; all the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players: They have their exits and their entrances;  and one man in his time plays many parts.

The reality is there is only one part for me to play and that is the reality of who I am, for it is whom Christ has made me to be. For me to be an actor is unacceptable on the stage of life there can be no pretence of being something I am not, for even though my influence is limited it does affect those I care for.

One of the hardest things about Christianity is accepting who we are in Christ and acting accordingly.

Since I am no longer a sinner and to sin is contrary to my new nature I guess I will have to learn to get along without “Some of my favorite things.”

Cussing and fussing all have to go

Living a life that’s white as snow

Acting like someone who has been saved

Learning the word and trying to behave

This post has been linked with Joan Davis Sharing His Beauty

WHATS IT’S WORTH TO YA?

Luke 15:11-13 And He said, "A man had two sons. The younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the share of the Estate that falls to me.' So he divided his wealth between them. "And not many days later, the younger son gathered everything together and Went on a journey into a distant country, and there he squandered his estate With loose living.

Today there will be a child born with its whole future ahead of it.
GOD has been gracious and given it all of his inheritance within him,

His talents and abilities are within waiting to be developed to the max. It remains to be seen just what he will do with them. Whether he will persevere or will allow them to languish to a life of neglect.

As in the scriptures above we all have to answer; Are we going to waste our wealth with indolence or maximize our potential for success?

The price of dabbling with failings is too high and the results are debilitating.

Voltaire said; “Indolence is sweet, and its consequences bitter.” - -

As the soul’s journey begins its quest for salvation there are many distractions to hinder its progress. It may be riches or poverty, fame or infamy, indifference or pride.

Still every man must consider the question asked by Jesus; “What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?”

The answer is; I will give my allegiance to GOD and stay the course for then, and then only will I have maximized my life.

Enjoy this great song; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMPIKRjzxtM

This post is linked to some blogs you will enjoy traveling to !!

Deidra’s Sunday Jump Tandem
Michelle’s  Hear it on Sunday use it on Monday !!

THE LAST STRAW

Enough is Enough !!

You have heard it said: “This is the last straw, enough is enough, this is the end of the road,” and other similar words.

When a person comes to this point they are going to have to make some changes in the situation that they are in; or the circumstances are going to transform them in ways they don't want to be altered.

In GOD’S dealing with man, HE has reached the end of HIS patience many times and in order to maintain HIS character HE must do something about it.

This has been shown in His dealing with both Nations and individuals.

Because of the appearance of being involved or acceptance of deeds done by others there are times when you must distance yourself from people who are close to you, even though it might be your own family members. At times it requires an outright repudiation of their actions. So it was at the time of the flood in Noah’s day. A great distinction was made as to what GOD accepted and rejected.

Matthew 24:37 As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man when once again GOD will exercise his judgment upon the people of the earth.

God dealt harshly with the nation of Israel, and their enemies in times past. He did likewise with individual people when it became necessary. Israel was sent into captivity and until 1948 they didn’t have a homeland. Even now they are being challenged by all the Islamic nations in the Middle East.

Jonah’s disobedience escalated to the point where GOD said, “Enough,” and literally had to force him to preach HIS message to the Assyrians in Nineveh. Jonah was a man who had a sectarian spirit and a rebellious nature he missed the whole point of his being sent to Nineveh. He wanted GOD to destroy them but GOD had a different idea.

2nd Peter 3:9, "The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is long-suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance."

When the Ninevites repented, GODS purpose had been accomplished, but Jonah couldn’t accept that.

In thinking about the premise set forth in this post, I can't escape the demands made upon me personally as a Christian believer. It would be well to say this is for someone else who needs it but I am as needful as everyone else.

The one thing that stood out while musing on this was “Don’t presume on GOD’S grace” for even with GOD “Enough is enough.”

Never forget; It isn't wise to push the envelope in your walk with GOD.

Just ask those who have experienced “The last straw treatment.”

This post is linked to:
Brag on God Friday with Laura
And Charlotte’s Spiritual Sundays

NEIGHBORS

NEIGHBORS

Neighbors are kind, I love them everyone.

We get along in sweet accord.

But when my soul needs manna from above,

Where could I go but to the lord

So goes the verse in “Where could I go but to the Lord.”

Over the years my neighbors have been good to me. I haven’t been able to please them all, all of the time but any cross-purposes were always minor and quickly resolved.

One way to have a good neighbor is to be a good neighbor yourself.

It is sometimes necessary to leave some people alone and just try to be amicable and let it go at that. Usually their problem is with someone else and you are just getting their overflow anger. If that is the case there isn’t much you can do about that since the issue isn’t with you to start with.

The Bible has a lot to say about neighbors not the least is Romans 12:18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.

This is a good one!
Proverbs 3:29 Do not plan evil against your neighbor, who dwells trustingly beside you.

And these scriptures are also excellent: Galatians 5:14 For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

James 2:8 If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well.

Mark 12:31 The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

Shakespeare’s Hamlet has some of the best advice for us;

Neither a borrower nor a lender be,

For loan oft loses both itself and friend,

And borrowing dulls the edge of husbandry.

If you have good neighbors then you are blessed indeed and have much to thank GOD for.

Why don't you bless yourself and sing along.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VqRO7DbK86g&feature=related

This post has been linked with these amazing sites - Do visit them!

Jennifer at: God-Bumps and God-Incidences
And with Michelle’s Thought Provoking Thursday