Christian

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Excuse me – Part 5

The father invited everyone to the wedding of his son. The time arrived for everyone to come and enjoy the celebration

But they made light of it and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his business. Matt 22:5

This is exactly what happens to Father – people make light of Him, His ways, His people, and His church.

They don’t view living a Christian life of sanctification as important. Church is not a serious matter; prayer, fasting, tithing, fellowship, and witnessing are all optional to many.

Some of the biggest excuses I hear when it comes to anti-Christian living is “God is love”, “Jesus loves everyone”, and “God will forgive me for my sin.”
All true but not an excuse to sin or live contrary to scripture.

The Roman church thought much the same thing and it prompted Paul to say,

Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? Rom 6:1-2

Christianity cannot be taken lightly or easily excused. If you are a Christian, then it is important that you live as Christ would live.

Don’t use Christ as an excuse to do evil but live for Christ and overcome evil.

Abba, I have no excuse for my sin and yet You have excused it by the blood of Jesus. I don’t take that lightly. YES&AMEN

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Excuse me – Part 4

Still another said, ‘I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.’ Luke 14:20

What a lame excuse this is. I always thought a spouse would be a good reason to go to church but I guess some could use love as an excuse. Continue reading →

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Excuse me – part 1

Excuses are a part of everyday life. You may make one to someone else and they may make one to you.

Every teacher has heard excuses for why assignments were not done and homework not turned in. And just so you will know, the dog doesn’t really like to eat homework.

God hears excuses all the time as in the case of a parable that Jesus told.

It seems a man invited his friends to a great supper. He went to the time an expense to prepare and cook for them. It was probably a very impressive spread.

When everything was ready the man called his friends to come and eat. I don’t know about you but if someone invites me to supper – I’m there! But that’s not what happened in this story.

But they all with one accord began to make excuses. Luke 14:18

Though each man had his own excuse, they all made them together. I’m already suspicious about the truthfulness of each reason for not going to the supper. I have discovered that many excuses are just lies.

Don’t get me wrong. I know there can be legitimate excuses. I recently was asked to do a funeral but I turned it down.

It seems the daughter of the man that died thought we were really close friends. I explained I haven’t seen him in at least 40 years and that I didn’t remember him in high school at all. That most of my memories of him were from elementary school – around 50 years ago.
It was the truth and she understood.

But how can someone make an excuse to the Almighty?
Find out through the next series of Morning Thoughts.

Abba, I made many excuses to not be saved but I am glad I quit and accepted your gift of love, grace, and forgiveness. In Jesus name, YES&AMEN

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Touching others.

Linda and I went to the funeral home last night to pay our final respect to Mr. Jeanes.

The parking lot was full when we arrived as this man touched a lot of lives. He was well known in the community, in church, at the local school, and in the county. Continue reading →

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Don’t be Mara!

There are so many people up one moment and down the next. It’s like a rollercoaster of emotion.

Everything is going so well, and then nothing ever goes well. Sounds like life to me!

There was a woman in the Bible that felt that way. She was married with two grown sons and daughters-in-law. But the men-folk died and she found herself a childless widow with no one to take care of her.

Living in a foreign land, she decided to move back home. When Naomi arrived everyone was pleased to see her.

But she said to them, “Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. I went out full, and the Lord has brought me home again empty. Why do you call me Naomi, since the Lord has testified against me, and the Almighty has afflicted me?” Ruth 1:20-21

God never promised you easy times but He promised to see you through all times.

Like Naomi, many have bitterness over how things have turned out. They jumped to the conclusion to quickly that nothing is going to change.

But it did for Naomi and it will for you.

The Lord has a purpose for you. Sometimes you just have to wait for the fruition of it. As it is written,

Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord! Ps 27:14

Abba, You have promised never to leave me or forsake me. And I believe Your promise. In Jesus name, YES&AMEN