Traditions

October 31, 2007

Traditions can be a good thing. As I write this, I have helped at my church in the presenting of a Hallelujah party. It is an annual event done as a web for a safe alternative to trick or treat. The church has done it as far back as I can remember, long before I became a member there. It is a tradition. Traditions can get to be a problem though.

Mark 7:9 ALT
(9) And He was saying to them, "[All too] well do you* regard as nothing the commandment of God, so that you* should keep your* tradition.


If what we do in our traditions counteracts the word of God, the Bible, then we are wrong. We can wind up calling something a tradition, but in reality it is a sin. As a Christian, I let the world celebrate Halloween , it is not something that I will do or let my children do. I have had people tell me it is a silly tradition. Tradition, maybe; silly, nope! It is a holiday that worships evil spirits. You can wrap it up any way you want, but that is what it is. Because of that, it is a tradition that I will not keep, I will obey the commands of God.

Of course that is just one. Any one else have some traditions that we need to shut down?

See yourself

October 30, 2007


Genesis 17:5 VW
(5) No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you a father of many nations.


I always wondered why the name change. God had a simple reason. He need to get Abram to change his image. Abram in the Hebrew means high-father. Usually this meant the one who rules. But Abraham meant father of many nations. By changing his image from one who is a ruler (which he did as he was a rich man) to one who had many children, God changed Abram's image of himself.

We often have to do the same thing. While we do not do anything as drastic as a name change, we need to change our image of ourselves. If we do not, we will not see us as God sees us.

Time machine

October 29, 2007

Acts 13:47 CEV
(47) The Lord has given us this command, "I have placed you here as a light for the Gentiles. You are to take the saving power of God to people everywhere on earth."


God gave the command to Paul to go to the Gentiles. He was to be a light to them. It was a command that he did.

What an interesting thing if he did not. We would not have the liberty we have in knowing Jesus.

What command has God given you? Will it affect someone tomorrow, or maybe even 2000 years from now?

Swear

October 28, 2007

Hebrews 6:13 KJV
(13) For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself,

Did you ever think about the promise God made to Abraham. He made a promise to Abraham and as a way of promising that it would happen he swore by himself. When you swear a promise you have to do it by someone or thing that has the power to make it come to pass. Who could God go to.

There is no one greater than God. And you know what else, there is no greater name than the name of Jesus.

Condemnation

October 27, 2007

John 3:17 AUV-NT
(17) For God did not send His Son into the world to be its judge [i.e., to condemn it], but [rather] so that the people of the world could be saved [from condemnation] though Him.

Jesus did not come into this world to judge it. What a delight it was to learn this. I came from a strong sin conscious denomination when I was growing up. What a relief to find out that God and His Son did not come to judge me, but to save me from being condemned. WOW!

Now, can I do stuff wrong. Yes, and I do. I ask God to forgive me and I know it is done because Jesus covers my sins. I cannot continue to sin in those ways with out getting some punishment, but each time I as forgiveness when I sin, and I really mean it, then it gets harder for me to sin that way the next time.

I no longer have that image of God with a big hammer wanting to get me, more like a father who wants me, His child, to succeed.

Eyes of Fire

October 26, 2007

Ever wonder what Jesus looked like? I have. One day I came across this description in Revelations and it scared me.

Revelation 1:14 RYLT-NT
(14) and his head and hairs white, as if white wool -- as snow, and his eyes as a flame of fire;

Can you imagine seeing Jesus in heaven? Those eyes, flames of fire looking at you. His hair whiter than any thing that you have ever seen. What will those do when they look at you. Will they remind you of every sin you committed? Will you be able so see because the white hot light of His hair.

I am glad that I have Jesus as my savior. I wonder if this look of his was for men like John who were still in their natural bodies. It does make you wonder what He will be like.

You've got questions...

October 25, 2007

Philippians 4:13 KJV
(13) I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Many times over the years that I have fixed computers, I have come across problems that I could not solve. It is a very difficult feeling, not knowing what to do to get the problem resolved when I am suppose to be the one that knows all the tricks.

At times like that I have relied on scriptures. One of them is today's. When I feel that I cannot answer the question, a quick prayer to God to help and you know what? The answer looks at me in the face.

It happened just today in getting a network to work that was not cooperating.

Take time to ask God when problems come your way that you cannot solve. He strenghtens you to get the answers you need.

What did you get ...

October 24, 2007

Deuteronomy 6:10-12 NET
(10) Exhortation to Worship the Lord Exclusively

Then when the LORD your God brings you to the land he promised your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob to give you — a land with large, fine cities you did not build,
(11) houses filled with choice things you did not accumulate, hewn out cisterns you did not dig, and vineyards and olive groves you did not plant — and you eat your fill,
(12) be careful not to forget the LORD who brought you out of Egypt, that place of slavery.


One night last week, storms hit the Tulsa area where I live. I was at work, trying to get computers fixed at the college where I work. I was really getting grumpy because, just as soon as I would get a computer back to a state where I could work on it, the lights would go out and I would have to wait for them to come back on again. Now I had not worked for or owned those computers. I did not pay for the problem electricity. I was just a guy getting paid to do a job. Why was I getting so upset.

What I did not realize till I got home was that across the street from the college was a mobile home park. In one of those mobile homes, a guy was getting up to get himself a bowl of cereal. As he moved into the kitchen area, a tree fell across his house, right where he would have been sitting. He lost his home.

So often we get upset with things that we should not be getting upset with. And stuff that does not even belong to us. And if it does belong to us, who gave us the power to get it in the first place. Let us make sure that we do not forget the LORD who gave us what we have.

No Lament

October 23, 2007


Jeremiah 16:5 KJV
(5) For thus saith the LORD, Enter not into the house of mourning, neither go to lament nor bemoan them: for I have taken away my peace from this people, saith the LORD, evenlovingkindness and mercies.


A lot of people that I have tried to talk to about Christianity have asked me about how a loving God could let so many people die in attacks from the Hebrews when they took over the promised land. Even today's verse could come into question.

If we take every thing on face value, it does look like this is true. He is a loving God, how could He do this to people who did not know what was going on?

The truth is that He had warned these people, as He did the people that he tells Jeremiah not to mourn for. They did not follow the rules and were living lives that not o only did not glorify God, they also brought man up to a level of a god.

Do we ever do that? Do we ever put ourselves on a level with God? When we do, it is time to understand that punishment may be right around the corner. When God speaks we had better listen.

Check up from the neck up

October 22, 2007


Titus 1:16 KJV
(16) They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

I know that I have said many times here that you cannot do any works that will get you into heaven. And I stand by that. But, works are still important. I never want to let you think that you do not have to do any works. In fact, Paul wrote to Titus to watch out for people who say that they know God, but they show that they do not know God by the very things that they do (or do not do).

In conversation with my daughter tonight she told me she was having trouble with people in her class that are Christians teasing her. I said, 'how do you know they are Christian?' She replied, 'they say they go to church.' I told her that because I go in a garage does not make me a car. While we are not to judge there salvation, just because they say they go to church does not mean that they are a Christian. People who say they are Christians, both who are and are not, can and will do stuff wrong. It is when we do this stiff on a consistent basis that we better do a check up from the neck up, so that we can see if we are really acting like the Christians that we say that we are.

Attract Sinners

October 21, 2007


Luke 15:1-2 KJV
(1) Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him.

What is it that attracted sinners to Jesus? Of course not all sinners wanted to get near Him. The religious leaders wanted Him dead. So I guess that that only certain sinners wanted to be around Him. Still what was the reason they wanted to be near Him? What can I learn from Him, so that people will want to be near me and I can lead them to Jesus? I do not have any answers on this one. All I can do is ask and hope that someway God will answer me (or those on the mailing list may come up with some ideas).

One thing I know. When you start making friends with the sinners, expect some problems with the religious people.

(2) And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.

Something that has not changed in the years since Jesus walked the earth. If you start helping the sinners and bring them into the kingdom of God, then the people that act like they love God will start to hate you. Maybe that is the answer to my original question. They act like they know God, maybe, and I am not judging here, they act and do not really know Him. Maybe what people saw in Jesus, that could be in our lives, is the fact that Jesus knows God. What a concept.

One day in the house ...

October 20, 2007

Does going to church seem like a chore to you that you have to do? Or do you really want to do it. Look at what David felt about it.

Psalms 84:10 KJV
(10) For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.

We have a honor to go to church. We should love it. But so many people dread it and I have yet to figure it out. Maybe it is that they do not like the people. If that is the case, that is a sad fact. We do not go to church to be with the people, we go to worship God with the people. If you cannot do this, maybe it would be time to look for a church that you can worship God at. You need to feel that time with God.

Law

October 19, 2007

Romans 3:28-29 KJV
(28) Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.
(29) Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also:

I know that I have talked about it before, but the Bible talks about it a lot so I guess I will also. We cannot do anything that will get us in to heaven. In fact, it does not matter if we are Jew or Gentile, and for that matter, black or white, male or female, well you get the idea.

So what can we do to get this salvation. Only one thing, FAITH. If we do not have faith we cannot get to heaven. There is just no way around it.

Ashamed

October 18, 2007

I can imagine it now. A guy has a wife and when he goes to a party, he tries to fact that he is married to her. I imagine when he gets home, he will hear about it. I wonder if God feels any different about it?

Mark 8:38 Complete Apostles' Bible
(38) For whosoever is ashamed of Me and My words among this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him, whenever He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels."


I guess He does not. Jesus makes it clear that he will not tolerate being ashamed of Him. So do you hide the fact that you are His brother. Do you walk away from off color jokes? Do you tolerate people using His name as a cuss word? Would you do the same for someone you love? If so, do you love Jesus?

What can you imagine

October 17, 2007


1 Corinthians 2:9-10 GW
(9) But as Scripture says: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined the things that God has prepared for those who love him."
(10) God has revealed those things to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches everything, especially the deep things of God.

I can not imagine what heaven is like. One time I just let my self get lost in the thought of what it would be like. All I could visualize was a sea of people that were turned to a light source that seemed to bring peace to all that were there. And no matter how far you were from it, the light seemed to be right next to you. I have tried to ask God if that is what it is like but have never gotten a reply. While I have read similar types of descriptions in the Bible, never one just like it. What a feeling though as I could visualize it in my mind.

But even as beautiful as that seemed, Paul's letter to the Corinthians, tells us that we will never comprehend what God has prepared for us. We can get some thoughts on it because we have the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit will guide you in anything you need. And it is from Him that we are able to communicate with and understand God.

Take some time to get quiet, and listen to what the Spirit says to you.

Foolish Vomit

October 16, 2007

Albert Einstein has an interesting quote:

Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.

Albert Einstein, (attributed)
US (German-born) physicist (1879 - 1955)

Interesting. I wonder if he read his Bible because it talks about it as well.

Proverbs 26:11 BBE
(11) Like a dog going back to the food which he has not been able to keep down, is the foolish man doing his foolish acts over again.


While it sounds disgusting, have you ever watched a dog eat to much, get sick and then eat it and get sick again. It is not an uncommon thing. While I think dogs are wonderful and beautiful, in some ways they act just plain dumb. And so does the foolish person. He keeps trying to do the same thing over and over again and hoping things will change.

How about the way we do things. Do you treat your spouse the same way every day, hoping that he or she will change to meet your needs? Doesn't work does it? Do you want friends but do the same thing to get them every time and wonder why you do not have them? These are only a few examples, you will have to look into your own life to see if you are doing things as a fool would.

Full of Joy

October 15, 2007


1 John 1:4 KJV
(4) And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.


God wants us to all have a good time. You do not have to take my word for that, take the word of John, the apostle that Jesus loved. He writes to us so that our joy can be full. Now a lot of people will say, yes our joy will be full when we get to heaven. There we will be with Jesus and there will be no more sorrow. That to me is a bunch of garbage. Did not Jesus tell us in the sample prayer that things should be the same on earth as they are in heaven?

Why should the world have all the joy while we look like we have a sour look on our face? Would you want to be a Christian if that was the way Christians looked? No.

Yes, Jesus said we would have troubles but He said to be of good cheer because He has overcome them.

Find time to put some cheer in your life. Jesus can help.

So which do you worship and which do you burn

October 14, 2007

We think it is foolish the way that the ancient people used to worship gods. Even Isiah thought it was funny. He talks about a carver of wood, that goes out and cuts down a tree.

Isaiah 44:16-19 BBE
(16) With part of it he makes a fire, and on the fire he gets meat cooked and takes a full meal: he makes himself warm, and says, Aha! I am warm, I have seen the fire:
(17) And the rest of it he makes into a god, even his pictured image: he goes down on his face before it, giving worship to it, and making prayer to it, saying, Be my saviour; for you are my god.
(18) They have no knowledge or wisdom; for he has put a veil over their eyes, so that they may not see; and on their hearts, so that they may not give attention.
(19) And no one takes note, no one has enough knowledge or wisdom to say, I have put part of it in the fire, and made bread on it; I have had a meal of the flesh cooked with it: and am I now to make the rest of it into a false god? am I to go down on my face before a bit of wood?

I think it is funny. How did he know which part to cook with and which to carve? We would never do any thing so stupid as this would we?

Where do we put our time? Do we compartmentalize our time? Is our time of worship relegated to a few minutes reading a devotional and Sunday mornings? How do you know when to worship God and when not to. God wants us to to spend all of our time with Him in worship. It is not hard to do you know. Just be aware of Him as you go about your business. Talk to Him like He is right there. He is you know. He wants to be with you more than you know.

Fear v. peace

October 13, 2007

Jer 30:5 KJV
(5) For thus saith the LORD; We have heard a voice of trembling, of fear, and not of peace.


So often, we hear of people dumbing down the message of Christ. They seem to think that people will come to the Lord if we put on a show. We cannot make the people upset with God, they will not want to get to know Him better. Let's focus on the love of God, not the sin of man. I think you get the message.

That is not what the Bible says though. To the sinner, God is someone that you pretty well have to turn to as something that you should fear. I mean, after all, aren't you going to Hell if you do not ask Him to be your savior. God is not a God of peace, but you will receive peace when you know Him.

Lets not let people go to Hell in what we do not tell them. Lets help them go to heaven

Love

October 12, 2007

1Th 4:9 CEV
(9) We don't have to write you about the need to love each other. God has taught you to do this,


I have heard so many people say that God needs to develop love in them for someone else. I was even talking about it with my 11 year old daughter today as she was telling me how kids teased her at school. She was having a problem in forgiving them. I had to explain that we are called to love and forgive them.

How do we learn this? Do we really need to? It is built into you. At least according to this scripture. Need to love someone, look inside you, it is in there.

Waiting on God

October 11, 2007

Isa 40:31 NET
(31) But those who wait for the LORD's help find renewed strength; ...


I have had a lot of personal problems going on this week. While they have not resolved out the way that I want to be, I have learned to lean on this verse even more than I have ever before. I was literally getting sick over what was happening. It was all out of my control, yet I felt like it was my own fault.

On each day of this week, I said to God, help me get through all of this. Only you can do it God. Especially when my natural reaction was to try to fix things, and I have a good idea that doing that would have mad it worse. I have been weary through the whole thing and wanted to quit any thing that I was doing for God.

Slowly, though things have not really gotten that much better, God has pulled me through. I did not chuck it all. I waited on God, and God gave me the strength that I needed to make it.

When times get discouraging, just take time to wait on the Lord.

One Way

October 10, 2007


Psa 62:1 ACV
(1) My soul waits in silence for God only. From him [is] my salvation.

In the news recently, President Bush has made the statement that all religions worship the same God. Except for the Jewish population, we Christians do not worship the same God as others. If that were true, then any religion would bring us to God. We worship a God that leads us to Him, and only in Him is our salvation.

Short message today but it is true. In times when we think that the world may be right, know this only, that there is only one God, and one way to Him.

Giving and Getting

October 9, 2007

Mat 25:29 BBE
(29) For to everyone who has will be given, and he will have more: but from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away.

I read this and thought about what it meant. How does the person who gets, get what he gets? Most likely he worked for it, and worked hard. It is the nature of that person to keep working. In doing so he is rewarded.

But what about the one who has not? He is the one who has done nothing to get anything. If you do not work for it, you get nothing. And just the cost of living will take all that he has.

So many of us think that if we are to get blessings we just set back and let them rain down on us. This scripture tells me otherwise. If we want to get blessings, we need to work for them. Kind of the opposite of what you think. Time to think about what you need to do to get them blessings flowing?

Faith Under Pressure

October 8, 2007

How is your faith that God is going to bring you through any thing that you can be put through. In the book of Daniel we hear of an amazing example of faith.

Dan 3:16-18 Complete Apostles' Bible
(16) Then Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego answered and said to King Nebuchadnezzar, We have no need to answer you concerning this matter.
(17) For our God whom we serve is in the heavens, able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He shall rescue us from your hands, O king.
(18) But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods, neither will we worship the image which you have set up.


Is your faith so strong that you can know that even if you got thrown in the fire God could pull you out of it? And how about that even if He did not, you would not do wrong.

Years ago a preacher said in a sermon I was listening to: 'if you put a tea-bag in hot water, you will not get Coca-Cola. What is in you will come out of you when the pressure is on.' These young men did not get this way in a moment when things started happening. They had been training themselves for a long time. The time to prepare for the bad times in your life is when the good times are here. Take time to get into the Word. It pays back dividends.

The Word

October 7, 2007

2Ti 3:16 CEV
(16) Everything in the Scriptures is God's Word. All of it is useful for teaching and helping people and for correcting them and showing them how to live.

It is interesting that Paul says to Timothy that all scripture is good for teaching and correction. Show of hands please if you agree with that. Ah, good, you can put your hands down now.

Maybe I should not do this. Show of hands please.... how many have you read the whole Bible from Genesis to Revelations? Thought so. Not so many hands up that time. What is it in us that we do not want to read the Bible through cover to cover? If it is all good for teaching, why are we not learning from all of it. Yes some of it is boring (so and so had such and such), and some of it is weird (The rules in Leviticus and Numbers are such), but when you read it all it opens up and seems to make so much more sense.

I encourage you to start with me in January as I read from cover to cover and will put the plan out for you to read as well. I also know of a plan to read the thing in 90 days (no that is not a misprint). To do it in 90 days you need to read from 1/2 to a full hour each day. Think you can do it? Ask me and I will send you the information in a private email.

Whatever, get into God's word. You can not give it to others till you get it into you.

Serving God like a ... Farmer

October 6, 2007

2Ti 2:6 NET
(6) The farmer who works hard ought to have the first share of the crops.

How many of us who serve God in some way, shape or form (and if you are not active in your local church, get to it), partake of what we are trying to feed others? In other words, do you feed your self first before you try to help to feed others.

Let's put it another way Would it make sense for for the truck that delivers fuel to the gas station to not fill up before it leaves. Have you other seen a truck delivering fuel run out of Gas? NO!

A farmer needs to put food in his belly if he is going to grow the food that will feed others. If you are ministering to others, you need to get ministered to also. The church I go to says in its volunteer forms that you need to be in Church once a week if you are not working someplace. There is a reason for that. I can not give out unless I can get it in me. But it should not just stop at a church service. You need to be in the Word daily. You need to be in conversation with God on a daily basis.

Take time to do more than just read this devotional each day. Let's look at that tomorrow.

Serving God like a ... Farmer

October 6, 2007

2Ti 2:6 NET
(6) The farmer who works hard ought to have the first share of the crops.

How many of us who serve God in some way, shape or form (and if you are not active in your local church, get to it), partake of what we are trying to feed others? In other words, do you feed your self first before you try to help to feed others.

Let's put it another way Would it make sense for for the truck that delivers fuel to the gas station to not fill up before it leaves. Have you other seen a truck delivering fuel run out of Gas? NO!

A farmer needs to put food in his belly if he is going to grow the food that will feed others. If you are ministering to others, you need to get ministered to also. The church I go to says in its volunteer forms that you need to be in Church once a week if you are not working someplace. There is a reason for that. I can not give out unless I can get it in me. But it should not just stop at a church service. You need to be in the Word daily. You need to be in conversation with God on a daily basis.

Take time to do more than just read this devotional each day. Let's look at that tomorrow.

Serving God like an ... Athlete

October 5, 2007

2 Timothy 2:5 (New Century Version)

New Century Version (NCV)

The Holy Bible, New Century Version®. Copyright © 2005 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.

5 Also an athlete who takes part in a contest must obey all the rules in order to win.

I watch with interest the sports contests that I see on TV. I saw a football game the other day where a player tried to throw the ball but fumbled it and one of his team picked it up and tried to run with it. This was against the rules and any gain that he had could not be counted. He did not follow the rules. Not following the rules disqualifies you in football and you get penalized.

The same is true with our life as well. If we do not follow the rules we will get disqualified in doing the ministry that God has asked us to do. We cannot do something sinful habitually and expect God not to remove us from the game. We all will make a mistake from time to time and we all will get penalized for it. God will never remove us from the game though. Only time we will get removed is if we keep our sin going.

Time to go out and play by the rules.

Serving God like a .... soldier

October 4, 2007

2Ti 2:4 WNT
(4) Every one who serves as a soldier keeps himself from becoming entangled in the world's business--so that he may satisfy the officer who enlisted him.


If someone is in the military they can tell you that any thing that keeps their focus of their jobs can cause problems in their military jobs. They either have to learn to separate themselves mentally or they have to leave. A soldier can not serve the military properly if his mind is on the world.

We also cannot serve God properly if our mind is on the world. That is not to say that God does not want us to have nice things. That is to say that God does not want things to have us. If we want our things so bad, then we can not serve properly and we are not affective in the battle to bring Jesus to the world.

I heard a statistic today that seems like it would make sense though it had no source for them. The average Christian spends 2 minutes a day reading the Bible but 5 hours a day watching TV. It looks like we have Christians that would like to leave God's army. What can we do to motivate them, or ourselves?

God's Neighborhood

October 3, 2007

Eph 2:13 WNT
(13) But now in Christ Jesus you who once were so far away have been brought near through the death of Christ.


We in our lives have been far away from God. We were not even in the same country much less the same zip code. God could never allow us in the same area as He was because of our sin.

Ephesians tells us though that we can now be in the same neighborhood. Was it anything we did. No, we could never be good enough to do it. It was the death of Christ that did it for us. I could never do anything that would allow me to be in that area. Only Jesus could let me talk to God one on one.

We have a privilege that the world does not. Is this the message that we need to bring to the world, that they can know they can approach God without fear?

==Translation Information
NEW TESTAMENT IN MODERN SPEECH by Richard F. Weymouth

Spare the words

October 2, 2007

Sorry this is getting out late tonight, but in my other life I work a full time job and teach at a local community college part time.

As luck would have it, the verse for today reflects on people like me that speak a lot, though I am not sure it applies to teachers.

Pro 17:27 KJV
(27) He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.

I would think that teachers do not qualify for the first part of that verse. We get paid to talk a lot. But if you think about it, the verse has a lot to say.

I have a friend that is a councilor at a local church. Part of his nature is that he is a good listener. I know that cause he had listened to me many times. But when he does speak, he is a man of few words, and those words usually have great knowledge behind them. He does not have to speak a lot of words. The words are well chosen and convey what he wants without a lot of fluff. And the other thing about his is that he has an excellent spirit in him. He is living proof that this verse is so real.

Jesus also was a man of few words. In fact he told us often if we have ears to hear, let us listen. Maybe we need to emulate that in our lives.

The Body

October 1, 2007

Eph 4:16 KJV
(16) From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

I want to encourage all of you to be a part of the body. You all should be part of a local church. But that is not the only thing that I am talking about. Things like this message that you read each day has a way that you can talk back to me. I encourage you that are on the mailing list to reply to these messages. If you read them on the web, join up and talk back.

Only in that way can the body be complete. Each of you has a part to add to the whole that makes this group.

BTW, I have some plans for this devotional after the first of the year. I am going to encourage you to read through the Bible historically with me. Each devotion will be from the day's readings. And in the group I will encourage you all to right what you got out of that day's readings.

Faith

Eph 2:8 (MKJV)

8 For by grace you are saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God,

I was raised in a denomination that that made you work for your salvation. Not only did I have to live a right life doing things, but when I reached a certain age I had to go to a person and tell him what I had done wrong.

Somehow, when it comes to this verse they seemed to gloss over it and focus on others. It is something we all tend to do so I do not fault them at all.

We can do nothing to obtain salvation except to believe we have it. Only then will we have it. It is a gift. Quit trying to earn it in your life. God has given it to you so just reach out and take it like you would a person giving you a gift.