"A mind is a terrible thing to waste"!

Genesis 3:8-10 (KJV) "And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife "HID" themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden. And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was "AFRAID", because I was naked; and I hid myself." FEAR (and doubt) are two of the most powerful tools in the enemies tool chest. Adam and Eve experienced "knowledge of good and evil" and the FEAR of a Holy GOD came along right behind it! it was one of those "full disclosure" moments that the devil chose to omit! For me, it seems all the enemy has to do is cast a little bit of "DOUBT" and the "FEAR"ing is sure to follow. Why do I allow evil such an easy battle? I am afraid the answer may rest in my own "MIND"! When we don't brush our teeth effectively, plaque builds up and causes cavities. Likewise, when we allow evil to be present in our lives, through "DOUBT" and "FEAR", it grows like a cavity in our lives! We must eliminate the "PLAQUE" (fear and doubt) in our thoughts (minds)! To fill the void left by fear and doubt, the Apostle Paul gives us a few replacements! In Philippians 4:8 he says "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." If we "think on these things" then fear and doubt will have no "cavities" to grow in! In the early 1970's a phrase was used on television that said "A mind is a terrible thing to waste"! The enemy realizes that if the mind is under our control, the body and soul are not far behind! The Spirit of GOD desires to control my mind. I pray that I let HIM control every aspect of my life! 2 Corinthians 5:7 (KJV) "For we walk by faith, not by sight"

"JAIL BIRD"!

Philippians 1:9-11 (KJV) "And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ; Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God." It seems as though GOD knows exactly what I need and when I need it! The Apostle Paul was writing this letter from a prison cell! I may have difficulties in my life, but I have not experienced prison! Today, we would assume if someone were in prison they MUST have done something wrong. Yet Paul was in prison for preaching that JESUS was GOD in the flesh! Folks had seen JESUS die on Calvary and knew HE (JESUS) was a thing of the past! The Apostle Paul wrote the BELIEVERS at Philippi that he prayed their love would "abound"! Now, if I were in prison I am sure I would be concerned about the "love" of the saints increasing! NOT!!! But the Apostle Paul's mentality was far better than mine. Not only did he pray for the saints "love" to abound, he prayed for their fruits of righteousness to be manifested to THE GLORY AND PRAISE OF GOD! The fact that some of us are "BELIEVERS" does not mean we have attained a goal or a plateau. Later on, in Philippians 3:14, Paul writes "I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." My life on earth HAS a purpose. I pray that my life is "filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the GLORY AND PRAISE OF GOD."

"DECEPTION"!

Philippians 4:19 (KJV) "But MY GOD shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus." Today there is some discussion about Islam and Christianity worshipping the same "GOD" and that we should all just get along. I have read just enough of the Quran to know that the god of Islam is not the same as the GOD of Israel, Isaac, and Jacob. I am no bible scholar, as a matter of fact, I have not EVER been known as any scholar! But I do know enough about scripture to know that "my God" is a caring, loving, compassionate GOD. JESUS responded to the S&P in the book of Mark 12:28-34 (KJV) "And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all? And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt LOVE the "LORD THY GOD" with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt LOVE thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these. And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one GOD; and there is none other but HE: And to LOVE him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices. And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And no man after that durst ask him any question." There is but ONE GOD! Even the Scribes concurred. The enemy has been using DECEPTION since Creation was established to try to confuse and mislead people. The TRUTH is not always EASY to believe. Evil has had a knack for deception as early as Genesis 3 when scripture records "Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made". Who is "YOUR GOD"? Or have you been "DECEIVED" into believing that you don't need a god (Selfism)? Deception works by getting people to believe things that aren't "TRUE" when the "TRUTH" is readily available to them. Don't be "snookered"!

Bishop Robert E. Smith Birthday!

Today I join Robert E. Smith, Jr. In celebrating his birthday. "Bishop" Smith, as he is known to many, is as GODLY a man as I have been privileged to meet. His skin color is darker than mine, yet he is my brother like no other man I know. So much is made about what "race" a person is. Bishop Smith pointed out to me in 2 Corinthians 5:14-18 (ESV) "For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised. From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a NEW CREATION. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation". The 17th Chapter of John's Gospel enlightens us of JESUS' prayer to HIS heavenly FATHER. JESUS says to The FATHER in verse 21 "That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me." JESUS was Jewish ! But HE died for ALL (2 Cor 5:15). If we are "one in US", then we are all "ONE" with HIM. If HE gave us the ministry of reconciliation, why do we have strife between us? Why do we focus do much attention on who we are "physically" rather than promoting who we are "spiritually"? Bishop Robert E. Smith is not only my friend, he is my spiritual brother! And since we choose to focus on the spiritual, THAT is what matters!

"KEEP YOUR MINDS"!

Ecclesiastes 7:13-14 (ESV) "Consider the work of God: who can make straight what he has made crooked? In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider: God has made the one as well as the other, so that man may not find out anything that will be after HIM." Everyone has experienced their own past, and our future is just as unique. The things that GOD allows into our lives HE uses to influence and mold us into vessels HE can use for HIS glory. Scripture tells us that some times are better than others. There will be a "day of prosperity" and there will be a "day of adversity". We tend to focus on the "good times" and ignore the "bad times". Philippians 4:8 tells us to think on the good, pure, and lovely and in the "day of prosperity" the ability to KEEP YOUR MIND focused on positive thoughts is less of a challenge. But, what about the "day of adversity"? GOD doesn't say "IF" bad things happen, instead HE says HE has "made the one as well as the other"! GOD allows difficult times to "develop" us into who and what we need to be to best glorify HIM and HIS SON. Philippians 4:7 (KJV) says "And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall KEEP YOUR hearts and MINDS through Christ Jesus." Most adversity begins (and ends) IN OUR MINDS! Don't let the enemy convince you that adversity is commonplace for you. GOD is developing you into what HE desires! The PEACE of GOD in Phil 4:7 brings about the TRUE, HONEST, JUST, PURE, LOVELY, and GOOD things in Phil 4:8. GOD, I pray that YOU protect MY MIND from the assaults of the evil one and keep my focus on the things of CHRIST!

"LIFE MORE ABUNDANTLY"!

James 4:3-8 (KJV) "Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy? But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded." When describing me, one could say that I am not as proud as I used to be! That is a kind way when I was younger I was, in my current observation, arrogant and self-centered. The person I was then would be hard to deal with by the person I am now. The word "submit" in v. 7 is humbling in itself. To "to give over or yield to the power or authority of another" does not imply anything other than giving in to another's plan! So, we have to realize and agree that we are "under" GOD and HIS plan. Then, when GOD is in HIS proper place, will satan flee from us. The enemy is already defeated at Calvary by JESUS. We allow satan to present "lies" and "deception" (John 8:44) to persuade us to look to anyone but GOD for our sustenance. JESUS said in John 10 that HE came to provide us life abundantly! The enemy is here to "but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy". In v. 8 scripture says to "Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you." It's rather easy for me too understand, sometimes harder to explain, that GOD cannot fellowship sin/satan. If we draw closer to GOD, HE will draw close to us. LORD, it is my desire to cuddle up in YOUR arms to where the enemy has no access to me. I pray that my thoughts and actions reflect YOUR desires for my life!

Dr. Charles Stanley WORD!

An EXCELLENT word from Dr. Charles Stanley! Perhaps we don't enjoy our "feast" because we don't desire the changes in our lives the HOLY SPIRIT needs to make? June 4 Feasting on the Word 1 Peter 2:2-3 Did you ever watch an infant take a feeding? Hungry little ones clutch the bottle, smack their lips, and make soft contented noises. They thoroughly enjoy their nourishment. But there comes a time when milk isn’t enough to satiate baby’s appetite anymore. That’s when a whole world of culinary possibilities opens up. Comparing new believers to babies, Peter said that they “long for the pure milk of the word” (v. 2). You wouldn’t feed a newborn steak and spinach, would you? Well, baby Christians must sip scriptural truths that they understand. Then, like a growing child, they shoot up as they feast on Bible passages, gradually taking in more and meatier principles and topics. Believers are not left alone to make sense of Scripture any more than babies and young children are expected to get their own meals. The Holy Spirit, who indwells God’s followers, illuminates the Word. That is, He makes the meaning clear to those who seek to understand. Moreover, according to Ephesians 4:11-16, God has given gifted Christians to the church to act as pastors and teachers. They are charged with equipping the saints for service (v. 12). These leaders instruct, clarify, and motivate people to grow in their personal faith and to fulfill the church’s purpose of reaching the lost. God’s Word is a feast for our heart, mind, and spirit. This is one banquet table where there is no such thing as taking too much. In fact, the advice many parents give their children at the dinner table applies to the Christian life as well: “Eat up! Scriptural food makes you grow strong.”