I constantly tell myself that “I want to live for something greater than myself”; however at the same time I find myself questioning my abilities. Because of this, at times I feel like a failure, but when I look at things from God’s perspective I realize that I am 100% inadequate for the mission that He has in store for my life, but God on the other hand is fully capable.
The one thing I desire so desperately Continue reading
Everyone that I have encountered over the past few weeks have all had one common denominator: Regret!!
We all tend to have them, and even I struggle with them from time to time. For some of us it is the choices we have made, and for others it might be things that have happened to them. Last night in youth Bible study we talked about Hebrews 12 where it tells us to “lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.” Unfortunately, many of us are not able to run the race that God has in store for our lives because Continue reading
This morning was a beautiful cold November 9th morning, the air was crisp, and the wind was still. I was positioned twenty feet high in a deer blind, and was enjoying nature at its finest. I was surrounded by birds, squirrels, and various other animals. It was about 7:00am sharp when two large does came walking to my stand. They positioned themselves exactly 20 yards away. I decided I would wait, and see what else might come in. To my surprise the largest doe I had ever seen (HUGE!!!) steps onto the scene. She hangs out at about 5o yards, and does everything she can to bust me. She lifts her head straight into the air to sniff me out, her ears point straight in my direction, she stairs into my soul multiple times, and yet I was able to keep my cover. She then headed down wind of my stand, to see if she could wind me, but Scent-A-Way has me covered. After fifteen minutes she comes within range, so I pull out my range finder one last time to determine yardage. She gives me a perfect broadside shot at 20 yards; however her rear quarter is behind a tree. I draw back my Browning bow on her, and wait until she takes that last step completely clearing the tree. I am seconds away from harvesting this monster doe when all of a sudden “CHIME!!!!!”, my phone goes off – it was a text about my buddy shooting a doe. It was over. The herd of deer began to blow, and make all kinds of racket. My heart sunk into my stomach, and I was tore up. I couldn’t believe I forgot to put my phone on silent.
I was tempted to title this article: “Is Technology of the Devil”, but I knew I would be biased right now. I soon realized that there was a more beautiful picture here at hand, and that is the picture of salvation.
While hunting I usually place some corn out in order to get the deer to stop where I want them, and that is much like what happens in each of our lives. In life each one us are like a deer, we are the prey and Satan is the hunter. We are destined for death. Like the doe this morning, she had no chance of ever saving herself. She fell for the trap that I had set for her. She could not resist the the tasty temptation of the sweet corn, and she was seconds from having a Muzzy MX3 broadhead pierced through her side. Luckily however, she was saved by a simple chime. It wasn’t until she was made aware of her circumstances did she even realize she was in danger.
As individuals each and everyone of us will eventually be caught within the cross-hairs or bow sights of Satan, and some will fall prey, and others will be victorious. Over 2,000 years ago Satan laid out a temptation in which mankind chose not to resist, and as a result, each of us are born with a sin nature. (Romans 3:23 “For ALL have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.”) Today, much like a deer hunter Satan watches his prey, and learns their habits, and that is what he uses to bait them. We do not have the strength to resist the urge to taste the sweet corn (sin) on our own, and we fall victim to our sin. Like the doe, it is beyond our own power to save ourselves. If the chime had not intervened, that doe would have been harvested. (Romans 6:23a “For the price of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ.”) That doe was given a gift, the gift of life. It was made aware of it’s present condition, and repented (turned away, and ran for safety). Without Christ (son of God) stepping in and intervening on our part we would be destined for death (hell). Christ died on the cross for our sins, so that we might be saved. (Is. 53:5 “He (Jesus) was pierced for our transgressions (sin)) It was Christ who was pierced, it was Christ who bore the Muzzy MX3 arrow on our behalf, so that we might be saved. However; until people (deer) here that chime, they will continue to die in their sinful state, and go to hell.
Maybe your reading this right now, and you are caught in Satan’s bow-sights/cross-hairs. Is Christ your personal savior? If not, I suggest you receive Him now before you feel the piercing broadhead of sin/death taking your life. (Romans 10:9 “If you would confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”) All you have to do is believe that Christ died for you and that God rose him from the dead, and then ask him to come into your life and save you. Ask him to step in front of the broadhead and bear your sin.
Won’t you go before God right now, by praying and asking God to forgive you of your sins and save you.
Once you pray, and ask God to save you I want to challenge you to do what the doe did this morning – repent (turn and run to safety). Safety=Christ and the Word of God.
If you received Christ as your personal Savior I would love to hear from you. Contact me to let me know about your good news, and then go and share it with others.
What is the chime you might ask? It is the gospel of Jesus Christ, and we are the voices that broadcast it. Anti-hunters are so quick to do anything they can to protect a deer, but we cant even mustard up the courage to “sound the alarm”, or even “play the chime”. I want to challenge you to be active in sharing the Gospel, because if we don’t; like the deer people will never know that they are in danger, and they will die and go to hell.
As Christians we should be like this deer, and lay the smack down on Satan and sin by leading others to Christ. Enjoy the video:)
6 “P” Principles for Affective Prayer:
(Matt 6:9-13) The Model Prayer practices
Praise – (v.9)
Purpose – (v.10) Our prayers should always include a statement of our willingness to accept God’s will, whether He directly answers our prayer or not. Seek God’s will for your life.
Provision – (v.11)
Pardon – (v.12)
“The most miserable man on earth is not the un-saved man, but the saved man who is out of fellowship with God.” – Adrian Rogers
Protection – (v.13) Prayer for spiritual, physical, and mental protection for yourself and the ones you love. Put on the whole armor of God (Eph. 6)
Persistence – Consistent/Constant: Pray without ceasing 1 Thess. 5:17
Quick Four Step Process to Prayer
P- raise: Praise
R- epent: Pardon/ Confession / Repentance
A- sk: Provision/ Protection / Petition / Intercession
Y- ield: Purpose
2 Key Aspects to Prayer
Humility
Honesty
How He Loves by David Crowder is a song that I recently learned how to play, and I decided to post this song because it has touched my heart so much. My voice is a little muffled because I am a little caught up in the emotion of How much God loves us. Hope what God is doing in my heart will outpour into your life. Enjoy!
Most of us probably remember the story of Peter Pan – a boy who refused to grow up. Wishing to escape the responsibilities of adulthood, Peter Pan was determined to stay eternally young and carefree in Never Never Land. There is something about living a carefree life. It offers us joys of adolescence without the responsibilities of adulthood. And those who embrace this lifestyle become like Peter Pan, caught between the man he didn’t want to become and the boy he could no longer be.
Spiritually speaking, there are many people who become children of God, but never become adults and grow to spiritual maturity. Although they may be in their 20’s or older, they remain spiritual teenagers. The Bible gives us several examples of Christian adolescents wrapped in adult bodies. *For example a man by the name of John Mark in Acts 12&13 “a man who walked away”, or Demas in 2 Timothy 4 “a man who loved the world”, or Diotrephes in 3 John “a man who wanted his way.”
Each of these men fell under 3 different Characteristics of Spiritual Adolescents.
Do you see any of these traits in your life?
Facts About Spiritual Maturity
“You have been Christians for a long time now, and you should be teaching others, but instead … you still need someone to teach you … When a person is still living on milk, it shows he isn’t very far along in the Christian life … He’s still a baby Christian!” Invest your time and energy into becoming like Christ.
“But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”
Never stop learning.
“Exercise thyself rather unto godliness.” 1 Tim 4:7b
“Discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness.”
Dedicate yourself to growing deeper in your walk with the Lord.
Many of us are like Peter Pan, caught between the person we never wanted to become, and the person we no longer can be. There is no turning back the pages of time. We can only look ahead, and continue to grow spiritually.
*Chuck Swindoll – Growing Up in God’s Family – (1985 – Insight for Living)
