Category: Reality

What kind of movies is God watching?

It isn’t like God sits down in front of a TV to relax. He is at work all the time but He has the ultimate big screen. He sees it all, even behind the scenes. He sees the gentleness and the violence, the love and the hate, the gladness and the sadness, the drama and what really goes on in our hearts, the war and the peace, the pure and the obscene, the funny and the serious, idleness and action, horror and courage. He looks down every day at the lives we live and sees it all. He cries, laughs, gets angry and has compassion on the people that won’t trust Him with the script for a better (plans to prosper not to harm), easier (my yoke is light), more satisfying role (purpose) in life.

God can handle what He sees even if He does not approve but we should be careful what we allow our eyes and mind to be exposed to. Not all things are beneficial.

Important Prayers

We spend so much time on this earth seeking pleasure. Maybe basking in the sun on the beach thinking “this is as good as it gets”. We avoid thinking about heaven, hell, eternity and what comes after this earthly life. We involve ourselves in so much to distract ourselves from what comes next. When we come up against earthly problems, we are so quick to go to God and want His help. We will go to Him when we want something in this life or when crisis hits. Our prayer life reflects our focus.
We spend more time praying for the sick (which keeps them out of heaven) than we do praying for the salvation of unbelievers (which could keep them out of hell).

What are we doing to distract ourselves from the thought of eternity that God has put in our hearts?
Ecclesiastes 3:11 (NIV)
11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.

What has God prepared for us in heaven?
1 Corinthians 2:9 (NIV)
9 However, as it is written:
“What no eye has seen,
what no ear has heard,
and what no human mind has conceived”—
the things God has prepared for those who love him—

Afraid To Get Dirty

The problem is not always that we are unwilling to help someone in pain. We are simply blind to the fact that they exist. We overlook hurting people because we are in a hurry or because we don’t want to deal with the mess of a broken life.

Jesus Christ willingly gave up Heaven and came to Earth as a man … and went straight for the messiest lives, those in the greatest pain … the losers and the misfits.

Jesus felt every pain we have ever felt or ever will feel.

Jesus was misunderstood and slandered.

Jesus was beaten, tortured, and then crucified to pay for our sin.

It must break the heart of God when we so easily toss aside what cost Him so very much … the chance to help one of His broken lambs.

Look around you, friend. Someone needs you to see them – to really feel their pain and then be willing to do something about it.

The Great Commission

 

Is God Asking Something Of You?

Proverbs 1:22-24 (MSG)

22-24“Simpletons! How long will you wallow in ignorance?

Cynics! How long will you feed your cynicism?

Idiots! How long will you refuse to learn?

About face! I can revise your life.

Look, I’m ready to pour out my spirit on you;

I’m ready to tell you all I know.

As it is, I’ve called, but you’ve turned a deaf ear;

I’ve reached out to you, but you’ve ignored me.

Is He asking to be your friend?

Is He asking to grow deeper in your relationship with Him?

Why won’t we move?

Why do we just go through the motions?

Do we think we are good enough and good people make it to heaven?

Why don’t we want more of God all the time?

 

We should never get to the point of not wanting more because we will always have room to improve.

What will it take?

  • A good Prayer
  • A good Sermon
  • A good Testimony
  • A Song
  • A Shattered Dream
  • The Death of Someone Close
  • Family Devastation
  • Financial Collapse
  • Marital Problems
  • Serious Illness
  • Serious Accident

What is stopping you?

  • Pride (With pride comes destruction)
  • Arrogance (With a haughty spirit comes a fall)
  • What people will think (Who do you want to please? God or People?
  • Fear of what God may ask you to do (God won’t give you anything that He won’t supply you with what you need)
  • Wanting to stay in your comfy zone (God will be with you through everything)
  • Fear of not having control (If you don’t give God control, who do you think has control?)

Will it be worth it?

What blessings are we giving up because we refuse to be obedient to Christ?

Would it be better to bow out of obedience or to fall on our face in humiliation or out of desperation?

Do we want to bow out of adoration or devastation?

 

We will bow! We can bow now and be blessed or we will bow in disgrace.

Philippians 2:10

 10 so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

Hinder or Help

As everyone is looking to remember the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, they can read about his legacy and his presidency. Let’s look at what he challenges the Americans with. He said,

“Ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country.”

We could sure get somewhere with that if we could get people to adopt that philosophy. Just think if we could plug some other words into that quote and change America and the world. We have been raising generations of people to feel entitled, looking for a hand out. We are in a lose/lose situation. If we could get people to change their view of life, we could be in a win/win situation. They say change comes from the top but I believe if this attitude would impact a few people, we could be on the road to recovery. What word would make an impact in your life and the people around you.

Ask not what your neighbor can do for you. Ask what you can do for your neighbor.

Ask not what your friend can do for you. Ask what you can do for your friend.

Ask not what your spouse can do for you. Ask what you can do for your spouse.

Ask not what your child can do for you. Ask what you can do for your child.

Ask not what your parent can do for you. Ask what you can do for your parent.

Ask not what your church can do for you. Ask what you can do for your church.

Ask not what God can do for you. Ask what you can do for God.

Let us know what you choose to do and the impact you plan to have.

Read John F. Kennedy’s Inaugural Address, January 20, 1961 and you can just feel how far we have fallen. America needs a change. They need to “humble themselves and pray”. It can start with a few.