Milestone 666

March 13, 2012 by hiwaychristian

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A milestone is approaching. By the Grace of God I have been striving to leave a legacy of good things. I have no idea who will read them or even care that such labor has been done for the Lord I am learning to love. But He has granted me the privilege to post 657 articles in this blog. 666 is as good a goal as any. And it will turn that number from something evil to something good.

One might say I am blowing my own horn, possibly. But it is good to share good news with those who struggle also. There was a time when I would rarely even whisper the name of God in public. I remember how embarrassed I was the first time I prayed to the Lord a word of thanks for the meal we were about to eat in a public place. Now I see myself creating strings of words about the Lord without a care of what people think. Quite a transformation! Something worthy of announcement.

Reach Deeper

March 13, 2012 by hiwaychristian

Sometimes I post things I learn. Sometimes I post things I’m being taught. In this post it of the latter.

The world around us is so very demanding. Sleepless nights abound. The body gets weaker. And our resistance to temptation becomes less. It is at these very moments when our strength is shown for what it is. And far too often we find ourselves slipping where we would not have slipped before.

Because I am in the throes of just such a time, I urge us all to consider that the testing of our hearts does not end at the end of any certain moment. We are rightfully expected to endure to the end. This expectation has mercy laced through it. But let us strive hard enough so that we don’t need to rely on the Grace of God to accomplish the things He has put in our hands. What I mean is that we shouldn’t find ourselves coming to Him begging forgiveness because we have sinned. It would be immeasurably better to come to Him to thank Him for having given us the strength to endure.

When you find that temptation is rousing strength within you, reach deeper. Who contends in any sport or business or relationship with half a heart and wins? Those who overcome are those who consider the winning worth everything.

By His Grace.

Fruit Trees of God

March 13, 2012 by hiwaychristian

I look at my life and see the fruit appear. It’s not something I can reach out and hold. The fruit is more like a receding tide. Chaos begins to recede or move out of my life, while stability, love, righteous acts, and a determination to continue appear.

Many do not see this kind of fruit in their Christian life. They pray for help to become godly. Then they find themselves looking for something rather tangible. But the fruit of God’s intervention in our lives is not something we can perceive. Now, I’ll admit that there are times when He moves in and does something that is clearly different and not from this world. But stopping a bullet in flight toward our heart is not His normal way of doing things.

Look at your life. You have prayed. You have developed a mind to know the difference between sin and righteousness. People have begun to notice that you love God more than the world. There are certain people you have been praying for that now

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exhibit a difference in their life. There is a measurable lack of chaos caused by sin. And there is a marked increase in stability caused by your devotion to the Lord.

²⁰ Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? ²¹ For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. ²² Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, ²³ but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, ²⁴ but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. ²⁵ For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength. (1 Corinthians: 1)

So then, let us not be of those who look for signs and what is called wisdom. But let us take His promises as if they belong to us. Let us gather confidence because God cannot lie. And, above all, let us look to what is, not sitting waiting for a sign from God or a certain thought pattern that will cause men to stand in awe. We are a people just like those released from bondage in Egypt. They did not trust God or remember that they had once lived as slaves. It was for this reason that God said, “They have not known my ways.” And it was because they did not combine their understanding with faith that God swore on oath that they would never enter His rest.

I am prompted to open my eyes and see what He is doing, as opposed to looking for something I can hold in my hand. I hope this post has helped to remind my friends of the same thing. We are urged to remember that life is what is happening while we’re looking for it to happen.

Ignorance Can Kill

March 13, 2012 by hiwaychristian

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A little boy lived on a farm. One day he came up to his dad and asked, “Dad, is it ok with you if I steal grandma’s purse?” The dad looked at his boy with a straight face, hiding the amazement within him. “Why would you ask me something like that?” The dad asked. The boy answered, “I was tempted to do it. I think I even want to do it. And I thought I’d ask you if it’s ok.” The boy said.

There are certain things we KNOW God doesn’t want us to do. How often have I found myself pleading and pleading with God to help me resist temptation. I would guess others have also. Here’s the meat of the issue:

Why do we beg for something the Lord has plainly told us is not ok with Him? And why do we beg for strength to overcome? The issue here is the begging. Begging does not have the same strength as a simple belief that God is willing to help. He has promised to give such things to those who love Him. It is not His will that we sin. It is His will to overcome sin.

¹³ When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; ¹⁴ but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. ¹⁵ Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

He wants us to live life full of “wins”. And He is anxious (if that is possible) to see that “Winning attitude” appear in all of His children. Let’s get our head on straight. Are we so immature in Christ Jesus that we can’t make out the difference between temptation and a test?

Words From There

We: Live, Die, Face Judgment. Jesus or die twice.

Daily Archives: March 13, 2012

Milestone 666

Reach Deeper

Fruit Trees of God

Ignorance Can Kill

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