Begin with the end in mind!

Pretty much everyone on the planet has a calendar. Why is that? Because we live our daily lives in anticipation of “what’s next.” Those of us who set goals do so because it’s easier to reach a destination when you know where you are going. I recently attended a youth conference where the speaker was very simple, yet profound. She made a statement along the lines of, “begin with the end in mind.” She went on to describe how we do this from day to day and most times without even thinking twice. For example, if as a student, you set the goal of graduating…that’s the end. Then you must begin with preparation and study in the beginning, in order to see that end goal come to past. This of course made me think deeper about our spiritual lives. Do we begin each day with our eternal end in mind? Many of us proclaim that we are “children of God,” and with God being our father our goal should be to live with Him in heaven eternally upon our earthly demise…that is the end. Just like with any “end goal,” in order to see it happen we must begin with preparation. With that being said what are we doing daily to prepare for our eternal end? We don’t have a problem preparing for tests in order to get a passing grade; preparing for a wedding in order to have a marriage or even putting together cribs and buying clothes in preparation for a new babies arrival. Then we should not have a problem living a “Christ-like” life in preparation for our eternal end. Everyone’s life is coming to an end and no one knows exactly when that will occur for them. Therefore it behooves us to live every single day like it is our last. We should start our day out acknowledging God and keeping Him first throughout that day. On a daily basis do you live it in the realization that it could be your very last opportunity to show someone love who really needs it, or apologize to someone you have wronged? Do you carry yourself in a manner that proves you know any given moment could be your last chance to lead someone to Christ? So the next time you are setting goals for your life, don’t forget, set your eternal “end goal” and begin each and every day with the end in mind! Think about it!

Where's your flavor?

Have you ever been really hungry? I mean really hungry? So hungry that you felt as if you could eat just about anything! Have you ever had a big time craving for a particular food? A craving that was so serious you got up at midnight or drove a long distance to get it? Last question; have you ever had a craving, got what you were craving only to be disappointed because the food needed...flavor, namely salt? Did you know that salt is essential for animal life, and saltiness is one of the basic human tastes? Salt is also one of the oldest and most universal of food seasonings and it is used as an important method of food preservation. I'm sure that there aren't many places in the world where salt is not used. Now what if you got that craving, added salt and nothing changed about the flavor of your food? Wouldn’t you think that strange? Thinking of salt made me think about our Christian walk. Mark 9:50 says, “Salt is good but if the salt loses its flavor now will you season it? Have salt in yourselves and have peace with one another.” To me this scripture is saying there is no flavoring that can give salt a taste… so if salt is “saltless” it is then useless. I have a point bear with me. Matthew 5:13-16 says, “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” I said all of that to say this, if you are calling yourself “salt” or a Christian, then you must function as such. Flavor those around you with the word of God, showing love and kindness. After all if we are supposed to be the salt of the earth then the earth should be seasoned with God’s love, forgiveness, peace and so forth. The world is hungry for THE TRUTH. It is up to us to be the salt God intended us to be. Where’s your flavor? Think about it.

He'll NEVER pass you by!

Have you ever walked passed someone on the street and not noticed them even though you should have? Have you ever walked by someone you knew on the street and didn’t realize it until they called your name, and though they were related to you or you knew them you simply passed them by. I recently watched two Youtube videos that brought these questions and thoughts to mind. Both videos were experiments on today’s society and how we often take people for granted or just plain over look people in need. Both videos also pertained to the serious problem of homelessness in our society today. In the first video family members volunteered to be made over into homeless people and placed on the street where another unsuspecting family member was sure to walk pass them. In ever single case the unsuspecting family member walked right past their, mother, sister, uncle or cousin without so much as a second glance. It was only after they were shown the video of themselves walking past their relative that they realized how much they tuned out the homeless, so much so they had failed to recognize their own family member dressed as a vagabond on the street. The second video was called “The Homeless child experiment.” During this video the producer was trying to show the insensitiveness of Americans. He had a child actor dressed as a homeless boy holding a sign asking for money to feed his sister. Needless to say, over the course of the entire day hundred’s of people in different busy locations simply walked past this child; many of them after looking directly at him AND reading his sign. I don’t know about you but I have been guilty of simply concentrating on myself, my business and my needs so much that I have walked passed by people I knew as well as people who were in need. These videos were an eye opener. I’m not saying that I’ll be scoping out homeless people to help, but I can say I will be more attentive and help out when I can. I also said all that to convey this message, “Isn’t it great that God is NOT like man!” Isaiah 41:10 says, “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” So remember that in times of lowliness, or need, when it seems the world and everyone around has abandoned you; our God and Creator is and always will be with you, He will never pass you by! Think about it!

JUST FOR US...THINK ABOUT IT!

With Easter just past hearing the story of Jesus suffering told by my bishop, I got to thinking about the sacrifice our Lord and Savior made for us so I did some more reading and researching, check this out. The Scourging…Jesus endured a torture that beyond excruciating before He ever got to the cross. Scourging was not normally used as execution, but it was brutal enough to be fatal. Its purpose was not only to cause great pain, but to humiliate as well. To scourge a man was to beat him worse than one would beat a stupid animal. The Stripes...The instrument used to deliver this form of punishment was called the flagrum or cat o’ nine tails. This was a whip with several thongs or strands, each as much as three feet long, and the strands were weighted with lead balls or pieces of bone. This instrument was designed to lacerate. The weighed thongs struck the skin so violently that it broke open. Before a scourging the victim is stripped naked of any clothing. The maximum amount of stripes one could receive was…you guessed it, 39. The Crown…As Jesus was bent over with a lacerated bleeding body they hailed him “King of the Jews,” and the soldiers put together a garland of bushes filled with long sharp thorns, and they created a crown of thorns and placed it upon His already bruised head. (Note: they probably didn’t take the time to measure His head for size) The Journey…There have been several theories over the years as to how far Jesus walked with the cross. The main consensus is that He walked an estimated half of a mile with the cross. (NOTE: From the scourging to the journey to Golgotha, was at least two full hours of suffering. Mark 15:25 says, “Now it was the third hour, and they crucified Him.”) The Cross... There are no exact figures on the weight of the cross that Jesus carried. It is estimated to be over 300 pounds. It was made of solid wood. Imagine how heavy the wood had to be, in order to be able to support the weight of a full grown man. The Nails…Jesus' nails would have been made of heavy, probably square, iron material, 7-9 inches long. The Crucifixion…This was among the most painful and excruciating form of punishment leading to death ever contrived by man. Imagine hanging naked, bleeding and aching before a crowd, nailed by your hands and feet trying to support your weight on a cross. The Humiliation…Soldiers took His garments and divided into four pieces then drew lots to see who would be the new owner of His tunic. The Wine…While on the cross in the blistering sun Jesus thirsted and the soldiers mocked him offering him only sour wine to drink. After tasting the sour wine, knowing everything prophesied had been fulfilled Jesus uttered three words, “It is finished,” and He bowed His head and died. The Piercing… As if everything done weren’t enough instead of breaking his legs as was tradition one of the soldiers took a spear and pierced Jesus in the side releasing water and his last few drops of blood. (Note: From the nails to the wine, it was at least a full six more hours of agonizing pain. Mark 15:33 says, “at the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice…”) Isaiah 53:4-6 Read it and think about it!

PROVE IT!

Love is an action word! You can tell someone “I love you,” a million times but if you never show it, only a fool would believe your words. A Christian group called King & Country have a song called “The Proof of your love,” here are some of the opening lyrics. “If I sing but don't have love, I waste my breathe with every song… I bring an empty voice, a hollow noise.” “If I speak with a silver tongue, convince a crowd but don't have love, I leave a bitter taste with every word I say...” “So let my life be the proof, the proof of Your love, let my love look like You, and what You're made of. How you lived, how You died, love is sacrifice, so let my life be the proof…the proof of Your love.” Everyday millions declare they “love the Lord!” Well I challenge you, if you say you love the Lord, then PROVE IT! How do you do that? Simple, do what God did for you, and like the words of the song, prove your love with your life. John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” I John 3:16 says, “By this we know love because He laid down his life for us…” God loved us so much that He didn’t just say it; He stepped down off His throne of grace, wrapped Himself in flesh, came to Earth and gave up His life on our behalf. As if that were not enough He ventured into the depths of the Earth and conquered death, finally He rose again with all power in His hands. Our God didn’t have a problem nor did He hesitate to prove His love. That being said, if we love Him in return, let’s cut out loving Him in “lip service” only. John 14:15 says, “If you love me; keep my commandments.” IT’s time to stop saying “I’m a Christian, I’m a believer,” “I love and trust God,” in one breath and then cursing people out, speaking and doing evil in the next. IT’s past time to prove our love for God with our lives. By living TOTALLY as He commanded, without picking and choices what commands we’ll follow from one day to the next. When God gave of Himself for us He gave all! So if you love HIM, PROVE IT! Think about it! What do you “think about it?” I’d love to hear your feedback on the articles Email me: genamaewrites@gmail.com

Prepare for the thief in the night!

What precautions do you take before bedding down at night? Do you lock your car, check all the windows in the house or lock and latch the doors? If you knew a thief was coming to invade you home, wouldn't you prepare? If you we're told that something great or either something terrible was going to take place for sure… would you not take the time to make arrangements and be ready? If you answered yes to any of these questions are you prepared for Christ's return? Luke 12:39-40 says, "But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. Therefore you also be ready for the Son of man is coming at an hour you do not expect." If you are a believer, you may not know the exact hour when the Son of man will return but you do know for sure that He is coming. Therefore it behooves us to prepare and help others prepare as well. I’m sure you would not allow your loved ones to be invaded if you knew they were in danger. Then why not be a witness and a light, a warning so to speak, to them and let them know that now is the time to prepare for the thief in the night. I Thessalonians 5:2-6 says; “For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night. While they are saying, “Peace and safety!” then destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day would overtake you like a thief; for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness; so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober. So though we do not know the day or hour that Christ will return, let us “get our houses in order!” Make sure you are sober or attentive to the times around you. Make sure that you are vigilant or watchful over your soul. Keep the doors of you heart locked and secured with the love and obedience of Christ, so that when He does return you will be ready! Think about it!

Mountain moving fig tree faith

Have you ever been so hungry that you felt like you would eat the first thing in sight? In the book of Mark chapter 11:12-14 Jesus was in that predicament. After much travel the scripture tells that Jesus was indeed hungry and He saw a fig tree bearing leaves afar off. Now, have you ever been really hungry and started to crave something or smell a dish and begin to desire it; only to be let down because it wasn’t as good as you hoped or because “your eyes were bigger than your stomach?” This also happened to our Lord who, decided He wanted some nice juicy figs fulfill His hunger; only to arrive at the tree and find there were no figs. Bring this scenario in to our every day lives. There are and will be times that we will desire things, dare to dream and pursue with the intent to accomplish greatness; only to be let down by people, ourselves or circumstances. IT is at those times that we must exercise “mountain moving fig tree faith,” as Jesus did. Jesus must have been extremely hungry not realize that the fig tree was not at fault, verse 13 explains that it was “not the season for figs.” But that didn’t stop Jesus from retaliating against the tree. Verse 14 says, “In response (to the barren tree) Jesus said to it, “Let no one eat fruit from you ever again.” And His disciples heard it.” Brief pause here….I wonder what the disciples were thinking when they heard their leader talking to a tree… Okay back to the point of this article. A day later Jesus and the disciples passed back by this same tree and discovered it was now, not only barren, but dried up from the root. Jesus’ curse upon the tree had taken place. In verse 21 Peter says to Jesus, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree which you cursed has withered away.” Peter seemed to be impressed and even surprised. But what Jesus says next is what we must all obtain. He said in verses 22-24, “Have faith in God.” For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them. See when Jesus wanted a thing; and it didn’t manifest to quench His desire, He did not whine about it. He spoke, believed and moved forward. He did not go back to SEE if the tree had withered, because He had mountain moving fig tree faith, he didn’t feel the need to double check! So the next time you are hungering for something in your life whether natural or spiritual, exercise your “mountain moving fig tree faith,” and let that settle it! Believe and you shall receive. THINK ABOUT IT!