FOUL ODOR

Ecclesiastes 10:1 (NKJV) 1  Dead flies putrefy the perfumer's ointment, And cause it to give off a foul odor; So does a little folly to one respected for wisdom and honor. 
   In a group of respected professionals, an offensive story was repeated, some laughed and others just did not respond. I found my self very uncomfortable, the remarks were meant to amuse, the individual went on with the introduction, but lost the respect he had earned through years of faithful work. I confronted him afterwards and was shocked at the response, "Just trying to lighten the mood, nothing wrong with a little humor." "Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers." Ephesians 4:29 (NKJV), we are in a battle for the hearts and minds of doomed souls, why give an excuse to deny The Savior of man, that He cannot control the tongue.
    The day we live in is full of the cursings of men, the Radio, TV and public have a stench of death, the foul odor is infecting the lives of the believer and there by causing many to stumble. "But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea. Mark 9:42 (NKJV) 
We need the healing of Jesus, because Dead flies cause the perfume to stink! Matthew 15:30
Heavenly Father  help us to walk in integrity and honor, of the place we have found in You. May all our words be checked with The Truth that others may see You. Amen

DISTRACTED

Luke 10:40 (NKJV) 40  But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, "Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me."
   Recently someone responded, "I am too busy for church, besides I believe in God, He knows that." Oh, the business of living today, no time for spiritual renewal, just enough time to do what I want, a hurried saturday night church service, a weekend packed, me time!
   The scriptures reveal man has not changed in his attitude toward God, since the fall into self centered living. Adam rushed to sin and lost His place with God, Jacob hurried into a life of work and no time for God, the Israelites were so busy making life about them, they had no time for God, Saul was so self centered, he had no time for God, Herrod was too busy running a nation, he had no time for God.
   What is keeping you from giving God, His time? Jesus said to Martha, "You are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her." Luke 10:41-42 (NKJV) have you really given God a place in your heart or just made a way for time, to take from you what you never had? Are you Martha minded or Mary oriented?
Heavenly Father, we need time with you as much as we need air to live, we need that special alone place that You might renew us and provide spiritual strength for the day. Help us Lord to put away that which is passing away and look to You for what we really need. Amen

HE WHO WEIGHS

Proverbs 24:12 (NKJV) 12  If you say, "Surely we did not know this," Does not He who weighs the hearts consider it? He who keeps your soul, does He not know it? And will He not render to each man according to his deeds? 
    There is much for man yet to discover about Gods creation, much we do not understand about our own hearts and how they function with the total being. A man was killed many years ago, his bodily functions were in tact, so the doctors used his organs to help others. The heart was sent to an individual who was soon to loose their battle for life. Some time latter the family received a call from the recipient of the heart, he had a puzzling question, "Did the person who donated the heart have a love for music," the stunned reply was, "His life was music."
     We do not know the depths of Gods Great Love, but we do know the experience of that Love, it dredges down and deep cleans the soul of man, so that he can worship his Creator. The God, knows all that we need to know, to exist Eternally with Him, He alone provides the Way, the real heart of the matter is Jesus and there is "no other name given under heaven by which a person may be saved!"
     Do you have His heart today, He is offering it freely to you?
Heavenly Father we live because of You, may we be truly thankful for the transplant of Life into us. May all our days give glory and honor to You, for You are the reason we live. Amen

ABOVE

John 8:23-24 (NKJV) 23  And He said to them, "You are from beneath; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. 24  Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins."
   A lady complained recently, "I am not happy, I feel as though I do not belong here." Amazing, God was revealing to her this life is but a vapor, we are here to show God's Faithfulness to those around us by our obedience to Him. I, you, all of us were planned by God to show the universe His great Love for His creation, is it working, yes, yes and again yes?
    The windows of Heaven are open to all who put absolute faith in Jesus Christ The Son, He alone is the Way, the Truth and The Life. Intellectual christianity is the extreme border of the line drawn by our Lord, Faith is the essence of that relationship, we must acknowledge from a heart void of any other thing, a heart broken to all other stimuli, that He alone is God and the Savior of all people. "But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him." Hebrews 11:6 (NKJV) 
   Friend if you will know God, it must be on His terms, "For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called." 1 Corinthians 1:26 (NKJV) won't you simply trust Him today?
Heavenly Father our hope is in You, our help comes from above, all else is useless. Amen

A PRICE

1 Corinthians 6:20 (NKJV) 20  For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's.
   Years ago a mentor explained to me, when you see someone who is busy and accomplishing tasks, that is the person you put in charge. I had complained that there was no time for what he was asking me to do, instead I accepted the challenge and discovered the much more, "How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?" Hebrews 9:14 (NKJV)
    The price of my salvation I have no means to repay, this gift of Eternal Life comes without any strings, I am redeemed because God loves His creation, you too may know God's amazing gift of Love by simply confessing His mercy through His Son and receiving forgiveness of your sins. What is this Love that knows no bounds, it is the precious blood of Jesus spilled, once and for all times to wash away every sin of man. He died that I might glorify Him, what a small price to pay for so Great a Gift.

Heavenly Father the life I live is by faith in your Son, thank You for all You have done for me. Let my every step move closer to You. Amen

WE LABOR

1 Corinthians 4:12-13 (NKJV) 12  And we labor, working with our own hands. Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure; 13  being defamed, we entreat. We have been made as the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things until now.
    A woman cried, "My mother-in-law hates me she has nothing good to say to me or about me, I am so sick of this life." A man saw his son do less than he expected, "Get out there you lazy bum you didn't finish the job, when you tackle that guy hit em again," he screamed." Many are ridiculed and heckled for seemingly poor performance, however that is in the eye of the beholder, that person, that relationship may be doing the best they can.
   All God asks of us is our best, "Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." 1 Corinthians 10:31 (NKJV), if we are not seeking to do our best, we are not obeying God.
   Friend if you have received Jesus you will experience persecution, "Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake." Matthew 5:11 (NKJV), do not look around, look up to the God of Glory and know, He is looking out for you.
Heavenly Father in You we are safe and secure, nothing can harm us, nothing can take us from your hands. May we trust all these difficult things as the tools to look to You. Amen

HE IS COMING

Psalm 98:9 (NKJV) 9  For He is coming to judge the earth. With righteousness He shall judge the world, And the peoples with equity. 

    As a child I remember well my father catching me doing wrong, sternly warning and then sending me to my room to wait for his punishment. Fear, anger, blame and trembling in that order fell on me, I would be punished for my foolishness. The waiting on him to enter the room was eternal, then the door creaked and the tears flooded in, there he stood disappointment on his face and resolve in his action, I was punished before he ever began. Funny, I don't remember the punishment, just the look on his face.

    Friend the God of all creation is coming to judge, righteously and with equity, He is Holy and Just, He is Loving and Kind, He is Merciful and full of Grace, but, He will not allow sin to have its place, sin will be dealt with and no sin will be accepted! You and I will enter the presence of the King of Kings and we will stand or fall based on our relationship in Him, we will live eternally forgiven and clean or eternally condemned and defiled, one in Heaven the other in hell. Rev 20:11-15 Where will you be found if He comes today?

Heavenly Father the days are revealing the evidence of your soon appearing, help us to live that others see You. May our living today exalt You and may every step point others to Jesus. Amen