Many times we are comforted by GOD'S WORD from the most unexpected people.  Those who speak with confidence and courage without looking around to see if it is "politically correct".  They speak with clarity and wisdom, beyond the "knowledge" of "trained" theologians; a "presence" which applies wisdom to life.  Acts 4:13, "...they saw boldness...and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished."  They are people we can TRUST, AND DRAW US CLOSER TO GOD.  THEY HAVE WHAT WE WANT, ABOVE THE "PREACHING" AND "POUNDING"; IT COMES LIKE A WHISPER.

Do we "wantabe" Christians still "hang on" to a little piece of the world?  Do we still look back with a small "hankering" to return to parts of the world we knew?  Luke 9:62, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the Kingdom of GOD."  Do we let "guilty memories" destroy our Presence with GOD, where we are not absorbed in HIM and going forward with HIM?  IF WE ARE NOT PREPARED TO PUT GOD FIRST IN ALL THINGS, WE REALLY PUT HIM FIRST IN NOTHING. 

Do we give Thanks and Praise GOD only in things that "please" us?  Have we ever prayed, "Thank YOU for YOUR Blessings, and "FORGIVE ME" for not loving YOU with all my heart"?  Don't we realize, without a Grateful Heart, what we have done is worthy of nothing but "silence and forgiveness"?  Are our actions and thoughts presented before GOD pleasing to HIM as Spiritual Worship (Romans 12:1)?  Our JOY and HAPPINESS depends upon how GRATEFUL we are.  Not Happy?  Maybe we're not GRATEFUL to GOD.  Have we ever turned a GRATEFUL thought to Heaven and it WAS A PERFECT PRAYER?   We have 86,400 SECONDS THIS DAY, WILL EVEN ONE BE USED BEING GRATEFUL AND GIVING THANKS TO GOD? 

Do we feel "inadequate" when GOD shows us what we should do, need to do and in our hearts, want to do?  Don't we know that "neither life or death, angels nor rulers...or powers to be nor powers to come...can separate us from the Love of GOD..." (Romans 8:38-39)?  Are we going to "Triumphantly" live today as "MORE THAN CONQUERORS" because we know GOD turns everything - even suffering and death - INTO GOOD (Romans 8:37)?  WE ARE MORE THAN CONQUERORS!


 

Maybe we will be remembered for the way we lived.  Maybe we will be remembered for the "good" we tried to do.  Most likely we will be remembered for "OUR LAST WORDS" because at that point there is no temptation to lie, no pride that will save us and no worldly treasures to lure us away.  John 3:16, "For GOD so loved the world that HE gave HIS only SON, that whoever believes in HIM should not perish but have everlasting life."  Maybe my last words will be on my "GRAVE" marker.  THE REPORT OF MY DEATH, IS A "GRAVE" EXAGGERATION; I AM LIVING WITH GOD; SEE YOU SOON.  John 17:3, "This is ETERNAL life, that they may know YOU, the one true GOD. 

Don't we have more SPIRITUAL DUTIES to do than argue over how much we are to be "rewarded" for our deeds on earth?  "REWARDED", that sounds like a "GOD CARROT" to get us to do good.  "Which of us will be greatest (or greater)" Luke 9:46)?  Is good "good enough"?  We won't find in the Bible that "Baptism" saves us, nor "being good" elevates us, or being a member of a "specific" denomination gives us "absolution".  Is "baptism" an act of obedience unto the LORD after we are SAVED - "not something we do to GET SAVED".  The same is true of our deeds, we do it out of LOVE not "burden".  What "level" of Heaven will "I" be?  I am content to walk with JESUS in the "LOWEST PART OF HEAVEN" than be without HIM in the HIGHEST PART OF HELL.  Any part of HEAVEN is more than I deserve,  THANK YOU JESUS FOR SAVING ME.  AMEN!

There are times when our "trivial pursuits" are exposed for what they are; "TRIVIAL".  Our following of "man made" laws over the "Moral Laws" are eroding our values and blinding us to the TRUTH.  This is true of our Church organizational structures, "businesses" not sanctuaries of Hope, Church leaders looking at themselves as "C.E.O.'S not servants of CHRIST, and influencing those "seeking" GOD to follow "man's rational religious thought" instead of GOD'S Inspired Revelations.  Matthew 16:18, "...on this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it..."  Is the Church, believers who have separated themselves as followers of JESUS or an INSTITUTION WHICH EXISTS TO PRESERVE THE INSTITUTION.  THE GATES OF HELL SHALL NOT PREVAIL.

Joy and Happiness are not responses; THEY ARE CHOICES.  The choices we make today, determines how confident we are that Divine Intervention will protect and guide us.  Joshua 24:15, "...choose this day whom you will serve..."  The Bible tells us, we lack understanding, we lack wisdom, and our ways are not GOD'S ways.  The cosmic beauty of our lives does not lie in our responses, it is our choices.   Would we rather be wise, or BLESSED WITH DIVINE INTERVENTION in every part of our lives?  WHO DO WE SERVE THIS DAY?

When was the last time we did something for someone and they said, "THANK GOD"?  Are our actions motivated by anything other than GLORIFYING GOD?  Do we ENJOY the "credit" (even just a "smidgen")  and the recognition  a kind act brings?  Does the "totality" of our thoughts and actions cause someone to say, "THANK GOD".  Do we become a "little" irritated or feel "slighted" when someone does not recognize the special efforts we went through for them?  Colossians 3:17, "And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the LORD JESUS, giving THANKS TO GOD ..."  Will someone say, "THANK YOU GOD" for our thoughts, words and actions today?  And WILL IT BRING US GREAT JOY? 

"...and the day of death is better than the day of birth", Ecclesiastes 7:1.  Such a statement is certainly contrary to the opinion of man.  Although some recognize that the world is so full of selfishness, vanity and lack of GOD in men's hearts, that they realize it is more desirable for man to go out of it, than to come into it.  Death is only "feared" when we don't TRUST what GOD PROMISES.  When we are not confident of our Salvation, the Love of CHRIST and HIS Forgiveness; we are fearful of everything, ESPECIALLY DEATH.  The worldly fear of death is founded in THE MISTRUST OF CHRIST.