Can We Really Walk and Please God?

You know I was thinking about the verses in I Thes 4:1-4, it tells us that as Paul and other Apostles have taught us how we are to walk and please God, and because we have been shown this, that we should walk and please God, so we would abound more and more, that we would know what commandments He gave us, It is the will of God to be sanctified, and abstain from your sins. That we should know how to possess HIS VESSEL in SANCTIFICATION and HONOR.

Now I did not write these verses word for word, but pretty close to the text, just easier for others to understand. Paul was telling us that over and over, in the words of his letters, he has given us the best plans to be able to sanctify ourselves, in other words, how to set ourselves apart, declared holy and ready for God's use, and he also gave us verse after verse teaching us what it means to live honorably, to walk by the standards of God and how to live a life that is pleasing to God. When we continue daily, walking honorably and set apart for God we grow more and more in God's love, His grace, and in the Fruit of the Spirit, and in these things, we truly begin to know what it feels like to be in the presence of God.

When others tell you, "I would love to be that "perfect Christian" that everyone thinks we are supposed to be," You can grin and say something like, "oh, so would I, but I am working on it every day, even if it is little by little." Because, no one is an 100% absolute perfect Christian. There is no such thing. If there was, then Christ would not have had to die for us. All we can do, is what God sent Christ here for us to learn, what He gave us the word of God to read and learn, and why he sent the apostles, preachers, teachers and evangelists here to teach us, because we have to GROW into what God calls perfection. We won't be there until we get to heaven, but we grow in grace and knowledge in the word of God, in the way of God by first RENEWING OUR MIND  (Romans 12:2) . Each day we need to wake up, asking God to change our minds, to keep our minds and hearts on His word, on things He would have us to think on and to begin to help you grow and to learn to live in Honor to Him., He will help you, and as you learn you will find you will begin to have more of the Mind of Christ more and more everyday. Phil 2:5 says, "let this mind be in you, which is also in Christ Jesus." 

The second step is to Separate Yourself Daily, "And the very God of Peace sanctify you wholly: and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." (I Thes 5:23) this sounds like a huge word, but what it means is that the day you accepted Christ as your Savior, God came into your spirit as the Holy Spirit and took up residence, He then Separated YOU, and claimed YOU, holy, perfect, and blameless for God's Use. As a child of God, YOU must every day, while asking for a renewal of your mind, you also ask God to keep your heart and mind separated, to keep your heart and mind on the things of God and off the things of this world. In Romans 12:2 he states, "And be not conformed to this world, but BE YE TRANSFORMED by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God." To me, this shows that no matter what you do for Christ, if you separate yourself, you are separating your mind and that will renew your mind, but you cannot separate your heart and body from the things of the world without FIRST separating and renewing your mind... they go hand in hand.

You will find, this is not an easy thing to do, but when you ask God to do it for you, He will do it, and you will find choosing the things of God Daily gets easier and easier, you find that the more you do it, the stronger you feel in God, in making the right choices, and in learning to walk as God would have you to walk, stand as He would have you to stand, and think as He would have you to think. You will find, that righteous life God has created you to be in II Cor 5:17 becomes very real to you. You find that you feel closer to God everyday, and when you feel like you are getting ready to make a huge mistake, you will begin to realize that is the Holy Spirit talking to you and nudging you to think about what you are doing. It could be something at work someone asked you to do that you are wondering if it would be the honorable thing to do, it could be a place you were thinking about going, something you were thinking about getting ready to say, or even how you react to your spouse or child. As you Grow, as you keep renewing your mind and separating yourself to the things of God and walking in Him, you will find that catching yourself, making the right decisions, standing up for right, and even sharing God with others gets easier and easier.

We know NO ONE does RIGHT every single time. We would love to, but it isn't the reality of things, but I can tell you that as we read the bible building up the word of God in your heart, praying everyday, sharing your life, love, and heart with God, He will be able to speak to you in a way that is clearer and clearer to you in your ears, heart, and  mind. These are simple steps to begin to live our lives holy, separated and different than the rest of the world. They are simple steps, and because they are so simple so many people want to make it harder, they reject these things saying, "It has to be harder than that, you have to work for something, don't you? It can't be so simple, growing up I learned that there was so much more to living for God." It isn't at all, if you follow the truth of God's word, If you simply give Him your Mind and Yourself Daily, He will help you against the temptation of the Devil, He will help you say NO to your flesh, and He will Help you to STAND.

As He gave His all, His Son, and Himself for you, you need to do the same for Him. As you grow, read, pray, and begin to have that Mind of Christ, you will begin to feel that sweet communion with God. YOU can actually feel His presence in your life, in your daily walk. You will feel His pull on your heart when you are starting to "walk outside of His will" or when you are getting ready to sin. He will show your heart what grieves His heart and He opens your eyes to more and more of what His grace has covered in your life. He shows you more and more of His plan for you and your family. He lifts you up and praises you for your right choices and blesses you with more and more blessings than you can ever imagine. The joy that others talk about, you will begin to understand, more and more as you grow in Him.

Isn't that WONDERFUL NEWS? Would you like to have the Mind of Christ today? Would you like to know His peace, His will and Hear His Voice in a way you have never heard before? You can, TODAY, it is just that easy! Call on Him today.

Below are simple prayer samples for you, if you want to feel the goodness of God daily, please take time to pray a simple prayer to God Daily, if you don't know what to say, these are just simple ideas of what you may say to Him, but just talk to Him, your father, He will listen. 

If you are already a Child of God and Want to know His Will, His Way, and to have the mind of Christ, to be able to Sanctify Yourself Daily...DAILY Pray something like this:

Dear Lord, I thank you that you are the Lord of My life, I thank you that you have saved my soul from the wicked sinful man/woman that I once was. I know I am not perfect and that I have failed you in so many ways, but I ask you today Lord to help me, today and every day, help me to renew my mind and set my mind, my thoughts, my words, and my way renewed, separated and Holy for you. Help me to keep my mind set on you today, and thank you God for doing this for me. I praise you for all you are and all you have done for me, for your son on the Cross for my sins, and I know that you want the best for me. Please Father, in the Name of Jesus Christ help me to listen to you and learn your will and way for my life, daily, and let me know your plans for me as I walk with you.

In Jesus Name I pray, AMEN.

If you have never accepted Christ as your Savior, and want to Live for Him, before you pray the prayer above daily, you MUST be Saved. Please Pray a prayer, something like this below to accept Christ as Your Personal Savior...

Dear God, I come to you to day, humbly, thanking you for the Cross at Calvary, your Son who died on that Cross for my sins and for me to live for you daily here on this earth. Lord I believe that Jesus Christ IS the Son of God, that He died for my sins, and that He came to save me from Hell. I Know I am a sinner and I am sorry for my sins, and I ask you God to help me change my heart and mind, change from my sinful ways and become your child. I ask you to renew my mind daily and separate me from the things of this world. Become the Lord of my life and my father. I thank you and praise you for all you are, for being my God and my Father, and I thank you for coming into my life and making me your child. 

In Jesus Precious Name, AMEN.

Mountain Moving Faith!

Mark 11:22-24 - "And Jesus Answering saith unto them, Have Faith in God. For verily I say unto you that whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. Therefore I say unto you, what things soever ye desire, when ye pray believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them." 

Over and over we are told if we have faith, if we confess in the name of Jesus that things are to happen, then by faith in the Name of Jesus Christ we will have what we claim. We we know it has happened, it shows it in the Word of God, but many of us have SEEN it for ourselves, not back in the bible times, but here, in the present, we have seen these things happen. Confession in the name of Our Lord Jesus Christ with true faith in Him, Believing that He WILL do what He said HE WOULD DO, and standing FIRM on the Word of God, the Bible, and to His promises, then God will do what you ask.

I have heard so many people say, "Oh to have that kind of faith, I wished I could just see it happen, it work in someone's life, then I could believe it for myself." I wished that were true, when the people asked Jesus for signs to "prove" himself, He told them, "you have been here when I have worked many miracles, you have seen the power of God in healing, in prayers, and in the things I have done already, and you are still asking for a sign, there will be no more signs, because you won't believe them even when they come to you." (my own translation of the verses) He had just fed the 5000 men, plus women and children, a few days later, He had fed the 4000 men PLUS women and Children a second time, He had healed the woman with the issue of blood, brought a girl back to life, turned water into wine, gave sight to the blind and healed the lame, the men with leprosy, and had even released the demons from peoples bodies, and they were still asking for proof.

So many times He would say, "o ye of little faith," which I can today still hear his disappointment in His voice, something like, "O my children, why can't you just believe me? I am here for YOU and you can't see or understand what I am here for in this world." I am sure His heart was so saddened.

Here's the thing, WE don't HAVE to have this doubt, we do not have to question His works, His power, and His ability to answer to prayer, He will do EVERYTHING, ABOVE ALL, WE COULD ASK OR THINK. HE WANTS to answer our prayers, HE WANTS to reveal His power to you on a personal level, He is just waiting on you to show Him faith strong enough to move the mountains that are standing before you. He promises to do what you ask, when you ask Him in HIS NAME. Have faith in God, know that God still answers prayer, have faith that the God who made the heavens and the earth truly sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross for you, and has the Power over LIFE AND DEATH, over POVERTY, over SICKNESS, PAIN, and So MUCH MORE!!! 

If you want signs and proof that He can do anything above all you ask or think, then look at our lives. Look at this ministry. Every time we call on the Name of the Lord in Faith, He has delivered us, helped us through hard times that we have created for ourselves. He has moved mountains we could have never moved on our own, but we have done all, IN THE NAME OF OUR LORD, JESUS CHRIST, IN FAITH, BELIEVING that HE WILL DO, what we ASK from Him. He has delivered our lives from addictions, pain, controversy, he has provided for us, food, homes, jobs, and  paid our bills when we didn't have a dime to our name. He has brought people along the way, in our lives to encourage us, lift our hearts, and help us through difficult and painful situations, and He has rejoiced with us, when our JOY is so FULL, it is overflowing.

HE IS ABLE TO DO EVERYTHING IN YOUR LIFE, THAT HE WANTS TO DO. YOU JUST have to ask Him, believing, and through faith in Him. Start your own life of signs, miracles and wonders as a testimony to others, TODAY!!! I believe you CAN DO IT!

God's Plan For Your Life

The Bible shows us in so many places and says in so many ways, that God does have a plan for your life - For you and for your family. As much as He loves you and as much as He wants you to follow after His plans for your life, He will not force you to follow after Him, He just waits for you to accept His life's plan for you, His abundance, and His blessings, there is so much more God has in store for you than you can ever imagine, you just need to be willing to accept His will and follow after Him, after His Son.

There is a rather large question you and your family must ask yourselves, "Do you have plans for your life, if so, do your plans for your life, match up at all with the plans God has for you and your family?" As a child of God, He says in His word, "He that saith he abideth in Him ought himself also so to walk even as He walked." I John 2:6  so if we are saying we believe in Christ, and we are living for Him, then the more you are growing in God's love, the more you should be matching up your plans, your will, and your life after God's plans for your life.

"Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more." I Thes. 4:1

When you are feeling confused, lost on your present circumstances, your life, and the concerns of your future, you should encourage yourself, as David did, and begin and lift those concerns to God, you can go to Him and ask Him about His plans, about your dreams, goals and plans, ask Him to guide you and show you if your plans and dreams are in line with  His, and if not to show you His will for your life. The more closely you can walk with God's plans, the more you will be able to feel His presence in your life.

Your family most certainly has concerns about your present circumstances, and how you should be living your life and you should encourage your family to seek God in prayer, through reading His word, and waiting  upon the Lord to talk to Him about your plans and His plans for Your lives, about the dreams and goals your family has, as a whole and on individual levels. As you are making plans for your future, God should be included in those plans, He is the only one who can see your future and what is in store for your family, and He should be consulted when planning the future for any and all of you. Asking God to guide your steps, for you and your family is the least that you can do to the God and creator of your lives.

Remember for everything you do, that God has plans for you, He wants to and intends to use you as His child, it is up to you to accept His plans, follow after Him and seek after His will for your life. Encourage your children, your spouse, and other family members to seek Him in all they do, they will find the answers are closer to them than they think. When you find His plans for your life, you will see that the value you place on your life will be much greater than you can ever imagine. What about you? Are you ready to seek Him for the plans He has for your life? Go For It!

Holiness on God's Terms

Holiness is not just a term used in the bible to describe a Christian, it is a way of life. It is saying, "I am the righteousness of Christ, and I want to live separated, from this world, my mind is transformed on the things of God, and I long to be MORE like Christ everyday, I CHOOSE to live a life of uncompromising, sanctified, transformed holiness just as Christ did as He walked on this earth." 

It doesn't mean I am perfect, not by any means, it just means that we are to reach a standard of living that is as close to Jesus' life here on earth, as possible. 

Phil 3:13-14 - "Brethren, I count it not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the High Calling that is Christ Jesus."

We continue to daily choose to live for the Lord, reading His word, the Bible, and praying, renewing our mind and growing spiritually through the relationship with Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit. "You can do all things through Christ, who gives you strength." Phil 4:13. and by "Growing in Grace and in the Knowledge of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both Now and Forever. Amen." II Pet 3:18.

Daddy's Little Girl

Janet and Her Big Sis 1972

I was thinking this morning about how when I was a child, I was known by everyone as, "Daddy's Little Girl." I thought that was such an amazing title at first, thought there is nothing more special than this, that they saw a special relationship between me and my father, and that no one would ever be able to break the bond between a father and his daughter, even in a family with five children, I never thought I would ever be displaced in that position of "Honor" with my dad. 

Then as I got older, it never seemed like being daddy's little girl was such a "great thing" anymore, because it seemed, in the days of fun, joking and kidding around, I was the butt of every joke, and when there was trouble, when others were arguing with each others, it seemed that somehow I was always drug into the middle of their argument for being so, or if they were arguing with me, it seemed I was always being accused of being sheltered because of being "daddy's little girl."

The thing is, I wasn't sheltered, even though they thought I was and didn't mind saying so. Having that title, as I got older, didn't keep me out of trouble at all, as a matter of fact, in our family, it kept me in hot water all the time.  I was dealt with more harshly, because it seemed, that having that "title" meant MORE was expected from me, than from the rest of the kids. I could not "get by" with more, I wasn't allowed to "get by" with anything. It seemed the title of "Daddy's Little Girl" as most kids hear it or as most adults mean when they say it to a little child or baby in the arms of their daddy, babying and cooing at them, standing in awe of the wonder of it all, that was NOT necessarily what my family meant by that title they so "lovingly" bestowed upon my head. As I grew up, I finally "lost" that title with my own father, which didn't really bother me at all because it was such a negative thing for me in my life. 

Pastor "J" Now Proud
"Daddy's Girl!" 

Looking Now to my adult life, I think about the day I was given that title, but this time in a more excellent and positive way. The day I gave Jesus Christ my heart, my soul, my spirit, and my body, that He gave me a new vision of what the title of "Daddy's Little Girl," was to Him. It was the most positive title I could have ever owned for myself. It was a new and wonderful position to be in for myself, and I found a deeper, most loving, caring and special relationship with my Heavenly father, than anything I had ever had with my own earthly father or to that degree, with any other person in my life. It was the first time in my life that I had truly felt loved, accepted, and that I was really special. That I wouldn't have a need to feel guarded or a need to protect myself against others because My God loved me and saw me as His own. 

Then I found out something wonderful, are you ready for this, I AM NOT the only one! I found out that God doesn't just hold this title out just for me, He loves all His children, all His creation, and He wants all His little girls to see Him as Daddy. Not just "father" but Daddy. There are so many, "religious" people that say, "you can't call God daddy, He is your God, He's your Heavenly Father, and He is your Savior, but it is sacrilegious to call God, "Daddy." All I can tell them is that I get to, as a child of God, I get the pleasure of calling on my God, and call Him, "Daddy." 

You see, even Christ when He was facing the Cross, He was praying out to God in the Garden of Gethsemane and cried out to God, "Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me" nevertheless, not what I will, but what thou wilt."  Mark 14:36

Because I am a child of God, and the bible says I am joint heirs with Jesus, I get to see God as my father too, just like Christ does. 

Romans 8:14-17 - "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry ABBA, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the Children of God. And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with Him, that we may be also glorified together."

Sharing a Message
"You Too Can Be
Daddy's Little Girl"

You see, Christ called out to His father, but He was looking at death by excruciating pain on a cross, torture, beatings, and a crown of thorns, He could see it all, knew it was coming and knew He as a man would face pain and it would be the worst pain possible, more than any other had suffered, and He had called on His Daddy to help Him. Abba, means Daddy. He was coming to Him as a plea, asking Him for help, asking Him, "is there another way?" You see, Christ was willing to lay down His life for us, because He loves us, but knowing what He was going to have to go through, knowing the pain, hurt and trials He would have to endure, and He knew He would have to face being on that cross, alone, forsaken, not just denied by the humans He was dying for, but that His own father was going to turn His back on Him, because God cannot look on the sin that Christ was going to have to take on, for our sake. It was a time when Christ knew, He would be completely separated from God, from the Spirit that had once fallen on Him, like a dove. He begged His father, His Daddy to help Him, to see if there was another way. 

Sort of like we do with our own dad. When you want something special for yourself, you want to borrow the car, didn't you go up to your dad, and bat your eyelashes and say, "Daddy, Pleassssssseeee " Or when you were facing punishment and you knew you did wrong, but wanted it to be less trouble, didn't you look at him and say, "Oh, Daddy, I am so sorry, I didn't mean it." It seemed if you came to him, and said "Daddy" in a sweet, innocent way, that your dad would just melt, he would be like, "Oh okay, it wasn't that bad of you..." right? That is how most people "tell me" that works when you are trying to get out of trouble with parents. Butter up to the one who is soft on you. 

That is what Christ was doing. He didn't want to call on God as God, and not the "Heavenly Father of All," but as His Only Begotten Son, He was calling on His Daddy. Asking Daddy to see if there may be a better way than His own death, the pain, but mostly the separation from God that He would have to endure. He was trying to say, "But daddy, I love these people, I love what we created together, and I know they need to be saved, and IF I am the ONLY WAY, then so be it, BUT DADDY, if you can find some other way to save them, pleassssssseeee, pick that way instead." We know, as well as Christ knew, there was not another way, the most excellent way for our redemption would include all the things Christ would have to suffer for Us. 

In doing this for me, I am so glad to share with you, that He did this for You too. I realized it doesn't matter how many people come to the Lord, how many turn their hearts and minds over to God, that Each one of us, ALL OF US, are HIS children. The fact that no matter what we face, we can come to Him and call out, "Abba, Father..." which is to say, "Daddy, Father!" We can call on Him for anything, He is there for us. Know this, That God loves each of us individually, totally, and wholly that He wanted each of us to be able to call out to Him, as Daddy. In His great love, He gives us a position of Sons and Daughters in Christ. In our relationship with Him, He has His special language, His individual and personal conversations, time, and attention on each of us, and He sent His Word, the Bible, so that we can know how to call on His name. That we can know that He is our Father, Our Daddy, and we can know Him in a very intimate and special way, as we begin to call on Him, as we spend time in prayer and fellowship with Him for ourselves.

If you never had a special relationship with a father or mother here on earth, it is hard to know the love of a Heavenly Father that is one-on-one, that His love is unconditional, and that it is free to all. If you never saw that type of love from your earthly father then it is hard to understand that type of love from a father you cannot see. Let me tell you, this love affair you have with your God, your Father, your Daddy, is far greater than any other relationship here on earth you could ever imagine. It is so personal, He knows all about you. He gives you peace, strength, and the ability to face and endure more than you could ever think possible, but He also, takes the burdens you give to Him. He will lift you up and carry you through the trials and temptations Satan throws in your way, you just have to call out to Him. "Daddy, Help me!" 

Never again will being "daddy's little girl" ever be a negative connotation for me, Never again will I hang my head in hurt or silence when someone says something about being "Daddy's Little Girl" ever again. My God is My father, He is My Daddy. I am happy to say so, I am privileged to be His child. and I am so glad to be serving Him today. It is an honor for Him when I call out to Him, "Daddy!" and He would love for you to do so as well. God wants to know you on an intimate level as well, Are you ready to call on Him today? Call out, "Daddy, I'm ready to call on you, to be forgiven, to claim you as my own!" He will be there for you.

Throw In the Towel or Give a Second Chance?

Some days I just want to throw my hands in the air and say, "I give up...!" I get so tired and weary, sad from all the things I see going on around me, that I want to say, "That's it, I'm done!" Not that I want to give up on serving my God, not that I am saying I don't want to be a Christian, don't want to live for Him, or be there when He calls for me to do something... No not at all! There are just some days you get fed up with people, in general. People will let you down every time if you put your trust in them, and some days I feel like saying to some of them, "good thing God wants to save your soul, because if it were me, I would have thrown my hands in the air and walked away a long time ago."

That isn't surprising that someone would feel that way, right? No it isn't. I am as human, and humans get frustrated, they get mad, they want to throw in the towel sometimes too. I can admit there have been times, not a lot of them, but times when I wondered if the price I was paying for what I am trying to do, is worth the heartache, frustration, and pain. Sometimes at first, I get so excited about a new venture when God says Go, then when I get there, I am trying hard, but can't see a redemptive quality in another person or group I am supposed to be working with, but I have to remind myself that God has a plan for them, just like He had for me, and whether I see the qualities or characteristics that God sees or not, it isn't for me to decide, it is up to God.

I am so glad God makes those decisions and not me or any other human being. I know I would have been given up on a long time ago, if it were up to someone else. When I do finally see a quality or something special about the person or group I am working with, I thank God that He gave me the strength and fortitude to stick it out and go on... I praise Him everyday that He gives me a love for Him that makes me want to serve Him no matter what, so that I don't want to really give up. I just get frustrated sometimes, like many out there in this world.

On days when I want to throw in the towel, I think about Jonah, when he went to Nineveh, told them that because of their wickedness that they would be destroyed in 30 days by the hand of God. He just figured, okay, I will go sit here and watch what happens, watch the destruction so I can start all over again sharing God with someone else when they are gone, since they are done for, they are never going to change their ways. Then, something that Jonah never counted on happened, the people in the city cried out and called on God, repenting, asking Him to forgive them, asking God to give them another chance, and God chose to spare their lives. He forgave them of their sins and they turned from their wicked ways to live for Him there after.

Oh boy, was Jonah mad. He was so angry with God. He thought, that wasn't fair, if you say you are gonna do something, then you should do it, even if they repented, you said you were going to destroy them, you should have done it. When God said, "But they repented and changed from their sins..." Jonah didn't care at all, he was arguing with God that they shouldn't get that second chance, just because they repented. I can just see Jonah saying something like, "What are you thinking God, if you don't destroy them, other wicked cities are never going to take you seriously." Jonah was so done with this city, that he didn't see that true repentance had taken place. He refused to look at it from God's point of view.

He needed to take a step back and look at it a different way. He was told to go to Nineveh, to tell them of their destruction, he didn't want to go because of their sin, because they were such a wicked city, he didn't want to go anywhere near them. So what did he do, he got on a boat, took off in the other direction, to "escape" God. Like he ever really could. God sent a storm, the men on the boat were preparing to their death, they couldn't figure out why such a storm hit them so hard... Jonah told them, "it is me, I am in disobedience to God and he sent this storm. Throw me over and it will stop." So they did what he told them to do, their lives were spared and the storm subsided for them.

God sent a great fish to swallow up Jonah, to get a hold of his heart. Jonah spent three nights in the belly of that fish, not dead, alive, he was in there, going over all that he had done, all he had refused to do, and all that God had told him to do and had done for Him through his life, and said, something like, "I am running from a God that is everywhere, he could have killed me right here and now, he could have even struck me dead before ever getting on the boat, but He let me live, so that I could set things right with Him and do what I am called to do in Nineveh." Talk about a God of second chances, Jonah called out to God, repented of his sin and rebellion, and asked God to forgive him and spare his life, so he could go to Nineveh on God's behalf.

When the fish coughed Jonah up, he landed right on the shores of Nineveh. Right where God had wanted him in the first place. He got the ultimate second chance, God sent this fish as not only a life raft, to save his life from the waters in the middle of nowhere, but he was also his transport to Nineveh. What an amazing God we serve!

It was so wrong that Jonah couldn't even think that Nineveh deserved a second chance after receiving his life in exchange for obedience? He didn't even remember his own moment of rebellion, sin and pride. All he could think about was, I came all this way to deliver a message and now God isn't going through with it, "that's just so wrong!" He was so above these people, because they were so wicked, even though his own life had been spared he couldn't see why God would spare theirs. What a contradiction.

When I get to point of wishing I could just throw my hands up in the air and say "I'm done, I quit! Lord, find someone else!" I look back and think about Jonah. I look at my own life, I think, how selfish and prideful would it be to think that I am so much better than they are, to receive all the second chances after second chances I have received, if I didn't press on and help others get the chance of redemption and restoration I have received in my own life from God. That is the redemptive quality I find in others. That is why God sent me here!

Am I My Brother's Keeper?

In all the days I have been on this earth, from the time I learned my first word, learned to walk, help others, and began growing up getting to know more about being a help to others, I cannot ever remember someone telling me that I lived in this world all on my own, that everything is all about me, and I didn't have a care in the world, nor another's life, cares, or problems to consider when making my choices in life. I don't ever remember my parents telling me, "Yes, we do have seven of us living here, but you take your time in the only bathroom in the house, take your time with dishes and stay up all hours of the night to disturb the ones you share a room with..." I don't ever remember ever thinking, "my life is my own, I can do what ever I want, and forget about everyone else in this world, they don't matter at all, ONLY I MATTER."

Nope, don't remember that at all.

I do remember, however, that my parents taught us to be loving, kind, and compassionate. I remember my family being taught the Bible in our home, at church, and any other time the opportunity came up, my parents would find some kind of lesson to teach us about life in our daily action or routine. I remember my parents talking about consideration for other's space, things, thoughts, trials, and their homes. I remember, they would tells us that the total sum of US was more important than the ONE. I also remember, they showed us that when others are in trouble, you should find some way to help them, whether you could do something yourself to help, give them a name or address of a place that could help, call your pastor to see if your church could help, or just take the time to pray for them, and allow God to work through your prayers and the promises in His Word.

Always Ready to Volunteer where needed!

I remember that my parents taught us about community minded, try as long as you can to keep neighborhoods a neighborhood, talk to people in your community, get involved with your kids at school. When there is an immediate need for someone in your community or in their family, help them, if you can; pray for them if you can't do more than that, it is a good start. They never taught me to turn my back on someone in need, to ignore the "dirty and smelly" person who walks up to you and asks for a dollar, they just said, "help if you can, if not, tell them I'm sorry I can't, but I will pray for you." They don't always like that answer, but when you try your best and do what you can, you can live with yourself at night, that is for sure.

Mark 12:29-31 - "And Jesus answered Him, The first of all commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all they heart, with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these." 

Teaching Our Children and Youth to Pray!

God tells us that we are to love everyone we see and/or know. That God is who we are to love with everything that is in us, and that we are to give love, show love and be love to all those we come into contact with... He also says we are to "Ye have heard, that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love our enemy, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you." Matt. 5:43-44

God did not want us to single out our friends and families, to choose who we help and who we don't. God wants us to love and do for anyone and everyone. The bible tells us He is not a respecter of persons, which means, He doesn't pick and choose who He likes or chooses to help, His gift and love is for all. Anyone who chooses to call on Him. We are to live our lives the same way, give to all, help anyone who needs help, if you can, and not turn anyone away, for anything, who needs help.

In Luke 6:35 - 38 "But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again" and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for He is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil. Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful. Judge not, and ye shall not be judged; condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive and ye shall be forgiven. Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again. 

 God sees your intentions, He knows your heart. He wants you to reach out to others, be a missionary in your own town, in your own neighborhood. When you see a need, hear of someone that could use a friend, reach out to them, I tell people all the time, "People see a message, MUCH BETTER than they can Hear one." We are God's hands and arms, we are tangible and physical evidence of the Love of the Lord. Love is an ACTION Word, we are to show love by taking action and showing them how God would have us to be. In your home, in your community, church, and in your town. Are you ready to give God yourself, to be that extension of Him for others? I AM!

Whether it is singing for the Lord at a nursing home

Or working with the Youth in a community

Or making Hats and Scarves for those in need... Or Whatever God has for me to do, I AM READY... To Give Him my all and Show others, that there are others that love for no reason, other than because I can.