Happy holidays and happy new year

Well it is Christmas time.  I will be back to posting after the new year.  I pray all of you have a great celebration time with friends and family.  May God bless you and keep you warm and safe.

Inner change

Inner change is noted whenever a person changes their attitude or actions which either results in a positive or negative impact on the person and those around him.  When the world is screaming that all man has to do is be good and decent to receive a great life, God is saying change on the inside to become good and decent. 
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new crenation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! (2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV)

Free

Freedom in life can't be bought. It is given to each of us through the grace of God. Salvation is free, air is free, water is free ( until mankind controls it). Billy states that God is not a God who you must bargain with in order to earn salvation. It is free. All you need to do is to ask for the forgiveness of you sins and ask Jesus to come into you life. But what does that mean to you? Either you understand it or you don't. Either you accept it or you ignore it and accept the consequences of your inaction. It is just like every other actions in life. You either choose the right thing or the wrong thing and it will be given to you as the rewards of life.

and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. (Romans 3:24 NIV)

Learn to Ride

Billy relates the story of his first bicycle to that of a Christian. We are to continually to move forward and grow. Just like riding a bike, we must be able to pedal past the things in life that holds us back. We must be growing stringer in Christ and be closer to Him than ever before in our life.

for in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also His offspring.’ (Acts 17:28 NKJV)

Dependence

Society today has an attitude of entitlement.  I am entitled to receive benefits from the government because that's the way I survive.  I am entitled to big house and luxury car because my parents had it.  People dumb down the work ethic of past centuries.  They forget that their parents worked for everything they got.  They don't see the point of working because they can take advantage of the system.  Billy mentions that God has given every person on earth the ability to work hard if they are able.  Even some of those that are not fully capable sometime finds a way to contribute to society.    When an employer does good, the employee also benefits since they get to keep their jobs.  When an employer does poorly, he faces tough decisions.  Sometimes he has to lay people off, or even worse, close down.  Either way, God can be glorified.

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. (James 1:17 NKJV)

Foundation of Society

Marriage. It is one of the foundations of society. Without it society would not grow. Family's will have less prosperity and will not flourish as a family should. That does not mean a family will have success, it just means it will have a harder time at succeeding.

Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another. (Romans 14:19 NKJV)

Art Appreciation

Billy describes how a person can appreciate art but only one who is truly gift can make a masterpiece.  If you don't like art, visiting an art museum might be a little boring.  Billy states that like someone who is not an art lover, a person who is not into spiritual things won't appreciate the value of the Bible or understand Christ's purpose.  Yet in Gods masterpiece, he designed a way for everyone to relate to the things of God.  Ask God for understand of this masterpiece and understanding of the spiritual things.   

and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. (Ephesians 3:19 NIV)

Sing a song when you are sad

I can really relate to today's message.  I have been having a hard time letting go of something and it has caused me to feel bad.  Billy states that Christians are not immured to depression. I totally agree.  I had postpartum depression with my third child.  I had a difficult delivery, a c-section, and the doctors said my daughter had a cleft palate.  It was difficult to say the least and made more difficult by a allergic reaction to a medicine.  So, I totally can see why I suffered from it.  Be strong and look to Christ.  Find solace in his words, sing praises even when you don't care too.  I always listen to a Christian station called air1. They always have the right thing on when I need it.

For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent and set me high upon a rock. Then my head will be exalted above the enemies who surround me; at his sacred tent I will sacrifice with shouts of joy; I will sing and make music to the Lord. (Psalm 27:5, 6 NIV)

Mankind's Solution

The solution for mankind is clearly written in the Old Testament. However it is hardly read as a solution but a restriction. Though shalt love The Lord your God. The modern issues that man has created, wars, famine, disease, (this list can go on), can easily be resolved through one simple act of faith by every human. Love. Not just any love, but the love that comes from God and requires giving back to someone instead of taking away.

We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and our shield. (Psalm 33:20 NIV)

Soul and Heart

The soul is the temple of God's spirit, but yet many people ignore the soul and focus only on the body and mind. Exercising, learning, and teaching others how to be more human. The soul is often neglected and left to the devises of the person who it has a home. Billy notes that's why so many pastors offices are not filled with people and doctors offices are filled. People ignore the well being of their soul and focus their attention what they can see. In order to fix this issue, people must realize and seek after salvation in Christ.

We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and our shield. (Psalm 33:20 NIV)

Faultless Christ

Finding fault with a Christian is not that hard to do, but finding Christ at fault is difficult. The lesson Billy teaches today is about how a person must find there is no fault in Christ and for this reason, his teachings of Christianity is faultless. He is the one true leader of humanity from the darkness and grip of sin to the brightness of God. Without him there is no meaning of humanity. There is no light. One must recognize his deity in order to see the light of God.

As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him— (1 Peter 2:4 NIV)

Lustful You

Some might not understand scripture when it says we lust against the flesh (Gal 5:17). But if you have every told a child no and they do the act anyway, that is what it means. A child understands the basic principal of the scripture without even been taught it. I will get my way even if I am told no. It's like the saying, if your friends all go jump off a bridge, would you follow blindly even though death will surely follow? This is what it means to lust against the flesh. We do what we know is wrong and have no regrets about it unless convicted by the spirit. You can still receive redemption for your sin by asking God for forgiveness.

You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. (1 John 4:4 NIV)

Love Love Love

In society, the word love is thrown around like it was the most common word in language.  However, love should not be taken lightly.  As Christians we are to love our fellow man, no matter what color, creed, race, or religion.  We are to love both Christians and non Christians alike.  What are we doing that helps glorify Christ?  Are we taking the message of salvation to others?  If not, we should be.  Whether it is through a blog, on a street corner, holding bible studies, or anything else that proclaims the love of Christ.

Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth. (1 John 3:18 NIV)

Serving Thursday

The lack of direction in today's society seems to be related to the distractions available to us. We have computer, phones, iPads, and other devices that take up our time. Billy points out that true direction comes from a relationship with Christ. Only then can we experience purpose and be able to commit ourselves to others in a way that is satisfying and rewarding.

Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. (Romans 12:11, 12 NIV)

Serve

Today was giving Tuesday. It's a day to show the chartities both here and around the world the true meaning of giving.  I also say that giving is actions. 

As Billy notes today, "We need fewer words and more charitable works; less palaver and more pity; less repetition of creed and more compassion."

Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people, (Ephesians 6:7 NIV)

Righteousness

It's funny how society today has separated the good from the bad, the liberal from conservative, the rich from the poor.  We are all human and have failed at recognizing the thread of our commonality.  We were born I to a sinful world as sinful people.  This is what the devotional from Billy touches on today.  Only one man has ever been righteous enough to be in the presence of God, Jesus.  I was listening to Greg Laurie who spoke about how there are good people in the world, ones who believe they are truly good and will go to heaven.  However, the word of God contradict that thought.  

All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away. (Isaiah 64:6 NIV)