Finish Well for God!

Great Devotion By Paul Chappell - A must read!

This came right from my “Rooted” Devotion Book" I bought in

You can Pin me - Click the Picture!

California. Written by Paul Chappell. It is really good and I want to share it with you.

The devotion is called, 

"Finishing Kick"

Hebrews 10:24-25

King James Version  (KJV) - "And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. 

In 1954, Roger Bannister became the 1st person in history to run a mile in under 4 minutes, breaking a barrier that had withstood challenges for years. Other runners soon began to match his feat, and an Australian runner named John Landry actually broke Bannister’s new world time later that summer. In August, the two met at the British Empire and Commonwealth Games in Vancouver. Though Landry let for most of the race, Bannister surged ahead on the final turn and passed him with a strong finishing kick to win the race.

  Just as on the track, there is enormous value to finishing well in life. The temptation is to let up and coast as we near the end. Society promotes this concept with the view of retirement as a time to sit back and take it easy. Yet the Bible instructs us to do more. Of course there may be physical limitations as we age that will restrict what we can do, but there is no reason for a believer not to continue to grow and mature in spiritual matters throughout life.

(Here is the last paragraph  I have it bolded because it refers to my age group and to the younger generation. Well said Bro. Chappell!) 

It is a tragedy when people make the decision to cut back on their involvement with church, with witnessing, with giving, or with being a help and encouragement to others so they can “enjoy more leisure time”. This robs the church of what is meant to be a great source of wisdom and godly leadership. Those who have walked with God for many years have learned things which they can and SHOULD pass on to others. Rather then looking forward to the day when We can sit back and do nothing, we should be doing ALL WE CAN TO FINISH WELL.

(End Of Devotion)

     I thought that was so good and true! Wow, Sobering as well. Thinking how 80% of young people leave the church after age 18. We DO need to finish well, Not just because in Heaven we'll be rewarded for the work we've done here on earth for God's Glory but also cause the world is watching us. Wanting to see if we're real or not. Show them we are. Remember, We are a Bible the Lost are reading. 

Please leave a comment or Pass this on by Reblogging, sharing to Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, etc.

Are you a TRUE Friend? Pt. 2

Be a true friend. Here are some more tips.      

You can Pin me - Click the Picture!

                      

"12 characteristics or things that a True friend has and does."

1. Don't talk bad about Anyone! Period.
2. Stand up for someone who is being talked bad about,
3. Share,
4. Don't get jealous and Never assume,
5. Stay confident and uplift others by doing so,
6. Always have a good attitude. Just because you’re having a bad day doesn't mean people should be able to tell by how you act…
7. Laugh and having a happy time with whoever you're with. Don’t be dull or boring.
8. Keep that friends secrets. They’re putting their confidence in you. Never take that for granted.
   
    (Of course if they’re having thoughts about committing suicide or something bad that they’re going to do. Don’t hide it! Being a true friend is also doing the right thing for the other person. Think about if what they’re doing is wrong or bad… )
   
9. Don’t be negative towards what others like. Show some interest and phrase how you feel in a kind manner.
10. Think before you speak. 
    Is it True?
    Is it helpful?
    Is it inspiring?
    Is it necessary?
    Is it kind?
11. Be there for your friends no matter what. No one wants a friend that is always in a shell or seems to be like you’re ignoring them all the time.
12. Be honest yet Kind. I mean, Just say what you mean, but don’t say it mean. 
    
    And then here is one more for good measure.
13. Always smile. Don’t look down. Your smile boosts your scale of attractiveness and gives other people a signal that you’re not a “Down person” cause no one likes a down, dreary person. The main people that people love are the funny, kind, helpful, happy spirited kinds. I mean don’t go all hiper on us (hehe) but be happy. Don’t be a dud.

I hope these tips were some eye-openers on whether or not you're a true friend. We all need a true friend. Are you one to somebody else?

Have you been "Christian Cursing?"

Have you been "Christian Cursing"? We all have and sometimes,

You can Pin me - Click the Picture!

Not even knowing it! We need to try to speak in a "Christ-Like" manner. We are Christians. Read on for the much-needed info. 

Matthew. 12:36 & 37 

King James Version (KJV) - "But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. {37} For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned." 

Titus. 2:7 & 8 

King James Version (KJV) - " In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity," {8} Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you."

According, to the scriptures typed out above, as Christians, (Which  means Christ-Like) We need to be very careful with our mouths because we will one day give an account to God. Most Christians are aware of the fact that God expects them to live holy lives. Likewise, most God-fearing Christians have learned to abstain from swearing and from the use of common profanity. I haven't met many faithful Christians who have a problem with worldly cursing. However, I have met MANY Christians who have stumbled into the Devil's trap and taken up a whole different kind of cursing. Keep reading, friend, because you just might need to "tune up" your vocabulary! Are You Taking God's Name in Vain? You say, "Oh my word. I wouldn't take God's name in vain!" You just did, though. John 1:1 says that "the Word" was GOD! John 1:1  King James Version (KJV) - "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." So It's like you were saying Oh My God. Which is using GOD's name in a slang way.  Satan tricked you, didn't he? We've all done it and we need to stay accountable and try not to do it anymore! "Oh my goodness!" you say. If you are saved then your "goodness" is none other than God Himself.  Psalm. 144:2  King James Version (KJV) - "My goodness, and my fortress; my high tower, and my deliverer; my shield, and he in whom I trust; who subdueth my people under me." The Bible says that All of Our goodness is as Filthy rags.  Isaiah 64:6 King James Version (KJV) - "But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags;..." You just took His name in vain again. We have no goodness of our own. Our lives are given by Christ. He is Good. We are not.  Romans. 3:23 King James Version (KJV) - "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;" Psalm. 39:5 King James Version (KJV) - "Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Selah." So "my goodness" is a reference to God! "Good grief. I had no idea!" That's actually "Christian Cursing" too... Jesus Christ was a man of sorrows and acquainted with GRIEF. Isaiah. 53:3 King James Version (KJV) - "He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not." His grief was "good" grief because He bore your sins and mine! We together need to show more reverence and respect for our Saviour, brethren and quit throwing God's word around too loosely. Once again, I'm still learning this and I have done some of my own "Christian Cursing" but now that I've learned these things, I want to share them with you too. Together we can learn and try to show more reverence towards God the Almighty.  You could say "For crying out loud! Can't I say anything?"  How about reading your Bible because that's slang as well... Matthew 27:46 King James Version (KJV) - "And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? May I ask, What's your logic in using such speech? Could it be that Satan is just having a good laugh at our ignorance and disrespect of God's word? We have to be careful with our words! "Well, geeeeeeee!"  Hmmmm, Did you say "G", as in "GOD"? You may not have known it, but that is using God's name in a slang manner too. You've probably also said "Gosh" or "Good Golly", You might also have said "Jeepers Creepers" when you really wanted to say "Jesus Christ" (JC!).  When I first realized that I was taking my Lord's name in vain often I was very sad and I have since then tried to work on it so I wouldn't continue saying "Idle Words" as the Bible calls it.... You might have played around with the letters "G" and "D" together. You said "dad gum", "dang gum", "dog gone" or "Dang gummit", when your flesh really wanted to say "God" and then follow with the word "damn". I was unaware of all these "New ways" of taking God's name in vain.. I mean Think about it, Christian... Is God pleased with this kind of speech? Those Four-Letter Words... You probably wouldn't think of using the word "damn" too loosely, but what about "darn" and "dang"? Do they not serve the same purpose? Is Satan not pleased to fill your mouth with such speech? "Why, heck!" -Look out, friend! God knows your heart, and he knows your flesh is using heck in a slang way instead of just saying "hell". Down south folks could say, "Ah, shoot!" This is nothing more than a cheap way of saying the four letter 'S' word... Again I ask, is God pleased with this sort of speech? Is this "sound speech, that cannot be condemned"? I think not. Be careful what you say. Think about what you say before you say it... You might find out that you were about to take God's name in vain. We ALL need to work on it.. No one is perfect. But we can try for perfection like how the Bible talks about. (Matthew. 5:48 KJV) Swear Not. Matthew. 5:34 King James Version (KJV) - "But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne: Jesus said "swear not," yet God's people swear very often, and sadly, Sometimes we don't even realize we're doing it. Such expressions as "for Heaven's sake", or "for Pete's sake", and "Heavens to Betsy" are attempts to swear by Bible subjects, which shows disrespect toward God. God's word is PURE and HOLY. We should honor His words, not throw them around. We all need to work on this, friend.  Truth Is All the Authority You Need Why do people curse and swear? There's only one reason: Authority. People want to sound more forceful and authoritative when they speak, so they spice their speech up with all sorts of catchy little "powerful words". Sadly, such words often dishonor God, the Bible, and the Lord Jesus Christ. Friend, Truth is all the authority you need. Just speak the truth as it is revealed in God's word and you'll have no use for "Christian cursing". Remember this verse as you go about your day seeking to please the Savior.  Matthew. 12:36 King James Version (KJV) - "But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.

What are you doing for God?

We need to always be busy doing the Lord's work helping others

You can Pin me - Click the Picture! 

see Christ and leading them to HIM. Don't be idle saints. We need to get up and Shine for God! 

Acts. 17:11 
King James Version (KJV) - "...they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily,..."

That verse is telling how some Christians in the Bible received the preaching with a "Ready" attitude and they searched the scriptures! They had their devotions. God can use someone who wants to be used. Do something for the Lord today!

God's Glory through our Suffering and Why

Sometimes God has to break our Pride and our "Tough Stuff

You can Pin me - Click the Picture!

Christian" attitude in able to do what God really wants to do through us - for His Glory! That process of God trying to "Get to us" can be hard and often thought of as a trial or that WE Are suffering when really all along God's heart was suffering because he could not work through us because of our rotten pride. Many times God gets the greatest glory from our greatest sufferings, because it is THEN in those dreary hours that we wave that "White flag of Surrender" realizing that we can not do it by ourselves! Surrendering is a sign of humility that ushers in HIS GRACE. When we are humble to God, and have a "It's Not me, It's God" attitude, we are willing to let God work through us and in our lives where that character trait, Being Humble, through God's Amazing and awesome power, can fully impact others spiritually, helping others come to know HIM and the Glory will go to God. God likes a humble child who fully depends on Him, who is willing to let the Lord work in their life and who trusts in Him at all times.

Proverbs. 3:5 & 6
King James Version (KJV) - "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thy own understanding. {6} In all thy ways acknowledge him and he shall direct thy paths. "

What a lesson us Mortals go thru. Crash at God's feet and don't be embarrassed of asking God, Our Creator, For help. We truly CAN'T "do it all on our own." 

Picture Credit : Holly Doss | Photographer and Graphic Designer