Folly

What's gone is gone

"But now that he is dead, why should I fast? Can I bring him back again?  I can go to him, but he will not return to me."

2 Samuel 12:23

What's gone is gone.  What's done is done.  What's in the past needs to stay in the past.  Therefore, focus ahead, focus above - focus on God.  The Lord has great things for you, but looking back and wishing what was will be again will only keep you from receiving them.

Stranger in the world

Being a stranger in the world means being a faith-filled child of God; embrace every thought, emotion, and impact of it… rejoice in it!!  Yes, being a stranger in the world means you have the Spirit work for you, fighting for you, and bringing you His amazing glory: 

COMPLETE SALVATION FOR OUR SOULS!
_______________________________________________

1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,

To God’s elect, exiles scattered throughout the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, ² who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with his blood:

Grace and peace be yours in abundance.

Praise to God for a Living Hope

³ Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,⁴ and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, ⁵ who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. ⁶ In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. ⁷ These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. ⁸ Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, ⁹ for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

1 Peter 1:1-9 New International Version (NIV)

Are you serious about living?

"So, if you're serious about living this new resurrection with Christ, act like it. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ.  Your old life is dead. Your new life, which is your real life, is with Christ in God."

-Adapted from Colossians 3: 1-4 MSG

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If you aren’t living HIM, then...

“... You received Christ Jesus, the Master; now live him...” 

Colossians 2:6-7 MSG

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If you aren’t living Him, then you aren’t living.

I'm bankrupt without love

"... So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I'm bankrupt without love.

Love never gives up.
Love cares more for others than for self.
Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have.
Love doesn’t strut,
Doesn’t have a swelled head,
Doesn’t force itself on others,
Isn’t always “me first,”
Doesn’t fly off the handle,
Doesn’t keep score of the sins of others,
Doesn’t revel when others grovel,
Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,
Puts up with anything,
Trusts God always,
Always looks for the best,
Never looks back,
But keeps going to the end."

1 Corinthians 13:3-7 MSG

Salvation is available to us all

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Follow Jesus

“But Jesus said to him, Follow me and leave the dead [in sin] to bury their own dead.”

Matthew 8:22 AMP

Let those who choose to remain in sin, remain.  You, however, can make a choice not to by making a decision to follow Christ, and Christ alone; yes, you can walk away (mentally or physically).  Indeed, it will be life altering, but it will be well worth it.  As well, and more likely than not, you just may be the life-changing example someone needs to get on the right path of life with you!  So, walk away from death into life!  I guarantee, there will be nothing to lose, but so much to gain.

You, my friend can do it! You have the Strength and Power… He’s living within you right now.

 

Let’s live Jesus out loud and proud!

“… God at the bush said to Moses, ‘I am – not was… The living God is God of the living, not the dead…” Mark 12:24-27 MSG

God IS ALIVE!

Look around.  Every living being, creature, and creation are alive because God IS alive!  Therefore, as believers, we need to start living like we are alive; not down, dark, mopey human-beings, barely making our way through this life of ours.  

Brothers and sisters in Christ, let’s wake up and fill this dark world with life, beautiful life, filled with Christ’s glory.  We only get this one shot, so let’s embrace it - not waste it! 

Let’s live Jesus out loud and proud!

http://www.bing.com/images/search?view=detailV2&ccid=wK2SxRqV&id=892262D82CDAA910BEFFDD71B84116D42A8488EB&thid=OIP.wK2SxRqVYzqIefTaVqVMHgE8DF&q=God+is+alive&simid=608037662624517409&selectedIndex=11

Leave the tomb...

"The women, deep in wonder and full of joy, lost no time in leaving the tomb..."

Matthew 28:8:10 MSG

Jesus has risen from dead ~ we need to do the same!!

LIVE!!!

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Light ~ Life

“He saved them from a life of oppression,

pried them loose from the grip of the enemy.”

Psalm 106:10

Just one of the million things God does for those that truly give their lives to him.  So, if you haven’t already, now is a great time.  All you have to do is open your heart and ask him to come in – he will, he wants to.    Once you do, a whole new life begins to blossom for you; Jesus comes in and fills your soul with light – LIFE.

Image copied from http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=life+with+God&view=detailv2&&id=5F47FC0433F133C75CD5D48C16CC95B5BF43BC88&selectedIndex=9&ccid=sRP69s1M&simid=608039616609913705&thid=OIP.Mb113faf6cd4c1432c752c0256d646f96H0&ajaxhist=0

Faith without works

"So also faith, if it does not have works (deeds and actions of obedience to back it up), by itself is destitute of power (inoperative, dead)." James 2:17 AMPC

In other words, actions definitely speak louder than words!!

The last trumpet call.

"... we shall all be changed (transformed) 

In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the [sound of the] last trumpet call. For a trumpet will sound, and the dead [in Christ] will be raised imperishable (free and immune from decay), and we shall be changed (transformed)." 

1 Corinthians 15:51-52

So, let me ask, Are you ready; are you focused on God, or are you focused on doing what you want, when you want, and how you want to do it?.   

Remember, not everyone will hear the trumpet call - make sure you are not one of those.  How?  By staying focused on God, and His plan for your life; by staying focused on love and sharing it; by giving your life to Christ, daily, and continually kicking the dust off your heals; by, and most importantly, loving with every ounce of your being, and affecting even the most ungodly of ungodly's, so that they too will be able to experience the eternal power and love of our Lord and Savior, Christ Jesus.

Alive from the dead

“… Why do you look for the living among [those who are] dead?” Luke 24:5 AMP

What is dead in your life? What is dragging you down, doing your heart no good, or taking away the joy in your life?  If there is anything, absolutely anything (or anyone), then prayer is a must, and changes are in order.  Now I know that some people and things cannot be removed from your life, but with the power of prayer and the grace of our good God, you can change the way you view and handle them.  So, instead of letting your life be ruled by the dead, (situations, people, addictions, frustrations, etc.), begin to rule the dead by grabbing hold of God; He will turn your hurt into healing, your sadness into joy, your hate into love, and bring what is dead in your life into life that is overflowing with grace, joy and mighty peace of God.

 

Help God throw a party

“But it was fitting to make merry, to revel and feast and rejoice, for this brother of yours was dead and is alive again! He was lost and is found!” Luke 15:32 AMP

Help God throw a party! Make it your daily goal and priority to help bring another lost soul to Christ.  Be a light of life and joy and peace for a soul in desperate need of a miracle; you never know, you just may be the one that influences that dark soul to keep moving forward for another day.

So, live for the good of others by living out God’s light within you.  I believe that when you do, and one person draws closer to Christ because of it, then Heaven opens up, the bands start playing, the choir starts singing, and our good God starts dancing the streets.

Yes, praise God, you are somebody’s miracle!

 

He has risen

"... He has risen from the dead, and behold, He is going before you..." Matthew 28:7 AMP

God is our future. He has already gone before us and has laid out our path. So, follow it!!

Put away

“Now let them put away their [idolatrous] harlotry and the dead bodies and monuments of their kings far from me, and I will dwell in their midst forever.” Ezekiel 43:9

Put away – GET RID OF – anything and everything, and, anyone and everyone, that keeps you in sin, because they only cause you to stumble on your path to God.  Then, once you do, the miraculous life in Christ that’s been given to you will ensue, and a whole new dimension of blessed, loved, protected, and whole, will be yours for the taking! 

Praise God ~ Hallelujah!!