Moving forward not backward

"... you must not eat bread or drink water there or return by the way you came."

1 Kings 13:17

In order to quit the cycle of hitting dead-ends in your life, you must do things differently; stop repeating the same mistakes over and over.  Instead, take each mistake, put the lesson learned, seek guidance from God, and move forward in a new direction.  LIFE IS WAY TOO SHORT FOR CIRCLES AND DEAD ENDS.

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.

Not a fair trade, but...

“Cast all your anxieties on him because he cares for you.”

1 Peter 5:7

Give God all of your anxieties, worries, cares, fears, heartaches, and heartaches; in return, he will give you peace, joy, victory, love, grace… He’ll give you himself.

No, not much of a fair trade, but then that’s how much God absolutely loves and adores you my friend.

This is the real exam

“Let us test and examine our ways, and let us return to the Lord.” Lamentations 3:40

I’ve given myself a challenge, and I ask you to join me.  Since most of us are quick to examine (judge) the ways of others, let’s do the same with ourselves.  

The challenge is:

At the very moment we begin to examine someone else’s behavior, morals, actions, beliefs, etc., STOP, and turn the examination in on ourselves first. 

Examining (judging) others is not up to us - God is the final Judge, the one and only true Judge.  

So, from here on out stay away from the pulpit and find better (more loving) things to do with your time… I know I am going to and I hope you will join me.

God: Our Guardian, our Angel, our...

"No, my strength comes from God,
     who made heaven, earth, and mountains.

He won't let you stumble,
     your Guardian God won't fall asleep.
Not on your life!  Israel's
     Guardian will never doze or sleep.

God guards you from every evil,
     he guards your very life.
He guards you when you leave and when you return,
     he guards you now, he guards you always.

Psalm 121: 2, 3-4, 7-8

Our God:  

Our Guardian, our Angel, our Strength, our Help 

---- 

Our Everything

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Investment, not sacrifice

“Jesus replied… but anyone who sacrifices home, family, fields – whatever – because of me will get it all back one hundred times over, not to mention the considerable bonus of eternal life.  This is the Great Reversal: many of the first ending up last, and the last ending up first.”  Matthew 19:28-30 MSG

What Jesus is calling a sacrifice actually seems like more of an investment to me!! You??  So, let’s look at it as such: It is an investment that is guaranteed to return you more than 100 times over of what you initially put in.  WOW!  That isn’t a sacrifice at all!  Therefore regard whatever you give up, give to, for the cause of Christ, as an investment – an investment that is guaranteed to return to you more than you could ever think of, dream for, or imagine!

God is so good.

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Return to the Lord

^"And Samuel said to all the house of Israel, “If you are returning to the Lord with all your heart, then put away the foreign gods and the Ashtaroth from among you and direct your heart to the Lord and serve him only, and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.” 1 Samuel 7:3 ESV

The same to you, my friend: If you are truly serious about coming back to God, then stop your sinful ways, repent, and ask forgiveness.  Then, open up your heart and let God fill it like never before.

Deal with it

“If you see your kinsman’s ox or sheep wandering off loose, don’t look the other way as if you didn’t see it.  Return it promptly…” Deuteronomy 22:1-3, The Message (The MSG)

In other words, when you see something that you don’t feel like dealing with because it may cut into your personal time – deal with it anyway.  Help out others and stop being selfish.