How many of you have ever been fishing? It's a common thing, often done to get away from life and enjoy nature and some quite time. I do it when I have a big decision to make or just need to clear my mind. Fishing, with all its serenity and peacefulness, ironically has something in common with sin.
See fish love worms, bee moths, minnows, and bait of all kinds, and it's not like when you go fishing, you are just out there to feed the fish (although being the poor fisherman I am, the fish get quite full when I'm on the water), you go out to catch them. So we take our bait and put it on the hook and throw the line out in hopes of catching a lunker. You see in a way when you go fishing, you play one of the devils most popular tricks. You disguise the hook to look appealing to the fish. You place on the instrument of death, something that the fish has a weakness for, something it will be drawn to.
This is exactly what the devil does to us. He knows what our weaknesses are, and he uses them over and over again to lure us into a place where we ought not to be. And be warned, the hook he uses is certain to bring death. So the next time you seem drawn to something that looks appealing, think twice before you bite, you might find yourself smoked skin side down.
From one sinner to another.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Hello, my name is Chris, and I'm a sinner
Today I struggled with some feelings of anger and frustration. Nothing huge, but enough to put me in a bad mood and that affected my family. Here's my question; What do we do with anger? What do we do with the things that frustrate us, and what do we do with that frustration? I know me well enough to know, that when I get mad about something or at someone, the carnal side of me wants to do something in retaliation, even if it isn't toward the object or person that caused those feelings. Immature you say? Yes it is, but tell me you have never felt that way. We don't like to be hurt, we don't like to be put out, but it happens. So we must decide how we are going to react to these situations.
Psalm 4:3-5 says this: "Know that the LORD has set apart the godly for himself;
the LORD will hear when I call to him. In your anger do not sin;
when you are on your beds,
search your hearts and be silent.
Selah. Offer right sacrifices
and trust in the LORD.
This is good advise. How many relationships and situations might survive if we were to take this scripture to heart. And we need to trust in the Lord, He knows us, He created us.
Ephesians 4:25-27 also says this: "Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body. In your anger do not sin. Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold."
The devil loves and angry person, an angry person doesn't think straight. An angry person listens to flesh and not the spirit.
So the next time we get angry, myself included, we would be wise to remember these scriptures and take them to heart.
-Do not sin in your anger
-Search your heart and be silent before God
-Don't let it fester, dont' let the day end before you make amends. This requires humility, if you don't have it, get it!
God made us, he knows we get angry and frustrated, but how we handle it is what matters.
From a sinner, to a sinner what do you struggle with?
Today I struggled with some feelings of anger and frustration. Nothing huge, but enough to put me in a bad mood and that affected my family. Here's my question; What do we do with anger? What do we do with the things that frustrate us, and what do we do with that frustration? I know me well enough to know, that when I get mad about something or at someone, the carnal side of me wants to do something in retaliation, even if it isn't toward the object or person that caused those feelings. Immature you say? Yes it is, but tell me you have never felt that way. We don't like to be hurt, we don't like to be put out, but it happens. So we must decide how we are going to react to these situations.
Psalm 4:3-5 says this: "Know that the LORD has set apart the godly for himself;
the LORD will hear when I call to him. In your anger do not sin;
when you are on your beds,
search your hearts and be silent.
Selah. Offer right sacrifices
and trust in the LORD.
This is good advise. How many relationships and situations might survive if we were to take this scripture to heart. And we need to trust in the Lord, He knows us, He created us.
Ephesians 4:25-27 also says this: "Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body. In your anger do not sin. Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold."
The devil loves and angry person, an angry person doesn't think straight. An angry person listens to flesh and not the spirit.
So the next time we get angry, myself included, we would be wise to remember these scriptures and take them to heart.
-Do not sin in your anger
-Search your heart and be silent before God
-Don't let it fester, dont' let the day end before you make amends. This requires humility, if you don't have it, get it!
God made us, he knows we get angry and frustrated, but how we handle it is what matters.
From a sinner, to a sinner what do you struggle with?
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Temptations
Today in the service, we read scripture from Leviticus 26:1-5, "1 " 'Do not make idols or set up an image or a sacred stone for yourselves, and do not place a carved stone in your land to bow down before it. I am the LORD your God.
2 " 'Observe my Sabbaths and have reverence for my sanctuary. I am the LORD.
3 " 'If you follow my decrees and are careful to obey my commands, 4 I will send you rain in its season, and the ground will yield its crops and the trees of the field their fruit. 5 Your threshing will continue until grape harvest and the grape harvest will continue until planting, and you will eat all the food you want and live in safety in your land."
"Idolatry" is a sin, and far too often we allow it to creep into our lives. The Life Application Bible puts it this way;
"The people of the Old Testament were warned over and over against worshiping idols. We wonder how they could deceive themselves with these objects of wood and stone. Yet God could well give us the same warning, for we are prone to put idols before him. Idolatry is making anything more important than God, and our lives are full of that temptation. Money, looks, success, reputation, security - these are today's idols. As you look at these false gods that promise everything you want but nothing you need, does idolatry seem so far removed from your experience."
How often do we make excuses for not spending time with God?
How often do we allow life to dictate what kind of time we spend in His word?
How often do put God in the back seat to things that we deem important, when they have no importance at all.
There is no excuse worth uttering that is worth not spending time with God. Make time in your day, everyday to spend with God. Read His word, talk with him, and take time to close the lips he gave you and open the ears he created, and listen to what He is saying.
My name is Chris, and I'm a sinner. I am guilty of idolatry and placing God on a back burner. God please forgive me.
2 " 'Observe my Sabbaths and have reverence for my sanctuary. I am the LORD.
3 " 'If you follow my decrees and are careful to obey my commands, 4 I will send you rain in its season, and the ground will yield its crops and the trees of the field their fruit. 5 Your threshing will continue until grape harvest and the grape harvest will continue until planting, and you will eat all the food you want and live in safety in your land."
"Idolatry" is a sin, and far too often we allow it to creep into our lives. The Life Application Bible puts it this way;
"The people of the Old Testament were warned over and over against worshiping idols. We wonder how they could deceive themselves with these objects of wood and stone. Yet God could well give us the same warning, for we are prone to put idols before him. Idolatry is making anything more important than God, and our lives are full of that temptation. Money, looks, success, reputation, security - these are today's idols. As you look at these false gods that promise everything you want but nothing you need, does idolatry seem so far removed from your experience."
How often do we make excuses for not spending time with God?
How often do we allow life to dictate what kind of time we spend in His word?
How often do put God in the back seat to things that we deem important, when they have no importance at all.
There is no excuse worth uttering that is worth not spending time with God. Make time in your day, everyday to spend with God. Read His word, talk with him, and take time to close the lips he gave you and open the ears he created, and listen to what He is saying.
My name is Chris, and I'm a sinner. I am guilty of idolatry and placing God on a back burner. God please forgive me.
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Sinners Anonymous
All of us have things that we would never utter in public, and for many reasons; shame, pride, fear of judgment, and self-esteem. Sin is a serious illness that always leads to death. The realization of sin, the confession of sin, and the repentance, or turning away from sin, are the first three steps to eternal life with Jesus Christ. When we begin to acknowledge and talk about our sin, we can begin the healing process from it. This is a place where you can begin that process. You can post your short comings (sin) here, either anonymously or by name, and then we will pray for you. Please join us as we begin to change lives through the confession of sin.
Hello, my name is Chris and I am a sinner. I struggle with pride, anger, lust, greed, and self-control
You can begin by commenting on this post and leaving your laundry list. There is no judging here, no condemnation. I will offer encouragement, scripture and prayer. When we begin to take James 5:16 to heart, then we will begin to live free.
James 5:16 "Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective."
Hello, my name is Chris and I am a sinner. I struggle with pride, anger, lust, greed, and self-control
You can begin by commenting on this post and leaving your laundry list. There is no judging here, no condemnation. I will offer encouragement, scripture and prayer. When we begin to take James 5:16 to heart, then we will begin to live free.
James 5:16 "Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective."
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