Month: April 2016

As the title states, lets talk about window shopping. We all have done it to some degree or another. In fact my wife and I take a couple days during the spring through fall time to go out to Lake Geneva. Its just a day here or another one there, but it offers us time to get away. Often we find ourselves looking at home listings posted in the realtor’s window. Its kind of fun to see how much they are asking. Needless to say they are wish lists. Priced WAY out of our budget. Now these listings have all the info about the homes the realtor’s think you need to know. Its all the appealing stuff. Photo’s to make them even more enticing. Details of the property. Location of the home. How many of this and how many of that. All good information. Trying to get you interested.

So, window shopping has its good points and bad. Kind of like our daily walk with our Lord and Savior. People are watching us all the time. Trying to find that something to put back into our faces. Something to make fun of. Something to accuse us of. Something to use against us to prop themselves up higher than we are. So, lets give them something. When we are living a life worthy of the name of Jesus Christ what do we have to fear? They will call you a nut case or stupid for following Jesus. Calling you weak. Out of touch with whats really going on today. High and mighty is one that comes up often. Or that we put ourselves above everyone else. If we are living a life worthy of His name, then we should be a window for them to see the truth. Thats as simple as Jesus Christ himself. How are they going to know of a better life if we don’t live it in front of them.

Nothing speaks louder than a picture. If they are watching you, then show them. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the father except by Jesus. Remember the second part of the great commandment is to love your neighbor. Show this by being kind and giving them a smile. It may be the only one they get today. Greet them with a friendly hello. Open the door for them at store. let them get in front of you in the line at the check out. Especially when they have fewer items the you do. Tell them to have a great day. I have been doing this more often these days and the reactions are wonderful. They respond with a heart felt than you.

When you go to a restaurant don’t be cheap. We as Christians already have a bad reputation for this. Be a good tipper. Say thank you after they attend to your needs. Engage them in some short conversation. If they appear to be having a bad day, then say something kind to them. Offer to pray for them. Encouraging words are always good. You just may get the opportunity to lead them in the sinners prayer. At the very least you would have your best to make their day more pleasant.

I need to mention that when we do fail don’t try to hide it. If we need to ask for forgiveness then do it. If you need to eat a little bit of humble pie then do it. This will also speak loudly to them. If we behave badly, we may not have another chance to correct it and truly share the gospel with them. It also leaves an image that they will not soon forget.

People will not always listen to us. They may even tell us to shut up or worse. Remember that Jesus went through a lot worse for us. Even being persecuted for His name is a good thing in the sight of Jesus. Lets show them the good things of Jesus. The things that make our lives worth living.

Be blessed, Ken

Here we are posting again. This is the first time I have done two days in a row. That said, I’m going to talk about this last Sunday. We had a very good service at church. The whole time was spent in worship. Its great to see how God works things together. The last two posts were about revival and now we are talking about part of that process. As we entered into worship the pastor spoke of the need to break off chains and all that is binding. The binds of worry, pornography, depression, cancer and anything that hinders you from obtaining that which God has for you. There was excitement, joy, shouting, crying and a lot of praying. It was a time to be in His presence. I am writing about this because this is for everyone not just those at the service. If you are hindered in any way just go to God and ask for victory over these. He doesn’t want to see His people suffer. As with revival, this is a time when God empowers His children. Equipping them for the tasks that are to come. He will not only set you free, but put you in a position to help others obtain that which is missing in their lives. Or should I say “who” is missing in their lives.

During this time God was giving me a vision. I saw a column of people marching down the center isle of an auditorium. They were four people across and as deep as the vision would show me. In the front was a banner  leading the way. Not knowing exactly what this meant I spent some time seeking God for an answer. The first place He took me was to 2 Chron. 7:14. which says “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” As I meditated on this my impression was about healing our land. Our country has strayed way too far from its original path as a Christian nation. Its not too late to make a difference in our land. We need to draw as close to God as we possibly can. Forsaking ourselves and our wants and needs for those that are of our God’s will. Do we trust God to do what is best? Or do we think that our way is the only way for it to work out? God knows what is best. Just let Him do it. Lay down our own ideas, thoughts, wants and needs at His feet. Make ourselves available to Him for His will tom be done.

You may have heard this before. You may have read this before. But, look at it as confirmation of His word. Many people have talked about revival is coming. Or The third great awakening is coming. Some speak of spiritual promotion or blessings coming. Signs miracles and wonders will be seen. This is all good and most likely going to happen, so why not put yourself in a position to be on the receiving  end of this? Why not be as close to God as possible?Why not do all that we can? Why not be obedient to god and do as Hen asks of us? I want to hear “well done” when I see Him face to face. I want to see others get their opportunity to be with God in Heaven. Its not all about us. Its about Jesus first and our neighbor second.

Go to our Lord Jesus and get those chains and binds broken. Spend time with Him in His presence. Go that extra distance by forsaking ourselves to Him. It won’t be wasted time. Remember that God loves you.

Be blessed, Ken

Ok here we are in part 2. The clue given in part 1 about soaking in a tub has to do with cleansing. When you soak in the tub for a length of time your pores open up and the dirt and junk come out. That’s what we need today. We need to cleanse ourselves both outside and inside. In 2 Chron. 29 we read the story of King Hezekiah. He tells the priests to consecrate both the temple and themselves. This was necessary in order to prepare for what is going to take place. You can’t really expect God to answer us when we look and act like the world. At least in a way we would like Him to answer us. remember that in 1 John 2:15 states that we are not to love the world. In fact if we do the love of the Father is not in us. We also have in James 4:4 tells us that friendship with the world is hatred toward God. All of this in addition to asking for forgiveness of our sins.

After King Hezekiah had the priests consecrate the temple and themselves the people did the same thing. Followed by the sacrifices required of them. We don’t do the sacrifices any longer. Simply because our Lord and Savior has done it all for us. There is nothing that we can do to match or even come close to what He did for us. Once this was done they started to worship God. Worship is important to do. This is where we offer up to Him all the glory, honor and praise due to Him. It also brings us into a place of being in His presence. We forget about ourselves and just worship God. Its all about Him, not us. During this time of worship the people sang and played their instruments. What they also did was to bow down and get on their knees to worship. I’m sure many of them were laying flat on their stomachs as low as they could be before God. All of this is meant to get ourselves out of our comfort zones and into God’s comfort zone. Remember the first part of the great commandment is to Love the Lord your God with all of your heart and with all of your soul and with all of your mind and with all of your strength ( Mark 12:30).

Now does this say that we will have revival if we follow it to the letter. No it does not. But in the very least we will be in a better place at that moment. Where we won’t worry about much of anything. So, if I don’t see it in the church it means that there isn’t revival  happening? Wrong, all it means is that the church isn’t there yet. Revival may happen on an individual basis. People could be in revival all by themselves. They have taken the time to forsake everything and just go after God. We too, may experience this.We just need to go after God and not worry what others saying or even thinking. Just remember its all possible with God.

Be blessed, Ken