Did I help enough?

This question is one we all ask of ourselves sometimes. Today I was Going to the store with my better half, Melissa. As we turned into the parking lot of Walmart there was a woman with two boys standing at the curb of the parking lot holding up a sign that said “help I have 2 kids need money for food and rent”. I had Melissa turn the car around so that I could give her some money from what little we had. After I gave her the money I asked myself should I have given her more? We did our shopping and left. On our way our we passed the same woman. She waved at us and Said “ Thank you and God bless you” and her two boys were eating food from McDonald's. Its nice when you can see the impact that your kindness has had on someone's life. Sometimes we get to help people and see the direct effect of our help, other times we don't. With the recent devastation caused by #Hurricane Sandy the only help some of us may be able to provide is our prayers and that is enough. But if you can help more I would contact your church and see what they are doing and if they don't have a plan help get one started.

Laws

The other day “Well its not our problem” was said as we passed several police officers with a car pulled over and they were searching the car. We said how it looked like a drug bust and that’s when it was said. It was after that when the thought came to me that yes it is our problem. As we are all one society it becomes a problem with Society when people begin to think that breaking the law is ok. Everyday we pick and choose which laws we will obey and which we will ignore. I think there are two things that lead to this behavior. The first is that we get the attitude that if we don’t get caught we are not breaking the law. As adults our children often pickup on that attitude. With the access to movies, music and other copyrighted material easily downloaded illegally the temptation is greater.

The second thing that often has us breaking the law is not knowing the law. There are so many laws that you have to abide by. You start with Local City and County laws, then State and Federal laws. Some of the laws are crazy for instance in Cape Coral, Fl it is against City ordnance to hang cloths outside on a Clothesline. So what does the bible tell us to do? Well in Romans 13:1-2 ESV it says “ Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. (2) Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.” In 1Peter 2:12-15 ESV it goes further and Says “Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation. (13) Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, (14) or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. (15) For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people.” Only when man's laws conflict with God's as when early Christians were ordered by Jewish and Roman courts to stop preaching about Christ did they refuse. (Acts 5:41). Finally we turn a blind eye when we see other breaking the law. We see our friend downloading a movie off the internet that is still in the theater and we don’t say anything about it. I’m not saying that you should call the police about it. But We should say something to our friend about it.

Sins?

Sometime its hard to tell what is a sin and what isn't and on somethings you won't find a bible verse about what your wondering about. For instance I find it OK for me to have a drink every now and then while others believe it is a sin and you shouldn't do it. So who's right? Well we both are in away.  Paul describes it this way in the book of Romans.
Romans 14:11-17 ERV  Yes, the Scriptures say, "'As surely as I live,' says the Lord, 'Everyone will bow before me; everyone will say that I am God.'"  (12)  So each of us will have to explain to God about the things we do.  (13)  So we should stop judging each other. Let's decide not to do anything that will cause a problem for a brother or sister or hurt their faith.  (14)  I know that there is no food that is wrong to eat. The Lord Jesus is the one who convinced me of that. But if someone believes that something is wrong, then it is wrong for that person.  (15)  If you hurt the faith of your brother or sister because of something you eat, you are not really following the way of love. Don't destroy anyone's faith by eating something they think is wrong. Christ died for them.  (16)  Don't allow what is good for you to become something they say is evil.  (17)  In God's kingdom, what we eat and drink is not important. Here is what is important: a right way of life, peace, and joy--all from the Holy Spirit.

So if someone I know has received the conviction from God that drinking is wrong and if by drinking around them it causes them to question their faith, then I have sinned by drinking.  Not all things that are wrong for one person is wrong for another. There are direct behaviors that are wrong for everyone. Evil is Evil. Lying cheating and stealing will always be wrong. If I watched a lot of TV and God put it in my heart that I am watching too much TV at that time I should stop watching so much TV because it is now a sin for me to do so. Anything that hinders your relationship with God is a sin for you.

Oh Lord Why Do You Punish Me So?

Many times I have heard people say " Oh Lord Why Do You Punish Me So?" This brings me to two thoughts. The first is is this a punishment from God or the results of our own actions. The second is why does a loving God punish us? So I am going to start with the first. Often when things aren't going right in our life we are quick to blame it on God. For instance a few weeks ago my A/C broke down we ended up without it for 4 nights before it was finally fixed. When you live in a place that during this time of year it is always about 90° with a 99% humidity. When you step out your door you begin to sweat. It would have been  realyl easy for me to blame God and to say God was punishing me. Instead of blaming God I thanked him for the wisdom we were able to gain from the experience. To begin the 2 boys learned about the suffering some people go through everyday because they have no A/C. We all learned patience while we waited for the problem to be solved. When I think of being punished by God I believe there will be a clear and concise punishment that is relevant to the act that you did to warrant God's punishment. You will also know why you are punished. Jesus says (Rev 3:19)  "I correct and punish the people I love. So show that nothing is more important to you than living right. Change your hearts and lives." When we receive punishment we should not reject it.

In the book of proverbs it says
Pro 3:11-13  "My son, don't reject the LORD'S discipline, and don't be angry when he corrects you.  (12)  The LORD corrects the one he loves, just as a father corrects a child he cares about.  (13)  Those who find wisdom are fortunate; they will be blessed when they gain understanding."

So if it is true punishment from God we should accept it and not be angry because when we do accept it we will gain wisdom.

Putting God First.

I woke up this morning with several things on my list to do today.  My to do list went like this:

1. Fast and pray (when I fast it is liquids only)
2. Work on next online teaching
3. Write on blog
4. Update Calendar
5. Work on computers
6. Do Laundry
7. Touch bases with a few friends
8. Go to gym
9 Make dinner

My morning started out a little differently than the list did. I got up started my fast and went into the computer I checked my e-mails and Facebook then I began playing a video game. I was on the game for about 30min then the game shut down. So I restarted it it got to the point where I was just about to play again and it shut down again. So thinking as a computer tech I restarted the computer and tried to play it again. I got to the point where I got off on sentence to my friend in the game before my computer flashed over to a Blue Screen of Death. As I was watching the computer reboot I understood what my problem was. It wasn't a problem with the game or my computer. It was a problem with me. I woke up today on a day of fasting and prayer dedicated to God. and I didn't start it by doing God work.


Mat 6:9-13  After this manner therefore pray ye: 
Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. 
Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. 
Give us this day our daily bread.  
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: 
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. 
Amen.

The lords prayer starts out  Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.  Today I had forgot a very important thing and that is to always put god first and God had reminded me of that.

A talk with God

Lord, why does my heart cry out for those who suffer so?

Why does it bring a tear to my eye when I see those who have lost their homes in a storm?

Why does the hate and greed of the world make me angry?

I can no longer stand by and watch the world go by around me and do nothing.

I want help those in need, find those who are lost and defend those who are being persecuted.

My Heart and soul scream out NO MORE!

I reach my hand out to help another up

Don't worry I say, God loves you and so do I.

Don't mind what other may say, it's their word not Gods.

I want to save them all.

Is this the way you felt when you walked the earth?

When you said “Don't worry this is there way not mine”

I know this is why you gave your live to save us all.

Wrestling with God

Gen 32:24-31  Jacob was left alone, and a man came and wrestled with him. The man fought with him until the sun came up.  (25)  When the man saw that he could not defeat Jacob, he touched Jacob's leg and put it out of joint.  (26)  Then the man said to Jacob, "Let me go. The sun is coming up." But Jacob said, "I will not let you go. You must bless me."  (27)  And the man said to him, "What is your name?" And Jacob said, "My name is Jacob."  (28)  Then the man said, "Your name will not be Jacob. Your name will now be Israel. I give you this name because you have fought with God and with men, and you have won."  (29)  Then Jacob asked him, "Please tell me your name." But the man said, "Why do you ask my name?" Then the man blessed Jacob at that place.  (30)  So Jacob named that place Peniel. He said, "At this place, I saw God face to face, but my life was spared."  (31)  Then the sun came up as Jacob left Peniel. He was limping because of his leg.

There comes a time in all of our lives when we face making a choice of following God's will or doing what we want to do. When we stop wrestling with God and Do as he wants us to do God will bless us. sometime we may struggle and those struggles will leave an everlasting mark on our life just as was with Jacob's leg.  Sometimes I find myself thinking that my way would be easier than God's way.  But I always discover that God had a purpose for making me do things his way. The hardships I endure Allow me to testify in a way that will touch someone that I may not have touched if I had not done things God's way. We have to stop wrestling with God to receive the blessing god has for us. We can never let go of God.