A Letter to You from Satan

This hypothetical letter will make you want to kick yourself for all those times you doubted whether it was worth it to serve God or not! (At least it does me)

"I saw you yesterday as you began your daily chores. You awoke without kneeling to pray. As a matter of fact, you didn’t even bless your meals, or pray before going to bed last night. You are so unthankful—I like that about you. I cannot tell you how glad I am that you have not changed your way of living. Fool, you are mine.

Remember, you and I have been going steady for years. And I still don’t love you yet. As a matter of fact, I hate you, because I hate God. I am only using you to get even with God. He kicked me out of heaven, and I’m going to use you as long as possible to pay Him back.

You see, Fool, GOD LOVES YOU and HE has great plans in store for you. But you have yielded your life to me, and I’m going to make your life a living hell. This will really hurt God.

Thanks to you, I’m really showing Him who’s boss in your life with all the good times we’ve had. We have been watching dirty movies, cursing people out, stealing, lying, being hypocritical, overeating, telling dirty jokes, gossiping, being judgmental, back-stabbing people, disrespecting adults, no respect for the church, bad attitudes. . . Surely you don’t want to give all this up to live for the One who saved you.

I’ve got some hot plans for us. This is just a letter of appreciation from me to you. I’d like to say “thanks” for letting me use you for most of your foolish life. You are so gullible; I laugh at you.

When you are tempted to sin, you give in. HA HA HA—you make me sick. Sin is beginning to take it’s toll on your life. You look 20 years older, and now, I need new blood. So go ahead and teach some children how to sin. All you have to do is smoke, get drunk, cheat, gamble, gossip, fornicate, and live being as selfish as possible. Do all this in the presence of children and they will do it too. Kids are like that.

Well, Fool, I have to let you go for now. I’ll be back in a couple of seconds to tempt you again. If you were smart, you would run somewhere, confess your sins, and live for God with what little bit of life that you have left. It’s not my nature to warn anyone, but to be your age and still living for me is a bit ridiculous. Don’t get me wrong, I still hate you. IT’S JUST THAT YOU’D MAKE A BETTER FOOL FOR CHRIST."

Reformation or Salvation?

I've been perusing through some blogs on soteriology, and a certain issue keeps coming to the surface which I would like to address. Now, from the onset, I do not claim to be any kind of authority, or person with wonderfully logical arguments, but I do study the Word of God, and have a sincere desire to keep my beliefs in line with what the Bible teaches.

A very, very great majority of Christianity today agrees with the teaching that Biblical repentance is a turn from sin and to God. I disagree. Now, let me make myself clear. I DO believe that repentance is necessary for salvation. However, I do NOT believe that repentance (and all it's various forms) in the Bible carries the same meaning that it does today--this meaning of turning from sin. I have several reasons for this stand that I take:

1. Salvation in its entirety is the work of God; and in no part is it the work of man. "Turning from sin" is something that MAN does. Consider the unregenerate person. The Bible makes it clear that before salvation, all men are "dead in their sins" (Eph. 5:1) What can a dead man do? Nothing! Therefore, without the Holy Spirit already in our lives to impower us and convict us of sin, we are powerless creatures to turn from our sin.

2. Putting conditions to turn from sin on a person's faith in Christ alone for salvation is a contradiction of Scripture. Now I am not saying that the Bible doesn't teach us to turn from our sin. (It most certainly does teach a child of God to turn from sin.) I am saying that it doesn't teach that as a requirement for salvation. If you tell a person he has to clean up his life to be saved, you are preaching Reformation but not Salvation. There is a big difference. Remember the parable about the man who had a demon? He swept and cleaned up his house, and the demon left. But when the demon returned, he saw the place was all cleaned up, so he called seven others even stronger than himself to come inhabit this man. The man had reformed his life, but had not been saved. The only single thing a sinner can do in his lost state to be saved, is to say by faith, "God You have completely made the way for me. I trust what Your Son did on the cross to be my complete payment for sin and my only way to heaven."

3. If repentance in the Bible meant "to turn from sin and turn to God", then how do you explain that over 50% of the time a form of repent is used in the Bible, it is referring to God? How can God turn from sin, and turn to Himself? That doesn't make any sense. However, if you take the original Greek meaning into consideration, "a change of mind", it makes perfect sense. God changed his mind about destroying the children of Israel and making a nation of Moses. He changed his mind back in Noah's day regarding the fact that He had even created man. Relating to salvation, the lost changes their mind about what they previously held to as a way of salvation, and accepts God's way. This is so critical. They must realize, "my thinking was wrong. I cannot get to God my own way. I must come His only way." This my friend, is true Biblical repentance. And many times, this change of mind--YES, it WILL lead to sorrow for sin, it WILL lead to a turn to God and away from sin. It LEADS to that, but that is not what it IS. Am I making sense?

Well, now this brings up another point. Because people out there will accuse me of preaching "easy believism" or "cheap grace" or whatever you may call it, because they say, I am teaching people to accept Christ and go out and live as they please. This could not be further from the truth. First of all, let me say that grace is not cheap! It cost our precious Jesus Christ His life's blood! Now, can a person trust Christ, be saved, and have no changes in their life? I answer this with a NO. Although, with some people, we may not see the outward changes we would want to see, the Holy Spirit comes to live inside of every believer That is a big change!. He is working in that person's life, convicting them of sin, and encouraging them to live a life that will honor their Savior. Does everyone respond to Him? Sadly, no. But we cannot say that they are not saved.

When people really get a glimpse of the truth that Jesus Christ gave us everlasting life as a free gift--we did nothing but receive it--and He did everything to purchase it, that alone should be enough to cause everyone to live a holy life for Him. If we don't, we will receive His chastening hand, but we will not lose our salvation.

Thank you Lord, I have not just reformed my life, but You have saved me and reformed me by your Holy Spirit!

Blah. . .

You ever have those just "blah" days? Of course you do! If you don't, then you are not a normal person. Well today is one of those for me. I didn't have to be in to work until 1:00, but I had to get up kinda early anyways, b/c I had a dentist appt. Blah! So then, I had to wait around until time to go to work. Blah again. So, I get to work and had 98 emails from over the weekend waiting on me. Mostly junk. Blah Blah! I looked at all the pictures from the damage of Hurrican Katrina--very blah! Okay, that is enough Blah's!! I'm depressing myself just writing about it. On the positive side of things, I talked to an old friend of mine that I haven't talked to in 4 months for an hour last night. She is pregnant with her second baby! Congratulations to V. in San Antonio! Also, I had lots of good food over the weekend! (Yum Yum) because my brother's going back to college in FL. and wanted one last good meal before he left! Services were good on Sunday and best of all, CAROLINA FOOTBALL starts on Thursday!! Yea! I love college football. Go Gamecocks!

Oh, also, I finally added those pics of the sanddollars and starfish I found at the beach.

Does Family Mean Anything to You?

How does a person become SO selfish, that family actually degresses into nothingness? And I'm referring to extended family members as well as immediate. I understand there are times when family members don't get along and don't share the same views on life. But, despite that, we still love them--they're family! (And by the way, I am talking about believers who know the Word of God; I wouldn't expect the lost to be unselfish--although many of them put we Christians to shame on this point.) Yet someone can become so absorbed in himself, that he doesn't realize that family is there and should mean something to him. This person I'm making reference to whines, and pouts, and complains constantly that his family doesn't want to be around him, and doesn't care about him. Well, HELLLLLLLLOOOOOOOOO! Maybe if he started showing for just one instant that his family was actually important to him, they might want him around! Maybe if he started showing love to someone other than himself, they would begin to love him back. I just don't get it. Family is really big to me. I don't understand how someone could not care about family. Sorry. I'm really frustrated. . . . .with my dad.

YOU are not a Failure!

These excerpts from Charles Stanley's Source of My Strength really spoke to me:

"Most of us need to stop looking over our shoulders at our past mistakes. To do so is to continue to carry guilt with us over sins that the Lord has already forgiven and forgotten. When we continue to bemoan past failures--even though we have confessed those sins and failures to God, been forgiven for them, and made a decision with our wills to repent of them and change our ways--we are stating that we have not been able to forgive ourselves. We are carrying excess and unnecessary baggage in our lives.

If God has forgiven you, which He says He does every time you confess your sins to Him, then forgive yourself!

The more you cling to past failures and cause them to produce doubt in your life, the more you destroy your confidence in the Lord. You begin to see yourself as a failure that God cannot use, a "mistake" that God has made, and unworthy person whom God cannot redeem or use for His purposes. That thinking is unscriptural. You have never made a mistake that God cannot forgive, remedy, and work toward your good eventually. You don't have the ability to mess up so much that God will reject you or turn away from using you. You cannot undo the bonds of love that He has wrapped all around you.

If you think you are a failure, you'll act like a failure, and the things you attempt to do will fail. Choose to lay down your failure mentality, and see yourself as a beloved, talented, and spiritually gifted child of God. Act as the saved, Holy Spirit-filled, on-your-way-to-being-conformed-to-Christ person that you are!!"--Charles Stanley

Looking out my window

I took these pictures from my office--the South Carolina state capital. Nice view, huh?

True Love will Overcome Obstacles

Time cannot stop the love.
Distance cannot squash the wonder.
Places cannot extinguish the sparks.
People cannot quench the desire.
Age cannot bridle the emotion.
Advancement cannot mellow the passion.
Differences cannot suppress the awe.

True Love will not be tamed; for it is

More eternal than time.
More overcoming than distance.
More expansive than places.
More powerful than people.
More surpassing than age.
More permanent than advancement.
More heartfelt than differences.

Devilish Thoughts

The Devil is really invading my thoughts today. He has me thinking some very depressing things. "There is nothing promising in your future except for death." "What you are doing today is not even helping to build anything promising for you." "All your work and labor in the ministry is useless." "Why do you even care what God thinks of your life?" AAAAHHHHH!!! Get OUT! Lord, help me to cast down these thoughts from the Wicked One and to remember all the blessings and promises I have because I am Your child!

Helloooo Michigan!

Rochester Hills, Michigan, if you're in the house, this one's for you!

I have a friend who is very, very talented in all the areas I wish I were talented in. He can sing just beautifully, play the piano by ear really well, play with great skill any sport you can think of, he can make anyone and everyone feel at ease and laugh in no time at all, really good looking, can fit in with any group, knows just what to say all the time. . . you get my point? I mean, the list could go on and on. When I first became friends with this person, I would feel inferior (not because HE made me feel that way, but I just kept noticing how much better he was than me in everything); I would feel like I had nothing to add, you know? Why does he need ME as a friend, I have nothing to offer--he has it all. Those were the kind of thoughts I had. But I guess he kinda sensed I was feeling that way, and he started making a big effort to find whatever he could, even the smallest little things, to compliment me on, and make a big deal about so that I would feel good about myself, and I would realize that I DO have some talents that he didn't. It was really a great blessing. Not because I needed my ego built up or anything, but because it made me feel like I had something to bring to the table.

Here's just one example of what I'm talking about. I was helping him finish up some last minute work for the semester by typing some papers for him. While he was watching me type up his work, he started going on and on about how fast I could type, and how he was no good at that. It's really small, yes, but it made me feel good.

Maybe you could try something like that with someone who feels inferior to you.

P.S. If Holly, Michigan is in the house. . . I miss you!

P.S.S If L.B. is reading this, yes, I was talking about you!

Amazing God and more

God is amazing! It's such a great concept to consider how God delights to do good things for His kids, if they but ask Him. I mean, He's our Dad, why wouldn't He? But so many times, we think that we have to work things out ourselves and we have no dependence upon God at all! I mean, if anyone is going to be able to help us with our problems, He is definitely the One I would want to help me. So, why not let Him? I was running really late to work today because of traffic problems, and I knew there probably would be no parking spot left, which means I would have to park somewhere I wasn't supposed to and go pay another ticket! So, I decided to ask God to give me a parking spot. What do ya' know??? When I was looking around, there was one spot left--way in the back and difficult to get into, but it was there, and you better believe I took it! Thank you God! He loves to do those kind of things for us!

The beach was wonderful Saturday!! I found 16 whole sanddollars and a starfish! I'll post a picture of them later on. I got lots of work done on my room , but it's not quite finished yet.

Also, I got a couple spam comments, so if you know how to prevent that, please share!

Ready for some R & R!

Well, I have been extremely busy this past week redecorating my room. I stripped the walls, sanded, painted, and now I'm buying matching bedding, wall art, furniture, etc. It has been exhausting, but my room is starting to look great! (I'll post a picture when I'm all done!) So, Saturday, I am going to the beach (Isle of Palms, in Charleston--it's gorgeous!) to catch up on some r & r! I hope you all have a great weekend as well!

P.S. I have completed one full week of blogging! I'm so proud!

How Badly do you Want what you Have?

Okay, this is what I've been considering: How do you know if something is from God or Satan. You may think it should be really obvious, and most of the time it is. But consider with me a few areas that may be a little more difficult to discern--Popularity, material goods, riches, relationships. I remembered something I heard an evangelist say once, "Satan will give you what you want, but it will cost you what you have." I think in this statement we can find the deciding factor--is it costing what you already have from God, or is it adding to it? Here is a list of some things Satan could give you, and what they may cost:

Worldly goods--may cost you your satisfaction and contentment with Christ

Popularity/Fame--may cost you your humble walk with God

Riches--may cost you your dependence upon God

World's endorsement--may cost you God's endorsement

A relationship--may cost you time which could be better used serving God.

Now, if Satan is the one who wants to give you these things, it will cost you what you have. But, if God so chooses to bless you with some of these things, I believe it will add to what you already have.

Sometimes it is good to examine what we have in our lives, and ask the question, "Did I give up something even more valuable in order to have this?"

Try this!

If you like Starbuck's frappucinos, you've got to try this! Order a Mocha Frap w/ a shot of espresso and strawberry mixed in. It is awesome. It's not on the menu, but I just decided to try something different the other day, and I loved it! Of course, if you don't like Starbucks, then you're just an unregenerate wretch!!! =)~

Just a Memory

When you touch me

I feel passion burning--

More intense than a thousand flames burning all across the world,

And dancing--

Across my skin as the shadows dance on the faces of those gathered around.

When you touch me

I feel strength gripping--

So firmly I can fall into you without the slightest reservation

And holding--

So tight, it’s as if I’m suffocating in the warmth of your embrace.

When you touch me

I feel care reaching--

Gently caressing like you would a baby with soft fingertips of adoration

And accepting--

So, like the child secure in his parents’ love, I love back full of trust and faith.

What are you Listening to?

There is a popular song out, "Listen to Your Heart". I never thought much about it at first--it seemed like a nice, slow, easy-listening song. But then the words struck me, and I thought, "Why would I want to listen to something (my heart) that is 'deceitful above all things, and desparately wicked'?" (Jeremiah 17:9)

Have you been here?

How many times have you met a person that you thought may be "the one"? So you make the effort to open up to them, to trust, to share, to love and be loved. This doesn't come easy, because (as you remind yourself and that person so many times) you have been hurt many times in the past. But you allow yourself to get past that. You allow yourself to give your heart away, you think, hopefully, for the last time. And then, several months later, with no warning at all, you find yourself standing where you have stood so many times before--Looking down at your heart, which has been chewed up, spit out, stomped on, and thrown back down at your feet. What can you do other than pray to God for help, bend down, pick up what is left of your heart, and go on trying to piece it back together. You promise to never let it happen again. . . and then a month later, you meet this person. . . How many times can it happen in one lifetime before you really do meet the right one? Just a thought.

The Seamless Bible

I was wanting to study the Gospels chronologically, so I ordered this Seamless Bible and I got so much more than I bargained for! This seems like an excellent tool. It is the entire New Testament pieced together chronologically. It would be a wonderful resourse if you ever teach the life of Christ or the life and ministry of the apostles.

The rebuke of a friend

I just want to mention that if you have ever had a friend rebuke you in love and for the right reason, that you should thank them. I had this happen to me late Saturday night. A friend over in God's country (Texas) called me and was concerned that I was living a defeated, depressed life. He reminded me, not too gently, that I needed to remember why I was here, and I needed to get over myself and learn more fully how to love God. Wow! What a reminder. It's not easy to hear words like that, but looking back, I realize how right he was. This life is not about me. It's about loving Him. Quit focusing on disappointments that life brings your way, because we all have them! Instead remember why you are here. Remember your goal. And learn how to love God better. Thanks b.a.m!

You pay for what you get

So this issue came up over the weekend, and I have been thinking a great deal about it. When you pay money to go to a Christian concert, do you feel that you are supporting everything that group stands for and all of their associations? Certain people feel like you are. I disagree. Think of it this way: When you go to a restaurant, are you worried that your money is going to buy alcohol? No, your money is going for your food and your service! When you purchase a book at a bookstore, are you supporting all the other books that they sell? No, you are paying for what you get! I feel the same applies with a concert. I pay for what I get. I received encouragement through music. It definitely brought me closer to God. I was able to fellowship with other Christians. That's what I got--that's what I paid for.

I Made It!!

Yes, I am here. . .I have finally made it to the wonderful world of blogdom! I'm so excited. There are a lot of things that I plan to do with this as I develop my blog. But I will tell you more about all that soon. For now I need to try to figure out these settings and how it all works. I look forward to sharing with you and receiving your comments in the future. Have a great weekend.

Patiently Endure

I can't take it; I can't stand it--I'm sure!
This boring life, and Satan's tempting lure.
But in God's Word, I read of His great cure,
"My child, just patiently endure."

The many suff'rings and sorrows, endure.
Both small and great testings of faith, endure.
For a life of peace, for a heart that's pure;
In trials, patiently endure.

In life, we must have a patient spirit.
This patience we don't easily merit.
Though the burden is great, we can bear it
Because with Christ, we can share it.

Christ's love is great, His eyes soft, His arms strong.
Throw Him your list of cares, however long.
He'll take you troubles and send you a song.
Saying, "My child, it won't be long."

Once all of our sorrows are fled away,
We come through the night into a bright day,
Having learned much patience along the way
We will be content here to stay.

A Sonnet: Psalm 138

Psalm 138
A Psalm of David.
1 I will praise You with my whole heart; Before the gods I will sing praises to You.
2 I will worship toward Your holy temple, And praise Your name For Your lovingkindness and Your truth; For You have magnified Your word above all Your name.
3 In the day when I cried out, You answered me, And made me bold with strength in my soul.
4 All the kings of the earth shall praise You, O LORD, When they hear the words of Your mouth.
5 Yes, they shall sing of the ways of the LORD, For great is the glory of the LORD.
6 Though the LORD is on high, Yet He regards the lowly; But the proud He knows from afar.
7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me; You will stretch out Your hand Against the wrath of my enemies, And Your right hand will save me.
8 The LORD will perfect that which concerns me; Your mercy, O LORD, endures forever; Do not forsake the works of Your hands.

A Sonnet: Psalm 138

I will praise You with my whole heart!

Songs of praise before all I'll sing.

Praise of Your holiness will ring.

Your love and truth will not depart.

Praising God's ways, even kings start

When God's great Word to them one brings.

Strength to my soul gives boldness wings;

God on high knows my humble heart.

He saves me from the midst of harm

And perfects that which concerns me.

I need not fear any alarm,

For You, Lord, will not forsake me.

Praise the Lord! He has heard my prayer

He will perfect my every care!

Set Apart

"But Sanctify the Lord God in Your Hearts" from I Peter 3:15

God holds a set apart place in my heart;
From this place He'll never depart.
Though things and others will call for my love,
My heart's reserved for God above.

His will and desires I want to be mine,
His heart for the lost through me to shine,
I long for Him His wisdom to impart,
That's why I hold Him in my heart.

My affections should reflect things above;
Thus, with the world, I'm not in love.
There's no struggle between things and the Lord,
God is my joy and heart's reward.