Straight Talk For Halloween

Read 2 Kings 1:1–18

Today, countless people seek to know the future. Newspapers and magazines carry horoscope columns. Television networks advertise psychic hotlines. Bus stop benches boast ads for palm readers. Magazine racks beside grocery store checkout counters offer paperback books on astrology, numerology, and other occult subjects.

To many, this hype may sound like sheer silliness; it may appear to be nothing more than harmless fun. After all, what's so bad about reading your daily horoscope? But listen up—this is enemy territory! It is anything but silliness or harmless fun. Like the wood and stone idols of Ekron, these present-day seers are substitutes for putting our trust in the living God.

God is displeased with any occult involvement. No matter what the motive, no matter how great the need, dabbling with the occult is sin. God's Word is crystal clear on this subject. Far back in the book of Leviticus, God gives His people this direct command: "Do not turn to mediums or spiritists; do not seek them out to be defiled by them. I am the LORD your God" (Leviticus 19:31).

Beyond that, God is dishonored by any specific pursuit of the future that does not find its source in His Word. I realize that most people who begin dabbling in astrology, fortune-telling, or Ouija boards don't take it all that seriously. Astrology, for example, has a captivating appeal. Most do it for fun or out of curiosity. But these simple, harmless-looking games begin a process that many cannot handle; and they open doors that should remain closed. Then it's only a matter of time before the dark powers of demonic forces suck them in, and they find themselves ensnared.

But let me reassure you, God is delighted when we trust Him only. The Lord strengthens those who put their trust in Him. If we are not grounded in the Word of God and seeking Him daily as our source of strength and knowledge for the future, we, too, can easily fall prey to the lure of the occult.

Learn a lasting lesson from Elijah. As you stand strong for the truth, watch out for the enemy. He not only plays dirty; he plays for keeps. And he's playing for your soul.

Impacting the World for God

Scripture Reading: Isaiah 49:5-6 
In business, companies talk frequently about market share.  They all want a 100 percent share of the market.  But how do they accomplish this? Competition is a major hurdle.
God has the same issue.  A multitude of idols are competing with Him for a share of the market, and God wants a monopoly ... a 100 percent market share.  He says, "Let all the people praise Me."  
If everybody is praising the one true God, nobody else has any share of the market.  That's what God is after for Himself, and that is why we are here.  We are here to help God persuade the folks who are purchasing at the wrong market to go to the right market.  We are here to help God meet His 100 percent.

Two Solemn Reminders

by Charles R. Swindoll After recording these dire predictions, spoken by the Lord through Elijah, the writer of 1 Kings gives this commentary on the lives of Ahab and Jezebel: "Surely there was no one like Ahab who sold himself to do evil in the sight of the LORD, because Jezebel his wife incited him" (1 Kings 21:25). What a partnership! They were partners in unparalleled evil, until God finally said, "That's enough." Here are two sobering and solemn reminders for us to consider: First, there is an end to God's patience. No one knows it. God's wheels of justice grind slowly but exceedingly fine. God, in gracious patience and mercy, waits for us to hear His voice and obey. People hear the gospel of salvation and do not respond. Yet God waits. Some claim His name, but live in a way that says otherwise. Still God waits. God's patience sometimes even frustrates us, particularly when evil persists, and He doesn't step in and stop it. At times like that, it's easy to convince ourselves that evil goes perpetually unnoticed. You and I don't know at what point God reaches His divine limit and says, "That's enough! That's all! I will tolerate this no longer." But I know from this passage and others in Scripture, and I know from His dealings with Sodom and Gomorrah, Herod Agrippa, Ahab and Jezebel that God's patience can, and does, finally run out. Don't be fooled into thinking that His longsuffering is everlasting suffering. Second, God keeps His word. No one stops it. Never forget what you've read in this section. Ahab and Jezebel were so powerful, so intimidating, so wicked. They thought they were in charge of everything—invincible. But when God stepped in, it was curtains for them. They were helpless to stop His judgment. If you are a child of God, He will not cast you out of His family. But if you are stubbornly refusing to obey Him, continuing to walk your own way, He will bring severe discipline upon you. He loves you too much to ignore your actions. God is good and just. And when His justice finally kicks in, there's no escaping it. If you think otherwise, you've bought into "a deadly opiate."

Identity in Christ

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20

God spoke you into your mother’s womb at just the right time for you to be here now. It wasn’t by accident, nor was it a pleasant surprise to God; he designed you on purpose to be on mission with him for such a time as this.

Your faith will grow stronger as you focus on your identity in Christ. What this means is that you abandon any image of yourself that is not from God. You stop believing what others have said about you; you stop believing how others have labeled you; you stop accepting how others have defined you.

Where I’m going is here – if you don’t know who you are, then you’re vulnerable to other people telling you who you are. But the concrete, solid, gospel truth is that you are who God says you are and no one else has a vote in the matter.

You are now identified with Christ and have the power of the Holy Spirit within you. You are God’s precious child and he created you in a way that pleases him.

This “identity issue” is an important part of living the abundant life. Jesus was able to face the incredible demands of his mission because he’d settled this identity issue. He knew exactly who he was; he knew that he mattered immensely to his Heavenly Father, and that gave him confidence to move purposefully in faith.

Matthew 28:16-20

New International Version (NIV)

The Great Commission

 ¹⁶ Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. ¹⁷ When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. ¹⁸ Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹ Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

God tells us to go into All the world, and tell everyone of the "good news".

He doesn't say if you have time. He doesn't say if you want to. He says "GO"! Your life should be a testament to what God is doing. Our you teaching people to be like God, or our you showing them worldly ways? Be a light in this dark world.

Invest in someones life today, for the kingdom of God.

The Key to Blessing

Written by Dr. Bill Bright

“He replied, ‘Yes, but even more blessed are all who hear the Word of God and put it into practice’” (Luke 11:28)

If you and I could know only one rule that would guarantee us real happiness, no doubt this should be it. Because the meaning of this promise is the same in or out of context, we shall share briefly the out – of – context guarantee contained therein.

Man’s chief happiness – his, or her, highest honor – is to obey the Word of God. No earthly honor or achievement can compare with the blessing, meaning in and fulfillment that come from obeying the Word and Will of God.

Implicit in putting into practice – or obeying – the Word of God is the matter of knowing the Word of God. This, of course, implies reading, studying, meditating upon and even memorizing the Scriptures. If we are neglecting this phase of the Christian life, we are omitting a vitally important part of spiritual nurture, without which it is impossible to live a supernatural life.

Something about the Word refreshes, cleanses, uplifts the heart and soul of each one of us when we spend time in its pages. God made it – and us – that way. No matter how many times we may have read the Word of God, even the entire Bible, there is something remarkably fresh and new about it every time we read it.

If somehow we lack the discipline to do what we should about the Word, we may pray ceaselessly for the Holy Spirit to illumine its truths to our minds and apply them to our lives.

Dear God

Help me to become what it is you want me to be. Give me divine understanding. I want to be more like you everyday. Pour your spirit upon me fresh and new daily. Send your angel's to take charge over me when Satan attacks my life. I am more than a conqueror  through Christ Jesus. I will not accept defeat. I am the head and not the tail. I am above and not beneath. Thank you for the victory!

When trials come in your life, whether it's money related, marriage related, or health related, be of good cheer because God has overcome the world. The devil will try, without quitting, to destroy your life. He knows the best way to get to you. Will you trust God with the same persistence, to see you through every trial? Or, will you   give up and let Satan have the victory? If you trust God through the tough times, you will always come out on the other side victorious. You will have increased faith, and a deeper relationship with God.
Keep your head up! The things you fight with daily, God has already overcome for you. Receive your victory, and tell someone about the good things God has done in your life

WOW--I'm getting old

Yesterday my oldest son turned 15 and I had to ask myself,"where did the time go?"  It seems like yesterday we brought him home from the hospital. What an amazing responsibility God has given us; to train our 3 boys up in the ways of the Lord. When I feel like I am not making a big enough difference around me I look at my boys, and see God working through them daily.

Make a Difference One by One

A father and son were walking along a beach after a powerful storm.  In fact, the storm was so strong that as the waves crashed and the wind blew, hundreds of starfish were washed ashore and left far from the water they needed to survive.
As they walked, the father and son began a rescue mission, picking up starfish one by one and throwing them back into the ocean.  When the boy looked at the hundreds of remaining starfish, he became discouraged. "Dad, there's too many. We can't save them all.   We can't make a difference!"
The father looked at the starfish in his hand.  The creature would have never made it back into the ocean on its own.  As he threw the starfish back in the ocean, he told his son, "We're making a difference to this one."
You can make a difference too . . . even if it's only one by one.  God has called each of us - not just the pastor or the missionary - to be a voice of encouragement to someone.  Bless someone. Make a difference.

Fresh Perspective

Imagine it's your birthday.  Your friend comes by and gives you a beautifully wrapped gift.  When you open it, it's something you've always wanted!  After the party, you walk your friend to the door and just before he leaves, he says, "Oh, by the way, here's the receipt.  Your gift costs $500.  I'll take cash or a check."  Could you really call what you received a gift?
The same principle applies to salvation.  You don't have to buy it.  Salvation is a gift.  It depends wholly on God's grace.
Ephesians 2:8-9 reads, "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast."
Jesus paid the cost in full for our salvation.  Acts 4:12 says, ". . . there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven . . . by which we must be saved."

So once your faith is activated, and you believe beyond a shadow of a doubt, that Jesus is real and He did the most amazing thing ever for you, then you must trust Him! I know, we all find this word hard to deal with.  But the sooner you put all of your trust in Him the better your life will be.
 I will use myself as an example.  Yesterday at work I received some news that I may loose some commission because my company could not give the customer what they had purchased.  I get paid straight off of commission!  At first, I wanted to turn on the worry button.  Then I realized that this was not my problem, It was a challenge to trust in God.  We are supposed to put our lives in His hands (trust Him).
   Whatever the outcome, I am going to trust Him, put my life in His hands, finances in His hands,
my marriage in His hands, everything.  I will watch with amazement at what God does through me, and for me. He is my Hero!          

Salvation verse

Romans 10:9-13 (New American Standard)

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He did this for you!

9 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved ; 10 for with the heart a person believes, resulting inrighteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, "WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED." 12 For there is no distinctionbetween Jew and Greek ; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him; 13 for "WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED."

It's a Good Morning

Today is the day that the Lord has made! Ok... sometimes I have to remind myself that if I wake-up feeling bad or just get up on the wrong side of the bed that it doesn't mean I'm going to have a bad day.  I have to ask my body "what is the purpose"  and "what is my mission"?  It's not so I can enjoy myself all day or to let my feelings determine my outcome. God put us here to do His work, for His enjoyment. Find what your purpose is, through God, and work it out daily.

FRESH START-- breaks ground on the web

Colossians 3:17-"And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father."

I love this scripture reference so much. I try to remind myself daily, to be a Godly example. We constantly have people looking at us to see how we will handle trials, adversity, and life in general. WOW, what a huge responsibility that God has given us. If we are going to change the next generations point of view, it starts with us!