Paths to God

And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.  Acts 2:21

Instructions for Christian Living

So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking.  They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed. That, however, is not the way of life you learned when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your 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. Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.   Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.  Ephesians 4:17-32

Truth vs Lies, Part 2

My morning started off on the wrong note.  I did not sleep well last night so my husband was letting me sleep in.  Unfortunately today is yard day so the guys were here doing their mow, blow and go thing.  We have been sleeping with the french doors open as the evenings have been so gorgeous.  So I am awaken by the yard guy running the mower on the sidewalk right outside our bedroom.  We have repeatedly asked him not to do this as it throws the grass cuttings in the flower bed creating a problem with grass growing where you don't want it to.  About 2 weeks ago we had finally gotten all the grass and weeds pulled and laid down some ground cover bark to help keep the weeds down.  So this morning I asked him again not to run the mower in that area.  He turned off the mower and looked me in the eye and said I wasn't, see it is off.

How many times have we done the exact same thing?  We look someone in the eye and say "I didn't do it" when we know we did and we are.  All God asks us to do is to be truthful not only with ourselves but with everyone we come in contact with. 

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.  James 4:7

Truth vs Lies

Have you ever lied?  Have you ever been lied to?  The answer would be yes to both of those questions.  You don't set out to intentionally lie to someone and I don't think that someone sets out to intentionally lie to you.  It just happens with something like I don't want to hurt their feelings so this is what I will say.  Guess what you just told a lie.  The same thing happens when someone lies to you.  They don't set out to hurt your feelings or they may have done something they know would hurt you so they lie about it.  Does everyone remember the Veggie Tale "The Fib From Outer Space?"  When you start telling lies you have to continue to lie and the small lie, told in the beginning, becomes larger and larger until you can no longer control it.  The lie begans controling your life and all those you love.  Lies can destroy careers, friendships, and families.  Life would have been so much simpler if we just told the truth in the beginning.

Psalm 15

¹ LORD, who may dwell in your sacred tent?
Who may live on your holy mountain?

² The one whose walk is blameless,
who does what is righteous,
who speaks the truth from their heart;
³ whose tongue utters no slander,
who does no wrong to a neighbor,
and casts no slur on others;
⁴ who despises a vile person
but honors those who fear the LORD;
who keeps an oath even when it hurts,
and does not change their mind;
⁵ who lends money to the poor without interest;
who does not accept a bribe against the innocent.

Whoever does these things
will never be shaken.

Pats to God

As we go about our daily lives we worry.  We don't intend to it just happens.  We worry why did I do that, will this get done, did I forget to do something, what if this doesn't come about, where will I get the money to pay for that, and the list goes on.  Yesterday is the past and we can't change what happened.  Tomorrow isn't here yet and we have no control over it so why worry.  Today is what we have and we are to live each day to fullest, taking life one day at a time trusting in God to take care of us.

⁷ Though I walk in the midst of trouble,
you preserve my life.
You stretch out your hand against the anger of my foes;
with your right hand you save me.
⁸ The LORD will vindicate me;
your love, LORD, endures forever—
do not abandon the works of your hands.

Psalm 138:7-8



Paths to God

Have you every been confused as to which path to take?  Someone has hurt you or you have hurt someone else and you ask yourself; do I do this or do I do that?  I know that I have.  All we need to do is turn to God's Word and listen to what He is telling us.  He will direct us on the path that we should take and He will be glorified.

You have made know to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.  Acts 2:26

Paths to God

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. Hebrews 11:6