As a whole, our society is very selfish and self-absorbed. We see it on billboards and in advertisements, commercials, Hollywood and, sadly, our political leaders. It’s everywhere and the philosophy is continuing to grow to the point that if you disagree with someone, especially concerning their lifestyle, you are a hater, a bigot, and you don’t understand; basically, you are an awful person for merely disagreeing. This culture speaks of respect, but does not respect any view that is not in line with its beliefs.

Ironically, the world wants to quote the Bible (though completely out of context) and say things like: “Who are you to judge?” “Only God can judge.” or “God tells us not to judge.” Isn’t it amazing that so many try to quote the Bible, even though they don’t believe it? Regardless of what the world says, however, we must be willing to stand up for our beliefs and be bold about it -- not apologetic. There was once a time when two people could disagree and still tolerate each other, but not today.

We must know what we believe and we should get our beliefs from the Word of God (the Bible). If not, we will be blown about by every wind of doctrine -- every philosophy that the world conjures up to lead people away from the truth. We need to pray for discernment and ask God to help us stand for truth -- no matter what the world says. We need to be honest -- not only with others but also with ourselves. Selfishness leads us away from God, not toward Him.

In this very selfish world, let’s practice being givers and loving people enough to tell them the truth.

#WeGiveWeDontTake  

Just a Thought,

PSS

Today in our country, for the first time, we have seen someone actually put in jail because of their faith. Kim Davis, who is a county clerk in Kentucky, has been put in jail for refusing to issue marriage licenses to homosexuals. This begs the question: Whose law are we supposed to obey -- God’s Law or man’s law? God’s Law comes first -- always. We obey man’s law as long as it doesn’t go against God’s Law. America is a republic founded on Judeo-Christian principles and beliefs, which basically means that God’s Law supersedes man’s law.

Because of the Christian, foundational truths of our nation, within the Declaration of Independence are written these powerful words: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” “Unalienable” means impossible to take away or give up. A few months ago, none of us said this kind of thing could happen. People said, “Not in America!” Well it has happened in America. And because it has happened by legalizing homosexual marriage, it proves that the homosexual movement is one of the most destructive movements of our day. Religious freedom is slipping away in the United States.

We will all have to decide whether to obey God or man. My hope and prayer is that you choose to obey God and His Word -- even if it costs you your freedom. As Christians, we must be willing to put God first in our lives. Either He is Lord of all or He is not Lord at all.

Just a Thought,

PSS

Are you a part of the church -- the body of believers? This is an important question to ask as we come closer to the end of this age, when Jesus “raptures” the church. The exact word “rapture” is not used in the Bible, but its meaning is. For instance, the Greek word for “rapture” is harpazo, which means to snatch away violently or to be caught up. I Thessalonians 4:13-18 speaks of this, so we know the church will be caught up and taken from the earth. If you are not a part of the church at that time, however, you will be left on the earth, because you have heard the gospel and have still chosen to reject Jesus as your Lord.

More and more scholars believe that those who have rejected Christ will not get a second chance and will be doomed forever, which is eternal death and separation from God. Unfortunately, many think this is a game, but the decisions you -- not your friends or family -- make today can and will determine where you spend eternity. What a terrible moment that will be for those who were unwilling to allow Jesus to be Lord of their lives! This day and age, they are the people who believe serving God is all about their friends and social life and they think they will never have to give an account for their lives. If this is you, take heed, for there is not salvation until we have accepted Jesus as our Lord; lordship is allowing Him to be the boss of our lives.

We must decide to make Jesus Lord of our lives. In doing so, we submit our will to His will -- honoring God and His Word and looking to Him concerning how we live our lives -- with the understanding that Jesus is either Lord of all or not at all.

If you are not sure whether or not Jesus is Lord of your life, or if you need to repent, pray today and be certain (Romans 10:9-10).

Just a Thought,

PSS

Being a leader, or leading, is not for the faint of heart; yet, in some respects, we all lead. Whether you are a husband, a single parent, a boss at your work, we all lead at some point in our lives. As Christians, we are to be examples, to anyone who looks at our lives, that God is real and Jesus truly is King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

Leadership, or being a leader, can be defined in many ways. In this context, however, leadership is going to be defined by one word – influence. We are all called by God, through the scriptures, to share Jesus with everyone who comes across our path -- especially friends and family. Whether we know it or not, we are all leaders and we are to influence others to want to accept Jesus into their own lives.

The Bible teaches that we are all called to the ministry of reconciliation. This means that we are to live our lives in such a way that the people around us -- those we work with, those who are in our families -- can see that because we have been born-again, by accepting Jesus into our hearts, it has made a huge difference in how we live, talk and act. In doing so, we teach them to also want a relationship with God.

Don’t shy away from any opportunity to influence others. Let’s all embrace it and become the best leaders (influencers) we can possibly become. We need to be godly examples to our families, friends, co-workers, and those we come into contact with each and every day of our lives. Embrace being the leader that you are and watch how God can use you to lead others to Christ. 

Just a Thought,

PSS

During times of difficulty and hardship, we need to stay planted and persevere. Whether things aren’t going well in our marriage, in our workplace, with our health, or with our children, we need to keep moving forward. Typically, it tends to be the darkest times in life that cause us to grow. The Bible says, “It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees” (Psalm 119:71, NIV).

Those who make a habit of quitting, or giving up as soon as they encounter an obstacle, never overcome. But those who persevere and keep moving forward look for ways to press on, and eventually overcome. By definition, to persevere is to persist steadily in an action or belief, usually over a long period of time, and especially despite problems or difficulties.

We must adjust our attitude and purpose to persevere. Regrettably, some of us have made a habit of quitting, which is why things don’t ever seem to work out. However, it’s not that things couldn’t have worked out, but that we quit way too soon. Therefore, we must learn to endure the storms in life and persevere. Remember -- quitters never win and winners never quit.

Just a Thought,

PSS