Posted in Bible Journaling, Grace, Life Inspiration, salvation

Washed in Mercy

wash

Titus 3:5

Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

We are blessed to live in a nation where clean water is readily available to most, and it is for certain something that we take for granted. I was in the Philippines to sing at a conference about 11 years ago and my first shower in a home in the Philippines, which did have running water, but to shower there was a plastic cup that hung on the wall from a cold water only tap. You realize how very spoiled you are. It’s that spoiling that causes us to miss the blessings of salvation.

I want stuff. And the Lord says “You have stuff, you need Me.” I need more of the presence of the Holy Spirit in my life. This morning I was whining to the Lord about wanting something for my husband. He works so hard, he asks for so little. So when something comes up that he’d like, it hurts me that it’s not within his grasp. And while the Lord didn’t mind that I was whining for someone else for a change, it brought me back to that spigot in the wall, and a pipe sticking up out of the floor that was the toilet, and how blessed I was to be there. Because there in that city where many of the people had nothing materialistic in comparison to me, they had what I longed for and it cost nothing… the Presence of God.

While salvation was instantaneous upon the confession of Jesus Christ as Lord, my relationship with God is dependent on the time I spend in His Word and in His presence. As a friend once said “The Word of God is a spiritual warsh cloth.”

“Warsh” is the word “wash” spelled as he pronounced it. That’s an important piece of his story because he was raised poor and when he became wealthy, he didn’t forget where he came from. He glorified God and kept his humility.

When Paul wrote to Titus in chapter 3 he reminded him not to “get above his raisin.” Not to forget where he came from. The presence of God in our life, through the preaching and reading of His word is a cleansing. As I read the word this morning I was not only reminded that I can live better, but I was reminded of the fact that I can’t live good enough when it comes to obtaining the presence of God in my life. That only comes by and through His grace and mercy. I can’t earn stuff with God and I cannot earn His unmerited favor.

Praise God for that regeneration (the spiritual change) within me that gave me a new life, a new hope, and leaves my soul as clean as newborn baby in the eyes of God. Oh… I struggle. I fall and fail and muddy myself with the world around me. But He is faithful to scrub me back up!  Hallelujah!

Posted in Bible Journaling, Eternity, Family, Heaven, Life Inspiration, salvation

The Promise of Hope

hope
In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;

There is hope! I wanted to put that across every social media site this morning in big bold letters. It’s won’t be found in a lottery ticket, in the government of the United States, it won’t be found in our family, friends or your critter. If there is a giant hole in your heart you cannot fill it with money, things or other people. If someone or someone is missing you have only one hope, and that’s Jesus.

I speak from experience, else I’d not write it.

When my family lost my brother Richard, I was but a child, and a lost child at that. I didn’t understand eternity. I was brought up in church, I’d heard about Heaven, but it was nothing more than a word. A misunderstood concept. But then… Jesus.

It’s what the world doesn’t want to hear. That Jesus is the way, the truth and the life, and nobody gets to Heaven without Him. Not hearing it doesn’t change it, and not accepting it only hurts you further because He is what’s missing in your life that fills the hole you have inside. He does not replace the person that caused the hole, He simply fills the void where they are and gives a bridge to seeing them again. That was the sweetest gift in my own heart today when I thought of the people I can’t see. Even some who are here on earth…

When I ask my Mother once why she wasn’t angry with God for taking my brother at the age of 19, she simply responded “Because He is my only hope of seeing Richard again.” My Mom had found the bridge back to my brother. When my Dad passed away I missed almost everything about him, except one thing, the faith he shared with me. He had Jesus and that bridged the gap between us. I knew it was not goodbye, it was “save a place for me at dinner.”

So when I see a social media post of despair, I want to bridge that gap in their heart by telling them that I truly do care and that Jesus is their answer to the hopelessness they’re feeling inside. He doesn’t replace the person lost… He is what the song writer wrote with the words “He built a bridge with only three nails and two pieces of wood, with one rugged cross, Jesus built a bridge.”

Glory to God for the bridge that I found in 1996. Glory to God for the preacher who preached the gospel. Glory to God for the patience that God had in waiting for me to come to Him. Glory to God for there is hope on earth and peace… His name is Jesus. Amen!

Posted in Christian Service, Church attendance, Evangelism, Faith, Leadership, Life Inspiration, salvation, worship

Saved but Silent

on my mind

For certain it’s a conversation starter! For the passionate child of God it will make a preacher out of the meekest of them when they begin to tell of their inability to understand lukewarm saints. For the lukewarm saint it begins a conversation about the “Not Everyone’s.” With statements like:

  • Not everyone’s a soul winner.
  • Not everyone’s a shouter.
  • Not everyone’s got time.
  • Not everyone’s been called….

It’s usually at this point in a conversation that people start reading my very expressive face. My eyes roll. My lip gets bitten. My fingers and hands have a passion for rhythm from the war drums going off inside my head. My right leg starts to bounce a little as if I’m getting ready to run. And I too sit silent because I know if I say what’s on my mind there’s going to be hurt feelings. Usually mine, because you can’t convince a lukewarm saint that anything’s wrong with them. They love to tell me why they’re not lukewarm, they’re passion is just concealed in their conservative ways. And they’re offended that I would suggest otherwise.

Saved but silent is sickening.

A few personal thoughts that have my heart stirred up this particular Saturday night:

  • I know not everyone’s a shouter, else the church would be chaos. But the Lord wouldn’t mind a Holy grunt once and a while.
  • If you can’t remember the last time you were at the altar, you are way overdue.
  • There’s two reasons you go to the altar, 1. Because you need to, and 2. Because you think you don’t need to.
  • Everyone may not be a soul winner, but everyone should be burdened for souls.
  • If you think Sunday School isn’t important, you’re either very well studied and you should be teaching, or you think Sunday School is not needful and a waste of time. And God knows that’s what you think.
  • If the people you share your day with haven’t heard you talk about Jesus, you sat down and shut up when Satan told you to.
  • If your idea of an active prayer life is three meals and a bedtime prayer, you’ve covered food and sleep but the other 23 hours of your day are in the hands of Satan. If you don’t pray over your food, one day you may choke.
  • If you volunteer for school and community events but not for church your priorities are not in check.
  • If a child of God has made you feel uncomfortable because they do any of the aforementioned things you are going to be real uncomfortable in Heaven.

Just a few things on my heart…

Posted in Bible Journaling, Forgiveness, Life Inspiration, salvation

Do you remember the day you knew?

knowingI wrote yesterday on being under attack and it was a well-read blog. I guess there are many people feeling that way! Because of that, it’s very easy to get into a Debbie Downer attitude which puts you on easier ground for Satan to attack and it’s why you need to know that you know. As I read of the woman with the issue of blood this morning who reached out to touch the hem of the Master’s garment, it brought to mind the early days of my salvation when that touch was so fresh…

The scripture read in Mark 5:33 “But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told all the truth.”

The words that drew my mind into a place I loved being was “knowing what was done in her.” It’s knowing that I know that gives me a leg up on Satan. It’s having that place that I can return to in time when I knew something had happened with in me.

When I first attended Victory Baptist Church, February 18th, 1996 I went with a chip on my shoulder and ready to shrug off another church attendance, but something happened. I wasn’t saved that day, but I knew something had been stirred in my soul that caused my mind to shift to a new place and I would never be the same. Several weeks of going to the altar and begging God to do something, I finally realized He already had. He had changed me and introduced me to the Holy Spirit. I feared God, but not in a way that I feared judgement, I respected Him and longed to be the friend that I knew He’d been to me with His ultimate mercy. I told Him the truth; that I was a blood stained sinner just like the woman, and He healed that issue of blood by covering my wound with His own blood.

Do you know that you know? Then you should celebrate that truth today! The reason being, that in an attack that knowledge is a shield Satan cannot penetrate. Jesus told the woman upon her confession “Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole, go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.” That place of peace that I long for was restored in those words when I recalled the day I found the power of faith. Jesus saved me, I couldn’t do anything but reach out to Him. But my faith is what puts into action an army of abilities to make life better.

So what about you? Can you recall that day when you reached out to touch the Lord, and He acknowledge your touch with one of His own? Glory!!!!! That’s a good word for me today.

Posted in Eternity, Grace, Leadership, Life Inspiration, Political, salvation

Me and Jesus got it all Worked out… No Pope Needed

chick and Jesus

I’m not a fan of the Pope. I’m not a fan of anyone who tries to come between me and Jesus. I know that’s bad English. I’m okay with it. This is not a Catholic bashing post, it’s not a political post… although I make no promises that politics won’t come up. I started to watch the television news this morning which was left on by my husband as he went to work and then I thought better of it. Why start my day in any greater frustration that the world already does?

The Religious Side of this Event

Yesterday as I traveled down the highways of West Virginia listening to Bluegrass Junction on Sirius radio an oldie but goodie sung by Charlie Sizemore came on titled “Me and Jesus.” Written by Tom T. Hall long before “me and Jesus got it all worked out.” Well I just about took a shoutin’ fit in the car. I came home and looked up the chords and lyrics and now I’m claimin’ that one for myself and have added it to my repertoire of music for pickin’ events. This song somewhat epitomizes what I think of the Pope. How dare anyone this side of Heaven tell me that I need somebody to tell me what thus saith the Lord when I have the Word of God in my hand and the Holy Spirit in my heart. Both of which tell me in Matthew 27:51 the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom;” forever granting those who accept His death on the cross as payment for all sin to have access 24/7 to the Lord and Savior. Without the priest. Without the Pope. So that’s the end of that rant… now for the political side of it.

The Political side of this event

Whether or not I agree with the Pope, he is still a religious leader. He and I can agree to disagree and I’ll let God sort out the false doctrine that he’s touting on judgement day. It’s my role as a Christian to share the truth, which I just did, not bash the Pope. I’ll show him the respect that I show any other faith. What they believe is between them and Jesus. I stand accountable for me. But the President’s flagrant misuse of power again and again to slap God in the face, which is what he’s doing with this visit to the Whitehouse by the Pope, will likewise end on judgment day. His arrogance of promoting the gay, transgender, baby killing and Muslim agendas will eventually stop, whether or not American citizens get a backbone and do something about it. On the final Amen – Obama and his tribe of wickedness will stand before a Holy God Who only wanted to be loved for His willingness to die on that cross of Calvary and their arrogance will be gone. Of that I am promised.

The Personal side of this event

Do you and Jesus have it all worked out? Preaching is awesome! Christ died for the church, so please don’t tell me going there is not important, and there is countless scriptures of Christians getting together to worship God to back that up. But neither of those things save you. Salvation is between you and Jesus alone.  Accepting that He died for you so that when you die you can have eternal life with Him in glory. And to the dismay of the Pope, when you “get that all worked out,” you don’t need anyone to help you talk to Jesus. No fancy church… it could be just you kneeled down by a stump in the woods of Calhoun County, West Virginia. Where there is no Catholic Church.

I hope you have it all worked out!

Posted in Eternity, Life Inspiration, salvation

Do You Believe?

chick believe

Oprah Winfrey has a new show coming in October, and no… this is not an endorsement. When she verbally attacked a Christian woman on her show several years ago for having the audacity to say there was “only one way to Heaven,” I pretty much wrote Oprah off as a “spiritual authority;” not that I have ever counted her as one. Oprah said, and I quote “There couldn’t possibly be just one way,” Regarding the Christian faith. The announcement of her new show comes on the heels of my teen camp which was based on the movie “Do you Believe,” which is to be released on DVD on August 4th. That movie I will gladly endorse!!! But as for Oprah’s show, I watched the trailer and from what I could perceive, her opinion of “more than one way” still stands.

So what is it that I believe? I’m more than happy to share that with you!

I believe there is in fact only one way to Heaven. Because Jesus said in John 14:6  ~ “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” That pretty much sums it up.

So why do I believe the Bible is the Authority? Because in 1996 (the year I accepted Christ as my Savior) the Bible came to life for me. If you are not saved, you will not understand that statement. But as a child of God the Word of God will speak to every need of your soul. It is then you realize that it is way more than a book! But on the fact of accuracy and prophecy there are those much smarter than I who have determined the Bible’s authority. Dr. Hugh Ross’s website www.reason.org gave the following statistics on accuracy and authority of the scriptures:

Unique among all books ever written, the Bible accurately foretells specific events-in detail-many years, sometimes centuries, before they occur. Approximately 2500 prophecies appear in the pages of the Bible, about 2000 of which already have been fulfilled to the letter—no errors.

(The remaining 500 or so reach into the future and may be seen unfolding as days go by.) Since the probability for any one of these prophecies having been fulfilled by chance averages less than one in ten (figured very conservatively) and since the prophecies are for the most part independent of one another, the odds for all these prophecies having been fulfilled by chance without error is less than one in 102000(that is 1 with 2000 zeros written after it)!

Now, I didn’t need him to tell me that for me to believe it was true, but it’s still very interesting, is it not?

So what is it that you believe? And are you on my sight today because you’re searching for the answers, or are you a child of God who believes as I do? The reality of it all is this, whether we believe or not does not change Who God is, but it sure changes those who believe!

How did it change me? I don’t carry un-forgiveness, anger or hatred. It’s not that it doesn’t occasionally rear its ugly head… but it leaves quickly. I have compassion for people that I never thought possible, I pray and believe God heard and answered, even if the answer was no or later. I witness God every day in Creation. When I think about dying, I’m sad for those who are left here… not for those who died in Christ. I long for Heaven and the family and friends that are waiting for me to come home. I need to hear from God that I’m doing okay, just like a little girl needs daddy’s stamp of approval for a job well done. I love people deeper than I ever imagined I could because God made them who they are. And the greatest change of all that came upon my life was PEACE. Unexplainable peace in the best of times and the worst of times.

I Believe that Jesus Christ is the One and Only way to Heaven, because His blood on the cross of Calvary paid the price for my sinful heart to be cleansed and changed. Do you Believe?

Posted in Christian Service, Evangelism, Forgiveness, Grace, Leadership, Life Inspiration, salvation, Youth

Where are the Accusers?

chick rock

“Woman where are those thine accusers?” – John 8:10b

Last night I was the woman standing in the midst… of five little girls. I say little, and yet not so little, they were young teens. Actually I was sitting, playing and teaching guitar. One of the girls had recently attended a revival where I had sung a song I had written called “When Misery Met Mercy,” and she asked me if I’d sing it for them. What an honor! And an opportunity. I began to tell them the story of the woman caught in adultery and they were amazed. They’d not heard that story, nor had they heard that adultery was wrong. I’m shocked at my own naivety sometimes. I grew up with the teaching of bible morals and I just assume that the rest of the world at least knows, even if they choose to ignore it. But the shock in the young girl’s voice was evidence clear in my mind that she really had no idea that adultery was a sin… and for a second I judged…

Not her but the world around her. And then this morning I ponder this thought, and I am convicted of my own rock throwing. It’s so easy to become that religious crowd. An honest to goodness rock throwing Pharisee is what I felt like.

In irony, the night I sang that song at the revival a man preached who was fighting his way back from addiction, which was almost as hard as fighting his way back from the judgement of rock throwing Pharisees. And that night I was angry at the church people who had thought they had the right to sit in the seat of God and tell a man who has fallen, but gotten up, that he has no right to stand for Jesus. Who were they to condemn a man Who God had said “Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.” John 8:11b

Who am I?

Jesus said to the crowd that lingered behind, the ones who hadn’t picked up the stones, they were only spectators, “I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” And there I was a child of the living God, privileged to walk in the light of life and yet blinded to the world around me. I was a spectator. I didn’t throw the rock, but I sure didn’t feel as if I’d been defending that little girl either. I did not know her world, and yet every day I live in it.

I have no right to judge her world, especially if I’m not willing to go out into it. The religious crowd goes out into the world and drags the sins of the world before the church and says “We are better!” A child of God goes out into the world and says “I am you… the only difference is I’m forgiven.”

And then they share forgiveness.

No rock throwing for me today… just tears of compassion. Please continue to pray for our camp.

Posted in Eternity, Heaven, Peace, salvation

Heaven’s Post Master Has a Message for you Today

CHICK POSTAGEAs I ran along in the sermon of my friend Roger Carter…(I say “ran” because you’ll not likely walk through one. Once he starts preaching it’s like he’s been shot out of a cannon. He’s not stopping until he reaches his destination. He’s fun like that!), but along the way he said this, “Death is a change of address.” He had to run ahead without me for a little while because my mind got stuck on that thought and I couldn’t let it go. When someone we love moves a distance away we may be sad for a little while, but most of us adjust to the idea. We talk to them on the phone, or correspond by other means and plan for the next time we see them again; and we get excited in the planning process. But when someone dies the conversation is lost… and that’s tough. I don’t make light of it.

When I lost my Dad, I missed those conversations; his sense of humor, his love of family and music and most of all, his love of God. But because of his love of God and his personal testimony of a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ, I might have moments of sadness but I have I eons of hope! My Dad simply got a new address, and I know that I know that I’ll see him again in glory and that makes this journey bearable. And in the mean time I ask God to tell my dad “Hey,” and go back to planning our reunion.

So what about that address?

Living in rural West Virginia has many advantages, but one advantage is our source of entertainment… each other. As I began this blog, my mind drifted back to the 1980’s when I worked as an ad manager for a local newspaper. The editor of that paper had moved to our area after retiring as an editor for the New York Times. He absolutely fell in love with West Virginia! But he did have days which caused him ponder his decision. One such day was when he went across the street to the local post office to mail a book to a friend in Canada. He was informed by our elderly post master that you couldn’t mail anything out of the country (and he was serious). After a lengthy argument with the old man, the editor returned to our office, half angry and half in hysterical laughter. I’m not sure if he ever convinced the post master that you could mail things out of country, or if he took his book to another post office, but none the less made for a great story and one we laughed about for years to come.

There’s no physical address for that country where God dwells with my friends and loved ones who have died, but there’s a spiritual address and it’s every bit as real as Grantsville, West Virginia. Are you planning for the trip?

RETURN TO SENDER

A child of God will return to sender in the blink of an eye when their day comes to leave this world. Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 15:52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.” That speaks of the day that Christ will call His church home. Many of us will go at once and a lost world will be left in turmoil. That day is likely very near. But for those who pass away before that day Paul said in 2 Corinthians 5:8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.”

Confident that he would be delivered, postage paid by the blood of Jesus Christ who paid the price for us to be able to dwell in that city not made of hands but by God Himself.

But what about those who haven’t made preparation?

TURNED TO CINDER

Jesus told a religious crowd the fate of a rich man who died without knowing God in Luke 16:23 when He said “And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments”. God doesn’t sugar coat Hell, and just because someone doesn’t believe it exists or chooses not to make a choice doesn’t make it an untruth and their choice is made. Hell is eternal separation from everyone. Look at the people in your life that you care about. Are you prepared to never see them again? It’s not only separation it’s also a place of fire, torment and gnashing of teeth and totally unnecessary. That address was never meant to be on the map, but because of sin and our rejection of God’s forgiveness by and through the sacrifice of His Son Jesus, it’s there.

Have you been marked postage paid, or are you lost in transit; having never accepted God’s gift of salvation? It’s the best gift ever! And it’s never undeliverable. No matter where you’ve been in life or what you’ve done, God’s grace is sufficient for all. Don’t spend another second in time without making that decision. Watch the news… and more importantly read the Word of God. Written thousands of years ago and yet they line up together with God’s warning that He’s going to return. Don’t miss the Post Master to Heaven!!!!

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Posted in Life Inspiration, salvation

How to Make it Through a Terrible, Horrible, No Good Day

Chick Comfort

My husband and I recently watched Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. Don’t ask me to critique it. My attention spans can capture a commercial but as for a movie, unless it’s AMAZING, you can pretty much rely on the fact that I’ve got three other projects going while it’s running and a couple setting on the burners of my mind in case those don’t pan out. (truth)

The premise of Alexander’s story is, he’s always having a bad day and his family and their perfect lives just can’t identify. Until the day that the tables turn and Alexander is the chosen child while his families lives fall apart… then the comedy of errors is on. Life is full of bad and good days and we’re all just a phone call away in either direction. The vast majority of us go through life in a state of “Us and Our Typical, Mediocre, So So, Average Days.” Giving little thought to “No Good” days until we’re confronted with them. At least I do. I am the Queen of the “I’m Fine Theory.” Life is good until it’s not and then I’ll pretend it is to the rest of world while my inward world crashes down around me and I’m left in a puddle in the road until the Savior comes and scoops me up, comforts my soul and puts me back in the game of life.

What about you this morning? How exactly is your day? For me… I’m in need of comfort for myself and for my friends; so if you’re one of those… consider this blog for you.

2 Corinthians 1:3-6

The Source of Comfort

Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;

The Creator of life and He Who must stamp “approved” on any circumstance in our life is the God of all comfort. I’d be lying if I said I’d never questioned why God put me through some things in my life. I did not enjoy them, sometimes I was not sure I’d survive them. But I can honestly say that when all was said and done and I was on the other side of that horrible day, God had a purpose and it was always amazing. The harder the trial, the more amazing the end result. It’s that coal and diamond theory… pressure makes us shine.

The Science of Comfort

Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.

I’m not sure how God turns a lump of coal into a diamond or makes me shine in some of the ugliest circumstances, but it happens. Although we’re the beneficiary of it, it’s not for us that that science occurs, it’s for someone else whose going through a trial of their own, thinking they’ll not survive and then low and behold God sends us  across their path, and the Science of Comfort is the word “hope.” Which could have been lost, with tragic end if we were not allowed to set before them as an example.

The Savior of Comfort

For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.

It is through our relationship with Christ that we identify with His death, burial and resurrection, we understand the new life we were given on the day of salvation. But also on that day of Salvation was Christ living in us and becoming a part of our lives… prospering us through Him. Christ does not joy in our suffering any more than He enjoyed enduring the cross, but He brings us through to the point of victory because on that day He creates in us something new again. Something we’ve never experienced before that will draw us closer to Him and cause us to discover a strength or gift that we did not know existed.

The Salvation of Comfort

And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.

I’ve known far more Christians saved in the midst of heartache than happiness. I’ve also seen the heartache of a saint turned into happiness when they realized that their strength in the storm was what caused a lost soul to recognize the difference between the heartaches of saved and lost.

Friend… if you’re suffering today, I’m not privy to the reason but I’m privy to the Redeemer. And I know He has a purpose in your fight. If you’re not saved, that is first and foremost on your agenda to understanding. Here’s a link to help you out.

 https://thejesuschick.com/the-road-to-salvation/

If you’re a child of God and you’ve found yourself facing the trial of your life, get into the Word of God and cling to those that speak peace to your soul. And if Satan tells you not to bother… run faster, because he’s far too close. And then prepare your Victory Speech! Because God will bring you through.

Posted in Christian Service, Church attendance, Life Inspiration, salvation

The Hypocrite Across the Street

chick hypocrite

For the record, there’s a hillside across the street from my house. No homes. But that thought popped into my head this morning when I began to think of the excuses I hear for why friends and family do not go to church. The one that grinds on my nerves the quickest is when names come into the equation.

“Well you know so and so who’s in church every Sunday, following a night at the bar on Saturday; I live better than they do.”

“Church sure does what’s his name a lot of good, have you heard his mouth on the job?”

Perhaps you could insert your own here, with or without a name attached, it doesn’t matter. It’s an excuse and it has absolutely nothing to do with why you’re not in church. I know… because 20 years ago, I was you. Measuring my life up to the so and so’s. And I could almost always find someone living worse. It wasn’t until February of 1996 that I had a huge revelation!

They and I were tools of Satan. If Satan could get my mind on them, and off of God, I could live without guilt when not attending church; even though I was brought up in church. And in so doing Satan had me right where he wanted me, living defeated, knowing that there was more to life than I was experiencing but never quite finding it. Church for me was a theatre of mistakes. In a small community I knew everyone, and much of what everyone did… and I’m pretty sure that God didn’t approve. So on the occasions I attended church I had a running tally in my head, line upon line, precept upon precept, pew upon pew… I knew their sins. Case in point, they likely knew mine! And Satan laughed all around the church house as he planted those thoughts and the seeds took root and the message of God was overshadowed by hypocritical lives.

And then it happened.

February 18th, 1996, the gospel pierced my heart and all of a sudden there was only one hypocrite in the church. Me! Because I knew that I had been playing church all along and that I never truly knew Christ as Lord, I only knew Him as Christ in the picture on the wall and the name in the Bible that I seldom read. He had never made me cry…until that day. And it wasn’t that He hurt me, it was that I realized I had hurt Him… He Who had done nothing but create and love me, and stood at the door waiting for me to let Him in.

And so I did! Glory Hallelujah!!!!

And from that day forward, I was no longer a hypocrite, or looking at hypocrites. Do I still sin? Yes, and likely will until Jesus returns, it’s our nature. Do I want to sin? No. And that is God’s nature living within me. That’s the difference between a Christian and hypocrite: Both are sinners, but the hypocrite, doesn’t care. The Christian is convicted by the sin and desires to right that relationship with God. God then forgives and child of God’s slate is wiped clean. The hypocrite, who may or may not know God, continues to stack sin upon sin, until the weight is more than they can bear until they get right with God; or they continue on in the world and ignore God until He no longer knocks upon their door.

That’s the scary part… when God stop’s knocking.

If you’re still making excuses, stop. God created, He loves you and He wants you in church so that He can speak to your soul and encourage you! Don’t miss that message. Services start at 10 and 11.

Apostle Paul put it like this in Romans 7:15

For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.

That is a sinner saved by Grace!