Through The Storm

Matthew 7:24-27

Seasons of hard times and struggles are guaranteed in life, besides death and taxes. Many who fail to accept this fact, and plan their lives accordingly, will no doubt fall victim to the consequences hard times bring. In a natural sense, the key to surviving any major storm is, having a solid foundation upon which a building intended to offer safety is constructed. If you were waiting out a storm in a building built on an established and proven foundation, the likelyhood of your survival would be great. But, if you waited out that same storm in a building founded on pretzel sticks, you’d probably soon be buried under everything that’ll undoubtedly fall on your head.

Enduring the storms of life is never an easy thing to do, especially when we place our hope in human efforts alone, but when our faith and trust rests in the hand of God, we’ll not only endure life’s struggles, but we’ll grow stronger from them. Hearing, and doing what God commanded in His Word, will solidify the grounds on which we stand, and the longer we stay true to God, the stronger and more solid our foundation will become. In the same way the proper mix of cement and water hardens over time, is how the faith of a Christian can become firm and unbreakable, the more time they spend doing the works of the Lord.

Avoid building your life on weak foundations, like two of the three little piggies, and imitate the third piggie, who built his house with a strong, solid, and durable foundation.

Keep your chin up… it’s easier to see Heaven that way,

Ell

Family Matters

1 Corinthians 6:1-6

Every family has issues, and that’s a well-known fact. Whether a household is conventional (father, mother, kids, pets, bills paid), unconventional (single mother/father, struggling, little rascals), or from another planet (kidding), trouble will always find a way to rear its ugly head in some form or fashion. The key to effective problem-solving is, dealing with them as soon as possible, and keeping it all in the family (no pun intended – Archie Bunker). Problems within families should be handled head on, so that the source of each issue can be discovered, dealt with, and avoided in future situations. Life is tough by default, so eliminating issues in your own family is a great way to keep unnecessary stress and drama from disturbing your long-term peace and happiness.

Believe it, or not, problems even arise among the children of God. Say what?! You mean to tell me, church folk fight, argue, and bicker amongst each other? Sure nuff! The modern church has issues just as the churches of the past did. The difference is, the church was commanded to judge all matters amongst themselves, and not seek counsel from unjust world systems. The apostle Paul was in disbelief at the fact that the church in Corinth had members taking church matters to the unjust, and not the saints. Judging matters outside of the realm of godly wisdom would hardly go in favor of the purpose of the believer, so taking church business to worldly systems is shunned upon, and unwise.

If there’s no one in your church wise enough to handle even the most simplest of matters between believers, then I would advise you to find another church. God is forgiving, so seeking peaceful resolution should be our aim in resolving any, and every matter between our brothers and sisters.

Keep your chin up… it’s easier to see Heaven that way,

Ell

What Are You Preaching?

Ephesians 3:7-13

The purpose of proclaiming the Word of God is, to edify and build the faith of those who are in Christ Jesus. When the believer’s faith is strong enough to understand God’s will for their lives, they can then put their faith to work, by compelling others to come, and become partakers and fellow-heirs of the body of Christ. If faith comes by hearing the Word of God, then all who preach God’s Word, should seek only to strengthen the faith of those who receive their words.

The church was established to continue the representation of God’s holy way, from the time of the disciples, until now. It’s unfortunate how many churches have conformed more to worldly standards, rather than holding fast to the standards set by the early church. The original disciples, along with those who were commissioned to go out and preach the Gospel, were keen on delivering pure, and unadulterated words inspired by God. They were bold, effectual, and most important, they were humble.

Early church leaders suffered greatly for delivering the Gospel message, but the more they were persecuted, the harder they worked to win souls. The same can hardly be said about modern churches, as the preaching of the Gospel message has been altered to satisfy itching ears, instead of building the faith of believers. The apostle Paul set a prime example of how leaders should carry themselves among the body, and of all the things he was accused of in his past, Paul never allowed them to distract him from his purpose. The great apostle went so far as to consider himself “less than the least of all saints” (vs. 8). This was an expression of extreme humility, which kept Paul safe from allowing pride to settle in his heart.

Leaders today should live in such a way, that God gets all the glory from their lives, and they should seek none for themselves. The average preacher you see on TV nowadays, dresses better than movie stars, drives the most expensive vehicles, print their names and faces on all the material they sell, while preaching messages that are 2 percent God, and 98 percent hot garbage. God desires that all men come to repentance, but men who refuse to preach the truth, make it hard for those who are sincere in seeking a better life.

Judgment is coming to the house of God, but it saddens me to witness many being deceived, because of men and their lust for fame and fortune. To those who remain true to God’s Word, be encouraged, and don’t allow anything to keep you from falling short of God’s glory. Continue to preach the Word in season, and out of season. Be bold in your proclamations whether people want to hear it, or not. Always remember, God will hold you accountable for how you influence the minds and hearts of others. So, if your aim is to use the Bible to deceive for selfish gain, rather than edify the body of Christ, then you’re in line to receive very harsh judgment, from God Himself. “And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.” (Luke 14:23)

Keep your chin up… it’s easier to see Heaven that way,

Ell

Ready Or Not, Here He Comes!

Matthew 25:1-13

🎵🎶 Be ready when He comes. Be ready when He comes. Be ready when He comes again, He’s coming again so soon. Don’t let Him catch you with your work undone. Don’t let Him catch you with your work undone. Don’t let Him catch you with your work undone, He’s coming again so soon 🎶🎵.

Soon, and very soon, Christ will return to this earth, and His coming will fulfill the prophecy that reads, “Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they [also] which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.” (Rev.1:7). Whether you believe in God, or not, doesn’t change the fact that this world will soon be quenched in unbearable flames, then made anew with the new Heaven (Revelation 21:1). Based on this simple fact alone, one would assume all men would strive to do what’s necessary to avoid the coming judgment on the earth, while seeking to be in right standing with the Creator of all things. Unfortunately, many people reject the truth of God’s written Word, and choose to trust in the wisdom of men.

It matters not how much we prosper in material things, because all things will eventually pass away, and not one carnal thing from this earth will be transferred to the next life. Christians should maintain a steady and direct focus on living holy now, in order to live in peace for all eternity. There’s no time to waste wallowing in frivolous matters, gossiping, arguing, fussing, fighting, and bickering over senseless things. Instead, we should be grateful for life, and use every breath proclaiming the goodness of the Gospel.

Of all the things you say and do throughout a day, how much of that is centered on kingdom business? Do you truly live to please God, or are you preparing only to have security on this decaying planet? The Bible teaches us how to live, until Christ returns, so get in the Word, and stay there. Forget those things that are behind you, that only brought you hurt, pain, and shame, and look forward to the life God has prepared for you, in His eternal kingdom.

Keep your chin up… it’s easier to see Heaven that way,

Ell

Play It Again

Psalm 119:97-104

When I hear a song, or watch a movie I really like, I can play either on repeat for weeks, or even months, and not get bored. Knowing every word to the song, or all the lines of each character from a movie, I’ll still find great pleasure from enjoying them, no matter how many times they are played. Call me crazy, or even insane, but when I really like something, it brings me joy everytime I’m entertained by it.

A thought crossed my mind the other day, about how many people literally get bored from reading the pages of Scripture. I can admit, when I began to study the Word of God in my early years, I didn’t find it to be as pleasurable as some portrayed it to be. I would often fall asleep, if I read more than two chapters of a book, because I would lose interest, and prefer to watch the game on ESPN. But, as I matured in godliness, and actually tasted God’s Word, I discovered that it’s the best thing I’ve ever tasted in my life!

The Word of God is rich in knowledge, and instruction on how to carry oneself as a child of God, so when I read the Bible nowadays, I hate to put it down, because God continues to reveal things in familiar passages, I had not noticed times before. Even if I’m watching a YouTube sermon from one of my favorite teachers, I can watch and rewatch their videos over and over, while still gleaning from their words of wisdom and inspiration.

It’s obvious to me now, that the more of God we have in us, the less space the world can occupy in our hearts and minds. When we love God more than anything else, we’ll even refrain from taking sides with evil men, because our godly understanding will help us discern what’s good for us, and what we are to separate ourselves from. Taste and see for yourself, that God’s Word is worth more than anything!

Keep your chin up… it’s easier to see Heaven that way,

Ell

Saints vs. Ain’ts

Proverbs 8:8-14, 17-21

Is it possible to tell time, from a clock with a broken display? How could one determine the time of day, if the sun, moon, and stars all refused to give off their light? A clock with a damaged display is rendered useless, because what it is expected to produce, is non-existent. In the same manner, without the light of the sun, moon, and stars, the inhabitants of the earth would be left in a confused state. A Christian who chooses to operate outside of the wisdom of God, will discover that their efforts to please Him will be futile. What’s expected of a child of God, can only be brought forth from a sound mind, and wisdom from above. Just like the clock with no display, a professing believer is unable to produce good works, nor keep the commandments of the Lord, when they lack His wisdom.

According to king Solomon (the wisest man to ever live), wisdom is the principal thing. In other words, Christians should seek first to obtain God’s wisdom, rather than gold, silver, rubies, and all things that the average man desires. Nothing that exists on this planet compares to the value of wisdom. While it’s good to have nice things, without God’s wisdom to show you how to keep those things under subjection, pride, arrogance, and other evil ways can easily creep into our hearts unawares. If you claim to be a child of God, and lack His wisdom, think it not strange when the world gives you confusing looks toward your ungodly behavior. The world is expected to produce corrupt fruit, but when they see a believer, they should only see “fruits meet for repentance.” (Matthew 3:8). Allow your actions and behavior to prove what you truly claim to be.

Keep your chin up… it’s easier to see Heaven that way,

Ell

Love/Hate Relationship

Proverbs 8:32-36

When a man truly loves God, he’ll learn to hate those things offered by the world. This present world is anti-God, and seeks only to promote sinful living, over the righteous living God promotes. The Lord gives wisdom to those who desire to obtain, and understand His life-saving knowledge, and directs their thinking (with His Spirit) to cater to desires that are pleasing to Himself. When we realize the true value of the Word of God, we’ll begin to lose interest in the many distractions and temptations that are set daily before us, by satan and his ungodly servants.

As a Christian grows in their relationship with their heavenly Father, their desire to want to please Him will greatly increase, in the same way a child does their best to please their natural father. It does the heart of a father good, to see their child excelling in academics, sports, music, or even exhibiting consistent good behavior. God smiles on His people when they willingly obey His Word, and seek only to mature, and get better at learning His ways.

When we love the wisdom of God, we’ll hate walking after man’s foolishness. When we love the grace of God, we’ll hate missing a moment to thank Him for giving us blessings we don’t deserve. When we love God’s everlasting mercy, we’ll acknowledge daily that He alone is worthy of our praise. When we love God’s presence, we’ll hate when the enemy tries to distract us with unhealthy music, TV, or other media that disturbs our moments with the Father. When we love God’s justice, we’ll hate witnessing social injustice, racism, and police brutality. When we love the truth of God’s unadulterated Word, we’ll hate when men lie, and use deception to take advantage of innocent people, especially those who do it from the pulpit. When we love the salvation that brings everlasting life from God, we’ll hate the fact that in these last days, men will be willingly ignorant of this truth, and set themselves on the path to eternal damnation.

Keep your chin up… it’s easier to see Heaven that way,

Ell

Back To The Basics

Proverbs 8:22-31

According to traditional educational systems, the fundamental foundations of learning are centered around reading, writing, and arithmetic. Although “The Three R’s” expand in depth, different skills in the minds of children, they are all dependent upon each other, yet are better appreciated the more a child develops more understanding of each. Once a child has a good understanding of the concepts of reading, he can then progress more in the areas of writing, and mathematical principles, but without a firm grasp on reading, all other areas of learning will be difficult for the child to grab hold of.

Growing in godliness, is attributed to three important concepts as well. These areas include wisdom, knowledge, and understanding. The Bible teaches that when we get wisdom and understanding, we are then able to represent God the way He intended us to. Wisdom is not to be forsaken, but promoted, because it will preserve, keep, promote, bring honor to, and deliver a crown of glory to all who are led by it.

The wisdom of God was purposed to keep the children of God functioning properly in the earth. We are taught in the scriptures to walk in the ways of Christ, but in order to do it effectively, wisdom must be present for that to even be possible. The more we operate in wisdom, the more we’ll develop a better understanding of the knowledge of the Word of God.

Wisdom, knowledge, and understanding work hand-in-hand to keep the Saints rooted, and grounded in holiness, therefore, “Get wisdom, get understanding: forsake it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth. Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee. Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.” (Proverbs 4:5-7 KJV).

Keep your chin up… it’s easier to see Heaven that way,

Ell

G. P. S.

Proverbs 8:1-7

Having a keen sense of direction is very important to those who often traverse different cities, states, or even countries, as well as those sailing on the open seas. Finding your way around your own community can at times become a hassle, so having the right sense of direction always proves useful when searching out a place or thing. In the past, men would use the stars as a means of finding their way from place to place, but today, we use navigation systems in order to make finding places easy, and to avoid getting lost.

Knowing where you’re going, removes doubt and worry, while replacing them with trust and confidence. This is how navigating through life with God’s wisdom as your guide, supports the Christian. Many start out well, trusting and believing in God to direct their paths, but over time they tend to confide in their own abilities to help them make decisions. Would you trust a tour guide to lead you on any nature adventure, when they have no sense of direction? You’d be better off using Google Maps to guide you on your way.

To those who are in God, and God in them, wisdom guides them in all areas of life, from the moment they accept Christ, until they leave the earth. God never wants His children walking blindly in this decaying world, so He gives wisdom to them, so that they’ll be guided along the righteous path.

Not only does wisdom guide men in the ways of holiness, but it also helps them control the words that leave their lips. I’ve heard some say they are Christian, but after hearing some of the words they spoke, I was convinced they were on the same payroll with Samuel Jackson. Wisdom will keep you from speaking perverse things, and fill you with right things. If you squeeze an orange and apple juice comes out, it was never an orange to begin with. In the same manner, if you squeeze a Christian, only words that are pure, lovely  and wholesome should come out.

Wisdom helps us in all things, seeking only to keep us in right standing with the Father. Be sure to allow the wisdom of God to take the reigns of your heart, because only then will you have a sure guide to follow, as you strive to be more like Christ.

Keep your chin up… it’s easier to see Heaven that way,

Ell

The Trials Of Faith

Job 42:10-17

When you suffer in life, do you automatically think it’s the direct result of some hidden act of sin you’ve possibly committed? Although sin does allow for bad things to happen to the believer, there are also moments when God will schedule a season of suffering for His children, as a means of testing the level of faith they have in Him. Serving God is a beautiful thing, but when our hearts are fixed on fulfilling His purpose in the earth, we are sure to ruffle the feathers of those who oppose righteous living.

Job experienced God’s scheduled season of suffering first-hand, yet proved to God, his confused wife, and misguided friends, that no matter what comes against him, nothing has the power or ability to turn him away from the Father. Through all the terrible things Job experienced, including the death of his ten children, losing all his famed wealth, and being stricken with a physical illness seemingly beyond healing, not once did this man sin against God.

One of the iconic verses in the book of Job is, “And the Lord turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before.” (42:10). How often do we cry, moan, and complain to everyone, during hard times, when God only wants to prove to satan, that our faith in Him will remain strong, despite spiritual and physical attacks. Regardless of the occasional hardships we are certain to encounter, we must not forget, we are still beyond blessed! God loads us daily with benefits including, life, health, and the freedom to read and study His Word. When bad things happen, rather than get worked up and full of worry, see your situation as an opportunity to show the enemy his efforts to turn you away from God, will be futile. And, when you stand in the midst of your attacks, while praying for those who misjudge your faith, God will turn your situation around, then bless you with more faith, strength, peace, joy, and love than you had before. Stay blessed Saints.

Keep your chin up… it’s easier to see Heaven that way,

Ell