Stay On Track

Psalm 119:169-176

During my early years of life, I always found trains to be a fascinating means of transport. Watching those intricate machines glide across the tracks while waiting in the back seat of my parent’s car, was always a thrill to witness. I would often get scolded by my grandmother, because whenever I would ride with her while going over a train track, I always felt the need to add a few extra bounces in the van, even after we had rumbled over the tracks.

Trains have one mission, and that’s to get its cargo from point A, to point B. While technology has made for more efficient transportation, there are rare occasions when a train will get derailed from its track. As strange as it may seem, dealing trains is rather easy. In fact, the most common way is to drive it too fast for the rail position. The wheels can ride up the side of a rail on a curve at high speed, and if the alignment is too wide or narrow it will cause the train to dip, and rise up off the rails. That’s a scary thing to witness. The process of placing a derailed train back on its track is rather tedious, and requires hard labor, but once the train is placed back into its proper position, it can then proceed to carry out its assigned duties.

The church can be compared to a train. While the train is set on a track, and assigned to carry resources from place to place, believers are also positioned in God’s will, to carry His message of the Gospel from heart to heart. Oftentimes, a believer will veer off track, and end up in places and positions God didn’t intend for them to be in. But, getting back on track with God, requires one to first realize they are out of position, then cry out to Him for His salvation. It’s unfortunate how many only consider God’s grace, after they’ve fallen, rather than cling to it before a fall, in order to remain on track.

Never allow yourself to stray away from God’s leading, and commit to doing His will, so that you’ll always be in the right position to fulfill your mission. Remain consistent in God’s Word, stay on track, and choo choo nonstop, until you reach your final destination.

And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold… don’t become one of them.

Ell

Show Me Something!

James 2:14-26

Whenever I hear someone brag or boast about their skills, abilities, or accomplishments, I tend to back away from those types of conversations, and eventually maintain my distance from those persons altogether. Men who puff themselves up, are usually consumed with pride, and have little to no desire to walk in humility. Then, there are those who are capable of making others feel beyond special with their honeyed words, but they fail to contribute what’s necessary to see that those persons truly attain their desires. My siblings and I were raised to let our works speak for us, rather than toot our horns loudly to impress others. Talking means very little, especially when works aren’t attached to them. This applies heavily in the Christian faith. The Bible teaches, faith without works is dead, and I highly doubt it could get any more plain than that.

God judges us not by faith alone, but by the works, or lack thereof, associated with what we profess. You can tell any person you love them, or that they’ll make it through their struggles, but the sign that you truly believe what you say, would be revealed in the actions you take to make those words manifest. The Bible also equates dead faith with the human body without the spirit: it’s lifeless, and incapable of producing anything.

A wise woman taught me, “Talk is cheap! Show me something!” Those words ring loudly everytime I hear someone give advice, or offer wise counsel. Nowadays, people care less about what you say, and more about what you do. So, make sure if you’re bold enough to say something, be ready to back it up with your works. If you told God you love Him, and He’s first in your life, then how you live from now on, should reflect those very words that left your lips.

And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold… don’t become one of them.

Ell

My Endearing Heart

Colossians 2:1-5

I am proud of all those who have made Christ their reason for living. I am proud of all the men and women, who gave up their lives of sin, and decided to follow after the things of God. I am proud of everyone who willingly presents their bodies as living sacrifices to God daily, and do so without murmuring or complaining. I am proud of the fathers, who take charge in their homes; leading, teaching, and covering their wives and children in constant prayer. I am proud of the mothers, who understand their role in the family; to be the help, meet (suitable) for the husband, and submit to God’s order of the family. I am proud of the children who obey their parents, in the Lord; who will live long and prosperous, for their obedience. I am proud of those who lead congregations, operating in the fear and admonition of God, who teach the Word, and preach the Gospel boldly in season, and out of season. I am proud of those who remain faithful, even while working in spirituality hazardous environments. I am proud of the people who choose to be modest in their choice of clothing, and refuse to advertise their flesh to the world. I am proud of the men and women who have decided that living for God outweighs living for anything or anyone else. I am proud of those who sacrifice, so that others can benefit from their time, prayers, and other contributions. I am proud of all who are grateful for the blessings God gave to them, and don’t become jealous or envious of the blessings others receive. I am proud of those who remain strong, even during times of great loss. I am proud of those who mourn with those who mourn, and weep with those who weep. I am proud of the people who are not easily provoked, nor stricken with fear, from the biased and corrupt news, broadcasted throughout media streams. I am proud of the Saints, who boldly go where many refuse to, during the good times, and the bad (before the throne of grace). I am proud of the few who walk the narrow path, that leads to life. I am proud of the remnant, who suffer persecution for righteousness sake. I am proud of those, who will not bend or break in these end times. I am proud of those who refuse to quit, despite the pressure pressing against them. I am proud to be a Son of God; saved by grace, filled with His Spirit, and prepared to stand against the wiles of the enemy.

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

Ell

Saved For A Purpose

Matthew 11:7-19

Hey born-again man, and sanctified woman… guess what? The world hates you! Do you wanna know why? Well, it’s simple. The world hates you, because you walk, talk, and act like Jesus. That’s it! You are a living example of what holiness is in the 21st century, and satan can’t stand it! He and his minions have been trying to silence the message of the Gospel for thousands of years. Every day you get out of bed, demons devise plans to wreck your day, but they are hardly successful, because God has angels watching over you, and fighting in the realm of the spirit, on your behalf.

You, mighty man, and virtuous woman, are the reason why the devil works diligently to thwart the plan of God. God has already passed judgment on the devil and his demonic accomplices, but until the day of judgment comes, the enemy roams free, seeking only to bring the children of God down with him. Have you ever seen, or heard of a situation where a person was drowning, and when someone came to rescue them, they panicked, causing their rescuer to drown with them? Well, satan is doomed, and is frantically attacking the church, in hopes that they will fall out of right standing with God, and spend eternity with him, in the lake of fire. I hate to burst satan’s bubble, but you, man of valor, and highly favored woman, are too focused, and motivated on fulfilling God’s will for your life, and you will not bow down to the forces of evil and wickedness!

This is the generation the prophets of old would love to experience, because these are the days when, “I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:” (Acts 2:17). I say to you courageous man, and faithful woman, be strong in the Lord, and in His mighty power. God sits high, and is observing all that’s going on in the earth. He is neither surprised, nor caught off guard by the goings on of mankind. But, God is watching you, redeemed man and woman, to see how you will conduct yourselves in these end times.

Will you fall short, after running the race faithfully for years? Will you break and give in to the pressures of this perverse society? Or, will you stand strong and be bold, as the apostles were as they faced persecution on levels far beyond anything we’ve ever experienced? Know this; you are special to God, and He is your biggest supporter. Make Him proud of you, by living according to righteousness, no matter how rough and tough your life may get, knowing that it’ll all be worth it, in the end.

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

Ell

Selfless Consideration

Romans 15:1-6

In our society, working together is promoted in all areas of business, education, and entertainment. Businesses thrive on increase and productivity, but their success can only go as far as their unified organization allows them to. Teachers work hard to ensure that their students learn and develop the skills required to advance to the next grade level. When done for the right purpose and with right intentions, teachers can impact the lives of their students far beyond their initial expectations. Without unity and togetherness, it would be unwise for any team, of any sport, to attempt to challenge an opponent, because their lack of teamwork would weigh heavily against them, causing them to suffer a great and embarrassing loss. From these examples, it’s safe to presume that working together as a single unit, will always produce better results, than operating from a system of dysfunction.

While teamwork involves all members working together toward a common goal, each individual must exhibit behaviors of humility, compassion, and understanding, in order for the “team” to “work” effectively. In our text, the apostle Paul helps Roman believers grasp a better better understanding of the importance of unity, amongst the body of Christ. Although each member of the body performs different functions, not one area holds more importance than another. The Bible does teach that we are to honor our leaders, and give them respect, but we must not consider our own callings irrelevant, in comparison to theirs.

The church is at its best, when all members perform their duties with all their heart, aiming to give God glory from their lives. Unfortunately, times will arise when those who are weak in faith, may tend to get weighed down by the heaviness of life’s struggles. During these critical moments, those who are strong in the Lord, ought to make haste to cover, protect, edify, and restore those who may fall, because at any moment the enemy could come and sift them as wheat. The Bible doesn’t teach us to be “people pleasers”, but we are commanded to live to please others. In pleasing others, we make ourselves available to lift them up during times when they feel down, supply their needs during seasons of lack, or simply loaning an ear or shoulder for someone to cry on, giving them hope that they’re not alone in the fight of faith.

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

Ell

Do Your Job

1 Thessalonians 5:12-22

Respect among the body of believers, goes a long way to ensuring unity, and effectiveness from all members working together. While striving to please God with our lives, the apostle Paul helps us understand how important it is to recognize those who have been placed in leadership positions, and the great task that comes with walking in their shoes. Many leaders don’t get the respect they deserve, because laymen tend to think life comes easy for them. On the contrary, real leaders face challenges more often than many are aware of. It’s a tough task to lead people, who all have different ideas and opinions on how the job should be done, but when a man is led by God, his steps are ordered in a way where the people will benefit naturally, and spiritually, if they follow who God placed over them.

Rather than focus on whether or not a leader is doing everything right, members of the body of Christ should be more concerned about the basics of Christianity mentioned in the text. Paul admonished the church at Thessalonica, to show love to those who are over them, as well as keep peace among themselves, warn those who tend to get a little out of hand, support the weak, and be patient toward all men. Just as our leaders have great responsibilities to maintain, we must also do our part to maintain a holy standard of living. Do you comfort those who are down in the dumps, and need a shoulder to lean on? Are you patient during stressful and uncomfortable situations? Do you keep peace with those who fight alongside you in the faith? Can you find something to be thankful for, in every circumstance you experience in life? I admonish everyone to spend more time in prayer, and ask God to strengthen your faith, fine tune your focus, and help you diligently carry out the duties Christians are to boldly exhibit on a daily basis.

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

Ell

Righteous Fruit

Romans 12:9-21

Of all the fruit I’ve had the pleasure of tasting in my lifetime, my top three are mangos, watermelon, and grapefruit. I can eat any of those, anytime, any day, and anywhere! Good ole’ yum yum, in my tum tum! God made many trees that bring forth good fruit, but each tree can only bear the fruit of the type of seed that was planted in the ground. There’s never been a time when I went to a mango tree, and found grapefruit hanging from the branches, nor have I witnessed lemons falling from grapefruit trees. Every tree produces the same fruit after the predetermined information embedded in the seed.

All members of the body of Christ, are like trees, which bring forth fruit. Those who have the seed of God’s love embedded in their hearts, will always produce good fruit. Recognizing a child of God should never be difficult, because they can consistently be found showing love and kindness to others, being sensitive to other people’s needs, always active in doing good, and forever serving the Lord. The fruit that the righteous bear, benefits all who are within the vicinity of the believer. Just as the mango tree will always produce mangos, the Christian should produce the love of God on a consistent basis.

The children of God have duties to uphold, that easily separate them from the world, and when their minds are in union with the Lord’s, they will walk in humility, live peaceably with all men, and use good fruit to overcome evil.

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

Ell

Have A Heart

Luke 11:5-13

Why are people so mean these days? Have you thought about that lately? I’m not too sure how things went on back in the olden days, but from my experiences growing up in the 80’s and 90’s, men showed a bit more respect for one another, than they do today. Fathers taught their sons proper work ethics, and how to be kind and courteous to women, and mothers would show their daughters the ways of womanhood. Far gone are the days of “yes sir”, and “no ma’am”, because children aren’t being taught to respect their elders. Instead, are youth are being groomed by Disney and Nickelodeon, rather than good old fashioned wisdom, and Bible teachings. Old cartoons usually conveyed chivalry by showing a man laying down his coat over water, so a woman’s feet wouldn’t get wet, or by young boys holding doors open for elderly women. Those virtues are hardly seen today, because men have become selfish, and more self-centered than ever before.

In my 38 years of journeying on this planet, I’ve learned, the farther men drift away from God, the more inclined they are to entertain immoral, and unethical behaviors, but the closer they remain to the Father, the more apt they are to show love and kindness by default. Jesus taught that friends are to always be there for each other, even if it comes at a cost. When you say love someone, there will ALWAYS come opportunities for that love to be proven. Our text gives a few examples of the proper way to handle friends in need, and the importance of showing kindness to those in desperate situations. If I’m hungry, and come to a friend in the wee hours of the night for food, is it right for them to shun me away saying, “it’s too late”, or give me a bag of rocks? Not at all. Instead, they should make it top priority to see that my need is met, especially if they have more than enough to spare. This is especially relevant for the body of Christ. No brother, or sister joined to God, should ever deny a fellow believer assistance (within reason, obviously). Even if you can’t personally assist someone, the least you can do is help point them in a direction where help can be rendered.

If you claim to have the love of God residing in your heart, it should ALWAYS show in your actions. Remember to treat all men the way you desire to be treated, and love them with the same love God shows you every day.

Walk in love,

Ell

Don’t give up, help is on the way!

2 Chronicles 29:3-11

Can you recall a time, when life had become so rough for you, until you literally gave up on everyone, including God? During this hard season in your life, it seemed like everything was falling apart, from having problems at work, home, and all other areas. Your money was acting funny, kids acting like power rangers, coworkers keeping up drama, and even your spouse didn’t make things better by adding more pressure to your already complicated situation. All you wanted was relief, but the One you needed most, you turned away from. Anytime we turn away from God, by default, we turn toward ungodliness. This is why most people get caught up in things they never imagined could influence them like doing drugs, drinking, or participating in unholy activities to cope with the stress and pressure they experience.

Unhealthy amounts of stress can even cause the most elite to stop praying, fasting, and trusting in the power of God. Only until we turn away from things set to keep us bound to our worries, and place our faith back in God, will we begin to see the hand of God move on our behalf. God sees our struggles, and knows that life can be uneasy at times, but turning away from Him does nothing except cause Him to withhold His blessings from us. Always remember, God isn’t moved by our tears, but by our faith.

A valuable lesson in reference to returning to God, is found in our text. During the time when the fathers of the children of Israel had turned away from God, the people suffered greatly for their father’s sins. They trespassed and did evil in the sight of God, forsook God, stopped going to church, turned their backs on God, and refused to give sacrifices to God, who had done so many great things for them. What sense does it make to turn away from the very One who provides, supplies, and fulfills all your needs and desires? This is why I don’t understand how children can turn against their parents, who literally give them everything! They’re provided shelter, food, clean clothes, rides to school, programs, and shopping centers, yet they are always ungrateful.

The children of Israel suffered, until Hezekiah began to reign. Unlike those before him, who turned away from God, king Hezekiah “did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, according to all that David his father had done” (vs. 2). Instead of following in the footsteps of men who lost God’s favor, the new king obeyed the will of God and did good in His eyes, clinged to God, opened the doors of the church and repaired them, and removed all the filthiness out of the holy place. Restoring oneself back to God requires cleansing of the inner man first, then he can bring forth actions that please God.

No matter how tough life gets for you, NEVER turn away from God. Seasons of trial and testing will come, but they’re only scheduled in your life to prove your level of faith in God, build character, and encourage those around you (if you remain strong throughout). “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths”
(Proverbs 3:5-6 KJV).

Walk in love,

Ell

Partners from the beginning

Genesis 2:18-24

A few lessons ago, I noted contrasting opinions between myself, and the apostle Paul, where he mentioned, “For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man has his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that” (1 Corinthians 7:7). Paul’s reasoning behind his desire that all be single, wasn’t based on selfishness, but so that men and women could focus all of their attention on God, as he did, without balancing the challenges and concerns involved with marriage as well. Marriage is a beautiful thing, but can become a distraction when the husband and wife are unable to maintain a godly focus. God instituted marriage, and it should be carried out the way He designed it, and I strongly believe that everyone should desire to experience it, but only for the right reasons.

When God took one of the ribs from Adam, and skillfully formed the woman, He made certain to take her from his side, so that she could be equal with him, from under his arm, to be protected by him, and from near his heart, so that she could be loved by him. Knowing this, the woman should never feel that she’s beneath the man, nor regard herself as inferior, but should carry herself as the “help” God created to “meet” the needs of her husband.

Establishing a solid foundation, and working together, are two key elements required to make a marriage work. One reason I’ve learned why many marriages fail is, the foundations were built on feelings and emotions, rather than planning and logical reasoning. When a man makes up in his mind that he’s prepared to marry a woman, he should first have a job. What woman in her right mind would give up all her single liberties to a man who is unable to support her? In my most humble opinion, that’s borderline insanity! It’s obvious that God should be at the forefront of a woman’s desires in a man, but having consistent income is far more attractive than biceps and a six-pack.

In the beginning of any relationship, the courting process is super important. Adam and Eve were an exception, as they were the only two humans in existence, and I’m convinced Adam was created with unlimited knowledge, based on his reference to a man leaving his father and mother. If Eve and himself were the only humans created, then how could Adam possibly have any understanding of family, except it had already been embedded in his system? That’s information for another lesson. In any case, having knowledge and reverence for God will help in choosing a wife suitable to the man. After God made Adam, He immediately put Him to work, then taught him the Word. The man seeking a wife should follow this example, by studying and meditating on the Word of God, and being in a position to financially support a wife. According to Scripture, the man is responsible for teaching the Word of God to his wife. No, I didn’t stutter. Rarely do men follow this example, as we see more women doing the teaching these days, but God’s order was designed where men are to teach the Word in their homes.

Can you see how out of order this world has become? Roles have been reversed, and families are dysfunctional, but all could be avoided if God’s order is implemented in every marriage. As you prepare your mind, heart, and social position to be a husband or wife, don’t forget to check what God expects from you as well. Marriage indeed is a beautiful institution, and I pray yours gains God’s favor from now, until eternity!

Walk in love,

Ell