Category: motivational

Basics

Radically Saved

Matthew 6:11-13- “Give us today our daily bread and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.”

Some days we just need to get back to the basics…

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Goals

Psalms 27:4 -“The one thing I ask of the LORD—the thing I seek most—is to live in the house of the LORD all the days of my life,delighting in the LORD’s perfections and meditating in his Temple.”

What is it you seek most this Wednesday?

In Christ,

David

My Struggle

Good morning everyone and Happy Sunday. I hope everyone is having a nice weekend; I am wrapping up some time with my Bride’s side of the family and headed home later this afternoon. Prayers would be appreciated as I make the 3 hour trip back home.

So, today’s message will be a little different; this one is about me. About me in the sense that I have a real problem that I know I’m not alone in; so, maybe by me telling my story it will help someone else along the way…

MY BIGGEST STRUGGLE is losing this weight. As I type this message I am pushing almost 400 pounds. I have already had one hip replacement and I am only 47 years old. When I was younger losing weight was not an issue but now times have changed and I’m just at a loss. I have started and stopped with so many different things that I am almost at the point of giving up. It’s funny because whenever I go to the doctor my bloodwork comes back perfect. You name it, my levels are in line, however, I know its just a smoke screen for my heart and body will only support this weight for so much longer….

Some will say, “you just have to want it bad enough”. Usually that statement comes from someone that is already skinny and just looking to tone up. They have never faced the struggles I have when it comes to food and that makes the whole thing harder. Sometimes, reality wins over will…Can anyone relate? I only wish the way I feel this morning, completely sore and sick to my stomach, would pop up right before I eat that pizza or candy or bad food of choice but alas it never does. All I can think about is how good the food will taste. I know I’m weak and YES I have given this to God, but I simply always lose the fight.

Again, I share this with you all not to get your sympathy but to hopefully let someone else know that may struggle with this that your not alone. I grew up with a mom whose version of cooking was picking up McDonalds, Burger King, or Wendy’s and its been downhill ever since. I just don’t know what to do anymore for I want to live as long as I can to spend as much time as possible with my family but how I get there, I just don’t know anymore…As with all things I will continue to give this to God though, praying for a miracle….

Blessings,

David

Double Minded

“James 4:8- “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands you sinners and purify your hearts; you double minded”

Good morning everyone and happy Saturday! This week seemed to take forever! It definitely took a lot out of me both physically and spiritually but God is good and this weekend I plan on doing a lot of recharging. Thank you too to all those that have been praying for me as I work really hard to achieve some short term goals of mine. On to what God has given me today…

So I have read the NT from front to back a few times in my life but it never ceases to amaze me how much new stuff I learn when I go back and re-read things. In James, like most of the NT, you would initially think he is talking to unbelievers. I mean, if what I see from many Christians today as far as pointing fingers and judging others is concerned, this book would seem to fall right in line with their way of thinking. However, when you look closer, you start to see that really, James is talking to a whole different group of people. Here are three thoughts on the passage I am focusing on today:

1. James is talking to the Church!- Where is our James today? Not all but many of us as believers have fell into the trap Satan set for us since Jesus rose from the dead; working so hard at pointing fingers at others that we have forgotten to hold ourselves accountable first. Who is holding the Church accountable today? We need more people like James.

2. Verse 4 lays out the truth!- James tells us four verses earlier that being double minded is to be “an Enemy of God”! What? You don’t agree? How many passages has God left us about serving two masters? You can’t serve the world AND serve God and if you serve the world then you serve ITS master (Lucifer). Ouch! Again remember that James is speaking to people that consider themselves believers. Makes you think about where we are today does it not?

3. Our relationship with God is a two-way street!- James speaks of the fact that if we will draw near to God, He will draw near to us. See this is the thing that we all get backwards sometimes. We think that once we accept Jesus as Savior that all is rosy and we can just sit back and let God bless us…WRONG! God loves us so much that not only have we been given the free gift of eternal salvation through Jesus Christ, but we have also been given free will. Free will to make up to the minute decisions on whether or not we want Him in our lives. (We do decide that each minute whether or not you realize it or not). So with that free will we must choose to reach out to Him and ask Him to be part of our lives daily. God is a gentleman and will never force Himself on us. (A wise Pastor told me that once)

Friends, consider this a “James message”. We must stop pointing our fingers on social media about how bad people are and start pointing that finger back at ourselves. We must start to begin a period of self-reflection on if how we as believers are acting is truly furthering the Gospel of Jesus Christ OR is it simply bringing attention to ourselves. People have never been brought into the Kingdom by shaming them or telling them how bad they are but instead from them seeing the Light of Jesus in our daily lives. How can we get that light burning again? See James 4:8….

Love you all and please help spread this message. Time is short for all of us…

Agape Love,

David

Loyalty

Good morning friends!

James 4:8 -“Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world.”

Keep in mind friends, James is talking to believers here. Is your loyalty divided?

More to come,

David