Stopping up our ears, hardening our hearts

In our own sin and rebellion or in dealing with someone else's sin and rebellion we can sometimes be shocked at how far we have fallen or someone that we loved or looked up too. The chief root of our sin is pride and then I would not stop there. One thing that scares me to death is people who come to the knowledge of salvation, yet they never go on to maturity in Christ and truly knowing them for themselves. That others might know Him is my passion. To know Him is to love Him and be satisfied in Him. Yet if we don't seek Him we are going to be the dog returning to her vomit as the fool returns to folly. We will begin to cherish sin and have calloused hearts and since we are created with a need to be filled, we too will go after other little gods in an attempt to fill that void. We will rationalize and become deluded in our thinking...all the while destroying ourself and others because we wouldn't hear and wouldn't drink from the well of living water. Yet God in His mercy longs for any prodigal to come home and He longs to redeem your life from the pit for His glory and out of His great grace and mercy. Yet in Romans we hear of Him giving some over to a debased mind because they loved created things instead of the Creator who is to forever be praised. So today, I beg you...if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts against Him. It's not too late to turn around. He does not treat us as our sins deserve and also be aware that the mess we got ourselves into...we didn't get into overnight and to be free we will have to cease cooperating with the flesh, the devil and this world order. We will have to get to know the Healer and let Us become consumed by Him until nothing else will do. Lots wife had opportunity to leave sodom and Gomorrah and in the Hebrew when she looked back and we know she was turned into a pillar of salt...she looked back with a gazing and longing affection on that which would bring her destruction. She loved that place and all it had to offer and she was destroyed by it. You and I must choose. Run like crazy from the things that are devoted to destruction that might bring about your destruction. It really does matter. Eternity is at stake.

Lovers of self

I'm always amazed over how greedy some people are. I'm not sure why it catches me off guard but it's the people who will shop for you at the dollar general but expect their gifts to come from Sax fifth avenue. Or people who say they care about The Lord or others yet faith without deeds is dead and it's one thing to say you are and another thing to demonstrate it. I've also noticed how quick people are to take advantage of givers...but that can be left up to Jesus. I've prayed for years now that The Lord would teach me to number my days aright that I may gain a heart of wisdom and I'm no stranger to trial or suffering and this is not a pity party status but it's a clear reminder in the suffering that we brought nothing into this world and can take nothing out of it. It's all The Lords and we could never give Him anything to repay Him but I do want my life to be a living sacrifice for as long as I have breath. I'm also so thankful for the people in my life that aren't just about words but are about actions. Friends that stick closer than a brother. Words are meaningless if there is no demonstration as we always are going to be demonstrative toward who or what we care about!!! Take it to the bank!!! When people tell me they are not demonstrative about God, yet can jump up and down and scream at a football game...they are demonstrative as we were created by a God full of emotion and demonstration of His love...it's that they just aren't demonstrative about Him because He isn't that big of a deal to them. I'm not talking about hand lifting in public but a demonstration of love and devotion toward the Giver of life. I love Paul's words here: 1 Corinthians 2:3And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. 4And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: 5That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

And this in James: James 2:18
But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.