Protected from the Moon?

"The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night" - Psalm 121:6

Some are afraid of getting too close to God and "going off the deep end." Hollywood likes to portray Christians as crazy people, lunatics, from the word lunar or "moon".

Nothing could be further from the truth. Those fully and completely committed to Christ are the most wise and most sane. The Apostle Paul wrote,

"For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." - 2nd Timothy 1:7

Jesus healed lunatics whenever he encountered them.¹

- fritz

^{1 - Mark 5:15}

Billy Graham - Advice on Getting Older

What advice would you give to people who are aging?

First, accept it as part of God's plan for your life, and thank him every day for the gift of that day.

Old age can be a lonely time ... children scattered, spouse and friends gone ... but God has a reason for keeping us here (even if we don't always understand it), and we need to recover the Bible's understanding of life and longevity as gifts from God—and therefore as something good. Several times the Bible mentions people who died "at a good old age"...

So part of my advice is to learn to be content, and that only comes as we accept each day as a gift from God and commit it into his hands.

- Billy Graham, Christianity Today interview January 2011
^{(Read the whole article here)}

3 "F"s of Success In Christ

"But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses." - 1st Timothy 6:11b-12

Saint Paul's admonition points its finger past Timothy straight at us who have chosen Christ's way!

Three (3) things we must do to succeed and they all begin with "F"

Flee youthful lusts¹ and the love of money²
Follow godly character and
Fight the good fight of faith

- fritz


<sup>1. 2nd Timothy 2:2
2. 1st Timothy 6:10 (the context of this verse)</sup>

5 Tests for God's Whispers

I am enjoying a little book by pastor Bill Hybels¹ on hearing God.

Not every impression has God as its source. Pastor Hybels has five tests to determine whether an impression is, truly, from God or somewhere else.

Test #1 - Is it consistent with God's character? In Christ God's prophetic words always Build up, Cheer up; and Stir up². Even God's discipline in Christ is encouraging - this is how he works. Nothing discouraging is from Him nor for His people.

Test #2 - Is it scriptural? The Bible is God's revealed and inspired word, He would not give another word contradicting it.

Test #3 - Is it wise? God is the very creator of wisdom, he would never ask his children to do something stupid.

Test #4 - Is it in tune with your own character? God's whispers to each of us align with our unique character and internal makeup. Our personalities are our own unique expression of Christ. His whispers will resonate within.

Test #5 - What do people you most trust think about it? Take time to develop trusted friends and counselors in Christ.

- fritz

^{1 - -The Power of a Whisper, Bill Hybels, published 2010 by Zondervan
2 - Spiritual Gift of Prophesy}

Living With God

"...they have now compassed us in our steps ..." - Psalm 17:11

The Psalmist, King David of the Bible, faced difficulties, but he faced them with the assurance he did not face them alone. His enemies weren't surrounding just him, they were surrounding him and God, and God always wins.

Jesus said

"If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him." - John 14:23

If you have submitted your life to Christ and are following him by reading his word, the Bible, and obeying to the best of your ability and understanding, those who fight you have a monumental task because God doesn't lose, and everything He allows He uses for your good.

- fritz

Maybe It's God

"When the circumstances of your life start to shift ... at least consider that it might be due to God. When you find yourself in a state of confusion or curiosity about the way things are going, go ahead and ask him if there's something he'd like to say to you."

Open your hands, open your heart, heighten your attentiveness to any small way he might want to communicate to you, and then agree in advance that you will comply with whatever he says.

Why not give it a shot? What's the downside?"

-The Power of a Whisper; Chapter 2, Communicating God, Zondervan, Copyright 2010 by Bill Hybels

Product Liability

Then the King will say ... "Come ... take your inheritance ... the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.

Then he will say to those on his left, "Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels." - Jesus (Matthew 25:34,41 NIV)

Manufactures go to sometimes ridiculous lengths to ensure people know to whom and for what their products are intended.

If a product is used in a way clearly not intended, the liability rests with the user not the manufacture.

Heaven and Hell have their intended purposes, too.

Hell was created for the devil and his angels not for humanity; Heaven was prepared for us. Choosing to ignore the manufacturer's warnings places the product liability on us not the manufacture.

- fritz

^{Related Post - The Intended Target, August 29, 2010}