Skid Row

2 Timothy 3:1-2
This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,...

Wow! Look at the list of these sins. It seems to be all the characteristics of men on skid row or even death row in our prisons. There are things discussed in this scripture about people that you wouldn't want said about you. It's almost like a lineup of the worst sins (which couldn't be true, because all sin is equal. Sin is sin and nothing more or less).

In the last days God says that these times would come. He then begins to explain how the men would act before the coming of the Lord Jesus. He says that they will be lovers of their own selves. Men that would love their bodies and the pleasures of the body more than they would love God who created the body. God says they will be covetous, yep, I understand. They will be boastful about themselves. Remember they already love themselves more than God so why wouldn't they boast about it? They would be proud, yep, I understand that also. Men will be blasphemers. They will reject God as true and depend on themselves even to the point of declaring themselves greater than God.

But look at these others... Disobedient to parents? This made the cut? You mean to tell me that this would be considered among these other sinful characteristics? It's hard to believe. Focus on one of them this morning more than the others. Look at this word... "unthankful". Are you starting to realize something? You've made the list. Could it be that you are unthankful at times?

I find it funny that people can list everything they are thankful for on the day of Thanksgiving but on the next day you can hear them as they complain about cleaning up. They complain about the mess the company made. The shake hands and slap backs on Thanksgiving Day, but the day after...well let's just say that they are thankful that everyone is gone back home.

Let "unthankfullness" not have place in the life of a Christian. In ALL things, give thanks.

It’s Just Dumb!!!

Proverbs 20:1
Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging:
and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.

Have you ever read the alcohol slogans?

The Beer That Made Milwaukee Famous... It looks good, it tastes good, and by golly it does you good...Probably the Best Beer in the World...It’s What Your Right Arm Is For...It Works Every Time...It’s The One Beer To Have When You’re Having More Than One...A Taste of the Truth...For Those Who Know the Best...Let Your Senses Take Flight...Life uncomplicated... Okay that's enough.

Over and over we are told that it's good and we are all missing out on not having a glass, bottle or swig of it. Some call it the "Good Ol' Mountain Dew". God sees it as sin, a distorter of your mind and actions. Just how many drinks do you need to become inebriated? Can you see the dumbness in this question? People will give you all kinds of answers to this question. They will rationalize it with science and weight. Using blood alcohol level calculators to make sure and drink just enough. Forgetting to factor in medications that will enhance the drunkenness and blood alcohol levels.

They will teach you that it is different for everyone. But can I tell you what is not different for everyone? The state of drunkenness and its effects in your life. One truth that will be the same for everyone is just as the scripture says it will mock you. You are a laughed at fool when you are drunk. You become a raging person that is riding an emotional roller coaster. Another truth is that you are deceived! You thought that it would mellow out the problems but it only intensified, and more than likely added to them.

For those that live in Alabama can I give you one last truth of how it will definitely effect everyone no matter age, weight, sex or race?  If you keep pushing the limits of your blood alcohol level calculator it may catch up with you. Here are our Alabama laws on DUI's:

	1st Offense	2nd Offense	3rd Offense	4th Offense
Jail	None	5 days	60 days	1 year
Fines and Penalties	$600 to $2,100	$1,100 to $5,100	$2,100 to $10,000	$4,100 to $10,100
License Suspension	90 days	1 year	3 years	5 years

Not that it matters, but my slogan would be... Drinking, Not Only Is It Sin... It's Just Dumb!

What Is That In Your Hand?

Exodus 4:1-5

And Moses answered and said, But, behold, they will not believe me, nor hearken unto my voice:for they will say, The Lord hath not appeared unto thee. And the Lord said unto him, What is that in thine hand? And he said, A rod. And he said, Cast it on the ground. And he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from before it. And the Lord said unto Moses, Put forth thine hand, and take it by the tail. And he put forth his hand, and caught it, and it became a rod in his hand: That they may believe that the Lord God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath appeared unto thee.

How many times have you felt that you weren't good enough, smart enough, equipped or talented enough to do something?  We all at times have felt this way. We feel our education, or the lack thereof, isn't enough for certain tasks. And we may be right about it when dealing with worldly standards. We may feel our talent or gifts aren't quite enough also. We could be right about that as well. You know, not everyone should try out for American Idol. (Hahaha)  

There is a problem in allowing that thought process. See, when we have surrendered our lives to Christ, He has something special for us. There is something that we can do, that no one else can. A talent that, if given to God, could be used mightily. 

God knows your talents, gifts and education. He knows your lack of these things also. But He still chooses to use you. God doesn't want your resume and recognitions. He just wants to know what you have in your hand. Think about this...  A baseball in my hand is worth nothing, but put it into the hand of Nolan Ryan and you've got something. A basketball in my hand is nothing, but place it in the hands of Michael Jordan and you'll see greatness. See, that's ability and talent in the person. But the question God asked Moses was, "What do you have in YOUR hand?"  It wasn't, "What can you do with that thing in your hand?" It was nothing but a stick, but look at what God did!  

Maybe you opened your hand and saw nothing. Or maybe you have your iPad or iPhone in your hand right now and think it's nothing. But what a great tool it could be if surrendered to God. Maybe you could text a friend that you know is struggling (hmmm, I could do that). Maybe call someone to invite them for lunch so you can share Jesus with them (hmmmm, that sounds simple). 

What ever you have in your hand today, lay it down at His feet and see what God can do with it. Business? Give it to him.  Marriage? Give it to Him. Family? Give it to Him. Church? Give it to Him. 

What is that in Your hand?

If There Ever Was A Time

Psalms 33:22
Let thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us,
according as we hope in thee.

If there ever was a time that we need the mercy of our Lord it's now! God, we cry out unto you for thy tender mercies. Your grace is amazing! Your love is overwhelming! Your word is so refreshing to my dry and barren soul. There are times that I feel the heat of the sun has been beating upon my life and I am in need of the water. At times I feel as if I am sinking in the waters of this world and need the security of dry land.

Isn't it crazy that we need help in every situation? We often pray for others and look after others but what about the times you get alone with God? Could you just take time this morning to ask Him for the mercy you need? David said, "Let thy mercy..." He told the Lord that he desired His mercy. David wasn't bowing down before men begging for their mercy that could only last for a moment. He wanted the mercy of God. Undeserved mercy was what he was asking for.

David said, "Let it be upon us, according as we hope in thee." God we are not putting our hope in anything else. We want your mercy and our hope is that you will send it. My hope reaches into or unto Christ Jesus. My hope for the answer is found in the manger. My hope for the sacrifice for sin is found at the cross. My hope for redemption and resurrection is found in the empty tomb. My hope for mercy is found in the merciful!

If there ever was a time I needed You before,
Lord I need You now.
And if there ever was a trial I couldn't handle on my own,
That's how this feels somehow.
If there ever was a child that was crying out for help,
That's what this songs about.
Cause if there ever was a time that I needed You before,
Lord I need You now!

Turn On The Light

John 3:19-21
And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

I don't want you to be afraid when you go to bed tonight but have you ever thought about all those little things that come out at night? Those creepy and crawly things? We know it's true. The bugs, mice and all kinds of other things come out at night. (I kept it nice I didn't say... roaches, rats, and spiders - haha) They crawl around searching for some kind of tasty treat. It could be some crumbs that fell from the table that day or they could just be searching for some warmth under the covers with you. (OK, I'm done with the scary stories) What I'm getting at is that they do this all under the cover of the darkness.

When we hear something or feel something crawling around at night what is the first thing we do, after jumping and slinging the covers into the air? We say, "Turn on the light!!!!" When we do that what happens? Those little things are revealed and run as fast as they can to find a dark place away from the light.

Once my wife and I were woke up in the middle of the night to a sound in our bathroom. Now if it was a burglar, they had passed all the prized possessions while entering the bathroom, but maybe they had to go. Anyway, Patti nudged me and told me something was in the bathroom. So I got up and turned on the light. Remember now this was about two or three in the morning so my eyes were not adjusted just yet. There it was, over beside the bathtub, the biggest rat I had ever seen in my life! Huge! This thing was evidently eating our Wheaties cereal every night. As I approached it for the capture it started hissing at me. Then I realized this was no rat, but an opossum. This little evil thing wasn't going back to the dark without taking me with it. I would like to tell you that I called the Opossum Hunter and he safely bagged it and released it into the wild, maybe your yard, but it didn't happen that way.

Without the light I would have never seen it. Let me tell you, if I would have ventured into the bathroom that night with no light and it was just me and him, well it would have been like releasing a tornado in an open field of trees. It would have been messed up! The light showed me and continued to show me where it was. Pray this morning that the Light of the Word will show you those creepy and crawly things that you need to stay away from or get rid of in your life. Don't let them run back into the cover of darkness because as soon as the light is back off they are coming right back out. Pray that God reveals sin in your life and then confess it when He shines light upon it. Ask the Lord to turn on the light!

I Thought Better of You

Hebrews 6:9
But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak.

There is no statement that I hate to hear more than, "I thought better of you." Remember when you were younger and your parents would give you that line? Maybe it was when you were the older child in the bunch and you all did something foolish. Then when it came time to hand out the punishment you got that "You're older, you should have known better" speech.

Those words would make us feel horrible because we knew it was the truth. We should have set the example or the standard. Instead, we became the ring leader of it all.

God is telling us today that He desires better things of us. What do you think those things are? Fruits of the Spirit would be my guess. Fruits that accompany salvation. Remember this statement, "Why don't you act your age?" I can't tell you how many times I've wanted to say that to some folks that say they are saved. Then I realize that some can't act this way or have fruit that accompany salvation because they don't have true salvation. They can’t bear fruit because they have no good seed. Why do we want people to act saved when they could truly BE saved and have things that accompany salvation.

What are the things that accompany your life? Are they things of salvation and the actions of a child of God? What are you doing? I thought better of you. Call out to Him now and ask Him for salvation and allow Him to grow you into a fruit producing Christian.

Starting Something

Hebrews 5:14
But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

Most days we want nothing but good things to happen to us right? We are sensitive people these days and want everything to go good and accordingly. If something happens that is perceived tough or hard we feel as though someone is being mean and bullying us. When a negative comment or action comes from us or toward us we feel as if the devil is attacking us. If it persists then we get to the point where we think it must be God that is mad at us.

Doesn't this sound childish? If it doesn't it could be because you are still growing. Don't get mad. I'm not picking on you but I'm trying to help us all. If everyday is not smooth and good then we start our whining. Come on now...keep reading. Don't give up.

If everyday was positive and good what would we learn? Nothing! What if our car battery only had the positive side and no negative side? No power. Now flip that around, if we only had a negative side then the only place it would take us is misery. We must have a positive and negative side. If we are ever going to start something our lives must have a positive and negative side post. We must learn to discern both good and evil. We must learn how to live through the positive and negative things that WILL happen to us. We must grow in Christ through blessings and trials, through victories and suffering, through the positive times and negative times.

Thank you for staying to the end... Now go start something!