“For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come—sexual immorality, theft, murder,” Mark 7:21

It happens EVERY SINGLE DAY! And I HATE IT! I’m talking about evil… and NOT just the evil that is OUT THERE! It is the evil that is within ME! I’m just being honest. Because it is THIS battlefield where the demons assigned to me LOVE to sling their arrows, fire their machine guns and drop their nukes! And I’d bet a dime to a donut that it is the exact same experience with YOU.

I was cleaning out the dishwasher… AFTER I had run it the day before. It takes several days for the 2 of us to fill up the thing with dirty dishes, and there is really no set rule as to WHO is supposed to do it. But the last few times it was ME who both loaded and UNLOADED the thing. Katie got home, and she didn’t even notice the dishwasher was empty, dishes were put away and the counter was clean!

A VERY INTERESTING development happened because the task doesn’t bother me in the least. Katie is gone all day teaching little kids how to learn… a talent for which I know NO one better! She gets home about 4 pm. Yesterday she got home at 4:30. Brain bomb #1 went off… “WHERE IS SHE and WHAT IS SHE DOING?” Putting the dishes away, bomb #2 whispered, “SHE should be doing this job!”

I said the thought was VERY INTERESTING because THAT is NOT how I even FEEL or THINK! Katie gives me ZERO reason to EVER distrust her. Putting away the dishes helps BOTH of us. I DAILY do things to show my love for her. And she doesn’t even have to notice. I do it BECAUSE I love her and want to prove it!. So where did those thoughts come from? It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure it out!

I am the redeemed, forgiven, Child of Most High God! God is LOVE, so my godly tendency SHOULD be to love as well. But within me lies the flesh. And ‘flesh’ never moved out when I was saved. And satan and his demons would LOVE for me to ‘go fleshy’ and stay there! So they continually prick, bomb and blast at me from within. Little thoughts that zing can become the spark of a fireball!

The thoughts were ridiculous. That Is why I KNEW they weren’t from MY heart. They came from a foreign source. And I KNOW what that source is. Knowing I needed to punch that spirit in the nose, I went and cleaned the sinks, toilets and tubs! It was kind of a, “take THAT you evil spirit!” Because I know that thoughts continually thought about, lead to acts that can become habits! BAMM!

So how do you deal with YOUR thought life? Are you aware of the tendencies and weaknesses in your own flesh? Are you fighting them with Godly action and prayer? Or do you give in to the demonic or evil tendencies and let ‘flesh’ win? Jesus came to set me FREE! But there IS some work on MY part as well. So don’t beat yourself up… just throw out the trash and Have a GREAT weekend.

“Study and do your best to present yourself to God approved, a workman [tested by trial] who has no reason to be ashamed, accurately handling and skillfully teaching the Word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15 Amplified Bible

My throne was a 75 gallon cardboard shipping drum used for our dirty laundry. It sat in my father’s study, which was central to all 3 bedrooms. Measuring about 23” x 42,” I found it fit my rear end quite comfortably, with my legs bent at the knees and my armpits resting on the rim. I started sitting there in Jr. High School when it became my Bible learning throne. It remained so for 8 years.

My Father, a Pastor,often sat at his desk, consisting of a chair between 2 filing cabinets witha varnished door sittingon top. Many times I’d walk past thatroom and see him, his back toward me. He seemed intense, but lonely, ashe poured through His Bible and worked on writing Sunday’s sermon. I’d often feel a nudge to pop in, plop in and ask, “so what’s yer sermon about dad?”

How was I to know that drum would become my sanctuary? My seminary.He would give me the subject and a brief outline, then I would ask questions. If I had a different idea on the subject, he welcomed it. We’d talk and banter, busting up Scripture to it’s smallest partsin order to understand that subject. If I argued, he’d say, you need to back up your position with at least 3 scriptures boy!

I don’t have any of his Bibles. I wish I did. He used The Scofield Study Bible, as I have ever since. When I got married, he gave me a new one. I’m now on my 5^th and saving every one. Notes get scribbled and different colored markers mean different things to me. His favorite encouraging verse to me, all my life, was today’s Bible verse. It remains a favorite because, The Word really WORKS!

Last night at Bible Study, Jason and Randy both pointed me to a paper on how to read The Bible. As I read through the outline, I could hear my dad. Everything he continually said to me lay on this sheet. I am sharing it with you because, like a compass, it directly points to a place where you can rid yourself of dirty laundry and live an Abundant Life. I hope you will make it your study guide too. Give it a try!

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 7:21

I admit it… I’m nervous! But a person can only operate on what they KNOW… right? But sometimes, I don’t feel I know enough. Which is my cause for being nervous. Jesus was talking on the subject of who gets to heaven and who doesn’t, and the key word in the verse centers around DOING the WILL of the Father. Which I don’t ALWAYS do! Knowing Jesus as my Lord doesn’t stop my nerves!

Last year I filed my taxes and ‘MY GUY’ told me that this year I needed to make quarterly payments to the IRS to avoid any penalties. I did very well the first half of the year. But then I forgot. Then this month, I couldn’t find the forms! When I did, I wrote and sent the check, apologizing for being late and confessing said reasons. The question is… will I be penalized?

I know that at the end of the year there is a penalty if I don’t send the payments. But is there a pre-penalty penalty for sending the pre-payments late? I’ve no idea. But I am SURE I will find out! When it comes to Heaven though, I don’t really want to find out AFTER I’ve been found out! That is why the word ‘Fear’ is used in the Old Testament for our relationship to God. And there is a reason.

The idea that I can DO what I WANT and get away with it as a Believer, is not a safe bet. This verse encourages me to take a SINCERE look at my life and ask, with the help of the Holy Spirit, have I done anything that would warrant discipline from my Heavenly Father? Because, since God is close to His children, He already KNOWS. Meditative Prayer, study and the help of fellow Believers is essential.

I want to live my life with God directing my steps. But sometimes I wander in wonder. I don’t want to get in by the hair on my chinny-chin-chin. I want to serve Him well right here and now. MIGHTILY! The only way to do that is to stick close to Him. Are YOU doing that? Do YOU ask for answers when questions come? Do you trust in His powerful Love and care? His WILL is that you LOVE and trust His Son.  Do you?

“What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase?” Romans 6:1

“Antinomianism… what’s it mean?” That was the question Katie asked me yesterday, which made me feel OLD! I had just read about it last week and had to look it up. It was in my head years ago, but I’d forgotten it. Now I’d forgotten it again… within only a week! UGH! Simply stated, it is the ‘get out of jail free’ card in the Christian world. Like the illustration above… it’s “a license to sin!”

We had an interesting discussion about the subject. She had just gotten home from work and was frustrated because a group of small children ‘just don’t seem to get it!’ She told me of a nasty incident committed by a child. When the parent was told, their reply was, “my son wouldn’t do that!” What that taught the child was, “it’s OK to be nasty, my parents don’t care!” I felt her pain!

I remembered my adolescence and the rebellion and pain I put MY parents through. I was saved at a young age but, naturally and easily, gravitated toward the Grace message of, “once saved, always saved!” I had done the logic and math myself and figured… ‘well if that’s true, then it doesn’t matter WHAT I do!’ So naturally, I did things that should not be done by a Christian! And I still do!

But so do YOU! Bound by sin, and finally made aware that I had ZERO chance of avoiding the lake of Fire, I LEAPT at the chance of Forgiveness from God. I was told Salvation was FREE! Now who can pass up a GREAT DEAL like THAT? Admittedly, it took a while, But the realization finally hit that ‘Freedom isn’t Free!’ Over the years I have learned that… being His is like walking a tightrope! IT’S HARD!

I admit I STILL have a hard head… meaning I usually learn things the HARD way. But the discomfort that comes from willful sin and rebellion ALWAYS catches up to me. And ‘sin’ is ALWAYS ‘willful rebellion.’ Now… sin is simply uncomfortable to me. Yes.. I got away from the ultimate penalty of it! But the payment of shame and correction is never worth the credit. ‘Free to sin’ simply doesn’t exist!

Romans 6:2 finishes the Bible verse today, “…by no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? Are YOU trying to get away with something that you KNOW is hurting your Heavenly Father’s heart? Do you talk to Him about it? Do you let Him know that YOU know it is wrong, and that you are sorry? Are you trying to work with Him to clean up your act?  I’m going to try hard to never forget this again!

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” Colossians 3:23-24

The last I looked I had $234.92 just waiting for me! I’ve worked hard for, and look forward to receiving it. As of yesterday, I just hope I GET TO! While relaxing and watching TV, I overheard a commercial where a lady shouted… “Get your hands off my rewards!” I looked up and heard that the rewards program for credit cards was in jeopardy! Congress is trying to outlaw them! So I listened!

Years ago my son-in-law suggested I start taking advantage of something I usually do anyway… pay bills! He told me that if I put them all on a Credit Card, I could pay the 1 bill off at the end of the month and, depending on the credit card, receive rewards! I was skeptical, but trusted him and gave it a try. It turns out, he knew what he was talking about!. Now I can pay bills AND have some fun!

The rewards program we have allows us to choose what we do with the money. We can take it, or cash it in for retail shopping cards. Now, almost every time we go out to dinner, we save about $25! That means I can take my bride out more often… a good thing. Apparently, there is a bill pending that would make rewards programs illegal. Nah-AAH! So I voiced my opinion to my congressman!

I LOVE Jesus! I REALLY DO! I don’t love Him for His STUFF! But loving Him GETS me stuff! That’s the way He works! It’s just like in a marriage! Today’s Bible verse is a perfect example… the hinge word in the verse being ‘SINCE!’ ‘GO Love ME!’ he says. He wants ME to love and work for Him with ALL my heart and soul! He’s NOT a dictator. He promises to bless and reward me for the work of my heart!

When He walked the earth Jesus said it like this, “store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.” Implying that, ‘even if you can’t find it in your heart to do it FOR ME, do it for YOURSELF! But JUST DO IT!’ God has placed all His love and mission into the hands of His Followers. He wants us to WORK for, and receive, rewards!

Rewards are NOT SELFISH! They come because of faithful service! In essence, when I get to Heaven, everyone will be able to tell how much, and how well I loved Jesus Christ on Earth, by the size of the reward I receive! Therefore… I WANT A LOT! Trying to take away my reward is like taking away my heart and proof of loyalty! So… ‘What;s in YOUR wallet?’

How much reward will YOU receive? Are you working to add more? Because Jesus LOVES, wants and expects to give bonuses to His loving, faithful workers, do YOU want and expect to get a big reward? Does your life show it?

“While you were doing all these things, declares the LORD, I spoke to you again and again, but you did not listen; I called you, but you did not answer.” Jeremiah 7:13

The call came, I heard it, I didn’t answer! Way back when I was a kid, we didn’t get scam calls. Today it seems you can’t go a day without getting at least 1 call from someone with the job of trying to either sell you something, or sway your opinion to join them. But back then, there was no way of knowing who was calling until you answered. THIS call… THIS call was kind of like that.

I didn’t know who it was, so I did not answer. The abbreviations that popped up meant nothing to me, so I declined the call. The next day… they called again! I noted by area code that they were local and reasoned the initials on the screen might be medical. So I answered. A computer voice came on a few seconds later saying, “Please press 1 when you are ready to talk.” I hung up!

A recent study * showed the number of available workers in America is now worse than during the Great Depression. Sadly, it’s mostly men who have dropped out of the workforce… VOLUNTARILY! This has led to businesses EVERYWHERE scrambling to find employees. Now with ‘AI’ Technology, many companies are turning to computers for help. I don’t like to wait on a computer!

God’s NOT a computer and doesn’t use ‘AI’ cuz He is ‘UI’… Ultimate Intelligence! And even He makes calls! The third time the phone rang I decided to answer. Pressing 1, my curiosity allowed me to hold for a minute. I wanted to tell them I was offended! Then a human came on the line to schedule me for a test my Doctor prescribed. I actually was grateful I had answered the phone after all!

Being His, and for a very long time, I have learned that God calls OFTEN! It is His Love for me that keeps Him dialing. He wants love and communication from me in return, telling me to ‘pray without ceasing.’ I’ve learned that NOT answering His calls leads Him to either call more… or worse… LESS! Having learned it is in my best interest to answer God’s calls, and try to never miss. How about YOU?

“The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honor is humility.” Proverbs 15:33

“What are YOU scared of?” the man asked me. I was talking to a guy I did not know. Being a Jesus guy who knows EXACTLY where I’m going when I die, I replied accordingly, “absolutely nothing!” He looked at my left hand then said, “liar!” All I could think was, this guy is rather forward. THen he said, “you’re married.” I said, “Yes.” He said, “Then you’re scared of your wife!”

It took me a moment, and I scrunched up my face, seeing my beautiful wife in my head… all 5’2” of her. In a physical fight, which we’d NEVER do, I could take her out in about a second! So I responded, “no way bro!” His reply made me pause… “think about it!” So I did! And after a few seconds I had to admit… he was absolutely right!  My fear came home to roost yesterday.

Katie is picky about laundry and hates her nice clothes dried in the dryer. Me? I don’t care. I throw everything that will not fade into the washer and hit go! I did that yesterday with my white socks, shirts and underwear. When I pulled the load out of the dryer, I found 2 of her work shirts tangled among my undies! And I FREAKED! I shook them out, then tried to smooth them. But no luck!

This morning, after she took one of the shirts off its hanger and put it on, I had to verify the ‘all clear.’ I said, “That shirt looks good on you… I washed it for you yesterday.” “You did a good job,” she said, “I don’t usually like wearing white since it makes me look pasty.” I said, “Awww honey, you could fall into a VAT of paste and NEVER look pasty!” She had no idea I had meticulously ironed both shirts! WHEW!

I don’t iron well. If she sees me wearing a wrinkled shirt or pants, she’ll say, “here… let me iron that for you.” I can do a ‘quick press’ on the major parts that matter if needed. But I took my time on her shirts….  because… I’m scared of her! Like ‘Fear of the LORD’ scared! And I hope by now you get the point. ‘Fear of the LORD’ to a Believer is NOT life threatening. It’s more like disappointment.

Reverential Awe is the word my dad used when referring to ‘The Fear of the LORD.’ When I do what God commands and Love Him and my Wife, I am showing respect and honor. When doing so, I get SO much back in return because of THEIR love for ME. Both can make my life miserably sad when we are not well connected. When I do the work on MY part, I reap the reward that comes from them doing THEIR part.

Are you so lovingly in awe of God, and your spouse, that you make it your daily business to please them and make them proud enough to honor you in return? Marriage is simply the relationship God invented to prepare us an example of how we will relate to Him here… AND in Heaven. Do you regularly think of ways to love and honor God and those you love? If so… I know what YOU’RE skeerda!

“Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” Philippians 2:4 ESV

I saw it before I stepped in it… but then was called to step in anyway. Grateful to find a spot in the already full parking lot, I got out of my truck and headed to the store, weaving the path between cars. Looking ahead, I was lucky to see it before I stepped in it. Gum! Right there! Lying on the ground for someone to step in! So I stepped over it! THAT’S when I felt God’s nudge of interruption.

Turning around, I walked back and crouched down to look at the mess. What I saw was NOT gum, but a small smashed cap to a plastic water bottle. My judgment of whoever it was that spit gum out on an open parking lot had dissipated. So I stood up and headed to the store. Two steps into my walk, I KNEW it would come before it actually did. Another nudge from God said, “go pick it up!”

Now EVERYONE KNOWS that spitting ABC (already been chewed) gum onto a sidewalk where someone might step on it, is BAD FORM! It is messy, inconsiderate and mean! To have no guilt or nudge of correction means that God’s voice has been tuned out… possibly forever. And if there is one thing I have learned the hard way… it’s that keeping tuned in to hear God’s voice is for my own good!

God loves EVERYBODY! And while we are NOT ALL God’s Children, God is ALWAYS in the business of trying to MAKE MORE people His children. He does it by using MY words and actions. I am His. And because of that, He counts on me… to count on Him. The first nudge was to see if I really cared and was paying attention. The second was to see if I would actually OBEY what He was telling me to do.

Caring, and then DOING something about it go hand in hand. And yes, I know that sometimes there are even BIGGER tests than just noticing and picking up a small piece of litter. Sometimes He asks BIG things from me. But if I am not paying attention to the little things, I will never notice Him directing me to the big ones. Recognizing and doing something about it only comes with time and obedience.

Are you cultivating and knack for listening to God’s Spirit? Do you pay just as close attention to what He tells you He wants you to DO WITH those nudges? Are you faithful in doing them? Because in a messy world full of the unconcerned, He calls His kids to be VERY much concerned. And sticky situations are His specialty!

“Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles strive after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.” Matthew 6:31-33

The conversation caught me by surprise… but the surprise was a welcome one! I was with a large group of fellow Believers in Christ celebrating a meal with the family of 2 children who had been Baptized. Their zeal and joy were contagious. As I was preparing to leave, I ran into a man who seemed to want to challenge the whole event. Yes, he’d been invited, but I couldn’t figure out why!

HE was the one who threw the first volley, questioning faith in God. I always love opportunities because of my vocation! When He stated that, “anyone who thinks their ‘religion’ is the only one, is arrogant!” “Well then,” I replied, “I’m arrogant!” His response was, “well if I do end up standing before God, I hope He’l show me mercy and let me in!” Sadly, I thought, ‘not a chance, pal!’

When I told Katie about the conversation, it only took a moment for her to brighten up and smile. Then she said, “I believe in Diamonds. In fact, I like them a LOT. I can’t tell the difference between a fake or a real one with my own eyes, but I do believe I like them. I’d love to have one! I know they have them in the Jewelry stores! Maybe If I’m passing by and drop in, they might just give me one!”

Katie said all that while wearing a fairly nice diamond ring on her own hand. The story about HER diamond ring goes WAY back, taking me YEARS of hard work and upgrading to get it for her. Yes… ‘I’ gave it to her. But it was FAR from FREE! The point of her story was obvious. Thinking back to the conversation, I then realized WHY my friend, and fellow Believer, had invited that man to his party.

Love knows no limits and is the greatest motivator of all mankind. Greed and selfishness may make many a millionaire. But only LOVE wins hearts. My Christian Brother had invited his friend to his kid’s Baptism celebration because… he loves him. He told me later that he’s been working on that friend for a long time. He was hoping the joy and love of the celebration might show Jesus’ love to his friend.  And that he would believe as well. 

I know there is a Heaven. I know I love and want to go there. But Jesus isn’t going to GIVE me His eternal life, just because I show up there. The cost was the most extreme payment for ANYTHING in the History of the World. And Jesus paid it ALL. But if YOU want it… YOU must seek Him, and ask Him for it! Do YOU have it? Are YOU showing that fact off to your friends? Do YOU love that much?  Now is the time to SPARKLE!