Wednesday, September 9, 2020
Enter with thanksgiving
Wednesday, September 2, 2020
What did you say?
If you been around for any length of time you know that even though you say something, repeat it, and repeat it again some people just don't hear it. If you have children you know that you can have them look into your eyes and say something, and they will still come back later and say they didn't hear you. Your probably familiar with the eyes glazing over and knowing that they are day dreaming about some distant world, what they want for snack, or what they thought someone said to someone at sometime.
We laugh as this is our children or grandchildren we are talking about, however did you know that we consistently do this to God. God speaks to us every day, and yet we aren't listening. We thought we heard something, and we go to Him and we ask, "What did you say?". God knows it.... He knows we mean well..... He knows that its not always intentional...... As you can imagine as frustrated as we get with our own children/grandchildren God also does with us...
11 “But my people would not listen to me; Israel would not submit to me. 12 So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts to follow their own devices. 13 “If my people would only listen to me, if Israel would only follow my ways, (Ps 81:11–13).
If we would only listen to Him. I mean really listen. God is constantly speaking to us. He always has our best interest at heart. He is always trying to lead us in the path He has designed for us. He has a perfect will for our life, however whenever we don't listen we miss the path. If we would only listen, if we would only follow His ways.
So what would it take for you to listen? What would it take for you to slow down for one minute of the day and listen to what He has to say. It is important, no, it is of most importance that we listen. Make that change, take time to listen...
Have a great day, Chris
Tuesday, September 1, 2020
losing that foothold
2 But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold (Ps 73:2).
Sometimes being a Christian is like climbing a mountain. It can be the hardest thing you have ever done, takes a lot of self-discipline and energy, but when you look down/back at how far you have come the view is so beautiful. The problem is when we are climbing and our foot slips, or we nearly lose our foothold. This happens so many times, we can feel like we are climbing and gaining so much ground, then our heart drops and breathing gets fast because we nearly slip.... nearly. We nearly fall into our old habits, we nearly fall back into old routines, we nearly commit the sin that we battle so often. Or maybe we did slip, maybe we did lose our foothold, maybe we did fall back, and we grab hold of whatever we can to stop from falling and losing our sanity. We feel like we are hanging on by just a thread. At that moment, or in that moment, that is when all the safety equipment comes into effect. The safety is equipment is for us because no matter how skillful, careful, and experienced you may be anyone, and I mean anyone can slip.
The psalmist here gives a narration of many troubles he had had (envy, ignorant, and being in vain), because of all this he nearly, be reminded of nearly, slipped. But then he was reminded of the following:
23 Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. 24 You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory. 25 Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. 26 My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. 27 Those who are far from you will perish; you destroy all who are unfaithful to you. 28 But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign LORD my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds. (Ps 73:23–28).
Some truths found in these verses when you are climbing that mountain called life:
- God is with you and is holding your hand
- God is guiding you
- God is your strength and portion
- God is near, so it is good
- God is your refuge
- God is your story to tell
Tuesday, August 25, 2020
November Cant get here fast enough
"If you can't stand the sight of your own blood, don't get into politics" - Mike Huckabee
Understand that this blog is NOT written to endorse any specific candidate. I have a great concern, and it becomes greater every single time elections roll around. When it comes to political parties there are strong beliefs on both sides, and the gap seems to get wider and wider between the two. For some who are hot and heavy into their political parties they can't wait for the next election, they can't wait to talk about how much they hate the other party, they can't wait to try and uncover as much mud as they can on the opponent, and they can't wait to slam the people who support their opponents. As some look forward to an election, I loathe it. Elections bring out the worst of some. People can be mean and down right ugly during elections. Social media becomes a sounding booth, or a slamming booth, against those who claim to be "friends". People start calling each other names like "crazy, blind, morons, uneducated, racist, or deplorable, and so on". You can't label people as such, it is not fair nor is it true. I am a registered Republican. The other day I heard someone say that if your a Republican you are a racist. I know this to not be true, and if you believe that then you have issues and not me.
What really drives me bonkers is when people start making the statement: "you can't be a Christian and vote for ________" or "how can you be a Christian and vote for ________". As a Christian let me remind you and me some things.
You don't know people as well as God does, therefore you do not have the right to judge someone's Christianity based upon their political status. You may not understand why people vote or think the way they do, but your not supposed to and you don't have to.
7 But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7)
In your ways and thoughts, you are not perfect either:
3 “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. (Matthew 7:3-5)
I am responsible for me and you are responsible for you. Quite frankly, I don't want to be responsible for someone else's life, I have enough on my plate with myself and my children.
People are not crazy, blind, morons, uneducated, racist, or deplorable based upon who they vote for. If you are like me the struggle is real. The last several times I have voted for president, or any office for that matter, I have found myself thinking is this the best our political parties can do? Is this really the best we have to offer? I digress, but since Reagan I have had struggles (and BTW I wasn't even old enough to vote until 1990). The best I can do (and anyone for that matter), is to make a list of what you believe, what is important to you, what is your value system, what will you compromise on and what won't you. Sometimes I feel like voting like Brewster's campaign was in "Brewster's Million" and vote "NONE OF THE ABOVE". At the end of the day it is your right and your vote, it doesn't matter what anyone else says or what anyone else thinks. I long for the days when people could have opposing views and still get along. I'm not perfect nor am I trying to paint a picture that I am. What I can tell you is that I can be friends with someone who doesn't think like me, I can sit down and have a meal with someone who opposes that which I am for, I can have a conversation with someone who disagrees with things I agree with. And So could Jesus.
Don't buy into what all the media, talk show hosts, news, and famous people with a microphone are trying to shove down your throats. They all have agenda's, and not everything is a conspiracy. Think for yourself and don't believe everything you see or hear. Also, remember that it is not the political candidate, famous athlete or actor, news anchor, or talk show host that you will spend your days with. It, however, will be co-workers, family, friends, and neighbors. People burn a lot of bridges because of politics. Love your neighbor as yourself.
I am not ashamed to say that I look for certain things in candidates, I am pro-life, I am for 2nd amendment rights, I am for smaller government, I am for less government intervention, I am a fiscal conservative, and believe in a balanced budget. I am also for a leader that can unite a divided country, and listen to the people....NEITHER candidate has the ability to do so. So what does one do? I can't not vote... far too many people finding themselves having to try and pick the "lesser of two evils". I can't tell you home many times people tell me you shouldn't vote that way, but how can you not. I pray, pray, and then pray some more and fill in the circle beside a candidate that I know I can't support fully, and yet know my responsibility as an American is done because i voted, and I respect the person in office and pray for them (regardless of their political party) because that is what Scripture tells me I am supposed to do.
My name is Chris Reese and I loathe election time, but I vote because it's my responsibility and right.
Tuesday, August 11, 2020
What is truth?
Thursday, August 6, 2020
Good news
- You are blessed! and what follows is how/why
- your transgressions are forgiven - things you have done/will do are gone as if they never happened
- your sins are covered - hidden never to be found
- your sins are not counted against you - God does not keep the list of things you have done wrong, they are not added up and brought back up, they are gone
- I acknowledge my sin to You - we can go before God and confess anything, He does not belittle, make fun of, roll His eyes, beat, slap, or ridicule us
- greatest of all: He forgives the guilt - God doesn't just forgive us, He forgives the guilt. We walk around with so much guilt of things we have done, God has forgiven He does not hold us accountable to that which we have asked for forgiveness for.