Count the Cost

I have a friend, who is of another nationality. She was a Hindu until she asked Jesus into her heart.

Her family was well off and were so mad at her for embracing Christianity, her Mother and Dad locked her in a closet and then shipped her off to spend the summer with her Grandmother in India.

Knowing the choice she made could cost her everything she held dear, she chose to follow Christ. Happily, her Mom and Dad still associate with her.

How would you react? Imagine the cost! Do you know, that’s what following Christ is about.

Do we really take in consideration the price He paid or are we so spoiled that we never give it a second thought! It’s so easy here in America, we have Christian radio and the gospel is at our every beck and call.

In other countries it is not so, they are killed and mimed for the gospel.

We here are so shielded and so far from the evil, we tend to relax and forget the cost!

Lord! Create within me a heart to feel the pain, of what my brother and sister go through. Amen!!!

RL

His Word!

I remember a skit someone did a long time ago.

It was about a world without a Bible, the only Bible you had was what you had memorized. Imagine, no written word.

Tonight, I saw a movie and there was only one Bible left, in the whole world.

This one man would do anything, to get his hands on it, even murder. I told my wife, take all the blood and cussing out ; Hollywood made a good Christian movie.

But, both the skit and the movie are true. If the world continues on the path she is on, what you have memorized could be the only Bible you have.

We here in America have really polluted the Word with our Western ways. We have translation after translation.

I believe, the more translations we have, the further away we get. But, that leads to the question, which one do I memorize? My answer is the earlier the translation the better.

I personally memorized th King James version, only because I find it flows poetically. The bottom line is get God’s Word in your heart, because one day the only Word left may be you!

Lord, lead us to your Word that we can hid in our hearts! Amen.


RL

KNOWLEDGE PUFFS UP

In college I was in a club that studied what other religions believed. We even went to their places of worship to discuss what we felt was contrary to the Bible.

I loved it, the thrill of debate!! The leader thrived to share with us his knowledge.

I remember one time, we went to a certain place. As soon as we took a seat, two large men came up and asked us to leave. They escorted us out from their congregation and politely said, don’t come back!

Years later, I was married. My wife and I both worked third shift. One morning around ten a.m. before we went to bed, we saw two guys coming door to door.

I knew by their dress, who they were, so did my wife. She blurted out, leave them alone, if they come here! I replied, I’m not going to promise a thing. She went off to bed and I entertained the door to door guests.

Before the discussion was over, one of them was crying, I loved the vigorous communication.

I LATER FOUND OUT THAT THE ONE THAT CRIED LEFT THE DENOMINATION

As I grew a little bit older, I came to understand that spiritual ping pong as I call it is wrong most of the time, at least with me.

The reason was I enjoyed showing off my knowledge.

I believe to much knowledge puffs up ones ego, at least it did mine.

The only true way for someone to know our Lord is by the power of the Holy Spirit!

Know His Word and pray fervently, then talk as friends. Let God be the One who convicts, not you!

Lord, help us to realize and see, You are the One who brings people to reality of Your truth, through the Holy Spirit! Amen!!!!


RL

Doom and Dismay

What we are hearing today is not something new, David Wilkerson has been saying things for years

It was 1985, we were at our first church. The title of my sermon was “Upcoming Financial Disaster”.

I knew then if the politicians of our day did not change their greedy ways, it would be the ruin of live as we knew it.

Today, the crisis we face can not be blamed on one party; it took both unwilling to do the right thing.

I’m no prophet or Apostle but, I know right now the only way we can avert this oncoming financial gloom, the church as a whole must fast and pray.

Our whole country is in turmoil and man does not have the answers, Obama doesn’t and I know who does.

The answer is found in Him, church! Wake up and be relevant in the world of today, the time for setting in the front seat is now!

Lord! Wake up the sleeping church and bring us to the realization as a whole, we need to seek you and you alone. Amen!!!!!


RL

A TRUE MAN OF GOD

I have walked in the way of the cross for a long time and I have met a lot of people.

I’m not impressed with money or fame, the question I ask myself, is he or she really following the ways of the cross.

Love is the greatest, that’s what 1 Cor. 13 tells us but, I also look for humility.

Today, I was visited by a friend who walks in honest humility; not fake. It was so easy to talk with him, I felt as though I was taking a hot bath; things in my life were being washed away.

I have only known a few men of such manner.

I know the reason some people are that way and I strive to one day get there. Being in the constant presence of God has a way of molding our lives in His Son’s image.

Just think, if we were to get to the secret place and learn to abide, maybe our shadow would effect peoples lives like Peter’s life did!

Don’t take for granted the people that God has brought into your lives, we need each other to make us jealous, to want more of Him.

Lord I was so privileged to have in my home a servant of Yours and I pray we both made each other jealous. To know You and serve You is all I want to do. Amen!!!


RL

Dreams

Interpretation of dreams have been around since Joseph.

When we moved back home, my wife will tell you I dreamed every night. Were all the dreams from God or too much pizza!

I had a method I used, to decide if they were from God or not. If I dreamed a dream and vividly remembered it in three days, I would try and get in touch with the person and relate the dream.

I could set here all night and tell you true stories but, lack of time and space but I will tell one.

I have a friend who lives in Dallas, she was married to another friend.

In my dream, he was on drugs and being unfaithful. I called and was going to tell her the dream. Before I told her, she burst into tears and told me what he was doing,

It was just like my dream, he was being unfaithful

Nine out of ten times, my dreams came true; some good, some not so good

LAST Tuesday I had a dream, a friend I have not seen since 1976; was in the dream. Another friend and I were laying hands on him and praying.

Last Friday I called my friend, who now lives in South Dakota; after I told him, he told me he is coming to Mississippi Monday.

Talk about coincidences will get to see him Tuesday. The other friend is in China.

So if you dream, don’t dismiss it as to much pizza!

Lord help us to hear from you, let us not take things so lightly. Amen!!!!!


RL

For the next several weeks I will be on a sabbatical and will not be writing. If I have something on my mind and have time to write, I will. The reason, is because I will be with my family remodeling a house.