Flip or Flop

I'm not gonna lie.....I do enjoy watching me some HGTV!  I love the multiple shows of Flip or Flop.  Seeing how they make a run down house a beautiful masterpiece is awesome! I also enjoy the summertime foot attire of a flip flop!  I love to go get a pedicure and wear matching flip flops to go with what I have on.  But then, I got to thinking about just those words....flip and flop.  I began looking out our church age, and those two words, sadly, seem to fit perfectly.

We aren't strong mature Christians anymore.  Many have never come off of the milk.  People aren't grounded in the Word and don't even seem to know what the Bible says about right and wrong, for that matter, don't even seem to know what IS right and wrong anymore.  Satan and his imps have increased in power....by us allowing them to....and are dead set against the total destruction of the Church.  So, people are either trying to 'flip' the church into whatever the fad at the time is, or allowing the church just to 'flop'.  We don't want the convicting Word of God preached anymore...we want to be made to feel good and be told that everything is alright, you can do, and live however you want, and everyone goes to Heaven.

We have made Church a production, a business.  We seem to tell God how we are going to 'do church' and if He can squeeze in somewhere, than okay.  We have these 'fad' churches...oh we must have a praise rock band, and all these youth buildings with catchy names and programs.  We have to have the coolest pastor that can put on the best 'show' so the public won't get bored.  And of course, we have to have different church times and styles to fit everyone's needs.  Johnny has to be on the ball field and so does Susie....you know they both are going 'pro' one day.....and we can fish, or get our shopping done if we go to the early service.  And whew, life is so busy and we are just so tired, that we cannot have an evening service any longer! And let's not do a Wednesday night church service any longer either.  Let's just do a 'small group' and go to friends houses.  You can walk in churches now days and it looks just like a club or a bar!  You cannot tell Christians apart from the world any longer!  Christians look the same, dress the same, talk the same, drink the same as sinners!!  2 Corinthians 6:17, 18 still says, "Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.'

Now don't start with the hating.....I know that some of the things I have called out aren't necessarily wrong, and can be helpful.  However, we need to stop and see where we are.  If we can see a time when we lived closer, when we WERE closer to God than we are now....then we need to take a hard look at ourselves and see if we are really, genuinely, doing God's will, or are we just pacifying our flesh.  I am so worried that our 'fads', our 'Flip or Flop' churches have given so many a false security that they are going to Heaven.  Matthew 7:13-16   tells us, "Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.  Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.  Ye shall know them by their fruits."

I'm telling you, it's time to stop listening to this 'snowflake' mentality, where everything offends and everything has to be politically correct!  It's time to stand for what is right!  It's time to grow and mature in God's Word and do what He wants us to do!  It's time for us to stop trying to go the popular route, and get back to the old paths that our forefathers trod.  It's time to have real church, not just what the world wants so they can have a 'feel good' feeling about themselves!  It's time to tell the lost that they are just that....LOST!  It's time to tell them that Heaven is real and Hell is hot and but for the blood of Jesus we would all split Hell wide open one day!  It's time to grow up and get on the meat and become ADULT Christians!  We don't have long, He's coming back very soon!!

Reading the Word

2 Timothy 2:15 says, "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." 2 Timothy 3:15-17: "And that from a child thu hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.  Psalms 119:15,16: "I will meditate in thy precpets, and have respect unto thy ways.  I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word."  Hebrews 4:12: "For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged swoard, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."  Ephesians 4:17: " And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:" 1 John4:1: " Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world." Ezra 4:10:' For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments."

I know that is a lot of scripture.  But read it, then reread it, then meditate and study it.  We are to daily be in His Word.  It is a 'lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path.'  How often do we grab up our Bible, read a few lines, close it, and go about our day.  Now granted, that is better than not opening it up at all.....but I ask you.....are you Reading the Word, or are you reading the words?  If you are doing the second part, and thinking you are doing your part....well, you are going to spiritually starve.  What if we went by the dinner table and grab a quick sample of what was on the table?  That bite tastes good, and may stop the hunger pangs for a moment....but eventually we are going to get hungry...maybe even 'hangry'.  Our health will fail, we will become malnourished, and eventually die.

God help us to be approved by God as a good soldier that He is not ashamed of.  Take a moment, at some part of the day and truly READ the Word.....and not just read some words.  Grow in knowledge and grace and just watch what God will do!!

Vessel versus Tool

As I continue to watch the world, this country, tear itself and each other apart, from the inside out, I began to look to God's Word.  I know Revelations teach us that all these things shall come to pass in the last days.  Surely, surely, we are in the last days!!  Earthquakes, hurricanes, fires, so many natural disasters.....men fighting with each other, rumors of wars, no morals, babies being murdered, both in the womb and out of the womb!  Hatred being spewed from every venue: television, personally, social media, radio.............it's crazy, it's scary  but more than that....it is heart breaking!  The Bible teaches us that when we see all these things happening, to look up for our redemption draweth nigh!  I am looking up, and I say, even so, Lord please come quickly!!

Being involved in social media, I am disheartened by people giving such ugly and judgmental opinions so easily.....without a thought as to how it would affect the other person.  People become so much more brave hiding behind a screen and typing words.  It seems that everyone wants to disagree with you, and to tear you down every chance they get.  Kick you when you are down, so to speak.  No one cares about what is going on in anyone else's life.....I am right, and I am going to let you know I am right....no matter the cost!!

Wow!!!  Satan is truly enjoying himself, he is orchestrating a world of hatred.....and it is working!  We have turned from God.  We haven't raised our children with any morals, beliefs, Godly standards, and now they are literally killing this world with evil.  I am not a gloom and doom speaker, don't get me wrong here....but I am trying to paint a picture of reality here.  Society today is full of 'snowflakes'....a people that take no responsibility for their actions; blame everything and everyone for every thing;, expect, and often demand something for nothing; never accept any wrong doing of their own hand, always play the victim; always want to argue, and never want to listen; have no respect for others; always feel that they are in the right; no moral or religious compass. 

While all these things were in my thoughts, two words kept popping up in my head:  vessels and tools.  Bear with me, while I try to explain myself.  The dictionary tells me that a vessel is a hollow container, especially one used to hold liquid.  A tool is a device--especially one held in the hand, used to carry out a particular function.  I know that we can use words and twist them to make any argument we want to make.....but, hold on....let me tell you how God has used these words and their definition to speak to me.

Are you a vessel for the Lord?.....Or, are you a tool for the devil?  Hey now, before you think I am being self righteous, and preaching to you.....I am pointing all my fingers at myself!  I have been both. I have not attained.  My heart's desire is to be a vessel every day.....but, I still live in this house of flesh....and sad to say I have allowed myself to be a tool for the enemy. 

A vessel is a hollow container, especially used for liquid.  My spiritual mind is turning here.....our choir sings a song about the Blood, there is a statement in the verse that says to 'let His liquid glory flow'....I've always loved that visual of Jesus' blood.  I love it even more, thinking of this thought on vessels.  If we are a vessel....we are sitting there, empty of ourselves......if we allow His 'liquid glory' to fill us, then we are full of Him and void of self!!

 However, if we are satan's tool...then we are a device, that can be held in satan's hand to carry out a particular function.  Think about that for a minute!  Tools are a needed part of society....but in the wrong hands, it can be detrimental!  I think back to something a few month's ago.  My husband has been busy restoring an old truck.  He has many tools in the barn that he has used to restore this truck and it is looking good!  Well....one day, our 4 year old granddaughter came in, and wanted to help her Pawpaw.  She had watched her Pawpaw and seen him use tools to work on the truck.  So....she picked up a screwdriver and proceeded to 'help' him fix the brand new radiator that he had assembled!!  While this is a cute story.....the moral is.....tools are needed and useful....but in the wrong hands...it will have a bad result!

While we are still in this flesh, let's work diligently to remain a vessel for God to fill with His glory....and work hard NOT to be a tool used for the enemy's desires!  We have enough evil forces working against us without God's people taking each other out....or much worse, preventing lost souls from finding salvation!!  2 Timothy  2:21 says,'If a man therefore purge (cleanse)himself from these (dishonor, etc.), he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified (set apart), and meet (useful) for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.'