Which crowd do you really want to be "IN" with?

I think that because most of us know that we are in the end times we are on
the look out for way too much. We are looking for the "false prophets" and
they have been with us all along. We are looking for the "Religious Spirit"
and it has been with us all along. We are looking for "antichrist" and they
have been with us all along. Although I personally believe that THE
Antichrist is alive and well right now on earth, I do not believe, due to
how the times line up with scripture that he is active just yet. However,
his evil emissaries are here and have been all along. So where do we find a
comfort zone? We can become so distracted by being self appointed
"spiritual police" that we lose all we do have in our relationship with
Christ. That relationship should be the only thing that occupies every hour
of every day. BUT, I do think that and according to 2 Corinthians 6:13-7:1
(Amplified Bible) which states, "By way of return then, do this for me--I
speak as to children--open wide your hearts also [to us].
Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers [do not make mismated alliances
with them or come under a different yoke with them, inconsistent with your
faith]. For what partnership have right living and right standing with God
with iniquity and lawlessness? Or how can light have fellowship with
darkness? What harmony can there be between Christ and Belial [the devil]?
Or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever? What agreement [can
there be between] a temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the
living God; even as God said, I will dwell in and with and among them and
will walk in and with and among them, and I will be their God, and they
shall be My people. So, come out from among [unbelievers], and separate
(sever) yourselves from them, says the Lord, and touch not [any] unclean
thing; then I will receive you kindly and treat you with favor, And I will
be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord
Almighty. THEREFORE, SINCE these [great] promises are ours, beloved, let us
cleanse ourselves from everything that contaminates and defiles body and
spirit, and bring [our] consecration to completeness in the [reverential]
fear of God."
What I am saying is that Jesus came "down" to earth and took on human form
and died for ours sins as a perfect human being. He accomplished what none
of us to date has been able to, nor ever will, be able to do, and that is to
overcome sin. If we could, then Jesus would never have had to die for us.
We strive to be "Christ like" in all we do. And we should. We often ask,
and it has become a popular question and slogan..."What Would Jesus Do?"
"WWJD". But the sooner we realize that we are not and do NOT possess the
strength of Christ, we will stop "becoming" one of the lost in order to save
the lost. Let's stay where the sacrifice of the Blood of the Lamb has put
us. Let us show the world what a wonderful life we have through and in
Jesus. We don't have to don the rags of the world to reach it. We don't
have to mark and pierce our bodies to reach those who do. Now if someone
has come to Christ after they have defiled their bodies, then it is under
the blood. However, I don't think that defiling your body in anyway once
you have received Christ is proper. Neither does 1 Corinthians, chapter 6,
which tell us "Your bodies are members of Christ Himself ... Do you not know
that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have
received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price.
Therefore honor God with your body." We DO NOT have to defile to reach the
defiled. We do not have to become lost to reach the lost. Let's not bring
Jesus and all he stands for DOWN to the level of the sinners! He already
did that. And again I say we are not strong enough to do it. Just look at
what has just happened to Todd Bentley. And he is not alone. Over the
years many who have allowed themselves to come down to the level of who they
were trying to reach have fallen prey to the enemy. Yes they have fallen,
but the part of the tragedy that no one seems to talk about is what impact
does this have on those precious "new" souls that were just saved. "He's no
different than we are" is a sad comment made by those, who in the light of
the fall of a Christian, abandon their salvation and return to their life as
usual in sin. Let's not be a walking mockery of what Christ did for us.
Stand tall, and be proud of who you are in Christ. That and the joy
evidenced in you along with the Word will make the lost and dying want to
have what you have. Bring them up to that high place that Jesus bought for
you with His own blood on the Cross! I once saw a t-shirt that a woman was
wearing. It said, "Property of God, You Are, So ACT Like It!" Come out
from among them. Think about it. Are you continuing the appearance of, or
taking on the appearance of the lost because you want to be in with the "IN"
crowd? Which "crowd" do you really want to be "IN" with?....Patti

Never let me go.....

Some years ago, on a hot summer day in south Florida , a little boy decided
to go for a swim in the old swimming hole behind his house. In a hurry to
dive into the cool water, he ran out the back door, leaving behind shoes,
socks, and shirt as he went.

He flew into the water, not realizing that as he swam toward the middle of
the lake , an alligator was swimming toward the shore..

His father working in the yard saw the two as they got closer and closer
together. In utter fear, he ran toward the water, yelling to his son as
loudly as he could.

Hearing his voice, the little boy became alarmed and made a U-turn to swim
to his father. It was too late. Just as he reached his father, the alligator
reached him. From the dock, the father grabbed his little boy by the arms
just as the alligator snatched his legs. That began an incredible tug-of-war
between the two. The alligator was much stronger than the father, but the
father was much too passionate to let go. A farmer happened to drive by,
heard his screams, raced from his truck, took aim and shot the alligator.

Remarkably, after weeks and weeks in the hospital, the little boy survived.
His legs were extremely scarred by the vicious attack of the animal. And, on
his arms, were deep scratches where his father's fingernails dug into his
flesh in his effort to hang on to the son he loved.

The newspaper reporter who interviewed the boy after the trauma, asked if he
would show him his scars. The boy lifted his pant legs. And then, with
obvious pride, he said to the reporter, 'But look at my arms. I have great
scars on my arms, too. I have them because my Dad wouldn't let go.'

You and I can identify with that little boy. We have scars, too. No, not
from an alligator, but the scars of a painful past. Some of those scars are
unsightly and have caused us deep regret. But, some wounds, my friend, are
because God has refused to let go. In the midst of your struggle, He's been
there holding on to you.

The Scripture teaches that God loves you. You are a child of God. He wants
to protect you and provide for you in every way but sometimes we foolishly
wade into dangerous situations, not knowing what lies ahead. The swimming
hole of life is filled with peril - and we forget that the enemy is waiting
to attack. That's when the tug-of-war begins - and if you have the scars of
His love on your arms, be very, very grateful. He did not and will not ever
let you go....author unknown

I am sure that we all have these scars. And if we are totally honest, a lot
of them are self inflicted. Stop and think a minute. Our Heavenly Father
actually "let His Son go" in order to hold on to us!! How inadequate our
prayers and worship and praise seem after such a monumental act of love.
And when we are done thanking our Father make sure to tell Him, "Never let
me go." Patti

When Your Children Ask Why....

There was a time long ago when children would come to their parents and ask
the question that all parents seemed to dread hearing. "Mommy and Daddy,
where did I come from?" The younger the child, chances are they just wanted
to know a destination and not a lesson in sex. As Christians, it is still
important to us that questions like that be answered at home. The answer is
simple...God is our creator. Another question that arises in a child's mind
is, "Why am I here?" I wonder just how many parents have the answer to that
question? Today, most adults don't have a clue as to why we are here. If
you will take a few minutes out of your busy day and read the Word, you will
find the answers to these questions and many more. When your child asks you
a question, get in the habit of telling them that you need to go to God's
instruction manual and find the answer for them. They will follow in your
footsteps as they grow up.

One of my favorite scriptures is a word from God. He says, "For I know the
thoughts and plans that I have for you, thoughts and plans for welfare and
peace and not of evil, to give you hope in your final outcome." Jer 29:11
(KJV) Once you accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior, the Holy Spirit can
release your giftings and you can then enter the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth
and bring others to the knowledge of and the salvation of Christ.

Always encourage your children to seek answers in the Bible. And let them
know that in time, God will let them know what they are here to do. The
most important thing for all of us to do is to lead others to Christ. The
Bible is the greatest gift you can give your child. Don't just set yours on
the coffee table...pick it up and read it. I guarantee that you will never
be at a loss of words when your children ask "why?"...Patti

He Is The Forever We Want..Promise #3

2 Corinthians 18 (KJV) says, "While we look not at the things which are
seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen
are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal."

This scripture kind of reminds me of what my Driver Education teacher used
to tell us when we first started driving. He told us to always look out
over the steering wheel toward the horizon. We were never to stare at the
road just ahead of the car. He said that our eyes and peripheral vision
actually saw what was right in front of us and our reflexes would tend to
those things. It was what was happening ahead that would require our
attention. Things can start happening ahead of your car such as other
vehicles entering the road, a vehicle ahead of you starts to have trouble,
an animal or person running into the road, that can have a critical impact
on you and your car as your car moves forward. It could even cost you your
life. You must judge distance and speed and almost instantaneously adjust
your course to avoid trouble. Life is much the same. We know what is
happening any given day in our own environment and we tend to each days
problems and circumstances almost without thinking how or why. But we must
be aware of where we are going. My "car" through this life is the Holy
Spirit and the angels sent to watch over me. I must be aware of who I am in
Christ and that He and He alone is the solution to my every problem. There
are times in life when our circumstances put us up against a brick wall.
Ever been there? You become so immersed in a problem that you cannot see a
way out or a solution. That is when the enemy comes in and gets you to
thinking how you can create "quick fixes". These are the times that you
must put your hands firmly on your steering wheel (the Holy Spirit) and ask
Him to download the information that will steer you through this problem.
He and He alone will be my course through my trial. Take your eye off this
road and let go of the wheel for even one second and give heed to the
instruction and suggestion of the enemy and you will surely crash. And some
of these "quick fix" routes can have not only long term but eternal
consequences. If you are truly keeping your eyes on the road ahead, you
will see when you are heading toward even more danger and beyond that being
lost for eternity. Don't ever keep your eyes on your problems no matter how
bad they are. Switch on your cruise control and take control with the Word
of God, and hold on tight to your wheel and you will find that not only do
you make it through your difficult times, but you will steer to an eternal
life of rest and peace through Christ Jesus both for now and forever, and He
is the forever we want...Patti