February 2008
The intent of the Monthly
View is to reflect on how God sees things,
so that we may surrender our will to His
point of view. Rebellion has been the problem
since Adam and Eve surrendered to the voice
of the serpent in Eden, 1
and God’s thoughts ceased to be their
thoughts, and His ways no longer their ways.
2
Changing in - 2008
As the saying goes, “It’s
the same old song and dance.” Once
a song or jingle is caught in our head,
it is very difficult to get it out. This
is called a soul tie, when we keep returning
to a thought that has created a certain
euphoric felling. We all have strongholds
in our minds from the past that we decided
are either good or bad. 3
After my conversion in 1975, the hymns
I learned from my hometown Methodist church
in Texas sprung forth from memory. It was
so beautiful to sing these hymns once again
that were rooted traditionally in my family
for the generations. On my mother’
side, my genealogy shows that many members
of my family were named after John or Charles
Wesley, whose movement became the early
Methodist church in the 1700s.
Over the years, I had allowed the joyous
truth of these hymns to be replaced with
the lies of most musicians. I could agree
with Bob Dylan that I was like a “rolling
stone with no direction home,” but
many musicians during the 60’s sung
contemporaneously while on drugs. As I investigated
many of the song lyrics, they made absolutely
no sense, and were deceptive when left to
the hearer’s personal interpretation.
I challenge you to examine the song lyrics
of the musicians that hold you captive to
find any word of truth, especially if you
are converted like me.
Choosing Our Thoughts?
Music is just one stronghold
in our lives that must be discerned in 2008.
We are to “…examine ourselves
to see if our faith is really genuine.”
If we cannot tell that Jesus Christ is among
us, it means we have failed the test.”
4 It is in our thought
life where we will first fail the test.
King Solomon said, “As a man thinks
in his heart, so is he.” 5
We are bombarded with media attempting
to shape our belief system throughout the
day. The political system desires your vote.
Millions of dollars are spent on commercials
for you to buy their product. The religious
world desires to entice you with their gods.
What we give our hearing to shapes our thoughts,
which determines our actions. For most,
it’s easier to see that “we
are what we eat”, since our bodies
become obese or develop other health problems.
A few years ago, the Lord gave me a chart
called “We Are What We Think”
click here (Study Chart A7). By studying
this chart, it will be easier to understand
how our thoughts form beliefs which lead
to actions, character, and destiny. I believe
the Holy Spirit will use this chare to help
you wake up to a more mature way of thinking
so that God’s best comes forth in
your life. My understanding of this process
has help change the direction of my life.
Destiny At Stake
Our thoughts are based
on promises, whether from a life in general
of God. For instance, a college education
promises a job, robbing a bank promises
fast cash or drugs promise a quick fix,
but these promises are not always true.
On the other hand, God promises righteousness,
peace and joy through Jesus Christ, which
is absolute truth. “For God knew His
people in advance, and He chose them to
become like His Son, so that Is Son would
be the firstborn, with many brothers and
sisters.”
Without a doubt, our thoughts affect the
way …… we live. Buy most important
is what you think and believe in your heart
about the good news of Jesus Christ, and
it is God’s Word, the Holy Bible that
is to shape our belief system. As you hear
God’s Word, faith comes, which is
acting on what you believe. 6
For the believer, “…you are
all children of God through faith in Christ
Jesus. And all who have been united with
Christ in baptism [His death, burial, and
resurrection] have been made like Him. There
is no Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male
or female. For you are all Christians -
- you are the one in Christ Jesus. And now
that you belong to Christ, you are the true
children of Abraham. You are heirs, and
now all the promises God gave to Him belong
to you.” 7
What's On The Menu?
Forest Gump didn’t
say it, but “Life is like a Waiter
offering you a menu of deceptive beliefs.”
I have tried many items on the menu, but
none are fulfilling, until I experienced
a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
I found Him to be the only true Waiter,
Who said “…I, the Son of Man,
came here not to be served but to server
other, and to give my life as a ransom for
many.” 8 He
not only said it, but did it for me 2000
years ago on Calvary’s cross where
all my sin was forgiven once and for all.
He not only died for my
sins, but “…He wants everyone
to be saved and to understand the truth.
For there is only one God, and one Mediator,
who can reconcile God and people. He is
the man Christ Jesus. He gave His life to
purchase freedom for everyone. This is the
message that God gave to the world at the
proper time.” 9
It took 29 years for my eyes to be opened
to the truth. I wanted to help others not
end up where I had in life, but didn’t
know how to go about it. I needed Jesus
Christ in my life to make me right with
God through His blood for the life of the
Holy Spirit to help me and others. This
is what this ministry of abounding love
offers to you – a new life.
Won’t you receive this new life today?
It is received through faith in the blood
of Christ. If you confess that you are a
sinner, God is faithful to forgive your
sin and to cleanse you from all unrighteousness
through the blood of His Son. 10
But now, you must confess Him as Lord with
your mouth, and believe in your heart that
God has raised Jesus from the dead. 11
A Prayer for You …
Our loving Father, You
know the beginning from the end, and the
purpose of our lives. You plans are for
good and not for harm. When we are faithful,
you remain faithful. In faith, we ask for
your will to be reveled in our life, so
that we may step forward and receive all
you desire to have happen. We seek to do
your will and to begin anew as you would
want us. Please open those doors you plan
for us to go through to further your kingdom
as we minister in Jesus’ name. Amen!
Scripture References:
1 Gen. Ch. 3
2 Isa. 55:8,9
3 Heb. 5:13,14
4 2 Cor. 13:5
5 Pro. 23:7
6 Rom. 10:17
7 Gal. 3:26-29
8 Mk. 10:45
9 1 Tim. 2:4-6
10 1 John 1:9
11 Rom. 10:9,10
|
