Warfare!!

 What do you think of when you think of war? Planes & bombers? Helicopters? Rifles, machine guns, hand guns, bazooka's? Humvees and armored cars? Generals, Lieutenants, Medics, etc. etc.

Bombed out cities, bloody bodies and body parts scattered all around? Shell casings, cannons, fox holes. The list could go on forever. This what it is like when nation fights nation. Warfare goes all the way back to Biblical times. It's not anything new! It seems like people and countries have always been fighting against one another! And still are to this day!

Do you know that nation doesn't have to fight another nation to have warfare?

You can have warfare in your home! Warfare between husband and wife. Between parents and children, brothers and sisters, between neighbors.

You can even have warfare at your job, between boss and employee, or other employees.

See, it doesn't have to be a world war to have warfare, it can happen in your own little area of the world. Just on a smaller scale.

So how do we begin to settle on a peaceful end? It's easy to just say that we need Jesus, but that is the absolute truth. He is the only long term solution. Only He can get rid of greed, hatred & jealously in our hearts. He wants us to be content. Show compassion and forgiveness to others.

Psalm 51:10 Living Bible

10 Create in me a new, clean heart, O God, filled with clean thoughts and right desires.

Only God can tame our anger and the violence that stems from that anger, with His peace and love.

Hebrews 12:14 New Living Translation

14 Work at living in peace with everyone, and work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord.

No matter where you are in life, chances are that you will encounter some kind of warfare. I challenge you to seek peace. A peaceful resolution is far better than an angry & violent action. Remember that Christ lives in us! He gives us the peace that we need in every situation.

2 Thessalonians 3:16 Amplified Bible

16 Now may the Lord of peace Himself grant you His peace at all times and in every way [that peace and spiritual well-being that comes to those who walk with Him, regardless of life’s circumstances]. The Lord be with you all.

God bless and Peace be with you!

PK.

Would You??

 What would you do if God asked you to do something that our little finite human minds would consider absurd or whacky? Would you go through with it? Or would you question the validity of the request? Did God really, really ask me to do that? Really?

Would you tie yourself up and lay on your left side for 390 days and then your right for 40 days, like God required of Ezekiel? (Ezekiel 4:5-6)

Would you prepare, cook and eat food cooked over human dung (poop)? Again, like Ezekiel had been instructed to do? (Ezekiel 4:12)

Would you walk around your community naked (very doubtful) and barefoot for 3 years, like Isaiah did? (Isaiah 20:3)

Would you go out and marry a prostitute? Probably not. That is exactly what God told Hosea to do. (Hosea 1:2)

Would you take any of your children into the wilderness to sacrifice them? That is exactly what God told Abraham to do. God stopped him from doing it, but he was about to follow through. (Genesis 22:2, 22:12)

Would you go up to high ranking government official and demand that they let your people go? God required that of Moses. To go to the Pharaoh and demand that he let all of Moses people go. (Exodus 8:1)

So God asked all of these people in the Bible to do all of these to us absurd things. They aren't normal by today's standards. I don't want to live by today's standards, I want to live by Gods standard! I want to do what God wants of me. 

1 Samuel 3:10 New Living Translation

10 And the Lord came and called as before, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel replied, “Speak, your servant is listening.”

I want to listen to God speaking to me. I want to hear His voice. Leading me, guiding me and directing me!

So my question to you is this. If God asked you to any of the above, would you? Or would you say that is to far fetched to be from God.

My hope is that if God asked, your answer would be yes & amen!

God bless.

Rev Kev.

Cross Necklace.

 

I bought this Cross necklace a little after I accepted Jesus as my Lord & Savior. I thought that it looked cool and still kind of represented my "Heavy Metal" side with it's design. I bought it because it's what I thought that I needed to show that I was now a Christian. Not that wearing it makes me or anyone a Christian, but's that what I thought at the time. I wore it everywhere, until................. I was told I could not.

I had started working at a food manufacturing plant and employees were not allowed to wear jewelry on the production floor as management was afraid it could fall off into the food. Made sense to me. So I stopped wearing it.

I recently rediscovered it and started wearing it again. I was in a different role at work now and was allowed to wear it.

I've been getting compliments & questions about it, "wow, cool necklace." "Does it mean anything to you? Or is it just a decoration?" I would always say thank you for the compliment, and then answer the question about if it means anything to me. Mean something to me? Boy, does it ever!

I recently was asked by a coworker why I wear a Cross necklace. I told them, let me tell you the reasons. Which there are many.

First, when I put the necklace around my neck, it reminds me of Jesus being all around me. Surrounding me with His love, grace and mercy.

Second, looking at the Cross, it reminds me of what Jesus did on the Cross for me. He died there for my sins! It is a constant reminder of His sacrifice. 

Third, upon looking at the Cross, it's just the Cross. Jesus isn't on it. Reminds me of how He died, was buried and rose from the dead! Any empty Cross means that Jesus is alive!

Fourth, when the necklace is resting upon my chest close to my heart, it reminds me that Jesus is living in my heart. My heart is His home in my body!

Finally, whenever I turn my head or lean either to the left or right, the necklace slides that direction with me. It reminds me that no matter which way I am going, Jesus is going with me. He has me covered in all directions.

So, those are the many reasons that I wear my Cross necklace! It really does mean something to me. Jesus really means something to me. He is kind of a big deal in my life!

Zephaniah 3:17 New Living Translation

17 For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.”

God Bless.

RK.

Freedom!!

 As I sit here and reflect on this 4th of July, I can't help but to think about the people who migrated here too gain their freedom! I think about the Statue of Liberty, standing and welcoming immigrants who came to the United States by sea. I think about those immigrants who left behind everything except for the clothes on their backs to seek new found freedoms offered! They risked their lives to make the trek across the water. All for freedom!

Isn't this what's it like when we come to Jesus? He calls us to come out of the world and leave everything behind and become citizens of a new Kingdom. The Kingdom of God! When we come to Christ, we are a new person. Just like the immigrants are looking for a new, fresh start in their new country, we get a new, fresh start when we come to Christ. The Cross for the Christian is our Statue of Liberty.

2 Corinthians 5:17 New Living Translation

17 This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

The people who migrated here didn't come here to lead the same life they left behind in their homeland. They came for something new.

That's how we are when we come to Christ. We don't continue to live the same old life as before. We are free. Free to live for Him!

1 Peter 2:16 Living Bible

16 You are free from the law, but that doesn’t mean you are free to do wrong. Live as those who are free to do only God’s will at all times.

Just like the trip across the pond was treacherous and dangerous, our walk with Jesus will not be easy either.

John 16:33New Living Translation

33 I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”

So I encourage you to remember the freedoms that we enjoy. Both within our country and in Jesus Christ!

God Bless.

RK.

Mistake??

 My wife and I were at a wedding recently and had a conversation with another fellow attendee. He was telling us how he built his own home. I told him that I could not do such a thing as I would make to many mistakes, and cause bigger problems. I would rather call the professionals who have the right tools and knowledge for the job. 

Then he started off listing all things that you can make mistakes at. Rehabbing your house. Fixing or rebuilding a classic car. Installing this thing or that thing. He had a whole list going. Then he said something that was absolutely unbelievable.  

He said that even getting married is a mistake! Excuse me. What??

That statement really started a conversation, let me tell you. How could he say that, especially at wedding?

I told him that my wife and I have been married almost 15 years and it keeps getting better. No mistake at all marrying her. In fact, just the opposite.

Genesis 2:24 New Living Translation

24 This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.

God designed marriage. For a man and a woman to be joined together in Holy Matrimony. If God designed it, it is not a mistake. God does not make mistakes!

Psalm 18:30 The Voice

30 Everything God does is perfect; the promise of the Eternal rings true;

Even though my first marriage ended in divorce still didn't make it a mistake to do. We didn't have God involved in anyway the first time around. We leaned on ourselves for everything. Well, we all know how that worked out for us. Our flesh and pride got in the way.

So I learned from that experience the second time around. I learned that it not two people giving fifty percent each. It's two people giving one hundred percent all the time. It takes both of us to make this work, with God's help. Not one sided in either direction, but to be a team both pulling in the same direction.

Proverbs 18:22 Living Bible

22 The man who finds a wife finds a good thing; she is a blessing to him from the Lord.

My wife blesses me everyday in different ways. Not saying that we haven't had our differences, but we work them out together. Don't go running off to someone else, or something else. We stay and fight for our marriage. 

Matthew 19:6 New Living Translation

6 Since they are no longer two but one, let no one split apart what God has joined together.”

So I encourage you tonight. Whether you are about to be married or been married for a while, your marriage is not a mistake! The only mistake is putting yourselves in the center. 

God Bless.

RK!

    

Disappointing Day!

 Have you ever done anything that you were so excited about, only to end up disappointed? I know that I sure have. Spent my hard earned money to go to a ball game only to have the team that I cheer for fall flat on their faces. Lackluster performance. So disappointing. Can't believe I spent money on this debacle!

Go to a restaurant that is highly recommended by a friend, only to get disappointed that it doesn't live up to their hype! Done that a few times. Or a movie, T.V. show or series. "Keven, you really need to watch this!" Hmm, yeah okay! 

Disappointment abounds all around us. From sports, movies, T.V. jobs, even life itself. How many times have your relied on someone only to be let down by them? You're not mad, just disappointed with them!

Jesus never lets us down or disappoints us. 

Psalm 118:8 Living Bible

8 It is better to trust the Lord than to put confidence in men.

Can you imagine for a minute what a disappointing day the Jewish people were having when Jesus was falsely arrested & sentenced to be crucified? To see Him beaten and scourged and hung on a cross between two criminals. A sign attached at the top proclaiming Him as the King of the Jews. A spear thrust into His side to make sure that He was indeed dead.

Isaiah 53:5 New Living Translation

5 But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed.

When He cried out "It Is Finished" and breathed His last, they thought that all hope was gone. Jesus had died and was buried.

 But, Friday's disappointment was Sunday's empty tomb!! That's right. God The Father raised Jesus from the dead. Defeating death & the grave, forever! Hallelujah!

So what ever kind of disappointment or disappointing things you are going through, remember this. 

Jesus can lift you out of them all. He never disappoints! He is our Hope!

Lamentations 3:24 New Living Translation

24 I say to myself, “The Lord is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!”

God bless!

Rev. Kev.

Cry Out.

 How do you react when you get bad news, or something bad happens to you? Do you cry out, "why?" Or "why me?" Do you turn to substances? Alcohol or other stimulants? Or do you just try and fight your way through it or out of it. "I can do this." "I don't need any ones help." Well my friends, that is the wrong way to go about it. 

Jesus wants us to cry out to Him! He is all the help that we need.

Psalm 18:6 The Message

6 A hostile world! I call to God, I cry to God to help me. From his palace he hears my call; my cry brings me right into his presence— a private audience!

What an audience that is! The Creator of the universe hearing our cries to Him. He hears us when we cry out in distress over a serious health diagnosis. Cry over the loss of a loved one. A relationship on the verge of ending. Job loss. No money for bills or food. Car troubles. The list is endless. 

You know who is not endless? Jesus! 

He is the same yesterday, today & tomorrow. 

Hebrews 13:8 New Living Translation

8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever

Nothing can take away God's love from us. He loves unconditionally. All the time!

Romans 8:35 Living Bible

35 Who then can ever keep Christ’s love from us? When we have trouble or calamity, when we are hunted down or destroyed, is it because he doesn’t love us anymore? And if we are hungry or penniless or in danger or threatened with death, has God deserted us?

So what do you need to 'Cry Out To Jesus' about today?

Like the song by the band Third Day says:

*There is hope for the helpless, rest for the weary. Love for a broken heart. Help to break addictions. He provides mercy and healing.*

 Jesus will help with every kind of problem or issue that we will ever face. We cannot do it with our own strength.

We just need to cry out to Him!

God bless!

PK

*Song lyrics from Cry Out To Jesus - Third Day.