Before The Year Ends, Ask Yourself Did You Get To Know Him?

People want to debate and argue about the actual date of Jesus birth. That's not as important as this next question. The question is very simple. When your life is over, only one thing will really matter: Did you get to know the Son of God? The extra Christmas presents you were able to buy because of your long hours at the office won’t matter. All the time you spent preparing the perfect holiday meal won’t matter either. But whether you spent your time getting to know Jesus will matter for ages and ages to come. What is important is that He was born, because of Him we have salvation full and free. He is our living Savior, let's get to know Him better by having a more personal and intimate relationship with Him.

God Knows, God Understands and God Does

You are waking up with a clean slate. God's mercies are new this morning. Our heavenly Father knows every decision we need to make and every challenge we face. When no one can comprehend all that we have been through; God Knows. When no one understands our feelings or situations or heartaches; God Understands. When no one can possibly fathom our hurting hearts, God Does. God's work done in God's way will never lack God's provisions. Lord forgive us for the times we have tried to figure this thing out on our own. We need you. We need Your Holy Spirit to give us strength, wisdom and direction.

Either Way, You and I Win.

Sooner or later you will face situations beyond your control. So when you find yourself in unpredictable, uncontrollable, frustrating circumstances, there is still one thing you can count on to have control of your situation. We all are subject, but with God He is the Author of it all. You have to trust God to work in your life and bring order, hope, and peace out of your chaos. Does anyone want to end one year knowing that going into another year will be spent with difficult emotional challenges? I don’t know anyone, but I go into 2015 knowing that God is the source of my strength. He will encourage me and as I encourage my family and friends, God be with you. I always end in “Either Way I Win” because I believe whether God heals us here on earth or calls us home to be with Him, “EWIW”. That applies to you all as well. Either Way You Win. Many issues in our life simply cannot be resolved through our human understanding and reasoning. In our particular situation we will discover there are no easy solutions, but there is one sure promise.  You can not go back far

enough to find that God was not there. Sometimes, we just didn't know it. Whatever level you are at now, God is about to move you from the background to the foreground.

You Can't Walk With God, Holding Hands With the Devil

There are millions of people in this world that would claim to be Christians but if you were to examine their lives you would find that they are no different than those who don’t claim to be Christians. There are those who claim to be Christians who lie, cheat, steal, etc. just like everyone else.  You can’t walk with God and hold hands with the Devil. Lot is one who exemplifies for us someone who fell into the trap of the Devil and tried to walk with God and hold hands with the Devil. Jesus said in Matthew 6:24 and Luke 16:13, “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon (money).” Lot is evidently one of these types of people. His whole life seems to have been tinged with earthly colorings, and to have been struck through with the spirit of the world. He preferred to live on the borderland of true Christian experience, rather than in the land itself, and to be quite a little more at home with the filthy Sodomites than with the praying household of his Uncle Abram. Alas! He was dominated by the spirit of the world!” You might say he tried to walk with God and hold hands with the Devil.

The first mistake that Lot made was that he got his eyes off of what God wanted for him, and he began to look at the wealth of the world. You see, he saw this well watered plain of the Jordan. The Scripture says that it was like the “garden of the Lord.” In other words, when Abraham gave Lot the choice of where he wanted to live, Lot saw this place that looked like the very Garden of Eden! It was a beautiful place with lots of green luscious grass and water for all of his herds. He looked at the nearby cities Sodom and Gomorrah and decided that he would like to have this area. So, in one fatal decision he chose the well watered plains of the Jordan. He chose the world. He allowed worldly consideration alone to move him, good water, fine pastures, close to a city market, good business opportunities, and a splendid chance to make money!! Sure, there was a lot of sin in the neighborhood, but he must not let little scruples like that interfere with business, after all, business and religion shouldn’t mix! Lot looked towards Sodom.

So it is that thousands of Christians are going down today in the same way. They are being swallowed up in a maelstrom of worldliness. They leave their souls out of account and do not consult God when making decisions.  I feel like our every decision should be made by first asking “Is that what God wants me to do?” When we start a new job, when we move to a new place, whatever the decision is, we need to first make it by asking ourselves this question. Lot did not make his decision on what God wanted; he made his decision based upon his own desire.

Make These Four Habits Regular Activities

We live in a world filled with people who, like sheep, are lost, confused, hungry, lonely, and in desperate need of a Savior. Only Jesus, the Living Water, can satisfy the thirsty soul.  When a Christian stops growing, help is needed.  If you are the same Christian you were a few months ago, be careful.  You might be wise to get a checkup.  Not on your body, but on your heart.  Not a physical, but a spiritual.  Make these four habits regular activities and see what happens: First, the habit of prayer.  Second, the habit of study;  Third, the habit of giving and Last of all, the habit of fellowship.  We exist to glorify God, all day every day! 

Blessings
J.P. Olson

When Trouble Multiplies, Grace Magnifies.

When Trouble Multiplies, Grace Magnifies. When we give God all we have in facing our troubles, we'll learn where our strength ends and His begin.  We may have weaknesses, but God has strength. We may have sin, but God has grace. We may fail, but God remains faithful! We may have been unworthy, unfaithful, unmerciful, unteachable, unwilling, & unwise. But the cross shows us we’ve never been unloved. Through Christ we are offered grace, a free gift. If it seem like your troubles are multiplying, know that God's Grace abounds. We often hear the cliche "when it rains it pours" it appear that everything around us is falling apart all at once. The Moment you're ready to quit is usually the Moment right before the Miracle happens. Don't give up. God's whisper of comfort quiets the noise of our trials.  When we know that God’s hand is in everything, we can leave everything in God’s hand. " My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in your weakness." 2 Corinthians 12:9.

When We Continually Complain

The soul that complains cannot find comfort in anything.  When we continually complain we give Satan a playing field in our mind, we allow him to walk in and out of the door of our lives. The soul that gives thanks can find comfort in everything in every situation.  The Bible is GOD'S guidebook to show us how to distinguish right and wrong. When we open our hearts to His perfect love, we are touched by the Master's hand, and we are transformed.  There are areas in our lives that need changing. Let God do the changing. Follow His Word.  Lord God, nothing is going to work for me, unless You are in the plan. Help me!  Father just as You have lifted me up, let me be a blessing lifting others in a spirit of encouragement and optimism and hope.  The Word is truth and will forever be the ultimate truth. Father, let me worship You every day of my life!  Praise Him, tell of His excellent greatness!  When we worship God faithfully and fervently we will be blessed way more then we could ever think.  In the sanctuary we discover love, joy, contentment and relief in His presence.  Nothing is more important than the time you spend with your Savior.  Dear Father, please help us to be still before You letting nothing come between You and I.  Keep me mindful that You are always with me and I can sense Your presence today and everyday as long as I am Yours. God wants us to serve Him with a willing spirit that would choose no other way but His.  If you are in covenant with Jesus then He is responsible for covering your weaknesses with His strength.  Quiet your mind so that you can sense God's will, love and His Son. In those moments when you open your heart to Jesus Christ you will receive direction, wisdom and courage... just take the 1st step!   As Christians, we have been refashioned and saved by Jesus Christ; salvation came not because of our own good works but God's grace.  Dear Father, as I trust in You and in Your master plan, help me not to complain but to be thankful and open to Your plan for me. Amen