Important Steps To Increased Spiritual Growth

In this day of great stress and struggle, we who
are God's need to be strongly established in our
spirituality. In my last blog I tried to encourage
you to read and memorize as much of the Bible
as you can in an effort to fortify you with the
"words of life" that could sustain you in times of
spiritual challenges.
THERE'S MORE! That's just the beginning, but
an important part of what you need to do to be
not only victorious in your own situations, but to
be a "spiritual practitioner" when others, both
Christian and unsaved, need "someone to lean on".
HERE ARE SOME SUGGESTIONS:
l. Read the Bible, preferably the New
Testament, aloud. There's something
powerful about hearing the Scripture
and reading it together - it captures
your undivided attention! It helps to
shut out the noisy world around you, and
will also captivate your thoughts!
2. Secure a set of CDs or tapes with
someone reading for you, especially
if you have trouble reading. (This is
also a great gift for elderly or blind
or illiterate persons!
3. Try to set aside a short (15 minute?)
period to pray for the needs of those
you know. A regular time of day will
be best, if your schedule permits.
4. Listen to "good" Christian/Gospel
music often during your day. We have
Direct TV, which has spiritual music
over the Sirius/XM channels - great
to listen to while doing housework or
resting, or just listening for an uplift!
5. Limit the number of teachers and
preachers that you watch or listen to.
Your mind can only contain so much
input at one time, and you'll lose or
"waste" much of what you hear if it
is just a part of too much listening,
no matter how "good" it is.
6. Talk on the phone or in person with
those who are also "pilgrims" on this
path to Heaven! Try to cut down or
out the "idle talk" that God warns us
about. Use your conversations with the
unsaved as witnessing efforts, at least
try to create a hunger and thirst for
righteousness. Eliminate gossip.
7. READ good Christian books! Don't be in
a hurry to complete them, just a chapter
or two a day, especially if they're about
doctrine or Biblical principles. TEST
yourself at the end of each chapter!
If the book is helpful, consider rereading
it for continued affirmation!
8. TEST yourself, too, after reading a
portion of the Bible. Ask things like
who is speaking, what is the subject,
how does this passage apply to me,
and what action should I take. Here,
too, spending a number of sessions on
one verse or passage may well contribute
to your understanding and growth!
9. Find a church home where the Bible
is taught and preached and read. Take
your Bible or New Testament with you
to follow along, make marginal notes, and
to verify what is being taught.
10. Get a personal Bible study course that
you can work on in your own time and
at your own pace. Your Bible bookstore
or Pastor or Christian friend can make
a recommendation. Your friend may
even want to join you in study!
TIME IS GETTING SHORT! You and I must
do all that we can to get ourselves and others
ready for ETERNITY and HEAVEN!!
As much as the temptation may be to get more
involved in politics, world affairs, our nation's
woes, the healthcare dilemma and other temporal
matters, IT IS MUCH MORE IMPORTANT THAT
WE BE "HEAVENLY-MINDED" and prepared for
the life to come with our Saviour, Jesus Christ!!!

P.S. Feel free to email me at heyrichey@yahoo.com
with questions or help with your spiritual walk. It
would be my pleasure to try to help, with God's help.

These Words Shall Be In Your Heart

Do you READ the Bible? Have you read the Bible
through? Do you KNOW the Bible? How many
verses of Scripture can you quote by memory?
Do you know if someone is misquoting or mis-
interpreting the Bible?
In Deuteronomy's version of the presentation
of the Ten Commandments, God follows up the
event by saying how important it is to keep His
statutes and commandments, and to teach them
diligently to others, especially our children.
Read chapter six, verses 1 through 9 for background
of my message to you today.
God instructs us to speak of His words in our
daily conversations, whether sitting in our homes,
walking through town, lying down, and arising!
He suggests having them on our hands, and before
our eyes, even to writing them on our doorposts
and gates!!
God's WORDS are LIFE! They are POWER! They
are CONVICTING! They TEACH how to live! They
keep the enemies of our souls at bay! They will
draw us closer into His PRESENCE when we speak
them or read them!!
His words are HEALTH! His words are STRENGTH!
They are DEFENSIVE! They are WEAPONS! The
verses of the Bible can be HEALING! PEACE!
Spoken, God's words can put your enemies to flight!
They can call ANGELS to your rescue! Scripture
is a means of putting you into HIS PRESENCE!!
How many verses or passages of Holy Scripture do
you know? A few? A dozen or two? Hundreds?
WE CANNOT KNOW TOO MANY! Perhaps it
would be a good idea to begin a Bible verse memory
plan for yourself! A verse a week? One of Jesus'
sayings? A New Testament passage on living the
Spirit-filled Christian life? A rebuke of our common
enemy - Satan? A reminder of God's promises to
protect and provide?
How about "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life!".
Or......"I will never leave you or forsake you.".
Then....."He who hears my word and believes in Him
who sent Me has everlasting life."
Of course there are so many more that can help you,
strengthen you, and enable you to live the life and to
be the witness that God wants you to be. Please,
for your souls sake, and for the sake of those around
you, KNOW AND SPEAK THE WORDS OF SCRIPTURE!
God said in Isaiah chapter 55, verse 11, that His word
"that goes forth from My mouth, it shall not return
void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it
shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it."
As you and I speak the Bible, things will happen!
Souls will be touched for Jesus! Our ears will hear
our tongues saying those powerful truths and our
hearts will be joyfully encouraged! The enemy will
be halted in his evil intentions for us! We will be
able to overcome by the words of our testimony,
as the Christians of the early church did!
GOD HONORS AND EMPOWERS THE SPEAKING
OF HIS WORDS, and we would do well to cooperate
with Him in his divine plan for mankind by quoting
the "words of life" every opportunity we get!

Are You Looking To "Change" Churches?

Christian friend, are you happy with the church
that you've been attending? If so, what is it that
keeps you going there? If not, why do you want
to consider leaving and looking for a place of
worship more suiting to your liking?
IF YOU'RE HAPPY where you're worshipping,
you should be thankful to God for the blessing
of being in a good church! You like the people
that you attend with. You like the pastor's
preaching and teaching styles and content.
You like the songs and hymns that are sung
together. You enjoy the special music that
graces the services, including the musicians
and their instrumental talents. You're in
touch with other members of the congregation
throughout the week - whether to share prayer
needs, or to just "check in" on each other in
a friendly and caring manner. The church is
alive and active, and growing or showing the
potential for growth. There is a positive,
upbeat atmosphere before, during, and after
the services, classes and activities - throughout
the daily life of the members, including the
leadership. You "feel" yourself growing in
things spiritual, especially in your knowledge
of the Word of God, the Bible.
GIVE THANKS DAILY!! God has you where
He wants you, and where you ought to be!
Sadly, though, there are some who are not
content where they have been attending.
I say "attending", because their worship has
been diminished by their uncomfortableness
due to a variety of influences: (1) the Pastor
doesn't preach like they'd like him/her to;
(2) the Pastor doesn't talk to them as long
as they think he should; (3) people in the
church give them "funny looks"; (4) they're
sure others "talk about them"; (5) after a
lot of years, they've never been elected or
appointed to a position of leadership or
power; (6) their ideas and suggestions are
rarely considered; (7) no one calls or comes
to visit; (8) they weren't included or invited
to a non-church get-together ; (9) they disagree
with how the money is being spent; (10) there
are too many sermons on tithing, giving,
missions, evangelizing, etc.
SO FRIEND, WHAT'S THE PROBLEM? Or
should I ask "Who's the problem?" What have
you done to make changes for the better? Have
you prayed fervently for the church and Pastor?
Do you willingly take a back seat but still attend
and participate and give for functions and
activities? Do you tithe? Do you support missions?
Are you "friendly"? Have you invited others,
including the Pastor and his family to your house
for dinner, or to take them out to eat? Are you
loving? Do you gossip about the church and its
other members, instead of praying for them?
Is it possible that the new church that you may
find will have some of the same weaknesses and
faults? Might it be because you brought some
of them with you?
PRAY, SERIOUSLY PRAY, before thinking that
you should move to another place of worship!
Is it the church that needs changed, or is it YOU?
Yes, there are situations where things are not
being done properly and situations are not being
handled in godly/spiritual manners, and they may
not ever change - and God may, indeed, want to
move you to a church where your Christian life
is enhanced and your spirituality is fostered.
BUT BE SURE IT IS GOD LEADING YOU before
you make the wrong move. Maybe He wants
you to stay where you are now, and help to
affect the positive changes your current place
of worship needs!?!
"Changing churches" may not mean to alter
the geographic location of your Sunday service,
it may simply mean staying and helping to
make the "changes" that God wants here and
now, where you are "planted" for Him!

Which Church Is "Right" For You?

Are you looking for a church? Depending on the
reason, there are many things to consider when
deciding to pick your pew in a worship center.
Are you a new Christian, or someone who wants
to become a Christian and needs a church to
help you learn and grow in your Christ-life?
For beginners (which we all were at one time),
here are some hints as to what to look for in a
church home: (1) is it friendly? (2) is it a loving
congregation? (3) did they make you feel welcome
your first visit? (4) did the Pastor take extra time
to get to know you and make you feel special?
(5) do they have a "new converts" class or a
study series, such as one of the Navigator's set,
to help you develop as a new believer? (6) are
there childcare, children's and teenage classes
and activities, depending on your family structure?
(7) did they provide a means for you to leave
you personal information for a followup call or
visit? (8) were you able to follow the order of
service and participate, though with some
unfamiliarity? (9) was information provided
to help you know what that church believed?
(10) would you invite family and friends to
attend there?
Of course there are other factors to consider,
but these are some of the main items to take
into view. AFTER ALL, YOUR SPIRITUAL
CONDITION AND GROWTH ARE OF THE
UTMOST IMPORTANCE, and should be, not
only to you, but to those to whom you entrust
your development as a new member of the
"Family of God" and a follower of our
Lord, Jesus Christ!
P.S. - A key to the spiritual personality of
the church you visit should be the place that
the Bible, God's Word played in the service,
and in the lives of the congregation.

"Let Your Light So Shine"

As a part of his "Sermon on the mount" discourse,
and immediately following the Beatitudes, (get it-
be-attitudes?) Jesus gives encouragement amidst
warning to his followers/disciples about our
witnesses and testimonies to the unbelievers around
us.
He said that we can expect to be misunderstood,
(to put it mildly), repudiated, rebuked, and even
have physical harm inflicted FOR HIS SAKE!
This is a hard saying, and one that we wish were
not reality, yes? But know, Christian friend,
that the more you stand for the Saviour, and for
truth, and the Gospel the more you can expect
to be unappreciated, demonized, and attacked
both verbally and physically.
But He did say, "BLESSED ARE YOU"! In other
words, you can be happy and rejoice when your
life and words and deeds that honor your Lord
are rejected! BLESSED! Happy! Honored!
It is an honor to be disliked and even hated for
standing up for the TRUTH OF THE GOSPEL!
Are you being reviled? Persecuted (for right-
eousness sake)? Are you "salt"? Salt is a
seasoning and a preserver - your status as salt
means that you are adding to the zest of the
lives of those to whom you are witnessing,
whether by example or words! AND....you
are helping to preserve their souls for eternity!
Some have misunderstood my writing of a
"patriotic" blog, which is linked to this blog,
hopefully an "inspirational" one. A dear Sister
in Christ inferred that we should concentrate on
the "positive" more than the negative. She's
right. But some of us, including most or all of
the conservative bloggers, writers, and commenta-
tors, are Christians, as evidenced by the oft-spoken
and obvious-to-the-hearing-ear of whoever is
truly listening.
REMEMBER, JESUS SPOKE TO BOTH THE
RELIGIOUS AND POLITICAL establishments
when He was here in the flesh!! Can we who are
called to do so do any less than oppose sin, evil,
and unrighteousness in whatever arena we see it?
No.
Each one of us is called to be "salt" and "light" in
the lifestyle to which we have been called. Be sure
that those around you KNOW THAT YOU ARE HIS!!
Don't mind rejection - they're rejecting Jesus! Don't
worry about being misunderstood - the Holy Spirit
will take your words and ease them into your
listeners' hearts! Don't fear persecution - we who
are in love with "the lover of our souls" will reap
a "Well done, good and faithful servant!" when we
stand before Him at the judgment seat.

P.S. The scripture text for this blog is Matthew,
chapter 5, verses 1 through 16.

P.S.S. - If you're not being challenged or opposed
in your witness by family members, neighbors,
coworkers, or the community in which you live,
PLEASE go to God in prayer and ask Him what
you need to do differently to enhance your witness
and honor Him.

THE LORD is my Shepherd.......

You've no doubt spoken it silently to yourself,
read it in the Bible or hymnals, sang it, and
know it by rote, BUT DO YOU REALIZE WHAT
YOU ARE SAYING/CLAIMING?
Of course, this is the beginning statement of the
23rd Psalm, or the "Shepherd's Psalm" as it is
known.
"The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want."
Repeat that line a couple of times and meditate
upon it. What are you hearing from it? Who is
your shepherd? What is a shepherd? What does
the shepherd provide for his flock? STOP and
think about the answers to these questions before
going on.
"The Lord is my shepherd". "The Lord is my...".
"The Lord is.......". "The Lord......". Following me?
WHO is your shepherd? Your parents? Spouse?
Teacher? The government? A spiritual advisor?
WHO?
THE LORD!!! None other than the God of the
universe, the Creator, the Upholder of all that is,
the Sustainer, He who holds the earth in the palm
of his hands!! HE is your shepherd!
Is He capable of taking care of you? Is He in any
way limited? Does He know who you are and
where you live? Did He not form you in His own
image and likeness? Is He not a very personal
and personable God? He knows your every
inclining, need, trait, want, and thought!!
HE IS YOUR SHEPHERD!
What does a shepherd provide for his sheep?
Shelter. Food. A place of rest. Assurance of
his presence. Protection. Individual and
personal care. It's said that a shepherd knows
every member of his flock and can identify each
one by name. HOW MUCH MORE DOES GOD
KNOW YOU AND ME!!
And..................He knows what each one of us needs!
Do you "want"? What? If we are truly HIS, we
must "learn to be content" with what He provides
for us. A sheep or lamb that leaves the fold takes
the risk of "getting lost" or of losing their life to
a predator!
Another scriptural principle is that of accepting
our lot in life: called in poverty? Seek not to be
rich; called in riches? Seek not to be poor; called
as a slave? Seek not to be free; called as a freeman?
Seek not to be enslaved.
IN OTHER WORDS - God has you where He wants
you, and if He desires something else, a better job,
more income, better health, close friends, peace of
mind, success by whatever measure, HE CAN SEE
TO IT THAT YOU GET IT!
I'm not saying that you should wallow in abject
want, but if you will just praise Him for himself,
be an obedient flockmember, and live for Him
in your present situation, one of two things will
occur: You'll be a LOUD witness of His sustaining
power in your station in life; or He will see fit to
trust you to be put into a different position for
HIS GLORY!
Say it with me, "The LORD is my shepherd, I
SHALL NOT WANT" Trust Him, friend. Keep
yourself in the fold and be obedient - He alone
knows what a glorious future is in store for you!!

Lessons From Isaiah's Vision

Please take the time to read Isaiah, chapter six,
verses 1 through 13 before going any further in
this blog. Thank you. Isaiah is in the Old Testament,
shortly after Psalms, the first of the Major Prophets.
Isaiah's encounter with our Holy God in a vision,
was one that changed his life dramatically. Such
experiences are not limited to the Old Testament,
nor to the prophets, nor to the Bible, but have
occurred since then, and are happening today.
The lessons to be learned from this Isaiah event
are numerous: God is HOLY!; He is attended in
Heaven by beings whose visages are symbolic and
meaningful; Heaven is a place unlike any place we
can ever begin to imagine; encountering God gives
you a sense of your own unholiness and unworthi-
ness; a holy, God-sent anointing is available for
those who will accept His call upon their lives.
We have come a long way from the disciples of
Jesus's examples, that of shrugging off the cares
and involvements with this life and this world,
and that of dedicating ourselves to a life that
speaks loudly and consistently and continually
of the Holy nature of God and his people!
LET THE CHURCH BE THE CHURCH! So
says a song of recent years, and it is high time
that we returned to the pattern that is laid out
for us in the Holy Scriptures:
Fear and reverence God - He is HOLY!
He desires and deserves our worship!
We ought to live worthy of Heaven!
Constanly remind yourself of your roots - SIN!
Have regular encounters with your God!
You are called to holiness as God's ambassador!
I fear that if Jesus was to return to Earth today in
disguise that HE WOULD NOT RECOGNIZE HIS CHURCH!
Are we honoring Him with our hearts and worship as
well as our lips? Are we in awe of God and His Son
when we sing and pray? Does your in-church
attitude continue when you go to a restaurant, or
to the grocery store, or to work, or home?
FRIEND, MY PRAYER FOR YOU AND ME is
that we remind ourselves, or allow God to remind
us of His NATURE AND CHARACTER, so that we
can truly be THE PEOPLE OF GOD!
Mind your manners. Watch your attitudes. Be
slow to speak angrily or hatefully. Don't join in
idle talk or gossip. SMILE! Don't be negative.
BE POSITIVE - it will attract more people to
Jesus! Pray daily - regularly. Be mindful of
God throughout your day - it will help you to
stop doing the wrong thing, and encourage
you to do the RIGHT thing. Be the person that
God wants you to be - the person that Jesus
died for you to become! Speak of God and His
Son often - you never know who might be ready
to accept Him as Saviour!!
LET THE CHURCH BE THE CHURCH!
I'm convinced that if the people of God start
living as we ought, many of the problems that
we are facing in our government and society will
be affected. Let's try it! What do you have to lose?
What do you have to gain? HEAVEN! Really.

The Reality Of Our Mortality - Death Comes Surely, And Sometimes Quickly

Recent events have served to make me more
mindful of the brevity of life and how quickly
we can find ourselves exiting this world.
A friend who collects for a local newspaper at
the store where I work died in his shower just
a few days ago. He was 61. Three ladies were
making copies of a picture of their sister for
her funeral mass. This woman was a regular
where I worked, and we spoke often. She was 46.
My Father died of a heart attack in a Pittsburgh
hospital at the age of 33. I was only ll. My sister, Pat,
drowned in the Ohio River at the age of 21. My
niece, Penny, succumbed to leukemia at age 9.
Just last evening were returning home from a
delightful dinner and visit with some of our
family, when an ambulance came racing and
screaming past us just before we got to our
home. Just before arriving at our street, the
area was filled with emergency vehicles and
their lights, as a pizza delivery vehicle had
struck and killed one of our elderly neighbors
who was returning home from playing bingo.
Her body was in the middle of the street, covered
with a sheet, while police were taping off the area
and piecing the scenario together.
HOW QUICKLY LIFE IS ENDED! And often,
suddenly, as well. We had exchanged smiles and
"Hello!" with this lady often. SHE'S GONE!
And then, imagine our horror to come home, turn
on the television, and find out that a deranged
gunman had fired dozens of shots into a crowded
workout room, killing and injuring many, as well
as taking his own life - just miles from our home!
ARE YOU READY TO DEPART THIS LIFE?
As a Christian, it's "a no-brainer", for sure.
Except that - do you have a will? Do you have
"a living will"? Is your funeral planned as to
hymns, Scriptures, poems, minister, and
burial place? Is there anyone with whom you
need to make peace - a family member, friend,
coworker, neighbor?
Our life "is as a vapor", as God's Word says, and
we need to be conscious of and prepared for the
limited time we have and suddenness with which
we could be gone!
LIFE IS SHORT - ETERNITY IS CERTAIN!
Are you ready to leave? What legacy will you
have? Through which door will you enter to
recieve your "reward"? Heaven's, to hear
Jesus say, "Well done!", or Hell, to hear Him
say, "I never 'knew' you!"?
GET YOUR AFFAIRS IN ORDER NOW -
TIME MAY BE SHORT!!

YOU ARE A "BRANCH" OF JESUS CHRIST!!

You, and I, fellow sojourner and Christian, have
a rare and special privilege of being a part of the
life that flows into us and through us from our
Saviour, Jesus Christ!
My favorite passage of Scripture is John 15, where
Jesus declares himself to be "the true Vine", his
Father (God) the "vinedresser", and we are the
"branches".
Do you understand the full impact and scope of
those terms or that principle?
Fundamentally, when we become Christians via
our "rebirth" or our salvation experience, we
immediately are attached to, plugged into, or
engrafted into Jesus! Another term easier to
understand might be "adoption".
What this means is that we who were once a
part of another plant or vine, were accepted
into the "true Vine", and all that He is and has
is now ours!
As with any "life", it is necessary to maintain our
status and attachment, so that the needed
"nutrients" can be received by us. All that Jesus
is possessor of, His love, joy, peace, understanding,
faith, patience, etc., basically the "fruit of the Spirit"
as detailed in Galatians, chapter 5, verses 22 and
23, we now have, and will continue to have as
long as we stay "in Him"!
How do we stay in Him? Not by osmosis. Not by
relying on an experience or experiences of years
gone by. Not by simply owning a Bible. Not even
by attending church, however frequently or
infrequently. Not even by being a church member!
We stay in Jesus Christ by fellowshiping with Him
in worship and meditation. We stay in Jesus by
reading the Biblical accounts of his WORDS, deeds,
and instructions. We stay in Jesus by REGULAR
prayer! (If you'll recall, even God's Son spent
numerous hours on various occasions praying to
his Father!) If He needed to pray, how much
moreso do you and I!!
And if we're doing the things that we need to do
to remain alive in "the Vine", we will find our
lives and testimonies being positive examples
to family, neighbors, and friends, without any
stress or distress worrying about being His
witness!
LIVING CLOSE TO JESUS will make life so
easy to live as a Christian and a "branch", as
we will not give a second thought about what
others may say about us or do to us. When
they reject your message, they're not rejecting
you, they're rejecting JESUS CHRIST, who wants
so dearly to be their Saviour, too! He even
suffered, bled, and died for them, to prove
how much He really loves them!
Make your days count, friend. Make time to
get to know your Lord Jesus better! Spend
time in the Gospel accounts! Ask yourself
"What would Jesus do?" when a situation arises.
LET HIS LIFE FLOW THROUGH YOU!