Getting the Awe Back Can be Awesome!

It was a day waking up with the sheep like all the others. The sunrise was beautiful over the horizon, peaking through the tree branches.  The morning star and moon could still be seen in the eastern sky.  The birds sang before they left their roost.  This young man would go through the same daily routine he had learned from the beginning of keeping his father's sheep. He never, in a 1000 years, would believe what was about to happen in a few hours.  His life was about to change from being a leader and shepherd of sheep, to a leader and king of God's people.

How could this happen?  Why would he be chosen?  What about his resume would draw attention from the God of heaven?  Why was his heart different than that of his brothers'?  Why was it said by God, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all my will.?

A few hours past from the dawn.  He was leading the sheep to water and then to shade.  In the distance he heard someone calling his name. When the messenger spotted David, he quickly ran to greet him.  Out of breath, he probably quickly said , Your father needs you to come home. There is a priest called Samuel at your father's house. He wants to see you.  I  do not know if it happened this way, but you have to think David was wondering what was going on.

The next thing you know, this young shepherd boy was anointed as the next king of Israel.  Later, he serves king Saul by playing his harp to overcome Saul's distressing spirit and he was also, Saul's armorbearer.  Why was this young, poor shepherd boy chosen over his brothers?  Even Samuel, the priest, chose David's older brother, Eliab, to be the next king. What God tells Samuel, we must always remember. The Lord said to Samuel in 1 Samuel 16:7, For the Lord does not see as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.  We can be a failure in the eyes of the world, but we can have our heart right and be a success in the eyes of God.  That to me is pretty awesome.

David's brothers, Saul, and the army of Israel had lost their awe of God. The sun rising and setting, and all of God's creation was just ordinary to them. They, like us, were too much involved with every day life to notice.  Evidently, David noticed God's creation everyday, because he wrote so much about it in the Psalms.

Now let's see what can happen when a man identifies the awe of God in his life.  That man is prepared to bring glory and honor to his God and to serve Him with all of his heart, soul, mind and strength.  "The glory of God is shown by that man being fully alive as he was created to be." (Saint Irenaeus)

Then Jesse said to his son David, "Take now for your brothers an ephah of this dried grain and these ten loaves, and run to your brothers at the camp. And carry these ten cheeses to the captain of their thousand, and see how your brothers fare, and bring back the news of them."(1 Samuel 17:18,NKJV) David's three oldest brothers were with Saul and all the men of Israel in the Valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines.  It says that David rose early in the morning, got a keeper for the sheep, and took the things his father had commanded. At this point, David doesn't look very important. He is just his father's errand boy.  His father is probably proud of his three oldest sons being in the army of Israel, fighting against their dreadful enemy the Philistines.  We do not read of David sulking, questioning,or delaying in the mission his father was sending him on.

All of you have read the rest of the story.  Let's get to the awesome part. When challenged by a giant of the enemy, David's brothers, Saul and the armies of God, ran, hid and trembled.  Did they really believe they served an awesome God?  Had they forgotten the mighty acts their God performed in the presence of their ancestors? They did not have the heart to face the giant.  What about you? What would you have done?

Next, David's brothers, Saul, and all the men of Israel are about to see the awe of God performing before their very eyes.  The results are awesome.  Knowing how awesome his God is, David tells Saul that God delivered him from the lion and the bear, and he would also deliver him from this giant. David did not have to prepare for this battle.  All of his preparation was done in the wilderness, with those few sheep, learning how great his God was.  He did not let anything block his view of seeing his God in all of creation.

David approaches the giant in the name of the God of the armies of Israel. He in plain language told Goliath what he was going to do, so that all the earth would know there was a God in Israel.  David did what he said he was going to do.  This awesome act of a young shepherd boy, who gave God all the glory, put the awe of God back into the fainted hearts of the men of Israel. The result?  They came out of hiding, faced their fears, and chased the enemy away.  When they saw God working in the heart of that young shepherd boy, their hearts of fear were changed to hearts of courage.  Their awe of God was restored again.  Eyes that were once blind could now see God in all of His splendor.

What would getting the awe of God back into your heart do for you, your loved ones and the people around you? Would you and they develop a giant slaying heart as David?  Could those giants that challenge you every day, sucking the life out of you, be defeated, giving you a life to glorify God as David did?  

Here is one awesome act of God that can give us all comfort. God's son, Jesus, tells us that, He has come to give us life and have it more abundantly. (John 10:10)  Seeing the awe of God in that statement can have awesome consequences in your life.

Let's begin the new year of 2016 getting the awe of God back into our hearts.  It will be an awesome year when we do.

Please share on Facebook or send comments to me at rhepler52@gmail.com.  Also, you can purchase my books, The Heart Behind the Stone: Develop a Giant Slaying Heart and 123 Tips for My Grandchildren and Yours, by going to www.amazon.com

Let's begin a new year together by being a people after God's own heart, developing giant slaying hearts.

Thanks for reading and thank you for buying my books.

Rick Hepler

 

Have We Lost Our Awe For God?

Awe n., a mixed feeling of reverence, fear, and wonder caused by something sublime.  Sublime, adj. 1. Noble; exalted; majestic.  2. Inspiring awe or admiration through grandeur, beauty, etc. (Webster’s New World Dictionary, 1968 edition)

 

Many times in my life I have used the word awesome, to describe how I felt about something. The word is an adjective describing a feeling of awe.  However, that awesome feeling waned away with time. I remember one of those times I called my new, M-50 Harley Davidson motorcycle as being awesome.  With time, that too went away.  It became old, outdated, and broken down.  Not a very good thing for something that was at one time so awesome.
 

Looking back, I realize my use of the word awesome was not the proper word to use.  The many things, events, and places I have called awesome, have lost my attention, thus removing the sense of awe I had first experienced.

Some things I should never allow to lose their awesomeness.  The love for my wife Debbie, my children, my grandchildren and my parents, to name a few, should grow instead of diminish.  Many have allowed self or selfish desires and ambitions to tarnish this awe.  We can see the product of this from the many broken families we have in our nation today.

Can you agree with me, that morally we as a nation are experiencing giant like declines in our moral thoughts?  Acts once deemed unacceptable are now protected and called good. Calling these same acts sins can have you quickly labelled a bigoted, evil and uncaring person.  Your “good” is now called “evil”. How did we lose our way? This didn’t happen overnight.  Losing our sense of awe toward God, our creator, was displaced gradually by other things in this world.  The Father of Deception, Satan, is behind it all.

In my first book, The Heart Behind the Stone: Develop a Giant Slaying Heart, the armies of God and three of David’s brothers, had forgotten God’s awesome power and strength. They ran and hid when the Philistine giant, Goliath, challenged them by his gods.  However, their youngest brother, David, driven by his awe of God, accepted the challenge of Goliath, defeated him, and encouraged the army of Israel to run after and defeat the Philistine army.

David trusted in God because he recognized the awe of God.  How did he learn this?  Could he had defeated the giant, the bear, and the lion without the acknowledgement of his awesome God?  Read the Psalms David wrote.  You can feel his awe for God in many of the verses.

I wrote of the three giants in my book, that I feel have broken our country down morally and have contributed to the losing of our awe for God.  We, including me, have allowed the things of this world and even the cares of this world to slowly diminish our eyes from seeing God as reverend and awesome.  How can we learn to see God again and be children after His own heart as David?  We can do as David did.

In the next series of post, leading up to Christmas, I would like to attempt to show what our country could be like, by believing and living the belief that our God is an awesome God.  I am going to point out the steps you and I can take to manifest the awesome power and love of God in our lives.

Please look for upcoming posts and share with your friends, family, and especially your children.  What will the next generation be like if we do not obey and live the commands God has given us?  Our children need to be reminded, Our God is an Awesome God.

 

Please share on Facebook and send comments to rhepler52@gmail.com .

 

Thanks for reading.

Rick   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What Blocks Our View?

New Kids on The Block was a popular boy’s band in the late 80's and early 90's.  We had New Kids on The Block dolls, stages, clothes, caps, cassette tapes, cards, pictures and anything else their promoters chose to put their name on.  My two daughters were consumed with them, as well as every young girl their ages.  All this stuff is now in our junk room, waiting to be serious collectors' items for Ebay.  It has been in there a long time and is quickly approaching yard sale inventory.

One day the girls heard that their favorite band would be performing outside of Nashville, Tennessee at the Starwood Amphitheater. They just had to go, so we managed to get tickets. The day finally arrived and we made our way to Nashville.  When we got to the exit ramp to Starwood, we had to wait in line for about an hour to exit off. We finally made it to the amphitheater and found a place to park. We made it in and staked out a place on the grassy hillside with a perfect view of the stage.  As usual, a startup band performed. We were enjoying the music and relaxing on our little grassy spot.

I was feeling pretty good as a dad.  I was relaxed, my daughters were thrilled and Debbie was happy. I did not know my leaning back in the grass, on my elbows, would quickly end, after the first note was sung by "The New Kid's on The Block.  Then it happened. They came out and on their first song thousands of little girls jumped to their feet, shouting, squealing as only little girls can. I couldn't see. I knew they would all sit down in a minute.  "Nope", wasn't going to happen. Then I heard a little voice in desperation say, "Daddy, I can't see."  I only had one choice.  We were packed in.  We couldn't move.  The crowd was standing for the duration.  No possible sitting down was imminent.

At that moment, I was going to make a lifetime memory for my baby girl.  "Betsi, get on Daddy's shoulders." I managed to stand up with her on my shoulders, with her clinging to my hair and ears.  "Can you see now?" “Yes", she said, as she joined in with the other squealing little girls. (I just called her to verify if it was still a lifetime memory.  She still accurately remembers the occasion.)

This was a special occasion for our daughters. We all had fun. My neck and back muscles were only sore for a week.  Betsi had eyes, but she could not see. The people standing were blocking her view.  If she was going to see her favorite singing group, she was going to have to be lifted above the crowd.

Have you ever had anything you really wanted to see, but could not because something was blocking your view?  How many times over the years have you made a point to be earlier than anyone else to an event your child or grandchild was involved in? We make a point to not have anyone blocking our view of those things we highly value seeing.

You and I live in the world with many attractions, luring our eyes to want to see them. So much to see, both good and bad. I have noticed the attractions and places I wanted to see, certain preparations had to be  made to see them.  Deb and I wanted to carry our family to Disney World a few years back.  We planned for a year;  we picked a date we all could get off work;  we purchased airline tickets, a Disney meal plan, made reservations at the Disney resort we had chosen and decided on what clothes to take.  I had to make sure my work was caught up and clients could contact me.  I put carrying my family to Disney World on my "bucket list" on January the 1st of the previous year.  Deb and I gave this to our daughters and their family for Christmas.  With all this planning and a strong anticipation of seeing Disney World with our family, we did see it, had a great time, and made many memories.

Whether it takes a month or a lifetime, if our goal is to see a certain vacation spot, ball game, famous person,  historical place, etc...,  and we make a determined effort and follow our plans, we will see our goal. 

In my lifetime, I have seen many of the places and things I have wanted to see.  If my life is to be whole, my greatest goal and impact on my life and the lives of those who surround me, would be to desire, with all my heart, to see God.  Jesus tells us in Matthew 5:8, Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.  I have to understand what this verse means to me. I know this verse does not contradict what God tells Moses in Exodus 33:20, But He said, "You cannot see My face; for no man can see Me and live".  In John 1:18 Christ says, "No one has seen God at any time" and in John 14:9 He says, "...He who has seen me has seen the Father."

Go to Exodus 33:14-23. God tells Moses that His Presence would go before them. Moses asked God, "Please show me your face". Then God said, "I will make my goodness pass before you, but my face you cannot see and live." Flesh and blood cannot handle the glory of God's face. God takes Moses and puts him in the cleft of the rock and covered him with His hand. As God passes by, He lets Moses see a portion of His back, but did not let him see His face.

Because Moses had seen a part of God and talked with God, he did not know that the skin of his face shone while he talked with God. So when he talked to Aaron and the people, the skin of his face shone.  Aaron and the people were afraid to come near Moses. (Exodus34:29-35)  We can understand by this, mortal man cannot handle seeing the full glory of God.   Read my thoughts on this carefully.  God with His great love for us, sent His only begotten Son, to be born of a virgin, putting on the flesh of humanity so we could see Him by seeing His Son, our savior, Jesus the Christ, Immanuel(God with us).  How beautiful is this?

Let's now read 1 John 4:9. "No one has seen God at any time." Then read 3 John 11. "Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good.  He who does good is of God, but he who does evil has not seen God."  What keeps one from seeing God? Doing evil will keep one from seeing God. Where does this evil come from? For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness.  All these evil things come from within and defile a man. (Mark 7:21-23, NKJV)

We can see why David, the man after God's own heart,  in Psalm 51:10-11 asked God to create in him a clean heart and a steadfast spirit. This was when he was repenting of his sin against God with Bathsheba. He knew what was in his heart and he wanted it out and he requested a steadfast spirit to keep it out. Also in verse 11 he pleads with God to not cast him away from His presence and to not take His Holy Spirit from him.  David, a man after God's own heart,  had thoughts in his heart that produced his sinning against the God he loved so dearly.  He did not want his seeing God blocked by the sins of the flesh anymore.

David, in both his triumphs and trials, valued being in the presence of God by having his thoughts centered on God and the will of God in his life. Has our view been blocked from seeing God today in our country? Those things in the heart we just read about in Mark 7:21-23, keep us from seeing God.  David had killed the giant Goliath, slain his ten thousand,  was captain over about four hundred men, had won many major battles,  escaped from Saul's spear and sword, but when his eyes caught Bathsheba bathing on the rooftop, the thought of being with her brought him down quicker than any giant could. This crushed him. Go to Psalm 51 and read how he felt about having this evil in his heart.  David wanted to see God and be in His presence, but the thoughts of his heart blocked his view.  He knew a clean heart and a steadfast spirit would put his eyes focused on God again.

I wonder if the majority of people in our country are even concerned about God much less wanting to see Him. What stands in the way of people desiring to see Him?  What blocks the view of those that want to see God?  How can we have a pure heart?  We have to be like my daughter, Betsi when her view was blocked from seeing the "New Kids on The Block". She sat on my shoulders and I stood up above the crowd so she could see.  If we want to see God, we will have to do the same thing, except the only shoulders tall enough for us to see over the world, are the shoulders of our savior,  Jesus.

 

Do you want to see God? It will take a pure heart.  At a time of year when many hearts are opened for loving others, my next posts will be written to stir our hearts to be pure.  Please share on Facebook and comment by going to rhepler52@gmail.com

 

Thanks,

Rickey 

 

His Life Influenced Them to Kill Giants. What Do Our Lives Influence Them to Do?

Can you name who or what influenced you the most growing up?  I can remember when I was very young, awaking early on Saturday mornings, waiting for the Saturday morning shows for kids to come on TV. The most influential show, on me at the time I can remember, was " The Roy Rogers and Dale Evan's " show.  From the influence of "Roy Rogers" I obtained a cap pistol, cowboy boots and hat, and a BB gun.  I was one tough little dude, the "Roy Rogers" of State Line Road, fighting the bad guys on Saturday mornings.  I also had a pony named Trigger.  Fifty plus years later, my three year old grandson, Grady, is "Hiccup" and his sidekick is "Toothless". He watches them on TV. You will just have to google them.  I am not in the know on who they are. He has a Hiccup costume he wears and has a sidekick dragon named toothless.  Grady tells me they go after the mean guys.  Times have not changed with the years.  Good or bad, children are still vulnerable to influence, whatever that influence may be.

I would like to tell you of another hero from many years ago, and he wasn't a fictional character. He was real and had great influence.  His name was David,  the son of Jesse, the man after God's own heart.  He was an ordinary and lowly shepherd boy, who was greatly influenced by God.  This young David developed such a faith and trust in God that allowed him to be the fullest God had created him to be.

Who else influenced David?  Was it the stories about Joshua and Caleb? Were these stories told to him by his mother? Was she a servant of God? (Psalms 86:17 and 116:11) Did his father Jesse have much influence on him?  (1 Samuel 16:11, 17:12,15,17,18,20 and 58) David obeyed his father.  His father maybe taught him how to be responsible, because he trusted him with his livelihood, the sheep. (This is just my assumption.)

Who else had the opportunity to influence him?  David's "cause" dictated who he allowed to be an influence on him.  The men of Israel and his brothers fled into hiding when the giant, Goliath, challenged them.  His older brother, Eliab, was not an influence, but a discourager to him. (1 Samuel 17:28) King Saul was surely not an influence. He had the best of weapons and armor of the times and he offered it to David to fight the giant.  He should have been the one leading the battle, but was going to sit back and let a young inexperienced shepherd boy go to battle in his stead. (1 Samuel 17:33,38)

Now let's read  who had the greatest influence on David.  David had a "cause". (1 Samuel 17:29)   The "cause" was, he wanted the God of heaven to be known to all and he did not like anyone defying the one true God. (1 Samuel 17:45-47)  The main influence for him to honor and bring glory to God was God Himself.  David enjoyed  God's beautiful creation day and night while tending his father's sheep. He experienced first hand what God could do with a simple shepherd boy. ( He can do the same with us.) 

Did David have any influence?  Let's look at some he influenced.  Please read 1 Samuel 17:51-52.  When David, an ordinary young man, believed, trusted, and loved God, he did what was thought impossible.  He killed Goliath, the giant, and cut his head off.  When the Philistines saw Goliath's severed head, their courage withered, and they fled.  When the men of Israel saw it, they came from hiding and trembling to gaining new courage. With this new courage, they pursued the Philistines and defeated them. The influence of the servant of God, David, with a "cause" of wanting his God to be glorified, caused both of the actions I just mentioned.

David killed his giant and God's people benefited. But, did you know this encouraged four of his servants to do the same? Please read 2 Samuel 21:15-22.  Here we read of God's people at war with the Philistines again. David in his fighting grows faint.  Then one of the giants thought he could kill David, but one of David's servants came to his aid and killed the giant.  Then David's servants told him he should not go to battle with them anymore.  They did not want the lamp of Israel (David) to be quenched. After this there was another battle. Again, another giant was killed by one of David's servants. Then, in another battle another giant, a brother of Goliath, was killed by one of David's servants. And finally, Jonathan the son of David's brother Shammah,(1 Samuel 17:13) killed the giant who had six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot..  In 2 Samuel 21:22 it reads, These four were born to the giant in Gath, and fell by the hand of David and by the hand of his servants.

Did you notice one of the servants was David's nephew?  He was the son of one of David's brothers who was present when David killed Goliath.  He also went and hid from Goliath with the rest of the men of Israel when Goliath challenged them. How ironical.  I am glad he was influenced by David instead of his father.

These young men had been told the story.  They protected their aged and valiant leader.  He had taught them by his actions, not to fear when fighting for the Lord. A good example of a second generation facing the giants of the day by the leadership of the first generation.  Also, notice the writer included David as a slayer of these giants along with his servants.  I believe the writer is showing the courage of David influenced his servants to imitate that same courage. In doing so, he was responsible for the outcome.

Everyday I influence someone.  I may be old like David before I see the fruit of this influence.  This fruit may exhibit courage to fight the giants in this life that go against everything God stands for, or this fruit may wither and rot, never to nourish any righteous deed.

Our country today is reaping the influence of the 60's generation.  Out of this generation three ugly giants appeared.  I write in detail about these giants of immorality in my book, The Heart Behind the Stone: Develop a Giant Slaying Heart.  These giants of that day came out and challenged the people of God  just like Goliath challenged the armies of Israel.  We did not produce a champion like David. Our voices were only among ourselves like the men of Israel's.  Their voices were only heard  among the rocks where they were hiding.  The voices of Christians were only heard inside the four walls of their church buildings.

Like the challenge of Goliath, (1 Samuel 17:9-10) the forces of the unseen challenged us to send a champion, a man of God that had been made righteous by the blood of Christ to fight them.  Whoever lost would serve the other.   We had the power of our savior Jesus, but we didn't trust in it.  We instead turned the battle inward among ourselves, dividing and splitting, weakening any unity we may have had. Many of our young people were attracted to the world.(James 4:4 and 1 John 2:15-16)  They made friends with the world. Fornication was called free love. Abortion was called the woman's choice.  Evolution was brought into our schools, and God was moved out.

The apostle Paul told the Corinthians in 1 Corinthians 16:13 to, Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong.  You and I are not going to watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave and be strong unless we have a "cause".  My "cause" is to bring glory and honor back to God in this nation.  If we lived in the way God has laid out for us in His word, can you imagine what our country would be like today?

We need men to be God's men.  Men after God's own heart. Men with the knowledge to put on the whole armor of God. (Ephesians 6:10-18)  The way I choose to live my life is going to bring my children and grandchildren either closer to God or closer to the world.  I choose to influence them to be closer to God and not friends with a world that disregards God.  Which way will your influence turn them?  Where are they now?  Will this country be a better or worse country because of our influence?

Whether you and I follow Jesus or not, one day our choices turn into just one last act.  We will not have a choice in this one.  On judgment day, the last act of humankind on this earth will be to bow the knee before the Lord.  This is mandatory.  When I bow my knee before Him,  I want to bow it in joy, knowing I have kept His commandments out of love for Him.  I want to bow before Him with gratitude for the plan of salvation that was simple for me to follow and obey.  I want to bow with reverence, thanking Him for dying for me, so I could be righteous before God.  I want to bow with joy knowing my children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, etc. are bowing their knee before Him with those same thoughts.  Finally, I want to bow my knee before Him knowing I will be changed from this body of flesh to a spiritual body like Christ to live forever in the place He has prepared for me. (John 14:1-3)

What about you?  When your knee bows before the Lord ,what will your thoughts be?  What will be the thoughts of the people you loved and influenced?

Please send comments to rhepler52@gmail.com and go to www.amazon.com to preview and purchase my books, The Heart Behind the Stone: Develop a Giant Slaying Heart and 123 Tips for My Grandchildren and Yours.

Let me help you slay your giants. Send me an email or pm on Facebook. I will be glad to help you and you can also help me slay the giants I face.

Thank you very much for reading.

Rickey






rhepler52@gmail.com

My Take on the Most Quoted Chapter in the Bible

I learned to quote it at an early age. It has been quoted in times of tragedy, sorrow, and death. Most people my age can quote it.  Has this popular chapter in the Bible been forgotten by our young people?  What was in the mind of its author? What experiences did he have that inspired him to write this?  What did he want each generation to glean from this? Can we apply this to our lives today? When was the last time you read it?  What emotion compelled you to search for comfort in reading it? After reading it, did you understand what he is trying to tell you? Let me tell you what it has done for me.

The 23rd Psalm has been one of my favorite chapters in the Bible.  It could be because the author has been one of my favorite Biblical characters since I was a small child.  In writing my first book, The Heart Behind the Stone: Develop a Giant Slaying Heart, I renewed my acquaintance with the early life of David, the son of Jesse the Bethlehemite.  I learned how David became the man after God's own heart. In the wilderness while shepherding his father's sheep, he developed the love, trust, and faith in his creator, God, at a young age. David was preparing himself to face any trial, large or small, to encourage God's people, and to glorify the God he loved.

Out of  David's life came the 23rd Psalm.  Was this a Psalm for his children and grandchildren?  Did David want them to have words to comfort them when they experienced living life through, seemingly, impossible circumstances? Was he wanting them to examine who they were following, and the path he was leading them?  Did David want them to have a faith in God as he did?  Would these verses motivate them to follow, love, and trust the Lord's path leading to righteousness?  I do not know David's purpose for writing this.  I have read many comments on David's age when he wrote this and many opinions on its meaning.  Below is my take on it, and what I want to convey to you, my children, and my grandchildren.


                                                      The 23rd Psalm


The Lord is my shepherd;  I think David is relating to the reader that he had a choice in whom he would follow.  At this point in his life he had been influenced by many, but the Lord was the one who showed him the the most love and promise.   David knew the Lord fearfully and wonderfully created him. (Psalm 139)  Who better to  be shepherded by than the one who created you.  I shall not want (lack).  With the Lord as my shepherd, I will not lack anything that makes for a righteous life.  The most important statement I see in this verse is, in order to have a shepherd, you must be willing to submit your whole heart, mind, soul and body to the shepherd.

He makes me to lie down in green pastures;  Trials in my life have pushed me in another direction.  This direction has led me to feast upon God's instructing word for comfort just as green grass is to fulfill the appetites of hungry sheep for new grass.  He leads me besides the still waters;  Sometimes I need to be in a peaceful place.  A place I can get my emotional breath, even if it is only for 15 minutes. Unlike the raging white waters of swollen mountain streams, the beauty of still waters at dusk or dawn can give me this needed tranquility.

He restores my soul;  The Lord is the only one who can return the soul as it was in the beginning, before the fall of man. All, including myself, have sinned. By sinning we have a soul that is broken down and is separated from God. The Lord, who like a shepherd, wants the best He can provide for His people.  Exactly like David did in providing for his father's sheep. David wanted the best water, grass, and protection for the flock.  God has set up a plan in his Son, Jesus Christ, that will restore our soul back to the original relationship it had with Him.  This plan is only offered if the Lord is our Shepherd.  David, although a man after God's own heart, knew what it was to be broken by sin and restored. Read Psalm 51.

He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake.  When I willingly choose these paths of righteousness presented to us in His word, I will have a good family, be a good citizen in my community, will be known for good works, and by Christian living bring others to obey the gospel. I will let my light shine before men that they may see my good works and glorify my Father in heaven.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,  I will fear no evil;  David had experienced walking with death on either side of him.  Goliath, desperately wanted to kill him, out of jealously, king Saul wanted him dead, and also the enemies of God's people wanted him dead.  This was the physical death on either side of him. Satan also wanted him spiritually dead to God.  Through temptation and  deception, the man after God's own heart sinned against God by committing adultery and murder.  God walked him through all of this.

For You are with me; God delivered David from the lion, bear, Goliath and his confessed sins. He knew he could go through that valley, because God was with him.  God does not change. God will deliver us from our trials as he delivered David. Need comfort? Do you have fear?  Remember, God loves you and is more powerful than the one who is in this world. Please read Romans 8:31-39 and   1 John 4:4.  If you and I are sheep in the fold of God, we should not fear any evil that Satan sends our way. Read Psalm 56:4; Psalm 118:6; and Hebrews 13:6.  This is a truth from God's word, and He does not lie. Are you in His fold? If you are, then be bold, depending on the Lord as your Shepherd to protect you.

Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.  The shepherd's rod was used to protect the sheep from predators and to keep the sheep from straying. If studied and meditated upon, God's word can be used to protect us from the deceptions and temptations of the Devil that will bring us physical and spiritual harm.  His word can also discipline us and convict us of any sin in our lives.  The staff was used to hook the lambs, bringing them back when they wandered away from the flock, and to pull them out of harm's way.  To me the staff represents God's love for us. When we are tempted to wander away, a reminder of the great love God has for us and the price His Son paid for us, should bring us gently back.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; Even though Christians live in a fallen world, the providence of God has blessed each with many opportunities.  We can succeed with the gifts God has given us to fulfill His purpose. All of this is done in the presence of the world. We are in this world to do the good works taken from the table God has prepared for us. We are to influence the world for good and not let the world influence us. We are in the world but not of the world. (John17:15-16)

You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over;  If I use this in a way where my head (mind) is to store knowledge and the oil represents knowledge, then God supplies His word in such an abundance, supplying all we need pertaining to life and godliness. (2 Peter 1:3) The more I read in God's word, the more  I stand in awe of Him and His love for me.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.  This is my goal and should be the goal of every Christian. Wanting to be known as a man that has goodness and mercy following him in every life situation, can only be made possible by having the Lord as my Shepherd.  Living this way would hopefully encourage my children, grandchildren, friends and family to do the same.  Could David be saying it was worth it, by having the Lord as his shepherd? David's affirmation was to dwell in the house of the Lord who he had loved and trusted.

David confirms to his readers that the Lord is his shepherd.  He then tells us what his shepherd has done for him.  Finally, he relates to his readers the results of following his shepherd. David's life is a good example of what God can do with a person who believes, loves and trust in Him.

We all have many choices of who or what we will let lead us. There is only one good shepherd who wants to lead you in becoming the person He created you to be for His glory.  He believes in you. Who is your shepherd? Are you willing to love, obey and trust Him?  The choice has always been left up to us. The good shepherd will never force you to follow Him,  but His will is you that will choose Him instead of the world.

Are you searching for a shepherd? Are you following the ways of the world? Does the world really care about you?  What price is the world willing to pay for you?  The Lord wants to be your shepherd and to prove it,  He let His Son die for you. Is your life all messed up because of sin?  Remember what David is trying to tell you.  The Lord will Restore your soul.

How do you relate the 23rd Psalm to you? Please read it with the understanding that the Lord wants to help you through whatever trial you are in.  Is it time to let Him be your shepherd?

Thanks for reading. You may contact me on Facebook or at www.rhepler52@gmail.com.


Rick Hepler


                                                   

MY LETTER TO MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN HUMANITY OF THE LGBT COMMUNITY

Well, my brothers and sisters in humanity of the LGBT community, I thought I needed to write you a letter today.  Now don't go getting defensive before I start.  We both have the same gap between our date of birth and date of death, unless unfortunately, we were killed in the womb by someone else who wanted their rights protected.  This gap is called life. Like it or not in this life we are going to be a slave to something. Although slavery in this country was abolished many years ago, we are still slaves.  The only difference is, we can choose our master.

Before I get into all of this, I am not a famous person.  I will not be labeled a hero like some of you have been called.  This cannot be called a hate crime because I love you, and I certainly do not want any harm to come to you. (That's another reason I am writing to you.) You probably may not want me as your best friend because you are friends with the world, and I am not a friend of this world.( I will explain in another post if you want me to.)

The reason I am writing to you is I do not like your master.  I had him for a master a short part of my life, as we all have.  He didn't have anything to give me.  He used some short term pleasures to lure me with, but on examining him, I found him to produce nothing and promise less. Your master got you by deception and not by paying a price for you.  So you cost him nothing, and he sees no value in you.  My master paid a great price for me and you, although you serve one that cares nothing for you.

I do not like your master, and I want to take a stand against him.  I do not want my children or grandchildren to be deceived, as you have been, and follow him.  Don't tell me you were born that way.  I was born a heterosexual.  My sexual desires are just as strongly felt as yours, but my master tells me to control them and have discipline.  Your master says I can fulfill the sexual appetite anyway I choose.  He also says if I am married and am not satisfied that I can choose another.  You think your master is still great?  Okay. Let's examine the fruits of following each.

We are all going to die one day.  Does your master tell you anything about this? What about an eternal life? Does your master always tell you the truth?  Mine tells me the truth, and that it will set me free. Does yours ever mention to you anything about being free?

The one I serve says we should love one another and even our enemies.  What does yours say about love?  Mine created love and is love.  Does it upset you that we have in this country so many families that are torn apart because of the sexual appetites your master tempts us with? What is the product of this?  Would we have the problems of crime, murders, addictions, hatred, greed, lying, etc. in this country today if they followed your master or mine? When we follow your master, our ending will be the same,  but when we follow my master, no matter how rebellious we have been, He is waiting for us to repent and follow Him.  We may have consequences of our past life that will still be with us, but He guarantees us a better ending.  Also, if we follow my master and obey His way for living our lives, we will have stronger families, communities, and He will bless us with a stronger nation.

Your master tried to deceive the Son of my master by promising Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory.  My master's Son loved His Father too much to be deceived by your master. He told him,  Away with you, Satan! For it is written, 'You shall love the Lord your God, and Him only shall you serve.  (Matthew 4:8-10, NKJV)  He also tells me that I cannot serve two masters. I will hate one and love the other, or else I will be loyal to the one and despise the other. (Matthew 6:24)

I hope you now know who my master is and who yours is, if you are a slave to the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life.  Do not love the world or the things in the world.  If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.  For all that is in the world-the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life-is not in the Father but is of the world.  And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God  abides forever.  (1 John 2:15-17, NKJV)

I am not trying to win an argument.  I just do not want any of my family or anyone of you to be deceived into following the world instead of the God who created us.  Who are you really following? Does he love you? God has already proven His love for you.  What has Satan ( the world) done for you?

I am just one voice. Alone I am just like one drop of rain in the ocean, but with many drops together and with God, we can be the ocean.  I am a Christian and I don't want to try to serve two masters.  God is the master I want to serve.  The choice is yours.  Who do you submit to and serve?

LGBT community and the rest of humanity, we are all sinners. I do not like you pushing your servitude of sin on me, my children, my grandchildren and my Lord's church. We can choose to follow God and His plan of salvation through His Son, or we may choose to neglect that great salvation.  It is our choice.  I care about souls and the souls of all.  Please if you want to contact me send me an email to:www.rhepler52@gmail.com  FB friends if you want to be a part of this letter please like or share on Facebook.


For me and my family, I choose to serve God and keep His commandments. He who is in me is greater than he who is in the world. (1 John 4:4)  I want God to be my master and I want to love Him will all my heart, soul, mind and strength.  What about you?

Thanks for reading and sharing.

Rick Hepler

What is Your "Yes But..."? Part 2

They were promised a land flowing with milk and honey.  All they had to do was go take it.  They viewed their opposition as too large, and the God who promised the land as too small, to guide them in possessing it. The result in not believing in the God of all creation was wandering for forty years in the wilderness, dying in that wilderness and causing their children to wander with them. The "but" of Numbers 13:31-33 defeated them and the congregation of God's people before they even tried.  Be careful of the "but", you interject into someone's thinking.

Ignoring negative "buts" from someone who has never tried, will move you toward fulfillment of your God given gifts. Listen to God and not man. Learn His will by studying His word and asking Him in faith to give you wisdom from above with the strength and courage to carry it out.  You may be the one to keep others from wandering in a wilderness of despair and hopelessness.  Let me give you an example of what I am talking about below.

God will not use the strongest, the fastest, the most experienced, the oldest, the most intelligent, nor the wealthiest, etc. to lead His people,  but He will use the ones who love Him, trust Him, and obey Him from the heart.  Please read Acts 13:22 and 1 Samuel 13:14.  God sought a man after His own heart who would do all His will.  This man was the young shepherd boy, David.  I go into detail how David became a man after God's own heart in my book, The Heart Behind the Stone: Develop a Giant Slaying Heart.

David did not let the negative "buts" stop him from trusting and serving the God of his people.  His father, Jesse the Bethlehemite, sent young David to carry provisions to his brothers and to the captain of their thousand, who were fighting against the Philistine army.  This is found in 1 Samuel 17.  David left early in the morning for the camp of the Israelite army.  He had no idea what the day would bring him.  Just like he had no idea why Samuel called him in  and anointed him as the next king of Israel.  The one thing he knew for certain was, there was a God in Israel and he loved Him, trusted in Him, and believed in Him.  God had already proven to young David that He was with him, when He delivered him from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear.( verse 37) At a young age, David was giant ready to take on anything for the God of Israel.

As David came and greeted his brothers, the Philistine champion, Goliath the giant, again issued a challenge to the armies of Israel. He challenged them to send their champion to fight with him. If their champion killed him, the Philistines would serve them, or if Goliath killed their champion the children of Israel would serve the Philistines.  For forty days, morning and evening, he made this challenge and every time all the men of Israel would flee from him and were dreadfully afraid.

David heard the challenge and asked," What shall be done to the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that should defy the armies of the living God?"  David then decides to be the man. He tells Saul, "Let no man's heart fail because of him; your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.

Now let us get to the discouraging negative "buts" coming from the army of Israel, including family, soldiers, the king, and Goliath himself.

Negative buts...

• And all the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him and were dreadfully afraid.
• Who did you leave with those few sheep? I know your pride and insolence.
• You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; you are but a youth.
• He is a man of war from his youth.
• Saul then clothed David with his armor and weapon.
• The Philistine said, "Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and the beast of the field.

Positive buts...

• The Lord has delivered me out of the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear.
• He will deliver me from this Philistine.
• He put aside the traditional armor of warfare and picked up his tested sling and staff.
• He chose five smooth stones and put them in his bag.
• This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you and take your head from you and give the carcasses of the camp of the Philistines to the birds of the air and wild beast of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.

Goliath was positive and had confidence, but his confidence was from his experience and man.  David's confidence was from God. He knew what God could do, and he loved God and wanted to serve and honor Him.

If David had followed the negative "buts", this story would not be worth repeating.  It would just be as depressing as the evening news.  "But", David followed God. Look at the regained courage he gave the army of Israel. Instead of hiding, they were chasing the enemy.  Through God's wisdom this true story has been protected all the ages for our encouragement as well as for God's people back then.

Remember, David had his faults.  He was flesh like you and I.  When he sinned and was made aware of it, he prayed for a clean heart and steadfast spirit.(Psalm 51)  Though he had many trials in his life, he continued his love, faith, and trust in God.

 How does this help you and me today?  If we build our faith as David, we can over come the negative "buts" of the world and live a purposeful life in God's service helping and encouraging others to do the same.

Some negative "buts" of today...

• But Christians are becoming a minority.
• But they are hateful to us and calling us right wing radicals.
• But they have taken prayer out of schools.
• But I am poor and I can't do anything about our society.
• But I am chronically ill and can't help anyone.
• But I...... . You fill in the blanks.

What are these accomplishing?  What words of encouragement do these "buts" bring? Any solutions found in these negative "buts"?

Now what about a few of these positive "buts"...

• I will fear no evil; for You are with me.
• But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.
• "But on this one I will look: On him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at My word."
• If God is for us, who can be against us?
• Nothing will be able to separate us from the love of God.
• Do not worry, but seek ye first the kingdom of heaven and all these things shall be added to you.
• You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.
• The effective prayer of a righteous man avails much.
• For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you or forsake you".

Whatever your dream is, if it will bless people, and honor God, go after it with all your might.  Have the giant ready faith of David the shepherd boy.  Yes, we do live in troublesome times. Don't say you are not able to do anything to help. Even if you are on your sick bed, you can pray fervently for the brethren. Remember our Father in Heaven is the Sovereign God over all heaven and earth.  We do not handle the world's problems by vengeance and might. We live like Christ and abstain from every appearance of evil.  The battle we have is unseen. We each need to study and apply Ephesians 6:10-18 to fight against the wiles of the devil.

Encourage people to do right by living right.  How will our lives change if we ask God to help us overcome the negative "buts" in our lives?

Thanks for reading.

Please send your comments to rhepler52@gmail.com  or share on Facebook.

Thanks,

Rick

What is Your "Yes But..."?

What is your major dream? What do you want to do with your life? We all start off with good intentions, "but" something always keep us from progressing.  My chatterbox, that inner voice, always introduces several "buts" into my thinking process. Here are a few that have kept me from moving forward to attain my goals.

But...

• You have never done this before.
• You are not disciplined enough.
• You do not have enough money.
• No one like you has ever done this before.
• People may not read what you write.
• You majored in Agriculture and not English.
• What will people think if I fail? 

All of the above in times past have produced a fear that always made me give up.  As I have written before, I have a library of self help books.  None of them helped me overcome the fear of putting my thoughts in print for everyone to read and to make a living from doing it.  This is a big goal for me to be a published author, writing, and using God's word to help me and other people  live the life God created us to live.  In some way, I have been able to turn off the negative "buts" allowing me to pursue this dream full time.  Consequences? Yes. In the beginning, it is hard getting noticed, finding my voice, choosing a topic to write about that will encourage others, being overwhelmed with the technical side of marketing, and knowing I must improve my craft each day. There is so much to learn. The only way I have ever learned anything in my life was to just jump in and keep doing it.

Paying attention to some "buts" in our lives can also be a protection for us that keeps us from harming ourselves and others, whether emotionally, spiritually or physically. I want to identify the ones wanting to keep me from doing good.  One of my favorite parables in the New Testament is the parable of the talents. You can find it in Matthew 25:14-30. What got my attention were verses 25-30. Was I afraid like the one talent man? Did I know what God had given me to do in this life to bring glory to Him and bless others?

The one talent man provides his master with an excuse coming from a negative "but".  He said in verse 24, Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed.  Why did he say this? The others never implied this. Was it just an excuse he quickly came up with because he heard the reply of the others and the Master's answers.  At that moment, he only had time for a lame excuse that falsely accused the Master of something he was not. What is Christ trying to tell us in this parable? Could it be, we should not procrastinate in using our one talent or many talents in service to the Master? It is implied, and we all have some degree of talent. If we proclaim to be one of  Christ servants, then we should use our talent or talents in His kingdom.

The Lord called this servant wicked and lazy.  Wicked because he came up with a lame excuse about the Master, and lazy because he didn't identify his talent and use it to the best of his one talent ability.  Therefore his talent was taken away and given to another, who would use it to his fullest ability.  I equate this with someone having God given abilities, and dying never to have used them.  Someone else has to pick up the same talent and use it for the Lord in His kingdom.

Following the wrong "but" has serious consequences.  It was first introduced in the Garden of Eden by the "Father of Deception", Satan.  How did he do it.  Eve rationalized in her mind, with the doubt Satan deceived her with, by this thought, "But this fruit is good for food, pleasant looking, and will make me wise".  This "but" led to Eve and then Adam to disobey the only commandment God had given them.  The result?  We live in a fallen world today because of it.  Satan saw the success of using "but" to deceive mankind into disobeying God. More will be said about these types of "buts" in my new book, The Father of Deception.

How could any man, both past and present, not believe in the promises of God? Well, they have, and they still do. Let's look at an example and the consequence that followed. God had previously told Moses to tell all Israel to go to the promised land He had promised to their fathers, Abraham, Issac, and Jacob. He told them He had set the land before them; go in and possess it (Deut.1:6-8) and in Deuteronomy 1:21 Moses tells them again, Look, the Lord your God has set the land before you; go up and possess it, as the Lord God of your fathers has spoken to you; do not fear or be discouraged.  They responded with, Let us send men before us, and let them search out the land for us, and bring back word to us of the way by which we should go up, and of the cities into which we shall come. (Deut.1:21-22, NKJV)

Let's go over what has just been said.  These people had witnessed the mighty hand of God, with all of His power and display of miracles, when He brought them out of the land of Egypt. He tells them; do not fear or be discouraged, because He is going to deliver the land He had promised to their fathers. They should go in and possess it.  Get this.  They are going to send some men in to check it out and see which way they should go up.  Did they have to decide on the way to get Pharaoh to let them go? Did they have to decide on the way to get across the Red Sea? Did they not realize by now that God would show them the way?  I hint just a small opening for doubt to creep in.  I believe Satan is ready with one of his tricks.

So Moses sends twelve men, one from each tribe, to spy out the land God had promised to give them.  It took them forty days.  I wonder what all the other people were thinking while they were gone.  Were they excited to go take this land or did they have doubts it was going to really be a land flowing with milk and honey? After the forty days, the twelve men return with some of the fruits of the land. They said, It truly flows with milk and honey, and this is its fruit. ( Numbers 13:27) The land was just like God said it was.  What was keeping them from believing God? Look what comes next.

Nevertheless (But) the people who dwell in the land are strong; the cities are fortified and very large; moreover we saw the descendants of Anak there.(Numbers 13:28,NKJV) Then in verses 31-33 all the spies, except Joshua and Caleb said, "The people are stronger than we, the land devours its inhabitants, and there are giant men there that make us look like grasshoppers.

Only two of the spies, Joshua and Caleb, told them the land was very good, and if God delighted in them, He would give it to them. (Numbers 14:6-9)  The people believed the majority and didn't believe God would deliver the land and its inhabitants to them. Then they wanted to stone Joshua and Caleb. Who would you have believed, God or the ten spies that brought back the bad report?

They believed man over God.  As always, this was a huge mistake, with terrible consequences. Read Numbers 14:26-38 and see what happened to those who rebelled against God.  Only Joshua and Caleb with the little ones would be able to cross over to the promised land. The ten spies that caused the disbelief died of a plague and the rest of the adults wandered for forty years in the wilderness.  Joshua, Caleb and the children got to enter the promised land forty years after all those died out.  Can you not see what going against God and believing one little "negative but" can cause?
.
To be continued...

Send comments to rhepler52@gmail.com

Please share this series with your friends and family on Facebook or send me their email addresses and I will forward it to them.  How many "negative buts" do you tell yourself each day or hear from your family, friends and others?

Thanks for reading.

Rick
  

"Got Peace?"

peace , 5. an undisturbed state of mind; serenity,  6. calm; quite.  (Webster's New World Dictionary, 1968 edition)  peace , eirene G1515, Strong's Greek Lexicon: 3. security, safety, prosperity, felicity( because peace and harmony make and keep things safe and prosperous).

Many times in my life I have sought peace.  In one of my trials I asked God for just 15 minutes of peace each day.  I would even daydream of being back on the farm, chopping weeds out of the bean field, in the heat of the day and chopping weeds anytime of the day was dreaded back then.  Why did I look back to that point of time?  Because chopping weeds didn't require much interaction with things and the world,  it was just the weeds and me, and the only prerequisite was to know the difference between a weed and a soybean.

I have sought peace in this world by changing jobs, reading every self-help book I could get my hands on, meeting new people, buying things, and going on vacation etc..., but I haven't realized until just recently that I was born with peace.  My peace has been with me all along.  I have just traded it for doubt, disbelief, pride, anger, selfishness, material possessions, pleasing others, and worldly thinking.

Satan had done a good job of throwing the lure of negative thinking before me, and I took it. I then allowed those thoughts to take me from the lake of serenity and promise, to being tossed aside to a self imagined bank of  fear, self doubt, and for a moment, a state of hopelessness.  I had traded the peace of mind I had as a child, over time, for thoughts of self-doubt, fear, and unfulfilled goals. He robbed me of my peace through deception, but he didn't cause me to lose my faith in God nor my family, although my faith was weak at times.  I trusted in myself  to get my peace of mind back instead of using God and His word. (The reason I now have a library full of self help books.)

I can remember when my peace started to leave me.  It was my freshman year of college.  The spirit of my identity was slowly crushed. I am getting my spirit back, my identity, and also the inner peace I have been missing for several years.  I have read in Colossians 2:8, Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the traditions of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.  I wish I had read this in High School.  I could have saved myself a lot of inner turmoil.

I have desired peace many times and I pursued the things I thought would give me peace.  What I learned was if I seek after material things, I will only receive material peace.  Meaning material things are only temporary.  Here is a good example. Do you have money in an I.R.A., 401K or other investments?  With the market going down do you have peace or fear.  The majority of my clients the last several years were peaceful when the market was going up, but when the market turned south, fear quickly displaced their peace.

Here is what I have learned, and I have learned it the hard way, that for peace to remain with me, I have to pursue it among eternal things.  Here is an example of what I am talking about. I have tried to lay up treasures on earth and it was like a dog chasing its tail and peace of mind was a continual chase also.  I finally started practicing what I had been preaching and followed the advice of our savior, Jesus Christ.  He said, Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is , there your heart will also be. (Matthew 6:19-21,NKJV)  God has promised if I lay up treasures in heaven, they are safe. The market of the world and the Devil can't steal them from me.

These treasures provide eternal peace.  How do I obtain these treasures and eternal peace?  I have to pursue them.  Let's look at the apostle Paul. Before he was converted, he persecuted Christians with a passion.  He caused some to be stoned to death.  After he was converted, he went and preached the Gospel of Christ.  How could he have peace, knowing he had persecuted the very people he was now a part of?  In Philippians 3:13-14, he says, Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead.  I press toward the goal and the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. (NKJV)  Paul did not let the sins and guilt of the past rob him of reaching toward those eternal things of the future. Paul then said in Philippians 4:6-7, Be anxious for nothing, but in prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your request be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.(NKJV) In other words, fear will not overtake your peace if you do this.

Paul tells Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:22 to pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call upon the Lord out of a pure heart. Peter tells Christians in 1 Peter 3:11 to turn from evil, do good and seek peace and pursue it.  How do we pursue peace? Can I build such a faith and trust in God that the trials I have in this life will not rob me of my peace?  Deb has Parkinson's disease, I have just retired from one career and started another with a dream so big I will fail unless I depend upon God and His strength to help me. Fear of uncertainties is banging on the door trying to get in and replace the peace I now have.  How can I maintain my peace?  How can you?

I have found in order to hold on to the peace of God that surpasses all understanding, I have to have a pleasing faith in Him. I have to believe in His promises and His love for me.  In writing my first book, The Heart Behind the Stone, I learned how to build a faith that pleases God.  One that builds a trust in God and the word He has left us with.  When David went to carry provisions to his brothers, he never dreamed he would be slaying the giant, Goliath.  His quiet time with God in the wilderness helped him to develop such a belief, faith and trust in his God, that he was always giant ready.

David writes in Psalm 34:14 to depart from evil and do good; Seek peace and pursue it.  Please read all of Psalm 34. David writes about the happiness of those who trust in God. Did David ever sin against God? Yes he did, but it grieved him when he was confronted with his sin. He wrote the beautiful Psalm 51. A psalm of his repentance.  You can read in this psalm the love David had for God.  We can read of his desire to have his relationship with God restored.  In verse 10-13 we read of his plea. Create in me a clean heart , O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.  Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take your Holy Spirit from me.  Restore me to the joy of your salvation, and uphold me by Your generous Spirit.  Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, and sinners shall be converted to You. (NKJV)

David's faith in God was developed at an early age.  He had many trials in his life, but he valued the peace of God in his life. We can have that same peace.  A peace that is eternal and nothing can replace it, unless we let it. Satan used the lust of the flesh to rob David of his peace.  It worked, but David's love for God caused him to pursue that same peace again, and I believe he did.  We are the gatekeepers of our peace. Do you have this peace or the traditional, temporary peace?

Got Peace?  You can have it?  Pursue it with belief, faith, hope and trust in God, His Son and His Spirit and you will learn how to get it and keep it.

Thanks for reading. You can read to your children how David obtained his faith in my book, The Heart Behind the Stone: Develop a Giant Slaying Heart, by going to www.amazon.com . If you enjoyed today's post please send me your comments at rhepler52@yahoo.com.

Thanks for reading. Please share with your friends on Facebook.


Rick

MOVING INTO THE NEXT SEASON OF MY LIFE AND I WILL NEED YOUR HELP

We all have experienced different seasons in our lives.   One of my seasons started, June 12 ,1976.  I graduated from University of Tennessee at Martin with a B.S. in Agriculture, the next day I married Debbie, next we went on our honeymoon to Williamsburg, Virginia and then I started to work the next week with the Dyersburg Production Credit Assn. as a loan officer.  I had to learn how to make loans to farmers.


From that date until today, I have been working with people and their money for 39 years with different banks and a financial service company.  I have dealt with many who wanted to lay up treasures on earth.  When those treasures were threatened with economic downturns and market drops,  I had to also manage their fears.  I gained experience in dealing with almost every financial situation.  I also grew close to my clients and made a lot of new friends over the years.  I have no regrets on experience learned, and the friends I have made over the years.


Next week, if all the paperwork goes through, I will be signing off my computer with home office and will have sold my practice to Randy Thetford, the other Ameriprise office here in town.  My new season will begin on August 17, 2015.  I will be leaving a season of helping people lay up treasure on earth and beginning a season of helping people build up treasures in heaven.  I read in Ecclesiastes 3:1, To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven. (NKJV) Read also verses 2-8.  I have chosen:

• A time to build up.
• A time to embrace.
• A time to speak.
• A time to love.

Entering my new season of life has not come easily.  Fear and doubt have been my foes for many years. I have heard their small voices each day for several years.  I am thankful the last few months of trusting in God, and His helping me to develop the courage to follow my dream, has been the victor.


My dream is to be a full time, successful, Christian author.  Each day I write, my passion for it grows stronger as well as my compassion for my fellowman.  In writing, I have had to take my mask off and risk baring my heart and soul to you readers.  To you who have read my work, I hope my voice of compassion and love for you has come through in my words.  I want to work on my craft daily in order to do my best for my readers.


There is one quote I have read that has helped me take the step to dream big again.  I have heard it from two different sources so I really do not know who to give to give the credit.  I want to thank whoever the author is, because it has really helped me.  Below is the quote and I hope it helps you also.




 As God's chosen blessed sons and daughters, we are expected to attempt  something large enough that failure is guaranteed, unless God steps in.
 This is how the world see's the power of God in our lives.  Just like He
 showed His power through David, Moses, Joseph and Paul.
                                                                                                            ?????


I am attempting something large, and God will have to step in.  I believe He will use you my readers,  my family, and my friends to help me.  I have read in the past, if your dream does not scare you, then it is not large enough.  Well for me, this is a little scary.  Revealing my dream publicly will make me accountable to you.


My next book, The Father of Deception, will help the readers identify the deceptions used in keeping you from your real purpose on this earth. What we are experiencing today in our culture is a result of the success of these deceptions.  In my book, The Heart Behind the Stone: Develop a Giant Slaying Heart, my purpose was to help people develop a faith in God so strong and pleasing to Him that they will be able to conquer any giant in their lives that keeps them from being all that God created them to be.  Also,  I show the steps the young shepherd boy David did in developing his giant slaying faith.  My book, 123 Tips for My Grandchildren and Yours, was written for all of our grandchildren to remind them how to build a strong faith in God living in a fallen world.


My blog is being read by people from 13 different countries.  This is a way I can connect with my readers on a weekly basis.  Some use my post in their devotionals. I try to write about current issues facing Christians of today. I also want to use these post each week to encourage Christians in their daily walk with God.


God has helped me symbolically to slay the lion and the bear, as He helped David slay a real lion and bear. This developed in David a trust in God that enabled him to slay the giant, Goliath. David slayed Goliath, not with the armor and battle experience of King Saul, but with a simple sling, a small smooth stone, and the experience of having a relationship with a loving God.  David said one thing that has always motivated me. He said in 1 Samuel 17:29 when his brother, Eliab, criticized him for asking about slaying Goliath. David answered him with this statement, that we also can make. And David said, 'What have I done now? Is there not a cause?' (NKJV)  Christians, let's make this same statement together.  God has given each of us a talent, and this fallen world has given us many causes to use them.  I am going to pick up my sling and a smooth small stone to go after my Goliath.  Are you ready to do the same?  Yes, you do have it in you to do the same.


Here is how you can help me. If you have read any of my books, please post a review on Amazon.  Amazon will refer my books to others when my readers write reviews. Also, if you or someone you know hasn't purchased one of my books,  please consider doing so.  The price is cheaper than a large hamburger and hopefully you may glean something that will help build your faith.


You can also help me by sharing my blog post with others.  This is how I build a platform of readers.

I enjoy writing a blog post each week.  Several of you send comments that are very encouraging.  You do not know how much I appreciate the "likes" "shares" and comments on Facebook. Do you remember when I wrote about my little dog "Poochy"?  I could give Poochy a little encouragement, and he would go after our big Charolais bull.  I am like Poochy. Your encouragement helps me tackle the giants in my life.


As I stated in the title.  I do need your help.  I also need your prayers for Debbie and me.  Pray for a cure for Parkinson's disease and pray for me as I enter the next season of my life trying to help people.


Please send any comments to rhepler52@gmail.com or comment on Facebook.  Also you can go to www.amazon.com to purchase my books or write a review.


Thank you so much for helping me.


Rick


 


                       

DO I REALLY LOVE YOU IF MY ACTIONS HELP YOU PERPETUATE SIN IN YOUR LIFE?

I read a headline Friday morning, after the Republican presidential debate on Thursday night, that caused me to think. I am going to share my thoughts.  Here is the headline. John Kasich won applause for his gay marriage debate answer.  Some of his answer I agree with. I am to love everyone unconditionally as God does.  I am glad God loves man unconditionally.  Our example for this is in Matthew 5:43-48. Verse 45 emphasis God unconditional love, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and the unjust. (NKJV)  In reading the above verses, I am to be perfect (complete) as my Father in heaven is perfect.


So John Kasich was correct in saying, we should have unconditional love for each other.  I have been asked the same question as he. What if your daughter was homosexual?  Yes, I would love my daughters if they told me they were homosexual.  I would love them more than ever, because I would not want them to die a practicing homosexual or even have a same sex partner. The same as I would not want them to die as an adulteress, liar, thief, murderer or unbeliever.  I would, in love, teach them God's will on the subject. I would also pray every day that they could control the desires of the flesh and not be a slave to them.


Now with that aside, I could not go to their same-sex wedding or anyone's same-sex wedding.  Even if the supreme court said it was the law of the land, and also if I was applauded for saying I would. God's love for us is serious and so are His commands.  So serious, only Jesus' death on the cross could atone for our sins.


Just because the supreme court of this great land says it is legal to have same-sex marriages and also to kill the unborn child, I do not have to do it.  Please read Acts 5:28-29. Peter and the other apostles were told by the high priest and other Jewish priests  not to teach in Jesus' name.  Peter boldly told them in verse 29,  We ought to obey God rather than men. As Christians, that is our answer and our example.  Are we bold enough and do we love the souls of men enough to stand on this principle?


If I say, "I love Jesus my savior", then I will keep His commandments. (John 14:15)  If I compromise God's truth that has been given to us, for anyone whether it be for my daughters or my best friend, I am a hypocrite. Many people give the excuse of not going to "church" because the "church" is filled with hypocrites.  I do not want to give them an excuse.


If I compromise with the world and my actions, attending a same-sex marriage, tend to make others to believe their sin is no longer sin because I am present, does that make it righteous?  If you are confused about this, let's see what Jesus said about it.  Please read 1 John 1:5-9. Read closely what verse 8 says.  "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us".  We cannot decide against God, and by popular demand say that same-sex marriage is not a sin.  (The same is true with all things that God says are sins)  Why not? Because in verse 10, "If we say we have not sinned we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us". How does this make God a liar?  Read Romans 1:18-32.  Does God say it is okay to practice homosexuality?  Is it okay for me to go along with it?  I think verse 32 answers this question.


Can I join in the applause because John Kasick said he believes in traditional marriage, but will abide by the decision of the supreme court?  He demonstrates this by telling the audience he attended his friend's same-sex marriage.  Does God applaud his statement?  What is His thinking on the subject?  And the Lord said, "Because of the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grave, I will go down now and see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry against it that has come to Me; and if not I will know." (Genesis 18:20-21, NKJV) Please read the rest of the story in Genesis 19 1-29 to see if God approved of their actions. Especially read verse 13.  "For we will destroy this place, because the outcry against them has grown great before the face of the Lord, and the Lord has sent us to destroy it." (NKJV)  The iniquity of Sodom and Gomorrah was so great, it prompted God's wrath to destroy it.


Shall I over look the precedent that God has set before us, to receive an applause for my political correctness, or shall I obey God rather than men?  God draws the line in the sand, not I.  I am with God and He will protect me in my decision.  I will still love you unconditionally, but even Christ said in Revelation 2:12-16, "Repent or else".


I would like to recommend a book written by F. Lagard Smith. When he wrote this book, he was the Professor of Law at Pepperdine University and the author of several Christian books.  The title of the book is Sodom's Second Coming: What You Need to Know About the Deadly Homosexual Assault.  This book's copyright date is 1993 by Harvest House Publishers-Eugene, Oregon 9.


These are the issues the book faces head on:

Do homosexuals have a choice about their lifestyle?

Should Christians be tolerant toward homosexuals?

Are gays behind the myth of heterosexual AIDS?

Does the Bible really condone homosexual conduct?

The book published in 1993 hits head on what is happening today in 2015.


We will never go wrong taking our stand with God and His Word. Our children and grandchildren are depending on us. We need to cry out to God on this. Can we say as the Psalmist said, It is time for you to act, O Lord, for they have regarded Your law as void. (Psalm 119:126, NKJV)


Thanks for reading. Please share with your friends and family on Facebook and send me your comments either on Facebook or to my email. My email is www.rhepler52@gmail.com .




Rick