Many times in my life I have heard the phrase,"Well I would have done it this way." I have even had people tell this to me. Until I have experienced what some have experienced, I probably don't have the right to supplement to their stress with my lack of experienced opinion. But when I have something that is challenging me or leading me down the wrong path, I welcome the help of those who have already experienced the same thing and are still standing. We all are relieved when someone has taken a new path for the good and made it. This gives us the courage and faith that it can be done.
All of us have giants we are facing. Collectively as a nation we have several giants.These giants may even bring this country to her knees. (I hope not!) Let's look at 2 men in God's word who where faced with a choice that we also have today. What choice did they choose and what choice would you have chosen?
David was a lowly shepherd boy. David could have not chosen to learn about God while He was in the wilderness with those few sheep, but he did choose to learn about God. The more he observed God's beautiful creation the closer he became to God. He prepared his heart to draw closer to God and had an increasingly desire to please God and glorify Him. His lowly position in life and inexperience in the ways of the world did not keep him from stepping out of his comfort zone from protecting his father's sheep to leading God's people. He was prepared to lead in any situation to bring glory to God and to honor Him.
The day came to make a choice, just like the day comes for us to make a choice. He saw God's army run from a giant and hide behind rocks. His oldest brother tried to discourage him, Saul told him he was inexperienced in war. Goliath said he was going to cut him up and feed him to the buzzards. If anyone could come up with an excuse not to face Goliath, it was David. He could have taken the easy way out and said, You are all right. I should come back when I am older and more experienced. What would have happened if David had made this choice. Who would have killed the giant? I am afraid the excuse, I am not prepared to serve God in this way at this time, is one I have been guilty of in my lifetime.
But, David was prepared with a faith that harbored no excuses. His intentions were to remove anything that would defy the armies of the living God and bring dishonor to his God, that he had learned to love so dearly.(You can read some of the Psalms that he wrote and can see he loved and trusted in God.) David took on this giant without any reservations or lack of faith. He killed Goliath with one small, smooth stone guided by the faith in a God whom he loved.
The results, of his choice, were: God was glorified and the armies of the living God were so encouraged by this that they chased their enemy away.
The next man is the Apostle Peter. In reading about Peter while Christ was still on earth, you would think that he was the most responsible Apostle. Peter identified Christ in Matthew 16:16 as the Christ, the Son of the living God. In Matthew 26:33, Peter said to Christ, Even if all are made to stumble because of You, I will never be made to stumble. Also, in verse 35 he said, Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You. In John 18:10 when they came to take Jesus, Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's servant, and cut off his right ear. In Luke 22:31-34, Christ tells Peter that Satan has asked for him, that he may sift him like wheat. Christ tells Peter when he returns, to strengthen the brethren. Peter tells Christ he is ready to go to prison and even to death with Him. Christ knows Peter and tells him that he would deny Him 3 times before the rooster crows.
Peter was strong on the outside, but I think on the inside he hadn't found the faith he needed to face what was coming. Peter was with Christ over 3 years and you would think his faith and trust in God would have been stronger than ever. Christ knew Peter would deny Him 3 times. He also knew Peter loved Him and would be back stronger than before, after he had been sifted by Satan.
Peter's moment came and he did exactly what Christ said he would do. He denied Christ 3 times, with the denial being a little more forceful each time. When the rooster crowed, Christ turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered what Christ said and he went out and wept bitterly. Peter did love Christ, but when he was warming by the fires of the world, he started to think about his own safety and doubt and fear set in. He didn't have the faith to confess Christ before men, and so he denied Him the 3 times.
I think back over the years, that I too denied Christ. Not like Peter, verbally, but denied Him by going against what He taught and commanded, just to be poplar with my peers. I used to never talk about God and Jesus to anyone, because I didn't want to make them feel uncomfortable. I am thankful those days are over.
The next point is the most powerful one. When Peter realized what he had done, look what he did not do. He didn't make excuses nor give up. He didn't leave Christ all together and go back into the world living without God and Christ, thinking he could never be good enough to follow Christ again.
No. He went out and wept bitterly. Peter made a choice after this. He wanted to continue to follow Christ. His broken and contrite heart showed how much he loved Jesus. The other disciples had fled also. What would you have done? Would you have chosen not to follow Jesus anymore and returned to the world, forgetting the commands of God,or would you have decided like Peter, that you needed help from Christ to defeat Satan. Peter knew he could never be righteous before God without Jesus. He also was shown that he could not fight Satan alone. He did go back and strengthen the brethren. He also preached the first Gospel sermon.
What would the outcome have been if these men had chosen not to follow God and glorify Him? How many men would have been killed by Goliath? What would the Philistines then think of the God of the Hebrews? Would there have been anyone to preach the Gospel on Pentecost? Would there have been 3000 souls obey the Gospel on Pentecost? Would the church have been established on that day?
My choice on following God, the way He wants me to, has great consequences. If I choose to have a faith pleasing to Him, love Him, and obey Him, He will be glorified and my family may follow Him for generations. If my choice is not to follow and to obey Him, generations of my children will do the same. Instead of being saved on judgement day, we will be lost.
Are you going to influence your family by following God or by following the world? That is the most important choice, with the greatest consequence, you will ever make. I care about all of you and my earnest desire is that you will make the right choice. You know if you are living and serving God like He wants you to. Also you know right now, if you are living like the world. The future of your family's eternal destiny and the future of our country depends on the choice you make today. Another day may be too late.
Do you want to build a faith like David? See what I have to say in my book: The Heart Behind the Stone: Develop a Giant Slaying Heart on www.amazon.com Read it to your children and grandchildren along with your Bible reading.
My desire for my life is to please God and strengthen the brethren. This is important. You can do it. Do not let the Devil decieve you and your family any longer.
Please send me your comments to rhepler52@yahoo.com or rhepler52@gmail.com.
Have you looked at the news lately. Are we living the life God wants us to live in this country so He will hear our prayers? Do we have a faith strong enough to overcome the world and ISIS? Do some soul searching with your family tonight to see where you stand. I hope I have lived a life in the last few years for you to know where I stand. Does your family know where you stand? With the world or with God? I really want you to stand with God with the talent He has given you. Yes. He has given you a talent and He loves you very much.
Thank you so much. I hope my writing encourages you. I don't care what you have done or how deep in sin or lukewarm you may be, you are special because you were created in the image of God.
Thank you so much for reading.
Rick Hepler
Wednesday, February 18, 2015
Monday, February 16, 2015
#113 of 123 Tips for My Grandchildren and Yours
When love hurts, love more. I promise you, loving someone will sometimes break your heart. Love them anyway. True love can bring pain to you, but the goodness from the pain can have a great influence on others. Christ's love for the Father and for mankind brought Him the pain of the cross, but glory in the resurrection. Eternal good was made possible through His pain. Love will always remain when all other works fail. Love is a fruit from the Spirit. When observing love, even your physical body will respond. Seeing great acts of love can put a lump in the throat and tears in the eyes of the strongest warrior. Receive the love of others and the love of God with great gratitude. With great courage, wisdom, and patience fill your heart with love for God and others. The Greatest gift that we can use in this life, to help the ones we love and our fellow man, is Love.
(1 Corinthians 13) Take the chance on love, even though you may get hurt, it is worth it a hundredfold.
Xander, Anna Jewell, Connor and Grady always remember God is love, so study everything you can in the bible about love and you will have a life you've never dreamed of.
Love comes from God, because God is love. (1John 4:) We are created in the Image of God, so we have the capability to love as God loves. (Genesis 1:27) Love did not evolve by evolutionary processes. Many say, life evolved from nothing over billions of years, so love disproves evolution.
How does love cause pain? In the summer of 1974, I met my wife, Debbie, on a blind date. To my surprise this blind date was 180 degrees from my first blind date. She was beautiful and still is. The seed of love was planted in my heart. The more I was with her, the more the seed sprouted and grew, and is still growing. She is a great wife, mother and grandmother. Her greatest virtue then and now was that she loves God. The love she has for God has influenced me throughout the years. She was so healthy, active, beautiful and could do anything.
But, here comes the pain. Many I know have experienced this pain. It is heart breaking and sometimes hard to handle to see Deb suffer from Parkinson's disease. Out of such a strong love I have for Debbie, a passionate hate has begun to grow toward the Parkinson's disease she has. More importantly, I hate the deception and sin that Satan brought into our world. A world that was created as a paradise for man, by a loving God, and now is full of sin, pain and suffering. This is not God's fault. I love God more each day, as I realize what He has done for us and our pain and suffering.
The day Eve disobeyed God, by being deceived by the serpent's lie, is when sin entered into the world God had created as a paradise for mankind. God then put man out of the garden, because He didn't want him to live forever in a sin filled and fallen world. The disease Debbie is dealing with now is one of the results of our fallen world. Satan is the one responsible for the temptation, pain and suffering of this present world. (Read the book of Job) He wants us to blame God and to lose our trust and faith in Him.
My wonderful wife suffers, because mankind chose to disobey God. Your loved ones do too.
As a matter of fact, God doesn't like our suffering. He has prepared a place of eternal torment for the Devil and his angels. That is the only place in the universe where love is not present, because God is not there. Many have chosen to love the world instead of the Heavenly Father. The love of the Father is not in them. They are destined to perish in this place, unless they repent and love the Father more than the world. (1John 2:15-17) But God loves us so much, that He gave us His only begotten Son, that we should not perish. (John 3:16-18) He is longsuffering toward us, hoping we will repent and follow His Son. (2 Peter 3:9)
God has shown us how much He loves us by letting His Son die that cruel death on the cross, in our stead, to pay the price for our sins. How can we not love and want to obey Him? He has a place prepared for us, if we love and obey Him. But more importantly to me, He has prepared a place for those dearest to me on this earth. My wife Debbie, my children, my grandchildren, my family, and the friends I have made along the way have the opportunity to be with Him for all eternity. I do not want anyone that I love to be deceived by the Devil, as Eve was, and to lose this great and precious inheritance.
We are only living on earth from our date of birth until our date of death. The life in between those dates can be one of joy or heartache, pain, suffering, and many times very unfair. If we are treated unfairly, God says vengeance is His. He will repay those who have been unfair and hurtful to us. (Romans 12:19) He also loves us so much and hates to see our pain, that He has promised us a place to make up for all the pain. This place is for eternity. (John 14:1-3; 1 Cor. 2:9)
One day Deb will be cured from Parkinson's disease, either in this life or the next. We are looking forward to it. I am going to love my heavenly Father with all my heart, all my soul, and all my mind, and do my best to let His love manifest through me towards those who need love. I am going to do all I possibly can do, to not love the world as John mentions in 1 John 2:15-17. The devil has incited many people in our country to live as the world and not do the will of God. I want to be Satan's enemy not his friend. I want the evidence of my love to remain as an example when I have gone to the next life
.
Remember the love you share from God is powerful and has heavenly rewards. You can't share love from the world, because it has none to share. Are you going to be God's son or daughter to share His love or are you going to be a friend of the world? Like with Eve, He still gives you a choice . I hope you make the right choice. Remember, He loves you and so do I.
Please send me your comments. At times as we are having in our country today, there seems to be more hate expressed than love. We need to love and encourage each other, even if we take the chance of getting hurt. Please contact me at rhepler52@yahoo.com or rhepler52@gmail.com . You can purchase my book, The Heart Behind the Stone: Develop a Giant Slaying Heart on www.amazon.com.
Thanks for reading!
Rick
Happy Valentine's Day Debbie! Remember how much I love you? 2
(1 Corinthians 13) Take the chance on love, even though you may get hurt, it is worth it a hundredfold.
Xander, Anna Jewell, Connor and Grady always remember God is love, so study everything you can in the bible about love and you will have a life you've never dreamed of.
Love comes from God, because God is love. (1John 4:) We are created in the Image of God, so we have the capability to love as God loves. (Genesis 1:27) Love did not evolve by evolutionary processes. Many say, life evolved from nothing over billions of years, so love disproves evolution.
How does love cause pain? In the summer of 1974, I met my wife, Debbie, on a blind date. To my surprise this blind date was 180 degrees from my first blind date. She was beautiful and still is. The seed of love was planted in my heart. The more I was with her, the more the seed sprouted and grew, and is still growing. She is a great wife, mother and grandmother. Her greatest virtue then and now was that she loves God. The love she has for God has influenced me throughout the years. She was so healthy, active, beautiful and could do anything.
But, here comes the pain. Many I know have experienced this pain. It is heart breaking and sometimes hard to handle to see Deb suffer from Parkinson's disease. Out of such a strong love I have for Debbie, a passionate hate has begun to grow toward the Parkinson's disease she has. More importantly, I hate the deception and sin that Satan brought into our world. A world that was created as a paradise for man, by a loving God, and now is full of sin, pain and suffering. This is not God's fault. I love God more each day, as I realize what He has done for us and our pain and suffering.
The day Eve disobeyed God, by being deceived by the serpent's lie, is when sin entered into the world God had created as a paradise for mankind. God then put man out of the garden, because He didn't want him to live forever in a sin filled and fallen world. The disease Debbie is dealing with now is one of the results of our fallen world. Satan is the one responsible for the temptation, pain and suffering of this present world. (Read the book of Job) He wants us to blame God and to lose our trust and faith in Him.
My wonderful wife suffers, because mankind chose to disobey God. Your loved ones do too.
As a matter of fact, God doesn't like our suffering. He has prepared a place of eternal torment for the Devil and his angels. That is the only place in the universe where love is not present, because God is not there. Many have chosen to love the world instead of the Heavenly Father. The love of the Father is not in them. They are destined to perish in this place, unless they repent and love the Father more than the world. (1John 2:15-17) But God loves us so much, that He gave us His only begotten Son, that we should not perish. (John 3:16-18) He is longsuffering toward us, hoping we will repent and follow His Son. (2 Peter 3:9)
God has shown us how much He loves us by letting His Son die that cruel death on the cross, in our stead, to pay the price for our sins. How can we not love and want to obey Him? He has a place prepared for us, if we love and obey Him. But more importantly to me, He has prepared a place for those dearest to me on this earth. My wife Debbie, my children, my grandchildren, my family, and the friends I have made along the way have the opportunity to be with Him for all eternity. I do not want anyone that I love to be deceived by the Devil, as Eve was, and to lose this great and precious inheritance.
We are only living on earth from our date of birth until our date of death. The life in between those dates can be one of joy or heartache, pain, suffering, and many times very unfair. If we are treated unfairly, God says vengeance is His. He will repay those who have been unfair and hurtful to us. (Romans 12:19) He also loves us so much and hates to see our pain, that He has promised us a place to make up for all the pain. This place is for eternity. (John 14:1-3; 1 Cor. 2:9)
One day Deb will be cured from Parkinson's disease, either in this life or the next. We are looking forward to it. I am going to love my heavenly Father with all my heart, all my soul, and all my mind, and do my best to let His love manifest through me towards those who need love. I am going to do all I possibly can do, to not love the world as John mentions in 1 John 2:15-17. The devil has incited many people in our country to live as the world and not do the will of God. I want to be Satan's enemy not his friend. I want the evidence of my love to remain as an example when I have gone to the next life
.
Remember the love you share from God is powerful and has heavenly rewards. You can't share love from the world, because it has none to share. Are you going to be God's son or daughter to share His love or are you going to be a friend of the world? Like with Eve, He still gives you a choice . I hope you make the right choice. Remember, He loves you and so do I.
Please send me your comments. At times as we are having in our country today, there seems to be more hate expressed than love. We need to love and encourage each other, even if we take the chance of getting hurt. Please contact me at rhepler52@yahoo.com or rhepler52@gmail.com . You can purchase my book, The Heart Behind the Stone: Develop a Giant Slaying Heart on www.amazon.com.
Thanks for reading!
Rick
Happy Valentine's Day Debbie! Remember how much I love you? 2
Tuesday, February 10, 2015
#25 of 123 Tips to My Grandchildren and Yours
This is an excerpt from my new book, 123 Tips to My Grandchildren and Yours, to be published in March.
You love your grandchildren as much as I love mine. We want our children and grandchildren to go to heaven when they die of an old age on this earth. In today's world it seems more and more like there are large magnets drawing them from the path God has planned for them. Some of those magnets are: doing anything to get the world to notice them, uncontrolled pleasures, unedited entertainment, idolizing: athletes, singers, and actors to name a few.
We all are subjected to these, but why? Because we can see and feel them. We can see the happiness offered by the world, but fail to see it's short existence. We can feel being selfish when we do not want our peers to accomplish more than we do. With the internet we can experience 15 minutes of fame, even if it goes against everything we have been taught. Sexual pleasures can be seen and felt, even though the consequences are never comprehended. The world is teaching to be an intellectual you must believe in evolutionary thought, which leads mankind to thinking he can control his own destiny. These same scientists are heard in the classrooms each day teaching and proudly proclaiming this falsehood as fact and insinuating any other thought is ignorant and unbelievable. There are many other distractions the world (Satan) uses to distract mankind from God. Our grandchildren are subject to these distractions that they can see and feel every waking moment of their day.
How can we compete with the world? They can see and feel the pleasures of carnal living. You and I need to have a faith pleasing to God. (Hebrews 11) With this faith we cannot see the things we hope for, nor how the things we see were not made of things which are visible. Our children, grandchildren and the world must see in us a faith so powerful that the thoughts of the world cannot cause this faith to diminish or weaken at all. How is this done. By hearing, believing, living and feeling the word of God, with all our strength ,in our heart, soul and mind. Counterfeit beliefs will not be allowed. They will then be able to see and feel the fruit of a God loving and obeying people..
Tip # 25 Read Psalm 100 everyday upon arising and retiring. What good will this do? I do not know if David wrote this Psalm or someone else, but it doesn't matter. The author of this Psalm had the faith I just talked about. Let's look at this Psalm verse by verse and see what clues we can find to help our grandchildren. ( I just list the tips in the book. A devotional guide may follow)
Psalm 100
Verse 1) Make a joyful shout to the Lord, the word shout is used as noise in some translations. The word is taken from the Hebrew word ruwa' meaning to shout with religious impulse, shout with triumph, to shout in applause etc. In other words the noise or shout was made with a deep appreciation and excitement. If you are a Patriot's fan, the noise you made after their game winning interception from the Seahawks could describe this excited shout. Why did you shout? You shouted with emotion because the team you followed just won the Super Bowl, so you are the fan of a Super Bowl winner.
All you lands! is the end of this verse. What should that mean to us? That we, not only Israel, can make this joyful shout.
Verse 2) Serve the Lord with gladness; come before His presence with singing. In order to serve anyone you have to be willing to submit to them. That submission can either be from fear or love. If it is from fear, there will be emotional pain in the service and dreading each day of it. When the submission is out of love, the service will be to the servants fullest ability each day, and also an eagerness for the beginning of each new day. Serving with love will also present a heart full of joy and sound, and the Master will be approached with confidence instead of fear.
Verse 3) Know that the Lord, He is God, it is He who has made us, and not we ourselves, we are His people and the sheep of His pasture. Look up at the stars; look at the beautiful sunsets; feel the warmth of the sun each day; smell the spring rains approaching; feel love in your heart for someone; and then can you honestly say we evolved and created ourselves? We know nothing about the magnitude and vastness of the universe. The psalmist knew without a doubt that God created us. Do not live your life as if mankind created himself , because you will live to survive, overlooking love and the needs of others. You will become prideful and selfish and not useful to anyone.
The psalmist also knew God wanted us to be His people. He wants to care for us and protect us like a shepherd cares for and protects his sheep. When we go away as sheep going astray, He desires our return.
Verse 4) Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. (Read the parable of the lost son. Luke 15:11-24) Sin made mankind dead spiritually before God. God has a loving plan to get us back, sacrificing His only Son in our stead. God is portrayed as the father in the parable of the lost son. His son rebelled, as we did and do, and let the world waste his life. The son came to himself and went back to the father, ashamed of sinning against him. But the father was waiting for his repentance and watching for his return. He showed his love by his actions of love and forgiveness and prepared a feast and royal raiment for his son.
The psalmist knew God wanted mankind back into a relationship with Him. By this we know when we are in Christ (Galatians 3:27), we will be thankful to Him and bless His name for this forgiveness and the eternal promises that come with it. We then can enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise.
Verse 5) For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, and His truth endures to all generations. We can live without fear, because the Lord is good. We can also be assured that His word, the truth, endures all generations. We have the same words of God that were delivered to men of the Old and New Testaments. (Matthew 24:35; 1John 4:18-19; James 1:16-17; 1Chronicles 16:34; Deut.7:9; Isa. 55:7; and Eph. 2: 1-10)
God is waiting for the people of our land to come back to Him. He didn't leave us. We left Him. He has never quit loving us, but our ways: abortion, unbelief, and sexual immorality have made many spiritually dead to Him along with the other sins. Don't forget, we all have sinned and we all need redemption. He loves us more than the world does, because He sent us His Only Begotten Son to die for us. Be honest, the ruler of this world, Satan,( John 12:31 and Ephesians 2:20) has only given us heartache and separation from a God who loves us. Who are you going to give a joyful shout to?
Please send your comments to rhepler52@yahoo.com or rhepler52@gmail.com. If you enjoy reading my post, please pass on to others. Also, you may purchase my book, The Heart Behind the Stone: Develop a Giant Slaying Heart by going to www.amazon.com .
Thanks you so much.
Rick Hepler
You love your grandchildren as much as I love mine. We want our children and grandchildren to go to heaven when they die of an old age on this earth. In today's world it seems more and more like there are large magnets drawing them from the path God has planned for them. Some of those magnets are: doing anything to get the world to notice them, uncontrolled pleasures, unedited entertainment, idolizing: athletes, singers, and actors to name a few.
We all are subjected to these, but why? Because we can see and feel them. We can see the happiness offered by the world, but fail to see it's short existence. We can feel being selfish when we do not want our peers to accomplish more than we do. With the internet we can experience 15 minutes of fame, even if it goes against everything we have been taught. Sexual pleasures can be seen and felt, even though the consequences are never comprehended. The world is teaching to be an intellectual you must believe in evolutionary thought, which leads mankind to thinking he can control his own destiny. These same scientists are heard in the classrooms each day teaching and proudly proclaiming this falsehood as fact and insinuating any other thought is ignorant and unbelievable. There are many other distractions the world (Satan) uses to distract mankind from God. Our grandchildren are subject to these distractions that they can see and feel every waking moment of their day.
How can we compete with the world? They can see and feel the pleasures of carnal living. You and I need to have a faith pleasing to God. (Hebrews 11) With this faith we cannot see the things we hope for, nor how the things we see were not made of things which are visible. Our children, grandchildren and the world must see in us a faith so powerful that the thoughts of the world cannot cause this faith to diminish or weaken at all. How is this done. By hearing, believing, living and feeling the word of God, with all our strength ,in our heart, soul and mind. Counterfeit beliefs will not be allowed. They will then be able to see and feel the fruit of a God loving and obeying people..
Tip # 25 Read Psalm 100 everyday upon arising and retiring. What good will this do? I do not know if David wrote this Psalm or someone else, but it doesn't matter. The author of this Psalm had the faith I just talked about. Let's look at this Psalm verse by verse and see what clues we can find to help our grandchildren. ( I just list the tips in the book. A devotional guide may follow)
Psalm 100
Verse 1) Make a joyful shout to the Lord, the word shout is used as noise in some translations. The word is taken from the Hebrew word ruwa' meaning to shout with religious impulse, shout with triumph, to shout in applause etc. In other words the noise or shout was made with a deep appreciation and excitement. If you are a Patriot's fan, the noise you made after their game winning interception from the Seahawks could describe this excited shout. Why did you shout? You shouted with emotion because the team you followed just won the Super Bowl, so you are the fan of a Super Bowl winner.
All you lands! is the end of this verse. What should that mean to us? That we, not only Israel, can make this joyful shout.
Verse 2) Serve the Lord with gladness; come before His presence with singing. In order to serve anyone you have to be willing to submit to them. That submission can either be from fear or love. If it is from fear, there will be emotional pain in the service and dreading each day of it. When the submission is out of love, the service will be to the servants fullest ability each day, and also an eagerness for the beginning of each new day. Serving with love will also present a heart full of joy and sound, and the Master will be approached with confidence instead of fear.
Verse 3) Know that the Lord, He is God, it is He who has made us, and not we ourselves, we are His people and the sheep of His pasture. Look up at the stars; look at the beautiful sunsets; feel the warmth of the sun each day; smell the spring rains approaching; feel love in your heart for someone; and then can you honestly say we evolved and created ourselves? We know nothing about the magnitude and vastness of the universe. The psalmist knew without a doubt that God created us. Do not live your life as if mankind created himself , because you will live to survive, overlooking love and the needs of others. You will become prideful and selfish and not useful to anyone.
The psalmist also knew God wanted us to be His people. He wants to care for us and protect us like a shepherd cares for and protects his sheep. When we go away as sheep going astray, He desires our return.
Verse 4) Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. (Read the parable of the lost son. Luke 15:11-24) Sin made mankind dead spiritually before God. God has a loving plan to get us back, sacrificing His only Son in our stead. God is portrayed as the father in the parable of the lost son. His son rebelled, as we did and do, and let the world waste his life. The son came to himself and went back to the father, ashamed of sinning against him. But the father was waiting for his repentance and watching for his return. He showed his love by his actions of love and forgiveness and prepared a feast and royal raiment for his son.
The psalmist knew God wanted mankind back into a relationship with Him. By this we know when we are in Christ (Galatians 3:27), we will be thankful to Him and bless His name for this forgiveness and the eternal promises that come with it. We then can enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise.
Verse 5) For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, and His truth endures to all generations. We can live without fear, because the Lord is good. We can also be assured that His word, the truth, endures all generations. We have the same words of God that were delivered to men of the Old and New Testaments. (Matthew 24:35; 1John 4:18-19; James 1:16-17; 1Chronicles 16:34; Deut.7:9; Isa. 55:7; and Eph. 2: 1-10)
God is waiting for the people of our land to come back to Him. He didn't leave us. We left Him. He has never quit loving us, but our ways: abortion, unbelief, and sexual immorality have made many spiritually dead to Him along with the other sins. Don't forget, we all have sinned and we all need redemption. He loves us more than the world does, because He sent us His Only Begotten Son to die for us. Be honest, the ruler of this world, Satan,( John 12:31 and Ephesians 2:20) has only given us heartache and separation from a God who loves us. Who are you going to give a joyful shout to?
Please send your comments to rhepler52@yahoo.com or rhepler52@gmail.com. If you enjoy reading my post, please pass on to others. Also, you may purchase my book, The Heart Behind the Stone: Develop a Giant Slaying Heart by going to www.amazon.com .
Thanks you so much.
Rick Hepler
Wednesday, January 21, 2015
Let Removing Doubt be One of Your Goals in 2015
Usually by this time in January I have already quit my New Year's Resolution. So, I did not make one this year on January 1st.for that reason. I set my goals on 01/15/2015. I'm going to make my goals this year. I can't do it alone though. I will need God and you to help me. My goals in the past have always been about my success in my business, my income, taking a vacation to a certain place or buying something I have always wanted. Not this time. My goals this time are to take me out of them and put God, my family and you in them. As you read what I write this year, I hope you begin to realize what these goals are. Stay with me and ask others to join you in reading my blog and my books.
You Kentucky basketball fans, do you remember when WPSD TV used to replay the games on Wednesday night at 10:30? I would want to know the score before I watched it. I didn't want to sit up that late to see them get beat. I hated to see them get beat. One night my brother Randy told dad that Kentucky had a big comeback and won the game. Dad sat up late watching and as they got further behind, he was anticipating a big comeback. It never happened. They lost by several points. We still laugh about it.
Knowing you are going to win in the end relieves all the stress and worry of anything we do. This life is not fair. Many good people have chronic diseases, financial hardships, premature loss of loved ones, and those that do evil "seem" to prosper and most everyone agrees that our government is messed up. We live in a country where the minority enjoys a majority voice. At one time I read that 78% of people in this country were Christians. Doesn't that word mean followers of Christ and Christ means the anointed one, which means the consecrated one. (to set apart as holy; devote to religious use...) (Webster's New World Dictionary). Being a Christian then would be defined as being set apart and following the anointed One, which is Jesus.
Following Jesus means living the life he commands us to live. Many think that wearing the Christian name is all they have to do. Sad to say this, and I am not their judge, I have been to funerals of people who lived like the world, never attended a worship services, drank all the time and used God's name in vain and the preacher said they were in heaven because they loved the Lord. A sad way to show it. Jesus said, If you love Me keep my commandments. (John 14:15,NKJV)
To me, the most frightening verses in the Bible are in Matthew 7:21-23. Jesus says: Not everyone who says to Me , 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in your name, and done many wonders in your name? And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!' I can't say I am a Christian and still live as the world lives.
One of my goals last year was to remove all doubt and to trust in God and His word to lead my life. I am saved by the grace of God. (No Doubts) I cannot work my way to heaven.(No Doubts) All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (No Doubts) God loves us. (No Doubts) I do what God commands me to do, not out of fear but out of love for Him and what His Son has saved me from. Jesus said the greatest command was to love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind. (Matt.22:37) You and I can't honestly do that, unless we have no doubt who God is and that He loves us so much He wants us back in a relationship with Him.
Satan's biggest tool to get you away from God is to get you to doubt Him and His word. Satan does his best to cheat us out of an eternal life with God.(Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the traditions of men, and not according to Christ. Colossians 2:8, NKJV) Satan wants to cheat us out of the promises God has given to us. Have you been deceived already by doubts placed in your mind by Satan? Let's see if Satan is working on you. (I have already asked myself some of these questions.) Do you think your life is so messed up that God can't forgive you? Do you believe we and everything were formed by evolution? Do you believe there is not a hell? Do you believe you can live like the world and be alright with God? (1 John 2:15-17) Do you believe everyone goes to heaven, but just on a different path? (Matthew 7:21) Do you love the Lord? Did you go to worship last Sunday and worship Him in truth and spirit?
Like I said earlier, I have already questioned myself on many things I have done and also on the doubts I had. With God's help and His word I have eliminated any doubt about God and His love for me and you.
Don't let Satan cheat you with from an eternal life with God by placing doubt in your heart. In my book:The Heart Behind the Stone: Develop A Giant Slaying Heart, in chapter 4, David's Shield against Doubt, I show how David never doubted that God was there to help him. He faced Goliath, never doubting he would defeat this giant that defied the armies of the living God.
Removing doubt about God and what He can do for you is a good goal to have this year. One of the rewards, among many, will be that you will have a peace that does pass all understanding.(Phil. 4:7;Col. 3:15) Don't let Satan deceive you any more. (1 Cor. 6:9) Remember God loves us and Satan wants us to doubt it! (John 3:16-17)
Do you need a faith that will help you conquer the giants in your life? Please take a look at how David developed such a giant slaying heart and also a man after God's own heart. Go to www.amazon.com to review and purchase the book, The Heart Behind the Stone: Develop A Giant Slaying Heart.
Any comments on today's post can be sent to: rhepler52@yahoo.com or rhepler52@gmail.com.
If you enjoyed reading please pass on to others.
I hope you have a great 2015!
Rick
You Kentucky basketball fans, do you remember when WPSD TV used to replay the games on Wednesday night at 10:30? I would want to know the score before I watched it. I didn't want to sit up that late to see them get beat. I hated to see them get beat. One night my brother Randy told dad that Kentucky had a big comeback and won the game. Dad sat up late watching and as they got further behind, he was anticipating a big comeback. It never happened. They lost by several points. We still laugh about it.
Knowing you are going to win in the end relieves all the stress and worry of anything we do. This life is not fair. Many good people have chronic diseases, financial hardships, premature loss of loved ones, and those that do evil "seem" to prosper and most everyone agrees that our government is messed up. We live in a country where the minority enjoys a majority voice. At one time I read that 78% of people in this country were Christians. Doesn't that word mean followers of Christ and Christ means the anointed one, which means the consecrated one. (to set apart as holy; devote to religious use...) (Webster's New World Dictionary). Being a Christian then would be defined as being set apart and following the anointed One, which is Jesus.
Following Jesus means living the life he commands us to live. Many think that wearing the Christian name is all they have to do. Sad to say this, and I am not their judge, I have been to funerals of people who lived like the world, never attended a worship services, drank all the time and used God's name in vain and the preacher said they were in heaven because they loved the Lord. A sad way to show it. Jesus said, If you love Me keep my commandments. (John 14:15,NKJV)
To me, the most frightening verses in the Bible are in Matthew 7:21-23. Jesus says: Not everyone who says to Me , 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in your name, and done many wonders in your name? And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!' I can't say I am a Christian and still live as the world lives.
One of my goals last year was to remove all doubt and to trust in God and His word to lead my life. I am saved by the grace of God. (No Doubts) I cannot work my way to heaven.(No Doubts) All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (No Doubts) God loves us. (No Doubts) I do what God commands me to do, not out of fear but out of love for Him and what His Son has saved me from. Jesus said the greatest command was to love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind. (Matt.22:37) You and I can't honestly do that, unless we have no doubt who God is and that He loves us so much He wants us back in a relationship with Him.
Satan's biggest tool to get you away from God is to get you to doubt Him and His word. Satan does his best to cheat us out of an eternal life with God.(Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the traditions of men, and not according to Christ. Colossians 2:8, NKJV) Satan wants to cheat us out of the promises God has given to us. Have you been deceived already by doubts placed in your mind by Satan? Let's see if Satan is working on you. (I have already asked myself some of these questions.) Do you think your life is so messed up that God can't forgive you? Do you believe we and everything were formed by evolution? Do you believe there is not a hell? Do you believe you can live like the world and be alright with God? (1 John 2:15-17) Do you believe everyone goes to heaven, but just on a different path? (Matthew 7:21) Do you love the Lord? Did you go to worship last Sunday and worship Him in truth and spirit?
Like I said earlier, I have already questioned myself on many things I have done and also on the doubts I had. With God's help and His word I have eliminated any doubt about God and His love for me and you.
Don't let Satan cheat you with from an eternal life with God by placing doubt in your heart. In my book:The Heart Behind the Stone: Develop A Giant Slaying Heart, in chapter 4, David's Shield against Doubt, I show how David never doubted that God was there to help him. He faced Goliath, never doubting he would defeat this giant that defied the armies of the living God.
Removing doubt about God and what He can do for you is a good goal to have this year. One of the rewards, among many, will be that you will have a peace that does pass all understanding.(Phil. 4:7;Col. 3:15) Don't let Satan deceive you any more. (1 Cor. 6:9) Remember God loves us and Satan wants us to doubt it! (John 3:16-17)
Do you need a faith that will help you conquer the giants in your life? Please take a look at how David developed such a giant slaying heart and also a man after God's own heart. Go to www.amazon.com to review and purchase the book, The Heart Behind the Stone: Develop A Giant Slaying Heart.
Any comments on today's post can be sent to: rhepler52@yahoo.com or rhepler52@gmail.com.
If you enjoyed reading please pass on to others.
I hope you have a great 2015!
Rick
Friday, November 21, 2014
The Victory Kiss
What in this world is a Victory Kiss? The definition of victory is: success in any struggle involving the defeat of an opponent, etc. (Webster's New World Dictionary, 1968 edition) So how does this relate to kissing? Please follow along with me and we will identify the opponent and I will lead you to the Victory Kiss and how victory over the opponent was gained by this couple. (This is longer than some of my post, but I promise to tie the knot in the end. Get you a cup of coffee or spiced cider to sip on while you read, RH)
We are quickly approaching the holiday season. Thanksgiving is next Thursday and Christmas will soon be upon us. This my favorite time of the year with good food, Christmas music, Christmas shows, giving and receiving gifts, seeing the smiles on the faces of young children and enjoying time with family. I also enjoy reflecting back on the memories of Christmas past. Every Christmas for me has been filled with loving memories that can put me to a peaceful place this time of year. I have always been with loving families on Christmas. Each Christmas makes me appreciate the loving families that I am a part of. All of this just doesn't happen. Living in this fallen world, we have an opponent who wants to defeat us and steal away from us any happiness involved with being a family as God has instituted from the beginning.
Genesis 2:21-24 tells us that God made Eve from Adam's rib. Adam then named her Eve, and God said, Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh, NKJV. This passage tells us that marriage between a man and woman is sanctioned by God. Also read Malachi chapter 2:10-17. In verse 11, God tells that Judah has profaned the institution which God loves. He is talking about marriage and in verse 16 we see God's feelings on divorce. For the Lord God of Israel says that He hates divorce. Go back up to verse 15.
But did He not make them one, having a remnant of the Spirit? And why one? He seeks godly offspring. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously with the wife of his youth.
Christ was asked about divorce in Matthew 19:1-9 and also describes adultery in Matthew 5:31-32.
Satan wants us to steer clear of these verses and have us divorce for any reason. One of the problems we have with our culture today is the breakdown of the family. Satan uses the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye and the pride of life, just like he did with Eve in the Garden of Eden, to destroy the family as God has instituted. But, God is not like we are, and He is more loving. He is forgiving and also makes a way for one to repent if you are guilty of falling for the deceptions and temptions of Satan. You say, I have made such a mess of my life, I could never get forgiveness. You are wrong. Read Isaiah 59:1. Read also what the Apostle Paul said to the Corinthians in 1Corintians 6:9-11. Is there hope if you have been sexually immoral? Read closely what is said in verse 11. And such were some of you. Satan doesn't want you reading this verse. He wants you to feel guilty and just give up.
If you are in the above situation, don't give up. The man that wrote the above, the Apostle Paul was previously called Saul of Tarsus. He went around killing Christians, but look what happened to him. He became one of God's greatest servants here on earth. How did he do it? You can read about this in Acts 9:6,17-18. Have you done anything as bad as killing Christians like Saul? How did he handle the guilt of killing innocent people? Here is how. 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 for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:13-14 NKJV You may have really messed up your family in the past, but do like Paul, He repented of what he was doing and started doing what God wanted him to do. You can do it. You owe it to yourself and your family to try.
Now to the couple that beat all odds. Would you have given up? I know many in that generation that also overcame and are entitled to the Victory Kiss and after reading this I am sure you do to.
It was a warm day in November, the 22nd day of November to be exact. She was 17 and he was 18.
Her aunt and uncle were present as witnesses. The only other people present were the preacher, his son and daughter in-law. Her dad and his dad had to sign papers for them to get married. The wedding was not in a church building but in the preacher's house. There was not a photographer or a reception.
They left in a rented car on their honeymoon to Dyersburg, Tennessee. The reason they had to drive a rented car was the young man was going to take his mother's new Buick, but he wrecked it the night before, running into a telephone pole about 30 yards from the house. He had fallen asleep,and he still falls asleep easily to this day.
When they left for Dyersburg, the weather was warm and comfortable. This changed rather quickly in the night. They awoke to freezing temperatures and could not open the motel room door because of the heavy snow. When they did get out and loaded in the car for home, the car didn't have antifreeze in the radiator and the block had frozen and busted. After getting the car fixed they had to drive home on treacherous and slick roads.
Arriving to their first home was not like the homes most couples have today. This was an old farmhouse on his dad's farm. There was no running water, no heaters, no indoor bathrooms and no telephone. There was a fireplace in the living room.
It was freezing cold outside. The young man started a fire in the fireplace. They were looking forward to their first night at home. This was not to be. The fireplace was stopped up and soot quickly entered the room, and the rest of the house, settling on the few things they had. They had to leave and go to his parents to spend the night. The next day they came back home, cleaned the soot off everthing and cleaned the fireplace out , they thought, and built another fire and the same thing happened. They had to build a new fireplace in the kitchen, which took a few days, and reclean the soot off all the clothes, walls and furniture. Until they got everything done, they would be alternating staying with parents. During all of this, some of the young man's friends put his wife's bicycle on the roof and put a big block of salt, that the cattle lick, in their bed.
Well, they finally got the house liveable. They didn't have a car. The young man bought a 3/4 ton flatbed truck. The truck was old and had a stick shift. The young man finally got a job, they got a telephone, they never did get indoor plumbing and also they didn't have a washer and dryer.
What are the odds, if this happened today, of this marriage lasting? The devil was really wanting this marriage to fail. He continually placed hardship in their way and they trudged on anyway. They were married on November 22, 1950 and on June 26, 1952 they had their first son and had 2 more sons after that.
The harder life became for this young couple, the closer they became to each other and to God. They experienced financial problems, health problems, losing jobs and selling the farm. As they have gotten older, their health is still a concern. This young woman's jet black hair has been replaced by almost white hair. The young man's strong physique has been replaced with drooping muscles and a very sloooww gait.
Do they still love one another? I will let you decide. I carried this used to be young woman to the hospital last week. This now old man would not leave her side at the hospital. He told the doctors and nurses, I have been married to this woman for 64 years and I love her. I am not leaving her side and you had better be good to her.
Well, they didn't find anything wrong with her. They let her go home. We thought it was some medication she was taking. When she stopped taking it, she quickly started getting better. I stopped by the next morning to carry him to work. This morning he wasn't ready,and I had to go in and wait. I am glad I did.
I witnessed something great. You see, I know about their ups and downs. I also know that many people know them, love them and respect them. Mother cooks for people when needed and he greets people at Walmart on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. All of the hardship they have gone through was defeated by what I saw. Before he left for work, he and she kissed one another on the lips as though it was their first kiss. Devil, you didn't breakup this marriage with any of your tricks.
If you haven't guessed it by now, this is my mother and father, Bill and Patsy Hepler. This kiss was a Victory Kiss, because their love for God and each other has carried them over many obstacles the last 64 years. Dad told me this morning when they go to bed at night, he kisses mother and says, I will see you in the morning one way or another, here or in heaven.
Money can't buy what that Victory Kiss means to me. We boys have had a loving mother and father together all of our lives. What a difference our country would be in, if other sons and daughter could see their parents kising the Victory Kiss.
Don't you give up! You can make the ending good! Start today! The Victory Kiss is awaiting.
Happy 64th Anniversary Mom and Dad. Thank you for being faithful all 64 of them.
Please send me your comments at rhepler52@yahoo.com or rhepler52@gmail.com
I deal with sexual immorality and how we can overcome it in my book, The Heart Behind the Stone:Develop a Giant Slaying Heart. You can go to www.amazon.com to purchase it.
Thank you so much for reading and I hope you have a good weekend.
Rick Hepler
P.S. You can send mother and dad a little note on their 64th anniversary Saturday, November the 22nd at bhepler32@yahoo.com
We are quickly approaching the holiday season. Thanksgiving is next Thursday and Christmas will soon be upon us. This my favorite time of the year with good food, Christmas music, Christmas shows, giving and receiving gifts, seeing the smiles on the faces of young children and enjoying time with family. I also enjoy reflecting back on the memories of Christmas past. Every Christmas for me has been filled with loving memories that can put me to a peaceful place this time of year. I have always been with loving families on Christmas. Each Christmas makes me appreciate the loving families that I am a part of. All of this just doesn't happen. Living in this fallen world, we have an opponent who wants to defeat us and steal away from us any happiness involved with being a family as God has instituted from the beginning.
Genesis 2:21-24 tells us that God made Eve from Adam's rib. Adam then named her Eve, and God said, Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh, NKJV. This passage tells us that marriage between a man and woman is sanctioned by God. Also read Malachi chapter 2:10-17. In verse 11, God tells that Judah has profaned the institution which God loves. He is talking about marriage and in verse 16 we see God's feelings on divorce. For the Lord God of Israel says that He hates divorce. Go back up to verse 15.
But did He not make them one, having a remnant of the Spirit? And why one? He seeks godly offspring. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously with the wife of his youth.
Christ was asked about divorce in Matthew 19:1-9 and also describes adultery in Matthew 5:31-32.
Satan wants us to steer clear of these verses and have us divorce for any reason. One of the problems we have with our culture today is the breakdown of the family. Satan uses the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye and the pride of life, just like he did with Eve in the Garden of Eden, to destroy the family as God has instituted. But, God is not like we are, and He is more loving. He is forgiving and also makes a way for one to repent if you are guilty of falling for the deceptions and temptions of Satan. You say, I have made such a mess of my life, I could never get forgiveness. You are wrong. Read Isaiah 59:1. Read also what the Apostle Paul said to the Corinthians in 1Corintians 6:9-11. Is there hope if you have been sexually immoral? Read closely what is said in verse 11. And such were some of you. Satan doesn't want you reading this verse. He wants you to feel guilty and just give up.
If you are in the above situation, don't give up. The man that wrote the above, the Apostle Paul was previously called Saul of Tarsus. He went around killing Christians, but look what happened to him. He became one of God's greatest servants here on earth. How did he do it? You can read about this in Acts 9:6,17-18. Have you done anything as bad as killing Christians like Saul? How did he handle the guilt of killing innocent people? Here is how. 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 for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:13-14 NKJV You may have really messed up your family in the past, but do like Paul, He repented of what he was doing and started doing what God wanted him to do. You can do it. You owe it to yourself and your family to try.
Now to the couple that beat all odds. Would you have given up? I know many in that generation that also overcame and are entitled to the Victory Kiss and after reading this I am sure you do to.
It was a warm day in November, the 22nd day of November to be exact. She was 17 and he was 18.
Her aunt and uncle were present as witnesses. The only other people present were the preacher, his son and daughter in-law. Her dad and his dad had to sign papers for them to get married. The wedding was not in a church building but in the preacher's house. There was not a photographer or a reception.
They left in a rented car on their honeymoon to Dyersburg, Tennessee. The reason they had to drive a rented car was the young man was going to take his mother's new Buick, but he wrecked it the night before, running into a telephone pole about 30 yards from the house. He had fallen asleep,and he still falls asleep easily to this day.
When they left for Dyersburg, the weather was warm and comfortable. This changed rather quickly in the night. They awoke to freezing temperatures and could not open the motel room door because of the heavy snow. When they did get out and loaded in the car for home, the car didn't have antifreeze in the radiator and the block had frozen and busted. After getting the car fixed they had to drive home on treacherous and slick roads.
Arriving to their first home was not like the homes most couples have today. This was an old farmhouse on his dad's farm. There was no running water, no heaters, no indoor bathrooms and no telephone. There was a fireplace in the living room.
It was freezing cold outside. The young man started a fire in the fireplace. They were looking forward to their first night at home. This was not to be. The fireplace was stopped up and soot quickly entered the room, and the rest of the house, settling on the few things they had. They had to leave and go to his parents to spend the night. The next day they came back home, cleaned the soot off everthing and cleaned the fireplace out , they thought, and built another fire and the same thing happened. They had to build a new fireplace in the kitchen, which took a few days, and reclean the soot off all the clothes, walls and furniture. Until they got everything done, they would be alternating staying with parents. During all of this, some of the young man's friends put his wife's bicycle on the roof and put a big block of salt, that the cattle lick, in their bed.
Well, they finally got the house liveable. They didn't have a car. The young man bought a 3/4 ton flatbed truck. The truck was old and had a stick shift. The young man finally got a job, they got a telephone, they never did get indoor plumbing and also they didn't have a washer and dryer.
What are the odds, if this happened today, of this marriage lasting? The devil was really wanting this marriage to fail. He continually placed hardship in their way and they trudged on anyway. They were married on November 22, 1950 and on June 26, 1952 they had their first son and had 2 more sons after that.
The harder life became for this young couple, the closer they became to each other and to God. They experienced financial problems, health problems, losing jobs and selling the farm. As they have gotten older, their health is still a concern. This young woman's jet black hair has been replaced by almost white hair. The young man's strong physique has been replaced with drooping muscles and a very sloooww gait.
Do they still love one another? I will let you decide. I carried this used to be young woman to the hospital last week. This now old man would not leave her side at the hospital. He told the doctors and nurses, I have been married to this woman for 64 years and I love her. I am not leaving her side and you had better be good to her.
Well, they didn't find anything wrong with her. They let her go home. We thought it was some medication she was taking. When she stopped taking it, she quickly started getting better. I stopped by the next morning to carry him to work. This morning he wasn't ready,and I had to go in and wait. I am glad I did.
I witnessed something great. You see, I know about their ups and downs. I also know that many people know them, love them and respect them. Mother cooks for people when needed and he greets people at Walmart on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. All of the hardship they have gone through was defeated by what I saw. Before he left for work, he and she kissed one another on the lips as though it was their first kiss. Devil, you didn't breakup this marriage with any of your tricks.
If you haven't guessed it by now, this is my mother and father, Bill and Patsy Hepler. This kiss was a Victory Kiss, because their love for God and each other has carried them over many obstacles the last 64 years. Dad told me this morning when they go to bed at night, he kisses mother and says, I will see you in the morning one way or another, here or in heaven.
Money can't buy what that Victory Kiss means to me. We boys have had a loving mother and father together all of our lives. What a difference our country would be in, if other sons and daughter could see their parents kising the Victory Kiss.
Don't you give up! You can make the ending good! Start today! The Victory Kiss is awaiting.
Happy 64th Anniversary Mom and Dad. Thank you for being faithful all 64 of them.
Please send me your comments at rhepler52@yahoo.com or rhepler52@gmail.com
I deal with sexual immorality and how we can overcome it in my book, The Heart Behind the Stone:Develop a Giant Slaying Heart. You can go to www.amazon.com to purchase it.
Thank you so much for reading and I hope you have a good weekend.
Rick Hepler
P.S. You can send mother and dad a little note on their 64th anniversary Saturday, November the 22nd at bhepler32@yahoo.com
Thursday, November 13, 2014
The Fruit that can Change Lives
Today the baby boomer generation is looking for something we can take or eat that will make us healthy. Debbie's grandmother turned 100 this year. She doesn't take medicine, not a diabetic and has not had any health problems all of her life. Her Doctor ask her what she did and she said, "I eat a lot of fruit." He told her to keep eating it. I like fruit, but to eat it every day is hard for me to do.
I, like many of you, like the quick fix to get healthy. Two weeks to get healthy that is the time frame I like. We all know this is not possible. Eating healthy and exercising is for the long term and sometimes the benefits are not realized until we see someone our age sick, and we are still healthy.
There is one fruit that can be given once or for a lifetime and can have tremendous effect upon you and also on the ones you give it to. This fruit is very economical for us, but someone paid a sacrificial price for us to obtain it. Follow along and I will introduce you to this age-old fruit that is guaranteed to produce good results.
The best I can remember she sat behind me in Miss Townsend's 4th grade class. She was extremely shy and never said anything, and you could tell by the way she was dressed she was poor by some standards.
Some of the kids laughed at her, and she would never say a word. I hope not, but I also probably laughed at her or went along with those who did. Why do children do this? Why are the small, the weak, the different, and the shy picked on and laughed at? I don't know. Why did I go along sometimes at the expense of the one being bullied? I guess because of fear. I had rather my peers pick on someone else other than me. Therefore, I cowardly went along so I could be accepted by them.
I was studying God's love for us the other day and how He wants to fill us with His love to pass on to others He will not pour out love into a container that is full or has something else in it. We are the same way. Would your pour your coffee into a cup that had a dirty liquid and stain in the bottom of it? No, and God is not going to pour His love into a vessel that has bitterness, pride, selfishness, hatred, and is unforgiving either.
The more I studied the more I looked back at the times I came up short of loving the way I should. I do not know why, but I thought about the girl that sat behind me in the 4th grade. I kinda teared up like you would watching a Christmas movie on the Hallmark channel. I knew better than to make fun of people. Mother and dad would have punished me if they had known about it. Why did I do it?
This poor little girl had great courage. Much more than those who taunted her. We all wore our masks trying to be portrayed as someone other than our true self. We cherished being accepted by our peers over the expense of the helpless. How cruel. This girl did not wear a mask. She was her true self trying to make it in a hostile emotional environment. How would you like to have come to school every day knowing you would be made fun of because maybe you were a little different or not dressed like everyone else. That took a lot of courage. The courage that many of us did not have at that time.
Now getting back to the fruit that, obviously I didn't possess then, but hopefully I do now. The fruit I am talking about is the fruit of God's Spirit. This fruit contains the spiritual nutrients that can change families, communities and the world. The first nutrient is everlasting and can make changes if used daily. That first nutrient of the fruit of the Spirit is love. (Galatians 5:22)
What if I had shown this lonely shy little girl love? Would it have made a difference in her life then and now? It is easy to hurt people emotionally and walk away from it, but the one who has been emotionally hurt can harbor this pain for a lifetime. What if I touched her on the shoulder and genuinely asked her if I could be her friend? What if I brought her a candy bar for milk break? What if I had went and sat with her at lunch when I saw her eating alone? If I had done all of this, the pain of her coming to school each day may have been, hopefully, overcome. Maybe others would have wanted to be her friend. If I had done all of these things, I guarantee she would still remember me and what I did for her 53 years ago. Instead, she has the memories of a terrible time in the 4th grade.
I can't go back and fix it, but I can start today and make sure I do not let it happen again. A wise mother once told her son, Open your mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy. (Proverbs31:9 NKJV) The Apostle Paul said, Love never fails. (1Corinthians 13:8)
Are you using the fruit of the Spirit in your life to help someone today? If you do not have this fruit of the Spirit, you can go to Acts 2:38 to see what they did to obtain it. Do you agree with me that this fruit much needed in our society today?
Please use my blog post to read to your children for your family devotionals. Also, if you would like for me to send an email to a friend or a family member inviting them to read my blog just send me their email address.
If you have read my book, please leave a review on amazon.com. You can go to www.amazon.com to purchase, The Heart Behind the Stone: Develop a Giant Slaying Heart.
Please send your comments to me at rhepler52@yahoo.com or rhepler52@gmail.com
Have a nice day and weekend.
Thanks,
Rick Hepler
I, like many of you, like the quick fix to get healthy. Two weeks to get healthy that is the time frame I like. We all know this is not possible. Eating healthy and exercising is for the long term and sometimes the benefits are not realized until we see someone our age sick, and we are still healthy.
There is one fruit that can be given once or for a lifetime and can have tremendous effect upon you and also on the ones you give it to. This fruit is very economical for us, but someone paid a sacrificial price for us to obtain it. Follow along and I will introduce you to this age-old fruit that is guaranteed to produce good results.
The best I can remember she sat behind me in Miss Townsend's 4th grade class. She was extremely shy and never said anything, and you could tell by the way she was dressed she was poor by some standards.
Some of the kids laughed at her, and she would never say a word. I hope not, but I also probably laughed at her or went along with those who did. Why do children do this? Why are the small, the weak, the different, and the shy picked on and laughed at? I don't know. Why did I go along sometimes at the expense of the one being bullied? I guess because of fear. I had rather my peers pick on someone else other than me. Therefore, I cowardly went along so I could be accepted by them.
I was studying God's love for us the other day and how He wants to fill us with His love to pass on to others He will not pour out love into a container that is full or has something else in it. We are the same way. Would your pour your coffee into a cup that had a dirty liquid and stain in the bottom of it? No, and God is not going to pour His love into a vessel that has bitterness, pride, selfishness, hatred, and is unforgiving either.
The more I studied the more I looked back at the times I came up short of loving the way I should. I do not know why, but I thought about the girl that sat behind me in the 4th grade. I kinda teared up like you would watching a Christmas movie on the Hallmark channel. I knew better than to make fun of people. Mother and dad would have punished me if they had known about it. Why did I do it?
This poor little girl had great courage. Much more than those who taunted her. We all wore our masks trying to be portrayed as someone other than our true self. We cherished being accepted by our peers over the expense of the helpless. How cruel. This girl did not wear a mask. She was her true self trying to make it in a hostile emotional environment. How would you like to have come to school every day knowing you would be made fun of because maybe you were a little different or not dressed like everyone else. That took a lot of courage. The courage that many of us did not have at that time.
Now getting back to the fruit that, obviously I didn't possess then, but hopefully I do now. The fruit I am talking about is the fruit of God's Spirit. This fruit contains the spiritual nutrients that can change families, communities and the world. The first nutrient is everlasting and can make changes if used daily. That first nutrient of the fruit of the Spirit is love. (Galatians 5:22)
What if I had shown this lonely shy little girl love? Would it have made a difference in her life then and now? It is easy to hurt people emotionally and walk away from it, but the one who has been emotionally hurt can harbor this pain for a lifetime. What if I touched her on the shoulder and genuinely asked her if I could be her friend? What if I brought her a candy bar for milk break? What if I had went and sat with her at lunch when I saw her eating alone? If I had done all of this, the pain of her coming to school each day may have been, hopefully, overcome. Maybe others would have wanted to be her friend. If I had done all of these things, I guarantee she would still remember me and what I did for her 53 years ago. Instead, she has the memories of a terrible time in the 4th grade.
I can't go back and fix it, but I can start today and make sure I do not let it happen again. A wise mother once told her son, Open your mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy. (Proverbs31:9 NKJV) The Apostle Paul said, Love never fails. (1Corinthians 13:8)
Are you using the fruit of the Spirit in your life to help someone today? If you do not have this fruit of the Spirit, you can go to Acts 2:38 to see what they did to obtain it. Do you agree with me that this fruit much needed in our society today?
Please use my blog post to read to your children for your family devotionals. Also, if you would like for me to send an email to a friend or a family member inviting them to read my blog just send me their email address.
If you have read my book, please leave a review on amazon.com. You can go to www.amazon.com to purchase, The Heart Behind the Stone: Develop a Giant Slaying Heart.
Please send your comments to me at rhepler52@yahoo.com or rhepler52@gmail.com
Have a nice day and weekend.
Thanks,
Rick Hepler
Monday, November 3, 2014
Are They Being Taught by You?
I watched each of my two daughters being born. I can't express in words the change that came over me on those 2 birth dates. I really don't have to tell most of you dads because you share the same emotional change as I did. As parents we love our children and want the best for them. Dads, what did you want for your children?
When I thought it couldn't get any better, the grandchildren came along. WOW! What fun and that fun is without all the responsibility we had with our own children. Maybe that's why they are called grandchildren. I hope I live long enough to see my great grandchildren.
We may not have as much of the responsibly with our grandchildren and great grandchildren, but in the times we are living in today, I have much concern about their freedom and their spiritual well being. I am sure every Christian parent and grandparent share the same concerns as I.
From the day of birth the baby starts to learn. The baby has been in the comfort and safety of the mother's womb for 9 months and now is in the comfort and care of her arms. At least that is the way God planned it. Some for personal reasons or ideology do not love their baby, and they terminate their baby while in the womb. I address this in my book: The Heart Behind the Stone:Develop a Giant Slaying Heart. It is available on www.amazon.com
Mostly from the parents, siblings, and other family members, a newborn baby learns quickly the first weeks of his/her life. As the child gets older the window of learning, that was once controlled by family, now is open wide coming from many different good and bad sources.
Who has God given the responsibility to teach children? Deuteronomy chapter 6 is a good beginning point to find who God commanded to teach them and what they should be taught.
Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. And these words I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorpost of your house and on your gates. (Deut. 6:4-9, NKJV )
In Ephesians chapter 6:4 the Apostle Paul instructs the fathers. And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord. (NKJV)
Fathers, according to the above scriptures, we are to take the lead in teaching our children about God and His commandments. Many fathers along with mothers do this. Some children learn from their parents' teachings and grow up to be faithful Christians serving God, but not all. Why is this? I don't know, but it may be the choice God gives all of us to follow or not follow Him. When our children are old enough to get out in the world, unawares, other teachers appear. Remember what I said earlier that the window of teaching is wide open when our children get older. What does the world teach them? The big 3 are: abortion is the choice of the woman, evolution (evilution) is fact and God did not create us the way He said He did in Genesis 1, and sexual immorality is only an alternate lifestyle that everyone should accept.
Deb and I have been fortunate. Our daughters are still faithful to God, and along with their husbands they teach their children to be the same. But, I know of those I have been going to church with for years that taught their children also, and they have left the church and God all together. Again, why is this?
Have you thought about why Cain murdered his brother Able in Genesis chapter 4 or why the 2 sons of Levi, the priest in 1Sammuel 2:13 were so evil? What about the parable of the Lost Son that Christ told in Luke 15:11-32? The younger son wanted his inheritance. The father gave him his portion, and he left for a far away land wasting his inheritance with prodigal living. The other son stayed at home and served his father and never transgressed his father's commandment.
Even though we are faithful in teaching our children about God and His commandments, this does not guarantee they will be faithful to God, but we can believe this. When they have been worn down in sin as the prodigal son, they will know enough about God and His forgiving love to come back to Him.
What happens when a father teaches his children God's word? Most of the time it indicates a family unit that is intact. There are exceptions to this. I have known of single parents that have done a great job teaching their children about God and His word. In Second Timothy the Apostle Paul mentions Timothy's faith.
2Timothy 1:5 ...when I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which first dwelt in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also.
Fathers, mothers, grandmothers and grandfathers are your children and grandchildren being taught God's love and commandments by you? If not, who is teaching them?
What happens when children are not taught God's word by parents or anyone else? The fruit that emerges from this is: A Generation that does not Know God. Look at our country today and it is self-explanatory.
What if they are not being taught God's word by you? What if you are living in rebellion to God and His word? If you die in that state, a sinner that has not repented of your sins and been cleansed by the Blood of Christ, you will be the same as the rich man that Jesus tells us about in Luke16:19-31. He begged father Abraham to send Lazarus back to tell his five brothers about the place he was in so they would not be joining him in torment. Abraham told him they have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. 30) The rich man pleaded; No father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead , they will repent.
31) But he said to him, 'If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead'.
Besides being in torment, the rich man's anguish was that he did not influence his brothers to follow the Lord. He was afraid that they would live as he did while on earth and die in that state to receive the same torment as he. Oh how he was hoping they would listen to Moses and the prophets. You and I will be the same way if we do as the rich man. We will be hoping every moment that someone will teach God's truth to our children and loved ones, so they will not end up in torment, separated from God for eternity.
In our case someone did come back from the dead teaching about God's plan of salvation for all of humanity. His name is Jesus Christ. He commanded his disciples and us to go into all the world teaching the gospel. (Matt.28:18-20 and Mark 16:15-16)
We can eliminate one of the above paragraphs if we are teaching our children, grandchildren and all other loved ones the Gospel of Christ with such a passion and urgency for them to see us loving God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength.
If we take the lead in this we will also see the hearts changing in America and the love for God restored by our fellow Americans. The alternative is eternal regret. If you are not teaching them you can start today. Remember the quote from Maria Robinson—Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending.
You can read my book to your children, The Heart Behind the Stone:Develop a Giant Slaying Heart, to help teach them to develop a love for God as the young shepherd boy David had. Please go to http://www.amazon.com to review and order.
I welcome your comments. We are all in this together, helping each other and our loved ones get to heaven. Please comment by going to rhepler52@yahoo.com or rhepler52@gmail.com
Thank you so much!
Rick Hepler
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