Saturday, April 4, 2015
Likes, Comments,Shared: How Many Would He Get?
Social media when I was born was a 6 party telephone line, which was like an antique facebook. Several people were on it at one time, but one party was doing all the talking to the person they called and the rest were trying to listen in secretly. Sometimes you could hear them breathing or a click when they got on or off. Those listening in could not call some of their friends telling them what you said, because you could also get on and listen to them. The only way they could spread any juicy gossip was to go visit and tell it face to face. (facetime) There was a lot of visiting back then.
Unlike facebook today, you could not acknowledge what you heard on the phone with a like, couldn't comment, but you could only share what you heard by visiting. (facetime) A very crude system of communication, but over the years the improvements have been unbelievable
.
Today, using facebook, we do not care how many read what we write. As a matter of fact, the more people reading what we put on the better. Our readers can hit like, comment or share. We want everyone involved. I guess that is why it is called social media. We don't have to go to any one's house to visit, just do it on facebook.
When I read on facebook, some of the articles and statements do get my attention. If it gets my attention and I am interested in what was written, I may hit like. Sometimes videos or statements are made that I am very interested in and I will comment. I will hit the share button if I want my friends and family to be sure to see it. It can be one of those LOL videos, a news item or a heartwarming story. Of course, if my girls will let me, I will always share pictures of my grandkids.
.
Could I ask you to do something for me? I need you to stretch you imagination, picturing yourself living over 2000 years ago. Now I want you to imagine something unbelievable. I want you to imagine you have an iphone , internet (wifi) and on it facebook. Facebook is buzzing with information about a man terribly beaten, carrying a cross to Golgotha to be crucified. The Jewish Sanhedrin accused Him of saying He was the Son of God and King of the Jews. Your friend, a Jew, happens to be at the scene and he is taking pictures on his iphone and putting them on facebook. Your friend continually posted pictures on facebook while Jesus was on the cross, until His death.
Your friend knew the man. He saw Him heal many people, caused the blind to see, and the lame to walk. He also saw him cast out demons. He was one of the 5000 that Jesus fed. Your friend knew of the prophecies of the coming Messiah and he also had heard Jesus preach. Your friend believed Jesus was the Son of God.
Your friend then posted on facebook the greatest act of love the universe has ever known or ever will know, the Son of God dying a cruel death for all mankind. Your friend had courage to post this on facebook. He could get in serious trouble with the Jewish leaders. You, also a Jew, read what he had posted. You realize then Jesus was the Messiah and he had just died in your place, so you would have an opportunity to have the forgiveness of sins.
Now, did this move you enough to hit like on facebook? Were you so moved and grateful you just had to comment or were you so happy you had to hit the share button, so your friends and family could see and appreciate what was just done for them?
How many likes, comments and shares do you think this would have received? Would you have commented and shared? (Face to face?)
Next week continuing of I Have an Enemy (3)
Thanks for reading.
Rick
Thursday, April 2, 2015
I Have an Enemy (2)
God loves us so much He gives us a choice. We can follow Him and obey His will, or we can choose a life apart from Him. Satan knows this by the choice God had given Adam and Eve. Satan and the fallen angels main objective is to get mankind, who was created in the image of God, to disobey God and to follow the ways of the world without God. Satan also knows God is a just God, and His law demands punishment for the sinner. After death, this punishment is to be in eternity with the devil and his angels forever. (Matthew 25:33, 41)
Satan and the angels that followed him were once in Heaven. Satan was like the other angels. They were created beings to serve God. Satan didn't want to serve. He wanted to exalt himself above God. He wanted to be as God. God then cast him and the angels that followed him out of heaven.(Isaiah 14:12-14)
I believe this is why Satan wants all of us to be lost. He got Adam and Eve removed from the garden by deceiving them to disobey God and now, to get back at God, he wants us to be lost in Hell for eternity.
God gives the first glimpse of the plan of redemption in Genesis 3:15, I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head and you shall bruise His heal.
My enemy didn't stop with Adam and Eve. From the time Adam and Eve left the Garden of Eden, until the present, we see Satan's deceptions and temptations of mankind, and he knows they work. Let's look at the first recorded murder, and why it happened.
After Adam and Eve had sinned, then the Lord God said, Behold the man has become like one of Us, to know good and evil. And now, lest he put out his hand and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever...(Genesis 3:22, NKJV) Man now has a choice between good and evil. He knows what is evil and what is good.
In chapter 4 of Genesis we read about Cain and Able being born. As time past, Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the Lord and Abel brought the firstborn of his flock and of their fat . The Lord respected Abel's offering. (Read why in Heb.11:4) Notice in verse 5, the Lord did not respect Cain and his offering. He did not respect Cain because of what was in his heart toward his brother, and his offering was not done in faith. Cain had jealousy in his heart toward his brother, leading to hatred and that hatred manifested itself in the murdering of his brother.
God not respecting Cain's offering made Cain angry, and his countenance fell. The Lord asked Cain why he was so angry and why his countenance had fallen. Then the Lord gave him an opportunity to be accepted. The Lord said in verse 7, If you do well will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it.
Cain talked with his brother Abel and it came to pass that Cain rose up and killed him. God gave Cain an opportunity to do well and Cain refused God's word. Rather, he let sin rule over him. He let himself be influenced by the sin of pride, envy, and jealously that Satan had placed at the door. He chose self interest above God and his brother Abel. God told him to rule over the sin, and we see what happen. He chose to let it rule over him.
Cain did not want to do well. Being accepted by God was not in his interest. Could the same apply today? How many are choosing to do well before God? How many today do not care if they are accepted of God? Instead they want God to accept the way they choose to live, by letting the sin at the door come in and ruin their lives.
What were the consequences of Cain's actions? His brother was dead. The seed of woman would not come from Abel's line. Cain was cursed by God, but the most devastating consequence was the family of Cain. Apparently it appears that Cain's family did not follow God because later generations were destroyed in the flood. We read in Genesis 4:23 that Lamech, the descendent of Cain, took for himself 2 wives (Polygamy started?) and also in verse 23 says he killed a man. (Followed after Cain?)
We can disobey God today and not rule over the sins at our doors causing generations of our own families to be lost. We see Satan doing all he can do to destroy man, who God, (' Elohiym) plural form, had created in Their image. Look what Satan did to the family of Adam and Eve so far. He deceived them in to disobeying God, resulting in God removing them from the Garden. He used jealousy to incite Cain to hate and kill his brother. They lost a good son, and their remaining son was the first man to be cursed by God. (Genesis 4:11) They also lost Cain. He left the presence of God and went to the land of Nod.(Genesis 4:16)
Cain chose evil over good and his descendants were influenced by him to also choose evil. I know of generations of people today not following God because one of their ancestors chose not to follow God and obey His commandments.
The work of Satan? Yes. He wants to disguise evil as good and to make you feel better in choosing evil. Each choice we make has consequences. Remember Cain's.
Always remember, Satan is real, and he wants to destroy your relationship with God. We will also see his attempts to destroy the Redeemer of mankind in later post. Satan doesn't love you and does not want you to be happy. Don't forget Satan's main goal is for you to die lost.
" Satan wants us to eat slop with the hogs, but God wants us to eat of the fatted calf with Him". Should this be an easy choice? (Read Luke 15:13-24)
Is God waiting for you to come home? Many have been deceived in our country today by 3 of Satan's greatest deceptions. The consequences have been devastating. We can't attack these with laws. We must change the hearts of the people. Look at the nightly news. Is evil or good being chosen? Are these 3 causing God to not respect us and our offering as He did Cain? I think you know the answer. Remember, God is still in control and we will be judged one day. I do not want to be deceived, and I know you don't either. Let's together be more vigilant in how Satan operates.
We must have a strong faith to overcome Satan. The shepherd boy David developed a faith and trust in God to defeat Goliath. We can do the same by studying God's word. Go to www.amazon.com to preview and purchase my book The Heart Behind the Stone: Develop a Giant Slaying Heart for a deeper discussion of these 3 deceptions and see how David developed his faith in God. Also, my recent book, 123 Tips for My Grandchildren and Yours, gives tips to our children and grandchildren on living in a fallen world.
Please send comments to rhepler52@gmail.com
Remember what God said to Cain. If you do well, will you not be accepted? Let us all strive to do well.
Thanks so much for reading.
Rick Hepler
Satan and the angels that followed him were once in Heaven. Satan was like the other angels. They were created beings to serve God. Satan didn't want to serve. He wanted to exalt himself above God. He wanted to be as God. God then cast him and the angels that followed him out of heaven.(Isaiah 14:12-14)
I believe this is why Satan wants all of us to be lost. He got Adam and Eve removed from the garden by deceiving them to disobey God and now, to get back at God, he wants us to be lost in Hell for eternity.
God gives the first glimpse of the plan of redemption in Genesis 3:15, I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head and you shall bruise His heal.
My enemy didn't stop with Adam and Eve. From the time Adam and Eve left the Garden of Eden, until the present, we see Satan's deceptions and temptations of mankind, and he knows they work. Let's look at the first recorded murder, and why it happened.
After Adam and Eve had sinned, then the Lord God said, Behold the man has become like one of Us, to know good and evil. And now, lest he put out his hand and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever...(Genesis 3:22, NKJV) Man now has a choice between good and evil. He knows what is evil and what is good.
In chapter 4 of Genesis we read about Cain and Able being born. As time past, Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the Lord and Abel brought the firstborn of his flock and of their fat . The Lord respected Abel's offering. (Read why in Heb.11:4) Notice in verse 5, the Lord did not respect Cain and his offering. He did not respect Cain because of what was in his heart toward his brother, and his offering was not done in faith. Cain had jealousy in his heart toward his brother, leading to hatred and that hatred manifested itself in the murdering of his brother.
God not respecting Cain's offering made Cain angry, and his countenance fell. The Lord asked Cain why he was so angry and why his countenance had fallen. Then the Lord gave him an opportunity to be accepted. The Lord said in verse 7, If you do well will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it.
Cain talked with his brother Abel and it came to pass that Cain rose up and killed him. God gave Cain an opportunity to do well and Cain refused God's word. Rather, he let sin rule over him. He let himself be influenced by the sin of pride, envy, and jealously that Satan had placed at the door. He chose self interest above God and his brother Abel. God told him to rule over the sin, and we see what happen. He chose to let it rule over him.
Cain did not want to do well. Being accepted by God was not in his interest. Could the same apply today? How many are choosing to do well before God? How many today do not care if they are accepted of God? Instead they want God to accept the way they choose to live, by letting the sin at the door come in and ruin their lives.
What were the consequences of Cain's actions? His brother was dead. The seed of woman would not come from Abel's line. Cain was cursed by God, but the most devastating consequence was the family of Cain. Apparently it appears that Cain's family did not follow God because later generations were destroyed in the flood. We read in Genesis 4:23 that Lamech, the descendent of Cain, took for himself 2 wives (Polygamy started?) and also in verse 23 says he killed a man. (Followed after Cain?)
We can disobey God today and not rule over the sins at our doors causing generations of our own families to be lost. We see Satan doing all he can do to destroy man, who God, (' Elohiym) plural form, had created in Their image. Look what Satan did to the family of Adam and Eve so far. He deceived them in to disobeying God, resulting in God removing them from the Garden. He used jealousy to incite Cain to hate and kill his brother. They lost a good son, and their remaining son was the first man to be cursed by God. (Genesis 4:11) They also lost Cain. He left the presence of God and went to the land of Nod.(Genesis 4:16)
Cain chose evil over good and his descendants were influenced by him to also choose evil. I know of generations of people today not following God because one of their ancestors chose not to follow God and obey His commandments.
The work of Satan? Yes. He wants to disguise evil as good and to make you feel better in choosing evil. Each choice we make has consequences. Remember Cain's.
Always remember, Satan is real, and he wants to destroy your relationship with God. We will also see his attempts to destroy the Redeemer of mankind in later post. Satan doesn't love you and does not want you to be happy. Don't forget Satan's main goal is for you to die lost.
" Satan wants us to eat slop with the hogs, but God wants us to eat of the fatted calf with Him". Should this be an easy choice? (Read Luke 15:13-24)
Is God waiting for you to come home? Many have been deceived in our country today by 3 of Satan's greatest deceptions. The consequences have been devastating. We can't attack these with laws. We must change the hearts of the people. Look at the nightly news. Is evil or good being chosen? Are these 3 causing God to not respect us and our offering as He did Cain? I think you know the answer. Remember, God is still in control and we will be judged one day. I do not want to be deceived, and I know you don't either. Let's together be more vigilant in how Satan operates.
We must have a strong faith to overcome Satan. The shepherd boy David developed a faith and trust in God to defeat Goliath. We can do the same by studying God's word. Go to www.amazon.com to preview and purchase my book The Heart Behind the Stone: Develop a Giant Slaying Heart for a deeper discussion of these 3 deceptions and see how David developed his faith in God. Also, my recent book, 123 Tips for My Grandchildren and Yours, gives tips to our children and grandchildren on living in a fallen world.
Please send comments to rhepler52@gmail.com
Remember what God said to Cain. If you do well, will you not be accepted? Let us all strive to do well.
Thanks so much for reading.
Rick Hepler
Monday, March 23, 2015
I Have an Enemy
Enemy: a person who hates another and wishes to injure him; also, one hostile to an idea, cause, etc.; foe. (Webster's New World Dictionary 1968 Edition )
I don't think I had any enemies growing up. I may have had some people that just didn't like me, but none wanted any harm to come to me. Looking at cable news, you would think a large percentage in this country hate each other. By definition, if you hate someone and you want harm to come to him/her, then you are his/her enemy.
I do have one powerful enemy today. I can't see him. I can only see where he has been. He and his angels represent all that is evil. He and his angels were cast out of Heaven. He hates us and accuses us before God day and night. (Revelations 12:10-12)
Why is the Devil (Satan) my enemy?
1. He wants to injure me spiritually. In the beginning God created Adam and Eve, placing them in a paradise called the Garden of Eden. They could eat of every tree in the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil they must not eat. If they did eat of it, God said they would surely die. (Genesis 2:16-17)
One day Satan was alone with Eve at the tree and posed this question. Has God said, you cannot eat of every tree in the garden? Eve responded saying, they could eat of every tree, but the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden. God said, you shall not eat it, lest you die. Satan immediately responded with, You shall not surely die, which is the first and the most damaging lie he has ever deceived man into believing. (Genesis 3:1-7)
Eve dropped her guard of keeping God's only command. She let doubt creep in, slightly opening the door of her heart. With the door barely open, Satan was going to appeal to Eve's pride. He already knew God's thoughts on pride. Pride was the reason God cast him and his angels out of Heaven. (Isaiah 14:12-14) Pride is one of the 7 abominations the Lord hates, listed in Proverbs 6:17.
Notice it is number 1. A proud look. (Some translation have, "a haughty look")
He said in Genesis 3:5, For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil. I will be like God. (Pride)
Then Satan used his tools of temptation as he did with Christ in the wilderness. These tools are the same used on us today. They are defined in 1 John 2:15-17 as the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. Eve saw the fruit was good for food, pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of the fruit and ate it. (Genesis 3:6)
Eve's first mistake was to believe another over God's word. She wanted what Satan said to her to be true, because it fit what she was thinking and wanted. Satan used a serpent to deceive and lie to her. He uses man to do the same today, twisting God's word to say what he wants it to say.
We also read this was the first opinion drawing man from God's truth. In her opinion, it was a good looking fruit, very tasty and would make you wise. Evidently she expressed her opinion to Adam. He ate the fruit. A magnitude of consequences immediately followed.
If I know what God's word says, I can defeat Satan with them. Christ resisted his temptations in the wilderness with God's word.
To be continued...
Everything evil comes from Satan and every good and perfect gift comes from God.
This is the first in a series of identifying our enemy, showing how he deceives and tempts us, messing up our lives in this life and possibly eternity.
Please send your comments to rhepler52@gmail.com . Go to www.amazon.com to purchase my books: The Heart Behind the Stone: Develop a Giant Slaying Heart and 123 Tips for My Grandchildren and Yours .
Thank you.
Rick
I don't think I had any enemies growing up. I may have had some people that just didn't like me, but none wanted any harm to come to me. Looking at cable news, you would think a large percentage in this country hate each other. By definition, if you hate someone and you want harm to come to him/her, then you are his/her enemy.
I do have one powerful enemy today. I can't see him. I can only see where he has been. He and his angels represent all that is evil. He and his angels were cast out of Heaven. He hates us and accuses us before God day and night. (Revelations 12:10-12)
Why is the Devil (Satan) my enemy?
1. He wants to injure me spiritually. In the beginning God created Adam and Eve, placing them in a paradise called the Garden of Eden. They could eat of every tree in the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil they must not eat. If they did eat of it, God said they would surely die. (Genesis 2:16-17)
One day Satan was alone with Eve at the tree and posed this question. Has God said, you cannot eat of every tree in the garden? Eve responded saying, they could eat of every tree, but the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden. God said, you shall not eat it, lest you die. Satan immediately responded with, You shall not surely die, which is the first and the most damaging lie he has ever deceived man into believing. (Genesis 3:1-7)
Eve dropped her guard of keeping God's only command. She let doubt creep in, slightly opening the door of her heart. With the door barely open, Satan was going to appeal to Eve's pride. He already knew God's thoughts on pride. Pride was the reason God cast him and his angels out of Heaven. (Isaiah 14:12-14) Pride is one of the 7 abominations the Lord hates, listed in Proverbs 6:17.
Notice it is number 1. A proud look. (Some translation have, "a haughty look")
He said in Genesis 3:5, For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil. I will be like God. (Pride)
Then Satan used his tools of temptation as he did with Christ in the wilderness. These tools are the same used on us today. They are defined in 1 John 2:15-17 as the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. Eve saw the fruit was good for food, pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of the fruit and ate it. (Genesis 3:6)
Eve's first mistake was to believe another over God's word. She wanted what Satan said to her to be true, because it fit what she was thinking and wanted. Satan used a serpent to deceive and lie to her. He uses man to do the same today, twisting God's word to say what he wants it to say.
We also read this was the first opinion drawing man from God's truth. In her opinion, it was a good looking fruit, very tasty and would make you wise. Evidently she expressed her opinion to Adam. He ate the fruit. A magnitude of consequences immediately followed.
If I know what God's word says, I can defeat Satan with them. Christ resisted his temptations in the wilderness with God's word.
To be continued...
Everything evil comes from Satan and every good and perfect gift comes from God.
This is the first in a series of identifying our enemy, showing how he deceives and tempts us, messing up our lives in this life and possibly eternity.
Please send your comments to rhepler52@gmail.com . Go to www.amazon.com to purchase my books: The Heart Behind the Stone: Develop a Giant Slaying Heart and 123 Tips for My Grandchildren and Yours .
Thank you.
Rick
Friday, March 13, 2015
Can we pass this test?
I have very fond memories of attending elementary school in Hickman, Kentucky. In the late 1950s Hickman seemed to me like the town of Mayberry on the Andy Griffith Show. We had barbershops, a Ten Cent store, as we called it, clothing stores, drug stores, hardware stores, jewelry stores, and many other stores. We also had a bank downtown. With mom and dad, my brothers and I would go to Hickman on Saturday night. Mom and dad knew almost everyone. The best part was most of the businesses, if not all, were locally owned. It was such a peaceful place to go. Sad to say, our children and grandchildren will never have memories like this.
Springtime at Hickman Elementary would usually signal achievement test coming soon. Unannounced to us, I think it was Mr. McClellan who came to deliver the test to be given. (That was a long time ago and my memory may be a little foggy on this.) The only thing I liked about the test, was no homework. The test always had a time limit for finishing each section. I never liked any kind of test, especially those in college.
So, at a young age we were all exposed to some form of testing. I did not mind taking a test, when I was fully prepared (very low percentage of the time). But the tests I most feared were those I knew going in the percentage of failing was much greater than my grade could possibly be. Those are the ones that embedded into my subconscious mind a fear of testing. Even to this day at age 62, I still get butterflies when I have to take a test. The major testing I have undergone lately has not been taken with pen and paper. I bet it is the same with some of you also.
When tested in this way, I go to an example in Genesis to give me hope and comfort. Please get your Bible out and turn to Genesis 22. I am going to pick out several verses for you to mark and meditate on after you read this post. Verse 1 begins with the test of tests, which should make us all tremble. It begins, Now it came to pass after these things that God tested Abraham, and said to him, 'Abraham!' And he said, 'Her I am.' Then He said, Take your son, your only son Issac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you. The only way Abraham could have had a son with Sara, at such and old age, was from God.
What a wonderful gift. I am reminded of Romans 8:28 and James 1:17.
Next, let's observe a pleasing faith in God by Abraham. Abraham gives us a pattern to follow when the sacrifice seems too great to give. Abraham rose early the next morning to obey God. He didn't procrastinate nor reason with himself about what he should do. (Genesis 22:3)
Abraham had faith God would handle it. He told the men with them to, stay here with the donkey; the lad and I will go and we will come back to you. (Genesis 22:5) He didn't know how, but he had the promises of God and knew somehow, they both would return.
Abraham and his son go up the mountain and when they came to the place, Abraham built an altar, bound his son, and was getting ready to sacrifice his only son whom he loved, and the Angel of the Lord stopped him. Abraham looked up and tangled in the bushes was a ram provided by God for the sacrifice. (Genesis 22:6-14) The result from the test of God was; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your only son from me. (Genesis 22:12) Abraham then named the place, The-Lord-Will-Provide. (Genesis 22:14)
Abraham, a man of great faith, shows us what steps to take when God test us. Hear and obey His command; do not procrastinate; get up early and go to your mountain; put God first and then receive His blessings.
Who was first in Abraham's life? God knows all and He knew Abraham loved Him more than he did his only son. This proved to Abraham, you can put God first above all that you love and He will greatly bless you. What about Issac? He knew his father loved him very much, but to see his father's love for God surely must have impacted his life from that moment forward.
Abraham is mentioned among the faithful in Hebrews chapter 11. Abraham was not selfish in his love for God. If I am selfish, God will never be first in my life. I will end up giving my time to my career, recreation, family, friends, and material blessings before I do to God.
Abraham, because he did not withhold his only son, received great blessings from God. Did Abraham know God was going to bless him for obeying Him? No. God told him after he had obeyed. (Genesis 22:16-18)
I believe Satan has deceived us into believing this could only happen to those mentioned in the Bible of long ago. In Malachi 6 it reads, for I am the Lord, I do not change, and in Hebrews 13:8 the writer says, Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever. So if God showered great blessings on those in the past who placed him first in their everyday life, will He not do the same for us?
Above everything in our lives today, putting God first must be preceded by a great faith and trust in Him. In the community where you live, can you imagine if everyone put God first in their lives. If everyone was willing to sacrifice self and put God first, how would your community look? Maybe we never have seen this, because we have never before seen God being put first in the lives of such a group of people.
Think on this today. Now it came to pass that God tested ( your name). I am glad blood sacrifices, as they were in the Old Testament, were nailed to the cross. We will not be tested to sacrifice our children in this way. But have I been tested to identify if God is first in my life? Did I pass? What about you? If we failed the test, a most beautiful trait shown by God is He lets us take it over. Let us all read these scriptures daily, applying them to our Christian walk and we, like Abraham, can pass the test. ( Proverbs 5:3-4 and Matthew 22:37)
Thank you for reading my blog. Please email me with comments. I would like to get to know you. You can go to rhepler52@gmail.com.
Please go to www.amazon.com to preview and purchase my new book: 123 Tips for My Grandchildren and Yours. These are tips I have used and are still using. This book is for all ages.
Living the life of a faithful Christian will make us peculiar people. (Titus 2:14 and 1 Peter 2:9, KJV)
Thanks, Rick
Thursday, February 26, 2015
#123 of 123 Tips for My Grandchildren and Yours
In a few of my blog post, I have shared some of the tips from my new book. Today I want to share the last tip. I believe it is the goal or the summation of all the tips.
#123 Finally, when you lay your head down at night, do not go to sleep until you can confidently and truthfully say, "it is well with your soul". If you die in your sleep you can then claim the crown of life promised to you by your Heavenly Father. If you live to see the dawn, your day will be brighter for your fellowman.
Don't let me or anyone else tell you, it is well with your soul, because we may, in error, tell you it is. Go to God's word and let Him tell you. Read Romans 6 and 1John 1-2, to see if you are living in a way that God would say, "It is well with your soul"
What keeps you up at night? If you have a chronic illness, the pain may keep you awake most of the night. I know several people with this problem. When dad was farming, if he still had corn or beans in the field that needed harvesting, hearing hard rain coming down all night would keep me awake.
I had a job one time that I didn't like, and on Sunday night I could not sleep knowing I had a meeting early the next morning. Have you ever tossed and turned worrying about your financial situation? Many I know have worried because they did not have enough money, and others worried because they were afraid of losing their money due to an unsettled stock market.
If you look at the nightly news programs, seeing all the evil and hatred in this world, you wonder if our country is going to survive. Politicians and the President seem to be making everything worse instead of better. We also hear reports of ISIS terrorist kidnapping and raping little girls, burning Christians alive, and wanting to destroy the United States is in their every thought. All of this stuff used to keep me awake, too.
Only until about two years ago, I had the problem of worrying about the next day or some other problem I might have. When I realized that in 40 years, what ever problem I had, everyone would have forgotten the problem, or it didn't matter anyway. There are 2 scriptures that have helped me more than anything. Proverbs 3:5-Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding and Proverbs 3:6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.
We all have been trained in our society to work things out for ourselves and to be independent. I could not see God working in my life, because I would not let Him. Trying to do things alone I made many mistakes and with it was useless worry.
It is very obvious the leaders of this great Nation have not read the above verses. If you try to live like Christ, you are called evil and a right wing radical. If you live as the world wants you to and accept any sin, you are called good. This is my number one concern for your children, grandchildren and mine. Yes, this concerns me. As I think on these things when I go to bed at night, it stirs me to action to do my part in fighting against evil, and I know it does you, also.
You and I want the best for our children and grandchildren. We want them to have the best jobs, the best education, beautiful homes, plenty of money to enjoy this life. These things are good and can be achieved, but not at the expense of having a soul that is not pleasing to God. What if they are very successful and attain everything the world has to offer, yet they lose their soul? (Please read Matthew 16: 24-26)
More than likely, we will influence them by what we value the most. In the story of the rich man and Lazarus, what did the rich man value the most? What was the rich man's most chilling thought, that he had in the torments of Hades? Here it is. Then he said, 'I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father's house, for I have 5 brother's, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.' Matthew 27-28 NKJV.
The most dreaded tragedy that I can imagine is to die as the rich man, be in the torments of Hades, and then looking up and seeing friends and family members coming to join me, because of the life I lived here on earth. Realizing that I was responsible for them living a life of disobeying God.
I do not want to even imagine this, and I hope you don't either. I want to tell my grandchildren how to live a life pleasing to God, and also, I want to show them! I am thankful that their parents and their other grandparents feel the same way. What about you?
If you can go to bed tonight being truthful and confident that it is well with your soul, more than likely your children and grandchildren will be able to do the same, by your example. If someone were to cheat your precious children or grandchildren out of money, you would be angry. How angry are you with Satan? He wants to cheat them out of an eternal life in Heaven.
What are your thoughts? I would like to get to know some of my readers in other countries. Please email me with your comments. Please send comments to rhepler52@yahoo.com or rhepler52@gmail.com
Thanks for reading.
Rick
#123 Finally, when you lay your head down at night, do not go to sleep until you can confidently and truthfully say, "it is well with your soul". If you die in your sleep you can then claim the crown of life promised to you by your Heavenly Father. If you live to see the dawn, your day will be brighter for your fellowman.
Don't let me or anyone else tell you, it is well with your soul, because we may, in error, tell you it is. Go to God's word and let Him tell you. Read Romans 6 and 1John 1-2, to see if you are living in a way that God would say, "It is well with your soul"
What keeps you up at night? If you have a chronic illness, the pain may keep you awake most of the night. I know several people with this problem. When dad was farming, if he still had corn or beans in the field that needed harvesting, hearing hard rain coming down all night would keep me awake.
I had a job one time that I didn't like, and on Sunday night I could not sleep knowing I had a meeting early the next morning. Have you ever tossed and turned worrying about your financial situation? Many I know have worried because they did not have enough money, and others worried because they were afraid of losing their money due to an unsettled stock market.
If you look at the nightly news programs, seeing all the evil and hatred in this world, you wonder if our country is going to survive. Politicians and the President seem to be making everything worse instead of better. We also hear reports of ISIS terrorist kidnapping and raping little girls, burning Christians alive, and wanting to destroy the United States is in their every thought. All of this stuff used to keep me awake, too.
Only until about two years ago, I had the problem of worrying about the next day or some other problem I might have. When I realized that in 40 years, what ever problem I had, everyone would have forgotten the problem, or it didn't matter anyway. There are 2 scriptures that have helped me more than anything. Proverbs 3:5-Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding and Proverbs 3:6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.
We all have been trained in our society to work things out for ourselves and to be independent. I could not see God working in my life, because I would not let Him. Trying to do things alone I made many mistakes and with it was useless worry.
It is very obvious the leaders of this great Nation have not read the above verses. If you try to live like Christ, you are called evil and a right wing radical. If you live as the world wants you to and accept any sin, you are called good. This is my number one concern for your children, grandchildren and mine. Yes, this concerns me. As I think on these things when I go to bed at night, it stirs me to action to do my part in fighting against evil, and I know it does you, also.
You and I want the best for our children and grandchildren. We want them to have the best jobs, the best education, beautiful homes, plenty of money to enjoy this life. These things are good and can be achieved, but not at the expense of having a soul that is not pleasing to God. What if they are very successful and attain everything the world has to offer, yet they lose their soul? (Please read Matthew 16: 24-26)
More than likely, we will influence them by what we value the most. In the story of the rich man and Lazarus, what did the rich man value the most? What was the rich man's most chilling thought, that he had in the torments of Hades? Here it is. Then he said, 'I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father's house, for I have 5 brother's, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.' Matthew 27-28 NKJV.
The most dreaded tragedy that I can imagine is to die as the rich man, be in the torments of Hades, and then looking up and seeing friends and family members coming to join me, because of the life I lived here on earth. Realizing that I was responsible for them living a life of disobeying God.
I do not want to even imagine this, and I hope you don't either. I want to tell my grandchildren how to live a life pleasing to God, and also, I want to show them! I am thankful that their parents and their other grandparents feel the same way. What about you?
If you can go to bed tonight being truthful and confident that it is well with your soul, more than likely your children and grandchildren will be able to do the same, by your example. If someone were to cheat your precious children or grandchildren out of money, you would be angry. How angry are you with Satan? He wants to cheat them out of an eternal life in Heaven.
What are your thoughts? I would like to get to know some of my readers in other countries. Please email me with your comments. Please send comments to rhepler52@yahoo.com or rhepler52@gmail.com
Thanks for reading.
Rick
Wednesday, February 18, 2015
What Would We Have Done? What is Our Choice?
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
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
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
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)