I know some people who have the talent of restoring furniture, appliances and other items most people, including me, set on the street for trash pickup. Many an item has been cheaply purchased at yard sales by those with talented eyes for restorable treasures other people and I call junk. These people visualize this junk in their minds what it was before it had been weathered and broken down.
They are confident of their restoration talents, have the correct tools, and have the patience to work till their little projects are complete. Have you ever seen some of their projects completed. What was cheap junk, is now again the beautiful piece it was originally made to be.
These people know what to look for. They can recognize brand names, valuable wood, and the original date created. It took years of learning the craft, gaining the knowledge of identifying value, and the potential value of a piece. The end result from their passion is a beautifully restored item, many times the yard sale price. Just knowing that grandmother or granddaddy had sweat equity in it, increased the aesthetic value to want to pass the piece down to the families' future generations. ( Or some just fight over it after the funeral. LOL!!!)
Have any of you ever seen or do you have a piece restored furniture? Debbie bought a corner cabinet out of someone's barn near Franklin, Tennessee. He was using it in the barn as a hay manger to feed his cows. We brought it home and had a talented individual restore it. (Definitely not me.) The once hay manger is now a beautiful corner cabinet.
We all have bought different items over the years with the wear and tear of using them, just wore them out. They are broken and just junk, being beyond repair and restoration. Some created beings (people) think they are junk, and many other people would agree with them. But, before you and I call them junk and worthless, let's try to determine their real value.
And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness...(Genesis 1:26) So God created man in his own image and likeness, male and female. (Genesis 1:27) Then God looked upon everything He had made, and, indeed, it was excellent. (Genesis 1:31) (ELG translation, Hugo McCord)
So, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit made mankind in their own image and called everything they created, that first week, excellent. Sounds to me like mankind is valuable. How valuable? Well let's go a little further.
Satan, our adversary, (1 Peter 5:8) had already been cast out of heaven with the angels that followed him. This was due to his pride. Now he wants to get back at God by tarnishing the image God had created in mankind.
Here is what he did and this is why we live in a fallen world today with sin, pain and suffering. (If you are going through pain and suffering now, it only last for this lifetime not eternity.) We will get into that later. We can continue suffering for eternity or we can live in heaven with God, with no pain and suffering for eternity. This will also be our choice.
Satan, in the form of a serpent, introduces doubt for the first time to Eve. Has God indeed said, 'You shall not eat of every tree in the garden'?" (Genesis 3:1) Eve then responds with God's command not to eat of the tree that was in the middle of the garden. She said, God said she would die if she ate the fruit from it. (Genesis 2:2-3) Then the serpent said to her the first and most damning lie, ...You will not surely die. (Genesis 3:4)
Next, he tempts her with pride. ...In the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil. (Genesis 3:5) Then he tempts Eve with the lust of the eyes and the lust of the flesh. Please read (Genesis 3:6) She saw it was good for food, pleasant to the eyes, and would make her wise, she bit the lure of the serpent, hook, line, and sinker. It still happens today, but it doesn't have to.
When Eve, and then Adam, disobeyed the one command God had given them, the image they had been created in became tarnished and covered over with the sin of disobedience. Satan's deception had worked, but God had a plan. A plan to restore that image.
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. (John 3:16) (Please continue to read verses 17-21 in your Bibles.)
All of us have sinned and fallen short of God's glory. (Romans 3:23) The image we were created in is still there, but covered by the old man of sin. We all are experiencing the effects of sin today. For some, the consequences have been brutal, leaving them and their families in hopeless situations.
We needed to see what the image of God looks like. Remember, God is a Spirit...(John 4:24) So God sent us His Son. He is the image of the invisible God. (Col. 3:15) also read 2 Corinthians 4:4. When we read about Christ and His life on this earth, we see the Father in Him. (John 14:8-12) To live in the image we were created with, we will do the works and live like that image.
We know we are living in the flesh when we do the works of the flesh. Please read Galatians 5:19-21. If you or I are living by the works of the flesh identified here, we are still living as the old man of sin that we were. Our image we were created in is hidden by sin. But, if we have been renewed or restored by repentance , confession and baptized into Christ raised to walk in newness of life, (Romans 6:1-14) The image is restored and we can know that it is by the new life in the Spirit we now lead. We will know this by the Spirit's fruit we exhibit. Read Galatians 5:22-25.
You and I are never like yard sale junk. We may be broken down by the works of the flesh condemned in Galatians 5:19-21, but we do have One who sees our value and will mend and cleanse our broken, and sinful lives. He will not put us on the street. He died for us, so we could be righteous before our Father in Heaven. All we have to do is to love Him and hear and obey Him. (Matthew 17:5)
I see so many families hurting from the consequences of sin and the Evil one. They are not junk in God's eyes. He has proven this to us by letting His Son die that cruel death on the cross. In all humility, we should love these as God does. Giving them hope of repairing their broken lives and the hope of Heaven.
This renewed spirit in Christ could then be valued and passed down by teaching to their future generations just like the restored piece of furniture. Except this has an eternal value that will never see corruption again.
The Master Restorer has given you and me, if we profess to be His disciples, a mission to find those that are broken in our communities, families, nation, and all nations making disciples of them, baptizing them and teaching them to observe all of His commands. (Matthew 28:18-20)
I have been broke and broken. I hate to see anyone hurting and without hope. If you or others you may know are hurting and need that eternal hope, please contact me at rhepler52@yahoo.com or rhepler52@gmail.com All will be confidential.
Remember you are not junk. Don't you give up because of addictions or any other terrible consequences because of sin. God will forgive you and give you peace and hope for tomorrow. Please contact me if you are hurting. I want to help you.
Thanks for reading. Looking forward to your comments.
Rick Hepler
Tuesday, August 15, 2017
Saturday, August 5, 2017
The Companion of Love Is Time
I told him I could not give him any money, but I would come to visit him once a week, while he was incarcerated. He was in jail for illegal possession of drugs. He had been there before. This time, he had contemplated ending it all. The voices in his head were telling him he was going to hell anyway. He hit rock bottom. He quit a good job, was in a terrible relationship, no place to lay his head and owed fines and thousands of dollars of back child support.
Why was I sitting in front of him , looking through the glass, waiting for him to punch in the code so we could talk to each other over the phone? Never in my life had I done anything like this before. What would I say to this broken, unshaven, scrubby looking young man in his grungy, gray striped, prison garb?
I was in front of him, mind racing with thoughts, hoping to choose the words he needed to hear. I was there because of the four words I said when I spoke at his mother's memorial service a few months back. She had fought cancer and lost. She was his strength. Guilt, grief, and the fear of being alone were consuming him as he sat on the second row of the church's auditorium. As I spoke, he doubled over from his weeping. He could not sit up, although by his body language I could tell he was holding on to every word I said. The last four words that came from my mouth were, "Don't you give up".
I had heard he was in jail for having drugs on him. It was confirmed when his dad pulled me over at church service one Sunday morning. He asked if I could go see his son in jail. He said his son remembered my telling him, "Don't you give up" and he was almost ready to give up and needed help. Without thinking or hesitating, I said that I would go see him the next week.
Now waiting for him to begin the conversation, the first words out of his mouth were, "I remember you told me not to give up. I need help and I do not know what to do." Well, the words came. He was desperate and afraid. He had contemplated suicide, because of the thoughts and voices inside his head. Two of his friends had already found the bottom. They listened to the voices, giving up on living that kind of life anymore, with no hope in sight, they took there own lives.
I will get into his process of healing in another post and it will be in my book.
I asked him, "What do you need me to do for you?". He responded, "I need you to show me the hope of getting my life back". So the work began. Five months have past since that day. The shaking from drug withdrawal has stopped. His thinking is clear and I helped him to identify his purpose in life. The chief at the jail said he was a very good prisoner.
I make a point to visit him once a week. He is a brother in Christ. He loves me and I love him. The love from God and me is bringing him back to the place he needs to be. This reminds me of a verse in 1Corinthians 13:8...Love never fails.
This young man knows that God and I love him. The one action I had given him and didn't realize it was my time. He said he knew I wanted to help him, because I gave him some of my time one day every week. He knew I had been very busy, but cared enough to visit him for 30 minutes every Thursday.
So the time we use to show our love in action is really a strong companion alongside our love. This person put a great value on my time with him. I never even thought about it that way.
How do we place a value on the amount of time we spend showing our love to someone or God. At the most, I probably have another 35 years to live. This time span could be shortened by an accident or sudden illness. I do not know when my time on earth will be over, but if the doctor says I have cancer with only a few weeks to live, the value of my time just went up.
I just recently had a cousin to die from cancer. We are the same age. His last trip to the doctor approximated his death within a few days instead of several years. I had been trying for several years to get him to obey the gospel. That window of opportunity was shortened and every hour was used. First, he called me when he was on his way home, telling me the bad news. He said, "I want to go to heaven". His time to act, which was actually 13 days, was very valuable to him now. I think he put off living a fruitful life for God knowing he had plenty of time. Having plenty of time sometimes devalues that time. The knowledge of his limited time to live, increased the value of this time above all of his assets. You see, he was very rich with farmland, cash, investments, vehicles and a large beautiful house. His time was of the most value now. His soul's destiny in a few days would be decided, so he wisely did what he needed to do. He had wealth on earth, but it was of not profitable to him at death. (Matthew 16:26) He made the right decision.
He obeyed the gospel in front of his best friends. I baptized him into Christ and he spent the next few days telling as many people as he could he loved them. Most of us do not know the time we have left and those that do, value their time more than the land they own or the investments they have.
So I can understand this young man in jail, thanking me for showing him love and using my time for him. My time was a companion to the love I was showing him.
Who do you give your time to? Is your time more valuable to you or to your loved ones around you? Let's make our time a companion to the love we share with others.
We say we love God, but how do we spend our time with Him and how often? In my book, The Heart Behind The Stone, David valued his time with God and that time spent was not only a value to him, but to all of the armies of Israel. He used his time with God at an early age. In doing so, he was preparing to defeat a giant he had never heard of.
You and I cannot defeat our giants unless we show God our love by the time we spend with Him.
Please go to http://amzn.to/1Mi2AXW to preview and purchase The Heart Behind The Stone and go to http://amzn.to/2lMuCFx to purchase 123 Tips for My Grandchildren and Yours. Spend some time reading to your children or grandchildren. That time spent may make a difference in their lives and yours.
Thank you so much for reading. Please send comments to rhepler52@gmail.com or rhepler52@yahoo.com. You may share my blog link by sending this link www.rick-hepler.blogspot.com to your friends and loved ones. Also, please share on Facebook.
Thank you for reading and helping me out.
Rick Hepler
Why was I sitting in front of him , looking through the glass, waiting for him to punch in the code so we could talk to each other over the phone? Never in my life had I done anything like this before. What would I say to this broken, unshaven, scrubby looking young man in his grungy, gray striped, prison garb?
I was in front of him, mind racing with thoughts, hoping to choose the words he needed to hear. I was there because of the four words I said when I spoke at his mother's memorial service a few months back. She had fought cancer and lost. She was his strength. Guilt, grief, and the fear of being alone were consuming him as he sat on the second row of the church's auditorium. As I spoke, he doubled over from his weeping. He could not sit up, although by his body language I could tell he was holding on to every word I said. The last four words that came from my mouth were, "Don't you give up".
I had heard he was in jail for having drugs on him. It was confirmed when his dad pulled me over at church service one Sunday morning. He asked if I could go see his son in jail. He said his son remembered my telling him, "Don't you give up" and he was almost ready to give up and needed help. Without thinking or hesitating, I said that I would go see him the next week.
Now waiting for him to begin the conversation, the first words out of his mouth were, "I remember you told me not to give up. I need help and I do not know what to do." Well, the words came. He was desperate and afraid. He had contemplated suicide, because of the thoughts and voices inside his head. Two of his friends had already found the bottom. They listened to the voices, giving up on living that kind of life anymore, with no hope in sight, they took there own lives.
I will get into his process of healing in another post and it will be in my book.
I asked him, "What do you need me to do for you?". He responded, "I need you to show me the hope of getting my life back". So the work began. Five months have past since that day. The shaking from drug withdrawal has stopped. His thinking is clear and I helped him to identify his purpose in life. The chief at the jail said he was a very good prisoner.
I make a point to visit him once a week. He is a brother in Christ. He loves me and I love him. The love from God and me is bringing him back to the place he needs to be. This reminds me of a verse in 1Corinthians 13:8...Love never fails.
This young man knows that God and I love him. The one action I had given him and didn't realize it was my time. He said he knew I wanted to help him, because I gave him some of my time one day every week. He knew I had been very busy, but cared enough to visit him for 30 minutes every Thursday.
So the time we use to show our love in action is really a strong companion alongside our love. This person put a great value on my time with him. I never even thought about it that way.
How do we place a value on the amount of time we spend showing our love to someone or God. At the most, I probably have another 35 years to live. This time span could be shortened by an accident or sudden illness. I do not know when my time on earth will be over, but if the doctor says I have cancer with only a few weeks to live, the value of my time just went up.
I just recently had a cousin to die from cancer. We are the same age. His last trip to the doctor approximated his death within a few days instead of several years. I had been trying for several years to get him to obey the gospel. That window of opportunity was shortened and every hour was used. First, he called me when he was on his way home, telling me the bad news. He said, "I want to go to heaven". His time to act, which was actually 13 days, was very valuable to him now. I think he put off living a fruitful life for God knowing he had plenty of time. Having plenty of time sometimes devalues that time. The knowledge of his limited time to live, increased the value of this time above all of his assets. You see, he was very rich with farmland, cash, investments, vehicles and a large beautiful house. His time was of the most value now. His soul's destiny in a few days would be decided, so he wisely did what he needed to do. He had wealth on earth, but it was of not profitable to him at death. (Matthew 16:26) He made the right decision.
He obeyed the gospel in front of his best friends. I baptized him into Christ and he spent the next few days telling as many people as he could he loved them. Most of us do not know the time we have left and those that do, value their time more than the land they own or the investments they have.
So I can understand this young man in jail, thanking me for showing him love and using my time for him. My time was a companion to the love I was showing him.
Who do you give your time to? Is your time more valuable to you or to your loved ones around you? Let's make our time a companion to the love we share with others.
We say we love God, but how do we spend our time with Him and how often? In my book, The Heart Behind The Stone, David valued his time with God and that time spent was not only a value to him, but to all of the armies of Israel. He used his time with God at an early age. In doing so, he was preparing to defeat a giant he had never heard of.
You and I cannot defeat our giants unless we show God our love by the time we spend with Him.
Please go to http://amzn.to/1Mi2AXW to preview and purchase The Heart Behind The Stone and go to http://amzn.to/2lMuCFx to purchase 123 Tips for My Grandchildren and Yours. Spend some time reading to your children or grandchildren. That time spent may make a difference in their lives and yours.
Thank you so much for reading. Please send comments to rhepler52@gmail.com or rhepler52@yahoo.com. You may share my blog link by sending this link www.rick-hepler.blogspot.com to your friends and loved ones. Also, please share on Facebook.
Thank you for reading and helping me out.
Rick Hepler
Wednesday, July 26, 2017
What If David Let The "Buts" Stop Him? What If You Let Them Stop You?
He was prepared for life. His preparation came from being alone with a few sheep and God in the wilderness. His acknowledgement of his God, I believe, is written in the 19th Psalm he penned. His name is David, the son of Jesse, the shepherd of a few of his father's sheep. The greatest statement written about him is found in Acts13:22. In this verse God says, ...I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, who will do all My will. My desire is for God to say the same about me. What about you?
We read of David's first display of his faith and trust in God by his actions described in 1Samuel chapter 17. The Philistine giant was daring God's army to send their champion to come and fight him one on one. This giant presented himself forty days, morning and evening. King Saul offered riches to any man that challenged and killed him. No takers, but David, the shepherd boy.
David heard this and his interest was peaked. 1Sam.17:26 What shall be done for the man who kills this Philistine, and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God? David has now discovered his cause (purpose, why). He would display God's splendor, majesty and power by trusting in Him, the God in whom he believed was living and present.
David wants to be the champion sent to face Goliath, defeating him and showing all the earth that there is a God in Israel. But those in the cheap seats, not willing to fight Goliath, gave to David the" but's" to hinder him. Christians do we not get "buts" to hinder us also?
I wonder if David's interest in fighting Goliath sent Satan scrambling to find a way to put doubt in David's faith. Did this young shepherd boy catch Satan off-guard? Just listen to the "buts" used to introduce doubts in David mind.
In verse 28 Eliab, David's older brother anger was aroused against David. Why did you come down here? And with whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your pride and the insolence of your heart, for you have come down to see the battle. What thoughts are in David's mind after his brother's comments?
What about you? Let's see if we have had these thoughts ourselves.
Has a family member or close friend ever gotten angry with you in this way, when you wanted to do the right thing? Did this create a "but" in your thinking? I want to do the right thing, "but" my family will be angry with me. I am trying to work for God, "but" do other people think I am arrogant and disrespectful like my family? But whom am I to do this? I do not have a respectful career and very little money. Would this get you to second guess proceeding on with your cause or purpose? It use to get me thinking about what others thought and many times I abandoned the cause.
Let's read verse 33 next. And Saul said to David, "You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him, for you are but a youth, and he is a man of war from his youth." What would your "buts" tell you? If someone told me this, my first thought would probably be, " but this does seem impossible, and I have never seen anyone without the experience of a man of war win a fight like this". Yes, I have good intentions, "but" I am really too young and inexperienced. I think I should pass this time until I get older with more experience." Heard this one before. Used it myself.
Next verses 38-39: So Saul clothed David with his armor, and he put a bronze helmet on his head; he also clothed him with a coat of mail. David fastened his sword to his armor and tried to walk, for he had not tested them. And David said to Saul, "I cannot walk with these, for I have not tested them." So David took them off. I believe Saul was implying to David, he needed this kind of armor and weapon to go to battle. I have almost quit writing at times, because I do not have the knowledge of the current technology to build a flashy website for my readers. I would use the excuse, "but" I don't have the required social media to get my words across. I haven't tested the new technologies, but I will get there. I will just do what I know how to do and gradually test other equipment and methods as I learn. David eventually did use armor and swords, but the lack of knowing how to use them at this present time was not a stumbling block to getting the task done.
The reason David ignored all of the negative "buts" hurled his way was a positive truthful "but" he used against them all. I am inserting a "but" here. In verse 37, David's reply to the king, "Yes but, The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine. His past experiences trusting in God and being able to see God's glory and power, gave him the courage needed to challenge Goliath and defeat him. When I review my past trials, I can identify the ways God helped me through them. The trials I am facing now are being faced with "God confidence" obtained by faith in His promises.
What was David's "cause" or "why" to attempt an impossible task never before seen by the Philistines or the armies of Israel? It was a "cause" stronger than any of the "buts" used to discourage him. Here it is in verse 46. ...that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. Why this? All the nations around them were idol worshipers and served false gods.
Also in verse 47 he gives credit to God for about what seemed impossible to become possible. Then all the assembly shall know that the Lord does not save with the sword and spear; for the battle is the Lord's and He will give you into our hands.
What did I learn from this and also by writing my first book about it. I learned that we as Christians in this country must remember the giants that are taunting us: abortion, teaching evolution as fact, and sexual immorality, cannot be overcome by sword and spear or the right political party running the government. We must remember the last words Goliath heard from David, ...He (God) will deliver you into our hands.
We do not face physical giants today as Goliath, "but" we do face giant sized ideologies that are threatening our nation. How do we remove this "but"? We follow the same plan as David.
1. Learn to take the time to see God's wonderful creation, believing only He could have created us, and all of that we see.
2. Enjoy the words of God and His commandments.
3.Reverence God by obeying His truth and righteousness.
4. Let our words and the thoughts of our hearts be acceptable to Him.
When the armies of God saw God in action through a shepherd boy named David, armed with just five smooth stones and a sling, slay Goliath and cut his head off with his own sword, they came out of hiding and a movement was started that defeated the Philistine's army.
The Lord's Church must be seen doing the impossible as David's killing the giant. We cannot do it sitting on a pew or hidden. We must present no "buts" nor be discouraged by negative "buts". Our armor is identified in Ephesians 6:10-18. I hope this armor has already been tested by you.
Our message to those that are hurting should be; there is a God in heaven and the good news is He sent His son to save us all from our sins. Our authority comes from Jesus and He has slain the giant we fear the most. This giant's name is death.
Hearts can be changed by God's word when we live it so they can see it, and they let it when we teach it.
There is a "but" in this statement we seriously need to pay attention to. It was strongly used by our savior and as a warning. Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. Mark 16:15-16 NKJV
I had to overcome several "buts" when I wrote The Heart Behind The Stone and 123 Tips for My Grandchildren and Yours. This seemed impossible to me as writing the next one. If any of my books change one heart, the challenge will be worth it.
You can help me by purchasing my books on www.amazon.com or by telling others.
Also, if you share my blog with your friends and loved ones I would greatly appreciate it.
I am not a preacher, theologian, English major, nor up on all the technologies. I am one concerned about our nation and about the people hurting. I write to give encouragement and hope to those who have none. I visit a young man in jail every week. He is 29 years old and if he is convicted of the crime he is charged with, he may get life in prison. I asked him how I could help him. He said," I need hope". I told him about the best hope I could give him and it is the hope in Jesus Christ.
I tell my new friends each time when I leave the jail, "Don't you give up". Silently each day I tell myself the same.
If you or anyone you know is about to give up, send me an email. I will do all I can do to help. Also please send me comments. My email is rhepler52@gmail.com
Remember Church. They need to see Christ and God's love in us before we can change their hearts.
Thanks for reading and your encouragement.
Rick Hepler
We read of David's first display of his faith and trust in God by his actions described in 1Samuel chapter 17. The Philistine giant was daring God's army to send their champion to come and fight him one on one. This giant presented himself forty days, morning and evening. King Saul offered riches to any man that challenged and killed him. No takers, but David, the shepherd boy.
David heard this and his interest was peaked. 1Sam.17:26 What shall be done for the man who kills this Philistine, and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God? David has now discovered his cause (purpose, why). He would display God's splendor, majesty and power by trusting in Him, the God in whom he believed was living and present.
David wants to be the champion sent to face Goliath, defeating him and showing all the earth that there is a God in Israel. But those in the cheap seats, not willing to fight Goliath, gave to David the" but's" to hinder him. Christians do we not get "buts" to hinder us also?
I wonder if David's interest in fighting Goliath sent Satan scrambling to find a way to put doubt in David's faith. Did this young shepherd boy catch Satan off-guard? Just listen to the "buts" used to introduce doubts in David mind.
In verse 28 Eliab, David's older brother anger was aroused against David. Why did you come down here? And with whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your pride and the insolence of your heart, for you have come down to see the battle. What thoughts are in David's mind after his brother's comments?
What about you? Let's see if we have had these thoughts ourselves.
Has a family member or close friend ever gotten angry with you in this way, when you wanted to do the right thing? Did this create a "but" in your thinking? I want to do the right thing, "but" my family will be angry with me. I am trying to work for God, "but" do other people think I am arrogant and disrespectful like my family? But whom am I to do this? I do not have a respectful career and very little money. Would this get you to second guess proceeding on with your cause or purpose? It use to get me thinking about what others thought and many times I abandoned the cause.
Let's read verse 33 next. And Saul said to David, "You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him, for you are but a youth, and he is a man of war from his youth." What would your "buts" tell you? If someone told me this, my first thought would probably be, " but this does seem impossible, and I have never seen anyone without the experience of a man of war win a fight like this". Yes, I have good intentions, "but" I am really too young and inexperienced. I think I should pass this time until I get older with more experience." Heard this one before. Used it myself.
Next verses 38-39: So Saul clothed David with his armor, and he put a bronze helmet on his head; he also clothed him with a coat of mail. David fastened his sword to his armor and tried to walk, for he had not tested them. And David said to Saul, "I cannot walk with these, for I have not tested them." So David took them off. I believe Saul was implying to David, he needed this kind of armor and weapon to go to battle. I have almost quit writing at times, because I do not have the knowledge of the current technology to build a flashy website for my readers. I would use the excuse, "but" I don't have the required social media to get my words across. I haven't tested the new technologies, but I will get there. I will just do what I know how to do and gradually test other equipment and methods as I learn. David eventually did use armor and swords, but the lack of knowing how to use them at this present time was not a stumbling block to getting the task done.
The reason David ignored all of the negative "buts" hurled his way was a positive truthful "but" he used against them all. I am inserting a "but" here. In verse 37, David's reply to the king, "Yes but, The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine. His past experiences trusting in God and being able to see God's glory and power, gave him the courage needed to challenge Goliath and defeat him. When I review my past trials, I can identify the ways God helped me through them. The trials I am facing now are being faced with "God confidence" obtained by faith in His promises.
What was David's "cause" or "why" to attempt an impossible task never before seen by the Philistines or the armies of Israel? It was a "cause" stronger than any of the "buts" used to discourage him. Here it is in verse 46. ...that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. Why this? All the nations around them were idol worshipers and served false gods.
Also in verse 47 he gives credit to God for about what seemed impossible to become possible. Then all the assembly shall know that the Lord does not save with the sword and spear; for the battle is the Lord's and He will give you into our hands.
What did I learn from this and also by writing my first book about it. I learned that we as Christians in this country must remember the giants that are taunting us: abortion, teaching evolution as fact, and sexual immorality, cannot be overcome by sword and spear or the right political party running the government. We must remember the last words Goliath heard from David, ...He (God) will deliver you into our hands.
We do not face physical giants today as Goliath, "but" we do face giant sized ideologies that are threatening our nation. How do we remove this "but"? We follow the same plan as David.
1. Learn to take the time to see God's wonderful creation, believing only He could have created us, and all of that we see.
2. Enjoy the words of God and His commandments.
3.Reverence God by obeying His truth and righteousness.
4. Let our words and the thoughts of our hearts be acceptable to Him.
When the armies of God saw God in action through a shepherd boy named David, armed with just five smooth stones and a sling, slay Goliath and cut his head off with his own sword, they came out of hiding and a movement was started that defeated the Philistine's army.
The Lord's Church must be seen doing the impossible as David's killing the giant. We cannot do it sitting on a pew or hidden. We must present no "buts" nor be discouraged by negative "buts". Our armor is identified in Ephesians 6:10-18. I hope this armor has already been tested by you.
Our message to those that are hurting should be; there is a God in heaven and the good news is He sent His son to save us all from our sins. Our authority comes from Jesus and He has slain the giant we fear the most. This giant's name is death.
Hearts can be changed by God's word when we live it so they can see it, and they let it when we teach it.
There is a "but" in this statement we seriously need to pay attention to. It was strongly used by our savior and as a warning. Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. Mark 16:15-16 NKJV
I had to overcome several "buts" when I wrote The Heart Behind The Stone and 123 Tips for My Grandchildren and Yours. This seemed impossible to me as writing the next one. If any of my books change one heart, the challenge will be worth it.
You can help me by purchasing my books on www.amazon.com or by telling others.
Also, if you share my blog with your friends and loved ones I would greatly appreciate it.
I am not a preacher, theologian, English major, nor up on all the technologies. I am one concerned about our nation and about the people hurting. I write to give encouragement and hope to those who have none. I visit a young man in jail every week. He is 29 years old and if he is convicted of the crime he is charged with, he may get life in prison. I asked him how I could help him. He said," I need hope". I told him about the best hope I could give him and it is the hope in Jesus Christ.
I tell my new friends each time when I leave the jail, "Don't you give up". Silently each day I tell myself the same.
If you or anyone you know is about to give up, send me an email. I will do all I can do to help. Also please send me comments. My email is rhepler52@gmail.com
Remember Church. They need to see Christ and God's love in us before we can change their hearts.
Thanks for reading and your encouragement.
Rick Hepler
Wednesday, June 7, 2017
How I Used Nick Saban's Book to Help Me Serve God and Mankind Better
A few months ago I read Nick Saban's book, How Good do You Want to Be?. This is a good book for all coaches to learn how to build a championship team. Coach Saban has the wins to back up his approach. While reading, I wondered how I could use this approach in a way to help me serve God, family, and mankind better today and in the future.
I finished the book, but something made me keep coming back to some of his techniques. What if I asked myself the question, How good do I want to be in serving God, family and mankind? I then took some of his points and changed them to help me be the best disciple I could be. Listed below are the eleven I came up with.
If I focus on these points every day, my commitment to be more like Christ will be stronger.
You may email any comments to rhepler52@gmail.com . Thanks for reading. If you enjoyed reading please share with others.
Thanks!
Rick Hepler
I finished the book, but something made me keep coming back to some of his techniques. What if I asked myself the question, How good do I want to be in serving God, family and mankind? I then took some of his points and changed them to help me be the best disciple I could be. Listed below are the eleven I came up with.
- Satan, my adversary, should never determine my level of studying God's word, my prayer life, or my living right before God.
- Always find a way to meditate on God's word when feeling weak or facing adversity. Look to Jesus for the strength needed to go on.
- I am responsible for the life I create in Christ, not others.
- Knowing myself as a disciple of Jesus is important.
- Don't keep score. I just need to keep doing God's will. Fruit will be produced if I do not faint and grow weary of doing well.
- Be faithful everyday to eliminate thoughts of the flesh. (worldly desires, lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and the pride of life) Do not let them enter into my heart.
- Focus simply on living for God and being more like His Son each day.
- Eliminate "the stuff"(worldly thoughts) that clutters my mind and occupies my time each day.
- If I live as Christ each day, all I have to do when times get tough is just be me.
- To achieve the highest level Christian service I must have GRIT; God-Resilience-Integrity-Trust.
- The process of my commitment, sowing the seed, and living the example is more important than the immediate results.
If I focus on these points every day, my commitment to be more like Christ will be stronger.
You may email any comments to rhepler52@gmail.com . Thanks for reading. If you enjoyed reading please share with others.
Thanks!
Rick Hepler
Tuesday, June 21, 2016
I Had to Make a Choice. Who Was I Really Serving?
For twenty three years I presented clients and prospective clients investment choices, insurance choices, and financial planning choices. Ameriprise Financial always did a fantastic job of due diligence on making sure the clients were placed in investments with strong companies. It was my responsibility to explain the products and investments to clients. We also had government regulators checking to see if we complied with the regulations pertaining to clients knowing the products and their suitability for them.
When I was convinced my proposals of investments or insurance were suitable for each client, I would present the benefits and features of what I was proposing. I had to state the truth about each product. The company compliance department would also be thorough in making sure everything said was truthful and if any deception was noted on my part, my franchise contract would have been terminated immediately. Achieving clients financial goals demanded truth, without any deceptions or false statements just to make the sale. I would not have had it any other way. My livelihood depended upon it.
Today I want to make a proposal to you. I will present the features and benefits just as I did with my clients. I will present the truth with no deceptions allowed. This may take several post to cover, but it will be eternally important for you to see the comparison I make and the consequences of choosing one over the other.
I had a problem for several years. I called myself a Christian. I was a good Christian on Sunday, and very bold within the Sunday School class, but silent the other six days of the week. No I didn't go out and do bad things, but one thing I did, I wanted to walk with God on Sunday and hold hands with the world the other six days. This created internal battles within my soul. I wanted to have a successful career, make lots of money, and be financially independent.(Nothing wrong with this if kept in its proper place.)
I purchased and read every self-help book I could get my hands on. In chasing my financial dreams, worry set in and began to control my thinking. This led to many sleepless nights. The scriptures written below began to haunt me. I was deceiving myself, and the result was, "I was serving the wrong master". Satan knew my weakness and was using the lust of the eyes and the pride of life to weaken my spirit and try my faith.
I look back now, and all of my focus was on making more money and being independent. Pride was a large problem for me. I wanted to show people I could be successful. In dealing with people and their money for almost forty years, whether they were rich or poor, money or the lack of controlled their thinking. I was one of them.
I allowed my wanting the things of the world to be my focus, and I was going to be "All In" for serving God when I accomplished my success. I don't think that is what God has in mind for us. When I read what Christ said, "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" (John 4:32), it started my search for that truth. I needed to be free of the world and wanted to have only one master to serve.
I was searching for an abundant life and peace in all the wrong places. I could not profess to be a Christian before my children and not live my life trusting and serving God, my creator, the way He desires. In the next few posts, I will just show you how I made the choice to put God first, and the peace I now have.
Are you ready? First, Christ tells us in Luke 16:13, No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. In the Old Testament Joshua said, But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. (Joshua 24:15, NKJV) We cannot be a friend of the world, doing the things of the world and be a friend of God. Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. (James 4:4, NKJV)
What is the world or the things in the world? Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world--the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life--is not of the Father but is of the world. (1 John 2:15-16, NKJV) If we walk according to the course of this world, we do so according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience. (Satan) (2 Corinthians 2:2)
So we all have a choice. We will either be following and serving God, or we will be following or serving the world. (Satan). At the end of this study you will know the choice you have made and stay with it or change from it. I will try to explain benefits and consequences of choosing one over the other. In the end you will love the one and hate the other. You will not be able to hold on to both. I have tried in the past to hold on to both. You can't do it. It will make you miserable. I made a choice, and I want to show you how, and why I did it. Maybe this will help you to choose. Praying you will make the right choice, and your everyday living will reflect that choice.
If you or someone you know wants to follow along in this study, please send me your or their email, so I can notify you each time I post something new. My email is rhepler52@gmail.com. Your questions and comments sent to me will be confidential. I have kept clients financial matters confidential for 40 years, and I can keep your concerns and questions confidential as well. If you want me to personally invite someone to join in this study, just send me their email. I will not mention you unless you ask me to.
Thanking you in advance for your reading and participation. Our country can be great spiritually again. We just need to want to follow the right master.
Rick
Friday, May 20, 2016
Thoughts That Enslaved a Nation
They were captured, taken against their will, shackled in chains and locked in the hulls of ships. I can't imagine the different ways slave traders forced them to submit. The physical pain was probably overcome by the emotional pain. I am just assuming this, because I have never been in that position.
The lives of some African men and women would be changed forever. Family trees would be severed. Traditional beliefs and cultures would be greatly challenged. Traveling, as a free people, from one continent to another, was a risk and some didn't make it. Think about making that same trip, but being in bondage. I wonder what the mortality rate was for the slaves.
I will let you decide the negatives and the positives of black people as a result of this. The cost was great. Families divided, not by choice but by force. Also, many lives were lost in the Civil war because of it. Please think on this for a few moments.
What if it was you? How would something like this affect you, your family, and your future generations? Would this produce a deeply engrained anger in your subconscious mind? How great would your hunger for freedom be? Would you have the courage to seek that freedom at any cost? Would your dream consist of making enough money to buy back yours and your family's freedom?
We still have slavery in America today, and it is destroying lives and families. This is morally and economically devastating. Many chose this slavery over freedom. No one captured them, beat them, or chained them. What is it? Who does it enslave? Is there a solution? Can we ever be free again? At what price can we be redeemed?
At this point let me continue from my last post. God created all of us with a freewill. Adam and Eve used their freewill and chose to disobey God, so they could be like God, having knowledge of good and evil. They ate fruit from the tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. Evil could then be known by all humanity. Mankind could then choose good or evil.
Sometimes, evil was dressed up to look better than good. Satan dressed it up and is still dressing it up to be fun and pleasurable. Consequences of choosing evil over good are always hidden or explained away. We are all susceptible in choosing evil. When we do and have severe consequences in doing so, we usually do not own the accountability that comes with our bad choices. Most of the time we blame it on others or even God.
Satan deceives all of mankind into doing anything that God has commanded us not to do. When we choose what God calls evil over good, there is always a consequence. Let us look at one of these areas in our country today.
Sexual immorality has become a devastating giant in our country today. It is one of the three giants I write about in my book: The Heart Behind the Stone: Develop a Giant Slaying Heart. How has this risen to such giant sized destruction?
God's people are told in Galatians 5:16 to: Walk by the Spirit, and you will not fulfill fleshly desires. In listing the works of the flesh, fornication is the first one on the list. Read verse 19. Satan knew mankind had a problem with this. This still is a weakness that man has. This weakness initiates thoughts in the mind which seeks ways to manifest the strong sexual desires.
There is no discrimination in this destruction. Rich or poor, famous or unknown, black or white, Christian and Non-Christian, have all fallen to this enslavement of their bodies. Satan tempted them, and their uncontrolled thoughts chose to be enslaved by the runaway desire (lust) of the flesh.
This enslavement by the body and mind has caused families to be splintered, unborn babies to be murdered in the womb, same sex marriages, children molested by pedophiles, human sex trafficking, and men who call themselves transsexuals are being protected by the federal government so they can go pee in women's restrooms. Now add up all of the economical cost of welfare payments made to those who have illegitimate children and then the medical cost. I have not even mentioned the high cost of spiritual death.
I am going to have to continue this next week. I am going to give the solutions next time on how all of this, which began with a thought in the heart, can be changed with a pure heart from God. It hurts me to see young children without fathers to guide them and provide for them. It has really gotten out of control. It has become a big mess. I am tired of it. How about you? We keep living like the world, we will keep getting what the world gives us. What we have right now. If we live like God wants us to live, we will begin to see a change. I love God, my family, and my fellow man enough to do all I can.
Send me your comments by going to www.rhepler52@gmail.com. I address some of this in my book: The Heart Behind the Stone: Develop a Giant Slaying Heart. God can correct this problem if we seek His guidance. He has done the impossible for His people before, and He is ready and able to do it again. The question is are we ready to do what He says? David, before he killed Goliath, asked, "Is there not a cause?" I ask you the same question.
Please go to www.Amazon.com to preview my books.
Thanks for reading!
Rick
The lives of some African men and women would be changed forever. Family trees would be severed. Traditional beliefs and cultures would be greatly challenged. Traveling, as a free people, from one continent to another, was a risk and some didn't make it. Think about making that same trip, but being in bondage. I wonder what the mortality rate was for the slaves.
I will let you decide the negatives and the positives of black people as a result of this. The cost was great. Families divided, not by choice but by force. Also, many lives were lost in the Civil war because of it. Please think on this for a few moments.
What if it was you? How would something like this affect you, your family, and your future generations? Would this produce a deeply engrained anger in your subconscious mind? How great would your hunger for freedom be? Would you have the courage to seek that freedom at any cost? Would your dream consist of making enough money to buy back yours and your family's freedom?
We still have slavery in America today, and it is destroying lives and families. This is morally and economically devastating. Many chose this slavery over freedom. No one captured them, beat them, or chained them. What is it? Who does it enslave? Is there a solution? Can we ever be free again? At what price can we be redeemed?
At this point let me continue from my last post. God created all of us with a freewill. Adam and Eve used their freewill and chose to disobey God, so they could be like God, having knowledge of good and evil. They ate fruit from the tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. Evil could then be known by all humanity. Mankind could then choose good or evil.
Sometimes, evil was dressed up to look better than good. Satan dressed it up and is still dressing it up to be fun and pleasurable. Consequences of choosing evil over good are always hidden or explained away. We are all susceptible in choosing evil. When we do and have severe consequences in doing so, we usually do not own the accountability that comes with our bad choices. Most of the time we blame it on others or even God.
Satan deceives all of mankind into doing anything that God has commanded us not to do. When we choose what God calls evil over good, there is always a consequence. Let us look at one of these areas in our country today.
Sexual immorality has become a devastating giant in our country today. It is one of the three giants I write about in my book: The Heart Behind the Stone: Develop a Giant Slaying Heart. How has this risen to such giant sized destruction?
God's people are told in Galatians 5:16 to: Walk by the Spirit, and you will not fulfill fleshly desires. In listing the works of the flesh, fornication is the first one on the list. Read verse 19. Satan knew mankind had a problem with this. This still is a weakness that man has. This weakness initiates thoughts in the mind which seeks ways to manifest the strong sexual desires.
There is no discrimination in this destruction. Rich or poor, famous or unknown, black or white, Christian and Non-Christian, have all fallen to this enslavement of their bodies. Satan tempted them, and their uncontrolled thoughts chose to be enslaved by the runaway desire (lust) of the flesh.
This enslavement by the body and mind has caused families to be splintered, unborn babies to be murdered in the womb, same sex marriages, children molested by pedophiles, human sex trafficking, and men who call themselves transsexuals are being protected by the federal government so they can go pee in women's restrooms. Now add up all of the economical cost of welfare payments made to those who have illegitimate children and then the medical cost. I have not even mentioned the high cost of spiritual death.
I am going to have to continue this next week. I am going to give the solutions next time on how all of this, which began with a thought in the heart, can be changed with a pure heart from God. It hurts me to see young children without fathers to guide them and provide for them. It has really gotten out of control. It has become a big mess. I am tired of it. How about you? We keep living like the world, we will keep getting what the world gives us. What we have right now. If we live like God wants us to live, we will begin to see a change. I love God, my family, and my fellow man enough to do all I can.
Send me your comments by going to www.rhepler52@gmail.com. I address some of this in my book: The Heart Behind the Stone: Develop a Giant Slaying Heart. God can correct this problem if we seek His guidance. He has done the impossible for His people before, and He is ready and able to do it again. The question is are we ready to do what He says? David, before he killed Goliath, asked, "Is there not a cause?" I ask you the same question.
Please go to www.Amazon.com to preview my books.
Thanks for reading!
Rick
Tuesday, May 10, 2016
This Happened in the Beginning. Does It Still Happen Today?
Satan knew God had given her a free will. Satan also knew God had given her a commandment, so she would have an opportunity to exercise that choice. How could he get her to make the choice of disobeying the God who created her and blessed her with the paradise of Eden for her dwelling place?
Satan would deceive her by introducing thoughts to grasp, rationalize, and dissect God's only command. (Sound familiar?) He does this in Genesis 3:1-6. The free will God had given her and Adam was going to be tested.
Satan starts with a question, and he already knows the answer. Has God indeed said 'You shall not eat of every tree in the garden'? Why did he ask this question? He wanted her to state the truth God had told her. Why? He wants her to reveal God's truth. Now, he is going to get her to doubt this truth.
You will not surely die. Satan replies in verse 4. The next verse will cause her to rationalize and dissect this command. You will be like God begins her contemplating disobeying God's only command to her.
Verse 6 introduces Satan's unseen weapons to humanity. Will she fall for it? Would you? She saw it was good for food, (Lust of the Flesh) it was pleasant to the eyes, (Lust of the Eyes) and a tree that was desirable to make one wise. (Pride of life).
Satan did not make Eve take of the fruit. He got her to introduce her desires into the decision making process. She then came up with her own reasoning and excuses to disobey God's only command for her and Adam.
Her choice, no matter what excuses she could give, had the consequences of them being removed from the paradise God had given them to live in, a spiritual separation from God, and her spouse also sinning.
Humanity was then enslaved by the lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and pride of life. What could emancipate mankind from this form of slavery? What would this form of slavery do to mankind in the future?
( To be continued)
Thanks for reading. Please send your comments to rhepler52@gmail.com and share with your friends.
I need your help. If you have read my books, "The Heart Behind the Stone" or "123 Tips: For My Grandchildren and Yours", could you write a review. If you have not purchased them, would you preview them and consider purchasing? These are good to use as devotionals for your teenagers. You may purchase them by going to www.amazon.com .
Thanks
Rick Hepler
Satan would deceive her by introducing thoughts to grasp, rationalize, and dissect God's only command. (Sound familiar?) He does this in Genesis 3:1-6. The free will God had given her and Adam was going to be tested.
Satan starts with a question, and he already knows the answer. Has God indeed said 'You shall not eat of every tree in the garden'? Why did he ask this question? He wanted her to state the truth God had told her. Why? He wants her to reveal God's truth. Now, he is going to get her to doubt this truth.
You will not surely die. Satan replies in verse 4. The next verse will cause her to rationalize and dissect this command. You will be like God begins her contemplating disobeying God's only command to her.
Verse 6 introduces Satan's unseen weapons to humanity. Will she fall for it? Would you? She saw it was good for food, (Lust of the Flesh) it was pleasant to the eyes, (Lust of the Eyes) and a tree that was desirable to make one wise. (Pride of life).
Satan did not make Eve take of the fruit. He got her to introduce her desires into the decision making process. She then came up with her own reasoning and excuses to disobey God's only command for her and Adam.
Her choice, no matter what excuses she could give, had the consequences of them being removed from the paradise God had given them to live in, a spiritual separation from God, and her spouse also sinning.
Humanity was then enslaved by the lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and pride of life. What could emancipate mankind from this form of slavery? What would this form of slavery do to mankind in the future?
( To be continued)
Thanks for reading. Please send your comments to rhepler52@gmail.com and share with your friends.
I need your help. If you have read my books, "The Heart Behind the Stone" or "123 Tips: For My Grandchildren and Yours", could you write a review. If you have not purchased them, would you preview them and consider purchasing? These are good to use as devotionals for your teenagers. You may purchase them by going to www.amazon.com .
Thanks
Rick Hepler
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