Why Are You So Strange? Finances

 They can't understand you. 

Why do you work? Hello, welcome today. I'm serious. Why do you work? Are you saving up for something? A new car? A house? Retirement? Do you work just to survive and to pay bills? Are you just trying to accumulate wealth? What are you working for?

Yes, we are going to talk about money. Do you know what the Bible says about work? First, God created it.

"The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it." Genesis 2:15

Second, we should not be working solely for ourselves.

"Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need." Ephesians 4:28

Read that again. "let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need." Say "so that." In order to give. We should be working for the betterment of others. We should be striving to be blessed, so that, we may bless others. Jesus puts it this way.

"Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal." John 6:27

Life is NOT about working for someone else to pay bills and struggle to survive. This is not life. Jesus said,

"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly." John 10:10

Oh yes, you work for the Power Company. Yes, you work for the Car Company. Yes, you are a Garbage Professional, Teacher, Cop, Doctor, ETC. Yes, you have a title. However?

"Bondservants, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ." Colossians 3:22-24

We should be respectful, hard-working, dedicated, and loyal. However, we should never be fearful or feel that we rely on men for our jobs and positions. We do not. God provides. He got you that job. He put you in that position. If you lose your job? Especially for His name's sake? Truly blessed you will be. Yes, God will get you a new job. The Creator of the universe has a bit of authority to get you a new job anywhere He chooses.

He does, however, require one little thing. A tithe. You would have nothing if it were not for God. You would not even be breathing right now. God would be well within His right to require 50 percent. He could demand all of it. But He chooses not to. No, He has decided that a tithe is ten percent. We see the first tithe in Genesis 14 starting at verse 17

"After his return from the defeat of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King's Valley). And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. (He was the priest of God Most High.) And he blessed him and said,

“Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand!”

And Abram gave him a tenth of everything." Genesis 14:17-20

This is the first time a tithe is mentioned in the Bible. Abram or Abraham gave away ten percent of his captured goods. It was a thanksgiving offering to God on behalf of the people who had been miraculously rescued and brought home safely. Notice this, Abraham did not give this ten percent out of his own possessions or property. He gave out of his gain from the battle. His "salary" if you will. He did so in gratitude to, and in recognition that, without God, the Victory would not have been possible.

So this became a normal practice in the old times. People started to tithe ten percent of their gains, for both gratitude and thanksgiving to God. It was also a way to ensure that all would be taken care of, even if someone was in lack. Then of course, what happens often happened then. Some chose not to tithe. Like today, some felt that they should, or that they needed to keep all 100 percent. What does God feel about this?

"Will a man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, ‘How have we robbed you?’ In your tithes and contributions. You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me, the whole nation of you. Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need. I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of your soil, and your vine in the field shall not fail to bear, says the Lord of hosts. Then all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a land of delight, says the Lord of hosts." Malachi 3:8-12

Why does God want this? Read this again.

"Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house."

This is the reason. Not for the Pastor to gain riches. Not for those giving to gain riches, but so that the church has the ability to meet its needs and to meet the needs of the people less fortunate. Now we get to the point some pastors are using to trick people into giving them money.

God did not create our financial system. We did. God does not need money. We do. Instead of bringing in grains, cows, chickens, milk, honey, fruits, and veggies, today's modern church needs money to

1- Pay bills. lights, heat, AC. ETC.
2- To buy grains, cows, chickens, milk, honey, fruits, and veggies, AKA food to meet the needs of those less fortunate.
3- YES-To meet the needs of the pastor. The pastor should not be part-time. He should not be in need and worrying about where his next meal will come from. He should be spending his time in the word, in prayer, and in the care for others.

Electric is not free. Heat is not free. Food is not free. The pastor's needs are not free. Again, not in God's system, but rather in ours. God promises us that if we DO tithe, we do not ever have to worry about that 90 percent. That it will go far farther than that 100 percent ever will. That if we bless others, by blessing the Church, God will bless us in all things. Not that we hit the lotto tomorrow, but in life itself. As a child of God, it is our duty to do this. Remember this passage? James 2:15-16

"If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that?"

Seriously. If you say you are "religious" and yet you do nothing but show up and listen to the pastor, and go home, what do you accomplish for God? God does call for us to tithe, which is 10 percent, for no other reason than it is for the good of those tithing and for the good of those receiving. It is practical, factual, and needed. It should be something, like with Abraham, that we LONG to do. Something we do proudly and humbly. Please keep this in mind. Read it, highlight it, memorize it.

"The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. As it is written,

“He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.”

He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God. By their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of your submission that comes from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others, while they long for you and pray for you, because of the surpassing grace of God upon you."

Now, is there abuse in the church? Of course. Are there pastors and church officials that will take your tithe and use it for their own gain? Yup. Just like bad doctors, police officers, drug company CEOs, whatever, there are bad pastors and administrators in the family of God. Does that change any of the reasons we need to tithe and give offerings? Nope. You are obligated to tithe. If that pastor is misusing the tithes, that is between him and God. Nothing you could ever do could compare to what God can and will do to a deceitful person using Him and His church for selfish gain.

Just to be clear, a tithe is ten percent. An offering is anything more than ten percent. For example, if you make $1000.00 a Paycheck, your Tithe is $100.00. Not $90.00. Not $20.00. Not $120.00 Your tithe IS $100.00. If you chose to, or God puts in on your heart, to give $120.00, then $100.00 is your tithe, and $20.00 is your offering.

Tithes and offerings are to ensure that all God's children's needs will be met. Food, clothes, shoes, a roof over their heads. ETC. Again it is to meet the needs of the church, pastor, and people. So the next time you give, do not give out of obligation. Is it? Yup. Do not give out of expectations. Does God lie? No. Will He bless you? Of course. But God is not a get-rich-quick scheme. No. When you give, do not do so out of obligation, nor expectations, rather do it, out of love.

People will look at you as being strange. Why do you throw away all that money? God doesn't need your money. The preacher is just getting rich on your dime. Why are you so strange? Think of all that you could but with the money you are just throwing away. The problem is, they can't see your 401 E. Your eternal retirement plan. They cannot see the treasures that you are storing up in heaven. Be strange. Give generously. Store up those treasures in heaven. You will be much happier.

Do you know Jesus as your Savior? Have you been adopted into the Family of God? If not, say this Prayer. Right now. Wherever you may be. Say it in your own words, and do not doubt in your heart. God will hear you. He will send the Spirit of Life to you. Let us Pray.

"Oh heavenly Father, Lord God. I am a sinner. I know this. I know there is nothing I can do to change that. But I know you can. I accept Jesus's sacrifice for me. I repent my sins. Please send the Spirit of Adoption into my life. Help me to get to know the real you. Save me. Please. In the name of Jesus, Amen!"

That's it. It really is that simple. Now go tell someone what you have just done. "That if you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in your heart that God hath raised him from the dead, you shall be saved." Romans 10:9. You need to find a Church that God leads you to and be Baptized the way Jesus said to be. You are now a Child of God. A New Creature. You "have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him."Colossians 3:10

If you want to tell me, comment, question, give testimonials, or just say "Hi," the Email is opntalk@gmail.com

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen. {2 Corinthians 13}

Until next time, be blessed, be a blessing, and Jesus IS Lord of all!

Happy Thanksgiving 2021

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours. Let's not make this just a one-day-a-year thing, where we have set aside this one day to remember to give God thanks. Oh, we will all, I included, say grace at the big dinner with family and friends and when people ask me what am I thankful for, I will answer this...

My life, for without Him, I would not even be here in the first place.

My Wife. Without Him, I would not have been so blessed with a Woman that supports me in any and every way. One that loves me no matter what. One that serves with me. One that I truly love.

My three beautiful children. Joshua my firstborn Son. Elijah, the Second, and of course, my Baby Girl the Princess, Maya.

My Home, when so many have lost theirs.

Truck in the Drive.

Food on the Table.

Pretty much anything and everything.

The Word of God declares.

"In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." 1 Thessalonians 5:18

I do have a question for you. If you are like me and are truly thankful to God for, well, everything, then why do you only give Him thanks once a year?? Also, is giving Him thanks in the method of speaking, merely saying it, enough, for all He has done for you?

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God." Philippians 4:6

What does this mean? It means you are a child of God. He is your Father, yet rather, He is your Daddy. He is your Daddy 24-7 7 days a week, 52 weeks a year, from the time you were adopted until the day you leave this earth to go to be with Him. Not a day a week, if you feel like going to church, and not one day a year.

God wants a one on one relationship with you. Oh yes, of course, He wants to be invited to thanksgiving day dinner, but He also wants a one on one, daily, relationship with you. He wants to be there when you get up. He wants to be there when you lay down. He wants to be there in everything in-between. The good times. The bad times. He wants to meet your needs, comfort you, laugh with you. He wants you to BE His child.

"And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful." Colossians 3:15

We should be those people that other people look at and go, "Wait, what?" Seriously, we should be those people that we have all known or have known of. Those weirdos. Those strange people. Always seemingly happy, no matter what is going on. Always ready to serve others. Always with a kind word and a warm embrace. Open and honest. Loving.

Am I saying that we should not celebrate Thanksgiving? Of course not. I will be. I do it right every year. Get as stuffed as the turkey and pass out in my chair attempting to watch something on TV.

What I AM saying is, don't forget to give thanks to God the other 364. He is not only God then, but He is God always.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING to you all!!!

Book of Isaiah, Chapter 46

 Chapter 46

The Idols of Babylon and the One True God

1 Bel bows down; Nebo stoops;

    their idols are on beasts and livestock;

these things you carry are borne

    as burdens on weary beasts.

2 They stoop; they bow down together;

    they cannot save the burden,

    but themselves go into captivity.

3 “Listen to me, O house of Jacob,

    all the remnant of the house of Israel,

who have been borne by me from before your birth,

    carried from the womb;

4 even to your old age I am he,

    and to gray hairs I will carry you.

I have made, and I will bear;

    I will carry and will save.

5 “To whom will you liken me and make me equal,

    and compare me, that we may be alike?

6 Those who lavish gold from the purse,

    and weigh out silver in the scales,

hire a goldsmith, and he makes it into a god;

    then they fall down and worship!

7 They lift it to their shoulders, they carry it,

    they set it in its place, and it stands there;

    it cannot move from its place.

If one cries to it, it does not answer

    or save him from his trouble.

8 “Remember this and stand firm,

    recall it to mind, you transgressors,

9     remember the former things of old;

for I am God, and there is no other;

    I am God, and there is none like me,

10 declaring the end from the beginning

    and from ancient times things not yet done,

saying, ‘My counsel shall stand,

    and I will accomplish all my purpose,’

11 calling a bird of prey from the east,

    the man of my counsel from a far country.

I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass;

    I have purposed, and I will do it.

12 “Listen to me, you stubborn of heart,

    you who are far from righteousness:

13 I bring near my righteousness; it is not far off,

    and my salvation will not delay;

I will put salvation in Zion,

    for Israel my glory.”

Why Are You So Strange? Time

 They can't see you.

Do you know Sally? Why is she so strange? She actually goes to church every time the door is open. She is standing outside Planned Parenthood. Do you know what she does on Friday nights? She goes down to the inner city, yeah, you know, "downtown" and hands out sandwiches to the homeless. I even heard that she has been talking to young girls in the neighborhood trying to teach them how to be ladies or something. Why is she so strange?

Why are you not? I know, I know. You do not feel you have enough time to Pray, read the Bible even, let alone go to church more than the Sunday morning check box. Friday night? That is when you relax and party with some good friends after a long week of work. Right? You just do not have the time Sally does.

There are 24 hours in the day. Most people work somewhere between 8 to 10 hours a day. Most work 5 days a week. What about the rest of the time? What you do not know about Sally is that Sally has decided to tithe her time, as well as her finances. What does that mean? She decided that if God requires only ten percent of her money, and He does, then why is it not that we should devote ten percent of our time? So since there are 24 hours in a day, she has decided to tithe 2 hours and 40 minutes to God. I know that seems like a lot. But is it? 

She prays for part of that time. She reads the Word for part of that time. She goes out and does her Father's work part of that time. I know, it seems like a lot. But how long is that show on the TV? How long is your lunch hour at work? What time do you wake up in the morning? Hobbies? Gym? Where do you invest your time?

"The grass withers, the flower fades when the breath of the Lord blows on it; surely the people are grass. The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever." Isaiah 40:7-8

What are you working for? What are you spending your precious time doing? Look at this story that Jesus shared with us about the man working hard for material gains.

“The land of a rich man produced plentifully, and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.”’ But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.” Luke 12:16-21

Jesus teaches us this lesson as well. He said this.

"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Matthew 6:19-21

Our life is so very short here on earth. The Word declares it is but a vapor. A mist. Something that is here one second, and gone the next.

"Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit” yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin." James 4:13-17

Think about this. Think about your friend or neighbor that has just passed on. How old were they? What were they doing? What were their hopes and dreams? Barring sickness and disease, and old age, for the most part, we never know when our time will come up. Jesus called the Rich man a fool and told him that he was going to die that very night. He teaches us that instead of laying up treasures for ourselves here on earth, we should be storing up treasures in heaven, so we have them later when we arrive. Jesus also teaches us that we need not fear tomorrow.

"Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble." Matthew 6:34

I want you to think about this. Seriously think about this. What would you do today, if you KNEW it was your last day on earth? Would you really be concerned with who gets voted off your show? Would it really be worth it to spend your last day on earth making another dollar? Seriously. How would you change what you do and how you are living? Would you?

I'm not trying to give you a hard time. I'm really not. If you add up the hours for a week you get 168 Which is roughly 16 hours being ten percent of that time. 16 hours out of the entire 7 day week. Is that too much for God to expect from us? Do you nearly break your knee by the speed you kneel, pray, and get up? Do you spend a minute in prayer and an hour surfing your phone? As a matter of fact, there is an app that will tell you how much time you spend on the screens. Do you even read the Bible?

I'm not telling you that you have to give God ten percent of your time every day. I'm asking you why not? I'm suggesting that maybe that is a good goal to shoot for, but let's try to spend say a minimum of 15 minutes in prayer a day. Maybe another 15 to 30 minutes in the Word. Maybe 15 more minutes doing something to be a blessing to another. Let's try to start out with 1 hour. Let's build up from there.

An hour is not that long of a time. Read more than one chapter in the Bible and you got some if not all, your reading time in for the day. Talk to God about life itself. thank Him for your life. From birth to life everlasting and all stops in between. Talk to Him about your hopes and dreams. Ask Him what He wants you to do about this or that. If you run out of things to say, try this. Remain quiet. Listen. Seriously. Listen. God may be trying to tell you something.

Why does Sally look so strange? Why will you start looking strange to others? You little weirdo. It is simple. It is because they can't see you. They can't see a child of God, serving God, and storing up treasures in heaven. It doesn't make any sense to them. More on finances next time. But it makes no sense to those who are not of God, or to those who are looking at you in a worldly sense.

"For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God." Romans 8:7-8

Be strange. Reduce your time in the world, and increase your time with God. Today may not be your last day on this earth, but then again? You never know. Jesus tells us to occupy until He returns. But He stresses the importance to do so while watching for Him.

"Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning, and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast so that they may open the door to him at once when he comes and knocks. Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will dress himself for service and have them recline at table, and he will come and serve them he comes in the second watch, or in the third, and finds them awake, blessed are those servants but know this, that if the master of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have left his house to be broken into. You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” Luke 12:35-40

Invest your time wisely. Spend time with God. If this is an area you need to work on, then work on it. Get up a little earlier. Stay up a little later. set aside at least one hour a day to start to train yourself to invest your time more wisely. More time in prayer, reading the Word and doing your Father's business.

If you have not done it yet, start with this. Say this Prayer. Right now. Wherever you may be. Say it in your own words, and do not doubt in your heart. God will hear you. He will send the Spirit of Life to you. Let us Pray.

"Oh heavenly Father, Lord God. I am a sinner. I know this. I know there is nothing I can do to change that. But I know you can. I accept Jesus's sacrifice for me. I believed He rose from the dead. I repent my sins. Please send the Spirit of Adoption into my life. Help me to get to know the real you. Save me. Please. In the name of Jesus, Amen!"

That's it. It really is that simple. Now go tell someone what you have just done. "That if you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in your heart that God hath raised him from the dead, you shall be saved." Romans 10:9. You need to find a Church that God leads you to and be Baptized the way Jesus said to be. You are now a Child of God. A New Creature. You "have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him."Colossians 3:10

If you want to tell me, or comment, question, give testimonials, or just say "Hi," the Email is opntalk@gmail.com

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen. 2 Corinthians 13

Until next time, be blessed, be a blessing, and Jesus is Lord!

Book of Isaiah, Chapter 45

 Chapter 45 

1 Thus says the Lord to his anointed, to Cyrus,

    whose right hand I have grasped,

to subdue nations before him

    and to loose the belts of kings,

to open doors before him

    that gates may not be closed:

2 “I will go before you

    and level the exalted places,

I will break in pieces the doors of bronze

    and cut through the bars of iron,

3 I will give you the treasures of darkness

    and the hoards in secret places,

that you may know that it is I, the Lord,

    the God of Israel, who call you by your name.

4 For the sake of my servant Jacob,

    and Israel my chosen,

I call you by your name,

    I name you, though you do not know me.

5 I am the Lord, and there is no other,

    besides me there is no God;

    I equip you, though you do not know me,

6 that people may know, from the rising of the sun

    and from the west, that there is none besides me;

    I am the Lord, and there is no other.

7 I form light and create darkness;

    I make well-being and create calamity;

    I am the Lord, who does all these things.

8 “Shower, O heavens, from above,

    and let the clouds rain down righteousness;

let the earth open, that salvation and righteousness may bear fruit;

    let the earth cause them both to sprout;

    I the Lord have created it.

9 “Woe to him who strives with him who formed him,

    a pot among earthen pots!

Does the clay say to him who forms it, ‘What are you making?’

    or ‘Your work has no handles’?

10 Woe to him who says to a father, ‘What are you begetting?’

    or to a woman, ‘With what are you in labor?’”

11 Thus says the Lord,

    the Holy One of Israel, and the one who formed him:

“Ask me of things to come;

    will you command me concerning my children and the work of my hands?

12 I made the earth

    and created man on it;

it was my hands that stretched out the heavens,

    and I commanded all their host.

13 I have stirred him up in righteousness,

    and I will make all his ways level;

he shall build my city

    and set my exiles free,

not for price or reward,”

    says the Lord of hosts.

The Lord, the Only Savior

14 Thus says the Lord:

“The wealth of Egypt and the merchandise of Cush,

    and the Sabeans, men of stature,

shall come over to you and be yours;

    they shall follow you;

    they shall come over in chains and bow down to you.

They will plead with you, saying:

    ‘Surely God is in you, and there is no other,

    no god besides him.’”

15 Truly, you are a God who hides himself,

    O God of Israel, the Savior.

16 All of them are put to shame and confounded;

    the makers of idols go in confusion together.

17 But Israel is saved by the Lord

    with everlasting salvation;

you shall not be put to shame or confounded

    to all eternity.

18 For thus says the Lord,

who created the heavens

    (he is God!),

who formed the earth and made it

    (he established it;

he did not create it empty,

    he formed it to be inhabited!):

“I am the Lord, and there is no other.

19 I did not speak in secret,

    in a land of darkness;

I did not say to the offspring of Jacob,

    ‘Seek me in vain.’

I the Lord speak the truth;

    I declare what is right.

20 “Assemble yourselves and come;

    draw near together,

    you survivors of the nations!

They have no knowledge

    who carry about their wooden idols,

and keep on praying to a god

    that cannot save.

21 Declare and present your case;

    let them take counsel together!

Who told this long ago?

    Who declared it of old?

Was it not I, the Lord?

    And there is no other god besides me,

a righteous God and a Savior;

    there is none besides me.

22 “Turn to me and be saved,

    all the ends of the earth!

    For I am God, and there is no other.

23 By myself I have sworn;

    from my mouth has gone out in righteousness

    a word that shall not return:

‘To me every knee shall bow,

    every tongue shall swear allegiance.’

24 “Only in the Lord, it shall be said of me,

    are righteousness and strength;

to him shall come and be ashamed

    all who were incensed against him.

25 In the Lord all the offspring of Israel

    shall be justified and shall glory.”

Why Are You So Strange? Language

They can't hear you.

Hey folks. Last time we talked about the fact that you were once of the world. Meaning, you were a child of the world and you were just as natural as everyone else. We all had a "gang" growing up. Local kids or at least one or two very close friends. We were all the same. We thought the same, did the same things and were all heading in the same direction.

Jesus put it this way,

"If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own" John 15:19

It did. You did the same things they did. You talked like them. Walked like them. You watched the same things as they did. You were them. Then something happened. God called you out. Jesus finished this statement like this.

"but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you."

You are not the same. You

"have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him."Colossians 3:10

If you said this prayer:

"Oh heavenly Father, Lord God. I am a sinner. I know this. I know there is nothing I can do to change that. But I know you can. I accept Jesus's sacrifice for me. I believed He rose from the dead. I repent my sins. Please send the Spirit of Adoption into my life. Help me to get to know the real you. Save me. Please. In the name of Jesus, Amen!"

You are now strange. So very strange. Especially to those that know you from before. Look what happened to Jesus when He tried to go home.

"And when Jesus had finished these parables, he went away from there, and coming to his hometown he taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished, and said, “Where did this man get this wisdom and these mighty works? Is not this the carpenter's son? Is not his mother called Mary? And are not his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? And are not all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?” And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and in his own household.” And he did not do many mighty works there, because of their unbelief." Matthew 13:53-58

You will get the same treatment. They will say things like "Wait, is this not, in my case, Peter? Diana's son. The guy who used to party with us. The guy that could drink any one of us under a table? The guy that is fearless and would do anything on a dare? Who does he think he is? Going to church and talking about Jesus. Like he is holier than us. Better than us? Come on, get lost."

You are now a weirdo to them. Be the weirdo. Be the Child of God you are. Start by using strange language. Learn your new language. Oh, it is not the same as the world. Do not be mislead. You are a new creature and you now should be speaking a more heavenly or righteous language.

Look what Jesus said to the religious leaders of His time on earth.

"Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word. You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me. Which one of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me? Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God.”" John 8:43-47

It is this simple.

"The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned." 1 Corinthians 2:14

Turn to Romans 8:7

"For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God."

You love your friends and family. You want them to be saved just like you. You try to share the gospel with them and some will flat out reject you and your words. They will literally get angry with you for even bringing it up to them. Why?

"For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." 1 Corinthians 1:18

They cannot even hear you. You are talking to them, meaning it from your heart, but all they hear is nonsense. They cannot accept what you are saying. You are talking about an invisible man in the sky that rewards some and throws others into eternal torture and suffering and you are telling them that Jesus came and died, yet rose again and is alive to this day. They cannot accept it because they cannot hear it. As Jesus said.

"Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God."

The reason they cannot hear you is that they are not of God. However, this does not mean we should not try. Jesus told us.

"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20

Paul wrote this in his letter to the church at Corinth.

"I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching." 1 Corinthians 4:1-2

Our language has to become all about God and His plan for us. Peter put it this way.

"but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect," 1 Peter 3:15

Yes, some people are going to think you are strange. Yes. Some will think you are a weirdo. Yes. Some will hate you for it. But this does not mean you should not do it. You are speaking POWER. You are bringing the Kindom of God near people. You may be the only Jesus some people will ever see. What do you think is better. Talk about the latest episode of "Love loss" or tell someone they can be adopted into the very family of God and be on their way to heaven?

Will some reject you? Will some hate you? Yes. Jesus explained it this way.

"Remember the word that I spoke to you: 'No servant is greater than his master.' If they persecuted Me, they will persecute you as well; if they kept My word, they will keep yours as well." John 15:20

As a child of God, you need to understand that your words have the power of God. This is why it is so important for you to follow this instruction of wisdom.

"Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak.

Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person." Colossians 4:2-6

Yes, you can discuss other things of course. But you should always be looking for the cracked door. The opportunity to share the Gospel. You should use your newfound power to build up. Not to tear down. To embrace with love. Not to attack with judgment and anger. To love. Not to hate. Be strange in your speech. Be the child of God He calls you to be.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen. 2 Corinthians 13

Until next time, be blessed, be a blessing, and Jesus is Lord!

Book of Isaiah, Chapter 44

 Chapter 44

1 “But now hear, O Jacob my servant,

    Israel whom I have chosen!

2 Thus says the Lord who made you,

    who formed you from the womb and will help you:

Fear not, O Jacob my servant,

    Jeshurun whom I have chosen.

3 For I will pour water on the thirsty land,

    and streams on the dry ground;

I will pour my Spirit upon your offspring,

    and my blessing on your descendants.

4 They shall spring up among the grass

    like willows by flowing streams.

5 This one will say, ‘I am the Lord's,’

    another will call on the name of Jacob,

and another will write on his hand, ‘The Lord's,’

    and name himself by the name of Israel.”

Besides Me There Is No God

6 Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel

    and his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts:

“I am the first and I am the last;

    besides me there is no god.

7 Who is like me? Let him proclaim it.

    Let him declare and set it before me,

since I appointed an ancient people.

    Let them declare what is to come, and what will happen.

8 Fear not, nor be afraid;

    have I not told you from of old and declared it?

    And you are my witnesses!

Is there a God besides me?

    There is no Rock; I know not any.”

The Folly of Idolatry

9 All who fashion idols are nothing, and the things they delight in do not profit. Their witnesses neither see nor know, that they may be put to shame. 10 Who fashions a god or casts an idol that is profitable for nothing? 11 Behold, all his companions shall be put to shame, and the craftsmen are only human. Let them all assemble, let them stand forth. They shall be terrified; they shall be put to shame together.

12 The ironsmith takes a cutting tool and works it over the coals. He fashions it with hammers and works it with his strong arm. He becomes hungry, and his strength fails; he drinks no water and is faint. 13 The carpenter stretches a line; he marks it out with a pencil.[b] He shapes it with planes and marks it with a compass. He shapes it into the figure of a man, with the beauty of a man, to dwell in a house. 14 He cuts down cedars, or he chooses a cypress tree or an oak and lets it grow strong among the trees of the forest. He plants a cedar and the rain nourishes it. 15 Then it becomes fuel for a man. He takes a part of it and warms himself; he kindles a fire and bakes bread. Also he makes a god and worships it; he makes it an idol and falls down before it. 16 Half of it he burns in the fire. Over the half he eats meat; he roasts it and is satisfied. Also he warms himself and says, “Aha, I am warm, I have seen the fire!” 17 And the rest of it he makes into a god, his idol, and falls down to it and worships it. He prays to it and says, “Deliver me, for you are my god!”

18 They know not, nor do they discern, for he has shut their eyes, so that they cannot see, and their hearts, so that they cannot understand. 19 No one considers, nor is there knowledge or discernment to say, “Half of it I burned in the fire; I also baked bread on its coals; I roasted meat and have eaten. And shall I make the rest of it an abomination? Shall I fall down before a block of wood?” 20 He feeds on ashes; a deluded heart has led him astray, and he cannot deliver himself or say, “Is there not a lie in my right hand?”

The Lord Redeems Israel

21 Remember these things, O Jacob,

    and Israel, for you are my servant;

I formed you; you are my servant;

    O Israel, you will not be forgotten by me.

22 I have blotted out your transgressions like a cloud

    and your sins like mist;

return to me, for I have redeemed you.

23 Sing, O heavens, for the Lord has done it;

    shout, O depths of the earth;

break forth into singing, O mountains,

    O forest, and every tree in it!

For the Lord has redeemed Jacob,

    and will be glorified in Israel.

24 Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer,

    who formed you from the womb:

“I am the Lord, who made all things,

    who alone stretched out the heavens,

    who spread out the earth by myself,

25 who frustrates the signs of liars

    and makes fools of diviners,

who turns wise men back

    and makes their knowledge foolish,

26 who confirms the word of his servant

    and fulfills the counsel of his messengers,

who says of Jerusalem, ‘She shall be inhabited,’

    and of the cities of Judah, ‘They shall be built,

    and I will raise up their ruins’;

27 who says to the deep, ‘Be dry;

    I will dry up your rivers’;

28 who says of Cyrus, ‘He is my shepherd,

    and he shall fulfill all my purpose’;

saying of Jerusalem, ‘She shall be built,’

    and of the temple, ‘Your foundation shall be laid.’”

Why Are You So Strange?

Are you a child of God? 

You are weird. Why are you so strange? Why is it people get nervous when you come around? Well? If you have accepted the Spirit of adoption, you are no longer a child of the world, but you are now a child of God. You are no longer a citizen of this world, but you are now a stranger in a strange land.

Let's start off by stating this fact. I understand some may become offended right from the start. However, that does not make it any less true. We are NOT all God's children. We are all created by God, but only by accepting God's plan for salvation can you become a child of God. Genesis 1:26-27

"Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness."

Stop a second. Who? God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness." Who is He talking to? The Word, or the Son, and The Holy Spirit. Don't believe me? Look here.

"The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters." Genesis 1:2

In the beginning, God. The Spirit of God hovered over the face of the deep. Or of the waters. Look at this.

"And God said,"

Over and over again, "And God said." It was the Word of God, that created all things. Turn to John 1:1-3

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was at the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made."

A little bit far we read this. Verse 14

"And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth."

Jesus. So we see, from the beginning, God the Father, Jesus the Son, and The Holy Spirit have been and are, and will always be. Three, yet one. We are made in the image of God. Our mind, intelligence, and emotions, ETC, after God the Father. Our flesh, our body that allows us to operate in this physical realm after the Son, Jesus the Christ. Lastly, our essence, our spirit, that will live on forever, after the Hold Spirit of God. We are three, yet we are one.

Then came the fall. When Adam, took all that authority, remember this.

"And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them."

Adam took this authority that God gave him and gave it over to Satan. From that day on, we ceased being automatically born into the Family of God and are now born into the family of the devil. We are all God's creation. Yet we are NOT all God's children. There is only one way to be a child of God, and that is Jesus.

"If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you. So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him." Romans 8:5-17

Jesus told us this.

"Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”" John 3:3

He went on to explain it this way.

"Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit." John 3: 5-6

Peter put it this way

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time." 1 Peter 1:3-5

Then in 1 Peter 1:22-23

"Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God"

Jesus is the Word {John1} Jesus is the Bread of life {John 6:35}, Jesus is the Living Water {John 7:38} Jesus is the door {John 10:7}, Jesus is the Good Shepard {John 10:11} Jesus is the Way {John 14:6}

There is no other way. Jesus IS God. Without Him, you cannot possibly get to God, because Jesus is already God. That would be like someone saying they want to talk to me but do not believe I am me. In other words, they want to talk to Peter, but they do not want to talk to Peter. You get the point.

So?

"That if you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in your heart that God hath raised him from the dead, you shall be saved." Romans 10:9.

To BE a child of God. say this Prayer. Right now. Wherever you may be. Say it in your own words, and do not doubt in your heart. God will hear you. He will send the Spirit of Life to you. Let us Pray.

"Oh heavenly Father, Lord God. I am a sinner. I know this. I know there is nothing I can do to change that. But I know you can. I accept Jesus's sacrifice for me. I believed He rose from the dead. I repent my sins. Please send the Spirit of Adoption into my life. Help me to get to know the real you. Save me. Please. In the name of Jesus,  Amen!"

That is it. You are now a child of God. Yes. It really is just that simple. Now you should find a church that God leads you to and be baptized the way Jesus said to be. You are no longer of this world. You are a new creature. You "have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him."Colossians 3:10

You are now citizens of Heaven itself.

"So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God," Ephesians 2:19

Which means you are no longer citizens of this world. Jesus said this.

"If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you." John 15:19

Now you are going to get strange. At least to many that are still of this world. Why? Because they cannot even possibly understand. They are strangers and aliens of Heaven. More on this next time. For now? Be strange. Be weird. BE the child of God He calls you to be.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen. 2 Corinthians 13

Until next time, be blessed, be a blessing, and Jesus is Lord!

Book of Isaiah, Chapter 43

 Chapter 43

Israel's Only Savior

1 But now thus says the Lord,

he who created you, O Jacob,

    he who formed you, O Israel:

“Fear not, for I have redeemed you;

    I have called you by name, you are mine.

2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;

    and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;

when you walk through fire you shall not be burned,

    and the flame shall not consume you.

3 For I am the Lord your God,

    the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.

I give Egypt as your ransom,

    Cush and Seba in exchange for you.

4 Because you are precious in my eyes,

    and honored, and I love you,

I give men in return for you,

    peoples in exchange for your life.

5 Fear not, for I am with you;

    I will bring your offspring from the east,

    and from the west I will gather you.

6 I will say to the north, Give up,

    and to the south, Do not withhold;

bring my sons from afar

    and my daughters from the end of the earth,

7 everyone who is called by my name,

    whom I created for my glory,

    whom I formed and made.”

8 Bring out the people who are blind, yet have eyes,

    who are deaf, yet have ears!

9 All the nations gather together,

    and the peoples assemble.

Who among them can declare this,

    and show us the former things?

Let them bring their witnesses to prove them right,

    and let them hear and say, It is true.

10 “You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord,

    “and my servant whom I have chosen,

that you may know and believe me

    and understand that I am he.

Before me no god was formed,

    nor shall there be any after me.

11 I, I am the Lord,

    and besides me there is no savior.

12 I declared and saved and proclaimed,

    when there was no strange god among you;

    and you are my witnesses,” declares the Lord, “and I am God.

13 Also henceforth I am he;

    there is none who can deliver from my hand;

    I work, and who can turn it back?”

14 Thus says the Lord,

    your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel:

“For your sake I send to Babylon

    and bring them all down as fugitives,

    even the Chaldeans, in the ships in which they rejoice.

15 I am the Lord, your Holy One,

    the Creator of Israel, your King.”

16 Thus says the Lord,

    who makes a way in the sea,

    a path in the mighty waters,

17 who brings forth chariot and horse,

    army and warrior;

they lie down, they cannot rise,

    they are extinguished, quenched like a wick:

18 “Remember not the former things,

    nor consider the things of old.

19 Behold, I am doing a new thing;

    now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?

I will make a way in the wilderness

    and rivers in the desert.

20 The wild beasts will honor me,

    the jackals and the ostriches,

for I give water in the wilderness,

    rivers in the desert,

to give drink to my chosen people,

21     the people whom I formed for myself

that they might declare my praise.

22 “Yet you did not call upon me, O Jacob;

    but you have been weary of me, O Israel!

23 You have not brought me your sheep for burnt offerings,

    or honored me with your sacrifices.

I have not burdened you with offerings,

    or wearied you with frankincense.

24 You have not bought me sweet cane with money,

    or satisfied me with the fat of your sacrifices.

But you have burdened me with your sins;

    you have wearied me with your iniquities.

25 “I, I am he

    who blots out your transgressions for my own sake,

    and I will not remember your sins.

26 Put me in remembrance; let us argue together;

    set forth your case, that you may be proved right.

27 Your first father sinned,

    and your mediators transgressed against me.

28 Therefore I will profane the princes of the sanctuary,

    and deliver Jacob to utter destruction

    and Israel to reviling.