A Blog to All of Us and the Church

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When we think about renewing things, what comes to mind. I remember the long lines we used to stand in to renew our license, y'all remember those lines......at the back of Kroger stores too. Maybe it was just deciding that you were just "sick and tired of being sick and tired" and you are not going to do whatever it is you have been doing anymore?

New Years is right around the corner and maybe you are looking at the New Year's resolutions of past and future?

Kay and I have been married 31 years now and on our 25th anniversary we renewed our vows.....well I needed too, not Kay, I had not done a very good job keeping them.....she always has!

When reading Romans 12:1-2 Paul was talking about "renewing" our minds;

Here this is what God's Word says 

"Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."

If we have actually started pondering on that message of renewing our minds....that is a step in the right direction. I mean this, we confess to have invited Jesus into our lives, some of us might have different amounts of HIM living with in us, right? But is that right?

When I asked HIM into my heart, and asked HIM into my heart and asked HIM into my heart again and over and over again....why did it take HIM so long? Is Jesus deaf? He wasn't listening? He turned HIS back on me? Nope!

Have you ever giving HIM something or asked HIM to remove something in your life or asked for HIM to come into your heart.....and HE did not respond like YOU thought HE should? Why do you think that is? HE IS LISTENING, HE WILL NOT FORSAKE US (that means that HE will not turn HIS back on us). HE takes what we truly give to HIM, so where do you think the problem might be? Could it be...just maybe it could be us? What are you holding onto? He is hearing you, but is your mouth just moving?

Yes I asked HIM into my heart, but HE can not dwell in such trash of unforgiveness, or lust of the flesh or lust of money, or anger.....some of us are just so mean!! Remember in Matthew 5:23-24 it says:  

“Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister (kids, wife, husband, friends, co-worker, ex-wife, ex-husband, etc...) has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift."

Which part of that is difficult to understand? Does that tell us that HE sees our mouths moving....however our minds and our hearts are saying something different? Maybe we are mad at GOD...Do we want to die with that on your heart and mind?? I had to give it up! Give it to HIM.

I went and looked in the mirror and there was this person looking back at me....Do you remember in the New Testament

2 Corinthians 5:17 says: 

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here". 

 You remember that? Well have you?

In all the addictions I have had, why did HE not take all of them when I asked HIM too? MY HEART WAS NOT READY, MY MIND NEEDED TO BE RENEWED!

We all say we believe, right? We want to....but where is our faith? Where was my Faith? Do we have that "mustard seed" faith? Jesus said that was all we needed.....how about the size of a half of a grain of sand? I said I did.....but my actions said something different! What about yours?

Satan can attack your mind, he does that everyday with some of the stupidest thoughts! He puts these images in my mind, he wants me to start playing those old tapes. Listen to this....We can weight those thoughts by Jesus' example.

Look at 1 Corinthians 13:4-13  

" Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

  Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.  For we know in part and we prophesy in part,  but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me.  For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

  And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love."

Other words can you see love in it, is it up lifting, what about inspiring, can you see the fruits of the spirit as Paul spoke about in 

Galatians 5:22-23  

 " But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control...."

 Pastor Dr. Jo Jo Thomas taught me this; 

"GOD can read your mind, HE knows our every thought, amen? Satan can not read our minds!!! He will puts thoughts in there......however he has not an idea if we are paying him attention until we speak that thought or act that thought out! When we act it out, or speak it.....who gets the glory?" Are your fruits growing or are they rotten?

Are we good to be around, or are we as Beth Moore says, toxic?

We have to RENEW our minds everyday! We all have to safeguard what we speak......we were created in the imagine of who? Who spoke this world into existence...Who climbed on that Cross? Where can we find true freedom? In Jesus. So please remember this What we speak on will be who we are and it will be giving Glory to either God Almighty or ?????

I remember how many times I was so selfish with my action. My actions so often said..."I will keep doing this until I am dead" type attitude...it was about me when I did as if I did not care about my kids, or their kids, about my wife, what if Jesus felt that way when it came time to be nailed to that cross for you and me? IF YOU HAVE NOT HEARD ANYTHING ELSE....LISTEN TO THIS.....How do we think that makes them feel....does that make them feel like they are more important or less important? Ask my kids how by me not quitting the stuff I was doing....if I put value on them? Who was getting the Glory?

Ask yourself this; would I do that at the alter?

• Would I drink that at the alter?
• Would I take those pills?
• Would I poor mouth all the time?
• Would I wear that dress, or that rude shirt?
• When I am standing before my Maker would I offer HIM any of these things to get drunk or high with me?
• Would I dance or sing that song? 
• Would I invite HIM to sit beside me at the computer and look at the stuff I look at?
• Would I watch what I am watching on TV? 
• Would I invite HIM to the movies?
• Would I cuss at HIM or in front of HIM?

Do you think HE would sit there and listen to that language....HIS name being used in vein? 

Maybe HE hears our language? 

Let me ask this question "If all that is OK...then why do we feel we should act a different way or dress a different way when we go to Church???"

Where there is LIGHT, there CAN BE NO DARKNESS!

I am as messed up as a soup sandwich too....some days it is full of making amends, admitting I was wrong, asking for forgiveness and offer forgiveness, taking ownership of my junk!

We can say we believe and people hear us.....but we are being judge by how we act, carry ourselves, our lifestyles....all that tells folks who we really are....so what have you become?

Who is important in your Life....it shows and they know it. One day we will ALL be before HIM and we are all going to responsible for our actions.....what if HE asked about the baggage in our lives that we either choose to pass it onto our kids or we put a STOP to it? Don't help Satan attack our kids!! FIGHT for THEM!!!

We need to pray. We need to Read HIS Word.....Don't think we can play around with the devil without renewing your mind, body, heart and soul.....he will get it if we don't Have Jesus in your Heart!!

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 says:

" Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor:  If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered,  two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken."

I know, he had me for the longest time and continues to lie to me every breathing moment, I tried to fight him alone...no help, no accountability partner....did not work for me...how is working for you?

He wants to tell me I do not measure up, I am not worth anything, I should stay in bed..........what's he saying to you?

More of HIS steps and less of mine

Bobby