The Love That Saves

 

"Lord, I know my love could never be enough to save them--but I know without a doubt that Yours would."

Have you ever known a lost soul that led you to pray that specific prayer? Someone who touched your heart in such a way that left you with a sense of desperation and determination. 

Maybe it's a friend or a loved one. Or an acquaintance who left a powerful first impression. Watching people in the world today can be truly heartwrenching as so many are oblivious to what waits for them in eternity as they sit comfortably in their sin. You stand by as an outsider and watch as their life trends downward, traveling down that broken and wayward path. 

Knowing that while your love could never save them, the love of Christ is their only hope. They need to know of and experience the power of His mercy and grace; the freedom found in the forgiveness of sin.  

I've had this thought on my heart for some time and I kept thinking about Christ and all of the rejection that He experienced (and still does)

He loves every sinner, no matter what they have done or who they are.....yet there are so many in the world who choose to repeatedly reject Him. The world encourages us to look for happiness and fulfillment in all of the wrong things. They are living in filth and darkness with no thoughts of leaving it behind.

Maybe you're situated in a place of still praying for that lost family member or trying to witness to them openly. The best (yet sometimes the most difficult thing to do) is to be honest with them in sharing the truth of what an eternity spent without Christ would entail.

How does the Bible describe Hell?

Eternal Separation: The continual rejection of Jesus Christ will eventually lead to eternal separation from God, in fiery flames of torment forever without the hope and peace that only He can give. 

"And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire." (Revelation 20:15 KJV)

Eternal Suffering: This could be interchangeable with my other point, but it's important to double down on the fact that Hell is not a place where everyone is having a party and it is a VERY real place. Hollywood loves to either glamorize it or cut out its existence altogether, but you don't have to go there. You have the choice, and when it comes to eternity, that's the most important decision you will ever make.

"And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name." (Revelation 14:11 KJV)

Eternal Sorrow: Continual rejection of Christ will lead to an eternity spent in eternal sorrow. The Bible tells us specifically that there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth---pointing to rememberance of the rejection and sorrowful self reflected anger and regret. 

"And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth" (Luke 13:42 KJV)

"There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out." (Luke 13:28 KJV)

If you're in a place of worrying about someone you love, keep praying for them & keep doing everything in your power to witness to them and to be an example of who Christ is in their lives. 

Or maybe, you're lost and searching or in need of something to wake you up. Honestly, you won't find the peace you're looking for in this world. You'll never know what fullness of joy means because rejecting Him will keep you from all of that. Your heart will forever feel empty and you'll never know of the long-lasting comfort that He can give, even on the best of your worst days.

All of the love in the world---every ounce of good that you do would never be enough to save you---but Jesus will if you simply call upon Him.

He doesn't care about coming up into your mess, the very place where you've been hiding away. He wants to meet you where you are. He'll come sit with you and gladly come into your life if you will ask Him to save you and to come into your heart.

For His love is the love that saves. 

"But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8 KJV)

"For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved" (Romans 10:13 KJV)

 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." (Romans 10:9-10 KJV)

Now Is The Time (Part 1)

Have you ever thought about what a precious gift salvation truly is? 

The Easter celebrations may be over, but I am still thinking about the sacrifice made for all of us on that old rugged cross and the hope that one can have by accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior.

I've thought a lot about life throughout the past few weeks and how short our time on this Earth truly is. I still can't believe I'm now thirty-three. It seems as if I were celebrating my sixth birthday only yesterday.

My heart immediately travels to those who are still living out their lives without Christ; those lost souls who are without help and without hope.

I've heard and read stories of so many people who have made promises to get saved once their lives got better. Someday, they'd have it all figured out...

Only that someday would never come.

I think of the level of rejection that Christ experienced (something none of us could ever comprehend) and how much of it He still goes through today. He felt that YOU were worth dying for. The depth of His love remains limitless. His compassions fail not and His mercies are new each and every day

Just know that life is never figured out, and no one ever has it all together. Don't wait around for that someday that will never come. Jesus loves you more than you could ever imagine and wants to save you from an eternity spent without Him.

Tomorrow is never promised. 

Maybe you've felt that tug on your heart that just won't go away. Maybe you're ashamed of what you've done or where you've been. 

Jesus doesn't care about that. 

He loves you beyond fault.

And there's nothing sweeter than His mercy and grace. 

Now is the time to surrender your heart to Jesus, for another opportunity of tomorrow may never come.

"Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away." (James 4:14)

(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.) (2 Corinthians 6:2)

The Building Of Your Life

I wrote and published a New Years themed message earlier in the month that never felt as though it was finishable; following the Lord's continual tug on my heart to remove "What's Weighing You Down?" from Molly's Zone, He placed such a special thothought on my heart that I knew couldn't be left unwritten. 

The simple thought of buildings and the process of creating them exists as the foundational aspect of today's message....the mentioning of the word foundation especially carries significance because the structure will not stand without a solid foundation and you can't even begin to build it without following a blueprint. 

Have you ever attempted to put something together without following instructions only to be met with confusion, frustration, and eventual disaster? 

I began thinking about the DIY attitude that we all carry more than we'd care to admit (my own guilty heart is included on SO many levels) 

It's too easy to find ourselves wanting God to follow along with all of our plans, instead of humbly choosing to follow His. 

The message He gave me to write and share today is such an important reminder for every day; everyone needs it, including me, and I hope the thought speaks to your own heart as much as it did to mine. 

Why am I telling you this? 

Because there's SO much tragedy that can result from not following His plan for our lives. Jesus gave His life for ALL and He continually seeks to save those who are lost and on their way to Hell. (If you do not know Him as Savior, please do not shrug off the seriousness of dealing with eternity. Hell is a VERY real place.) 

What would a building look like if no blueprint was followed? What would your life look like if you didn't follow Jesus? 

The building of your life would forever possess an unsteady foundation that would never be able to withstand those circumstances 'that you never saw coming'; it's easy to be happy with those self made plans when it seems as though every detail about life is falling into place, but what happens when it all starts to fall apart in your hands?

A foundation of faith is ALWAYS important to have, but especially carries significance in times of trouble. Faith is what keeps you moving when you're unable to walk. Faith is what holds you steady when you are left without enough strength to stand. Faith is what helps you to hold onto joy through those moments where happiness is nowhere to be found. 

 

“And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.” (Matthew 17:20)

A life lived without Jesus will forever lack a clear sense of direction or purpose; the youth of today comes into my thoughts as I'm writing this out. We live in a Tik Tok influencer obsessed society. Lost souls are aimlessly and relentlessly searching for the sort of peaceful satisfaction that the world will never be able to give them. 

"For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" (Mark 8:36)

"And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it." (Matthew 10:38-39)

Living without a foundation of faith & having no sense of direction or purpose will slowly but surely pave the way for the eventual destruction of whatever you've built. As we're continuing into the month of January (we are officially half-way through) think about what you want to build on in the coming weeks and months ahead. I heard this thought on a favorite podcast recently and it truly resonated with me: 

Every day the Lord has given to us should be given back to Him. Let us not allow those days to be wasted.❤️

"Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:" (Matthew 7:24)

What Are You Eating?

 

We are truly living through dangerous days. Our surroundings are filled with unprecedented levels of uncertainty and unfamiliarity, and the continual presence of societal poison has now been thrown out into the open for the entire world to see.

The staggering amount seems quite overwhelming. Studies show that most of what we consume daily is considered harmful. The fast-food industry continues to crumble as many are now avoiding what they're selling. 

That only places the foundation for my message today----the nasty ingredients found in what we are consuming don't only exist in our edible food---they are within everything we take in through our senses---the music we listen to, the television shows we're streaming, and those little devices that occupy so much of our time (that last part was written from personal experience)

One quick Google search about the dangers of processed foods will show their harmful effects on our bodies. While we should care about our physical condition, we must also remember to be diligent about our spiritual health. 

It's so easy to drift away from what is healthy for us; spiritual warfare surrounds us and those areas are continually under attack. 

How can what we eat spiritually open the door to darkness? 

Where do the problems begin to surface?

Through The Condition of Our Heart:The spiritual condition of the heart is reflected in every aspect of life. The world often encourages you to 'follow your heart' but the Bible warns us that the heart is deceitful and that we are to keep it with all diligence. 

The Webster's 1828 Dictionary defines the word 'keep' as   "to preserve from falling, or from danger; to protect; to guard, or to sustain." 

Failing to guard the heart will leave it diseased and endangered. Jesus loves you and His greatest desire is for you to be healthy. We all need a check-up on the heart from time to time. How is yours looking?

"The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?" (Jeremiah 17:9 KJV)

"Keep thy heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life." (Proverbs 4:23 KJV)

Through The Condition of Our Minds: . You'll find so much about the condition of the mind throughout Scripture. It's often said that if you live without filling the mind with the truth of God's precious Word, the world will never fail to fill it with thoughts that are rooted in darkness, fear, and doubt. Perhaps you are facing an uncomfortable or uncertain situation at the moment. Pray about it, ask the Lord to calm you down, and think about what His Word says. He's always by your side and He'll always be there. All you need to do is trust Him.

"Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee." (Deuteronomy 31:6 KJV)

"For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." (2 Timothy 1:7 KJV)

Through the Condition of Our Rest: The world is surely not a place of peaceful rest; endless turmoil surrounds us, and the power of spiritual warfare can keep you tossing and turning (literally and figuratively). Looking to Jesus will keep you resting in His perfect peace. This powerful truth is short and sweet, but it's so simple. There's never been a problem that God couldn't solve, and there's never been a battle that He couldn't conquer.

"I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep; for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety." (Psalm 4:8 KJV) 

Don't buy into the poisonous garbage of this world. Choosing to fill yourself with it will forever leave you hungry and without proper nourishment.

You may get what you want, but you'll never find what you need. 

It's often said that you are what you eat.

What are you eating today?

Questions And Answers (Revised Version)

 I have grown to love Bible study SO much more throughout the past few months. (I love listening to Scott Pauley's Enjoying the Journey as well...I started listening to his podcast in September.)

I have loved to learn since I was little and there's so much wisdom to be found all throughout God's Word. And because we are human, we will never have the capacity to know it all. 

(Sometimes we DO think we know it all, or at least I know I do.)

There will always be questions that run through our minds that we might not have the answers for, and that can be disheartening. Sometimes the process of waiting comes into play and that's never really easy. (That's another thought for another day)

It can sometimes to be difficult to accept that we don't know everything, but that there's Someone who DOES. 

His Word not only provides answers to the countless questions that we hold in our hearts, but it also has the power to breathe so many good things into our life: it builds our hope, strengthens our patience, and ultimately grows our trust in Him.

"He that getteth wisdom loveth his own soul: he that keepeth understanding shall find good." (Proverbs 19:8 KJV)

Ready, Waiting, And Watching (Revised "Ready And Waiting")

  The Lord placed a thought on my heart several weeks ago and I just couldn't wait  to share. As we're continuing along on the journey through unprecedented and unpredictable days, the act of preparing and being prepared for anything is a MUST.

It is SUPER important to have ourselves ready, waiting, and watching for the Lord to return. The Bible says no man knoweth the day, nor the hour.....but would you be ready if that moment were right now?

I keep thinking about when I'm preparing to go somewhere. I have cerebral palsy, so sometimes I'm sort of a professional doddler. I take my good ol sweet time even when I shouldn't. 

But I have learned to move it along when necessary. I take my shower and get dressed long before it is time for me to be somewhere. Those extra moments that are sometimes left to spare are spent either tidying up an area in the house or simply watching out the front door in the event that I am waiting for someone to come and pick me up.

I have made the mistake of cleaning before getting myself dressed in times past and I was caught in a state of not being ready AT ALL when it was time to leave for wherever I was going. 

That's never a good predicament to find yourself in. 

It is SUPER important to be sure that you are already ready and waiting on the Lord in these last days. If you've never accepted Christ as your Lord and Savior, please, don't wait around.

Don't worry about the mess you're trying to clean up.

Life is messy, and no one is perfect, nobody will ever have it all together. 

Be ready and waiting for Him to come; the time is drawing nearer with every day that passes. 

Don't worry...

Jesus will help you clean up your mess while you wait. 

 Just don't allow yourself to be caught unprepared. 

Be ready.

Be waiting.

Be watching.

"But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father. Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is. For the Son of Man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch. Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch." (Mark 13:32-37 KJV)

The Season To Start

How is it almost November already?!

It truly feels as though September vanished into thin air without a trace. And weren't we just at the beginning of October?

I have not had the opportunity to blog since unfortunately coming down with COVID in the middle of September and my heart is SO happy to finally share more of everything with you----my upcoming projects were understandably placed on hold.

I am so thankful to the Lord for His continuous love and care in every circumstance—even those detours that we don't quite understand. 

The passage of time presents us with numerous trials that were never meant to be fought alone; Christ gives us the power to have victory over all if we choose to trust in Him. If you've never trusted in Christ for salvation--you're missing out on something truly precious! 

The good news is that with the arrival of each new day, there are countless opportunities for new seasons to begin---life is ever-changing, but God is the One who never changes. 

Early September saw me celebrating the ninth anniversary of my cherished blog, Molly's Zone with a thought that was entitled Running The Race. I loved how the Lord placed that analogy on my heart for that particular post and I felt compelled to continue with that theme today by first presenting a personal challenge:

When will you be ready to start running your race?

It's important to note that while every good race eventually reaches a finish line---the runner must first decide to approach its starting point. While placing together my anniversary post, I couldn't help but think about those who haven't yet trusted in Christ as their Savior----those souls who are lost and on their way to Hell solely because they have never approached the starting point of their personal relationship with Him.

There are a multitude of reasons why someone may be hesitant to come to Christ, and whoever reads this, I want you to know that you're not alone in what you're going through. So many are facing similar daily struggles. Maybe the Lord has tugged on your heart for the longest time concerning eternity, and you just don't know what to say to Him. Prayers never need to be perfectly polished; they only require a willing heart.

One popular worldly belief is that people are strong enough to endure every season on their own; asking for help is often seen through the lens of the world as admitting defeat or showing weakness. Friend, leaning on Jesus through every season is NEVER the wrong thing to do. Humans are weak beings and we ALL need Jesus. By showing Him our imperfect weakness, we are then given His perfect strength to endure and embrace the challenges that come our way. 

"And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me." (2 Corinthians 12:9 KJV)

Another popular worldly assumption is that someone is good enough or worthy enough for salvation by their own merit---society today continues to submerge itself into the culture of self-love and a sense of entitlement---while on the flip side, some find themselves drowning in depression or anxiety--maybe because of sickness or tragedy or just the general state of our surroundings---these truly are perilous times. Some feel as though they have committed sins that are much too powerful for Jesus to forgive. 

Your soul will never be too lost to be saved and your sin will never be too much to be forgiven, my friend.

“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” (Romans 10:9 KJV)

"For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved". (Romans 10:13 KJV)

Come and stand with Christ at the starting point of your race and He will lead you through to victory in ALL the seasons that life brings---the decision that deals with eternity should never be taken lightly and it is one that you will never regret. Jesus loves you beyond all fault and is seeking to save you from an eternity spent in the fiery pit of Hell and the agonizing pain of becoming forever separated from Him.

The world may leave you feeling empty and alone.

But Jesus never will, my friend.

"A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity." (Proverbs 17:17 KJV)

"The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." (2 Peter 3:9 KJV)

Are you ready to come to Him and start running your race?

The Love of Money vs. The Love of God

 

It will always be better to have a little bit with Jesus than a whole lot without Him. 

Friend, there's nothing in this world worth more than a personal relationship with Jesus, and certainly nothing more precious. Living requires money and yes, it IS a blessing when it helps to meet our needs, but no material possession is sweeter than knowing and following Jesus. Nothing fills up us more than than trusting in and leaning on Him, and nothing else ever will. 

It's easy to become consumed with the love of money, but it's always better to be swept away by the love of Jesus. It provides such sweet contentment, while the love of money always leaves room for complaint. 

Just want to share a few verses with you today:

"Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues without right. A man's heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps." (Proverbs 16: 8-9)

"For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows."  (1 Timothy 6:10)

"But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out." (1 Timothy 6-7)

Be Aware of The Pitfalls

    I think we could all come to the collective agreement that the times we are experiencing are truly unprecedented. Everything about our world has grown to be strangely unfamiliar. The unbelievable change in the hearts of some humans continually renders me speechless---the inherent respect for authority and the regard for wisdom have been lost amongst this generation.

    My adjective of choice when describing the crumbling state of our society will forever be 'endangered' because we are living through dangerous circumstances that are ever-changing---there are three core pitfalls that have continually plagued humanity throughout the ages, yet each have grown to be more noticeable in a rather short amount of time---the spirit of entitlement, the presence of distraction and overwhelming confusion will be at the heart of my message today. 

The word 'pitfall' was placed on my heart during a recent Sunday morning ride to church. As I was glancing out the passenger side window, a vehicle had somehow fallen into a ditch. The person was on their phone calling for help and two people were standing in their front yard watching---I'm sure wondering what all the commotion was about.

Mom and I concluded that the person must have been distracted while driving that morning--perhaps texting on their phone as many people do even though they shouldn't. Other times while on the road, I've witnessed someone deliberately using the wrong lane to make a turn and cringed at the obvious confusion of those behind the wheel while at a stoplight.

These are all blatant examples of the aforementioned pitfalls that we can all easily fall into if careful vigilance is not applied to our lives daily--- however, this message is specifically for those who have never accepted Christ.

 I want to spend the rest of today diving deep into the definitions of all three pitfalls while providing an applicable thought on each of them. The remainder of the message won't waste any more time--and my prayer is that it will be helpful to whoever reads this today.

• The Spirit of Entitlement:  I've never before witnessed another time of such entitlement within our world; so many are choosing to live solely for themselves---behaving with selfish intent all while disregarding any presence of rule or order; have you ever personally met someone who lived as though they knew it all? An awful lot of people are making decisions before consulting the One who truly knows all. This particular point is such an important lesson to hold onto. Walking around with a haughty spirit is never wise.  Live humbly and trust in the Lord to direct your path. He knows what's best for you. 

          "Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall." (Proverbs 16:18 KJV) 

            "A man's heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps." (Proverbs 16:9 KJV)

• The Presence of  Distraction:  Another pitfall that is well worth mentioning is the presence of distraction that so easily presents itself when we least expect it. I could write SO much on this one point---distraction is truly everywhere you look, in every direction. Our minds should stay on all things eternal---especially if you're lost, it's important to think about your eternal place of residence and to seek the Lord while He may be found. You should never allow the temporary pleasures of this world to keep you from knowing and experiencing the wonderful peace that only He can provide.

            "Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee. Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established. Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil." (Proverbs 4:25-27 KJV)

"Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon." (Isaiah 55:6-7 KJV) 

• The Overwhelming Confusion: We are living through a time of such overwhelming confusion; one cannot watch the news reports without questioning every aspect. Could we really trust that the world will be honest with us? What is the truth and where can we find it? The truth will forever come through God's perfect Word. There's no greater wisdom to be found; God is NOT the author of confusion. His Word will forever be a light amid overwhelming darkness; the greatest source of peace through tribulation.

"For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints." (1st Corinthians 14:33 KJV) 

        There's SO much more on my heart to write as part of this message, but I will simply end it all by inviting you to allow Christ into your life if you've never accepted Him as your Savior. 

Maybe you've fallen into a ditch and desperately need a helpful hand to pull you out of the pit. You can always count on Jesus; all you need to do is call upon His name.

"For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved" (Romans 10:13 KJV)

"That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." (Romans 10:9 KJV)

    

What Your Heart Needs

God's Word will never fail to provide you with what your heart truly needs. 

The world has grown to be such an unfamiliar and uncomfortable place to be. The cost of living continues to climb, becoming more expensive with each passing day. 

(The price of groceries is truly insane!) 

My mother and I originally decided to cut back on our spending when it came to our food supply as were innocently trying to save some money. (Because what else isn't costly these days?) 

We have since abandoned that particular strategy as it was causing SO many problems for us both---vitamin deficiencies that made our bodies weak and our minds unhealthy. 

Even in the midst of so much wordly turmoil, I am immensely thankful that God faithfully provides whatever we need whenever we may need it. 

While it's always important to protect your physical body from becoming undernourished, both your heart and mind are continuously and desperately in need of nourishment from God's Word every single day. 

Oh how dangerously easy it is to think we can get by with only eating once a day or skipping meals entirely. 

Sadly, it's also easy to view our time with the Lord in that way too if we aren't careful. 

Any time spent with the Lord whether it be through prayer or Bible study remains SUPER important for our lives on a daily, yet it's common to want to push it aside without taking into consideration the harm it will cause. 

Simply because we're in a rush to tackle our to do list, or we're having a day where we feel okay, so we think we don't need Him. 

That way of thinking will end up costing you every ounce of everything good He has ever given you---robbing your soul of its peace, joy, and hope. 

You'll end up half-dead spiritually speaking and that's never worth the time you think you're saving. Nothing is more valuable than time that is spent with the Lord. 

Whether it is just to acknowledge Him in praise for just a little while, to ask Him for help, or to take the time to sit down and do a deep study of His Word----whatever time you spend will be worth it! 

"My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh." (Proverbs 4:20-22 KJV) 

The Remedy of Salvation

There is always endless beauty to be discovered as the seasons truly begin to turn; to me, nothing is prettier than those wild and wonderful West Virginia fall months.

As much as I am loving change at the moment, I'll admit that I'm just the same as everyone else. We can all be such creatures of habit. However, it can be quite the interesting experience to uncover an all new way of living. 

While in the process of placing this message together, I couldn't help but think of those who are finding themselves to be helplessly empty; those who are in desperate need of the remedy of salvation.

So many in our world today are experiencing deep-rooted devastation in the midst of an aimless search for purposeful fulfillment and a place of rest for their weary souls.

Those temporal sort of remedies that exist in the world will never reach down below the surface of the heart; none of them could ever provide the sort of peace that radiates from within.

Only Jesus has the power to do that. The condition of your heart is never surprising to Him. 

It's scarily simple to appear all put together on the outside, while living in the midst of chaos behind closed doors.

There's always an opportunity for a new beginning through trusting in the remedy of salvation; by placing every ounce of your faith and trust in Jesus Christ.

There are so many who are reluctant about living the Christian life; lamenting that they won't be good enough to live it, or that surrendering their current lifestyle would be much too difficult.

Knowing Jesus and living for Him is never about being good enough. He loves you in spite of your mess and He wants nothing more than to help you claim victory. 

We all need Him each and every single day.

Life was never meant to be lived without the sort of love and guidance that only He can provide, and choosing to do so will leave you with an existence that's both imbalanced and uncomfortable in the long run.

You will be left as someone who spends every day feeling completely unsatisfied and terminally empty.

Making the decision to trust in Jesus will be the best choice you will ever make. He will completely change your life in the most beautiful way.

All you have to do is ask Him into your heart. Let your life become one that is worth living. Make it count for the cause of Christ. 

"For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it." (Matthew 16:25)

"For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." (Romans 10:13)

"But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart." (1 Samuel 16:7)

A Love For All Seasons (Saturday Thoughts)

 

The love that Jesus has for you will never be dependent on what you are able to do for Him.

The deepness of His unconditional love was made perfectly known as He was dying on that cross. He gave His life for every imperfect soul. His strength was given for every bit of our weakness.

I have kept this thought on my heart recently, though throughout my life, I never really meditated on it before now. I just felt like today was the perfect moment to share.

How could Jesus love us so much that He would die for us?

I love to stay busy and I love to write for His glory. I love the blog & I feel so blessed that He has kept His hand on it for so many years now.

But I know sometimes it's easy to become too busy if we aren't careful, no matter what we're doing or where or how we are serving the Lord. We so often forget that it's never about us or our abilities, but rather it is ALWAYS about Jesus and the power of His wonderful mercy and grace. Our worth will always be found through trusting in Him.

Discouragement can settle in our hearts and minds if we never try to remember that. Life has its moments & the seasons are always changing.

God's love for you is something that will never ever change, and no matter what the days may bring, that love will continue carrying you through every season you face.

"But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8 KJV)

"Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest." (Joshua 1:9 KJV)

An Investment In Jesus

If you've followed the news at all throughout the last few weeks, it's hard to miss the continuous updates on the Titan submersible story; every article paints an unimaginable picture.

I can't help but wonder what was going through their minds, or if anything was at all, in those last few moments. The fear and helplessness they felt must have been awful.

All of the money and notoriety in the world couldn't save them; they were submerged in total darkness and in the middle of one hopeless situation. 

I don't know if they were aware of it all beforehand, but if so, you know they weren't thinking about their social standing in the world. Perhaps their hearts were with their families. One of them may have even called out to God as desperation continued to grow.

Their lives were over in the blink of an eye. 

I write all of this introduction to ask you these two important questions:

Where are you putting your treasures?

Are you making an investment in eternity?

There's nothing wrong with having money, but the love for it is where the problem begins; so much is wasted on unecessary expense, because the world equates success with an accumulation of stuff and a bucket list with all of its items checked off.

You will never go wrong with an investment in Jesus. His offer of salvation is a gift that's free. 

It doesn't matter who you know or where you've been, Christ seeks to save whosoever calls upon His name. There are many adventurous opportunities to take in this world, but there's none better than a personal relationship with Jesus; a priceless treasure that can never be taken away. 

Here are a few verses to think on today: 

"Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." (Matthew 6:19-21)

"For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." (Romans 10:13)

"That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." (Romans 10:9)

 

Is Your Name In The Book of Life?

 Some of you may remember a message that I wrote in February that was aptly titled "The Price of Sin Will Never Be Worth It".  (The link to that post can be found here).

The heart behind this particular two-part series comes from a sense of wanting to be timely and truthful; as the world we live in today continues to crumble, thoughts and conversations about eternity need to be at the forefront.

There are no words to describe the societal damage that stems from "influencer culture" (what is the definition of such a thing?) and let me tell you, it BAFFLES me to see so many do the craziest things to gain views or followers.

(I've mentioned this previously, but it still blows me away.)

It's time for an uncomfortable truth:

Becoming the next big viral sensation may get your name mentioned in all of the magazines. You may even find yourself appearing on a daytime talk show. 

While all of those things can be fun and exciting, having your name written everywhere on Earth will never be able to provide you with the guarantee of eternal security in Christ.

Choosing to die without placing faith in Christ and trusting in all of His promises will leave you facing an eternity in the Lake of Fire; forever separated from His love and the comfort of His presence. There will be no rest from the torment found within its inescapable flame. 

"And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire." (Revelation 20:10-15 KJV)

But your story doesn't have to end this way.

Eternal security is a heavenly promise that's written into the Book of Life with His sweet pen of love. It can never be erased and you will never be forgotten.

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life." (John 5:24 KJV)

Is your name in the Book of Life?

The Price of Sin Will Never Be Worth It

There doesn't seem to be anything in this world that isn't crazy expensive. 

The shortages that have come upon us through the past three years have just begun to escalate; it is becoming harder to have our basic needs met. The quality of everything that we've known and loved just isn't the same anymore. 

And what you're being sold is never worth the hefty price you pay.

This thought has hung around in my head for some time. I read and observe a lot. I can't help but take notice of this gradual acceptance of evil. Society is being continuously groomed to make light of something that is no joke. 

Hollywood paints the picture of Hell as a place that is one big party where everyone will be able to freely continue their life of sin.

The presence of evil here on Earth is welcomed, encouraged, and accepted. The Bible vehemently warns against doing so. 

"Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!" (Isaiah 5:20 KJV)

Hell is a truly awful place. Many people don't realize that eternity spent there is total separation from God and everything that He provides.

Therefore, not an ounce of rest will be found there.

No air will be found in Hell, because God is the breath of life. 

There will be no light, because Hell is a place of eternal darkness. 

Hell is a place filled with inescapable flames of torment.. there will be no source of the comfort or love that only He can give.

That's quite the hefty price tag. 

 

The penalty of sin is never worth the price you pay. Christ died for YOU and paid the debt of that sin. He gave His life because He loves YOU. 

"But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him." (Romans 5:8-9 KJV)

It is often said that the best things in life are free. The gift of salvation doesn't come with a cost. The freedom and the peace found through trusting in Jesus remains incomparable to anything this world could offer.

"For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 6:23 KJV)

The improvement in quality of life will always be worth it. 

You don't have to face an eternity in Hell, but you will by continually choosing to reject Christ. One day, it will be too late to change your mind. Tomorrow is never promised.

"Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away." (James 4:14 KJV)

Eternity with Jesus will always be worth it. He loves YOU. He is seeking to save YOU. Choose to seek Him while He may be found.

"Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon." (Isaiah 55:6-7 KJV)

A Simple Truth (God's Word Stands)

 

            Those age-old recipes are the best. This past week, my mother and I made one of our all-time favorite quick breakfast snacks. It is a simple recipe that contains three basic ingredients: a roll of sausage, a whole jar of cheez whiz, and biscuit mix. 

My mind was blown away as I was combing through all of the recipe variations that were found for this particular snack. So many didn't like the taste or color of the original. They thought adding an extra ingredient or taking away another would make everything better. 

But it doesn't. One or two little changes make a HUGE difference.

In my own personal experience, I've learned to never mess with the original when it comes to any recipe that's known as tried and true. Those are usually uncomplicated and worth every single bite. 

Those thoughts bring me to the heart of today's message:

Just taking a quick glance into the world shows how complicated everything has become. The confusion that lies within can easily be spotted. It's an all-too-common practice these days to add or take away from something that is great, to begin with. 

The same principle applies when discussing good old-timey Christianity and the infallible truth found in the pages of God's Word. Today's society tells us that being an old timey Christian just doesn't cut it. The world paints its presence as outdated when compared to the idea of all modern-day religions.

But that just isn't true. 

Why is sticking to the old stuff so important?

God's Word Is Perfect:  God's Word remains infallible in its original form. Modern-day religion is often rooted in the spirit of confusion; many follow the instructions found in Bibles that are missing important passages of Scripture, while others are very loosely translated in a way that conveys entirely different messages that are nowhere near their original intent. God's Word is already finished. It doesn't need to be changed. Let's look at this verse found in chapter four of  the book of Deuteronomy:

"Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you." (Deuteronomy 4:2 KJV)

God's Word Is Pure: God's Word is complete and pure. It cleanses and brings protection to our lives in ways that no one else ever could; its pages act as a perfect shield for all that put their trust in the Lord.

"Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him." (Proverbs 30:5 KJV)

God's Word Is Powerful: The biblical truths found throughout God's Word are described in the book of Hebrews as sharper than any two-edged sword. They are designed to provide powerful discernment within the heart and mind. The words hold purpose as a trustworthy guide; a much-needed lamp within a world of darkness.

"For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12  KJV)

God's Word Holds A Simple Truth: Modern-day religions plant the seeds of the idea that there is more than one way to be saved. Even the idea that we can save ourselves! The simple truth of the matter is that Jesus is the ONLY way to eternal life in Heaven. Salvation is simply by grace through placing faith in Christ alone.

"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." (John 14:6 KJV) 

"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9 KJV) 

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