Crazy

Often those who profess God’s Truth are considered crazy, nuts. The enemy does not want us to believe. He wants us to look upon those that tell the Story, that tell the truth, to be pushed away. We must be careful that we don't ignore the truth because others tell us 'Oh he is crazy. Don't listen to him'. What if he speaks the truth? ~ DickEvans.org

Tell

We have been given the task of telling others what we have experienced. We have been given the task of going into the world telling the story, the story of what Christ has done for us. We now live to give life to others; to reconcile them to Christ. ~  DickEvans.org

Go

I believe God wants us traveling from place to place teaching and worshipping Him as we go. He wants us to preach the Gospel everywhere we go. Yes, at the supermarket, at the football game, at the soccer field as we watch our children play, everywhere. In that way we are giving praise to Him. ~ DickEvans.org

No Divisions

1 Corinthians 1:10 NLT
I appeal to you, dear brothers and sisters, by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, to live in harmony with each other. Let there be no divisions in the church. Rather, be of one mind, united in thought and purpose.

I read this scripture and it brought to mind all the competition I see between Christian churches wherever I go. Often it is more about members than conversions. How many are coming to our church on Sunday mornings? My church offers more for you, so come here instead of where you are going. Church swapping is part of our Christian culture.

I believe the church he mentions in this scripture is not referring to organizations, but people. There was only one church back then and that was a body of believers gathering together, encouraging and supporting each other in their walk with Christ.

There was no organizational building with names like Catholic, Baptist, Methodist, Church of God, Assembly of God, Pentecostal, Non-denominational... All with their own sets rules disguised with the name "doctrine".

As we separate ourselves from these buildings to reach out in the the community, we should be promoting only one thing. And that is Christ crucified so we could walk in the Father's unending love and grace. We touch other in the name of Jesus and not in the name of the organization we attend weekly worship at.

We promote Jesus by being a living example of who we are in Christ. We testify to who Jesus is in us and tell them how to have the same relationship by asking Jesus into their heart. By telling them how to be born again. Not by promoting our great "church" so we can get them there to hear the preacher and maybe get saved.

We march forth daily as the army of God being an example of a follower of Jesus. Our T-shirts should read "I follow Jesus" rather then "I attend XXX church". Promote the Kingdom of God for it is near. Go forth as one army,undivided to reach the lost and help the needy.

Gifts

We get to choose to use the gifts Holy Spirit apportions to us or ignore them. We need to seek God’s  face and discover what gifts He has given us. Then we need to use them and manage them well. The rewards will be plentiful. ~ DickEvans.org

Behavior

As citizens of this world it is so easy and even comfortable to follow the ways of our friends, our peers. After all, if everyone is doing it, it must be acceptable. We can easily fall into thinking that comfortable behavior must be acceptable. But, what is acceptable to the world is not always acceptable to God. ~ DickEvans.org

Lies

As believers we are born into a new nature, the nature of Christ. So the next time that the enemy tries to convince you that a little lie is okay, remember who you are. And don't forget that He is always watching over your shoulder. ~ DickEvans.org

Encourage

I try to be excited and encouraging for every one of God’s children and content right where He has placed me. Let’s encourage each other to be the best in all that we do so that He can mold us into the person he designed us to be. ~ DickEvans.org

Humble

God wants us to be humble; to think of others first with no thought of what the results will be on our behalf. This does not mean to forget our own needs, but rather to make a place for others where our needs take a back seat. And when you get yourself out of the way, you may be surprised at how much you enjoy taking an interest in what others are doing. ~ DickEvans.org

Friend

Many say that they believe. They may even flock to churches on Sunday mornings. Some may show up only a couple of times a year. But when the chips are down and problems are all around, what a friend we have in Jesus. ~ DickEvans.org

Social Media

Matthew 18:15 NLT
If another believer sins against you, go privately and point out the offense. If the other person listens and confesses it, you have won that person back.

I am on social media, Facebook and messaging and texting most of the day. Not that I am on my computer all the time. I am not. My smartphone gives me access. I spend time praying for people and seeing God moves over distances as though I was right there laying hands on them. Thank you Jesus.

When I was growing up my mother would tell me that if you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all. I can't say this is advice that I see most on Facebook following. The newsfeed is filled with complaints about others, about our government, even about family members. Many are drawn to web sites that promote these negative thoughts. They have cute saying that put down men or women. Subtle ways to tell significant others there is something wrong in their relationship.

What has happened to going privately to another and communicating to them and them alone that there is an issue needing resolution? Airing our dirty laundry for all our "friends" to see and chime in to agree and even voice their support for our lashing out is not the way to go.

Father God, may my words and my posts on Social Media be encouraging and uplifting. May I only repost the same. Help me to see who I should unfollow so my newsfeed can be filled with encouraging news every day. In Jesus name, I pray.

Foggy Glasses

As we go through today we must be sure we are seeing as much as we can. We must look through God’s eyes and not be blinded by error. Satan will try to put foggy glasses on us so we miss what God is unveiling for us. Tear off those blinders and see Jesus and the path He has for you today! ~ DickEvans.org

No Shortcut

We attend meeting after meeting and put on all the latest worship CD’s trying to get back to that special place in God. But there is only one way and that is through our relationship with Him. There is no magic formula, no shortcut. He is the way. ~ DickEvans.org

Time to Rest

How often are we so involved in what is happening that we miss the important things. It is like being in the forest and not seeing the trees. We need time alone. We need time to rest. And above all we need quiet time with God every day. Let’s make today the first day of a new pattern. Let’s take the time to get away from the crowds in our life. Let’s spend quiet time with Him. ~ DickEvans.org

Ears to Hear

How many are without ears to hear the Lord. He is knocking and nobody is home. They turn a deaf ear every time His name is mentioned and miss out on a blessing more valuable than a handful of bills.When we are spreading the Good News, if nobody is home we must not dwell there. We must keep on keeping on and knock on as many doors as we can. ~ DickEvans.org

Warriors

Jesus gave every believer the authority and power to perform miracles in His name. And when others see His manifested power they will feel that same rush, that same excitement. And they too can believe. They can become part of His mighty army, warriors for eternity. ~ DickEvans.org

Draw Close

God is ready, willing, and able to be as close to us as we dare allow ourselves to get to Him. We must draw close every day and not just in our prayer time. We need His presence with us all day every day. ~ DickEvans.org

Wrong Expectations

John 14:12 NKJV
Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.

Mark 16:17-18 NKJV
And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they[a] will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.

Most people live life expecting bad things to happen. They expect to get sick. They expect to grow old and weak and feeble. Sure, they can buy insurance policies to make sure that when they're older they can be taken care of in a nursing home. They just expect things to happen to them because they belief that it's part of life.

The same people pray for healing. They pray for circumstances to change. They believe God can do it, but He needs a little nudge from them. They truly believe He hears everyone's prayers and that He'll answer them yes, not now, or no. They would like to expect, but instead just hope and accept what the medical profession has to say.

We should walk through this life with expectation. But the expectation revolves around what Jesus already did for us at the cross. Yes, we will grow older. But we should expect to stay healthy. When it's time for us to leave this earth and graduate into heaven, we will go because it's time for us to leave this body. Not because we get sick and lie in a hospital bed expecting man to heal us, to fix us.

When we received Jesus as our Lord and Savior we became born-again. His word tells us that He abides in us and we in Him. We are joined together in an unimaginable intimacy. Father God loves us with an unconditional love. We are a brand new creature saved by grace and walk fourth daily covered by the blood of Jesus.

We should expect the impossible because with our God nothing is impossible. We should expect the miraculous. Our bodies are a holy temple containing the kingdom of God for Jesus abides in us. He took away all our sins and has forgiven us forevermore and removed sickness and infirmity and all curses so we can live abundantly while we are on this earth. We are an example to others as to what it's like to live as Christ.

So expect the impossible. Expect the miraculous. Expect Jesus to work through your hands and speak through your mouth touching those around you each day. Thank you Jesus.

Bless Them

Each and every person that hurts us in any way may not be a friend of ours, buy they are still a child of God. If they are believers, they are also a brother or sister in Christ to us. So the next time someone says something nasty to you, don’t retaliate with a nasty remark back. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. ~ DickEvans.org

Character

The question is never about if we mess up, it is about what we do when we recognize that we have. We must be ever mindful of our conduct and the choices we make. We want to be known as one who has the character of Christ. ~ DickEvans.org

Listen

It seems much easier to follow God’s instructions when we are with others we feel accountable to. However, we really need to look to Him and not to others for that accountability. God is working in us giving us the desire and the power to do what He has for us to do today. But it is up to us to listen and put it into action. ~ DickEvans.org

Perfect

How often are we pulled off track in our Christian walk? We are saved and filled with the Holy Spirit, Christ within. We are full of joy and feel His presence in all we do. Then we try to become prefect on our own. But only Holy Spirit can guide us. It is time to stop allowing the enemy to twist our thoughts. It is time to let God be the one in charge. ~ DickEvans.org

Tell

It is our testimony, the words out of our mouths that are the catalyst for others to believe. Tell someone today. ~ DickEvans.org

The Journey

As believers we are on a journey, a road to become Christ like. The choices we make after it determine the length of the journey. We must remember that we cannot teach what we have not experienced. What we promote must be reflected in how we live, in the walk we walk, in who we are. ~ DickEvans.org

No Try

Remember Star Wars from years back and that wise old man Yoda who knew everything... He said, "Do or do not, there is no try."

And that is so true with our Christian walk. Most of us spent years trying to walk the right walk in this earthly body. But as we walk in the flesh it takes a lot of trying to even come close.

Romans 6:13 NLT
Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin. Instead, give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have new life. So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God.

That person we used to be is dead. And yet we resurrect that person every day as we walk out in the flesh trying to do the right thing. Trying to be the good Christian person we know we should be.  But in the flesh it is an impossible task.                      

Even Paul the apostle couldn't do it. He tells us that try as he might he still does the wrong thing. He knows what's right. But he doesn't always do it.

When we asked Jesus in,  in an instant we became a new person, an alien to this world and yet we still have these old bodies.

We need to stop being who we were and accept the new person that we are. As we walk in the spirit we have no desire to do the things that we used to do or be who we used to be. When confronted with the same temptations our flesh wants to jump right in and yet when we do, it just doesn't feel right anymore.

As born again believers we have a better way. So like Yoda said there is no try. So just stop trying to be that good person. We need to just accept that we are there already. Stop and just be who we became that day when we accepted Jesus. That is the day we became born-again and that is the day the old person died.

John 15:5 KJV
I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. 

So like Yoda said there is no try, just do. So stop trying to do the impossible in the flesh and walk as who you are because of what Christ did on the cross. He abides in you and you abide in Him. Practice His presence and be who He made you to be.

Share

We need to share our Jesus experiences with everyone. It is our enthusiasm about our relationship with Him that will help others to believe. He saved us and He will save them too. But they have to believe in Him. And if they are to hear about Him, then we have to open our mouth and tell the story. ~ DickEvans.org

The Goal

Our goal should be to have the character of Christ. That should be a daily goal each day while we are here walking this earthly walk. But too often we are so focused on what we need or want in this life that we fail to focus on Him. ~ DickEvans.org

Pass it on

Paul’s teaching is passed down to us in his writings. These great truths are for us to read and for us to experience with the guidance of Holy Spirit. Find someone nearby that is walking the walk with Christ and listen to the truths, the revelations, they have found. As you walk with Jesus, the path for you will unfold. And as you experience those truths, pass them on to others. ~ DickEvans.org

Instant

We push a button and the garage door goes up. Another button and the television turns on or changes channels. In minutes we can have a full meal cooked in our microwave. We get what we want when we want it. But that is not the way God works. When we ask Him, He supplies our need in His time, not ours. And He will always come through at just the right time. ~ DickEvans.org

Temptions

As believers, we are free. But that does not mean that satan does not offer us the same temptations. No, he may even offer them more frequently than before. Being free does not mean that we cannot fall. We are free to choose the path each day. We are free to choose the path of sin and obey the old master or choose the path of righteousness and obey the new master. ~ DickEvans.org

Habit

Even though we are no longer sinners because of Jesus’ sacrifice for us, we often find ourselves in sin. And sometimes we know it is wrong beforehand. We just can't help ourselves. All the light we have been exposed to has shown us the right path. But we seem to be on autopilot; we just make wrong choices out of habit. It is time to think first. It is time to make choices before acting out of habit. ~ DickEvans.org