WHERE ARE YOU GOING?

Do you ever feel like a hamster? Just think about it for a moment. Our life cycle is somewhat comparable. A hamster lives in cage, stays up all night because they have insomnia, and waits for someone to throw them a carrot. After they have moved the mess around in what they call home, they jump on a wheel and run like crazy thinking they are getting somewhere. Then the time comes when the cage door is open and they are lifted to freedom or occasionally they escape. Once they are set free, the fun begins. Someone forgot to tell them about the family cat, the children that will chase them and this monster called the vacuum. After a near fatal day, they are placed back in their cage to start all over again. Does any of this sound familiar? What does your cage look like? It may be a health issue, martial problems, finances, or something else that keeps you from freedom. What food are you eating? Do you feed off what others say about you or do you eat the daily bread of the Word of God? How about running your little legs off and getting nowhere. Instead of facing issues and resolving them, we just move them around or push them under the rug hoping they will go away. More often then not those things keep us awake at night. We always dream of the day we will be happy like when our children are grown, we retire, we get a bigger house, or a better job. But with those wonderful things come some unexpected circumstances. That's when we want to retreat back to our comfort zone and start over. Have you ever heard that doing the same thing and expecting different results is completely ridiculous? Let's break the hamster mentality and place our future in the One who holds the future. The word says I set before you life and death, choose life. Let's start making some much needed changes and see God move.

WHAT NOT TO WEAR

I don't know about you but Stacy and Clinton from TLC's, What Not To Wear would have a blast in my closet. Raise your hand if you have items in your closet that are five years old, how about seven or maybe ten. Can I get a witness? We serve a humorous God because I got the funniest vision the other day. It was if He was trying to say, I don't look at your clothes as much as I look your heart. It was entertaining because He said, just like you pick out clothes, you also decide what else you are going to wear. All of a sudden, I saw a person clothed in things that others could not see. For instance, if we decide to be grouchy or perhaps someone contributes to that feeling, we would pick out horns and a tail that match perfectly with our outfit. On the other extreme, if we decide to be happy, we could not leave the house without a big red nose and a smile painted from ear to ear. Society likes to tell us what not to wear but they forget to tell us what we should never leave home without. In our hectic lives, a changing world, and the moral decline of our country, we need a little guidance. That's when God showed me that in order for us to prepare for what is to come, we should always be dressed for battle. Other people may not see our armor but it is essential for us to be a light to the world.

1.The Belt of Truth which protects us from the lies of the enemy.

2. The Breastplate of Righteousness that covers our heart (the seat of our emotions, self-worth and trust).

3. The Shoes of the Gospel of Peace remind us of the Good News of God and prepares us to share it.

4. The Helmet of Salvation protects us from doubting God.

5. The Sword of the Spirit is the only weapon in our armor which represents the Word of God.

I think I'll add this to my wardrobe. How about you?

LIVING ON THE EDGE

Where do you get your information? We have so many sources to dictate what we should say, what we should look like, what we should drive, and all the newest fads. Our world is actually advertising on steroids. Just go to Burger King and have it your way, wear Nikes and just do it, and E-Harmony can find you the love of your life. Or for a night of enjoyment, tune into CNN, FOX NEWS, or your local news channel and get caught up on all the horrible things that on going on in the world. I don't know about you, but personally I think we need to start generating good and uplifting conversation, quit trying to keep up with the Jones and concentrate on what is really important to us. I think the world has brainwashed us into being something we were never created to be. Unless you live under a rock, I'm sure you are aware of the devastation that is occuring in our country. What used to be stable is not so stable anymore. So who are we looking to for answers? I guarantee you that psychics are raking in the money, horoscopes are becoming daily food, and we hang on to any glimpse of something positive. Now is not the time to complain, worry, or live in fear. Let's stop letting the world run our lives and start depending on the ultimate Good News. The word says that the Word of God is sharper then a two-edged sword. When you need information or advise, you can find all the answers you will ever need from the One that has all the answers.

NO BOUNDARIES

One of Webster's definitions for boundaries is "the limit". I think boundaries are created for safety and security. For some reason, our society is wanting to live a life with no boundaries. We think that we are being kept from things instead of being protected from things that could happen for crossing the lines that are set before us. Boundaries have been established since the beginning of time. The most precious and familiar are the Ten Commandments. Most of us can recite them, but do we live by them? (OUCH) In case you've not heard, they are trying to have them removed from every public place they are displayed. Without them, our world will be out of control. Let's keep them alive and teach them to all those that we love.

1. Do not worship any other gods but the one true God. That does not include Budda, Mohammed, or any other mystical creature.

2. Do not make idols of any kind. Let me list a few: money, clothes, sports, approval of man and you can fill in the rest of the blanks.

3. Do not use the name of the Lord in vain. Jesus Christ is Lord, not a curse word. Need I say more.

4. Observe the Sabbath and keep it Holy. It doesn't really matter what day it is but even God rested on the seventh day. We can't be more busy than He is.

5. Honor you father and mother. I think we have it backwards. We honor our children and then expect them to love us when we're old. (HELLO)

6. Do not murder. We are now under a government that is not pro-life. What part of THOU SHALL NOT do they not understand.

7. Do not commit adultery. Even though our TV's are plastered with that stuff and the world thinks we should do whatever makes us happy, a covenant is a covenant.

8. Do not steal. Let me put it this way: DO NOT TAKE WHAT DOES NOT BELONG TO YOU! You do reap what you sow. That's doesn't have to be a punishment because if you sow blessings, guess what you get back.

9. Treat you neighbor as yourself. I don't have the urge to rob a bank or shoot the next person I see, but do I treat others the way I want to be treated? I'm in training, how about you?

10. Do not covet what your neighbor has. We don't know the price they paid for what they have and we can't see behind the scenes.

I think our safest place is under the wings of the Lord Almighty. He has a book full of boundaries for us to refer to.