Thoughts From a Random Mind

            I wake up every morning at 3:50 am (except Sundays). Unlike the 40 million folks that grace the unemployment rolls, I have a job. Since the retail stores are closed due to the Pandemic, ecommerce or online sales have exploded. Since I work for a Logistics Warehouse, that translates into a busy work schedule and I am grateful. 

            I thank the Lord for work, my health, my family, my brethren in the Lord and other sundry friends, our government leaders, etc. each day on my way to work. I accept that each day is orchestrated by God and I am grateful to be alive in spite of whatever my situation may be. The ever popular “It is what it is” mantra rings out over the land. We can’t change most things in our lives. The things we can change we should change under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Whenever I get physically or mentally tired, I remember that my situation could be much worse. I bless the name of the Lord for whatever circumstances I find myself in. I reflect on my life and filter thru the good and bad times. It cannot be changed, but if I have learned anything at all from my life lessons, I can avoid repeating the same mistakes. 

            Far too many people misunderstand who God is and what His plan happens to be according to His word. Therefore, it’s times like this that He gets a large portion of the blame for events like this Pandemic. It’s unfortunate that people are so ignorant regarding Spiritual things with regards to Almighty God. In all this I try to live like Christ, standing, tripping up, stumbling, but still trying every day. You can be sure that you can do anything when you rely on the Lord.  Trust in the Lord for everything and He will never let you down. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

Rich Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Trust God

“When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise - in God I trust and am not afraid?”

                                    Psalm 56:4

          David wrote this regarding men who were in pursuit of him with the desire to kill him. He was aware that mortal men can only kill his body, but never take his soul from him, nor his faith and trust in God.  In spite of his dilemma, the words above should shine like a beacon into our hearts, for while men are likely not in pursuit of us, there are many things we tend to fear in this life. If we believe in God, then we should have put our trust in Him as well. As we walk with Him, we realize that His word is true, therefore, He can be trusted without hesitation. There is absolutely nothing to fear.

          When I say there is nothing to fear, I do not say it lightly. We allow worry to creep into our lives regarding things we have no control over and that worry leaves us troubled and that can give birth to full blown fear. If we truly believe in God then what do we believe in Him for, fluffy clouds and sunny days? We can believe in Him for everything. When we speak to Him, He hears us. When we are in trouble, He saves us. We only need to ask. Some have trouble asking for anything, thinking that given enough time they will figure it out and provide their own solution. Wouldn’t it be so much better to ask and receive from the source Who knows the right solution instead of playing a guessing game? God can be trusted; His word is absolutely true, and we have absolutely nothing at all to fear in this life. Trust God! Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

Rich Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Pleasing God

“We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way … “.

Colossians 1:9b-10a

            Paul, the once vile hater & slayer of Christians, was now a fierce prayer warrior on their behalf. The Damascus Road episode in his life changed everything. He now asks God to fill these same believers of Christ with “all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives”. Two things are shown to us here: 1) that God will give us those things that we are in need of to live a life worthy of Him; 2) His Holy Spirit is the conduit by which this is accomplished.
            What have we been rescued from? These verses tell of God, by His Holy Spirit, through the actions of His Son, Jesus, the Christ, rescuing or delivering us from “the dominion of darkness”. Without Christ, our life is under the domination or control of darkness, which permeates this world. It is cloaked so it is not easily seen by the naked eye, but with the eye of the Spirit, is seen plainly. We have been rescued from this world that we are IN yet no longer OF. This world embraces many things that are blatantly evil and easy to spot. However, the enemy works overtime to come up with ways to deceive those who would strive to avoid such things. We need the full Armor of God (Ephesians 6:13) to combat such an evil attack.
            Be wary of the darkness that surrounds you, but rejoice in the light that you reside in. God has you covered with His righteousness. You are safe. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

Rich Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

“For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,  so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,  being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience,  and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you^[b] to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” – Colossians 1:9-14

Christ's Blood Redeems Us

“In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us.”

                                                                                          Ephesians 1:7-8 (NIV)

Hell or Hades defined: “The Greek word hades of the New Testament has the same scope of signification as sheol of the Old Testament. It is a prison (1 Pet. 3:19), with gates and bars and locks (Matt. 16:18; Rev. 1:18), and it is downward (Matt. 11:23; Luke 10:15). In Greek Mythology, Hades is the god of the netherworld. We are taught that hell is a place of evil, misery, discord, or destruction; a place of eternal torment and anguish; a state of separation from God; an exclusion from God’s presence.” (1)
            With Ephesians 1:7-8 emblazoned upon the top of this entry, why define hell? Because we need to understand what we, as believers, were saved from. We also need to understand that this is where unregenerate souls go if they never receive the gift God has for everyone … His grace.
Grace defined: “the free and unmerited favor of God shown towards man; the divine assistance and power given to man in spiritual rebirth and sanctification; the condition of being favored or sanctified by God.” (2)
Lavish defined: “To give or bestow in abundance; shower.” (2)
            We need, as believers in Christ, to understand what was done for us. We need to understand that we did nothing to deserve such a monumental and gracious gift. We need to understand that we were bound for an everlasting and infinite stint in hell, separated from God, with no hope of parole. If you don’t believe in such things, are you willing to bet your eternal soul on it?
            Are we living our lives for ourselves and for our families or our we are living for God first. You see, God doesn’t want you to live for Him to the exclusion of your family … no. He wants you to be a better husband, father and provider for them through Him. It is only through the Holy Spirit of God that we can be all we CAN be. It’s the only way we can grow spiritually and be a proper Godly leader in our families. Remember, Christ Himself said, “I am the vine, you are the branches; without Me you can do nothing.” (3) The gospels also declare: Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who try to build something not according to His call. [paraphrase]
            Don’t let God’s grace become a cheap thing to you, like a withered piece of fruit on the vine. Let Him be both Savior AND Lord of everything you have and everything you are. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!Rich Keller

Bread of Life Ministries
(1) Bible Dictionary; www.biblegateway.com
(2) www.thefreedictionary.com
(3) John 15:5 (NIV)

Dining With Sinners

“He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.” – Luke 19:7b

          This is the story of Zacchaeus, a Jewish tax collector for the Roman Government. He was not welcome in common social circles and despised by the general populous. He was short in physical stature, so when Jesus came to town and was walking by, he scrambled up a nearby tree to catch a glimpse of this supposed Messiah. When Jesus spied Zacchaeus up in the tree, He told him to come down for He would be coming to his house for a meal.

          Our chosen verse is interesting because it tells us Jesus decided to dine with an ungodly man and his family. This shines a light on Jesus’ saying that a doctor doesn’t come to heal those who are well, but rather those who are sick. (Luke 5:31) Jesus could have chosen anyone in the crowd, but he chose to call out a man that was despised and despicable. 

            Have you ever shunned someone because of externals, without knowing them? I sure have. Trust me, God knows everything about us … therefore He knows this too. Nothing we think, say or do shocks or surprises the Lord. We don’t need to be concerned with the external appearance of anyone. Our goal is to be Christ-like in this life. We will fail in this endeavor more times than not, but no one is perfect this side of heaven; however, that’s absolutely no reason not to try.  Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

Rich Keller

Bread of Life Ministries    

Word for the Day

God Doesn't Condemn Us

“For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”

                                                         John 3:17 

          Pretty much everyone is familiar with John 3:16 - "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” But let’s look at the following verse and focus clearly on the words in John 3:17. God loved us before we ever even knew Him. He sent Jesus into this world as part of His salvation plan, as the required payment for our sins.

1 John 4:10 (NIV) “This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.”

          In spite of all the judgment passed down by the organized church worldwide, God did not send His son to pass judgment on it. God knew what man’s problem was. He knew his soul’s condition. He knew what was necessary to correct the situation that existed and still exists to this very day. Based on the payment system He Himself set up to pay for ones’ sins (for a sin must be atoned for), blood had to be shed to cover the sin made. The NT difference is that Christ’s blood did what no animal’s blood could ever do; it obliterated or erased a sin rather than covering it up, which is all the OT sacrificial system did for an individual. And the wiping clean, as it were, was done once for all time. He came to SAVE the world, not CONDEMN it. By its’ own actions, the world has condemned itself. It needs a remedy for its sickness. It needs a Savior. Christ is that savior, the One and only … once for all for all time.

Atone defined: To make amends; to reconcile. (American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.)

If You Say It, Mean It

“Whatever your lips utter you must be sure to do, because you made your vow freely to the LORD your God with your own mouth.” - Deuteronomy 23:23

          In this day and age, we say a lot of things … often glibly, without thinking of the serious implications that come with the words said. When we do so, we cheapen the words immensely. Their meaning becomes cloudy and ineffectual. The off handed manner with which they are offered tends to belie what may be their true intention. Delivery is important, tone critical, others feelings in need of consideration. Words spoken have been replaced with words typed in emails or text messages. Intimacy replaced with online chats. No face to face contact. No intonation heard. Our society is in need of a serious overhaul, in my humble opinion.
          Let’s get a little specific for the moment. What about wedding vows? In a day and age when commitment is fleeting at its’ best and non-existent at its’ worst, we must stare down the barrel of temptation constantly. Are the words laid out in the “Love” chapter of 1 Corinthians 13 meaningless? When we say our wedding vows do they mean nothing to us when we say them? Is our “I do” covered with stipulations. In the back of our minds are we calculating deal breakers to the vows that we have made? 

          Look at this sample of traditional wedding vows: “I, (name), take you, (name), to be my [opt: lawfully wedded] (husband/wife), my constant friend, my faithful partner and my love from this day forward. In the presence of God, our family and friends, I offer you my solemn vow to be your faithful partner in sickness and in health, in good times and in bad, and in joy as well as in sorrow. I promise to love you unconditionally, to support you in your goals, to honor and respect you, to laugh with you and cry with you, and to cherish you for as long as we both shall live.”          When we say our vows they have to MEAN something to us. They have to, or they are a sham, not worthy of even being said. And make no mistake about it, when you make a vow, you make it to God as well. You’re not going to hell if you, as a couple, split up, but it’s certainly not what God had in mind when He created man. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

Rich Keller

Bread of Life Ministry

·      VOW defined: 1. An earnest promise to perform a specified act or behave in a certain manner, especially a solemn promise to live and act in accordance with the rules of a religious order; 2. A declaration or assertion; 3. To promise solemnly; pledge.

Be a Non-Conformist

“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.”

Romans 12:2  
          The world is a peculiar place. It’s the enemy’s domain where he rules and reigns. Things look so alluring, so enticing here. We grasp at things that appear to be so lovely only to find out that they are simply not what they appear to be or perhaps not there at all. 
          During our lifetime we tend to open ourselves up to all sorts of pain and misfortune as a result of some of our decisions. This is what happens when God isn’t involved in the decision-making process. God allows us to stumble because we’ve insisted in having our way. We haven’t asked for pain and havoc in our lives, per se, but we HAVE by grasping at something that is not ours for the taking; something that wasn’t sanctioned by the Lord. 
          Those of us who tend to be self-destructive in nature seem to be drawn to situations where pain is inflicted on us. We resolutely accept that we deserve our pain and move on … sullen and downcast, we become nearly useless for the kingdom. We must not allow the enemy a foothold. If we are not a child of God, such poor decisions could potentially start a downward spiral that will take us where we never intended to go.
          Renew your mind through the reading of scripture, proper associations, prayer, involvement in Godly endeavors. You see, if you fill your mind AND your time with such things, you will not give yourself time to entertain such supposed worldly treasures. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministry

The Human Tongue

“When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.”

James 3:3-6

            Just as one word from God can change one’s situation forever in a good way, one word from the mouth of a man can bring havoc, pain and in the end, destruction. Fortunately, we serve a God who understands us better than we understand ourselves. He is infinitely patient and kind, yet not hesitant to chide or punish when necessary to pull you back onto the path He’s set for you.

            The tongue is an interesting tool that is at our disposal 24/7 to say whatever our minds trigger us to say. What comes out depends almost entirely on what you feed in. That ever popular computer jargon “garbage in, garbage out” applies here. It only stands to reason that if you feed in things that are positive, loving, edifying, encouraging and Godly in that is what’s going to come out. How could it not? But feed in anger, hate, discord, profanity, pornography and anything else THIS world has to offer, well, I think you can imagine what results you will get.

            Romans 12:2 “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.”

We must allow our minds to be directed by the Holy Spirit. We must feed ourselves things that are pleasing to God. Only then can we expect the full measure of God’s mercy and grace to be realized in our lives. 

            I would like to thank God for His infinite patience towards me. Like many, I feel unworthy of it, yet am glad that God doesn’t act on our behalf based on what we deserve. Unmerited favor is what grace is all about. May I never treat it as a cheap thing ever again this side of heaven. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

Rich Keller

Bread of Life Ministry

God is Just

“God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him … .”

Hebrews 6:10

            Have you ever said to yourself “Life’s not fair?” I know I have. Sometimes it seems as though those in the wrong “get away with murder” and those in the right get ground under someone’s heel. Sometimes it just seems that way, sometimes it literally IS that way. Having said that, it begs the question: Who said life was fair? It sounds trite and trivial but it is true. Life isn’t fair and no one, especially God, never said it would be. To quote the words of Lynn Anderson’s famous, oft-played hit single … “I beg your pardon, I never promised you a rose garden”. It goes on to say … “Along with the sun, there’ll be a little rain sometimes.”

            Matthew 7:24-27 talks about the Wise and Foolish Builder. It is a parable or “simple story illustrating a moral or religious lesson”. The point that many people miss in this story is that the rain fell on the just and the unjust. The greater point is that one man’s foundation was incorruptible and indestructible, while the others was easily eroded away by life’s circumstances. The trials and tribulations of life often hit us right squarely between the eyes leaving us reeling. We must take comfort in the fact that God is a fair and just God who sees all and knows all and will judge us based on what is morally right and true and by no other standard.

            It should also be pointed out that God is not forgetful. We, however, are another story. If I didn’t have Outlook calendar reminders, task lists and Post It notes I would be lost. But God needs no such tools to remember all the things He has planned. We should take comfort in that fact. Were we dealing with a human entity, our concern level would shoot through the roof, because we know that they are susceptible to temptations like power, money and/or impropriety … . But the Creator of the Universe is susceptible to none of these things, for He is flawless in every way. So go through your day today knowing that nothing that happens to you has escaped God’s ever watching eye and rest in that comforting fact. He is always fair and just and will not forget you. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

* “JUST” defined: 1. Honorable and fair in one's dealings and actions; 2. Consistent with what is morally right; righteous.

The Depth of God

“Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!”

Romans 11:33 _(NIV)

            If you lack wisdom or knowledge, dip into the deep resources of God. You may not receive an immediate answer, but the answer you need is an answer worth waiting for. The conventional wisdom of this world cannot compare to the wisdom of God. He is the embodiment of wisdom and knowledge. His essence is truth. He IS so everything about Him is eternal and everlasting. Nothing else on this earth can be spoken of in such a manner. All of creation is finite … the Creator is not. While it is impossible to comprehend that He was and is and always will be. How does a finite mind grasp that concept? It doesn’t. It ‘s not possible. 

            The knowledge and wisdom of God far surpasses anything that can be understood by mortal man.  God’s wisdom and knowledge doesn’t merely exist, flows on endlessly. I believe it flows because it is uncontainable. I believe, just like God Himself, His wisdom and knowledge is living, breathing and never ending. I do not pretend to understand a whole lot in this life, but one thing that I believe I DO understand is that God cannot be contained. He cannot be limited. There are no boundaries when it comes to what God is capable of doing. I believe it to be literally true that no matter what situation you find yourself in at this very moment in time, one word from Almighty God and your situation can CHANGE in an instant, a mere Nano-second. Faster than a blink of the eye. As quickly as Christ will appear in the sky when He returns for His church. In the twinkling of an eye, as scripture puts it. 

            There isn’t anything this side of heaven that makes any sense at all when it comes to God and all the riches He has at His disposal. So, rest in God … rest in the knowledge of knowing that you cannot figure it out. As terrifying as being in a free fall may seem to you, imagine that you are doing just that. You are in a free fall through time and space and yet are seen by a God Who will not allow anything to harm you … those things that take place are pre-ordained or mapped out by the Creator of the Universe. You are safe in His arms, even while you are falling. Instead of stressing about the landing, allow yourself to reside in the peace of God and enjoy the ride. God will never fail you. He will never abandon you. He will never let you down. What you must endure in this life God is aware of and has either prepared you for it or will sustain you through it. Seek His face and reach deep into the richness that is God for His wisdom and knowledge. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

Rich Keller

Bread of Life Ministries 

Word for the Day

God is flawless ...

“Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.”

Proverbs 30:5 (NIV)

                  Whatever you read in scripture is perfect and without mistake. The foot notes, commentary comments or interpretive inclusions are not, for they are written by man. There are not many gods, there is only one God. He stands alone. No one can rival Him. There’s no one who can replace God and anyone who tries fails.  You see it is God who is flawless, not any mere mortal. It is God in whom we can take refuge and not any of the Superheroes who have graced the cinematic screen. Who else can raise the dead, heal the sick and forgive every sin you’ve ever committed? No one but God Himself. 

            What cinematic Superheroes do for us is put a face and body to an entity that is good and righteous and wholesome and capable of defeating evil. All this and special CGI effects to boot. But alas, it is fiction, as in not real. Even the actors and actresses who play the Superheroes are in need of what God offers to all. And even if the characters they played WERE real and COULD do all the things they can do in movies, they would STILL need the forgiveness God offers, because they cannot save themselves. No one ever could. So, go forth today knowing that the Word of God is true and that HE is the shield that protects you from all that the enemy dispenses against you. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

Rich Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Thoughts from a Random Mind

            I have failed so many times in this life, but in spite of my failed efforts God loves me. His patience is infinite, and his mercies are new every morning. I am humbled, for I don’t deserve such grace, but that’s exactly what grace is … unmerited or undeserved favor. Wow! I don’t know anyone this side of heaven that forgives and then remembers it against me no longer. That’s the example we’re supposed to follow, but I feel incapable of replicating his actions. Half the time I feel overwhelmed by the task before me; the other half of the time I’m stumbling thru an effort to succeed. If I only had my own resources to rely on, I could see why I would feel overwhelmed, but we are not alone in our efforts. 

            Distractions abound in this life. The devil is working overtime to slow us down in our efforts to serve the Lord. We cannot do this alone. It’s impossible. On our best day we can’t live up to God’s standard. That’s why we need him. We shouldn’t beat ourselves up because of our failings. We are like small children learning to ride a bike for the first time. First, we start with training wheels. When the training wheels come off, we are unsure of our ability to perform this task of riding on two wheels. A skinned knee may be the result, but we weren’t promised a pain-free life. In a way God is like a mom, who tends to the knee to bring about healing. He is also like a father who encourages and instructs us. We can’t do it alone. We must except that as a fact. 

            I have very poor concentration, which results in my being easily distracted. If we must be distracted let us be distracted by the Lord and not by irrelevant things that amount to nothing in the end. There is no such thing as a simple life any longer. Technological advances have seen to that. Our phones, iPads, Xboxes, etc. have become the distractions of the day and from what I’m told Netflix is downright addictive. Anything to take away from time with the Lord. We fail because we cannot see the true importance of having God supersede all else in our lives. Without his constant interaction in our lives we will continue to fail. Hone in on the things of the Lord and let him lead you where he wants you to go. The victories will come. Minor setbacks will come as well, but they will be outweighed by the daily successes we will find in Christ. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!   

RLKeller

Bread of Life Ministries

Word for the Day

Thoughts from a Random Mind

            As the pandemic has moved thru our world we are starting to see signs of all shape and sizes saying we should “show kindness” to one another at this time. The actual truth of the matter is that we ought to show kindness to others all the time.  I was thinking about that the other day and came up with this thought … it requires patience to be kind.

            If you will recall, kindness is a Fruit of the spirit and so is patience. They go hand in hand with the other fruit such as goodness, mercy and compassion. Being kind has a lot to do with being selfless, as opposed to being selfish. You are not inclined to be kind to others if you are selfish, because even when you are kind it’s typically for selfish motives. Being kind for the right reasons requires patience. You must strip yourself of ‘you’ and get down to the place where what others desire is more important than what you desire. 

            It’s all about leaving your comfort zone. We like our comfort zone. We feel safe there. Stepping out of the zone reveals our tender white underbelly, which is vulnerable to attack. We are to be kind for kindness sake and not to get a return. This pandemic is bringing out the kindness of people toward others. Perhaps this is what it took to get peoples’ attention. Under normal circumstances we tend to be too self-centered. When our focal point is Christ our tendency shifts to God-centered thoughts and actions. Our focal point needs to be God-centered to avoid being self-centered. It takes a conscious effort, but we can do it with the help of the Holy Spirit. Until next time, walk with the King a be a blessing!

rlkeller

Bread of Life Ministries

The Blood of Christ

“This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” 
Matthew 26:28 NIV

          Blood is an amazing thing, isn’t it? It’s our blood that powers our bodies, as it flows through our veins and arteries into the furthest reaches of our extremities to provide life. God made it so that blood was required to cover one’s sins in the OT. In the NT, the blood of Christ no longer covered one’s sins, but rather removed them, as if they were never committed.  
          We take it for granted I think, until we have problems with it. Certain diseases are blood related; blood carries those diseases to others if not quarantined. It CAN be a destructive force if not respected and taken care of. We do things to our bodies, put things IN our bodies that can affect our blood and shorten our life. While it’s true we can do as we please in this life, as Paul says to the Corinthians basically, ‘do as you please, but understand that not everything is good for you.’

          Forgiveness is a marvelous institution. To forgive is to practice unconditional love. It’s like saying to someone, “regardless of what you‘ve done, are doing or will do, I will love you … without conditions.” It is a wonderful thing. At times we can take forgiveness for granted. This creates cheap grace, but grace isn’t cheap, nor was it free. It came with a price. Christ willingly shed His own blood to provide forgiveness. Don’t let it become a cheap thing. Innocent blood was spilled on Calvary’s cross for you and me. Let us never forget that. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

Rlkeller

BOLM

Thoughts from a Random Mind

          What does it mean to be a Christian? The title ‘Christian’ was adopted by the Antioch church (Acts 11:23-26). It means literally “Christ-like” or “Ones of Christ” or “little Christs”*. There are some that believe that because America has Christian roots based on the beliefs of the country’s founding fathers, if you were born in America you are automatically a Christian. Not quite. If you ask most people if they are a Christian they will say “of course”. They base their statement on the fact that they believe there is a God but based on the moral and ethical compass they follow it doesn’t seem to go much deeper than simply acknowledging God’s existence. Is there one way to believe? Does it follow some formula; like ‘do this and do that and you are in the club’ type of thing? If you believe God is real, then what about Jesus? Do you believe in him? Do you know what he did for you as an individual? What does it mean to you that based on Jesus’ actions you’ve been forgiven of all your disobedient acts? This information, once realized, should have changed your life, did it? Or are you a Christian in name only?  rlkeller – bolm 

*https://hermeneutics.stackexchange.com/questions/21020/what-does-christian-mean-acts-1126

Thoughts from a Random Mind

            I have been told on several occasions that I am a good man. If that person really knew me, they probably wouldn’t say that, but what I tell them is not religious jargon. I tell them “any good thing you see in me is Jesus living through me”.  I say that because of what Jesus said in the gospels. He was told he was good, and he asks why the person called him good, that only the Father who is in heaven is good.  If left to my own devices I’m not all that nice. I can be selfish. I think deep down inside somewhere is the aloof ‘me’. The ‘me’ that wants to run and hide from civilization and be by myself. I’m not sure where that comes from but it’s very real to me.

            Instead of being labeled a ‘good’ man, I strive to be kind, loving, compassionate, merciful; all the characteristics that are attributed to Christ. Now I suppose, especially to a worldly person, that would constitute being a ‘good’ person, but I think ‘good’ is a weak interpretation of one’s character. ‘Good’ is a very common word for behavior that is common for those who are living within their own self-appointed parameters based solely on what they know and understand.  I want to be more than just a ‘good’ man. I want the Lord to be satisfied with the way I’m living my life. I want my life to bring him glory. I’m not here to build a personal legacy. I don’t care if one soul knows my name after I’m gone. As long as they know the name of Jesus and have allowed him to change their life, that is all that matters to me.

            I am flawed and broken, but in spite of all that I am loved unconditionally by the One who created me in his own image. For that I am blessed. I need to remember that no matter what comes against me in this life, I am loved, and love conquers all. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing! rlkeller - bolm

Don't be Anxious

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4:6-7

          I have a question: has being worried or anxious ever solved any problem you were having? I can answer that one from my own personal experiences … NO! and not just NO, but a resounding NO!! We humans have this propensity to become anxious over things we can’t do anything to change. The enemy jumps in our face and says to our subconscious, “Now you’ve really got problems. Do you really think God will get you out of all this?” We must remember, Satan is a liar and the father of all lies (John 8:44). He challenges our belief system by throwing flaming darts at areas that are our weakest. Our faith begins to fade far too quickly leading us to spend too much time fretting over things as if God’s word was a lie.

          God’s word is as clear as a newly cleaned windowpane. The word ‘but’ in verse 6 should actually read like this, “Instead of being anxious about anything, pray to the Father about everything … and be thankful in the process.” For people who constantly feel that we need to be doing something to create a change in their situation, here is your solution … PRAY. Pray from a clean heart. Pray from a clear conscience. Pray regardless of your mindset at the time. Pray. Pray specifically by asking that God’s perfect will for your life be done. Give thanks for the opportunity to learn something new and become stronger in your faith. Don’t pray for the situation to disappear, because there is a purpose for everything that takes place in our lives and you were meant to go thru whatever is taking place in your life right now and you may never know why.  Notice that in verses 6 & 7, God doesn’t say He will alleviate the problem or alter the situation. What does He say? That His peace will cover you with the purpose of guarding your hearts and minds. 
          Praying to God with thanksgiving in your heart needs to become as commonplace an action in the face of unpleasant circumstances as breathing in and out. One action sustains life the other sustains your spirit life. Don’t forget all you know and believe about God just because things have taken a turn for the worse. Always remember this: regardless of the circumstances, God is mindful of them and one word from Him can change everything in an instant. Focus on Christ instead of the winds and waves that surround you. It is how we grow in the spirit. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing! rlkeller - bolm

God Hears Us

 

“I have heard your prayer … .”

2 Chronicles 7:12 (NIV)

Nothing on this earth could ever compare to Almighty God. No matter how hard we try to emulate God we fail miserably because we are terminally imperfect. God is the only perfect entity, which is why He is the ‘prototype’, so to speak. The ‘standard’ that should be followed.

Having said all that, what does it mean to us when we read the words “I have heard your prayer …”? If God is ethereal and therefore not of this earth, then how does He hear us? So many of us, and I can tend to be one of them, over think certain things. Rather than focusing on the fact that He hears us, I want to know how He hears us. I am telling you now, the confirmation in scripture that your Heavenly Father actually hears you when you pray to Him is infinitely more important than how He hears you.

How many of you understand that there is a significant difference between listening and hearing. We can listen to someone all day long and not truly hear anything they’ve said. What a comfort to find that our Heavenly Father can be trusted to HEAR our prayers and not just listen to them.

In the movie, BRUCE ALMIGHTY**, God, played by Morgan Freeman, takes a vacation, giving all His powers to Bruce (Jim Carrey). In one scene, Bruce is on his computer and he starts receiving hundreds, even thousands of prayer requests almost instantaneously. He can’t answer them all individually, because he has determined that it would be too time consuming, so he decides to just give an affirmative answer to all the prayer requests. This of course doesn’t work out so well. Isn’t it a good thing that God not only hears us as an individual, but takes the time to say either ‘no’ or ‘not yet’ from time to time when He knows to rubber stamp our request will lead to negative consequences. We truly do not know what is good for us and normally want the easy way into or out of a given situation. However, it is in the waiting that some of our most important lessons are learned … as long as WE have decided to hear and not just listen. So know that God hears all your prayers and will answer them when the right time for an answer has come. This involves trust and patience. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

*Prototype – An original type, form or instance serving as a basis or standard.

** Bruce Almighty – released in theatres May 14^th, 2003 by Universal Pictures.

Word for the Day

Life Lesson - Disappointment

Disappointment – “Unhappiness caused by the failure of one's hopes, desires, or expectations.” *

                  Does a Christian have the right to be disappointed?  -  Life’s filled with disappointments. We have hopes, desires and dreams. Though they may be unrealistic we have them all the same. Media outlets of all types fill us with unreasonable expectations based on our basic materialistic desires for comfort and pleasure. Do we as Christians have the right to be disappointed with anything in life? Well, not really. It all depends on our expectations and whether they are reasonable and/or God driven. We get caught up being disappointed because things don’t turn out the way we had hoped, not realizing at the time that God has something much more valuable in store for us.

            Disappointment is tied to patience.  -  How long are you willing to wait for God’s will to be manifest in your life, as long as it takes? Many folks say that but show they don’t mean it by their actions. Look at Abraham and Sarah – God promised a son, but because 20 years had passed and they were old Sarah told Abraham to lie with her Egyptian servant Hagar. He did and she gave birth to Ismael, but he was not the son God promised. Impatience caused disobedience. Sarah became angry and jealous and cast Hagar out of her presence. The enemy will use any delay to discourage us to the point of distraction allowing doubt to creep into our soul. Don’t set your expectations too high. Let God set your expectations based on his promises from scripture.

            Disappointment is tied to happiness – They say ‘being happy is a decision’. Should our happiness be tied to life’s disappointments? It often times is, but should it be? It depends on the driving force in your life. Are you running with a worldly engine or a heavenly inspired one? Do you seek God for wisdom and guidance or comb the Internet for inspiration? I believe it really is a decision we make each day to be happy or unhappy. Each day we must touch base with our Heavenly Father in an effort to feed our spirit man. Perhaps it’s thru the lyrics of a song, a devotional read, a scripture verse we stumble upon or an email from a brother or sister in the Lord telling us what a blessing we are. These small things elevate our faith and drive out unhappiness and disappointment. Just reading a Psalm per day can rev up your spiritual engine.

            Below you will find scriptures dealing with disappointment: Don’t wait to be spoon fed … dig deep into the richness of God’s soil and feed on the truth of his word. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing! rlkeller – BOLM 

Bible verses dealing with disappointment:

Jeremiah 29:11

Isaiah 55:8-9

Romans 8:28

Psalm 55:22

Philippians 4:6-7

Matthew 6:6

Psalms 27:14

Isaiah 40:28-31

Philippians 4:13

*The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

HAVING CONFIDENCE IN GOD

“This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.”

1 John 5:14-15

                  I remember when I was a child, I had asked for a tape recorder for Christmas. For some reason, I took it upon myself to go on a hunting expedition in my parent’s closet one Saturday, when my folks were out shopping for groceries. Well, I found a small reel-to-reel tape recorder in a box buried deep in the bowels of their closet, behind my mom’s long dresses.

            That particular year I was extremely confident that what I had asked for I would be receiving. This is the same confidence we can have regarding those things we ask for from God. There is one stipulation though; we must ask according to His will. If we know the Lord personally than chances are you’ll know what to ask for.

            Sometimes it seems as if the will of God is one of the most difficult things to discern in the whole, wide world, but it really isn’t. Start off by doing what you know is right and righteous in the sight of God. Do whatever you do to glorify Him. Be like Solomon, in that you ask for that which will benefit others and not lift yourself up. Remember, according to scripture, “we must decrease and He must increase” (John 3:30). If you seek wisdom, guidance, assistance out of a dilemma or a healing … all noble requests that would bring glory to God, then God will answer you in the affirmative. God’s will is not unattainable.

            If you’re uncertain as to whether something is within the parameters of God’s will just ask that his will be done in your life and wait for the manifestation of it.  Something like this, “Lord, give me wisdom and sound judgment today that I might be able to bless and encourage others and I will give You all the glory. In the precious and powerful name of Jesus, amen.” I believe God will not only hear, but also answer a request like that.

            May the will of God never be far from you is my prayer for you this day. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing! 

Rkeller

Bread of Life Ministries