Thoughts From a Random Mind            

            Over the last few years I have encountered more and more people with the apparent mindset that it is easier to get forgiveness then permission. They do whatever, knowing it is not morally or ethically acceptable and when they are found out they simply say they’re ‘sorry’. Those who do such things out of total ignorance will tend to not only say they are ‘sorry’, but that ‘it won’t happen again’. Those trying to get away with doing what they want will not state such intentions. It’s a curious thing. The discerning mind picks up on this fairly quickly. I can’t believe it would be pleasing to the Lord because in matters of the heart and its motivation their intention is hazy at best. With Christ as our example, I cannot imagine any scenario where Jesus would act in such a way. You can be sure Jesus Christ would have never used diversionary tactics to get what he wanted. Ethics and morals are two columns of integrity that must be honored and exercised to establish a general trustworthiness among the brethren and those outside the faith. Once you are not trusted you have lost ground to the enemy that will be very difficult to regain. Keep your motives pure and your actions unmistakable so your faith is never questioned. While some will scrutinize, looking for any reason to discredit you, at least you have not given them a reason gift wrapped and on a silver platter. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing! 

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Thoughts from a Random Mind

                  There I sat at a high school graduation just a few hours ago and I was thrown back to my own college days. At that time in my life I had no money to speak of so I would go to the mall and people watch. I wasn’t a believer at the time, so my thoughts were all over the place regarding people’s appearance, the way they were acting or something as simple as the way they walked. I would critique and categorize each one who passed by. I found that interesting. It wasn’t that I was making fun of people or determining which ones I was better than. It was just a hobby of mine, people watching. Well, I was doing it at the graduation this evening, some 43 years later. 

                  There’s a saying that goes something like this: “The more things change, the more they stay the same.” I still analyze people passing by. But today I looked hard at them and said to myself, God loves those people just as much as he loves me. I wonder if they know the Lord. I also wonder what their back-story is. Who were their parents, where did they go to high school, did they go to college, where was their first job, what do they do now, how many times have they been married, is or was it a harmonious union, do they go to church? I think to myself, that person was once someone’s little baby. How were they raised? Were they raised in church? When you think like that other people watching takes on a whole new perspective. We begin to look upon them with compassion and mercy. 

                  People are a lot more than the ones others can laugh at on a “People of Wal-Mart” video on YouTube. I’ve been guilty of judging by people’s appearance for a long time, but now I am slowly beginning to see them differently. I believe it began when I asked the Lord to let me see others thru HIS eyes and not my own. We must learn from our mistakes and shortcomings, or we are no different than the world we seek to change.  Until the next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Thoughts from a Random Mind

 

While we certainly CAN dispute biblical doctrine and debate their validity, we cannot go around making up our own rules based on what we feel should be true. Okay, well you can do that, but it only breeds doubts, questions, and unbelief. Quasi*-Believers think they are Christians just because they believe in God & Jesus. Sadly not being sold out for Christ allows their doubts and questions to negate their faith. That is like floating in the open sea with a life saver within reach, yet never reaching for it. You believe you can survive on your own and while you certainly CAN survive, is that truly living to the fullest extent? Christ died a horrific death so mankind could have the opportunity to actually live our lives to the fullest. It has nothing to do with our abilities or potential. It’s what is given to us when we give ourselves over to the will of God for our life. Check out these verses:

 

"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." – John 10:10

 

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." – Jeremiah 29:11

 

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear** the Lord and turn away from evil.” – Proverbs 3:5-7

            Until next time, walk with the Kin g & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries 

*Quasi – apparently, but not really ** In this case “fear” means reverence & respect. Therefore, this verse is telling us to show the Lord His due respect and reverence.

Thoughts From a Random Mind

            I was sitting outside in the backyard one afternoon last winter enjoying the cold, clean air when I thought of something I found interesting. As I look about I saw the barren, lifeless trees all around me. It reminded me of the barren, lifeless heart of an unsaved man. Without Christ in one’s life there is nothing worth living for if you want to be honest about it. Everything in this world either breaks down or dies at some point and there’s nothing any of us can do about it. The barren trees also symbolize a dying, decaying world that is mired in sinfulness, which is a festering sore on humanity.

                  It is no surprise to me that Easter or Resurrection Day is in the springtime. It’s the time when trees sport their new buds and flowers begin to bloom. This is representative of new life, just as Christ rose to new life and we rise to new life when we receive the forgiveness of God.  The new life all around gives us all reason for hope. The beauty of the blossoming trees and the blooming flowers shows us what that new life looks like. 

                  Once in full bloom we represent all that is good and right about God. The thought of all this made me smile for I realized that I was loved deeply by my Heavenly Father, and nothing would ever change that. I am no longer a barren tree. I am alive and well and living as his vehicle to teach and write about godly living in an ungodly world. May God bless me that I might be a blessing to others and may he do the same for you. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing! 

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Thoughts from a Random Mind

Possessions

            To possess something is to own it. People accumulate a multitude of possessions in a lifetime. Some are worth keeping, some are expendable. Those would be the things that have little to no value. Other possessions have intrinsic value, in that they are essential to one’s life and well-being.  

            There are things that we need and things that we want. Desires do not equal need. Our desires are driven by what we feel we must have. We must come to the understanding that all things that we desire are not essential to life. Take salvation ... it is essential to ones existence both now and in the future, but many have no desire for it because they don’t understand their need of it. 

            The most important possession is something that we cannot own, but rather something that owns us. God created the heavens and the earth and everything in it. He seeks to possess your heart, for in possessing your heart He will be able to mold you more into His image. Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Thoughts From a Random Mind

            What is truly important in life? I know when I get perturbed about something at work I complain to myself about it and then come to the ultimate conclusion that it’s really not important & not worth being upset about so I promptly dismiss it. I wasn’t always like that. I would stew about things for hours. It affected my countenance and my attitude. People could look at my face to see how I was feeling; I projected negativism. As I have grown in the Lord over the years (and trust me it took a while) I have more of a tendency to overlook things or let them slide. Oh, I still get upset about some things, but the Holy Spirit helps me to allow the anger to dissipate, like water as it evaporates as steam.

                  How do you handle situations that arise in your life … at home, at work, at school, during sports competition?  Do your emotions get the better of you? Do you lose control and allow the worst parts of your old nature to surface? In the heat of the battle we can say and do very uncharacteristic things. When this happens in a Christian’s life the only thing we can do is ask the Lord for forgiveness, which surprisingly is the easy part. Facing strangers, peers or family members can be very difficult. It’s called ‘eating crow’ in some circles and can be very humiliating. I know because I’ve had to come forward and ask forgiveness for overreacting to a given situation far too many times. 

                  Let me conclude this by saying in this world both believers and non-believers are rarely allowed the luxury of being human … of being themselves. In those cases everyone seems to become either a critic or a judge and jury. Isn’t it funny how others seem to know better than you how to live your life? Do yourself a favor and follow God’s lead and regardless of how you are perceived, you’ll be alright. I’d rather be favored in God’s sight than man’s any day of the week. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing! 

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Thoughts from a Random Mind

                  I’m not sure if I am the only one who thinks this way, but have you ever considered the idea that because we know what we know and not what others know, we are inclined to make assumptions about another person’s faith and/or walk with God. I have had a tendency to discount someone’s faith in God because they smoke or go to bars. That’s arrogant of me because I don’t know exactly where they stand with Christ. Maybe they are brand new believers. Maybe they are believers only have multiple weaknesses that they are struggling with. Our job is not to judge. Everyone is at a different stage in his or her spiritual maturation. We do not … we cannot know the condition of a persons heart. Only God can. This is why HE is the judge and not us. He judges based on what we cannot know. At times we don’t even know our own heart and mind re: matters, so how could we ever fairly judge the matters of someone else’s heart and mind? For those believers struggling with detrimental habits, addictions or compulsions, we are to offer comfort, consolation, encouragement, mercy and prayer. Edify … don’t eat them alive. Never forget where you came from and what you came out of. We don’t know everyone’s back-story. Be Christ to others by offering hope thru love. 

                  Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries