Thoughts from a Random Mind

       My brethren, this is no time to faint in the face of calamity. The devil is the master of deceit and will do all he can to place doubt in our minds. Don’t allow it. Doubt gives way to fear and fear leads to indecision and a feeling of hopelessness. My brethren, this need not be the case. We have all God liberally provides to us at our disposal. Tap into the Spirit of God and feed on his goodness. Do not allow doubts of his faithfulness to creep into your mind. There is power in the name of Jesus.  Rebuke the devil in His name. God has the final word regarding all things; even who lives and who dies. 

            This is the time for those who don’t know God in a personal way to give their lives over to him. Would you trade this life of pain and misery for an eternal home with the King of Kings? Even if you have had a comfortable existence, are healthy and have no significant problems, there is one thing you are unable to do. You cannot buy forgiveness. You cannot redeem your own soul. Only God can do that. If you don’t believe in God, if you don’t think he exists, you had better be right in your belief. If you are wrong eternal separation from him will end up being a very harsh penalty for your ignorance. 

            Those who are Christians in name only, but are not practicing their faith, what is holding you back for being all in. This is no time to be lukewarm. You want blessings from God but are not willing to align yourself with his standards for living. You are not willing to speak his name to the unsaved. Going to church every time the doors are open makes you a Christian like standing on a stage makes you an entertainer. What does Christ’s death on the cross mean to you? Have you allowed him to change your life one iota? Think on these things; reassess and realign yourself with your Creator. He loves you and wishes you to come home. 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

            John used to be our mailman. Nice guy. We had the chance to chat with him from time to time. We provided him with either ice cold water or Gatorade during the sweltering summer months. Today we were chatting about our personal health & he told me he was needing a knee replacement. I told him we believed in God and would pray that all would go perfectly well for him before, during and after his surgery.  His response was typical for a non-believer; he looked down at the ground and quietly laughed. 

            People that do not know God or only have a fringe belief in him will tend to do that. Sarah laughed out loud when the angel of God told Abram he would have a son. Sarah considered this impossible due to her advanced age. 

            Naaman was the King of Syria who was afflicted with leprosy. He sought healing from God’s Prophet Elisha, but the prophet not only didn’t come out to see him but sent a message via a messenger to the King telling him to dip 7 times in the Jordan and his leprosy would be gone. Naaman was furious at what he perceived to be the prophet’s disrespect. He wasn’t going to do it. The King’s servant talked him into doing as Elisha had said. 

            Those who do not ascribe to the standards of God will tend to either laugh or become mad. Why would God allow this to happen to me? Everyone would like to think of himself or herself as reasonably good and not at all worthy of some dreaded sickness or life threatening disease. Those who only have a marginal belief in God act as if they are testing him. If all is well, then he is a good God. If calamity takes place in their lives he is a merciless God who is mean and self-serving. God is neither.

            Once a person takes the time to find out just who God truly is they will begin to understand that God isn’t there to be at our beck and call. He is not obligated do whatever WE wish to have done. In other words, the Lord isn’t a genie in a bottle. We were created for HIS good pleasure, and not the other way around. 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

             The devil is an expert at diverting our attention. He is a master of deceit and is called in scripture the father of all lies (John 8:44) *. Thankfully, he has no power over a child of God, unless the Lord chooses to allow the devil to bring something against you as a means of bolstering your faith. Our faith and trust in God must be unshakable. It must never waver. We need to understand that there is a reason for everything that happens in life. We may not understand the why and wherefore of the matter, but that doesn’t make it any less true. If it were not true then the world would fall into abject chaos, with no rhyme or reason for anything. What is God trying to tell you in your situation?

            The COVID-19 pandemic was an event that could have scared the wits out of you if you let it. The devil had succeeded in some regions of the country to terrorize people into not leaving their homes. The stress that is generated by fear will lower your immune system’s ability to combat sickness. Scripture tells us not to worry, for worrying will not add one day to your life (Luke 12:25) **.  

            Don’t let the devil distract you. Keep your focus squarely set on Christ. It is HE that can rescue you from the fire. It is HE that can save your soul from hell. The devil destroys, the Lord re-establishes and restores. All it takes is a matter of minutes, sometimes even mere seconds to tear apart all you have built throughout your life. That isn’t God’s plan for you. Seek him, trust him and live for him. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing! 

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

 

* John 8:44 “For you are the children of your father the devil, and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the truth because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies.”

 

** Luke 12:25 “Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life?”

Thoughts from a Random Mind

          I am of the opinion that no matter how bad a person may have it in his or her life there is always someone somewhere who has it worse. It helps me to think like that when things aren't going so well for me. We all have our little trials and tribulations. They come to good people and bad people alike. You can be a saint and still have difficulties. It is an inevitable part of life. How we deal with our difficulties says a lot about our character and our belief system. I have chosen to believe that God has everything under control at all times even when I do not. If God is truly who the Bible says He is, then how could I not believe in such a way. Putting my faith and trust in something or someone else is putting it in something or someone that is fallible, for no one is infallible except God. Why would a person believe in anything that wasn't flawless? Beats me. 

            So I am going to go about my day today with the hope that all will go well for me today. If it doesn't I believe there is a reason for it and I will roll with the tide. Life doesn't have to be complicated. We make it that way, but it doesn't have to be that way. It's like the gospel; we tend to make that complicated too. It's simple really. God loves us so much that He saved us from ourselves by sending His Son to die for all the sins we have ever committed. That was Christ’s way of inviting us into an intimate, loving relationship with Almighty God. Praise His name. 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 believe there are far too many Christians who love their brethren and those outside the faith with conditional love. Believe it or not they don’t have to belong to your same denomination to be saved. They don’t have to believe exactly the way you do. Do they believe in God? Do they believe Jesus is God’s Son? Do they believe Christ died to set all men free from sin? Do they ascribe to the standard for living laid out by God in the Bible? Some shun believers that smoke, without knowing the circumstances surrounding why they smoke. Some shun believers with tattoos, without knowing where in life they’ve come from.  

            How’s about this: maybe the God we say we believe in we really don’t know as well as we think we do. Maybe, just maybe, we’ve made God in our own image. Maybe we’ve made God to be what makes sense to us and what makes us comfortable and at ease. We act in a way that doesn’t reveal the true God to anyone. We’re just pushing what we’ve been taught to believe, but is it an accurate representation of the one true God. 

            We all assume way too much. We were told to love our brethren, not pick and choose from the lot based on what we agree with or find pleasing. Anything distasteful must go, right? Don’t you realize there is tremendous hypocrisy in our words and actions? Don’t you realize WE are the reason many people don’t darken the door of a church. Perhaps that’s because what we say doesn’t always line up with what we do. We’re not perfect by any stretch of the imagination, but in spite of that we attempt to take a hard line with those who don’t follow the exact same path we are walking on. WE ARE NOT THE JUDGE. Thank God for that.  We are all broken people, just like those in the world. The difference is we are on the road to recovery. We’re no better or worse than anyone else. Our Creator loves us all UNCONDITIONALLY. Lighten up friends, make it a point to ask God daily to help you see others thru HIS non-judgmental, merciful, compassionate, loving eyes. Study the Jesus of the Gospels and emulate that. Exhibit a loving and merciful spirit. THAT is what we are called to do. I half think we’d be better off at times living out our faith and say nothing. Showing people God’s love far outweighs telling them. The telling needs to supplement the showing. 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 believe there are far too many Christians who love their brethren and those outside the faith with conditional love. They don’t have to belong to your same denomination to be saved. They don’t have to believe exactly the way you do. Do they believe in God? Do they believe Jesus is God’s Son? Do they believe Christ died to set all men free from sin? Do they ascribe to the standard for living laid out by God in the Bible? Some shun believers that smoke, without knowing the circumstances surrounding the person’s smoking. Some shun believers with tattoos, without knowing where in life they’ve come from.

            We all assume way too much. We were told to love our brethren, not pick and choose from the lot based on what we agree with or find pleasing. Anything distasteful must go, right? Don’t you realize there is tremendous hypocrisy in our words and actions? Don’t you realize WE are the reason many people don’t darken the door of a church. We’re not perfect by any stretch of the imagination, but in spite of that we attempt to take a hard line with those who don’t follow the exact same path we are walking on. WE ARE NOT THE JUDGE. Thank God for that.  We are all broken people, just like those in the world. The difference is we are on the road to recovery. We’re no better or worse than anyone else. Our Creator loves us all UNCONDITIONALLY. Lighten up friends, make it a point to ask God daily to help you see others thru HIS non-judgmental, merciful, compassionate, loving eyes. 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

Rest in Peace

 

            This morning on my way to work I spied a sticker on the rear of a car in front of me that said “Rest in Peace” over a State Policeman’s badge number. He had obviously been killed in the line of duty. What does “Rest in Peace” actually mean? The Holy Spirit said to my spirit, “Look it up. Expound on it,” so I did…

                  After the rigors of this life, Christians from the early church would wish those who pass on from this earth rest.  The phrase “Rest in Peace” was found in the catacombs of the early Christians and indicated that "they died in the peace of the Church, that is, united in Christ." * I thought to myself, ‘what lasting peace can be found aside from Christ? Is there another peace that passes all understanding outside of knowing God?’ I know I’ve never found it, have you? 

The peace of this world is fleeting at best, largely because the one who controls this world is God’s chief adversary and he is the creator of chaos and distress, not peace. Therefore, any peace found this side of heaven is temporal. It cannot last based on the atmosphere created on the earth.

                  So when someone says, “Rest in Peace”, it is only meaningful if that person had a relationship with the God who made them. Aside from that there is no peace. Make peace with God and watch your disposition change. Make peace with God and find rest from your troubles in the here and now. We lose our peace and inner tranquility when we take our eyes off of the Lord. This is what happened to Peter when he attempted to walk on the water to Jesus in the gospels. 

                  So find peace thru a personal relationship with God now. Why wait? Ask for it, expect it & bask in the glow of it. God loves us ... “No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly” ^{(Psalm 84:11)}.

In His name & for His glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

 

* Tuker, Mildred Anna Rosalie; Malleson, Hope (1900). "Introduction to the Catacombs". Handbook to Christian and Ecclesiastical Rome: The Christian monuments of Rome. A. and C. Black. p. 411.

Thoughts from a Random Mind

STOP!

            “To change a course of action.” *  That is just one of many definitions of the word STOP.  There are many times that we are asked to stop in our lifetime. STOP signs on the road tell us to change our course of action from propelling forward to coming to a complete stop so as to avoid a potential accident with another oncoming vehicle. We might be told to “STOP” saying or doing something because it is annoying to the other individual in the room. Police yell “STOP or I’ll shoot” in an effort to keep a criminal from getting away. In scripture, the word STOP is used in the very same way. The most important use of the word STOP is so that people will STOP sinning. 

            We are bound for an everlasting hell unless we do something: Jesus replied, “I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life. So don’t be surprised when I say, ‘You must be born again.’  ^{[John 3:3-6 NLT]} Therefore, we all have a decision to make in this lifetime. If we reject Christ by living as we please, never receiving & applying God’s gracious gift of salvation to our lives, we shall go to hell. God didn’t send you to hell, you voluntarily went all on your own thru disbelief.  

            STOP & think it thru. Are you so arrogant and/or ignorant to think that you can handle this life without the help of the One who created you in the first place? You cannot change the path you are on by yourself, or thru shear will.  You need God’s help; help He is more than willing to give you. STOP delaying.  No one knows when their time on this earth is up. It’s time for a spiritual inventory to be taken. It’s time to allow God to reveal to you your shortcomings. STOP procrastinating. Don’t put off till tomorrow what can be done today...right now. Receive a spiritual cleansing by God’s own Spirit & be made anew. It’s yours for the taking. Allow the Spirit of God to mold you into the likeness of Christ a little more each day. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His name & for His glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

*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.

Thoughts from a Random Mind

            I have had a bit of a problem coming to a complete stop when I come to a stop sign. I perform what I’ve heard called a “California rolling stop”. My wife has been after me for some time now to make sure I come to a complete stop. Finally, it dawned on me... The message on the sign isn’t a suggestion, it’s the law. So now whenever I come to a stop sign I say out loud, “Stop is not a suggestion”. It has been working so far. Then I got to thinking...how can this be applied to our walk with the Lord? 

            Isaiah 1:16 says “stop doing wrong”. In John 5:14, Jesus says “stop sinning...”. In John 6:43 Jesus says, “stop grumbling among yourselves”. Jesus said in John 7:24, “Stop judging by mere appearances”. There are other examples in scripture, but I think you can see where I’m going with this.

            When the Lord tells His children to “stop” doing something we must take it very seriously. It is NOT a suggestion. There are no options involved. Sin has no place in a believer’s heart; therefore, it stands to reason that they ought to completely STOP sinning. The unspoken thought here is that we’re not being asked to go it alone. We are told in scripture that the Lord is with us wherever we go (Joshua 1:9; Isaiah 41:10 & Deuteronomy 31:6).

            So don’t blow off the STOP signs in your life. Come to a complete stop when you’re required to and also stop doing those things that God has impressed on your heart to stop. The Holy Spirit will help you if you ask Him. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His name & for His glory,

Rich Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Thoughts from a Random Mind

“God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 1 Peter 5:5

Here Peter is quoting Proverbs 3:34, which says:“The Lord mocks the mockers but is gracious to the humble.”

 

            Humility is another word that can be used for a person who has a “teachable spirit”.

Some folks seek out the things of God, wishing to please Him with their attitude toward their own behavior. They wish to emulate Christ and the only way that can be done is for them to feast on the word of God. 

            Then there are those folks who gladly accept salvation but have their own ideas on how to live their life. Perhaps they have a rebellious nature based on their own life experiences. It’s God’s desire for His children to follow in His footsteps. To do that people must be willing to submit to the will of God. Those who ignore God’s wise counsel regarding how they should live are generally not willing to be told what to do. I know a few people like that. 

 

            God’s strategy for effective living is as follows:  

1]        It begins with God’s wisdom - Respecting and appreciating who God is; having reverence and awe toward God.

2]        It requires moral application - Trusting in God and His word; allowing His Word to speak to us personally; being willing to obey.

3]        It requires practical application - Acting on God’s direction daily.

4]          It results in effective living - Experiencing what God does with our obedience. *

 

The Christ Life - Don’t just speak it ... LIVE IT!!!

 

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

In His name and for His glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resource: The Life Application Study bible

Thoughts from a Random Mind

Outside vs. Inside

 

                  I heard a statement a week or so ago that made me think. The man said, “People are too focused on the outside and not enough on the inside.” I pondered that thought and concluded that he was absolutely right. Satan has done a major number on us all with regards to what we find important and what preoccupies our minds.

                  The Apostle Paul tells the Roman believers in his letter to them, “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”  Yet isn’t that exactly what we’ve done? Too many people claim to be Christians, but don’t live like one. How do we live like Christ? It’s all in the Book ... The NT account of the life of Jesus of Nazareth tells us everything we need to know regarding how we are to live. 

                  2 Corinthians 5:17 tells us, “... anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” We are supposed to be different once we accept Christ into our heart and life. We are supposed to make a 180 degree turn and walk away from our former way of living. But this isn’t happening to a large extent. Men and women have falling for the devils lies and tricks to pull us into an ungodly direction. Just look around you. This is not to judge anyone ... we’ve all been duped to a certain extent. And if you think you’ve not fallen into his trap you’re fooling yourself.

                  People focus on the exterior and ignore the interior, which is what God cares about. 1 Samuel 16:7 says: “But the LORD said to Samuel, ‘Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.’” 

                  As true believers in Christ we must shake loose of the chains Satan has placed upon us and go on a mission to replicate Christ’s behavior as much as possible. We will fail and fail again, but striving for perfection is our goal, understanding that we can never achieve it. This is not a reason to avoid trying. Take your eyes off yourself and the external things that are meaningless in a spiritual sense and focus inwardly. Seek to become selfless, instead of what we are. Let’s face it, we all have a thread of selfishness that exists in us. It takes a deliberate attempt to eradicate it from our life or we will not be able to achieve the selfless state the Lord desires for each one of us. 

                  Don’t be concerned with your outward appearance. Don’t be a slob, but also don’t be fixated on your outward appearance. Become Christ-like in all you say and do so as to take on the appearance of Christ in your life. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His name & for His glory,

Richard Keller      

Bread of Life Ministries

  

Thoughts from a Random Mind

    I'm at peace with anything that happens because I know God's in absolute control of all things, but my wife was allowing the situations that were arising to overwhelm her. I told my wife that if we believe in God (and we do) then we know He can be trusted. I tried to encourage her with the following two scriptures.

Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV) "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you & not to harm you, plans to give you hope & a future." Psalms 37:25 (NIV) says, "I was young & now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread." Faith Building Moments are also Faith Defining Moments. 

We truly have nothing to fear. Almighty God is the Creator of ALL THINGS! Instead of being afraid or worried about the darkness that is all around us, focus on Christ who conquered the darkness. If we stay close to the Lord & trust Him over all other people or things, we will begin to feel that "peace that passes all understanding" that scripture talks about. Determine NOT to be like Peter when, at the behest of our Lord, he climbed overboard onto the water, only to sink when his focus flipped from Jesus to his surroundings. 

Jesus tells us in the Gospels that it only takes a mustard seed* of faith to move mountains. God loves us and will always look out for us. Instead of focusing on the negative, shift your focus to the cross and allow the Spirit of God to lift you up. Maintain your faith and trust in God no matter what you experience with your senses. God is in complete & total control of everything & either causes or allows everything that takes place in this world for His own purposes. He can be relied upon. Allow your faith to explode into that which will carry you forward thru each calamitous event. Praise His name as you go. Keep the faith and let it grow. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing....

In His name & for His glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

* A mustard seed was the smallest seed at that time. It was said to be only as big as the head of a pin.

Thoughts from a Random Mind...

Label - “To identify or designate with a descriptive term...

describe or classify.” *

Judging others is a problem nearly everyone, Christian or Non-Christian, has difficulty with. Going hand in hand with judging is placing labels on individuals.  Just by watching another person’s behavior or interaction with others can cause the judging person to figuratively place a neon sign over the head of the subject being judged. They seem to think that they know this individual without any personal interaction.

                  Labels can be hurtful if given with malice intent. In actuality, they can be hurtful if given with kindness in mind yet are misconstrued by the recipient. If we are to emulate Christ in all areas of our lives we must not size up people and assess them based the world’s consensus of who people are. Love and kindness should always lead the way. If you don’t know someone, either introduce yourself and get to know them firsthand or simply leave it alone. Nine times out of ten the person being judged or labeled isn’t known by the offender. 

                  What is the purpose of judging or labelling another person? Have we been manipulated into believing a lie about the person being labelled. I’ve been labelled throughout my life as many things that are simply not at all true. The result has been being rejected by other family members based on lies or half-truths. I’ve been guilty of this sin myself, but understanding that God loves all his creation, I’ve fought hard to banish such ungodly behavior from my heart. It’s a blessing to make new friends and a bigger blessing give everyone the benefit of the doubt rather than judging or labeling people out of ignorance. 

We are called to love all we encounter in this life. We are called to accept all we encounter. We are to treat them just the way we’d like to be treated. If you are unfamiliar with these concepts, seek them out in scripture. Learn what scripture says about living for Christ. It’s so much more rewarding then being negative towards others. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

In His Name & for His Glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries                                                                                    

* American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt 

PublishingCompany. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

 

Thoughts from a Random Mind

         There are times when I enjoy looking up a word that is generally associated with either the Bible or Christianity in a secular dictionary. Today I decided to look up the word “cross”. I started thinking about the word during a conversation with a female co-worker. She had just had a birthday and I asked her what her boyfriend got her for the occasion?  She showed me a small gold cross.  This prompted the following query: “What does the cross mean to you?” After a bit of a pause, she said: “Well, hmmm, it represents life. You know, life, because we aren’t always gonna have these bodies.” That was an interesting take. Since we were supposed to be working, I left it at that, but will revisit the topic again tomorrow if the opportunity presents itself. 

It’s interesting to me that so many people really have no idea what the cross stands for. They don’t automatically associate Jesus Christ with a cross. I view the cross as an international iconic symbol that should have a deep significance to those who profess faith in God.

I checked three (3) different secular dictionaries; American Heritage® Dictionary, Collins English Dictionary, and Dictionary of Unfamiliar Words. Each one as one of its’ definitions tied it to Christ’s death on a cross and its’ association with Christianity. I happened to like the definition listed from the Dictionary of Unfamiliar Words. It reads: “The main Christian symbol, reminding Christians of Jesus’ sacrificial death and his resurrection. It is a symbol of good over evil.” 

It is disappointing that some many people wear ostentatious crosses with big chains as a fashion statement yet means very little to them personally. I cannot know their heart’s motivation for wearing such a gaudy item, that’s up to God. But wearing such a piece without knowing it’s true significance is simply sad. 

There is a local independent evangelical church who has NO crosses anywhere on its property, its building or in its sanctuary. When asked why their only response that “Jesus is no longer on the cross.” I am certainly aware of that; however, the cross is a universal symbol that is easily recognizable to most. It’s a symbol of peace, hope, love, Christ’s death. I attempted to broach the subject with the head of their Christian Education Dept to no avail. I was treated as if I were a reporter looking for something scandalous or controversial. I received no answer of any consequence.  Why are people who are supposed to be lovers of Christ so afraid to take a stand regarding their beliefs? That represents a broad, sweeping generalization, for I know that all believers don’t feel that way. 

What does the cross mean to you? Have you told anyone else? The cross represents new life ... eternal life. It represents a payment ... a debt paid. A debt we owed yet had no way to repay. It represents Christ taking a severe beating in our place ... bled and died for us willingly with no hesitation. Do you agree? The cross does indeed represent “life”, my co-worker was on the right track. I aim to reveal to her what she’s missing. Maybe you have someone you know who wears a cross. What an awesome conversation starter!! Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resource(s): 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; Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014; Dictionary of Unfamiliar Words by Diagram Group Copyright © 2008 by Diagram Visual Information Limited.

 

Thoughts From a Random Mind

        I have currently realized that I am not important at all in this world. That is essentially because I am not from this world. My citizenship is in heaven, I just haven’t arrived there yet. “But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives.” (Phil 3:20) 

What I say and do outside of God is totally inconsequential. It has no eternal meaning. Conversations focused on anything outside of God tend to be tedious chatter without meaning. In my OPINION, we should begin to do more observing and less talking, unless the talk lifts up Jesus. Take to heart the oft-said phrase: “Your life may be the only Bible some folks will ever read.”

I have also realized that actions speak way louder than words. Christians tend to say all the right things, but then don’t exhibit them in their own life. It’s like encouraging someone to go to church, when you yourself don’t go. 

Be innocuous; inoffensive in every way. Become humble, realizing that you are not needed to accomplish God’s mission. Become grateful, realizing that God Himself has CHOSEN you for this mission. He knows what you bring to the table because He placed it in you and is cultivating it by the person of the Holy Spirit. 

Notoriety is unnecessary. Deflection is the key. Deflect all praise and honor to God, for we are not worthy to receive it. Who you are in the grand scheme of things is unimportant and what you amount to in this world is laughingly incongruent with the kingdom of God. It’s incompatible. It doesn’t jibe.  

Accept your proper place in this sinful world. In it, but not of it. Do what is pleasing to God always without debate or hesitation. The Lord is the only one who has a bead on that which is right and wrong, necessary and unnecessary. Following the lead of the Holy Spirit will always be the correct decision. We must listen more and speak less. Live out your faith to the glory of God. 

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

In His Name & for His Glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

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 grateful & 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! 

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Thoughts from a Random Mind

         The world is filled with distractions. The enemy has made it that way; the distractions keep us occupied with nonessentials, which is designed to keep us from focusing on God. Take Sunday morning youth sports. Why Sunday mornings? Why? It’s just another spiritual battle to keep our kids away from church and godly values. Receiving forgiveness and eternal life are far better prizes than league championships. There is nothing wrong with sports in and of themselves, but should they really be allowed to take over our lives to the extent that we lose sight of everything else? 

I’m remembering a movie from 1981 called Chariots of Fire. * “It is based on the true story of two British athletes in the 1924 Olympics: Eric Liddell, a devout Scottish Christian who runs for the glory of God, and Harold Abrahams, an English Jew who runs to overcome prejudice.” ^[1] “The two athletes are driven to win in the 1924 Olympics as they wrestle with issues of pride and conscience.” ^[2] The Olympic finals were being held on a Sunday and the Christian, who was one of the favorites to win the gold medal opted out of the race because of his faith. He considered it wrong to race on the Lord’s Day.

Where has such faith gone? Have we become soft? Are we indifferent to that which is important in the eternal scheme of things? Once we give in to one thing, then another comes along, then another and another. I liken it to boiling a frog. If you toss him in boiling water he will immediately jump out because it is too hot for his sensibilities to accept, but if you place him in cool water and gradually turn the heat up he will stay there to his own demise, not realizing what is happening. That is exactly what happens with believers who begin to bend to the will of the world. Next thing you know you no longer attend church, so John or Sue can play sports ... and the downward spiral has begun. Now I love sports and I know it takes a lot of practice to become good, but why does it have to include Sundays?

Someday we’ll stand before God to give an account of our lives FOR Him.  He won’t stop loving us, even if we walk away from Him altogether, but it doesn’t have to be like that.  God loves us as we ignore or even forget all about the important role He has and does play in our lives. We need to put our priorities in the proper order based on God’s statutes. If you simply want to do what you want, without any guilt or contingencies, then don’t call yourself a Christian, because that’s not what you are. We are called to be Christ’s ambassadors; we need to work at that. We need to accept that we are swimming in the opposite direction as the world. That will give growth to some difficult choices. Heed the call to serve Christ above all else. No one can forgive your sins but Jesus Christ. 

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

In His Name & for His Glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

* Chariots of Fire won 7 Oscars & was voted best picture.

^[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chariots_of_Fire

^[2] https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0082158/

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, Tik Tok, 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!   

In His Name & for His Glory,

RLKeller

Bread of Life Ministries

 

Thoughts From a Random Mind

                  I have a tendency that doesn’t serve me well at all. I fall into the trap of seeking the approval of others. I realized it today when I tried to act like one of the guys, but I’m not one of the guys and probably never will be.  I don’t always fit in with others particularly well and it is largely because I am a Christian with faith-based tattoos on both forearms and so everyone knows I am a Christian. That’s fine. I think some people might be a little uncomfortable around me.

            I’m not really sure how others see me. I get along with pretty much everyone. I appear to be well liked by others, but seeking their approval is a trap for sure and I get caught up in it regularly. I don’t want to simply be liked and I don’t want to be viewed as a good guy. I am an ambassador of the King of Kings but how exactly am I to act? Many believers love others but do it with conditions. If you smoke, drink, cuss, have tattoos, etc., you are frowned upon and not accepted. If you cut us we bleed like anybody else would. Believers in Christ may not be of this world, but we aren’t aliens from a different planet. There is a spiritual side to our existence and it has everything to do with placing our faith and trust in Jesus Christ.

            I need to learn to be different than the world without becoming otherworldly. I don’t have to dance on the fringe between what is right and what is wrong. What my actions should be are like the actions of Christ. Thankfully I do strive for this. Everyone wants to be liked, but in reality we may not have that choice for winning others to the Kingdom must be more important to us than our love for self gratification. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing! rlkeller

Thoughts From a Random Mind

           I think we all know the attraction of temptation. It is either something that we’ve done in the past that we enjoyed or something we hadn’t done before that looks inviting. Perhaps it’s something we’ve never done that we’re feeling the pull to do. Whenever this takes place within our heart and mind we must learn to mentally play out the scenario to its conclusion. In reality, the pay off is far more damaging than any benefit that comes from it. The benefit is always temporal, while the damage is perpetual. It is critical that we avoid sin by emulating Christ in our daily life. Our focus must be on the things of the Lord and not what we feel our own needs may seem to be. Trust me when I tell you that no matter how wonderful that thing looks in the beginning it ends up being a very dark and lonely road in the end. rlkeller

WHEN A CRISIS ARISES ...

“It is when a crisis arises that we instantly reveal upon whom we rely.”- Oswald Chambers

THE REPENTANT HEART

           The Lord loves a repentant heart. It would appear from scripture that no matter what we may be guilty of, if we repent with a “sincere & contrite heart” than we shall be forgiven. God’s love doesn’t change toward us because of what we think, say, or do. God’s love for us is unconditional. It NEVER changes. 

            An example of this is found in scripture. Let us set the scene: Bathsheba’s husband, “Uriah is dead. Bathsheba was raped. The resulting baby will die. And Nathan (the prophet) says, “The Lord has put away your sin.” Just like that? David committed adultery. He ordered murder. He lied. He “despised the word of the Lord.” He “scorned God.” And the Lord “put away [his] sin” (2 Samuel 12:13). What kind of a righteous judge is God? You don’t just pass over rape and murder and lying. Righteous judges don’t do that.” But the Lord did. You see He knew David. He knew his heart. Yes, what David did was terrible, a gross sin, and he paid dearly for them, for the consequences of his sinfulness was the death of the infant Bathsheba bore him. David acted selfishly and arrogantly with a person he had no right to be with. Because he was king he felt he could do as he pleased with no repercussions. How foolish. God knows all that can be known, so David might have fooled those around him, but God is not mocked, what you sow, so shall you reap.            

“Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.” (Galatians 6:7-8 NIV)

 

            The Lord knows us down to our core. He knows what drives us, what moves us, what influences us. He knows our heart; the seat of our emotions. ^[1] He knows when we are sincere and sorrowful about something we had done and when we are not. We cannot “fake out” God. Yet, in spite of what we may think, say, or do in this life, God loves us and will forgive us should we repent. Repentance is taking a 180 degree turn from the direction you are going in and begin to follow God’s path. We are all prone to battles with the “old man” who is supposed to be dead and buried, but the enemy won’t let him die completely, allowing that old ungodly nature to rise up at some pretty inopportune moments. Our focus must be on the Lord at all times to ward off the fiery darts of the enemy. ^[2]

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

In His Name & for His Glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

^[1] “Historically, the heart has been considered the seat of emotions. Ancient civilizations like Egypt and Greece believed the heart was not just a physical organ but also held emotions and wisdom. Philosophers like Aristotle thought the heart was the center of both emotions and intellect.” _{[https://www.saybrook.edu/2009/03/09/emotion-heart-heart/]}

_[2] “In every situation take up the shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.” [Ephesians 6:16 Common Standard Bible CSB] Satan cannot be everywhere at once since he is not God, yet Satan attempts to attack every believer he can. Like a military commander, he can attack Christians indirectly through his demons.

WHAT IS CAUSING THE CHURCH TO FLOUNDER? (OPINION PIECE)

           Satan is working overtime to thwart the spreading of the true gospel throughout the world by spreading lies, and breeding confusion. Wokeism is flourishing under the liberal leadership of compromised pastors / priests. There has entered into the spiritual arena unbiblical thought that causes those who are listening to be fed with propaganda that will choke out the life of the body as a whole. Things that scripture is sinful behavior is being touted as new progressive thinking. When God declares something to be sin, who outside of God Himself can reverse that declaration? Does it not seem ludicrous for the creature to correct the creator?

            What we need is good, bible-based preaching and teaching once again. We need to call a sin a sin and not justify the world’s actions by claiming that God is love and would never send anyone to hell. Therein lies a fundamental flaw in their thinking. God doesn’t SEND anyone to hell, they go of their own volition.

            We need to learn how to worship God again. We need to get back to reading a trusted translation of scripture and reliable reference works. We need to understand that sin warrants punishment if left unchecked. We need to realize that while God loves us unconditionally, He also is the holy judge of all humanity and He will not wait forever to dole out retribution. We need to understand that Christians can indeed backslide back into sin (if you doubt it look at the complete story of the Assyrian city of Nineveh). We need to understand that there are charlatans who seek to lead true believers away from the faith and accept a cheap imitation for the real thing.

            Read God’s Word regularly. Pray continuously. Always trust God to bring about the best outcome to any situation. Don’t give in to anxious thoughts. Rely on the Holy Spirit within you to lead and guide you. And may we all always serve our righteous God with truth and honesty. 

Be aware of your surrounding and don’t allow yourself to be fooled or swayed into believing something that you are doubtful about. Research it out. Stay plugged into Godly sources and shun all evil. 

 

This is my opinion. 

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries