Thoughts from a Random Mind

            I have had a problem with my seeming inability to stop cussing. I’ve asked the Lord to purge this from me repeatedly, but to no avail. I usually cuss when I get frustrated regarding a situation I am in. I usually do it under my breath, which doesn’t make it alright, just sayin’. I’ve talked to several pastors throughout the years and found comfort in their words, but it still gnaws at me. Nothing unclean is to come out of my mouth. I strive every day to be more like my Lord but fail many times. Frustration is my middle name. Regardless of God’s patience, understanding and unconditional love I regret this problem and continuously seek its eradication.

 

“…no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With the tongue we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, this should not be! Can both fresh water and saltwater flow from the same spring? My brothers, can a fig tree grow olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.”- _{James 3:8-12}

 

                  I know a woman at work who professes to be a Christian. She cusses as a natural part of her vocabulary. If you say anything to her about it, she says, and I quote: “That’s the way I talk and I ain’t changin’ for nobody!” That sounds like an unteachable spirit. An unyielding will to God’s word and behavior. Make no mistake about it, we are both wrong, however, at least I can say of myself that I desire to shed my bad habit. I don’t do it during regular conversation, but frankly, I shouldn’t cuss at all. Unfortunately, I’m broken; still a work in progress, but I am confident that I will win that battle with the help of the Holy Spirit. As for my co-worker, I need to pray for her that she will see the need to change. Either way she will need God’s mercy to figure these ungodly issues out. I am not anybody’s judge; I am Christ’s ambassador. God is our merciful judge whose patience gives us every possible opportunity to right the ship, so to speak, in an effort to please him with our behavior. 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

            Knowing God as I do there is always an overriding sense of hope that exists. It’s in the air, permeating the stench of sin. My questions regarding the ‘why’ of things fades with time because I know there is a grand plan in play that has been in existence since the dawn of time. Not being able to explain things does not negate the truth that has been established by God from the beginning. God never changes and neither does his word. I stand on it for the rock that it is for his word is the ‘yay & amen’, the constant that feeds our soul. Nothing can compare to the Word of God. I except it at face value and allow it to guide my life. When the dust settles at the end of each day I know and understand my value …  not in this world, but in the world to come. To God we are priceless. Nothing can compare to the unchanging, never-ending love & grace of our Lord. Our questions shall never cease; however, the answers will become less and less important to us the closer we come to God. The dark clouds that surround us all at this time shall dissipate gradually until there will no longer be an evil presence in existence. Take heart my friends, Christ is coming, and he is bringing the wrath of God with him to conquer all evil. It’s the conclusion of life as we know it that shall finally come … and it’s not a matter of if, but rather when, for nothing can stop what’s coming. 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

Last night I believe the Lord allowed me to feel the heaviness his heart feels regarding all that is transpiring in the world at this time. The rampant sin without question breaks his heart. The unnecessary loss of life grieves him. I felt a great heaviness in my spirit and in my heart. I reflected on all the gross sin that is taking place worldwide with all the corruption, lies, crimes against humanity and needless death and became despondent. It isn’t God’s will for this to take place, but the free will that man has been afforded has unfortunately led to this. God is not surprised by all this, but I believe it hurts his heart all the same. I suppose it would be somewhat like how a loving parent feels when one of their children becomes addicted to drugs or alcohol. I never experienced that myself, but sometimes you don’t have to experience something to be able to have empathy. May God’s mercy flood our planet in such a way that millions of folks turn from their evil ways and embrace the gospel of Christ and in so doing have a fresh start at really living. Amen.

As always, till 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

A rather simplistic illustration danced thru my mind at work today. I would venture a guess that most people around the world have debt that they have accrued over time that they will need to eventually pay back. Debt can be looked a couple different ways: “An obligation … to pay something to someone else”. (ex. A student may be burdened with debt from attending school by virtue of a financial loan. He or she would be obligated to repay that loan.) Also, “a moral or legal obligation to make reparations (payments) or undergo punishment for committing an offense; as with a criminal repaying his debt to society.”

            In the spiritual realm there is another type of debt that people are accruing. It’s sin by virtue of disobeying God’s Word. The Lord is not a hard task master. He is our benevolent, patient, loving Heavenly Father. Jesus Christ was sent to this earth to pay off our spiritual debt with his own blood. That would be like a total stranger tapping into their own resources to pay off your credit card debt. I wonder why it is that folks would leap at that offer but ignore having their sin debt removed. That begs the question, is it more important to have financial freedom or spiritual freedom? 

            The answer is simple. Those having their financial debt paid in full will still die in their sins. Those having their spiritual debt paid in full will live with the Lord forever. If you don’t receive a pass (so to speak) to get into heaven, you are saying whether you realize it or not, that you would rather go to hell.  You see, God sends no one to hell … the result of man’s rejection of Jesus’ spiritual payment voids out their opportunity to spend eternity in heaven. Sound boring … hmmm, but what about if you compare it to Sulphur smoke and fire, pitch darkness and a chorus of moans and groans from all who now regret their decision. Sorry, no 2^nd chances. 

            Christianity is at its core a personal, intimate relationship with the One who made you. It is also a way of living. I assure you, there is nothing this world has to offer that can beat that. We’re not all goodie-two shoes. We’re human just like you. We make a myriad of mistakes yet receive forgiveness from God when we ask for it. We aren’t expected to be perfect, just make a spirit-led effort to live and behave like our role model, Jesus Christ. Don’t believe the lies, a future with Satan will not go well for you. He only wants to torture you and watch you burn, yet never die for all eternity. 

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

This has been a written warning by Richard Keller of Bread of Life Ministries.

If you know someone who would benefit from reading this, please pass it on & be ready to pray for and support them because they will no doubt have many questions. rk

Thoughts from a Random Mind

What does it mean to be incorruptible? It means you are “incapable of being bribed or morally corrupted”. What does the root word ‘corrupt’ mean? “To change from good to bad in morals, manners, or actions.” People without morals or ethics are easily corrupted and will do just about anything, for instance, for money or sex. Almighty God is incorruptible, and his children are expected to be the same. I believe it all comes down to what you are feeding your inner man. If you are constantly feeding your spirit man, you will flourish in the things of the Lord, but if you are feeding from the trough of the world, you will shrivel and die spiritually and the consequences you will pay for what takes place on that path will not be to your liking at all.

Strive to be incorruptible as your father in heaven is incorruptible. Feast on the riches that lie in his word. Let them and his Holy Spirit guide you thru this life and you will be blessed. Your life won’t be perfect, without trials and/or tribulations, but the Lord will be with you each moment of every day. Be incorruptible in all your dealings. It is what is expected of a child 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

Note: Definitions come from Merriam-Webster Dictionary

Thoughts from a Random Mind

 

There’s a phrase that says, “An idle mind is the devil’s playground”. Perhaps you’re familiar with it. Let’s break it down ever so slightly. An idle mind - let me put this in terms of a vehicle. Wherever you happen to be, in your own driveway, at a stop light, anywhere really, if your car is running, but not moving, then at that moment, your car is “idling”. It isn’t going forward or backward; it is sitting still yet the engine is running. Your mind, like your car’s engine, is in what could be referred to as a passive state. 

40 years ago, the United Negro Student Fund had a successful ad campaign that stated, “A mind is a terrible thing to waste.” A true statement. They claim that when you retire you should keep your mind active, or you will grow despondent & depressed. Not remaining mentally active can shorten your life. 

A Christian need to keep his or her mind active with the things of the Lord or their faith will begin to fade. Like a person who deprives themselves of protein or water, their faith will slip into doubt. They will begin to question things that they used to accept as true. The enemy will take full advantage of passive Christians, nudging them in directions that could likely compromise their witness. Don’t allow it. Stay strong in your faith. Feed your spirit man or woman daily to ward off the fiery darts of Satan. Stay out of the devil’s playground by keeping your mind active in the things of the kingdom 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

Did you know that even the strongest believer in Christ can still feel lost at times? I don’t mean lost as in still needing salvation; I mean empty inside. I see it as a trick of the enemy, for we are never alone and are unconditionally loved. Perhaps it has something to do with our seeming inability to make a difference in this world. But wait, who says you’re not having a positive impact on everyone you encounter each day. You know all the folks that regularly gravitate toward you at school or work or at social gatherings? Don’t flatter yourself, it’s not you per se, it’s the presence of the Holy Spirit within you. What God has placed within you attracts people to you. This is why we must realize and acknowledge that God is in us working to do his will in this world whether we feel it or not. We never need to feel empty or alone because that feeling isn’t from the Lord who is merciful and compassionate … whose lovingkindness knows no end. We have no earthly reason to be ‘down in the mouth’ as the saying goes. Walking around with a distant, disengaged, detached look in our eyes. The enemy tries everything within his realm of influence to cause us to stumble. He can only do to God’s children what God allows for his own purposes and our own spiritual growth. Shake off the ‘woe is me’ attitude and rise to the level of spiritual maturity God intends for you. Feel empty no longer, in Jesus’ name, amen.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries