Thoughts from a Random Mind

 

How Much Faith Do We Really Need?

 

            What would you think if every time you asked God for something you received it instantly? Would you like that? Does that require faith? Perhaps there are different kinds or levels of faith. Let’s think about that ….

                  If you KNEW without a shadow of a doubt that every time you asked something of God you would instantly receive what you requested, I suppose it would be faith in the form of asking in the first place. It wouldn’t be a large amount of faith because you already were assured of the outcome. But what if what you were requesting wasn’t God’s best? What if it was actually BAD for you? Maybe that’s why ALL our requests are NOT answered instantly in the affirmative. 

                  Scripture tells us that faith as small as the smallest seed from biblical times (the mustard seed [Luke 17:6] … which was said to be approximately the size of a pin head) is all that is needed to move a mountain. (Do you think Jesus meant that literally?)Any faith in God at all is acceptable to the Lord. “We don’t need more faith; a tiny seed of faith is enough if it is alive and growing.”[1]

                  Having said that I believe it takes deep, abiding faith to wait as long as it takes to receive an answer from God, never even knowing if an answer will come. Not greater faith, but long standing faith. Faith that has stood the test of time. Faith that has not wavered in the face of tribulation. You see, we don’t need a mountain of faith to succeed in God’s world, just a modicum. *

                  Don’t wish for things that are non-essential to your life. They may be harmless and there is no sin in seeking them. Instead seek those things that will enhance your life spiritually. Seek personal enrichment in the things of the Lord. Read his word … even one verse, paragraph or chapter will help you begin to think along the lines that will lead to spiritual growth. Trust God regardless of the appearance of things around you. Remember, the Creator is far superior to his creation. Nothing can defeat God and by extension, nothing can defeat us if we draw close to God. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

* Modicum - A small amount of something.

[1] Page 2243 - verse notes for Luke 17:6 - Life Application Study Bible. 

 

 

Thoughts from a Random Mind

 

A MATTER OF TRUST

Psalm 119:114 “You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word.” 

            David confidently declares that God is his source of help, relief, and comfort in times of trouble. He also says that God is his protector.  Knowing what we know about the Lord, we can stand with David and confidently boast the same.  Furthermore, our hope is in God as well and by extension, His word.  When a person doesn’t have hope, it can be a devastating feeling.  Just knowing that God is ever present and has your best interests at heart should bring hope even in the direst of circumstances.  He knows what He’s doing.  What you are going through is by design to teach you something of spiritual significance.  Moping and being depressed, while a natural response for most of us, is counterproductive.  We know that in our heart but getting our head to cooperate with our heart sometimes can be difficult.  Our Lord is patient with us.  He understands our hesitancy and works in us, if we allow Him to, to bring about spiritual growth.  It’s all a matter of trust.

          Scripture tells us faith without works is dead ^{(James 2:17)}.  I say to you, faith without trust is equally dead.  We must develop an unwavering trust in God to fully realize all He has for us.  He knows who we were meant to be, and He wants us to reach our fullest potential.  I’m not speaking of worldly potential, but rather spiritual potential.  The Lord knows what we’re capable of.  God’s word can instruct us, and His spirit can take us to the lofty heights He has ordained for us.  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

            It’s kinda funny how a person can proclaim Christ yet cuss like a fool whenever he or she gets frustrated … not even angry, just frustrated. That seems to be the trigger. I’ve been praying for years for the Holy Spirit to place a guard at my mouth to assist me in cleaning up my language. Hasn’t happened yet…. Does God still love me? Does He still forgive me when I ask to be forgiven? Yes, and yes. If you doubt that then look at the life of David. He was an adulterer, murderer, liar AND “the apple of God’s eye”. Huh? Doesn’t sound compatible, does it? But it is. God also referred to David as the “apple of His eye” and “a man after God’s own heart”.

            In the world’s eyes I am an abject failure, but in God’s eyes I am His child … the one who is still under construction. I will never be perfect this side of heaven and that does not excuse the cussing. Cussing is wrong and someday my self-control will mature to the point where I will end up being victorious over this sin. Until then I will rest in the comfort of God’s love and continue to seek freedom from my continual sin. Thank you Lord for your patience with me. 

How about you? Do you have a problem with spewing inappropriate language? Pray for God’s help. It’s not like magic; you must listen for Him. SLOW DOWN and listen to His still small voice and diligently wish to alter your behavior or you are wasting your breath. 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

 

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 (as established in the OT).

 

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 erased sin rather than covered it up, which is all the OT sacrificial system did for an individual. And the wiping clean 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.

            Your eternal soul hangs in the balance. Whether you receive Christ or not is your own business ... your own choice, for we’ve been given a free will by God. The consequence of rejecting Christ is separation from God forever ... The reward for receiving Christ as your personal and intimate Lord and Savior is freedom from sin and eternal life with our Lord. You make the choice. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

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.)

Thoughts from a Random Mind

Follow God’s Example

Ephesians 5:1-2 “Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”

         Some time ago I wrote a devotional entitled “God is Love” where I spoke of replacing the word ‘love’ with ‘God’ in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7. I said this because the attributes of ‘love’ are the same attributes seen in God himself. Our text for this devotional speaks of “walking in the way of love”. Paul, the writer of Ephesians encourages his readers to “follow God’s example”. God’s love was in full display when Christ took the beating and allowed himself to be nailed to a cross. THAT is love. 

            Now we aren’t being asked to do all that, but instead are being asked to exemplify love in the following manner:  be patient one with another, be kind, be trusting, be protective, be filled with hope and never stop persevering in love. Conversely, we are not to be self-seeking or easily angered. Never keep a count of wrongs. Do not be envious of others or boastful and proud in an unseemly way.

            I know I speak a lot about imitating Christ. I do so because it is extremely important to your personal witness to BE Christ to others, rather than simply talk about him. I don’t know about you, but I readily admit I need constant reminders that it’s NOT all about ME.  That leading with actions and following with words (if necessary) is far more effective than the reverse. It is my humble opinion that we cannot read or hear about what Christ went thru for us too often, lest we forget. We are loved far greater than we could ever imagine and more than we deserve, but remember, God looks upon the heart and not external things like we do. We are blessed because of what God did for us. We are blessed because God has chosen to bless us. Always remember, we aren’t blessed by God simply so we are blessed, but so we can be a blessing to others. Embrace this truth and continue to strive to BE Christ to those around you who are outside the family. 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

 

“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 (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.

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

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

NOTE: “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.)

Thoughts from a Random Mind

 

To fully understand grace, we need to consider who we were without Christ and who we’ve become with Christ. We were born in sin ^{(Psalm 51:5)}, and we were guilty of breaking God’s holy laws ^{(Romans 3:9–20, 23; 1 John 1:8–10)}. We were enemies of God ^{(Romans 5:6, 10; 8:7; Colossians 1:21)}, deserving of death ^{(Romans 6:23a)}. We were unrighteous ^{(Romans 3:10)} and without means of justifying ourselves ^{(Romans 3:20)}. Spiritually, we were destitute, blind, unclean, and dead. Our souls were in peril of everlasting punishment.

 

Ps. 51:5 AMP - “I was brought forth in [a state of] wickedness; In sin my mother conceived me [and from my beginning I, too, was sinful].”

 

1 John 1:8 - AMP - “If we say we have no sin [refusing to admit that we are sinners], we delude ourselves and the truth is not in us. [His word does not live in our hearts.]”

 

Romans 3:23 AMP - “...since all have sinned and continually fall short of the glory of God,...”.

 

Romans 3:10 AMP - “As it is written and forever remains written, ‘There is none righteous [none that meets God’s standard], not even one.’”

 

Romans 8:7a - “...the mind of the flesh [with its sinful pursuits] is actively hostile to God.”

 

Romans 6:23a - “For the wages of sin is death...”

 

God’s Grace - Unmerited or undeserved favor from our Creator. We’ve been offered a gift that we didn’t earn. We avoided a death that was earmarked for each of us. Because Jesus Christ, God’s Son, willingly paid for all our sins, we can receive a second chance at life serving the Creator of all mankind. 

Consider who we were prior to knowing Christ. We were sinful creatures prior to salvation. We were breakers of the OT laws. We were classified as ENEMIES of God; deserving of death. There was no righteousness in us, and we could find NO justification for our ungodly behavior. Without Christ we were blind and utterly devoid of any spiritual life, thus being found to be unclean and spiritually dead. Our souls were in imminent danger of experiencing never ending punishment. 

Out of kindness, mercy and love, the Lord saved us all from our sin and ourselves, and by the Holy Spirit has sealed us for eternity with Him.

After personal redemption has taken place, if we are willing, the person of the Holy Spirit will lead and guide you into all righteousness. In the end you can either go to heaven or go to hell; it’s your choice.

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

 

Isaiah 57:1-2 begs the question “Who says how long we are to live?” Psalm 90:10 says the following: “The years of our life are seventy or even by reason of strength eighty; yet their span is but toil and trouble; they are soon gone, and we fly away.” So, if scripture says we should live 70, maybe 80 years, why do people die prematurely? Because of sin, our lives are filled with “toil and trouble”. Life is not perfect. It is riddled with sin … both ours and that of others. The thought brought up in Isaiah that God takes some “before their time” is so they might not have to endure the evilness that surrounds them any longer. As with all seemingly unanswerable situations, God has his reasons. We aren’t asked to understand, only to trust God and have faith in him and his word.

Ephesians 6:2-3 says the following: “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise— “so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.” This is from Deuteronomy 5:16 …  “Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live long and that it may go well with you in the land the Lord your God is giving you.” Paul was quoting the Old Testament. So, it adds a personal criterion for achieving a long life, but these scriptures don’t say how long “long life” is.

Since God, Christ & the Holy Spirit were together at the beginning of time, they put the DNA into Adam & Eve when they were created. It’s the same with each one of us. They know what makes everyone of us ‘tick’. They know when we’ll be born and to whom. They know the future from the past and when each person that is so inclined will become ‘born again’. They also know when and how they will pass on from this life. Nothing surprises them, so it will be no surprise to God when a baby dies, or a young parent meets death thru disease or tragic accident. 

We don’t know what is coming. When we leave the house each day, we, frankly, don’t know if we will make it back home again that night. But God knows. We also don’t realize when angels provide protection for us as we go about our business each day. Sin is the reason why tragedy strikes so unexpectantly. There are times when we make our own decisions regarding life choices and they lead to death. That wouldn’t be God’s fault for it falls under the category of “free will”. Do as you please but bear the consequences … which do not always happen to be good.

We may never understand the ‘why’ of it, but we can know that when we mourn, God mourns and when we’re grief stricken, the Holy Spirit is there to bring comfort. God is good and loves each one of us, despite our continued disobedience.

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

 

Today I believe I will simply extol the virtues of our loving and faithful God.  God is truly marvelous.  He is creative in all His ways and is the epitome of loving kindness and faithfulness.  Scripture tells us in 2 Timothy 2:13 that God is faithful to His children even when we are unfaithful because He cannot deny or disown Himself.  On our best day we can become so involved in our daily activities that God never enters our mind even one time; however, God is always thinking about us.  He cares what we think, say, and do at all times.  He is the proto-typical father, in that He is perfect in every way in His care and assistance to His children.  Unlike earthly fathers, there is nothing God cannot do.  His way is always the way we should go for He has laid it out for us and although He is with us, is also at the end of the path to greet us.  God is ever-present.  Panic can take place when calamity arises & we lose our focus or take our eyes off the Lord altogether.  He is patient and will guide us back to where we need to be if we ask.  In the face of mounting criticism of Christianity and God in general, I still see no reason not to stand fast in my belief of Almighty God, for if He is who He says He is and I believe He is, then those who are opposed to Him can do nothing to me anyway unless God allows it for His own purposes.  Praise God from Whom all blessings flow! May His name be praised forever! 

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 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 calls 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.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Thoughts from a Random Mind

 

Walking thru the door …

 

                If someone you didn’t know offered you a gift, would you take it? That is essentially what Almighty God has done. Millions of people say they believe in God, but do they KNOW Him? When you say you know God, is it the way you know Cousin Tim that lives across the country & that you only see at family weddings and funerals? Or is it a close, intimate relationship? You know, you can know God in a close, intimate way by drawing close to Him thru the written & spoken Word of God. This is what a genuine Christian is. Someone who accepts Christ in their heart and life and then, begins to emulate Jesus in thought, word, and deed. To say you believe in something or someone and not allow that experience to change the course of your life is like slapping God in the face. You have not seen or understood the importance of embracing your newfound faith and allow it to grow thru future life experiences.

                Do you HAVE to seek a close, intimate relationship with this unseen deity? Absolutely not, but every decision in life involves consequences from our resulting actions. It’s really quite simple. You accept Christ, He accepts you. You reject Christ, He will reject you on the day of reckoning. You DO NOT have to follow Jesus, but there is a major difference from HAVING TO & NEEDING TO. You NEED Jesus. He is the only One who paid off your sin debt. You can’t do it. No one else can do it. Only Jesus willingly gave up His life in exchange for yours. I know you didn’t ask Him to, but He did it because He loves you. You may not know Him, but He knows everything about you. In spite of that He still and will always love you. 

                It grieves the Lord when folks reject Him. Too many have the devastating combination of ignorance and stubbornness. In other words, you don’t know, but you will fight to the death NOT TO KNOW. Open your heart to His words. Embrace the forgiveness and subsequent peace and hope that comes with it. Christ is holding the door open for you, waiting for you to walk thru into His presence. Don’t miss out on accepting the greatest gift known to man. Complete forgiveness for all your sin. 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

 

"The end is where we begin ... " *

 

Didn't know what that meant, but now I think I know.

The follow up lines are ... "crawling back, when we run away."

"when broken hearts heal and beat again".

 

I've decided it means when we've come to the end of ourselves and the path we are on ends up being a dead end, THAT is the precise moment that we begin again ... when we see the light within the darkness ... when there is nowhere to look but up ... when God's Holy Spirit cracks thru the thin veneer that has us encased. When we see that freedom from pain and bondage is within our grasp. The end is where we begin ... 

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

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

* From the song The End is Where We Begin by Thousand Foot Krutch, Tfk Records, 2012.

Thoughts from a Random Mind

 

QUESTIONING GOD

 

To question God is perfectly fine, but to renounce your faith saying simply that you don’t believe in God anymore seems a little weak. My question is “How diligently did you try to find Him? Or did you feel you might be missing out on something by being a believer?” I’m not judging people who renounce their faith, I’d just like to know how seriously they took being a Christian in the first place? Did they just grow up in a Christian home feeling you had to believe because your parents did? What things influenced them in their life? Do they realize that they, just like all mankind, have a propensity to sin that started with the Fall in the Garden of Eden? 

Questioning God as a true believer is not a problem either. However, don’t be surprised if you end up in His Word to find your answer. Perhaps there IS no immediate answer to your question or perhaps God’s answer is coming, but not just yet. The more we study the Bible and seek reliable sources for answers to our questions, the less questions we are likely to have. 

Familiarizing ourselves with the main tenets of faith will give us a sense of understanding. Feed your mind with ungodly information and you may wind up in trouble. Life isn’t perfect. Even for the Christian life isn’t perfect. 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

1 Timothy 6:10 _{Amplified Bible}

“For the love of money [that is, the greedy desire for it and the willingness to gain it unethically] is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves [through and through] with many sorrows.”

 

                  First, this verse is misquoted quite often. People say, “Money is the root of all evil”, which is NOT true. Money or wealth is immaterial. It is non-emotional. It is also not immoral or unethical. Money is simply the vehicle that can be used to sustain oneself or to commit sin. Now let me clarify. Money is NOT the problem. How one accumulates it and what they do with it can become the problem. Is a person’s financial status achieved thru ill-gotten gain or thru legitimate means? Does that person accumulate money for themselves alone for the sake of having what they would consider to be financial security, hoarding it unto themselves, or are they open to spreading it where it may be needed very badly. If the shoe were on the other foot how would they feel? 

                  Some folks will do ANYTHING to achieve wealth. They will lie, cheat, steal ... be generally deceitful, backstabbing friends to achieve something they want. Don’t believe me? Watch a season of The Summit, Survivor, Big Brother, The Challenge, Deal or No Deal Island. People will vote off their closest, most trusted ally to achieve what they seek, which could be anywhere from $250,000 or $1,000,000. What many of the participants consider to be “life changing” money. I get it. The temptation is great to do what you feel is necessary to get what you feel you so desperately need. But is it worth trashing your reputation or your personal integrity? 

                  There will no doubt be some folks who think I’m making something out of nothing here. Am I really? If you achieved the big prize winnings but had everyone hating you for the way to played the game, would that be alright with you? Would you care? What are your morals? How ethical are you. Money makes you do and say things you wouldn’t normally say or do. EVERYTHING in this earthly life is temporal. NOTHING will last forever. If things lasted forever companies would eventually go out of business, because folks would buy their product and never need another one. 

                  Where is God in all this? Do you think He’s okay with doing whatever you have to to gain riches? If that is true then why does Jesus say in Matthew 6:24 ^{Amplified Bible} “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon [money, possessions, fame, status, or whatever is valued more than the Lord].” Your integrity matters. Living a moral, ethical life matters. It matters to the Lord, and it SHOULD matter to you. 

                  There is a saying, “You can’t take it with you when you go” and that happens to be true. Millions, if not more, play the lottery every day in the hopes of hitting it big. Elderly people play your life savings at casinos or again, on lottery tickets in the hope of having their golden years truly be golden. The reality is that only one person wins each day, and it probably won’t be you. The odds are stacked against you. Look at YouTube for the video about the lottery winners who won mega bucks only to have it destroy their lives. And to say, “that would never happen to me” is ignorant thinking. 

                  If you’re a Christian, God has promised to meet every single one of your NEEDS. Not your wants, your NEEDS. Having desires are fine, as long as they don’t consume you. Think first, pray first, then do what you believe would be pleasing to the Lord.  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

 

            During this time when anxiety runs high and stress rules the day we need to work at remaining calm and displaying kindness whenever possible. It’s so easy to let your emotions boil over and lose our temper, lashing out at an innocent party for no significant reason other than you lost control of your emotions and over-reacted. Although I have been doing much better lately, I have historically been known to overreact. I believe I’ve learned my lesson. 

            Learning a life lesson from God is an interesting thing. The Lord teaches us a variety of lessons as a means of acquiring better behavioral characteristics. For example, if we ask for patience, we don’t receive it ‘poof’ just like that. You can be sure you will find yourself in one or a series of situations that will require patience. If we are attentive, we will learn our lesson well, if we are not, we will go thru the lesson again. The Lord is a God of variety. He will provide lessons in many ways. The Lord is gracious and kind and will only teach you what you are or will be in need of. It would amaze you if you could see a video of your life and witness all the life lessons you have lived through.

One way to exemplify Christ to the masses is to be kind, which takes patience and lots of it. This should be one of our most important goals as a follower of Christ. Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministry

Thoughts from a Random Mind

 

            Can a dead man come back to life? In the natural I’d have to say NO, but in the spiritual I’d would say a hardy YES. Without Christ we are dead men & women walking. Without knowing it many are without eternal hope. They live for the moment, which is all well and good, but at some point don’t we all have to consider our future? 

            Okay, so without Christ we are really very dead. We are made up of body, soul & spirit. Without Christ our spirit is dormant, a smoldering ember needing a spark. When a person accepts Christ into his heart and life, that ember is ignited by the spark of the Holy Spirit. Thus a dead man comes to life. That’s not possible without God’s intervention. Some consider that laughable. Believers are called ‘blind sheep’, but we are the ones with peace and stability in our lives. And a future in heaven.

            Dead men/women have no faith, at least none of any consequence. Their faith is in themselves and their associations, yet none of that will ever win them heaven. Dead folks need to understand the situation they are in. Life comes from God. Their physical life and their spiritual life. Physical life ends for everyone at a pre-appointed time; spiritual life lives on ‘ad infinitum’ - it has no end. Don’t stay dead, submit to the life giving work of Almighty God. 

            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

 

DO YOU BELIEVE IN GOD?

 

            I was reading some comments re: why people refuse to believe in God / Christ? The site I visited was “Quora”, which poses a question & anyone can respond. The first person who chimed in was an atheist, who apparently found it amusing that anyone would believe in a book that was fraught with errors & contradictions. He says that it’s “just a book”. Just because someone says God wrote it doesn’t mean He did. He wanted to see proof; evidence that God exists.

                  The thing that non-believers never get is that having faith has absolutely nothing to do with proof. Is there such a thing as “absolute truth”? I suppose there are some things that are absolutely true, like the sky being up & the ocean being wet. But technically, & now I am admittedly knit-picking, how do we know our accepted definition of ‘up’ & ‘wet’ is correct? How would we know? Whether something is right or wrong becomes interpretive & relative to each person. My definition of ‘normal’ is relative to what I see & how I see it. What I’ve learned in my life has everything to do with how I interpret things. But what of the things I’ve learned? How would I know if that was true or false? It’s based on the belief system I have developed up to this point in my life. 

                  Everyone has faith in something, but what exactly IS faith? The Bible defines it for us: “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” [Hebrews 11:1 NIV] Martin Luther King, Jr said this of faith: “Take the first step in faith. You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.” The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language defines it thusly: “a strong or unshakeable belief in something, especially without proof or evidence.”

                  Faith is not based on sight. Faith doesn’t require evidence, as in proof. There is no proof to be found. Faith is based on choice. Although non-believers would have a problem with the notion that God gives His creation what is referred to as a “free-will choice” to believe in Him and/or accept Him, it is something that HAS to be true. Why? Because a person doesn’t HAVE to believe in God. No one says he does. So all they need to do is either accept or reject the reality of sin. If a person doesn’t believe in sin then how do they explain the proliferation of evil. What makes man evil? What makes them good? Who defines what is evil and what is good. Wouldn’t those definitions have to be universally true? Who would be qualified to define such things? Can it be man? If you DO believe in the existence of God, then could the creation truly know more than its’ Creator? 

                  Does Christianity seem pretty implausible on the surface? Without reading it ... without giving it a chance to speak to you, I can believe that it would sound pretty wild. But that is what faith is for. 

Every choice we make in life comes with consequences. The decision we make will more times than not dictate what the consequences will be. You can go thru life not believing there is a God, because you have that right. What you may not realize is the GOD GAVE YOU THAT RIGHT. There are consequences associated with the decision to dispel the notion that there IS indeed a higher power that exists in spirit form that loves His creation, in fact, loved it so much that to remedy our problem of disobedience He came to live with us to 1) show us HOW to live, 2) be a loving example to follow, & 3) die in our place so that we might live. 

Now you can laugh it off and say Christianity is the most ridiculous thing you’ve ever heard, or you can investigate on your own to see what it’s all about. Your choice. If Christians are all wrong in what they believe and there is no God, then we’ll all die and rot in the ground, never having another conscience thought, thus never knowing if there is a God or not. BUT if Christians are correct in what they believe, those outside the family of God will know of His existence for all eternity. At that point ones fate has been sealed. There will no longer be redemption available for the wayward soul. Your fate is sealed, and YOU were the one who made that decision. God loves you and died for you. Won’t you choose to live for Him. The alternative is eternal and irreversible. 

Ask God to reveal Himself to you thru His Holy Spirit and 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

 

fragile /frăj′əl, -īl″/ adjective

Easily broken, damaged, or destroyed.

Lacking physical or emotional strength; delicate. ^[1]

 

            The first thing I think of when I see the word FRAGILE is something made out of glass. I don’t think most people think of themselves as being fragile but based on our society and how emotionally charged everything currently seems to be, mankind has in many cases become emotionally fragile. Our world thinks putting on a tough façade will get you thru life better than being passionate and caring. Those are two traits that are generally viewed as weak by some sectors of society. 

            There definitely is a fragility to life. The circle of life involves being born, living a certain number of years, and then dying. We are physically fragile when we are little children and physically, mentally, and emotionally fragile the older we get.  It’s part of life. We cannot escape this never-ending cycle. Once born we begin to die a little bit each day until we pass on. Perhaps a morose thought, but is it not true?

As we become older we begin to ponder those things that we consider to be most important to us. As life goes on we become more aware than ever that life is fragile. Tomorrow is never guaranteed. Everything we have in this world could be taken away in an instant. Still, we often believe we have some amount of control over our lives. Overwhelming fear invades when reality confronts us, leaving us frantically grasping for control we do not have. The harder we work to hold it together; the more fear threatens to enslave us. This affliction hits both saved and unsaved people. Those saved can circumvent the fear by shifting our focus off that which creates the fear and place it squarely on Jesus Christ. 

We are painfully human, and the Lord knows this, for He created us. He can be our strength in the face of fearful situations if we ask Him. Life Is Fragile: Make Time for What Matters and Let Go of What Doesn’t. Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

[1] The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition. 

Thoughts from a Random Mind

 

 

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” - Psalm 46:1 NLT

 

REFUGE - a condition of being safe or sheltered from pursuit, danger, or trouble.

 

            Whenever we feel like we are in danger, remember that our God is all around us and in us by His Holy Spirit. Remember, “The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety.” ^{(Psalm 18:2 NLT)}

                  We are told not to worry and not to be afraid, because our Lord protects us from harm and danger and that’s because we are His children.  “Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread ..., for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.” ^{(Deuteronomy 31:6 ESV)}

            These are worrisome times. Evil seems to have the upper hand. But God sees all and knows all and is allowing what is taking place for His own purposes. Purposes for ultimate peace, restoration, and the total eradication of evil from the face of the earth. Those who trust in God have nothing to fear. Having said that, we are human. We tend to overreact to that which only appears to be problem. Many times the perceived problem is really nothing more than an obstacle to be climbs over or gone around. Evil will not win. LOVE always wins!! The foundation that evil is built on is already beginning to crumble and will collapse under the weight of it.

            Don’t give in to worry and fear. It’s one of Satan’s greatest weapons against us. If we succumb to it we will needlessly stress over nothing. God is far greater than any weapon formed against us. When something bad happens to us, trust God. There is a reason for it. Don’t question it. Trust God. Has He ever let you down thus far? Trust Him. It’s part of having faith. God loved us enough to die in our place and over us eternal life in exchange for submission to His will for us.  Trust Him with your life. He is our refuge and strength.

            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

 

What is fear? “A feeling of disquiet or uneasy anticipation of the future...a reason for dread or apprehension.”

 

Fear can be crippling. I figure just about everybody is afraid of something. Even the people that insist they aren't afraid of anything are saying that to hide their underlying fear of something. What am I afraid of? Hmmm, at first, I thought, "I’m afraid of displeasing the Lord." Hmmm, no, there had to be something deeper ... "fear of witnessing" ... there ya go. That must be it. But still I pondered. It was something deeper, something derived from personal experiences throughout my life that had put thin layers of fear around my heart. Let's see ... I am afraid of flying, but that can be avoided. I am afraid of being unable to move due to a disease or accident ... which plays into my anxiety issues (that's another story in and of itself). All these things were definitely offshoots, but what was the root of my fear. My mind was whirling like a minicomputer ... I've got it. I know what I’m afraid of. Why hadn't I thought of this before. Of course. My fear lies in being REJECTED. Tied to that is a fear of failure and also a fear of succeeding (which on the surface doesn't seem to make any sense but I think it’s real in my life). I fear rejection on many levels. I fear failure, which isn't so strange. 

I suppose a lot of people have a fear of failing. But I also have a fear of succeeding ... I don't think I deserve to succeed for some reason. So NOW I have to seek God and work towards removing the shackles that have bound me in so many areas of my life. It’s difficult to come face to face with your fears and even more difficult to remove them. But can WE really remove them. Perhaps through some sort of therapy, but that may take time. What about praying about it? Yes, that’s the key. I need to shift my focus off my circumstances and place it squarely on Jesus. I have a Heavenly Father who will no doubt show me the way to further spiritual freedom in spite of myself. It’s a fact that we tend to cause our own problems. Reflect on your own life and see what, if anything, you may be afraid of. Then go to the Father and seek to be unshackled. Then praise the Lord. Regardless of how you feel you should always take the time to worship the Lord because he is forever worthy of our praise. Amen? 

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

Normally when we see the Serenity prayer we see the 1^st four lines shown below. In reality, there is a full version of that prayer that people don’t always see. Drink in this iconic prayer that has been attributed to American Theologian Reinhold Niebuhr (1892-1971).  This full version was composed sometime in the 1940’s.

 

“God grant me the serenity

To accept the things I cannot change;

Courage to change the things I can;

and wisdom to know the difference.

 

Living one day at a time;

Enjoying one moment at a time;

Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;

Taking, as He did, this sinful world

As it is, not as I would have it;

Trusting that He will make all things right

If I surrender to His Will;

So that I may be reasonably happy in this life

And supremely happy with Him

forever and ever in the next.

Amen.”

 

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

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries