Random Ramblings

          "Time & tide wait for no man."  It's origin is unknown, but it's meaning is clear:  "No one is so powerful that they can stop the march of time."* 

          In the Old Testament, Hezekiah, king of Judah, who was a righteous king who honored God with his life, had become deathly ill. The prophet Isaiah came to him and told him God said Hezekiah should get his affairs in order because he was about to die. The king cried out to God reminding him of his faithfulness and single-minded devotion to the things of the Lord.  He didn't specifically ask to have his life spared or years added to that life; however, before Isaiah could even get out of the king's courtyard he received a message from God. He returned to the king and told he that God would heal Hezekiah and add 15 years to his life.  As a sign, on the third day from that time God would turn the sundial back 10 steps to show he had done what he had promised.  Did God turn back time?  While that is unclear from the text, what is clear is that King Hezekiah prayed and his life was elongated by 15 years.  

          So while God apparently didn't stop time, he most assuredly could if he had a mind to because time rests firmly in his hands.   

*http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/

RANDOM RAMBLINGS

       I came across a question that caused me to stop and think. I didn’t have to think long before I came up with an answer to the query. “If you were accused of being a Christian, would there be enough evidence for a conviction?” It was a startling question; the kind that catches one off guard. 

I stumbled across it and then sat staring at it. My near immediate mental response was “No, no. I don’t believe their would be.” I was ashamed to have to admit that, but understanding all that I do about scripture, I have to admit I am not much of a threat to the devil at all. My comfort zone is so large and well lived in that I scarcely think of leaving it. Faith, love, mercy, grace, forgiveness; it’s as if they mean nothing. I write about them and believe in them, but have they truly transformed my life? Truly? 

        I can be very hard on myself; I always have been. That’s not to minimize or cast aside my concerns; no, not at all. I don’t consider myself to be a very good Christian. However, having said that, I realize that God is not through with me yet and better days are coming as I allow Him to continue His work within me, for you see it is not the exterior things that others can see that matter, but rather the inward working of the Holy Spirit who creates the change that can ultimately be seen outwardly that really matters. This spiritual surgery which extracts undesirable traits and replaces them with Godly ones is quite necessary in all believers. Without it we are the same person with the same worldly desires and the same penchant for wrong doing. 
         How would you answer that question up above? Have you allowed God to have His way with you? Do you even feel the need to do so? God loves you. Let Him move freely about you by His Spirit, reconstructing you into all you can be for His glory. rlk

72,000

       My devotional blog just topped 72,000 hits.  I am both humbled & proud that people across the globe are reading what I feel God is inspiring me to write each day.  If even one person is blessed, encouraged or edified by anything that I have ever written then in God's eyes (and mine) I am a raging success.  Thank you Lord for your incredible love, mercy and grace. May you bless and challenge each reader to be all they can be for you in Jesus name! rlkeller

RANDOM RAMBLINGS

       I am beginning to wonder if we are trivializing the notion of hell, thus negating its reality.  Here's a list of phrases we all hear regarding hell: "It's hot as hell!", "It's cold as hell!", "That's funny as hell!", "It's windy as hell!", "I'm beat as hell!", "Working here is like being in hell!" and so on.  There are actually too many to recount here.  I know it's just an innocent phrase and on the surface it really means nothing, but for the believer in Christ hell is a very real place.  Those who glibly toss the reference out there really have no idea what they are implying.  In a way it's like referring to someone as a "Hitler" or a workplace like a Nazi concentration camp.  There aren't too many folks left alive who had that horrific experience, but I don't need to experience it to know that working anywhere for money is nothing like living each day out in a brutal, torturous Nazi concentration camp.  In like manner, there is no way of knowing what hell is literally like, but I am fairly certain that it cannot be cold and hot at the same time, that there will be no wind there, there is nothing funny about it and being there for all eternity will be far worse than any place you have ever worked.  So let people trivialize what they do not understand.  It's par for the course and sad to me.  Man's ignorance is so glaring and yet they refuse to listen to anything said about God or eternity.  They simply want to be left alone to live their life as they choose.  So be it ... rlkeller.

A 5th BOOK IS ON THE HORIZON

       Living for Christ can be a lot more difficult than it needs to be, especially if you are like me and over process things.  I was thinking about this very thought over the weekend and decided that my 5th book would use a title a attempted to use for my 3rd book, but didn't seem to fit anymore once the manuscript was complete.  That title is: Dear God, I have a problem ... it's ME!  With the subtitle: Overthinking can get you in trouble. This would be some what of an autobiography, although not entirely.  If will have autobiographical elements, but not be a full-fledged autobiography, if that makes any sense. My 4th book, STARK RAVING OBEDIENCE is rolling along slowly.  Having a full-time job hampers my ability to pour a ton of time into writing, although I do have nearly 6 chapters completed.  It will take some time for me to complete it to my picky standards, but that's alright. I'm under no time restriction. God is good. May his perfect will in my life be done daily. rlkeller  

OUR LIFELINE

      Our pastor yesterday said something that was an excellent reply to those who proclaim I can't believe a loving God would send anyone to hell. His response was: That's not what the gospel says.  All men have sinned and are separated from God. He sent Jesus as a lifeline to save them from hell.

       I'll take it one step further. Scripture teaches that hell wasn't created for man (Matthew 25:41).  It teaches that all men have sinned. By their own lifestyle they are dead men (and women) walking, with no hope of redemption unless they acknowledge their sin, their need of a savior and receive God's forgiveness. They are condemned by their own words and actions.  God sends no one to hell, they go there of their own volition.  It's the choice of each man and woman to either accept or reject God's gift of forgiveness.  It isn't a sure, I'll take it, grab it and run type of thing.  It's serious business.  You will be cast into a burning lake of fire for all eternity, separated from God forever if you don't receive his gift.  No one wants to hear that, but the major misconception of man that is at least partially perpetrated by believers, is that serving God is some sort of regimented life with no fun and no freedom.  Not true.  It's just different than what you're accustomed to.  Once you surrender to God's plan for your life he gives you the 'want to' by this holy spirit.  There's more to it than that, but in a nutshell, that's it.  God is love, he is light, he is just, he is merciful, he is gracious and he sends no one to hell unless they insist by virtue of their own autonomous lifestyle that refuses to follow anyone else's plan for them.  rlkeller

THE MERCY OF GOD

       We no doubt encounter many situations in a day where we can either offer mercy or require it ourselves.  We tend, as mortal men, to overreact to certain things that take place in our lives.  As we grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ we are to become more and more like him.  We must develop a genuine affinity toward showing God's grace and mercy for this is how he wooed us.  The harsh, fire and brimstone approach wouldn't have worked on us and neither will it work on others.        

       The world is a bubbling cauldron of hate and prejudice, but love and mercy neutralizes hate.  When attacked by hate our natural tendency is to retaliate, to strike back with greater force.  In place of retaliation, emulate the Lord with regards to mercy and you will have lifted the veil to the kingdom of God for others to see. rlkeller