8/20/15

From Gary... Pleasant things...


All jokes in the picture are cute in their own way, but I like the instagram one the best.  And after reading them I left with a warm, fuzzy feeling and lasted a long time (as you might have guessed- I like jokes). I imagine that quite a number of people like to read posts that make them feel good and ignore those that don't. But, what if your lifestyle NEEDED rebuke? What if you really needed to change how you life in order to please God? What then? How would you react if someone told you an unpleasant truth?

Consider...

Isaiah, Chapter 30 (WEB)
7 For Egypt helps in vain, and to no purpose; therefore have I called her Rahab who sits still.  8 Now go, write it before them on a tablet, and inscribe it in a book, that it may be for the time to come forever and ever.  9 For it is a rebellious people, lying children, children who will not hear Yahweh’s law;  10 who tell the seers, “Don’t see!” and to the prophets, “Don’t prophesy to us right things. Tell us pleasant things. Prophesy deceits.  11 Get out of the way. Turn aside from the path. Cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us.”  12 Therefore thus says the Holy One of Israel, “Because you despise this word, and trust in oppression and perverseness, and rely on it;  13 therefore this iniquity shall be to you like a breach ready to fall, swelling out in a high wall, whose breaking comes suddenly in an instant.  14 He will break it as a potter’s vessel is broken, breaking it in pieces without sparing, so that there won’t be found among the broken piece a piece good enough to take fire from the hearth, or to dip up water out of the cistern.”  15 For thus said the Lord Yahweh, the Holy One of Israel, “You will be saved in returning and rest. Your strength will be in quietness and in confidence.” You refused,  16 but you said, “No, for we will flee on horses”; therefore you will flee; and, “We will ride on the swift”; therefore those who pursue you will be swift.  17 One thousand will flee at the threat of one. At the threat of five, you will flee until you are left like a beacon on the top of a mountain, and like a banner on a hill.  18 Therefore Yahweh will wait, that he may be gracious to you; and therefore he will be exalted, that he may have mercy on you, for Yahweh is a God of justice. Blessed are all those who wait for him. 

Too long America has turned its back on God. Too many Bibles remained closed and far too many people sit at home on Sunday- to get their "needed" rest.  Political correctness dictates that its not appropriate to even speak of God. This nonsensical thinking needs to be stopped!!!  I like something I read on facebook this morning by presidential candidate Dr. Ben Carson...

 “We have to stop listening to these people who tell us that we cannot talk about God, we cannot talk about our faith,” the retired neurosurgeon said.  

https://cnsnews.com/news/article/patrick-goodenough/carson-stop-listening-these-people-who-tell-us-we-cannot-talk-about?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=marketing&utm_campaign=n-carson-god

The time has come for our country to listen to "hard things" and change for the better. Jesus reached out to people in love; he healed their diseases, addressed their misconceptions of God and his word and suffered and died for their sins. But, what many people conveniently forget is that he spoke about HELL more than anyone else.  

So, smile at the pleasant jokes, but at the same time, listen to God. Change as needed- you will have an eternity in heaven to be thankful you did!!!