I looked into the eyes of one in grips of the pain of Cancer; glazed but focused eyes. Like one waiting and not wishing to blink for fear of missing what he was waiting for.

His wife said, "George has been like this for 2 1/2 Days, just staring, not eating, not drinking". "You can talk to him but he probably can't hear you."

I was in my 4th year of ministry after Bible college, and this was my first face to face with someone at the door steps of death. In just a few moments I would realize the value of carrying the Word's of life with me. In the darkness of this night (as a family watching ..their husband, father and grandpa), We would realize the power of the Light that God has put as a treasure to be released from these "earthen vessels". George, in his last moments of life, would hear God's Word and give His heart to Jesus. He would be rescued. That early morning when he would breathe his last breath, he would be alive with Jesus in eternity. George was awakened and strengthen by the Spirit long enough to listen, trust, pray and then he left me with a question in his last words .....

His last words ever spoken on this planet ... never said another word ... went back into his coma like stare:
"BUT WHAT CAN I DO FOR JESUS!"
George's Faith was activated and alive for a moment of his need ...what a timely rescue. There was not a moment to lose. What if Faith had perished in my life? ...George might have been lost forever.

Is Faith perishing in your life?.... Are you totally neglecting the Word of God ... Day by Day ... Week by Week?
Are people blindly walking toward Hell all around you ? People you come in contact with every day?

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE? Bible answer ..."a vapor that appears for a short time... and then vanishes away."

While that vapor is here, is it activating life around it ... is it leaving a life giving dew, a moment of beautiful deflection of the Sun, is it carrying a fresh smell of a New day ...

OR is it the smoke of house on fire ...smoke from a burning auto crash or a burning dump. 

What if you were asked this question by a dying man? What advice could you offer? What ministry could you sign him up for? What creative life could you guide him to live that would glorify God?

Are you alive or do you lay dying? 

2 Corinthians 2:15 - For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved , and in them that perish :
2 Peter 3:9 - The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish , but that all should come to repentance.
2 Corinthians 4:16 - For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish , yet the inward man is renewed day by day.

RISE UP!
WHILE YOU HAVE STRENGTH ...ASK THE QUESTION... What can I do for Jesus?
Don't let faith perish...in your life.

HLFA,

Jeff 

Caught Between Two Breaths

"I read the Bible, BUT" ...."I've trusted Christ, BUT" ..."I pray, BUT"
and then comes the statement that is the sly stealthy killer ...
" It just doesn't seem to change anything."
Change ...everybody is looking for ... Change
And We ALL need a change!

And we will continue to be sucker punched by every NEW PERSONALITY that promises change
because the change we normally desire is so shackled to this life (positions, possessions and power),
that we are fearful to commit our life to a God who will not change ...definitely not for us.
God offers Stability ..."He hath said, I AM the LORD, I change not". "Jesus, the same yesterday, today and forever". "that Rock was Christ"

Here comes a Bible diagnosis for most of our failures in our relationship with Jesus and others.
James 1:8 - A double minded man is unstable in all his ways. Huh?

{ Special note for tender hearted student of the Word of God:The word for "double minded" comes from one compound word in the Greek - transliterated - "dipsuchos" (pronounced dip-soo-koss) .It is the smashing together of the word - for "twice" and the word for "breath of life" or "soul". This "twice breath of life" is like having heavenly things and earthly things in opposite corners of a round room with us teathered by a bungee strap trying to run between them.}

Back-n-forth we go ...tasting, touching, testing to see what will profit us the most, what will give us the greatest pleasure, the most awesome experience....and because of this "double-mindedness" we still can't nail down our commitment to eternity. Always double dipping, always spoiling the relationship with doubt based on indecision and faith clouded by our foolish desire to taste sin. Always swaying, moving, tossing and turning .......................
THIS MOVEMENT NEEDS TO STOP - IT NEEDS TO BE BROKEN! WE NEED TO BREAK!

Luke 7:36 - 50 Tells a story that shows three types of brokenness ...
One we don't need (though God will orchestrate everything to reach and remove this brokenness) hint: study Simon the Pharisee.
One we need desperately (offered by the Saviour) hint: Study Jesus.
and the last we need personally....(please read the passage in Luke to get this story of this brokenness in its fullness) hint: study the woman.

Brokenness 1- The double-mindedness of one who will invite Jesus in for a "personal experience"...this is the brokenness not needed???
Brokenness 2- The Single-mindedness of a Saviour who will stop the world to reach even one sinner ... His Brokenness we need desperately.
Brokenness 3- The broken heart of one who sees their SIN DEBT, the SAVIOUR and their NEED to break from Double-mindedness ...this is what we need personally.

Hear the words of Jesus as He lovingly trys to lead us on:
41 There was a certain Creditor which had two debtors:
the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty.
42 And when they had nothing to pay , He frankly forgave them both.
Tell Me therefore, which of them will love Him most?

Have you clearly looked at your sin debt ...
Have you realized His forgiveness ...
you can be the one that LOVES Him most!!!

Break, before Him,
THEN YOUR LIFE CAN BE BROKEN FOR OTHERS... Here is THE CHANGE!

HLFA,

Jeff

My Ache, Your Ache...UNTIL...My Blessing, Your Blessing

Just wait UNTIL your father gets home!!!
Woe ...I was going to get it, time to work on a case for my defense ....Daddy was coming and his belt would be swinging.

UNTIL ...what an ominous or blessed word?

Paul's loving commitment to the believers in the region of Galatia was extremely personal ..... UNTIL meant he was determined to stay beside them with the same determination a mother has to give birth to her long desired child.
Galatians 4:19 - My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you,
Restated: My little kids, I will continue to experience an ache and a life battle similiar to labor pains ...again and again... UNTIL you are allowing Jesus to take His fullest position, annointed as King, within the deepest part of You.

Until, a word to keep me still, to know that it is not over ...Until.
until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ: ---said to those who minister to keep them going.
until I make thine enemies thy footstool ---Said to Jesus by the Father
until the time of reformation. ---Said to Israel awaiting the "change" from doing to done....a welcome to a relationship again, instead of a religion.
until He receive the early and latter rain. ---Said to the Church about Jesus Coming ...souls are still coming into the Kingdom...wait.
until the day dawn , and the day star arise in your hearts:---Said about the fullfillment of His Word in us ....IT WILL COME TO PASS.

UNTIL is my curse because my flesh is weakening(I've seen it in my Mother's dying eyes)

UNTIL is my hope because He is ever strengthening even when I can't see it...(I've heard it in my ever-living Father's Words)
1 Corinthians 2:9: But as it is written , Eye hath not seen , nor ear heard , neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

HURTING?
HOPE!
Until.

HLFA,

Jeff