Oldschool69

There comes a time when we ask the question 'What's the meaning of life and purpose? Family, education, and careers are good things but they are not the sole reason for our existence. Our true mission is to share the message of hope, love, and forgiveness that's only found in service to God through his son Jesus Christ. we are called to be his light bearers to a world that's unknowingly lost in darkness. Jesus is our power source to become a lighthouse that can direct those in need to the safety of God's harbor for repair, restoration, and commission to be transformed into vessels that carry out this most important eternal message of hope! ‭‭Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven - Matthew 5:16

For by grace, you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God - Ephesians 2:8 The origins of celebrating birthdays began with the ancient Egyptians but only to worship pharaohs as gods. The Greeks were the first recorded civilization that celebrated birthdays of the everyday common man due to the development of the calendar as we know it today. It wasn't until the arrival of Jesus that Christianity began to embrace birthday celebrations, which was originally considered a pagan practice. Birthday celebrations are unique to each culture but one tradition that seems common to all is gift-giving. Honestly, who can say no to a once a year no strings attached receiving of free gifts? The practice of gift giving is interesting as you have to choose to not only receive the gifts provided but you also must decide if you want to put them to use, ignore them, or possibly opt to return them for something else. In my humble opinion, the greatest gift ever given is salvation by faith in Jesus Christ. This gift never breaks, gets old, and continues to improve daily for all eternity. What other gift can compare to that? And this is the will of him that sent me, that everyone which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day - John 6:40 The key word is will. God makes it clear he wants us to be a part of his kingdom but it's our choice to receive or reject his gift. ‭‭I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live - Deuteronomy 30:19 Although these words were specifically created for Israel in the Old Testament Jesus has repurposed and updated God's offer to all mankind but it only applies if we willingly of our own free will choose to receive it! ‭‭And also that every man should eat and drink and enjoy the good of all his labor it is the gift of God. I know that whatever God does, It shall be forever. Nothing can be added to it, And nothing taken from it. God does it, that men should fear before Him - ‭‭Ecclesiastes 3:13-14 It's no mistake that you are alive at this very moment reading these words but only you can choose to receive this Gift of God through faith in Jesus Christ. Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me - John 14:16 Will you accept it or reject it?

will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. - Ezekiel 36:26 Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is still the leading cause of death in the United States. In a typical 24-hour day someone dies from CVD every 34 seconds which roughly equals around 151,600 people per day. This somber reality is mostly self-inflicted by our lifestyle choices beyond some pre-existing health conditions from birth. An even greater concern is the spiritual state of our hearts which if left unchecked will result in eternal consequences far worse than physical death. ‭‭And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation. - ‭‭Hebrews 9:27-28 The good news is God himself offers us a modern update from Ezekiel 36:26. It's now a one-time permanent solution for this terminal spiritual heart condition in the form of his only son Jesus Christ who paid the penalty for our sin and grants us forgiveness and salvation. ‭‭For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ - Romans 5:17 This amazing offer only works if we are willing participants who desire to understand the following steps 1.) We are sinners - ‭‭Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God 2.) Responding by faith - Ephesians 2:8-9 for by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,not of works, lest anyone should boast. 3.) Motivation - ‭‭Luke 10:27 ‭so he answered and said, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,’ and ‘your neighbor as yourself. 4.) Purpose - ‭‭Mark 16:15 and He said to them, go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 5.) His promises to us - Hebrews 13:5 - let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said,I will never leave you nor forsake you. Our heart is the engine that allows us to function and thrive as it was intended to by God's own design. Let's give him full control of it so we can reach our full potential! Ephesians 2:10 - for we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

‭A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace - ‭ Ecclesiastes‬ ‭3:8‬ War - a contest between nations or states, carried on by force, either for defense or for revenging insults and redressing wrongs. War is a difficult situation that causes so much harm and destruction far beyond the field of battle. And yet at times, it's necessary to maintain and defend the very God-given rights of freedom. I'm grateful for every person who puts themselves in harm's way to protect and defend our rights for life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Without them surely slavery would dominate every aspect of life as we know it! And yet there is a rarely spoken unholy war that has and continues to claim more casualties than every war that has ever taken place on planet Earth since its creation. It's the war for the souls of every Man, woman, and child and not only impacts this life but also determines where eternity will be spent. ‭‭‭‭John 10:10 - The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. Many think that the greatest enemy we face in this life is satan and his fallen angels. But the stark reality is we are our own greatest foe because only we have the power to choose whom we serve and where we spend eternity. Romans 10:10 - For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. All of us are in the midst of the greatest spiritual battle ever known, but if we fail to first address and correct our eternal sinful nature by faith in Jesus our efforts are in vain. ‭‭‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭10:4‭-‬5‬ ‭ For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. Once we settle our accounts with God through faith in Jesus we are drafted into the army of God to share the good news of forgiveness and salvation that's available to everyone. ‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭2:3‭-‬4‬ You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier. As in war there will be suffering and loss but the good news is the battle is already won by what Christ already accomplished at cavalry. ‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭15:57‬ But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Have you by faith joined the army of God?

For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. - 1 Timothy 6:7 Have you noticed as we mature in life that our overall desires change? For example, when I was younger I had to have the newest gadget that everybody had even if it was something I did not need. Now I find myself desiring fewer things beyond my basic needs. Sure every once in a while a new shiny thing pops up and we think 'Should I get that? For me, an unspoken sense of reason takes over and it does not have the same appeal it used to have. I am not saying it’s wrong to attain new things but many times we want stuff we don’t need. ‭I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and indeed, all is vanity and grasping for the wind - Ecclesiastes 1:14 The goal of advertising is to appeal to our fleshly desire to have a better and more fulfilled life. Mature wisdom reveals that nothing man-made can ever fulfill the true desires of our hearts. The only thing that matters is our relationship with God through Jesus and the people we love. Everything else is temporary and will not last. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ - Philippians 3:8 The two essentials everyone wants in life are unconditional love and acceptance. Only Faith in Jesus Christ the redeemer of our sins can provide that kind of lasting hope and peace! And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment - 1 John 3:23 So next time we feel tempted to buy into the hype the world is trying to sell us let's ask ourselves three simple questions .1.) Do we need this? 2.) Can it truly improve the quality of our life? 3.) Will it take away or distract us from our relationship with God? If after all that we are still unsure we should pray and ask the holy spirit to reveal the Father's wisdom found in the pages of the bible. It's not always easy to do but in time things will change and we will feel more free. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also - Matthew 6:21

Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me - John 14:1 We are living in a world that's theoretically "On fire" filled with violence, chaos, and political unrest. It's no surprise that all such events are contributing to an increase in anger, depression, substance abuse, and an overall lack of hope for the future of mankind. ‭‭And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places - Matthew 24:6-7 As crazy as things are in this moment this is not the first time such events have taken place. If you look back in history there have been just as many turbulent times all over the world. The one exception is our current ability to have access to limitless amounts of information due to technology. As the old saying goes" More is not always better" as traditionally information means power but there is such an over-saturation of it these days that without sound wisdom and discernment, we fall for lies, or watered-down half-truths of miss or disinformation. ‭‭Therefore, putting away lying, “Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,” for we are members of one another - Ephesians 4:25 So where can we go to get pure unadulterated truth that can give us hope and peace regardless of our circumstances? 1.) ‭‭The word of God For the word of the Lord is right, And all His work is done in truth - Psalms 33:34 2.) Jesus ‭‭Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God - Hebrews 12:2 3.) Holy Spirit But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you - John 14:26 God never promised us things would be easy in this life but when we choose by faith to place our trust in him he gives us confidence that we will be able to endure and ultimately overcome them by his mercy forever in eternal glory! These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world - John 16:33

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us - Romans 5:8 Everyone makes mistakes in life and sometimes the results can have a major negative impact on another person's life and well-being. For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God - Romans 3:23 It's especially uncomfortable when it's done to us by someone we love and trust deeply. We are forced to deal with the consequences of someone else's actions and it's never a pleasant experience. Take for example the apostle Peter. During the last supper Jesus told Peter he would deny Jesus and his response was one of shock and disbelief that he would do such a thing to his friend. And Peter remembered the word of Jesus who had said to him, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” So he went out and wept bitterly - Matthew 26:75 He was completely devastated that he did such a thing to Jesus after three years of being taught and serving with him. I'm sure in his mind he was thinking to himself " If I get a second chance I know I can be better and learn from my mistakes". My former pastor used to say often that God is the God of second chances. Those words seem very relevant as we quickly approach easter because this is how we all gained the ability to choose Jesus by faith as a ransom for our sins and receive complete forgiveness which is our second chance! For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved - John 3:17 Salvation does not mean we will not continue to make mistakes but it does help to remove the unrealistic burden of guilt and shame that the devil seeks to use against us causing self-condemnation. There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit - Romans 8:1 It's been greatly discussed over the years that Judas Iscariot could have been forgiven of his betrayal of Jesus if he had asked Jesus for forgiveness instead of ending his life due to pride? We do know that the finished work of the cross of Jesus' life death and resurrection has provided everyone a second chance. The only question that remains is are you Peter or Judas?

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us - Romans 5:8 Everyone makes mistakes in life and sometimes the results can have a major negative impact on another person's life and well-being. For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God - Romans 3:23 It's especially uncomfortable when it's done to us by someone we love and trust deeply. We are forced to deal with the consequences of someone else's actions and it's never a pleasant experience. Take for example the apostle Peter. During the last supper Jesus told Peter he would deny Jesus and his response was one of shock and disbelief that he would do such a thing to his friend. And Peter remembered the word of Jesus who had said to him, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” So he went out and wept bitterly - Matthew 26:75 He was completely devastated that he did such a thing to Jesus after three years of being taught and serving with him. I'm sure in his mind he was thinking to himself " If I get a second chance I know I can be better and learn from my mistakes". My former pastor used to say often that God is the God of second chances. Those words seem very relevant as we quickly approach easter because this is how we all gained the ability to choose Jesus by faith as a ransom for our sins and receive complete forgiveness which is our second chance! For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved - John 3:17 Salvation does not mean we will not continue to make mistakes but it does help to remove the unrealistic burden of guilt and shame that the devil seeks to use against us causing self-condemnation. There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit - Romans 8:1 It's been greatly discussed over the years that Judas Iscariot could have been forgiven of his betrayal of Jesus if he had asked Jesus for forgiveness instead of ending his life due to pride? We do know that the finished work of the cross of Jesus' life death and resurrection has provided everyone a second chance. The only question that remains is are you Peter or Judas?

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. - Matthew 11:28 We live in a fast-paced world where everything seems to move at breakneck speeds and if you take a moment to blink you might miss out on something. But perception and reality are at great odds so we end up having a distorted perspective and the end result is we feel overwhelmed, and exhausted and leave no room for rest. To make matters worse we subject ourselves to mass amounts of caffeine and fail to get the proper amounts of sleep. All this equals to underline stress that will impact our mental and physical well-being. So how do we overcome all these challenges? The most unlikely source remains hidden in plain sight and yet is available to anyone willing to look beyond the mundane. The peace of God transcends any circumstance we may face if we allow him to develop it within us over time. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. - Philippians 4:6‭-‬7 When we pray and seek his direction found in his word he grants us a clearer vision of his will and we learn to walk in his precepts with confidence. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need - Hebrews 4:16 Jesus modeled this example for our benefit so we can learn to stay connected to God regardless of whatever we may face. And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there. - Matthew 14:23 The goal behind seeking rest is more about staying connected to our savior. It's in those moments we learn to surrender all to him so we might take up his will and obedience. For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me - John 6:38 What is his will for us? And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day - John 6:40 Have you placed your trust in Jesus?