is one of my favorite things to do. Extended times here in the mornings, alone in my room, is my favorite time of every day. It doesn't matter if I read the entire time, stop and type in here, or spend my time praying, or even taking a short nap, I am always rewarded because I took time to spend it with Jesus. There is nothing better. It sets the tone for my day. If I'm struggling, or hurting, or fighting a losing battle (as it seems some times), when I start my day with Jesus, reading His Word, spending time talking with Him, my day is already complete.
And it's a good thing I start my day with Jesus, cause some days it is a real struggle just to get through the day. Do you agree? How do you start your mornings.... and how does your day go by doing it that way? Just curious....if you want to share.
Today is a grandson's birthday and I will send him a text soon to wish him well. This child - yes, regardless of how old he is, he is still a child - is so loving and cute and I enjoy being around him. Don't see him often as he is old enough to be out of school and working a full time job. But, he always have a place in my heart. Lord, I pray abundant blessings upon this grandson, that You will bless him today with all that he desires. Draw his heart close to You and let him know how dearly he is loved, by his family, and by You.
I glanced at my phone a little bit ago - sometimes I can see the start of some messages. I saw I had an email from a new friend in our Bible study group. We have formed a bond of sorts - found we like the same authors and people who speak the Truth and are not afraid of what others say. LOL She mentioned that she likes 'hell, fire and brimstone' pastors. I get it. Pastors nowadays - more often than not - are afraid to tell you that you are going to Hell when you sin. Instead they just pat you on the hand and say 'you shouldn't do that....'. We need pastors in our churches that will speak the Truth - in love - but still the Truth - that if you do not surrender your life and make Jesus your Lord, you will go to hell.
John 14:6 (NKJV): "Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
I think I told you on Monday that we had a great service this last Sunday. The topic was No Compromise. What do you think of when you hear those words, 'No Compromise'? For many of us, I'm sure, we think of standing our ground, not giving in. And that's probably true. But sometimes we do need to compromise when being right isn't always best. But what the pastor was referring to last week was 'No Compromise' in following Jesus.
What I got out of the message that Jesus is always first. He is always #1. Everything thing we do and say must be about Jesus, or a reflection of Him. What we believe about Jesus, we need to stand firm on. He is the Son of the Living God. His words are truth, His words are simple. His words tell us how to live in this crazy world.
Many people have grown up with a head knowledge of who Jesus is... and they may have gone through the actions of 'accepting Jesus' into their hearts, but they never gave Him all of themselves. They couldn't give up the world for Jesus. They never gained that personal heart knowledge of who Jesus is so they never knew there is no compromise in following Jesus.
There was a story about ten men who had been captured during the war. I'm thinking it was in Russia, the pastor said. Each man was tortured and beaten. Each time they were given a paper to 'confess they were guilty of this crime', and each time they refused, because they were not guilty, they would be beaten again. Then they were separated and put in isolation. The torture increased. They were told that if they would sign the paper that they were guilty, they would be released. As time passed, and the beatings and torture happened daily, one by one the men compromised and signed the paper, when they felt they couldn't take the torture any more. It was down to one man. He was continuously tortured, beaten, kept in isolation. He was daily given the paper to sign, taking a guilty plea. He continuously refused. They would tell him he would be released, if he would sign the paper. He still refused. He was not guilty and would not say he was. Finally, the beatings and torture stopped......and he was released. It was then he discovered that the 9 men who had given in and had signed the paper stating they were guilty...... were not released....they were taken out and executed, one by one. One man out of ten refused to compromise his integrity. He was not guilty and refused to say he was.
Is your integrity, your faith in God, strong enough that if you were beaten and tortured, or even if you were just put on a stand and asked "Do you know Jesus?" - knowing you could be beaten and tortured and killed for saying you knew Him, or that you followed Him, would you say "yes" or would you compromise your relationship with Jesus by saying, as Peter did when he denied Jesus three times, "I do not know Him."? Is your relationship with Jesus strong enough that if your family's lives were at stake, would you compromise your belief to save them - or would you release them to the only One who can save them... and stand firm in your walk with Jesus?
No compromise. No matter what. It's either Jesus - or nothing.
Hebrews 12:1-3 (NKJV): "Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 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. For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls."
Jesus never compromised. He was beaten, scourged, hair pulled out of his beard, spit upon... and then forced to carry a wooden cross on which He would be nailed to. He suffered, and died, for me and for you.
He did not compromise His walk with His Father. And He is asking us to not compromise our walk with Him.
Are you willing to accept the beatings and torture, the cruelty of people by their words and actions, to stand up for Jesus? Can you handle the mocking of your walk with Him? Will you compromise who you are in Jesus for the world?
Or will you not compromise.... no matter what.... and live with Jesus forever?
I pray that my commitment to Jesus, and yours, will survive the tests that hit us daily.
No compromise.
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