Decisions decisions......Some are easy, some are not.

Mark Chapter 8:

34: And He summoned the crowd with His disciples, and said to them, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. 35: “For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it. 36: “For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul? 37: “For what will a man give in exchange for his soul? 38: “For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.” NAS

Notice in verse 34, Jesus called His disciples AND the crowd. He wasn’t just instructing the 12 men that followed Him on what they must do, He was telling everyone, yes you and me too, what they would have to do to be a follower of Jesus.

You will have to deny yourself, take up your cross and follow Him. Your Cross, interesting reference there. Jesus had only begun His work and not openly as yet, but here we see Him referring to the cross. The meaning cannot be lost on us, can it? He was warning us of the hard life that we would have as His follower. He isn’t promising any of His disciples a rose petal covered path with no stumbling stones. He isn’t saying they will receive accolades and hurrahs. He is promising His disciples a hard life, full of self sacrifice and hardship. In verse 35, Jesus explains that self sacrifice will be the norm, not the exception. That should you value your own life and/or lifestyle so much that you put it above Him, everlasting life will be what you actually sacrifice.

My very favorite verse is 36, how on point it is! Short and sweet I always say. “For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul?” There can only be one answer to that question. Death. Oh sure, while here on this rock, you can have all the bells and whistles, new cars, fine clothes, but guess what happens to all that when you’re gone? Yard sale, donated to Good Will, or burned up as so much garbage. What then? Where will you be? I ask you,dwell on it, don’t answer to quickly, is it really worth it?

Verses 37 and 38 make me think of a sign I once saw on a church marquee. It said, “No Jesus = Death, Know Jesus = Life. Think about it.” I speak to many folks through the course of a week, and often in our conversations they will tell me that they know Jesus, but their fruit doesn’t show it. Sometimes I think they are telling me what they think I want to hear. It makes me very sad. My prayer is that they will come to know the saving Grace of the Lord in a mighty way, to be healed of the afflictions they suffer. I know they say they know Jesus, but my question is, when the time comes, will Jesus know them?

When we are filled with The Holy Spirit, we should not have to proclaim our lives. Our lives should erase all doubts. The trouble is that isn’t always the case. Our human nature pokes it’s head out on occasion. But the fruit should be there. It should be a testament to our Father. That is my goal, won’t you make it yours?

Blessings ~ Kat

In the Blink of an Eye

I was watching TV one morning after my quiet time when a commercial came on. For some reason I didn't put the TV on mute and go fix my second cup of coffee. I sat watching, my mouth hanging open, dumbfounded at the ridiculous advertisement playing out in front of me.

I know you are thinking of a commercial....well, it ain't that one! Although it is totally disgusting to me as well. So I won't get sued, I won't name the product, however it is a medication that women brush on their eyelids to make their eyelashes longer and fuller.

People Please! I can only hope that there are very few in this world that have no other concerns in life than the fact that their eyelashes are lacking in some way.

I wonder, just how many hundreds of thousands of dollars went into the study and manufacture of this totally useless product made only for people that are that self absorbed. That money could very well have been the make it or break it for the discovery of a cure for a form of cancer or any number of debilitating disease.

Wake Up People! Put your life in perspective! Those long eyelashes you covet so are just so much hair.

Revelation 3:14 "To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:

These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God's creation. 15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17 You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. 19 Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. 20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. 21 To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."

Are you lukewarm? When Jesus looks at the fruit of your life, what will He see? Will He see a man or woman that thought of nothing but their own comfort? A person that cared not for anything other than what ever made them happy? Someone that lived blind to the needs of their brothers and sisters and had no thought for anyone but themselves? Will Jesus want to spew your name from His lips as a bad tasting liquid?

I pray not beloved reader. I pray not.