Archive for the ‘Christian Living’ Category
The Storm Whisperer
The Storm Whisperer
A few years ago I was mesmerized by the fact that someone could gently tame wild horses within minutes. The title of Horse Whisperer is now the name we give to someone with that gift. The Dog Whisperer soon became another name in our vocabulary.
Not many of today’s readers call themselves a horse whisperer or a dog whisperer. Yet, we all have the capability of being a Storm Whisperer. That’s right, we all can learn to be storm calmers. Maybe not quite like Jesus did when He calmed the storm and said, “Peace, be still.” But we can calm storms nevertheless. It’s actually easier than you imagined.
I don’t mean calm an actual tornado, hurricane or thunderstorms. I am referring to calming life storms. The instructions are very easy.
Faced With An Anger Storm?
When encountering an angry tirade of loud, harsh or demeaning words that can quickly escalate into something even more serious, do what this verse says:
Proverbs 15:1 A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.
- If you wish the storm to stop, answer soft and kindly.
- Be the peaceful breeze that calms the stormy sea.
- If you can do this, you are a storm whisperer.
Confronted With An Argument Storm?
If peace and quiet are desperately needed and you wish to defuse the situation, then remember this scripture:
Proverbs 26:20 Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.
- Just don’t put another log on the fire and it will soon die out.
- Throw your extra logs away while you’re at it.
- If you can do this, you are a storm whisperer.
You Are The Wind To The Storm
- When the wind stops blowing, the troubled sea will stop roaring.
- It will soon be calm again.
- If you can do this, you are a storm whisperer.
Col 3:15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
Philippians 4:9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.
So You Want To Be Your Own Pastor?
So You Want To Be Your Own Pastor?
Some Have Tried To Be Their Own Lawyer, By Defending Themselves In Court.
- There’s an old adage: “A man who is his own lawyer has a fool for a client.”
- We have often laughed or shaken our heads in disbelief at such people.
Some Have Tried To Be Their Own Doctor, And Operate On Themselves
Dr. Leonid Rogozov cut out his own appendix.
http://www.southpolestation.com/trivia/igy1/appendix.html
Johannes Lethaeus had a kidney stone the size of a hen’s egg and could not pass it. He got his brother to hand him a knife and he sliced himself open to remove the stone.
- We have often cringed or shaken our head sin disbelief at such people.
Some Have Tried To Be Their Own Dentist, By Pulling Their Own Teeth.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1135582/Man-pulls-13-teeth-pliers-NHS-dentist.html
- Some pull their own teeth
- A few have tried to fill their own cavities.
- There are reports of others making their own braces.
- We have often cringed or shaken our head sin disbelief at them as well.
Some Try To Be Their Own Pastor
- “A man who is his own pastor has a fool for a saint.” – MJB
- Why would we expect people to respect and honor such behavior?
Jude 11 Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.
Jude 12 These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;
Jude 13 Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.
Thayer Lexicon: poimainō ποιμαίνω
- To feed, to tend a flock, keep sheep
- To rule, govern
- To supply the requisites for the soul’s need
Feeding Themselves Literally Means, “Pastoring Themselves” – (Without Fear)
- Feeding themselves without fear.
- No fear! That alone amazes and scares me.
- Not willing to be pastored by anyone.
- Refusing to submit.
- Unwilling to obey.
- Believe they know best for their own soul.
- Remember, they’re pastoring themselves without fear!
Some Even Sit In Church And Refuse To Receive The Preached Word.
- They hear but they are not doers.
- They hear but they are not convicted or convinced.
- They feel what the pastor said was unnecessary for them to obey or comply.
- They attend church but never change their heart, their mind or their life.
- They drag their feet when it comes to submission.
- Remember, they’re pastoring themselves without fear!
Others Quit The Local Church And Start Having Church In Their Own Home.
- They want to do it their way own way.
- They fearlessly start their own church.
- They feel competent to interpret the Bible for themselves.
- They take their family with them to the very brink of destruction.
- They rejoice in their newfound freedom and liberty while doing so.
- Remember, they’re pastoring themselves without fear!
Both types of individuals are so foolish and Biblically ignorant that they never understand they cannot be saved without a God called Pastor in their life.
Some day their Pastor will have to stand before God and give an account of their obedience, and their submission before the Great White Throne Judgment.
- You will not be able to represent yourself before the Throne of God.
- Your pastor is going to be the one God asks that question to, not you.
- His opinion and report of your conduct while under his pastorship will be most important to God.
You may leave your pastor and go elsewhere thinking you are free. But you are not. You quite possibly have left a trail of evidence behind you that will incriminate you on that day. What report the pastor gives to God on Heaven’s witness stand will only fall into two categories, either Joy or Grief.
You may leave your home church because you don’t like the holiness standards or you got crossed up with your pastor. But, remember this, you are still his in the Judgment according to Hebrews 13:17, no matter if you have found another church in the meantime.
Your Pastor will be forced to explain to God that you left because you would not obey or submit.
Hebrews 13:17 Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.
God Will Ask The Pastor.
- “Did they obey?”
- “Did they submit?”
Understand That It Is Possible To Obey Without Submitting. But One Cannot Submit Without Obeying.
- Go ahead and sit in church all rebellious and come when you want to.
- Lay out of church when you want. Remember, you’re fearless
- Withhold your tithes as a protest to your Pastor.
- Stay home and read your Bible and have your own devotions at home instead of going to church.
- Keep your family home with you. Remember, you’re fearless.
- The scriptures already spoke that people would be foolish just like you.
- Remember, you’re pastoring yourself without fear!
Jude 12 These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear:
- Your spirit of trying to pastor yourself and make your own eternal decisions just got you included in Heaven’s Hall Of Shame along with Balaam and Korah.
- You are no different in God’s eyes.
- Was submission such a big issue for you that you took your soul in your own hands and willingly gambled on your eternity?
- Nothing could be sadder for you.
There Are Those Who Say They Left Because They Are Not Being Fed. Some Continue To Come To Church And Make The Same Claim.
- If I were you I would be embarrassed to admit I was not being fed. Here’s why.
- Isa 1:19 If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land:
- Isa 1:20 But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.
- Only the willing and obedient are eating the good of the land.
- Unwillingness and disobedience will keep you at arms length from the blessings of the Lord every time.
The Old Testament Refers Those Who Pastor Themselves As Backslidden.
Prov. 14:14 The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways: and a good man shall be satisfied from himself.
Prov. 21:2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts.
The actual chance of someone who has become their own pastor and ever resubmitting themselves to God’s Word and God’s man again is not very good.
- Can such a person repent? Sure.
- Will they ever come to themselves and repent? Not likely if we are to go by all the others we have seen.
- Remember, they’re pastoring themselves without fear!
When Someone Rebels Against God’s Word And His Plans For Our Lives, It Is Seldom That We See Such A One Recover.
- Do we try and talk to them when we see them make bad decisions? Yes.
- Do we pray for them? Sure.
- Do we fellowship them after they leave? Not if they have talked against the pastor or the church.
1Co 5:11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.
- Railer: Noun. One who rails; one who scoffs, insults, censures, or reproaches.
If I were a saint who tried to pastor myself, knowingly or not, I would repent before God and ask Him to restore the Fear of the Lord back into my heart.
I would repent to my Pastor and ask him if I could resubmit myself.
If I was having my own church at home and pastoring myself, I would repent to God and realize God would never advise me to go against what is already written in His Word.
I would close up my ‘self’ church. And repent to my spouse and family. I would go back to my local church where God had placed me. I would repent to the pastor and the church family. I would pledge my obedience and submission. I would plead with the pastor to give me the honor of coming home.
This blog today was not written to invite bad stories about pastors, but rather is a warning to those who choose to become their own priest.
The coming of the Lord is nigh at hand. May His coming not find any of us living in a fearless manner.
I’ll Ask The Question Again… “Do You Want To Be Your Own Pastor?”
Surely Not! Your Precious Family Deserves Better!
It’s Time To Go Forward!
It’s Time To Go Forward
Exo 14:15 And the LORD said unto Moses, Wherefore criest thou unto me? speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward:
Israel Had Spent The Last Twenty-Five Chapters In Egypt
- There Was No Future For Them There!
- They had lived in bondage long enough.
- It was time to go forward.
Going Forward Is A God Thing!
- It was for Israel.
- It is for you!
Israel Had Lived With A Slave Mentality For About 400 Years.
- They had forgotten what liberty was like.
For Them It Was Hard:
- To go forward.
- To believe God.
- To trust God.
- To follow a cloud floating across the sky.
- To believe God would set them free.
- To believe God would bless them.
- To leave the only security they knew.
- To leave the leeks and onions.
Don’t Crave The Things That Hold You Back!
Many Israelites May Have Wanted The Promises Of God,
- But they still died in the wilderness.
- They had Fears.
- They had Excuses.
- They had Unbelief.
- They were Unwilling to go forward.
At AI – Israel Was Stopped Dead In Her Tracks
- Sin was in the camp.
- After they got the problem out of the way
- They went forward.
- If sin has stopped you, get it out of the way.
God Wants To Take This Church Forward
- Like He did for Israel, He wants to give you a harvest you never had to plant.
- Wells you never had to dig.
- Houses you never had to build.
- But you can’t have them, if you just sit and don’t go forward.
- It’s time to go forward.
Some Folks Today Are Going Backwards Instead Of Forward!
- They are letting down on standards and doctrine.
- Compromising with the world.
- Justifying Hollywood.
- Mocking Holiness.
- Dress like the world.
- Doing what the world does.
- They have become again what the world is.
- It’s time to go forward.
What’s Sad Is They Think They Are Making Progress.
But They Are Like A:
- A dog going back to its vomit.
- A pig going back to its wallow.
Every Day Life Can Nearly Shut You Down.
- Circumstances can bring you to a halt.
- Events can bring you to your knees.
- Things steal your joy.
- Don’t let it.
- It’s time to go forward.
People And Things Can Hurt You.
- Divorce.
- An unfaithful spouse .
- Loss of a job.
- Cancer.
- Addictions.
- Personal failures.
- Offenses.
- Unforgiveness.
- Your Past.
Some React To Their Negative Situations By
- Withdrawing.
- Resigning their job at church.
- Sitting back.
- Coasting.
- Quit worshipping.
- Become unfaithful to church.
- It’s time to go forward.
It’s Time To Get Past Your:
- Failures.
- Hurts.
- Pride.
- Complacency.
Don’t Let You Friends Hold You Back.
- Don’t let your fear.
- Don’t let your shame.
- Don’t let your unbelief.
- Don’t let your family.
- Don’t let your flesh.
- Don’t let your job.
- Don’t let your excuses.
- Don’t let your weariness.
- Don’t let anything in this world.
- It’s time to go forward.
With Hell Rejoicing All Around Us In 2015…
- With compromising on all sides.
- With Holiness dying out in some churches.
- With signs of the end-times all around us.
- With Bible prophesy being fulfilled daily.
- With friends falling away.
- With hell reaching for our children.
- With the future uncertain.
- It’s time to go forward.
Make This Year The Best Ever!
- Make this a year of revival.
- Make this a year of consecration.
- Make this a year of Holy Ghost renewal.
- It’s time to go forward.
God Had To Prompt Israel To Go Forward A Second Time
Deut 1:6 The LORD our God spake unto us in Horeb, saying, Ye have dwelt long enough in this mount:
God Had To Prompt Israel To Go Forward A Third Time
Deut 2:1 Then we turned, and took our journey into the wilderness by the way of the Red sea, as the LORD spake unto me: and we compassed mount Seir many days.
Deut 2:2 And the LORD spake unto me, saying,
Deut 2:3 Ye have compassed this mountain long enough: turn you northward.
They Had Gone In Circles For Forty Years.
- Life had become routine and monotonous.
- Though moving they were getting nowhere.
- No progress in forty years.
No True Progress Was Being Made.
- Does this describe your spiritual state?
- They were circling the mountain by their own choice.
40 Years Earlier God Had Said: “Ye Have Dwelt In This Mount Long Enough.”
- The journey from Horeb to the Promised land is only 11 days.
It’s Time To Break Free From:
- Cycles,
- Bad Habits
- Patterns in our lives that have been unproductive and unhealthy.
- You’ve been circling this mountain long enough.
- It’s time to go forward.
Why Do We Camp In One Place Until God Forces Us To Move?
Lot Did– God Even Sent Two Angels To Get Him To Move
- God brought special deliverance.
- Lot’s wife looked back.
- Lot begged to stop when God asked him to go forward,
- That’s when he really messed up.
It’s Time To Go Forward
- Rich Young Ruler – Money held him back.
- Agrippa –Questions held him back.
- Felix – Timing held him back.
- Demas – The love of the world held him back.
What’s Holding You Back?
Simon Peter
Luke 5:5 And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net
When The Lord Speaks, Respond!
Num. 10:5 When ye blow an alarm, then the camps that lie on the east parts shall go forward.
Num. 10:6 When ye blow an alarm the second time, then the camps that lie on the south side shall take their journey: they shall blow an alarm for their journeys.
I Believe The Spirit Has Sounded An Alarm!
I Resolve
I Resolve
While wishing for my friends and family that 2016 would be their best year of living for God, I cannot forget the dangers of 2015.
This world is not comfortable with holiness, the church, Biblical doctrine, or moral purity. Compromising seems to be the order of the day for too many. With that in mind, I hereby Resolve…
I Resolve to continually proclaim that there is only one God, and His name is Jesus. And, that if you don’t believe that, you will die in your sins.
I Resolve to preach the need for old-fashioned repentance and the immediate change of lifestyle.
I Resolve to preach the essentiality of baptism in Jesus name because it is the only name that will wash away sin. To be saved, one must be baptized in Jesus name.
I Resolve to preach the necessity of receiving the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking in tongues. Without that experience no one can be saved.
I Resolve to preach Holiness. The church must never compromise and look like the world.
I Resolve to love and walk in the old paths given to me by my father.
I Resolve to hold fast and be faithful to that which committed to me.
I Resolve to not be persuaded by holiness rejecters who for a morsel of meat have sold their birthright.
I Resolve to never stop being a worshipper.
I Resolve to always pay my tithes and honor God with my first fruits.
I Resolve to be faithful to God.
I Resolve to be faithful to church.
I Resolve to be faithful to my wife.
I Resolve to love to my wife.
I Resolve to live peaceably with all men.
I Resolve to be a witness.
I Resolve to give hope to every sinner and backslider I can.
I Resolve to encourage the saints.
I Resolve to strengthen the pastor’s hands.
I Resolve to be a godly example to my children and grandchildren.
I Resolve to not be offended when slighted by others.
I Resolve to forgive.
I Resolve to not be offended when I am corrected.
I Resolve to be a gentleman and turn the other cheek when attacked.
I Resolve to be ready for the Lord’s return.
Martyn Ballestero Sr.
January 1, 2016
The Devil’s Got A Plan For You That Just Might Work …If You Let It.
The Devil’s Got A Plan For You That Just Might Work …If You Let It.
Jesus Told Peter That Satan Desired To Sift Him As Wheat.
Luke 22:31 And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:
Luke 22:32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.
- Satan desires to do the same to you.
He Plans To Intimidate You And Ravage You Just Like A Roaring Lion Does.
1Pe 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
Surely You Are Aware Of His Plan.
2Cor. 2:11 Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.
God’s Got A Plan To Help You Resist The Devil.
James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
- First, submit yourself to God, then resist the devil and he will flee.
The Devil Can’t Do Anything To You That You Don’t Allow Him To Because Greater Is He That Is Within You Than He That Is In The World.
1John 4:4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
My Father, Carl Ballestero Used To Say:
“The Devil’s Got A Plan To Get You To Backslide!
He has a One Day Plan to make you backslide. If that doesn’t work…
He has a One Week Plan to make you backslide. If that doesn’t work…
He has a One Month Plan to make you backslide. If that doesn’t work…
He has a One Year Plan to make you backslide. If that doesn’t work…
He has a Five Year Plan to make you backslide. If that doesn’t work…
He has a Ten Year Plan to make you backslide. If that doesn’t work…
He has a Twenty Year Plan to make you backslide. If that doesn’t work…
He has a Life Time Plan to make you backslide.”
To Every Teenager.
Young Man? He’s got a plan to find you a sinner girlfriend.
Young Lady? He’s got a plan to find you a sinner boyfriend.
He’s got a plan to find you a spouse that will destroy you spiritually.
He’s got a plan to make you dress like the world.
He’s got a plan to make you live like the world.
He’s got a plan to involve you in worldly sports and amusements.
He’s got a plan to surround you with improper music.
He’s got a plan to find you a job that will keep you out of church.
He’s got a plan to make you sink lower than you ever dreamed you would.
He’s got a plan to get you addicted to drugs, nicotine and alcohol.
He’s got a plan to load you down with condemnation.
He’s got a plan to overwhelm you with shame.
He’s got a plan to connect you to sinful people.
He’s got a plan to introduce you to porn.
He’s got a plan to make you lose your purity.
He’s got a plan to make you think your best friends are in the world, and not in the church.
The Devil’s Got A Plan For You That Just Might Work …If You Let It.
To Every Child Of God.
The devil plans to make you feel offended and hurt.
The devil plans to make you jealous.
The devil plans to stop your prayer life.
The devil plans to defeat you.
The devil plans to make you fail.
The devil plans to make you sell your birthright.
The devil plans to make you feel there is no hope for you.
The devil plans to make you throw this Holy Ghost experience away.
The devil plans to make you want to quit church.
The devil plans to put you at odds with the pastor.
The devil plans to make you bitter.
The devil plans to take you as low as you will let him.
The devil plans to make you waste every talent God has given you.
The devil plans to curse your life.
The devil plans to make you swallow a camel and strain a gnat.
The devil plans to make you find the mote in others eyes and ignore the beam in your own.
The devil plans to make you look for hypocrites in the church.
The devil plans to let you be disappointed by men’s failures.
The devil plans to make you quit paying tithes.
The devil plans to make you offended.
The devil plans to make you miss church.
The devil plans to make you withdraw from godly fellowship.
The devil plans to make you a bitter person.
The devil plans to make you hate holiness.
The devil plans to make you mess up your marriage.
The devil plans to make you stop worshiping.
The devil plans to make you dislike preachers who tell you the truth.
The devil plans to make you resist all Holiness preaching.
The devil plans to make you consider doctrine a boring subject.
The devil plans to make Hollywood more attractive to you than the church.
The devil plans to make you immoral.
The devil plans to make you justify your wrong living.
The devil plans to make you love making money more than you love church.
The devil plans to make you love pleasure, more than you love God.
The devil plans to make you question God.
The devil plans to make you mad when the preacher says anything that challenges what your family or friends are doing.
The devil plans to make you lukewarm.
The devil plans to make you happy with dead worship services.
The devil plans to let you feel comfortable in quiet prayer rooms.
The devil plans to make you talk against the pastor in front of your children.
The devil plans to make you question every standard.
The devil plans to make you comfortable trying to get by just doing the minimum.
The devil plans to make you part of the spirit of Laodicea.
The devil plans to make you feel uncomfortable with other cultures in your congregation.
The devil plans to make you prejudiced.
The devil plans to make you only knock on doors in certain areas of town during outreach.
The devil plans to make you feel your culture is superior to all others.
The devil plans to destroy unity in your church.
The Devil’s Got A Plan For You That Just Might Work …If You Let It.
To Every Preacher.
He plans to mess you up with false doctrine.
He plans to destroy your ministry with women.
He plans to ruin you with improper use of money.
He plans to sidetrack your ministry in search of popularity.
He plans to make you preach that the new ways are better than the old paths.
He plans to make to you compromise.
He plans to make you quiet about sin.
He plans to make you afraid to preach holiness and separation from the world.
He plans to make you a hireling.
He plans to make you preach only pop-psychology sermons.
He plans to make you think you are right and everyone else is wrong.
He plans to make you focus on pleasing men and not God.
The Devil’s Got A Plan For You That Just Might Work …If You Let It.
To Every Seeker.
The devil plans to blind your eyes and keep you from recognizing truth.
The devil plans to make you think all churches lead to heaven.
The devil plans to make you think the day of Pentecost experience is not for you.
The devil plans to make you resist baptism in Jesus name.
The devil plans to make you justify your lifestyle.
The devil plans to make you think that God’s love accepts of your lifestyle.
The devil plans to make you believe false doctrines rather than the truth.
The devil plans to make you believe there is a trinity rather than just one God.
The devil plans to try to make you rebel against truth.
The devil plans to make you believe that God is only a God of mercy.
The devil plans to make you think God only looks on the heart and completely ignores the outside.
The devil plans to let you see what he thinks is the worst in every good church you attend.
The Devil’s Got A Plan For You That Just Might Work …If You Let It.
To Every Backslider
Are you even looking at what the devil is doing to your life?
The prodigal son did.
That’s when he came to himself.
That’s when he got up and walked away from sin’s pigpen.
That’s when he came back home and repented to his father.
That’s when the father ran to meet him and forgave him.
He’s your father too and He’s waiting for you to come to yourself!
So, What Are You Waiting For?
Luke 15:17 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!
Luke 15:18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,
Luke 15:19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.
Luke 15:20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
Luke 15:21 And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.
Luke 15:22 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:
Luke 15:23 And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:
Luke 15:24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.
The Devil’s Got A Plan For You That Just Might Work …If You Let It.
Don’t Let It!
Living Right With Wrong
Luke 17:1 Then said he unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offences will come:
- Wrong things happen to everyone, not just you.
- Sometimes, the wrong isn’t fixed overnight and we are forced to live with what hurts us the most.
- Our reaction to this wrong determines the outcome.
- It will decide how you feel now and how you will feel later.
- It also affects how God will feel about you in your tribulation.
- An old man-made adage reminds us, “Two wrongs don’t make a right.”
Rom. 12:17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.
Rom. 12:18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
David Had To Cope With Javelins Being Thrown At Him By The King.
Saul threw javelins at David but he just kept dodging them and never threw one back. He was doing his best to live right with wrong.
Are You Living With Angry People? Speak Kind Words.
Prov. 15:1 A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.
Are You Mistreated? Turn The Other Cheek.
Matt. 5:39 But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.
Did You Lose A Lawsuit? Give Them More Than They Required.
Matt. 5:40 And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also.
Are You Coping With Unreasonable Demands? Go The Extra Mile.
Matt. 5:41 And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.
Forgive Without Limitation!
Matt. 18:21 Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?
Matt. 18:22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.
Avoid The Company Of And Do Not Eat With These Types Of People:
- Fornicators
- Covetous People
- Critical People
- People Who Don’t Put God First
- People With Addictions
- Blackmailers
1Cor. 5:11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.
Do Not Hurt Those That Have Hurt You.
1Thess. 5:15 See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.
Love, Bless, And Pray For Your Enemies And Then Treat Them Nice.
Matt. 5:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
Leave Revenge Up To God. Don’t Ever Try To Get Even.
Rom. 12:19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
Let The Lord Fight Your Battle.
Exo. 14:14 The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.
Avoid These Destructive People:
2Tim. 3:1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2Tim. 3:2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
2Tim. 3:3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
2Tim. 3:4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
2Tim. 3:5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
Even Though They Are Not Nice To You, Treat Others Like You Want Them To Treat You.
Matt. 7:12 Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.
Don’t Take Your Brother To Court.
1Co 6:1 Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints?
1Co 6:2 Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?
1Co 6:3 Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?
1Co 6:4 If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church.
1Co 6:5 I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren?
1Co 6:6 But brother goeth to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers.
1Co 6:7 Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded?
1Co 6:8 Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren.
Got A Problem Between You And Your Brother? Fix it God’s Way.
Mat 18:15 Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.
Mat 18:16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.
Mat 18:17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.
Be A Peacemaker And You Will Be Called A Child Of God.
Matt. 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
Put A Time Limit On Your Displeasure.
Eph. 4:26 …let not the sun go down upon your wrath:
Rom. 12:20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.
Why God Hates Wheelbarrows!
Why God Hates Wheelbarrows!
There are some good things that could be said about them. But that still doesn’t change God’s mind. He still hates wheelbarrows. He hates them for a number of reasons, some of which I will tell you.
First of all, He hates wheelbarrows because they all have to be pushed. They won’t do one thing by themselves. They never budge unless made to. They never go forward unless someone wears their self out pushing them. Then, just as soon as the pusher stops, the wheelbarrow stops too.
Second, He hates wheelbarrows because they are prone to become “lopsided” very easily which demands an additional effort to correct.
Some of us are like spiritual wheelbarrows. We’ll carry the load, but we have to be pushed. We only respond to pressure. And even then, we’re likely to get lopsided. God wants us to love Him, serve Him from our heart, without the use of force or coercion.
But Most Of Us Have To Be Pushed
- We have to be pushed to worship.
- We have to be pushed to find the prayer room.
- We have to be pushed to live right.
- We have to be pushed to dress right.
- We have to be pushed to win the lost.
- We have to be pushed to testify.
- We have to be pushed to trust God.
- We have to be pushed to do His Will.
- We have to be pushed to give Him His tenth.
- We have to be pushed to give to Missions.
- We have to be pushed to forgive.
- We have to be pushed to be faithful to church.
- We have to be pushed to give.
- We have to be pushed to read the Bible.
- We have to be pushed to make progress at all.
- We have to be pushed in just about everything.
God Hates Wheelbarrow Christianity.
- He hates what we’ve done to ourselves.
- He hates what we’re doing to His church.
- He hates what we’re doing to the ministry.
- He hates the fact that our spirit is contagious.
- He hates the fact that we can’t seem to ‘have church’ without the preacher pushing us.
- He hates the fact we don’t love Him enough to progress on our own.
Do You Know What We Need? We Simply Need A Good Old-Fashioned Case Of “I Want To!”
- I want to live for God!
- I want to be an over-comer!
- I want to have to victory!
- I want to worship!
- I want to pray!
- I want to live holy!
- I want to have revival!
- I want to be a blessing!
- I want to be faithful!
- I want to give!
- I want to say Amen!
- I want to obey the Word of God!
God Hates Wheelbarrows.
- I hope you hate them too.
- I hope you hate them enough that you refuse to be one.
- I hope you hate them enough that you will refuse to wait until you are pushed before making progress in God.
Matt. 15:8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.
Deut. 6:5 And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.
Deut. 11:1 Therefore thou shalt love the LORD thy God, and keep his charge, and his statutes, and his judgments, and his commandments, alway.
God Thinks It’s A Heart Issue.
- Those Who Must Be Pushed Must Not Have A Real Desire For God In Their Heart.
Do You Have To Be Pushed?
If So, What Does God Think About You?
Puzzle Prayer Time
Puzzle Prayer Time
The beautiful white-haired grandma sat silently beside me as our car rolled down the Interstate. Marcia Starr Ballestero, my devoted wife of fifty years, was letting her thoughts and heart focus on the needs of a family member.
Small talk between us had died out when she picked up her iPad. From the corner of my eye I could see that she was doing it again. She does it at home too, almost every day.
She was going through her camera roll and albums looking for a specific photo. That’s her pattern. Today she chose one of our children and their spouse. Some times she chooses a picture of just one person, other times it may be a couple or even their whole family. Once in a while she chooses a picture of us.
The selected photo is then imported into her jigsaw puzzle app. Her gentle fingers begin to move over the hundreds of pieces. She moves them here and there trying to make them fit where she thinks they should go.
Her puzzles may last an hour or two, sometimes longer. The attraction she has for puzzles isn’t so much her love for games, but it actually is part of her family prayer time.
As she moves each piece of the puzzle into place, she is praying silently. She is praying for every aspect of their life. She prays for their soul, their marriage, their health, their finances and their home.
I do my best not to interrupt her puzzle prayer time. She methodically attempts to make pieces fit in place. Often she gets it right the first time. Other times not. When it becomes a trial and error project, it is like real-life to her. Her prayer focus is on the missing pieces in that person’s picture. Loving fingers slide over the face, sometimes the heart and then lingers a moment.
- I wonder, is she praying for their heart?
- Is she praying for them to make right decisions?
- Is she praying for God to keep them safe?
- I never ask.
When she is finished, she will hold the photo up for me to see. When I compliment her on the beautiful picture, she smiles. I know that there was a lot of love and prayer put into that puzzle. How much? Only God and her know.
No one else in our family knows about this. Our children and grandchildren do not even know. But heaven knows that there is a loving Mother and Grandmother who is trying to make the pictures of her family turn out right by asking for God’s help to find the missing pieces and put them in the right place.
Yours or His?
“They Don’t Make ‘Em Like They Used Too!”
My Daddy would say that to me with a big grin on his face when as a boy, I was unable to open a jar lid that was too tight for me or when I tried to lift something too heavy and couldn’t. We would both chuckle.
Maybe Grandpa said that to my Daddy when he was a boy too. I said it to my sons and maybe they’ve said to their sons as well.
I was blessed to have lived and enjoyed church worship in simpler and more basic times. The worship in church was directly affected, no doubt, by the tough times we all experienced.
Many songs and choruses were written about heaven and sung by those who lived during the depression and hard times. But what strikes my heart today is the lack of certain types of songs being written and sung in our churches today.
Old saints can remember songs like:
“Is Your All on the Altar?”
By Elisha A. Hoffman – 1900
- You have longed for sweet peace,
And for faith to increase,
And have earnestly, fervently prayed;
But you cannot have rest,
Or be perfectly blest,
Until all on the altar is laid.- Refrain:
Is your all on the altar of sacrifice laid?
Your heart does the Spirit control?
You can only be blest,
And have peace and sweet rest,
As you yield Him your body and soul.
- Refrain:
- Would you walk with the Lord,
In the light of His word,
And have peace and contentment alway?
You must do His sweet will,
To be free from all ill,
On the altar your all you must lay. - Oh, we never can know
What the Lord will bestow
Of the blessings for which we have prayed,
Till our body and soul
He doth fully control,
And our all on the altar is laid. - Who can tell all the love
He will send from above,
And how happy our hearts will be made;
Of the fellowship sweet
We shall share at His feet,
When our all on the altar is laid.
Remember this one too?
“I Surrender All”
By Judson W. Van DeVenter – 1896
- All to Jesus I surrender;
All to Him I freely give;
I will ever love and trust Him,
In His presence daily live.- Refrain:
I surrender all,
I surrender all;
All to Thee, my blessed Savior,
I surrender all.
- Refrain:
- All to Jesus I surrender;
Humbly at His feet I bow,
Worldly pleasures all forsaken;
Take me, Jesus, take me now. - All to Jesus I surrender;
Make me, Savior, wholly Thine;
Let me feel the Holy Spirit,
Truly know that Thou art mine. - All to Jesus I surrender;
Lord, I give myself to Thee;
Fill me with Thy love and power;
Let Thy blessing fall on me. - All to Jesus I surrender;
Now I feel the sacred flame.
Oh, the joy of full salvation!
Glory, glory, to His Name!
Both of these precious old songs were written many years before my parents were even born.
- Why is there a shortage and scarcity of heart searching and consecration type songs?
- Why does it seem like everyone has stopped writing and singing songs of surrender and submission?
- It simply bothers me.
Yes, we are to sing a new song. I agree. I will sing and worship along with you. But at the same time, I ask, why throw all the consecration songs like those of yesterday away? Is there no longer a need? Have we arrived? Is there not a cause or a concern? Am I alone on this?
I looked online and found this site that shows about 49 songs of heart examination (most of which I’ve never heard sung.) What is very noticeable and glaring to me is the fact that almost every song was written more than a hundred years ago.
http://library.timelesstruths.org/music/_/Examination/?sortby=subject
Then it seems like every gospel song writer up and quit. Is there no longer a need for consecration in our singing or in surrendering to His Will? About a good as most of us get to hear lately is something like:
“Yes, Lord, Yes”
I’ll say yes, Lord, yes
To your will and to your way
I’ll say yes, Lord, yes
I will trust you and obey
When your Spirit speaks to me
With my whole heart I’ll agree
And my answer will be yes, Lord, yes
But truly we don’t have much to show in the last one hundred years that expresses to God our heart’s surrender. I know that to a younger generation that I am an old man blowing off steam. I will not even defend myself on that point.
I just happen to like and appreciate what those old songs did to my heart and how that in singing them they shaped my thinking and my mindset. I want my grandchildren to have the same experience in God.
They Really Don’t Make Them Like They Use To.
Come on songwriters and singers. Write us some songs that make us want to consecrate. Songs that make our hearts cry. Songs that are what God wants to hear not just what we like to shout to.
Today while looking through some old papers, I found a tattered sheet of old paper with a poem written in my Father’s handwriting. Tears came to my eyes as I read the words and felt the meaning and the understanding of why my Father felt that this poem was important enough to him to hand copy it.
Written on the backside were some notes to a sermon he preached called Aids To Navigation. I researched online and found the title of this poem written by Joseph Addison Richards. As for me, I need not say anymore.
Yours or His?
I owned a little boat a while ago
And sailed a Morning Sea without a fear,
And whither any breeze might fairly blow
I’d steer the little craft afar or near
Mine was the boat, and mine the air,
And mine the sea; not mine, a care.
My boat became my place of nightly toil.
I sailed at sunset to the fishing ground.
At morn the boat was freighted with the spoil
that my all-conquering work and skill had found.
Mine was the boat, and mine the net,
And mine the sill, and power to get.
One day there passed along the silent shore,
While I my net was casting in the sea,
A man, who spoke as never man before;
I followed Him–new life begun in me.
Mine was the boat, but His the voice,
And His the call; yet mine, the choice.
Ah, ’twas a fearful night out on the lake,
And all my skill availed not a the helm,
Till Him asleep I waken, crying “Take,
take Thou command, lest waters overwhelm!”
His was the boat, and His the Sea,
And His the Peace o’er all and me.
Once from His boat He taught the curious throng,
then bade me let down nets out in the sea;
I murmured, but obeyed, nor was it long
Before the catch amazed and humbled me.
His was the boat, and His the skill,
And His the catch–and His, my will.
Joseph Addison Richards
Apostolic Expository Series
Christy Ballestero (My Beautiful DIL)
http://marciaballestero.com/
Pastor Anthony & Kim Ballestero, New Destiny Worship Center, Clearwater, FL (My Son)
Pastor Bryan & Christy Ballestero, Temple Of Pentecost, Raleigh, NC (My Son)
James Groce Blog – "Toward The Mark"
Kenneth Bow Blog
Kingdom Speak Podcast
Philip Harrelson – "The Barnabas Blog"
Verbal Bean Ministries
Holy Ghost Radio
The Ballestero Blog 