Love Your Enemies

As I hear story after story on the reactions to Osama Bin Laden’s death it seems apparent that we are now loosing focus on being a Christian society. As I will stand and applaud the work of the CIA and the Navy Seals that collected information, formulated strategy and initiated a plan that ultimately allowed them to be in a position to capture a threat to our country.  Osama Bin Laden made the choice not to surrender and was ultimately killed, that is war, it happens when our military engages, that is the same results from our police.The killing of any individual person is not to be cheered and celebrated, Weare called in Matthew to love our enemy.

Matthew 4:44-44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you andpersecute you

A nation at war is much different than an individual’s responsibility. There are tens of thousands of Christian men and woman serving our country, keeping us safe. They will and must do what is required of their position in protecting a nation at home or abroad, and lethal force is sometimes necessary. But a self labeled, “Christian” nation should not be cheering. It shows no differently to the world than when Al Qaeda or Taliban (Muslim) fighters celebrate the killing of our soldiers while parading them in the streets. To be a Christian society, WE MUST rise above the basic instincts of man; we have to lead from the front on Grace, Love, and Mercy. That is not to say we don’t continue to fight, but we let the world know that killing is a last resort, not our intended outcome.

That evil exist and we must protect ourselves and those that are unable to protect themselves. Our culture seems to have gotten to a point where we take more joy in other peoples failure and loss than we do in success. We have stopped celebrating missionaries success in reaching the lost, people surrendering their lives to Christ, and the freedom and opportunity to worship and share Christ freely to all. Our actions speak as loudly as our words, and they must both be consistent. Cheering the death of any unsaved soul is not victorious,just another succumbing to everlasting torment. Continue to pray for your enemies, bless those that curse you, and do good to those that hate you. It is our reasonable service to our King.

Celebrating in HIM,

Eric

Searching

So...I set out to Blog. Doesnt seem like I did it! Oops. I am going to give it another shot! I really feel that this is something I should be doing and for some reason I struggled to get back here and write. Starting today I am making a commitment to blog! Hopefully I will have something worth saying and most importantly...someone will be reading it! 

Well, it seems like I have been spending a lot of time using the "search engine". Searching for different things....recipes, deals, coupons, houses, cars, computers, kids stuff...you get the picture. But what I wish I could type into that bar is "God's will for my life".  Boy do I wish it were that easy.  Wonder what the results would show? How many pages would I have to search thru to find "THE" answer? Life is not easy and as I live everyday to try my best to follow what God has in store it seems to make life harder sometimes.  I seem to struggle with making decisions. After all how will each decision effect what happens next. I know that we have big decisions like jobs, houses, investments, where to go to church, etc.  that can be life changing, but even the small stuff, the everyday things that pop up in life can have an effect on the rest of our lives. What is the outcome and how does it fall in line with what God's will is for my life and my families life. I have questioned Eric as to whether or not we are putting to much thought into some of these things.  When you stop and think about it...there are people you know who just "do" life and they seem fine! But I don't want to be fine! I don't want to just "do" life.
A great scripture that is often quoted or read (especially at graduation) is found in Jeremiah 29:11.   For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope (NKJV)
That is awesome. I am so glad that he does. However, I have been known to say "could you please just write it on the wall for me?" Is there a way that He could share those thoughts with me? I mean ...make it plain and clear. What is that future?
Well...how many of you actually read past that verse?

¹² Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. ¹³ And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. ¹⁴ I will be found by you, says the LORD...(NKJV).
Seems pretty clear.  So...no need for a search engine after all. I and you, need to call upon the Lord.  We need to make time to be with God. He has the answers, we need to rely on him. Get this..

 ¹⁶ But blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear; (Matthew 13:16)

¹⁴ I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own.²⁷ My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me (John10:14,27)
Not only do we need to find the time to be with Him...we need to learn to listen and hear Him. He still speaks to His beloved!  "Right now God is working all around you and in your life. One of the greatest tragedies among God's  people is that, while they have a deep longing to experience God, they are experiencing God day after day, but do not know how to recognize Him." (Henry Blackaby Experiencing God ) Do you know how to recognize His voice? 
There are several ways that God speaks to us. His WORD is a big one. Everything you need to know about life and God's will for your life, can be found in His Word. Prayer is another way. In your prayer time seek the Holy Spirit, for Christ will use the Holy Spirit to guide & direct you! He will sometimes use our circumstances & the people around us to let us know what He thinks or wants for us.
So what I guess I am trying to get at is this...I need to not worry about what will happen when I make my decisions but I need to turn every aspect of & every decision in my life to God! Simple! Its not really all that hard and if I learn to hear God's voice, I will always be in His will for my life.