"What Does God Require of You?" - Inspirational Weekend

So what exactly does God require of Christians?  The Bible is full of Scriptures that tell us just that, and this post is for all Christians, no matter where you are in your walk with God.  We all need reminders from time to time as to what it means to be a Christian; how we should act and what we should believe.  This post will quote several Scriptures .

"And thou shalt love the LORD  thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the First Commandment.  And the Second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.  There is none other commandment greater than these."

- Jesus speaking at Mark 12:30-31

"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them  in the name of the Father,  and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:  Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you:  and lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world."    - Jesus at Matthew 28:19-20

Many of you are familiar with John 3:3, how you must be born again and all of  you know John 3:16.

But I must quote John 14:6 in full; "Jesus saith unto him, I  AM the way, the truth, and the life,:  no man cometh unto the Father but by Me."

Micah 6:8,  "He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good: And what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?"

Ecclesiastes 12:13,  "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter:  Fear God, and keep His commandments: for this is the whole duty of man."

1 John 4:21,  "And this commandment have we from Him, that he who loveth God love his brother also."

There are many other verses as well telling us what God requires of us.  Please also read 

1 Thessalonians 5:15-22.    I would like to draw particular attention to verse 22, "Abstain from all appearance of evil."    Verse 17 admonishes us to "Pray without ceasing."

These Scriptures were food to my soul and I hope to yours as well.

Have a Christ-centered weekend.   May you be happy and filled with love.

"Life - What's It All About, Anyway?" - Inspirational Weekend

You could say that life is all about relationships,or all about love.  Some people make their career and success their goal in life; while others move from boyfriend to boyfriend.  I could go on and on with a list of what gives people so-called  satisfaction in life.   Many people make family their main concern in life.    

Life is about relationships and love follows in its stead .The Bible itself is all about relationships when you think about it.  And God's Word tells us to put Him first in our life.  Our relationship with our Creator is more important than anything else in the world, or in our life.

"And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment."  - Mark 12:30 .

Putting God and Jesus first in our lives is the only way to go to have peace and joy and a clear conscience .  Do not let your earthly relationships take priority over your relationship with God.  People will let you down; but God will always uplift you and encourage you and He will never forsake you.               ( Hebrews 13:5)

Of course we should love and take care of our families, as well as to love our neighbor.  But the Almighty God who created you should always come first in your life. Jesus said the second commandment is, "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself, there is none other commandment greater than these."  -  Mark 12:31.

This reminds me of a poem by C. T. Studd that many of you may be familiar with.  Part of it goes,
"Only one life, will soon be past; only what's done for Christ will last."  Once this truth gets deep within your soul, you will be on fire to do the Lord's work .. telling others about Jesus as Savior.  The entire poem by C.T. Studd may be found here .

But more important than the above mentioned poem,  read your Bible for guidance and instruction and to "hear" God speak by His Holy Spirit as you read.   Ask God to help you understand and to apply what His Word says.  Keep your mind on things above, things eternal,  and not on things that will soon pass away.

"Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world.  If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.  For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof; but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever."  -  1 John 2:15-17.

Included in loving our neighbor, is to love other believers and to love the lost enough to tell them about Jesus.  Jesus wants us to love others, but to love Him more than anyone else.   

"I have now concentrated all my prayers into one, and that one prayer is this, that I may die to self, and live wholly to Him."  -  Charles H. Spurgeon

Following is a short 5 minute clip by Dr. Charles Stanley on how you can have a personal, intimate relationship with God:

"But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven,where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:  For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."         -  Matthew 6:20-21

"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."  -  Matthew 6:33