"One Click"

I was relieved to see the "download successful" window pop up on the screen, after an intense 6 hour download procedure. In the process of shutting down to re-boot, I noticed another window with an enticing message. As I began to read, I invited my wife, Kelly to read along with me. Bearing the titled "Are You Lonely?," you can only imagine all of the fulfilling promises that came along with it. This was a scheme of the devil and he was offering me all of the kingdoms of the world, all with just "one click."

Think about it; with just "one click" I could have been on a slippery slope, sliding straight to Hell! I don't normally preach fire and brimstone, but I am here to tell you that the devil is out to spiritually destroy you and eternally separate you from God! Don't ever doubt it!

Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil(Ephesians6:11NASB).If you don't have a plan for standing firm, I suggest you develop one today! If you are married, invite your wife to read along with you when this situation occurs (notice I said when). This will help to protect the covenant you have with your spouse and the covenant you have with God! This will also open the door for divine protection in your marriage! And finally this will build up a trust value that can not be obtained any other way! If you are single, you might want to look into some type of on-line accountability group, or establish some type of pact with your closest friend! Either way, don't get caught up in this battle without your armor! And remember that it only takes "one click" to accept this scheme or "one click" to decline it.

Praise Him!

"I have a Golden Ticket"

My favorite scene in the movie "Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory," is the part where Charlie discovers a golden ticket inside his Wonka Chocolate Bar. What a discovery, this entitled him along with a parent or guardian a chance to actually tour the Wonka Chocolate Factory, a once in a lifetime opportunity. Upon this discovery, Charlie runs home, opens the door and begins screaming "I have the last Golden Ticket, I have the last Golden Ticket." The only one who could be his guardian was grandpa Joe, who had been bed-ridden for 20 years. Now that is just down right nasty! Don't get me wrong, some people have no other choice due to physical disabilities, but this old dude was just laid up in bed, with a bad attitude, smoking on a pipe! Anyway, Charlie explained why he was excited, then asked his grandpa Joe to accompany him on this journey. The old bum, for the first time in 20 years, had a ray of hope. He then got out of bed, and began to dance, sing and party down, all because of a "Golden Ticket."

Let's face it, all of us lived just exactly like grandpa Joe before life in Christ (not literally but spiritually). Just a bunch of spiritually dead bums with no hope and no reason to get up and dance. Our lives were nasty, cluttered with sin, until the blood of Christ washed those sins away. As Christians, His blood continues to cleanse us if we continue to follow Him.

Do you have a "Golden Ticket?" Do you have a ray of hope? Or, are you just laying in bed, with a bad attitude, smoking on a pipe? Come on people, get up and dance! We as Christians have the best reason in the world to be excited about our hope! Life everlasting! WOW!!! What are we doing? Sing and dance about the hope you have in Christ Jesus! For now salvation is nearer to us than when we first believed(Romans 13:11NASB).

I urge you to boldly tell someone about your hope! Not just your hope, but your conversion story! Tell someone today about how you were delivered from a life of sin! I don't care who you are, if you have this hope, then you have a story of how you got it!!! So today on your way to work, school, the store, etc; Pray to God asking Him to open your eyes so that you may see an opportunity to witness to a lost soul. Don't be discourage if the opportunity does not present itself right away, be persistent in your prayers for this to happen and God will provide.

"New Life"

Just the other day a brother from back home called me. There was a bit of small talk at first and then the conversation opened up full throttle. It was like I was there with him. Every word out of his mouth was a praise to God! We both were shouting praises to our Lord. Wow! I needed that.It gave me "new life" to know that he was standing firm in the Lord.

This conversation got me to thinking about the church at Thessalonica. The apostle Paul was stressin' out, wandering how the Thessalonians were doing in their walk with the Lord. Paul knew that the brothers and sisters there were under heavy persecution, and it was bothering him to point of wrestlessness. So he sent Timothy back to Thessalonica to strengthen and encourage them. After a short mission trip, Timothy returned to Paul with great news! And we read about this in 1 Thessalonians 3:7-8 "We have been greatly encouraged, dear brothers, because you have remained strong in your faith. It gives us "new life" to know that you are standing firm in the Lord."

Are we encouraged to hear the great news of our brothers in Chirst, who are growing in their faith? If we are not, we should be! This conversation I had the other day was a breath of fresh air, or as Paul put it "new life." I urge you to get in touch with someone that you have labored in the Lord with in the past, and just see how they are doing. You can never tell what the Lord might have in store. Either way this will be an opportunity for encouragement.

God-Speed bro,
Lyle K. Sinkey

"Faithful to the End"

Do you trust God as much as you did when you first believed? Or has your faith seemed to weaken as the pressures of life continue to stack up against you? Accepting what Christ did at Calvary does not eliminate the trials we face in this life; Infact they seem to get worst!

Be strong and courageous my brother! We serve a great and awesome God who keeps His promises with those who love and obey Him! We read in God's word that if we remain faithful to the end, and trust Him just as firmly as we did when we first believed, it is then that we will share in all that belongs to Christ(Hebrews 3:14).If you did'nt know, He owns it all!

Don't allow sin to decieve you! This type of thinking will turn you away from the living God! I urge you to think of the time when you first believed, and ask yourself this simple question; Do I trust God as firmly as I did back then? The answer will come quickly, infact it is already there. Only you can choose what to do with it.

"Praying the Passage"

I waited patiently for the Lord to help me, and he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along. He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see what he has done and be amazed. They will put their trust in the Lord(Psalm 40:1-3 NLT).

Thank you Almighty God for hearing my cries! How your mighty hand has lifted me out of the pit of despair. Thank you for the steady ground that I now walk on. The path that leads to you! O Lord how I love to sing the songs of praise that you have given me! Thank you for loving a sinner like me! Let my life be a reflection of you and your love, so that others will see, and put their trust in you. IN CHRIST NAME, AMEN

This is an example of "praying the Passage." The next time your are looking for a new way of studying scripture, pick out your favorite verse or verses and try "praying the passage." This will absolutely, without a doubt, jump start your daily walk with God and ignite your personal study path.

IN HIS NAME,

LKS
Posted by Lyle Sinkey at 3:25 AM 1 comments

"My grace is all you need"

Is His grace all that we need? Does His power work best in our weaknesses? If so, then why do we not boast in our weaknesses? We read in II Corinthians were Paul was asking Christ to take away his "thorn in the flesh." It has been written in many different commentaries that this had something to do with Paul's physical eyesight. It could have been the haunting memory of that day he approved the stoning death of Stephen(Acts 8:1).Whatever Paul's weakness was doesn't matter, what matters is the fact that he used it to glorify God! He asked Christ to take away his "thorn in the flesh" three different times. Each time Christ said "My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness"(II Cor. 12:9 NLT). Paul goes on to write that he was glad then to boast in his weaknesses so that the power of Christ could work through him! Wow! Is that not a strong statement? Do you have a thorn in your flesh? Are you asking God to remove this from your side so that you can serve Him better? If your prayers have not been answered, it just might be the very thing Christ wants to use in your ministry!