"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