The Immeasurable Power of God

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”- Ephesians 3:20-21 NIV

            Since there is nothing on this earth that could possibly compare to the power & majesty of Almighty God, I think most followers of Christ underestimate what He is able to do. According to His Word, it seems clear that there is NOTHING He cannot do either for us or against our enemies. Compared to God our mental faculties are rather puny. We cannot even in our wildest imaginings understand all that our Lord is capable of. He does as He so chooses & everything is does is orchestrated for His children’s ultimate good.

            If we have dedicated our lives to follow Him, then that power that flows from God is within us. We don’t take advantage of it because we don’t realize it’s there. Now this doesn’t mean we are all superheroes with limitless power. That would no doubt bring catastrophic results due to man’s ego, self-centeredness & penchant for making poor decisions. What we do is to be to the glory of God alone & for the advancement of His kingdom. We are to act humbly, with kindness, mercy & compassion towards all. There is no room for personal agendas or a self-serving attitude.

            The glory of Christ & His church is meant to be carried on throughout all generations. God’s Kingdom is eternal. It’s like the fabled ‘Never-Ending Story’ … it just goes on & on forever. And forever is a very long time. Study God’s Word to find out all that He can do & stand on His promises that we might live without fear in a world that breeds chaos. Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

God Preserves Us

“Though the Lord is exalted, he looks kindly on the lowly; though lofty, he sees them from afar. Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life. You stretch out your hand against the anger of my foes; with your right hand you save me. The Lord will vindicate me; your love, Lord, endures forever – do not abandon the works of your hands.” – Psalm 138: 6-8 NIV

            “A song of praise for God’s saving help against threatening foes—understood by many to have been originally on the lips of a king.” * There is no question that God is to be lifted high for he is the creator of all things. If you choose to believe that then these verses above should be an encouragement to you. The Lord sees us wherever we are and even though we may stand and walk in the very middle of a troubled spot the Lord will keep us safe from harm. ‘To preserve’ is to keep from injury, peril and/or harm. In other words, God will protect us. I don’t know that this means we can purposely walk straight into trouble, such as a riot, a battle, or some death-defying situation. I believe it means more like we are going about our business and find ourselves in the midst of trouble. Perhaps that trouble finds us, rather than we seek out trouble. 

            Scripture tells us that God is to us like a strong tower and a mighty fortress. Think about that for a moment. A tower is a either a building or part of a building that is exceptionally high in proportion to its width and length. Therefore, the Lord sits high above our enemies with us behind its’ walls.  A fortress is a building with stone walls anywhere from 4 to 8 feet thick with us inside. Needless to say, we are protected by our Lord regardless of our circumstances.

            The love of God is endless for it “endures forever”. The cry is for him not to forsake his children, who are “the works of (his) hands”. This is an especially pertinent and encouraging word for us today, for there now exists in our country a large amount of chaotic turbulence that is meant to bring fear and doubt to the people of this land. For those who unequivocally believe in God, his word, and his ability to save, forgive, guide, and protect, this is great news. It reestablishes the truth against any doubts you may have. Don’t allow your faith and trust in God to waver. He is our rock, the one bastion of truth in a sea of lies and misinformation. Trust God above all others. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

*NIV Bible Study Notes

 

PONDER THIS … (A branch of the “Thoughts from a Random Mind” tree)

Today’s question:  If you were accused of being a follower of Jesus Christ, would there be enough evidence to convict you?

Notice I didn’t say “If you were accused of being a Christian …”. Some people believe being an American is synonymous with being a Christian.  Not so. Some people believe if they go to church every time the doors are open and give some money that makes them a Christian. Not so.  There are some folks who believe if they read a few verses in the Bible every day that makes them a Christian. Wrong again. Those are all things a Christian does, but that alone will never make you a Christian. Our belief needs to and should go much deeper than that.

To be a follower of Christ doesn’t elevate you above those who simply call themselves a Christian. Please don’t misunderstand me. It’s just that there are so many people who don’t take their faith seriously enough. A Christian should be a follower of Christ. They should do the things a Christian is supposed to do, such as pray, read God’s Word regularly, go to church ... let’s stop there. Paul has something to say about going to church.

“And let us consider how to spur one another on to love and good deeds. Let us not neglect meeting together, as some have made a habit, but let us encourage one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching. If we deliberately go on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no further sacrifice for sins remains,…” – Hebrews 10:24-26.

We go to church because we want to, not because we have to, because technically we don’t. We have a free will. We can do as we please, but be careful, because as Paul tells his Corinthian brothers, “Yes, do as you please, but not all things we do are constructive or beneficial to us.” (paraphrase from 1 Corinthians 10:23) What we are supposed to be doing is imitating Christ. The title Christian came from Antioch and was actually meant as an insult, as in “Oh there go those ‘little Christs’ again. But it stuck and just as the ‘Christians’ of that day, we wear that title with pride. Sadly, because of some of the heinous things that have been done in Christs name down thru the ages, there is now a stigma attached to that title. We need to show the world thru our lifestyle, that a follower of Christ is someone to follow and listen to. We have the truth, which is diametrically opposed to what the world is selling. Ponder these things … and until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

GOD’S WORD IS ETERNAL

“Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.” – Matthew 24:35 NIV

            Scripture throughout is clear, God’s word is flawless & eternal. It’s easy for some to point a finger saying they believe the Bible is simply another book or that it is not infallible. Believe what you want but be very careful with your decision. There will come a day when it will be too late to change your mind. 

For what it’s worth, I’ve served the Lord for 45 years & I have never known the Word of God to ever be proven false or flawed in any way. Jesus declares in our headline verse that all else will disappear from our sight, but God’s Word will never, ever pass away. Someday there will be a new heaven & earth*, meaning the current state of affairs will no longer exist. Those groups that seem to be in control & moving forward will all be smote by the mighty hand of God at the appointed time. Just because it has yet to happen doesn’t mean it won’t. It’s all related to what we choose to believe. We must understand that reality is not dictated by what we choose to believe, although our own PERSONAL reality may be somewhat altered.

God’s Word was given to us as a tool to instruct, encourage, inspire, not to mention bring us peace & hope. There is power in His Word. God cannot be defeated. When Christ died on Calvary’s Hill the devil thought he had won … until 3 days later Christ was raised from the dead, thus conquering death & the grave for all time. If we ever had a trusted word to believe in it is the Word of God. Believe it, receive it & live its teachings. And pray for our President, Vice-President, the cabinet, the Congress, churches throughout the world, missionaries that they & we might lift up Jesus name like never before so God will move against the forces of evil that appear to be forging ahead against what is righteous & good in this world. Through the power of our collective prayers Satan shall gain no further ground. We must rebuke the devil in Jesus name & keep rebuking him and his demons continuously. I’ve read the back of the book & we win. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

In His Name & for His Glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

*“… in keeping with his promise, we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.” – 2 Peter 3:13 NIV

BE A LIGHT

“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.”

Matthew 5:14

          When I read this verse of scripture it makes me think of lighthouses. They come in various shapes and sizes, yet it appears that most are cylindrical or more correctly, conical (a cone-like shape). The reason for this shape is that it allows the fierce winds that can tend to buffet a coast to flow freely around it. The light it emits is to guide the navigators of the seas, so they don't crash upon the rocks. Some are used to guide them through water inlets as well. They are no longer used much because of the expense of upkeep and the emergence of modern technology; however, they still dot coastlines throughout the world as a reminder of days gone by. 

          As Christians, we are to be lights set upon a hill. We are also to not allow our lights to be extinguished. The message we carry is of great importance to the world. Just like an extinguished lighthouse beacon can spell doom for seafaring sailors, so an ineffective Christian can spell doom to those in need of redemption. Each individual makes contact with some that no one else may have access to. We have association with people who respect us and listen to what we have to say. We are not to hide our light under a bushel, ignoring the needs of others. We must feed our spirit man so that our light burns bright as the noon day sun. 

          Lighthouses are majestic in appearance and of great value in that they represent a part of our history as a civilization. We, as believers, are invaluable to God who made us. We represent His handiwork and are a part of a spiritual history that has stood the test of time. We need to be proud of our heritage as Christians and strive to do the work of God, being His hand extended where He places us. Don’t extinguish the light that is within you, let is shine out for all to see. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing. 

In His Name & for His Glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

AVOID USELESS TALK

“Avoid foolish and thoughtless discussions, since you know that they produce conflicts.”- 2 Timothy 2:23 (CEB)

          There are those in this world who are convinced that what they believe is the one true way to God. I had gone to a church like that for several weeks until it became apparent that they felt they had a special tap into God’s REAL truth. It became a little unnerving to say the least. Guilt, restrictions, strict adherence to God’s word without room for mistakes; a preacher who spoke for over an hour, repeating himself multiple times for no reason other than to get a chuckle at the comical illustration he was giving … and giving … and giving again. It did no good to discuss any differences in opinion with them, I tried … they justified each and every word and action with an argument that was well thought out, yet not directly from scripture. I could have had that “foolish and thoughtless” discussion all day long, but it would have been fruitless. 

Satan, at times, draws us in these mindless, inane discussions to rob time from us. They serve no purpose. They only keep us from staying focused on Christ.  Foolish babble and mindless discussions are a waste of our good time and should be avoided if at all possible. Strive to not get sucked into conflict producing discussions which end up only being arguments that irritate and unsettle our spirit. No good comes from them. We have been given a spirit of discernment. Become familiar with it. The Spirit of God will lead you into all righteousness and tip you off when you are somewhere you need not be, even if that is being in a conversation that leads nowhere but to frustration. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

In His Name & for His Glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

God takes Revenge on our behalf

Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, “I will take revenge; I will pay them back,” says the Lord. - Psalm 12:19 NLT

Throughout our lives there will come people who will feel it necessary to lie about you and speak or act in a dishonest manner regarding you for their own gain. It has happened to me, and it no doubt has happened to you. Some of the things that have been said, albeit untrue, have had a very negative effect on relationships with those who are connected somehow to both parties. There are times when dishonesty can cost a person their job, even though the evidence of the accusation is nonexistent. It can be a very bitter pill to swallow.

Know this; God is not mocked. If you are His child retribution for those who lie, cheat, or steal for their own gain is coming. We need do nothing but continue to live for our God. He will take care of those who seek to destroy our lives or our reputations. Nothing can harm us any more than we allow it to. God is our protector and will not allow us to fall if we are living for Him. Even when we slip up and make a disappointing mistake, when we seek forgiveness with a contrite or sincere heart, we stand forgiven as if it had never taken place. The consequences must play out and there may be some associated pain that comes with that, but your enemies will not prosper forever at your expense. Their day is coming. God will see to it. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

In His Name & for His Glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

SEEING OTHER AS GOD SEES THEM

“Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t (Jesus) leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until He finds it?”- Luke 15:4 (NIV) 

          Jesus is referred to in scripture as the "Good Shepherd". As depicted in Luke 15:4, a shepherd will seek high and low to find the one sheep from his flock that has wandered off. Those under his care are safe, but the one that is lost is in great danger. Jesus shed His own blood to save those lost and dying souls who don’t know Him as well as those who have embraced “the gift” of salvation. 
          We need to start seeing those around us with Jesus eyes. We don’t need to see them as if they are somehow less than us because they are unable to see the truth right in front of them. No, just as Christ showed us mercy in our ignorance, we must also see all others with that same type of mercy. We see some pretty interesting looking people out there in this wacky world of ours. We need to look past the outer shell and see that they too have a beating heart in need of love, patience, grace, and forgiveness. Just because we believe in Christ doesn’t make us any better than anyone else. We need to see people as God sees them and display His love, patience, mercy, and grace for them all. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

FULLY IMMERSED

“Love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your being, and all your strength. These words that I am commanding you today must always be on your minds.  Recite them to your children. Talk about them when you are sitting around your house and when you are out and about, when you are lying down and when you are getting up.  Tie them on your hand as a sign. They should be on your forehead as a symbol.” - Deuteronomy 6:5-8 (Common English Bible) 

            If we were to give this set of verses a one word description it could easily be IMMERSION. We are called to immerse ourselves in Christ. We are to seek to be a little more like Him is all we think, say, and do each and every day. It is no small task we face because distractions are all around us. They pull at us and entice us regularly. We must be ALL IN. God wants to use us. His word guides and directs us in all things. Are we reading it? I, like you, squirm, and wriggle when I try to sit still for too long. I, like you, must ask God to enable me to sit still long enough to be fed. Like toddlers in highchairs who want to amble about the house rather than sit still and eat what sustains them, we tend to fight against what we need the most.
            We all must stop, take a deep breath, and ask God to 1) forgive our negligence, 2) ask Him to energize our faith, 3) fill us once again with a deep desire to know Him and His word and 4) help us be more like His Son. It can be a slow, painful process, but in the end our lives will be enriched beyond our comprehension.  Allow yourself full immersion.

            Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

> IMMERSE (def):  To engage wholly or deeply; absorb; to involve deeply; engross.

“I urge you …”

“As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.” - Ephesians 4:1 (NIV)

            Paul, writing from his prison cell, urges the Ephesians to live lives worthy of the calling of Christ. He clarifies what he is referring to in the following verses … be gentle, be patient, be loving and be unified. He is speaking to the believers of his day. Today, we seem to be distracted by everything that comes our way. Living a life that is worthy of being called a Christian seems the furthest thing from our minds. We have so many other things that we have deemed more important that simply must be done.

            We can be just as effective as human beings in this life if we live our life worthy of Christ’s calling. We are His ambassadors; we represent Him everywhere we go and in everything we do. Are we making a good showing or embarrassing the name of Christ by our words and deeds. God enables us to live for Him. Many believe living as a Christian is restrictive, but in fact nothing has ever been so liberating. God wants what is best for us always. Give your all to Him and see what happens. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

THE LORD IS WATCHING

“The Lord will keep you from all harm— he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.”- Psalm 121:7-8 NIV

            This Psalm is one of the “Songs of Ascent”. It is one of a collection of 15 (Psalm 120-134) that are generally accepted to be sung by the Jewish pilgrims who were going up to Jerusalem for the three required festivals. * 

            The general tenor of the writing is one of encouragement. In the face of the calamitous events we are going thru right now, verses 7-8 should give us peace and hope. They speak of His Omniscience, meaning that He is All-Knowing. Verse 2 of this Psalm speaks of His creation. Verse 3 tells the reader God will not allow us to stumble for He knows where we are at all times. It then says you’ll never catch him napping or inattentive. 

            Not matter what may happen in your life, good or bad, the Lord has either caused or allowed it for a very specific reason. We must trust that not only is His word true and faithful, but that what God says He means and will accomplish in His perfect timing. Don’t every doubt the Lord. His love for you is far greater than anyone else’s ever could be. He died for you and by that death washed away all your sins. Wow! Isn’t that awesome! Yes, because we serve an awesome God! Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

*The Feast of Unleavened Bread (Passover)

    The Feast of Weeks (Pentecost)

    The Feast of Booths or The Feast of Tabernacles.

GOD’S PERFECT TIMING

“By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly. But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”- 2 Peter 3:7-9

           God is never late. Time is irrelevant to Him. He doesn’t need a watch to see what time it is. He simply does what He does and it’s the perfect time for it to be done. It is simply how it works in God’s economy. All the promises He has stated in scripture will come to pass … in His perfect time. Those who wreak havoc on this earth, laugh at the notion of God and seem hell bent on making lives miserable shall pay. A Lake of Fire awaits all those ungodly who torment those all around them. God is not slow in bringing His judgment. We may think it is way overdue, but God is giving each individual in His creation every opportunity to repent. Once the curtain comes down, it comes down for good and all is lost for those who have denied Christ. So, God remains patient, not wanting to see anyone miss their chance at redemption.

            Believers can rejoice in the fact that God was patient with them and can pray for the ungodly of the world. God can move upon the heart of any man. There is nothing in scripture that states any one person is beyond His reach. So, He patiently waits. God also patiently waits while we stumble through our life lessons. What if He had not shown us the same patience He is showing the ungodly? We deserve it no more than they do, but that is what grace is all about … unmerited or undeserved favor. God’s timing is impeccable. He is always right. His will for individuals is flawless. We need to praise God for His grace, mercy and seemingly unlimited patience with us all. Indeed, may His name be praised forever. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

In His Name & for His Glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

HOW OFTEN SHOULD WE FORGIVE?

“Then Peter having come near to him, said, `Sir, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him -- till seven times?' Jesus saith to him, `I do not say to thee till seven times, but till seventy times seven.’” - Matthew 18:21-22 Young's Literal Translation (YLT)          

            Symbolism plays a big role in the Bible. Here we see Peter asking a simple question regarding forgiveness. Jesus’ answer is direct, yet seems preposterous at the same time; 490 times. I would hate to think of how many times God has forgiven me. Surely it must surpass 500 times; yet He still forgives and loves. I’m sure Peter thought 7 times was a lot, but Jesus blew the disciples doors off with His answer. It’s hard to imagine that an individual would commit the same exact sin 490 times, so while there may be some repeat offenses, I think we can assume that forgiveness is being given for various sins. The offender must ask for forgiveness, yet even if they do not, we should treat them with kindness anyway. That isn’t something that's easy to do, especially when malicious intent is involved. It may help to remember how often Christ forgave us in the light and magnitude of our own sin.

            Believers can take solace in the above two scriptures, because it means that there is no end to the forgiveness of God. You see, while Peter’s number represents a point to which forgiveness would be withheld, Christ’s number represents no end to forgiveness. That doesn’t give us a license to act out and do as we please. God is forgiving us in an effort to reform us so that we improve our behavior as we attempt to be His ambassador on this earth. Forgiveness comes with a price; consequences are tied to our actions. Forgiveness allows us to see the error of our ways and reform. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

In His Name & for His Glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

THE SAVING FACTOR

“Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.” - Psalm 25:4-5 

            King David is seeking the instruction and guidance of the Lord. His relationship with His God is strong, in spite of his failings. We all have failings; none of us is perfect. Once we realize and accept that we can begin to let God do His work in us. Just like David, we need to ask and ask often for God to reveal His truths to us. It comes from the reading of His word and praying. It comes from cultivating a spiritual awareness of His Holy Spirit’s leading. We can do it, but it doesn’t happen overnight; it takes time. Frankly, it takes your whole life. 

            Acknowledging God as his Savior, David shows the reader that he knows where his salvation comes from. There is nowhere else in scripture that would say or even indicate that David found salvation in anything or anyone else. God is the saving factor. Christ’s death purchased our souls, redeeming us from hell. 

            David shows in these two verses that his reliance is on God and not himself. He derives hope from the truth God lays out before him. We too can find hope in His guidance and instruction. We allow ourselves to become so easily entangled in that which would bind us, rather than shrug ourselves loose and stand tall in the truth of God. Life as a Christian is rewarding and filled with joy, yet our enemy tells us otherwise. It is in truly getting to know God intimately that we experience all the blessings His has for us. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

In His Name & for His Glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

NO PLACE TO HIDE

“Who can hide in secret places so that I cannot see them?” declares the Lord. “Do not I fill heaven and earth?”- Jeremiah 23:24 

            Folks do things that are wrong all the time. They think they are so cunning, that they have actually gotten away with something. All the while they are acting out in full view of God, whether they happen to believe that or not. Christians can take comfort in the fact that there are no places that He does not see us; non-Christians cannot. There is no place on this planet that is hidden from Him. Like a home designer who knows every nook and cranny of a house he drew up, so God knows even the most remote place in His creation. If a Christian has a misstep, there is a need to own up to it, seek forgiveness and move on. God knows all about it, so denying it, acting as if it never happened, is fruitless. Take solace in the fact that God is patient. This isn’t a single elimination reality show; God wants us to succeed, to thrive and be at peace.

            Since God is omnipresent, there is literally no place that He is not. His spirit can be found everywhere. The self-absorbed man sees nothing but themselves and what they are doing; the spiritual man can see God’s presence all around him. Take the time to marvel at the creation of God. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

In His Name & for His Glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

 

Another of God’s Promises: Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

GOD’S PROMISE

“Because they love me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue them; I will protect them, for they acknowledge my name. They will call on me, and I will answer them; I will be with them in trouble, I will deliver them and honor them. With long life I will satisfy them and show them my salvation.” - Psalm 91:14-16 

            When the Creator of the universe says something of this nature, we can count on it. When we love someone, we seek to please them. So, it stands to reason that if we love our Heavenly Father, we are going to strive to live for Him to the best of our God given abilities. As a result, He is going to move heaven and earth to make sure we are safe and secure. We should take great comfort in that. It doesn’t mean calamity won’t come our way; it means that if we are living for God, He will protect us. God uses very specific action words to describe how he will take care of us. Words like rescue, protect, call on, deliver, honor, satisfy. No matter what situation should befall us, God is there and will do as He has promised. That’s how we should view these verses, as a promise. 

            If we acknowledge God for all that He truly is, then we will have the appropriate awe and reverence towards Him and His statutes. We will learn all we can about Him through His word and we will live according to the instructions He has laid out for us therein. God loves us with an everlasting love that is unconditional and shall never change or diminish over time. Love of this kind cannot be found anywhere else this side of heaven and it is free for the asking. No matter what we’ve ever done in our lives, know this, we are not defined by our mistakes. God loves us for who we are, not who we should be. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

In His Name & for His Glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

 

THE WORLD FOR YOUR SOUL

“What good is it for you to gain the whole world, yet forfeit your soul?” - Mark 8:36 

            The world tantalizes with wealth, glitz, glamour and fame. People become slaves to fashion and live paycheck to paycheck chasing that next big event or technological advancement. Their attention is kept focused on anything and everything that promises satisfaction, fun and popularity. The devil is an expert at deceit. Those trifles dangled in front of them are nothing more than a mirage that shall disappear when you need them the most. Christ asks a very poignant question to those following him: what good is it to gain everything and yet have nothing and what good is it to lose your very soul in the process. The time spent chasing after temporal things would have been better spent seeking eternity, for it is in the things that shall NOT pass away that true satisfaction is found. 

            The world scoffs at Christians. ‘Look at all you are missing’, they say. ‘Only the weak-minded need Jesus’, they say, ‘He’s nothing more than a crutch.’ They don’t understand. Perhaps they never will. Christians find hope and peace and true freedom in their relationship with God. It has nothing to do with religion; it is an intimate, personal relationship with our Creator. So, while the world chases after the unattainable, we shall continue to seek God and gain far more in the process than those in the world shall ever possess. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

GOD’S GRACE

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith —and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast.”- Ephesians 2:8-9 

 

grace noun 1a: unmerited divine assistance given humans for their regeneration or sanctification; b: a virtue coming from God; c: a state of sanctification enjoyed through divine grace; 2a: approval, favor, mercy, pardon.

 

            There is nothing we could ever do to save ourselves. We can’t work our way into heaven with good deeds. We can’t buy our way into heaven. We can’t beg or plead. There is one way to get into God’s heaven and it is by His grace. We simply ask for it by recognizing our lowly state and seeking forgiveness for our deeds which have flown in the face of His precepts. Just as an alcoholic must confess that he has a problem and needs help, so must we confess that we are sinners in need of redemption. It requires faith; specifically, the faith of a child. Children have such innocence. Just as they trust their earthly fathers and mothers, so are we to trust our heavenly Father, who loves us without hesitation or reservation. His unmerited favor, His mercy, come in the form of the bloody, beaten, broken body of His only Son, Jesus Christ. 

            To truly grasp the significance of our redemption, we must look to the cross. It is a bloody, gruesome sight. There is nothing appealing about it, yet our gaze must fall upon that horrifying scene to truly begin to understand what God’s grace entails. He paid our sin debt with His own blood. Someone had to do it. He required a blood sacrifice to wipe out sin. He knew no one else was able to pay the debt in full except His own Son. He set it up that way. It was preordained from the beginning of time. It had to take place that way. So, understand that the greatest gift ever given came to us by way of blood, pain and separation; for Christ had to be separated from His Father for a brief time. He didn’t have to be coerced into going all the way to the cross on Golgotha’s hill, He did it willingly for us all. Embrace the cross and you will find grace. I doubt we will ever fully comprehend how great the Father’s love truly is for us. There is nothing this side of heaven to compare it to. Rest in His grace and mercy and find peace. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

In His Name & for His Glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

 

 

TRUE FRIENDSHIP

“I thank my God every time I remember you.”- Philippians 1:3 

 

friend noun 1a: one attached to another by affection or esteem.

 

            Although the Apostle Paul is saying this to the church at Philippi, I would like to generalize this scripture to make a point about our own brothers and sisters in the faith; those throughout our lives who have been our friends, not to mention, a wonderful blessing to us through thick and thin. There are those individuals, perhaps family members, perhaps co-workers, someone in your neighborhood or church members, who have meant a lot to our spiritual growth in this life. Some are in our lives for only a short while, a single chapter in our lives, then are gone. They are a true friend to us, and we thank God every time they come to mind. They are encouraging, empathetic, kind, helpful … they are living examples of 1 Corinthians 13:4-7. There is a mutual love and respect for one another. No judgment or condemnation comes from their lips. They are understanding and supportive, no matter what we have gotten ourselves into. That is a true brother or sister in Christ; that is a true friend. They don’t condone misdeeds in any way, seeking to be instructive rather than combative, so as not to hurt us and/or drive us away. When a true friendship has been forged, it cannot be severed by age or distance. 

            We all have someone, perhaps more than one, who falls into that category. Actually, a true friend can be somewhat of a rarity. Frankly, our wife or husband really should be our best, most true friend, in addition to being our lover and life companion. God has blessed us with true friends whom we need to thank Him for. They are stabilizers; they help add structure to our lives. God knows what we need and provides these people in our lives to help lighten our burdens as we walk through this valley of tears called life. May God be praised for His wisdom and compassion, for without the friends who enter our lives, our struggles this side of heaven would be much greater. Hopefully we are that type of friend to someone. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

In His Name & for His Glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

THE MONEY TRAP

“Do not wear yourself out to get rich; do not trust your own cleverness. Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone, for they will surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle.”

Proverbs 23:4-5 

          Wealth is a deceptive thing. One day it’s there, the next day it’s gone. People who amass fortunes see it slip away by way of lawsuits or poor investments. It seems as though everyone wants a piece of the proverbial money pie. ‘If I could just hit it big I would have it made’, says the person playing the lottery. While there is nothing wrong with attaining wealth in and of itself, making it our sole goal in life is dangerous for then we are placing all our faith and trust in our own abilities and in the money we have acquired. 

 

Matthew 6:24 “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”

 

          The pursuit of wealth is a full-time endeavor. Once a person gets sucked in they are hooked, believing that the answer to every problem is more money. While it can solve a certain set of problems that require money, it cannot purchase forgiveness and it cannot buy them peace. Money is emotionless and cannot provide a way to heaven. Spiritually speaking, one cannot hope to achieve anything of eternal value with money. They may receive the accolades of this world, but at what cost? It is in the acquiring and the use of money that the key lies. If we acquire wealth honestly, do not seek it to the exclusion of all else and use it for the glory of God in a humble manner, then we have achieved something. However, it takes a special individual to accomplish that, one who is well grounded in scripture and has a heart solely after God. We cannot serve two masters and if we are a slave to our money, then it is our master. Don’t be duped into thinking you can control money, because in the end, it controls you. Anything that is truly important in this life is tied to God. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

FINDING PEACE

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”- Philippians 4:6-7

          Here in Philippians, the Apostle Paul not only tells us not to be anxious but tells us how to acquire the peace that surpasses all understanding. Every time we encounter a difficult set of circumstances we are to pray. It is a good practice to praise and thank Him for who He is and who we are because of what Christ has done for us first. If we are praising and thanking God, we aren’t worrying. It is very human to worry, but we don’t have to. The peace that God gives us flows through us and cannot be comprehended by mortal man; it is a supernatural phenomenon. It isn’t conjured up by us, but rather administered to us by the Holy Spirit. In our busy, crazy, chaotic world where we run to and fro, it would be nice to have a little peace. Well it is there for the asking, but we must believe. We all know what faith is: believing in the unseen as if it can be seen; believing in things that are not as if they are. If our trust is in Almighty God, faith isn’t that much of a reach. It was required to believe in God to begin with.

          Rest your mind. “But I don’t have time.” Rest your mind. “I am too busy for that.” Rest – your – mind. It isn’t easy to relax at times., but frankly, if we have time to worry, we have time to rest. We get so wound up at times that resting any part of our anatomy is near impossible, but if we seek God and ask Him to fill us with His peace, He will do it. We take on too much. We don’t know how to say ‘no’. We create un-peaceful situations for ourselves at times. Take a deep breath and focus on Christ. Nothing is impossible for Almighty God; NOTHING! Let His Spirit flow through you and you shall be at peace in the midst of any storm. God loves you; without hesitation, without conditions, without regrets. Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing!

In His Name & for His Glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Seeing God

         “Be still, and know that I am God; …” 

Psalm 46:10 

          In the midst of all the hustle and bustle of each day stands God. We don’t notice Him because He is not in the hustle and bustle. We veer around Him and never even see Him standing in our midst. God is not in the chaos, but rather in the stillness. We see Him when we take the time to quiet ourselves. We feel Him when we sit by the ocean and soak in the sights and sounds of the incoming waves. We sense His presence in the woods or by a babbling brook. We know Him by spending time with Him. It’s not in talking to Him that we experience His true nature, but rather in the listening. Talking comes easily to most but listening and actually hearing something or someone is an acquired skill for us. 

          We play our music loud, our TV’s blare away and conversations with others go on and on and all the while God is there. The Creator of the Universe is quietly observing, patiently waiting for us to notice Him. It’s not when we are ‘vegging out’ or ‘chilling’ that we find God, for it takes a conscience effort to see, hear and feel Him. When we take the time, when we literally seize time by the throat and slow down even for a few moments and make a concerted effort to experience God that we will know He truly is the great and awesome I AM THAT I AM, the Almighty Jehovah God. He is our provider and sustainer. He wishes to meet with us regularly because He loves us and desires our company. He doesn’t need it, but rather desires it. What an incredible thought! Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

FREEDOM TO SERVE

“For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love. For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ But if you are always biting and devouring one another, watch out! Beware of destroying one another.”- Galatians 5:13-15 NLT

            Paul’s letter to the Galatian church was written for the purpose of refuting the Judaizers, who taught that Gentile believers must strictly follow Jewish Law to be saved. Paul wished for them to know they were free in Christ, but that freedom wasn’t a freedom to sin; rather it was a freedom to serve.  While it’s true our free will gives us the right to do whatever it is that we wish to do, only one thing will bring us forgiveness, peace and joy. 

            Seeing freedom as a license to sin isn’t freedom at all. This is because you are a slave to someone; whether it is Satan, others, or your own sinful nature. Christians shouldn’t ever become slaves to sin. Their freedom is to do the right thing and glorify God thru service to others. 

            We must never lose our motivation to love others, for when we do we will begin to become critical instead. We will stop looking at the good in them and only see their flaws. We must never compare ourselves to others because we’re all flawed, weak and frail. We are unable to make a sound eternally significant decision regarding anything, especially our own life, without the assistance of the Holy Spirit. Treat others the way God treated you. With unconditional love and acceptance. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resource: The Life Application Study Bible.

God’s Love Remains Forever

Psalm 103:15-18 New Living Translation

“Our days on earth are like grass; like wildflowers, we bloom and die. The wind blows, and we are gone—as though we had never been here. But the love of the Lord remains forever with those who fear him. His salvation extends to the children’s children of those who are faithful to his covenant, of those who obey his commandments!”

 

                  We know from scripture that man’s time on earth is but a wisp. It cannot be altered or stopped in any way. As the saying goes, “Time marches on!” This simply means that ‘time continues to pass’. We’re born, we live and then we die. What we make of this life is up to us. If we don’t live for God then chances are we’ll pass from this earth unnoticed. Now that’s not to say that we’re supposed to spend our lives building our own reputation and legacy. That smacks of self-centeredness. Our legacy needs to be established ‘In His Name & for His Glory’. Our accolades are inconsequential. A true believer in Christ takes no credit for those things they’ve accomplished in this life, for what we do should be for the expansion of God’s Kingdom and not our own.

                  On the heels of the truth that we are here today and gone tomorrow comes another truth ... that God’s love for His creation is endless. The Psalmist says to his readers that those who fear him will experience His infinite love. ‘Fear’ here is not being afraid, but rather, viewing Him with awe, reverence, and respect.  If you honor and respect God you are more inclined to obey His commandments and be faithful to His covenant with His creation. 

                  This is no time to have a selfish or rebellious nature in the face of our distressing future. In the end God wins without question. Plant yourself on the right side of life and don’t fall victim to the lies of the enemy. Focus on Christ and all He has done for us. Reciprocate by living a life that is pleasing to the Creator. Obey God’s precepts for in them there is life and life more abundant. 

                  Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

GUILT

CONSCIENCE - To have a conscience means to have a sense of right and wrong, and a feeling of obligation to do the right thing. It can also mean having a sensitive regard for fairness and justice.

 

            If a person has NO conscience, it would mean that they have no sense of what is right & what is wrong. They feel NO obligation to do the right thing. They justify their words or actions by what they are thinking or how they feel at the moment. A person with NO conscience is liable to think, say or do just about anything. They tend to be irresponsible (in a general sense). Their world revolves around them and only them, making them selfish. They feel no guilt because their morals & ethics are skewed. 

            A person who HAS a conscience will feel some level of remorse for what he or she has either said or done. They understand the hill that must be climbed to gain someone’s trust back. The pain they may have caused bothers them. If you’re a Christian, you should be seeking forgiveness from the Lord & the object of your error in judgment. Receiving forgiveness from God is a given if sought with the right heart motivation. Forgiveness from the target of your mistake make be harder to come by. 

            At times even when the person WITH a conscience regrets what they’ve said or done, and sought forgiveness, their guilt outweighs the forgiveness achieved.  If you don’t feel you have much of a conscience, grow one with the help of the Lord. Focus on that which is upright & good & fair & just and not those things that create ambivalence in their mind.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

            

Exploring the Trinity

Genesis 2:7 NLT “Then the Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground. He breathed the His spirit (the breath of life) into the man’s nostrils, and the man became a living person (a living soul).”

 

SOUL & SPIRIT

 

It is a blessing that we have three parts; body, soul, and spirit. All of these parts have specific functions. The body is our physical functions and how we feel our physical senses such as the sense of sight, taste, smell, hear, and touch. The soul is basically our mind, our emotions, and our will. It is who we are as human beings. Our soul is our humanity that makes us feel emotions. The spirit is our spiritual and deeper connection with the Lord. It is our way to magnify God through our human limitations. We express our love to God and Jesus Christ through our spirit because this is one of the gifts that Christ gave us when he became human and died for our sins. So we HAVE a spirit, but it is only activated And thus, we can only use the spirit if we believe in God and Christ and if we do the ways of the spirit.

 

God formed man’s body from the dust of the ground, but only the impartation of the breath of God made him a living being. “Physically, man was taken out of the ground. It is quite interesting that our bodies are made up of about fifteen or sixteen chemical elements. Those same chemical elements are in the ground. The physical part of man was taken out of the dust of the ground.” * So if Almighty God gave us life, what are we to do WITH that life? Are we to live whatever way we please or are we to follow His spiritual plan FOR us. As I’ve said before, we don’t have to follow God’s plan if we don’t want to, but unless we understand the BIG picture regarding life and death and what happens when we pass on from this earth, we will continuously make uninformed decisions based on our feelings, rather than our intellect. What is feeding our intellect? It all depends on what we read, watch, and/or experience. Those things will cause our life to follow a certain path. The end is essentially predetermined, in that those who follow Christ will go to heaven and those who follow anything or anyone other than Christ will go to hell. That is our predetermined destination, but where we end up is solely up to us as individuals. Obey God and live a life that will end in victory. The bible continuously makes it crystal clear that God loves His entire creation, which would include both you and me. It should be an easy decision to obey God because He knows more than all of humanity combined. Frankly, He knows all that could possibly be known. We do not have that ability. Why would we seek advice from unsaved individuals who eternally speaking haven’t got a clue what the right move to make is? We were created by God and given the possibility to know Him intimately. No sacrifice we could make would impress or please God. Why? Because it’s NOT what He seeks ... not what He desires from His creation. Obedience, for this is what the Lord knows will lead to the only positive outcome for us. Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

* (J Vernon McGee, THRU THE BIBLE)