Thoughts from a Random Mind

 

The world is filled with hatred and the vilest sort of evil that it leaves our collective heads spinning. It makes us bone weary. In our efforts to replicate the behavioral traits of Jesus we find Satanic opposition at every turn. The hatred that is percolating right below the surface is bringing about stiff resistance to Christianity. Notice that other “religious beliefs” are not mentioned. Why? Because they present no threat to the enemy. 

Jesus is THE ONE WAY to heaven and THAT is why He comes under attack so often from Satanic forces. It makes walking by faith a bit more of a challenge. But we must never lose sight of who God is & who we are IN HIM. 

With God there is nothing to fear. With God, by association, there is nothing we cannot do in His name. Faith and trust in God is what we need to survive in this world. He is the only One that can wipe your proverbial slate clean and give you a new start. He is the only One with the resources (Christ’s blood) to simply remove one’s sin permanently and for all time. God is the only One who can provide the way to an eternity with Him. 

So don’t look at the potential problems that loom off in the distant, but rather look at that which is right beside you, namely, Jesus Christ, the author and completer of our faith.

Refocus on that which is positive and refresh your mind with His word daily. We’re in a war of good vs. evil and though we already know that good wins, we need to play it out. Trust the Lord to lead you to the Promised Land. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Thoughts from a Random Mind 

 

“The strength of what we believe is measured by how much we are willing to suffer for those beliefs.” ^{P.1989; Life Application Study Bible.}

 

                  How strong are your religious beliefs? Would you be willing to suffer and die for those beliefs? If not then why do you bother to believe them? No one ever promised that you wouldn’t face persecution for your faith in God. In fact down thru the centuries untold numbers have suffered and died for what they believe. What would you do if it came to that in your own life? 

            I would like to think that I would stand tall in the face of all opposition. I love the Lord with all my heart and while I’m a highly imperfect representative for Christ, I am covered by His blood and bound for heaven. He loves me unconditionally and without reservation. At the critical moment when He was dragged off to His own crucifixion, Jesus had NO regrets for He knew it had to be done and that He was the only one able to do it. His blood was the only perfect blood specimen that could satisfy the payment due for the sins of all mankind. What He did for me I can never repay except with faithful obedience, and joyful worship. 

            Have you ever thought about how you would react should your life be required of you for your faith in Jesus? Think long and hard about that because it’s an important question. When we access our own ability to withstand pain and suffering, never forget that God is in ultimate control of all things and whatever He either causes or allows to happen is for our ultimate good. Do you believe that? I hope so, because it’s true. 

            Don’t lose sleep over the possibility of having to suffer for your faith. If it happens one day God will see you thru it. But it may never happen prior to the Rapture of the Saints. Trust God and know that He is with you wherever you go. Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

             

 

Thoughts from a Random Mind

 

“Suddenly” is an interesting word... it typically leads into a big event in time. Take Pentecost... “On the day of Pentecost all the believers were meeting together in one place.  Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting.” (Acts 2:1-2 NLT) It took place just as Jesus had said.

            When Jesus asked Peter to come to Him on the water, Peter was up for it and stepped out on the water. Prior to Jesus arrival a storm had whipped up. That particular area by the Galilean Sea was prone to sudden storms swooping down and causing havoc. This was what the scene was when Peter stepped onto the water.  “So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. ‘Save me, Lord!’ he shouted.” ^{(Matthew 14:29-30 NLT)} Now this example doesn’t actually use the word ‘suddenly’, but based on the meteorological history of that region. Storms “suddenly” popped up seemingly out of nowhere, which makes this example qualify.

            Another example that doesn’t actually use the word “suddenly”, would qualify based on the nature of the event. “Then Moses raised his hand over the sea, and the Lord opened up a path through the water with a strong east wind. The wind blew all that night, turning the seabed into dry land. So the people of Israel walked through the middle of the sea on dry ground, with walls of water on each side!” ^{(Exodus 14:21-22)} Because of Moses obedience in simply raising his hand over the sea, the Lord sent a “strong east wind” to blow ALL NIGHT. Sounds like it was a “sudden” event to me. It started suddenly at God’s command and was sustained throughout the night. Miraculous.

            The Rapture of the Church or the “catching away” of the saints is a sudden event that Paul speaks of in his letter to the Thessalonian church. “For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the believers who have died will rise from their graves. Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.” ^{(1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 NLT) “}For you know quite well that the day of the Lord’s return will come unexpectedly, like a thief in the night. When people are saying, “Everything is peaceful and secure,” then disaster will fall on them as suddenly as a pregnant woman’s labor pains begin. And there will be no escape.” ^{(1 Thessalonians 5:2-3 NLT)}

            The reason I share about the word “suddenly” is because God is timeless and therefore not under the restraints that time can put on people. He does as He pleases without immediate warning, though there is more than likely some sort of warning woven into the scriptures. Since the sudden nature of certain future events we should live ready, for we may not have a seconds notice to get ready. Study the nature of God. Understand what it means to serve Him with your whole heart. This life isn’t all about YOU. It’s about GOD. Live like you believe that. Until next time, walk with the King & treat others as you’d like to be treated.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Thoughts from a Random Mind 

Where is the Church?

 

            Evil is slowly taking a foothold in our country and around the world. While I don’t expect it to win in the long run, it is showing itself globally. Where is the church? Between woke pastors and ambivalent, apathetic congregations, we are starting to become irrelevant.

Zealous bible believing Christians are being targeted as dangerous as dying for your faith is becoming more prevalent in the world. And where is the church? Asleep at the wheel? Churches are supposed to be training believers to become Christ-like, yet instead they seem more interested in allowing the forming of cliques and creating a social club atmosphere where worship seems for like a performance and greeting time seems staged. What can be done?

          Unless individuals become serious about living for God there is little hope of resurrecting the church. So many people identify as Christians these days and whether they are or not is God’s call, not mine, but so many people seem to be lazy about their spirituality. People are believing the lie of ‘deconstructionism’, which is causing many to either become confused or leave the faith altogether. People don’t test their source of information enough. Is what is being preached today biblical? Most don’t have any idea because they’d rather be spoon fed than feed themselves. Too many “so-called” Christians have no idea what the Bible even says, because they don’t read it.

          We need to pray for an honest to goodness revival in this land and around the world. I’m hearing that revival is rising up on college campuses. People have had enough of the hate culture that is being spewed out on a daily basis. The purveyors of lies and false teachings will not go unchecked forever. The end for them will not be pretty.

Pray. It’s the most lethal weapon we have in our arsenal. Pray for our country. Pray for revival. Pray for spiritual growth within yourself. Seek wisdom and discernment. Only God can help us. Only God is faithful and true. Justice is coming for those who do evil deeds. God’s timing is always perfect. We must have patience and pray.

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

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

 

Addendum: This post is not an indictment on all Christians & all churches; far from it. I know there are those out there who are diligently doing God’s work & I praise God for that. This is directed at those who are misguided & misinformed by less than biblical leaders. They should know better. We need to gird ourselves for a spiritual war, because unless God intervenes that’s what’s coming. rlk

Happy 4th!!

 

Thoughts from a Random Mind

 

                  Why do babies suffer and die? Why do good people suffer and die? It is a nearly impossible question to answer, because God doesn’t explain his actions. People walk away from God because they cannot wrap their mind around the ‘why’ of it. At the risk of being trite I hold my tongue. I can repeat the typical reasons that are spit out to a hurting public, but I refrain because I truly don’t know. I don’t have all the answers and God isn’t interested at this time in providing them. It seems to fall under the category of either, “I will talk, says the Lord, and you will listen” or “I will ask the questions, and you will answer.” God was like that with Job. 

Believing doesn’t necessarily require understanding; neither does it need facts to substantiate our faith. Call it blind faith if you want, but it is what it is. We cannot change events in time, nor can we solve all the world’s problems. All we can do is trust God at his word. Sometimes that is much easier said than done. 

For example, I can see why some would say that God is mean to allow little children to contract a disease, but we live in a fallen world where EVERYONE is a sinner. Perfection was the plan in the beginning, but allowing free will to do as we please shines a spotlight on man’s tendency to serve himself at the expense of others. Eve fell for Satan’s deception, and Adam followed right along, and that gave birth to man’s sinful nature.

Some make the argument that babies and toddlers couldn’t have sinned. But once they can walk, who teaches them to get into things they’re not supposed to get into? Once they speak, who teaches them to lie? Every man, woman, and child is born with a sinful nature. The only cure is the blood of Christ.

God does exactly what He knows is the best thing to do for all parties concerned. He knows infinitely more than we do, so although we may never understand, He has His reasons. Just because we don’t agree doesn’t make God wrong. It’s a matter of trust.

Until next time, walk with the King & be kind to others.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Thoughts from a Random Mind 

Sometimes I don’t understand myself. I’m gripey and moody and just in an overall foul mood. While I try to blame it on someone else’s words or actions towards me that would be an incorrect approach. I, and I alone am the commander of my ship. I have failed to use self-control. I have allowed the darker side of me take control and I don’t like that. I am a work in progress… have been under construction since the day I gave my heart to Christ. March 21, 1979… my spiritual birthday.

I know the Lord loves me because when I feel the most unlovable He blesses me with a scripture, or a song, or a message online or in a book and I know He and I are alright. I still hate myself for acting the way I do or when I cuss out of shear frustration. That, I suppose, is the old me clawing to come out, but is it the real me? Is THAT the real me that is being altered or is what I am becoming a little bit more each day the real me? I honestly don’t know. 

I am grateful for God’s patience with me. I know who I am in reality. A seriously broken version of what the Lord created 71 years ago. I’m trying to be what God knows I can be, but at times my mind gets tangled up in the craziness this world has become. I want to please the Lord more than anything and I am grateful that He knows my heart. I am a different person than I was prior to my conversion, and I feel that and know that. The enemy puts up so many roadblocks to trip us up and if we aren’t paying close attention we will go flying and end of doing a face plant on the ground. 

So if you’re like me, try your best with the Lord’s help to not be too hard on yourself. Feed your spirit regularly and DO NOT entertain yourself with questionable things. The Lord wants the best for all of us, but that is hard for us to attain when we continue to step full body into the sinkholes of life. Focus on Christ. Razor sharp focus. Know that God loves each one of us. Don’t doubt it because of your behavior, simply accept it and embrace it. You’ll be better off for it in the end. 

I love you all and appreciate the time you take to read my ramblings. It means God is still using me. Lord, richly bless all my readers with blessings that will take them to the next level in their walk with You. Amen. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing, and always remember, it costs nothing to be kind.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries