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

Thoughts from a Random Mind 

 

What standard for living do you follow? One of your own making? Based on what? How you’re feeling? Is it universally applicable? Almighty God has a plan all mapped out for you. We’re all made different, unique unto ourselves; so God would have a separate plan specifically designed for each one of His children. If you’d like to know it you need to establish a personal relationship with Him and listen to what He says in His Word to find it out. 

It feels like most folks outside of the family of God have a broken moral compass. They don’t seem to know anymore what is good and what is bad; what is right and what is wrong.  I think societal disfunction has a lot to do with that. The fact that mankind strives to achieve complete autonomy; the ability to rule themselves, contributes to the problem. Over stimulation of our senses can contribute to mental chaos, which can also keep folks from seeing reality. Their vision has become blurred, and they’ve become spiritually blind as well. 

The enemy of our souls presents to all of us, both Christian and non-Christian alike, contradictory information that breeds confusion. Our ship is listing and as a result, and we are taking on water. Only a strong relationship with the “author and finisher of our faith” can right the ship. Only the Lord can bail us out. Only the Lord is readily available to assist us and feed us the truth we need to thwart the disruptive plans of the enemy.

Don’t fight it. Surrender to the supernatural plan that has been designed with you in mind. No, it won’t make everything perfect, but it will take you to a place where things will begin to make sense from a godly point of view. We cannot DO this thing called life on our own, as many times as the enemy encourages us to do just that. The master planner (God) can and will see you through life’s maze. 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 

 

“Why do You use me to make Yourself known… I’m a poor reflection of Your love & mercy.  At times my thoughts are so far from Your own. Lift me up & rescue me from myself.”  *

 

            A lyrical thought that feels like it’s something a lot of us could be saying to God. Why do you bother using me when I am fragile and broken, seemingly beyond repair.  Your love for me, while undeniable, seems way too good to be true. With no example of it this side of heaven, it is nearly impossible to fathom.

            I am indeed a very poor reflection of your love, mercy, compassion, peace... I wish I knew if others saw even a flicker of your light from my words and/or actions, but I have no assurance of that. 

            At times I feel like Paul when he wrote to the Roman believers regard how he does what he knows not to do, and doesn’t do that which he knows he should be doing. My thoughts can tend to be everywhere except where they should be at times; that being on You. 

            I need rescuing from myself. How about you? I love the Lord with all my heart, but I feel I fail Him regularly either by being lazy or apathetic. I know walking with You is where I need to be and am determined to allow you to lead me on into my future with no fear or hesitation. 

You are always with me, even when I don’t sense Your presence. Thank you for saving my soul... thank you for loving me unconditionally. Thank you for Your grace. Thank you for your patience with me.

If you question your own walk with Christ, understand this: just the fact that you care enough to feel that way means there is hope for your spiritual resuscitation. It’s a spiritually healthy endeavor to assess your commitment to Christ and make sure you’re not fading away slowly. If this is you, don’t focus on how bad you think you are as a believer, but rather focus on the Lord and everything that HE IS. He is what’s important. Focus on Him & not yourself. Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

* Bone Prophet is a Christian hard rock/metal band from Knoxville, Tennessee, formed in 2009.  The band’s name is inspired by Ezekiel 37:1–14, the biblical vision of the valley of dry bones, symbolizing spiritual resurrection and the mission to "speak life" into the spiritually dead.  Their music blends 80s and 90s hard rock and metal influences with modern production, aiming to deliver powerful, uplifting messages rooted in faith while appealing to both traditional metal fans and contemporary rock listeners.

Thoughts from a Random Mind 

It seems that as the years go by marriage has become more difficult to maintain an even keel. Experts say marriage is a 50-50 proposition, but I disagree. I believe it MUST be a 100-100 proposition. Both parties MUST be ALL IN, or it will be less likely to succeed. That is only my opinion, but I personally believe it bears merit. You’ve made a commitment to another individual who just may be different than you in a multitude of ways. For me, taking an inventory of what you like and don’t like about your partner may help. Then you can sit down and discuss it like mature adults.

Prior to marriage you are attempting to align yourself with someone whom you may happen to “click” with. However, marriage is for the long haul, not just a pit stop. Open communication is vital in any relationship. Frustration arises when one party disregards the others discontent. Life’s not easy and marriage tends to complicate it somewhat. Life can come at you very hard at times.

             When you marry someone you’ve made a commitment before Almighty God, though I doubt many couples actually have that in mind when they exchange their vows. Annoyances arise once the honeymoon is over and reality sets in. Communication, as stated earlier, has to be an integral part of any relationship. It simply HAS TO BE. A lack of communication can lead to assumptions regarding how someone is feeling. Talk things out CALMLY. No yelling, no cussing… a calm, mature discussion… an “airing it out” session. Perhaps even a “gripe” session.

            There is a sad fact that has been emerging and that is that many folks are choosing to NOT marry in a church setting. I attended a ceremony last summer where there wasn’t a mention of God at all. The institution of marriage is in shambles due to peoples definition of love and happiness. Prenuptial agreements are a thing, have been for a little while now. Does anyone even marry their soulmate anymore, or is it just a bunch of meaningless words. We seem to have lost our moral compass.

             Remind each other what you love about them. Even though it seems like most people dismiss compliments given to them, give them anyway, because despite their initial reaction, it sinks into their subconscious and brings edification to that person. Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Quote Contemplations

 

“Sometimes God works secretly & behind the scenes; but He will                                                          reveal his work to us when the time is right.” ^[1]

            We see throughout the gospels that there were certain events that couldn’t take place because as it stated, “the time was not right” or “his time had not yet come”. God is a master choreographer, with every movement done precisely when He wants them to. It requires patience on our part to endure the waiting. God knows what He’s doing to the moment, but we come from a NOW culture that is in such a hurry to achieve each moment right away with no waiting required. At times it can be an arduous task waiting for ANYTHING.

            The above quote captures the essence of God’s orchestrations as He accomplishes His will in His way, His time, out of sight, and unknown to a soul. Faith and trust play a key role in this dance as we eagerly await the manifestation of God’s work. Throughout scripture there has never been a time when Almighty God has failed at anything. Man failed and still fails regularly, which is why Jesus needed to come and die for us. Without His sacrificial death we would die still mired in our sins with no hope of redemption. But that is not the case, is it? 

            When the time was right Jesus was arrested, beaten, verbally harassed, flogged to within an inch of His life by a metal encrusted scourge and nailed to a wooden cross WILLINGLY to pay for all of our sins. EVERY LAST ONE OF THEM!! Do you understand the magnitude of such an event. Do you understand the timing of everything that had to take place. Do you see how God the Father orchestrated each movement in this life altering play. Nothing would ever be the same after God’s plan was performed. No mistakes were made. No regrets were had. Do you see how it HAD TO BE THIS WAY?

            God always knows what He’s doing. No mistakes. No mismanagement of time. Everything was executed perfectly to allow this redemptive act to play out. God’s timing is always purposeful and right on time. His mercy was and is so remarkable that one can barely fathom the depth of it. God does what He does with precise purpose to an end that is exactly what He intended to take place all along. Trust God always. Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

^[1] www.christianquotesforyou.tumbler.com

Quote Contemplations

 

“Do what is right, not what is easy, nor what is popular.” - Roy T. Bennett

 

                  How do we know what the right thing is to do? Does it have to do with what is right or wrong? Of course it does. How do we know that is right and what is wrong? Where do their definitions come from? Is it universally or individually right or wrong? It is the former, rather than the latter. It must be universally right or wrong otherwise its definition couldn’t be fair. It has to be right or wrong for everyone in creation. It must be void of negative consequences to do the right thing. The easy thing to do can be universally true, but not always. The popular thing can be universally true, but chances are it is not. That which is either easy or popular is so because thought is not required. Being easy or popular follows along with those who do not wish to have to defend their choice. The vast majority as a rule chooses the easy or popular path for it is the path of least resistance. To do the right thing is to defend truth; to stand for something that goes against the grain. Doing what is right requires thought; requires taking action in a certain direction, typically the least easy or least popular. 

The Christian believes that Almighty God alone is qualified to determine what is right versus what is wrong. That which is wrong is typically the opposite of what is right. Once we have determined what is right in the eyes of God then we are to follow thru with our choice regardless of the circumstances. If it were easy or popular then anyone could do it, but it takes a person with integrity to do the right thing. It has to mean something to do the right thing to the person who does it. Those who seek the path of least resistance, do so out of vanity. The accolades they receive are hollow ... without any substance. The person who chooses to do the right thing does it not for accolades, but because it is the proper thing to do. Accolades are meaningless to that person. Remember, it’s NOT all about YOU. It’s simply not. Surrender yourself to the One who died in your place. It’s the only wise choice; however, it IS your choice and no one else’s. Choose wisely. Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Quote Contemplations

 

"Worrying can't change yesterday or tomorrow, it can only make your today miserable." – Bob Goff *

 

            When uncomfortable situations arise they point a finger at your faith. Are you going to lean on your faith, trusting the Lord to teach you and guide you thru it or are you going to shake, rattle and roll your way thru it making yourself miserable? Remember, God doesn’t ever change, but we vacillate constantly. He is the rock of consistency that we so desperately need in our lives. He has no flaws and makes no mistakes. All that is only a problem for those who don’t like to be a follower.

            Yesterday is already “history” and everyone knows history cannot be altered in any way. Tomorrow is the future and no one can predict the future, so place your faith and trust in God and stop worrying. Some may say “That’s easy to say’, well, actually, it IS. If you believe in God how deep does that belief go? Do you only believe when things are going well? What type of faith is that? Faith is believing in things that you cannot see as if you can. The Lord is real to those who choose to believe it. You’re taking a step out from the masses and choosing to exercise the modicum of faith that you have to exhibit that which is, for you, very real. 

            Worrying changes nothing, it just makes YOU miserable. Your worrying effects no one else. Exercise your faith. Replicate the behavioral characteristics of Jesus Christ daily as you strive to be the best ambassador for God that you can possibly be. Show God’s love and mercy, kindness and grace freely to those you meet each day in this slow burn world that is on a fast track to go off the proverbial cliff. Notice that the only time people wanted to enter the Ark that Noah built in Genesis was after it started to rain. Up to that point they thought it was insane and had no interest. Is it not very much the same in this day and age? I believe it is. Don’t worry, trust God. Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

*Bob Goff is an American attorney, international speaker, and New York Times bestselling author known for his Christian-themed inspirational books.

            

Quote Contemplations

 

“Most people need love and acceptance a lot more than they need advice.”- Bob Goff

 

            Good quote. Talk is cheap and advice is often not sought after. Some folks feel they have done a good thing when they advise someone regarding their situation. However, all the recipient truly needs and more than likely wants is to be loved and accepted for who they are. Everyone has an opinion on what someone else needs to do to with their life. It’s like getting financial advice from a non-involved participant. Don’t you know that someone other than yourself is so much better at spending YOUR money then you are (sarcasm). 

            There is a true statement that addresses this and it’s “opinions are like noses, everyone has one” *. Love, support, and acceptance is what is needed in many, if not most cases. Just being there shows love and support. You may not always agree with them, but standing by them at an appropriate moment is a greater help to that person than perhaps you may realize.

            This approach is the opposite to judging someone and their situation. As Christians we are nobody’s judge. Almighty God alone is the judge of each individual in His creation. Love and support, not being their judge and jury. If you have difficulty accepting what they’re doing, then at least BE THERE for them. Pray for them. If appropriate, pray WITH them. Prayer is a powerful tool to bring about a peaceful spirit, not to mention a powerful weapon against the enemy.

            At times it’s difficult to not look at those around you with a suspicious, cynical eye. We must learn to give folks the benefit of a doubt. Trust, show love, show concern, support, and if possible, acceptance. Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

*Note: That’s the polite, cleaned up version.

Quote Contemplations

“There are three classes of people: those who see, those who see when they are shown, and those who do not see.” – Leonardo da Vinci

         This quote shines a light on those that exist in this world. I equate this to believing in God. Some folks are drawn to Him, and some are shown thru word or deed that He exists, and some simply do not see Him at all. Those who are drawn to Him embrace Him, those who are shown either follow thru to salvation or dismiss it as faulty and unreliable, and those who don’t see Him probably had no interest in finding Him in the first place. 

            The ones who have embraced God as their Heavenly Father are grateful for having found Him and wish to cultivate that relationship to its fullest, the ones who have followed thru may reach the place of those who have embraced Him, or possibly ride the fence between good and evil ending up being agnostic. The ones who dismiss Him as false find out once it is too late to embrace that truth. 

            We understand as believers and followers of Christ that there is time until God declares the end has come for a person to repent. Which person are you? The one who sees and acts, the one who is shown and either acts or remains undecided, or the one who decides to walk the wire of denial, hoping for the best, yet never knowing what lies in their eternal future. The decision is always ours. If you are already saved you can be a seed planter or a seed waterer for those who need to be shown. You can also do the same for those in denial. Their rejection is of God, not you. Allow yourself to be used to enlighten the untold unsaved masses who desperately need what they cannot yet see. Allow yourself to be used of God to plant invitations to the great eternal celebration for the redeemed who have had every foul deed expunged. What a great and glorious day that will be!! Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Quote Contemplations

 

“To trust God in the light is nothing, but to trust him in the dark. That is faith.” – Charles Spurgeon

 

            We are bound by our ability to see. It’s like a ball and chain around our neck. Because we can see we are shaken when the unknown visits us. Being in a familiar setting is still a bit of a struggle, but it’s even worse when you’re unfamiliar with your surroundings. Not knowing what is coming next can be a debilitating event. 

            The Christian knows or at least SHOULD know that God dwells within us in the person of the Holy Spirit. 1 John 4:13 (NIV) reveals to us that the Holy Spirit of God dwells IN us. “This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit.”  

            Okay, so who is the Holy Spirit to us? “The Holy Spirit is not a force or impersonal influence, but a personal, divine Person who actively works in the lives of believers to reveal Christ, guide, comfort, sanctify, and empower.” ^[1]

            We have all the tools we need to succeed in this sin torn world. The Holy Spirit came to lead and guide us toward the things of God and away from the things of the enemy of our soul. But having faith enough to endure darkness without panicking is tough, especially if you have a propensity to have anxiety issues. Certain events trigger that. It’s all mental. I’ve lived thru it and it’s not fun. 

            We also exercise our faith when things seem impossible or unattainable. Let’s get something straight. In God’s economy NOTHING is ever impossible or unattainable. If it is in line with His will for your life then things will work out the way the Lord knows it needs to. That calls for trust in God. That is why I say faith and trust are attached at the hip. They go hand in hand. To have faith is to trust and to have trust is to have faith. It’s interchangeable.

But the unknown rears it’s ugly head at inconvenient times and throws a monkey wrench in life. That’s when we have to just talk it out with the Lord. Then listen for that still small voice to whisper peace to your spirit. It will happen if you believe it can. Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

^[1] www.biblebasedliving.com

Thoughts from a Random Mind 

 

There are folks who look at God and call Him a dictator; a tyrant of the worse degree. They see it as, “If I don’t serve God He will send me to hell”. But it’s not quite like that. 

The very fact that the Lord lets us have our way (if we insist) should be proof enough that He isn’t a dictator. If He were He would be compelled to eradicate all resistance by execution or incarceration. Instead He offers mankind an option. Heaven or hell, you choose.

If you don’t know anything about God; who He is, His attributes, the big cosmic picture then how can you legitimately call Him anything at all? You don’t honestly know what you’re talking about. I don’t mean that in an ugly way. Just saying....

The way I see it some simply can’t be bothered with the entire religious discussion at all, so they blow the whole thing off by making an unfounded accusation and walk away. It’s like being offered a gift, free of charge with no strings attached and you decide you’d rather not accept it thinking there must be a catch, so you turn and walk away. Salvation from yourself and a lifetime of your own moral and ethical iniquities... forgiven forever. Never to be held against you ever again. THAT’S what’s being offered to you. You’re simply asked to allow yourself to be guided by God’s Holy Spirit in the way He has recommended that you begin to live your life. Life according to God’s precepts. He knows all things that can be known and knows you better than you know yourself. He created you. 

Wait, but you think you can make your own decisions without any help from an entity that you CANNOT see. Fair enough, but what’s your track record been? If this whole thing about sins and forgiveness is legit then without God how do you intend to eradicate those sins? YOU can’t do ANYTHING to save yourself. But God leaves the final choice up to you. Why would He do that? Because He wants willing followers, not ones who feel forced to follow and serve. Don’t over think this whole redemption thing. You’re simply going to have to exercise a little faith and trust. Without that you will remain lost. Without Christ man has NO HOPE. Do as you wish, but know that every decision you will ever make will come with consequences. Take the time to investigate the whole topic of God. Read the Bible and when you do ask God to reveal the truth to you. He will if you’re paying attention. 

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 

 

                  Did you know that if you believe in the existence of God and His Son Jesus yet don’t follow them in this life you are really no better than Satan. Whoa, sounds harsh? Let’s look at it a little closer. 

            The Bible states that demons (including Satan) believe in God in James 2:19, which reads: "You believe that God is one; you do well.  Even the demons believe—and shudder!"

Satan interacted with Jesus when he led Him into the wilderness to temp Him. Satan certainly knew of Jesus’ existence otherwise why would he has attempted to break Him down thru temptation? 

            Now we know that Satan is the sworn enemy of Almighty God having at one time been highly thought of in heaven. However, Satan, then known as Lucifer, rebelled against God and was cast out of heaven along with 1/3 of the angels, who then became the demons; the minions that do Satan’s bidding. They all fear Christ / God the Father because of their awesome power and authority. 

            Now being compared to Satan just because you don’t buy into the whole concept of serving and following God technically isn’t harsh at all. Without a divine connection with our creator we would end up being subject to the wiles of the enemy of our soul. Blowing Christ off with all He has done to reconcile you to Himself is both short-sighted and foolish. Life isn’t all about you. 

            Believing in God is not nearly enough. Submission is essential. Complete surrender to the will of the Most High & Holy One. He has only good things in store for all those who turn to Him and stay close. In exchange we can receive complete and total forgiveness for everything that we have ever thought, said, or done to displease the Lord. That’s a good deal. 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 

 

Think back on your walk with the Lord. Are there times when you prayed for something; perhaps strength getting thru a trial, or a healing touch... you prayed then pretty much forgot all about it. How did things turn out? Did God provide the remedy for your dilemma, and it took place so seamlessly that you didn’t even notice. Not until you were asked to think back on incidents from your past. If we occasionally took the time to do that we’d end up being pretty amazed at how the Lord had been working in our lives. No trumpets sounding, no big show to point at what God was doing. 

            As followers of Christ we are to imitate God’s ways. When WE do something in the name of Jesus we should follow His advice from Matthew’s gospel chapter 6, verse 3: “But when you give to someone in need, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.” No fanfare, no acknowledgement needed, no praise necessary. God exhibits a humble spirit when He does what He does because He knows who He is. Who are we?

            It is far more important to be a faithful ambassador for God than to spend your time attempting to establish a legacy for yourself. I’ve learned thru the years that I’ve walked with the Lord to look at my life in the following way... I honestly don’t care if anyone remembers me when I’m gone, just as long as they found Jesus thru something I said or wrote. I understand my place in God’s kingdom. I am a child of the King, period and while that is no small thing, it’s seriously more important to me that I know who I am, God knows who I am, and that I spend the rest of my life striving to be more like Christ each day. THAT is what is important to me. How about you?

            Let me conclude by impressing on you that I’m not praising myself or being arrogant in any way regarding my relationship with the Lord. I think it’s important for each one of us to know who we truly are in Jesus name. Having said all that I understand that in reality I am really nothing more than a single grain of sand on the world’s beaches and I’m okay with that. We must follow John the Baptist’s thought process when he said in John 3:30, “Christ must increase & I must decrease.” John was the forerunner to Jesus. He understood his role; his place in God’s economy. So must we. Christ must increase in importance, and we must become of lesser importance. It MUST be this way. Ponder that truth and implement it in your walk with Christ. 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 

 

The other day I realized something that never dawned on me before. When Jesus was asked a direct question He didn’t always answer the question, but rather diverted the subject to something that would reveal the truth of God to that person.

            John 4:9-10 NLT reveals one example. “The woman was surprised, for Jews refuse to have anything to do with Samaritans. She said to Jesus, ‘You are a Jew, and I am a Samaritan woman. Why are you asking me for a drink?’ Jesus replied, ‘If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water.’” Here we see that though Jews hated the Samaritans, Jesus was not concerned with where the woman came from, but rather that she was a person in need of divine forgiveness. That should speak to us today. We all need redemption, regardless of where we came from or what we grew up believing. Because of Jesus’ indifference to the peoples she came from both she and many other Samaritans were saved that day. 

            John 4:49-50 NLT shows us a different scenario. A royal official’s son was near death. Hearing Jesus was in his area he sought the Lord out and said, “Sir, come down before my child dies.” He had wanted Jesus to come to where his son lie and heal him. But Jesus replied, “You may go. Your son will live.” On his way home, the official’s servants met him with the news that the fever left his son and was alive. The official realized that the exact time his child’s fever broke was the same time Jesus said the words “he will live”.

            Now we can’t know whether Jesus said anything else at that time, but the point of the event is that Jesus “cut right to the chase” as the saying goes and dealt with the issue at hand as only He can. It was obvious at that moment in time that the Lord didn’t have to BE where the healing was to take place. Because He WAS God He merely spoke the word and the child was healed. That day the healing caused the official and his entire household to believe. 

            It is apparent from the scriptures that Jesus didn’t come to earth to hold multiple press conferences to answer questions regarding who He was or why He was there. He repeatedly stuck to His main mission which was to bring salvation to His sinful creation. God was their only hope and He knew that. The same is true today. Serving the Lord isn’t some sort of game. It’s serious business and one’s eternal destination hangs in the balance. 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 

            There is no doubt God forgives, but can we forgive ourselves? I think there are times in a Christians life when we find it difficult to accept God’s forgiveness because we simply cannot forgive our own sins. They weigh heavy on us and bind us up. God’s love is completely unconditional … that simply means he places no conditions on his love or forgiveness. If you ask the Lord for forgiveness with a sincere heart, regretting what you have done, regardless of what it is, you shall be forgiven. There is nothing this side of heaven to compare this type of love to. I believe that is why we have difficulty forgiving ourselves. Not to mention the fact that the enemy will continue to throw it back up in our face as long as we don’t reconcile ourself to the fact that we are the only ones keeping peace from ruling over the entire situation. Let the things that encumber you GO! Release it from your grasp in Jesus name. You don’t have to live with regret. Although regret reveals a level of sincerity from the deepest recesses of your heart and mind, you no longer have to carry that with you. Turn it over to God so he can get rid of it. Allow the Holy Spirit to do a cleansing work in you. If you’ve sought it, forgiveness is yours. Live in the freedom that God’s loving forgiveness provides. Amen. 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 

Temptation is a vile thing. Satan uses it to tear down good people, even righteous people. Walking away from temptation when it is staring you in the face can be a little tough at times, but understanding it is nothing more than bait set to trap you helps you to walk away. The enemy wishes to ensnare you via your thoughts, words and actions, blackmailing you with your own guilt. A person who has a conscience can be pounded senseless with the guilt that comes from a poor decision made. Your strength comes from God. Your strength comes from the Holy Spirit within you. The Spirit which causes you to rise up with full armor and fight off the temptation so that you do not become a pawn of the enemy.

The Lord has given us great power to withstand the attacks of the enemy. Why do we succumb to temptations that lay down in front of us, as if to block our way? There is nothing that says we must give in. Fight back! Rebuke the thing in Jesus’ name. Quote scripture like 1 John 4:4, which says, “You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.” Tap into the power that has been afforded you and claim your victory! Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

I Have a Question

Why is giving thanks to God important?

 

            Because He is worthy of our thanks out of a grateful heart and because we are commanded to. Psalm 106:1, 107:1, 118:1 and 1 Chronicles 16:34 all say the same identical thing. “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good*! His faithful love endures forever.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18 stretches that thought a bit by saying “Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.”         

            Does that mean we are to be thankful for trials? Yes, and here’s why. Because trials are learning experiences. Thru them we mature spiritually. What good would it do us if we never suffered any adversity?

            To be grateful enables us to look beyond ourselves to someone or something greater than ourselves. In this instance it would be Almighty God. He does for us what we are unable to do for ourselves. He also, by virtue of His Holy Spirit, enables us to do that which we couldn’t do without assistance.

            God causes or allows all that takes place in His world, and it is done for a specific reason each time. What we are supposed to do is seek the lesson by asking the Lord what the purpose of the trial is so we might learn. Maybe we find out, maybe not, but complaining serves no good purpose. We are God’s representatives on this earth, and it would behoove us to strive to become one of His best representatives. Giving thanks to the Lord is a great place to start. Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

* general religious, ethical, and philosophical term for something that is preferred, beneficial, or virtuous (especially when compared to an alternative that is less of one of those qualities). In most contexts, the concept of good denotes the conduct that should be preferred when posed with a choice between possible actions. Good is generally considered to be the opposite of evil. (Wikipedia)

I Have a Question

Is God’s Will Conditional or Unconditional?

            You may find it interesting to find that the bible actually presents both conditional & unconditional realities. We have God’s sovereign or supreme authority which represents His unconditional will, and His moral commands and covenantal blessings, which represent His conditional will.  

            God’s conditional will is represented by His “if-then” clauses which I wrote about a short while ago. In that regard WE must DO something to bring about the blessing; such as, “If” you receive Christ as your Lord and Savior, “then” you will be redeemed and rewarded eternal like. That would be God’s CONDITIONAL will. 

            His UNCONDITIONAL will would align with things like creation itself. We did nothing with regards to creation; therefore, it would represent the unconditional nature of God’s will.

Things like God promising to never again flood the earth as a means of punishment for sin. That is His sovereign right and doesn’t involve His creation. The Abrahamic covenant, which promises a great nation and global blessings, is another example of God’s unconditional will.  These two events alone are considered unconditional in that God alone had bound Himself to their fulfillment, completely independent of any human interaction whatsoever.

            So you see not everything in God’s perfect will is part of His sovereignty and not all else is subject to conditions. Reading and knowing scripture can assist you in determining which is which. Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resource: https://thetruthaboutchristianity.net/blogs/news/the-conditional-and-unconditional-promises-of-jesus

I Have a Question

Is God in Hell?

God is omnipresent, meaning He is EVERYWHERE at one time. That begs the paradoxical question, “Does that mean He is in hell as well?”

A word used in scripture for “hell” is the Hebrew word, sheol (the place of the dead; the grave), which is used as a general term, that is similar, but in this case not the same as “hell” which is literally “separation from God and His favor”. Another word used for “hell” in scripture is the Greek word enopion found in the Septuagint (The Greek translation of the New Testament).  It means “in the presence of” and is relating to distance.

“In heaven, believers will “see his face” (Revelation 22:4). At that moment, they will behold all of God’s beauty, grace, and perfection. In hell, sinners will know nothing of beauty, grace, or perfection, as God, as it were, turns His face away.

Ultimately, it appears that God is indeed “present” in hell, or hell is in His presence, depending on how one looks at it. God is and will forever be omnipresent. He will forever know what is happening in hell. However, this does not mean that the souls imprisoned there will have a relationship with God or engage in communication with Him. He will be spatially present but relationally distant.” ^[1]

            I hope this clears up the question of where God is in space and time, understanding that both are inconsequential to Him. That is why the term “HE IS” is relevant in relation to His omnipresence. He simply IS. Don’t lose sleep over that, simply in faith accept that God “IS” and because of Christ’s blood shed for our sins we shall be with Him forever. The whole idea regarding a Spirit entity existing, loving His creation, paying their sin debt willingly and purposefully, is without a doubt mind-boggling. That is why one needs belief in the unseen as if it can be seen, as in faith, to accept and believe to the point of allowing it to alter the trajectory of their life.  Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

^[1]  www.gotquestions.org

I Have a Question

How Do We Hear From the Lord?

            One clue as to how we hear from God is found in Jeremiah 29:13 which declares: “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” Man’s wisdom and guidance are flawed at its best and catastrophic at its worst. Why is that? Because man has prejudices, personal opinions, and skewed thinking that affects his judgment. God has no such imperfections. He is perfect in every way. So why are we so reluctant to seek His direction. 

            We say we want to be more like Jesus, but how is that any different than following the statutes of God? If you want His wisdom and guidance you must agree to do it GOD’S WAY. You cannot be your own boss. You must acquiesce to His leadership in your life. We must know His Word, so we know the promises the Lord has laid out for His children. 

            I posted a piece a short time ago on the “if-then” clauses of God. We must familiarize ourselves with our part of that equation so that the promises will come to pass. We need to ask for what we would like. Not material things, but spiritual things. Things like wisdom, guidance, direction all fall under the spiritual things we should be seeking. James 4:2-3 says, “You do not have because you do not ask. And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure.”

            We must stay in fellowship with the Holy Spirit within us. As true believers we receive the Holy Spirit of God once we submit to the redemption of God. He lives within us to protect, direct, instruct and so on. Work at becoming in tune with Him so that you may recognize the still small voice of God when it comes to you.

            Finally, you must actually ASK FOR divine wisdom and guidance and when received obey what you’ve been told. It’s cannot be “Once I receive God’s guidance I will decide if I will follow it thru”. No. If you want His wisdom, guidance and direction you must determine that whatever it is you will do, otherwise, why bother asking. These are brief guidelines to tapping into the mind of God. Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

I Have a Question

Does your view of the afterlife influence the way you live today?

 

There are two eternal destinations, heaven or hell, determined by our response to Jesus Christ. Due to sin, our default state is separation from God and an eternity in hell. Faith in Jesus Christ provides salvation, changing our destiny from hell to heaven.

Knowing this as a follower of Christ, how do you look at eternity? Once you’ve achieved this eternal goal does that mean you can coast into the afterlife with no worries? Should you ever just coast, or should you hone your relationship with your Lord?

It’s not just a matter of what has been done for you, it’s about what value you now place on your life. Do you appreciate your life more now that you know you have been forgiven?  Do you feel compelled to serve Christ knowing that His actions have saved you from a disastrous outcome? Shouldn’t you? 

Do you go about seeking to plant seeds of faith wherever and whenever the opportunity arises? Do you ask God to present those opportunities to you? Why not? You shouldn’t say you can’t be bothered because as the great English poet and cleric John Donne (1572–1631) stated in his Meditation XVII, “No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main...”. ^[1] We’re all connected if for no other reason than we are all creations of Almighty God. Do you have love for your fellow man... even the unlovely ones? We are called to love others as Christ loves us and died in our place. What good is it to only love those who love you back?

            Our salvation should revolutionize our lives. We should rise up each new day knowing that God has allowed you to continue to exist. That may sound odd but is it not true. Is not the Lord God the One who declares who lives and who dies and how many years they shall exist on this earth? There is a purpose for all things under the heavens and God controls it all.

            So I ask again, does your view of the afterlife influence the way you live today? It ought to for without the guidance, love, mercy, and grace of our Creator God, we would have no purpose to exist. Our purpose has been laid out for us in scripture. This is our calling, found in Micah 6:8 (NLT), “No, O people, the LORD has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.”

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

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

^[1] “No man is an island...” originates from Meditation XVII of his prose work Devotions upon Emergent Occasions, published in 1624.

What Does It Mean?  

Living Outside of Time

 

God living outside of time means that He is not bound by the linear progression of past, present, and future as humans experience it.  Time, including its measurement and flow, was created by God as part of the universe ^{(Genesis 1:3–5)}, so He existed before time began and therefore is not subject to its constraints. 

This concept is supported by Scripture: Psalm 90:4 states, “For a thousand years in Your sight are like a day that has just gone by, or like a watch in the night,” illustrating that time is insignificant to God. Isaiah 57:15 describes God as the one who “inhabits eternity,” emphasizing His timeless nature. John 8:58 records Jesus saying, “Before Abraham was, I am,” affirming His eternal existence beyond time.

Because God is outside of time, He sees all of history—past, present, and future—as a single, unified whole. He does not experience events sequentially; instead, He knows and interacts with every moment simultaneously. This explains how God can: Know the future not as a prediction, but as a present reality. Act in history ^{(e.g., creating the universe, redeeming humanity)} without undergoing change or being limited by a timeline. Have foreknowledge and predestination as literal, not metaphorical, truths ^{(Romans 8:29; Ephesians 1:4)}. 

While God is timeless, He is not distant or inactive. He interacts with humanity in time, speaking, responding to prayers, and entering history through the incarnation of Jesus Christ. This dual reality—eternal and personal, timeless and involved—is central to Christian theology.  As one analogy puts it, time is like a river for us, but for God, it is a lake: He sees the entirety of it all at once. Until next time, walk with the King & be kind to others always.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resource: www.gotquestions.org

Other influential religious groups at the time of Jesus’ ministry...

In addition to the four major Jewish sects (Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes, and Zealots), other religious and political groups during Jesus' time included the Herodians, who were political loyalists to the Herodian dynasty and Roman oversight, and the Samaritans, a distinct ethnic and religious group with their own temple on Mount Gerizim and deep-seated hostility toward Jews. 

The Galileans were another radical political faction led by Judas of Galilee, advocating for resistance against foreign rule and representing an extreme nationalist stance. Additionally, the Levites served as temple officials and assistants to the priests, while Publicans (tax collectors) were a socially ostracized group working for the Roman Empire.

Outside of Judea and Galilee, the broader religious landscape featured Roman and Greek Paganism (Hellenism), Zoroastrianism in Persia, and various Mystery Religions throughout the Roman Empire.  This concludes our look at the religious groups during Jesus time on earth. Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resource: https://www.thattheworldmayknow.com/religious-movements-of-jesus-time