"Can you love yourslf too much?"

Philippians 2:4-5 "Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:"

According to dictionary.com the word "Selfish" means: "Devoted to or caring only for oneself; concerned primarily with one's own interest, benefits, welfare, etc., regardless of others."
I am convinced that selfishness may very well be our own detriment. For years now, I have been observing how selfish people have become. I'm sure there has always been selfish people, but I not sure selfishness has ever been so prevalent in the Christian Church. This really concerns me, because I have observed this horrific character flaw in many places that ultimately it has ended up destroying not just the individual but also those around them. I've seen the spirit of selfishness ruin and destroy marriages, parents, children, siblings, and even pulpits. As Bible believers, we must get serious about getting rid of this horrible character flaw from our lives and ministry. May we do as the Apostle Paul instructed in our text and stop looking at ourselves and begin looking at others! Stop being selfish, do something for someone else before your are left with no one else to care for except yourself. This was not the mind of Christ, He was anything but selfish. When you read the verses following vs. 5 you will see what He gave up unselfishly for and for me. Stop being a selfish brat!

"Feeling Good?"

Psalm 73:1 "Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart."

I have just realized something recently and I don't have a clue why it took me over 32 years to learn it either. I realized that when I do right instead of wrong, I feel better. The psalmist said, "God is good, even to such as are of a clean heart." What a concept! God is good, to those that are good. I don't know about you - but I'm gonna do my best to keep my heart clean today because I want to feel good!

"Someone is watching"

I Corinthians 11:1 "Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ."

No, I am not trying to get people to follow me. These are the words of the apostle Paul. However, as I read this verse this morning, I am reminded that no matter where I may be in my Christian life - someone is always watching.

It is of utmost importance that we have a pretty good understanding about this. Basically what Paul is saying is this: "As long I am following Christ, it is okay to follow me, but if I stop following Christ, stop following me." The hardest part most people have with this is the fact that when we begin following a man, it is sometimes hard to determine when they are following Christ and when they are not. Let me give you a few things that may help you figure this out a little bit:

1. Someone who follows Christ, always points people to Christ. (See I Corinthians 11:3)


2. Someone who follows Christ, is aware that he/she is a sinful creature (See Romans 7:18-20)


3. Someone who follows Christ, understands that even though they may follow Christ right now, it is possible that they may stop and if they do - stop following (See Galatians 1:8)

The most important thing to remember is that following Christ must be the most important thing. As we live our lives for Christ - someone will always be watching to see who we follow. Are you following your own desires and ambitions, or are you following Christ?

"Life long learning"

II Timothy 2:15 "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."

I wasn't sure I was going to like getting older. But I kind of do like it. While I don't care to much for the aches and pains that come with getting older, I do like the fact my knowledge of things is always increasing. Getting older isn't really as bad as everyone makes it out to be.

As a young boy and a teenager, I didn't care too much for school. Homework annoyed me, tests and quizzes frustrated me, and reading books bored me. I was not good student at all. I know I frustrated every teacher that ever had me...I know that because most of them told my parents as much! However, now that I am getting older I find myself wanting to learn more. I enjoying reading now more than ever. And I find myself want to increase my knowledge about several things. Maybe it's because I am getting older. I can't play baseball, basketball, or football like I could when I was younger and now my interests are changing.

With all that being said, we have a mandate from the word of God to be always learning. In II Timothy 2:15 the Bible instructs us to study. We must all give ourselves to life long learning. Just because we may not be enrolled in a school any longer doesn't mean we have to stop learning things. Now go grab you Bible, sit down and learn something.

The Spiritual Diet

I Peter 2:2-3 "As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: if so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious."

Several months ago I began a diet. Let me begin by saying I hate dieting, as a matter of fact I hate everything about dieting. Well even so, I began one. Within the first 8 weeks I had lost a little over 20 pounds. (Now, don't think that I'm bragging here, because there is a whole lot more to lose!) The problem with the diet, was that I started it just a few weeks before Thanksgiving. That was not the most opportune time to began trying to lose weight, especially given the love affair that I seem to have with pecan pie. I did quite well through Thanksgiving, only indulging in a couple of slices of pie. Then Christmas came and the diet has been set aside for the last few months. Although I was able to maintain my weight within a few pounds here and there, I still had not reached my final goal. So now it is time to diet again. The funny thing about dieting is this, it cannot be a fad thing. It must be a lifestyle thing. Now while I may not allow myself the opportunity to indulge in a piece of pie, or a gallon of ice cream, I could if I wanted. Now if I choose to do so, I would be defeating the purpose of the diet, or should I say my new lifestyle. All in all in the end, when all of the weight is off, I will feel much better about my self and the accomplishment.

The Christian life is not any different than the physical life. It's not really a diet but yet so many Christians treat it as one. If something horrible happens in their life they will make a run for the church for a few weeks determining to "lose a few pounds". And after they feel better, the "diet" is off and it's back to the same old game. The same problem happens in the spiritual body, as it does with the physical body. The weight only stays gone for so long, and when the old habits come back, so does the weight.

What we need today is for Christians to make spiritual lifestyle change rather than following some newly finagled dieting fad. Get in the word, taste it, and let it change you for the better. Let Christ make the difference in your life.

When you let Christ make the difference you will feel that spiritual weight lifted, you will feel so much better about your Christian life.

Happy New Year? Hows that working out for you?

Today is January 28th, 2010, and 28 days ago most of us were wishing each other a happy new year! How's that going for you? Has the first four weeks of this year been happy for you? Some one once said, "Success is getting what you want; happiness is wanting what you get" So, I will ask you again, are you happy? Are you happy with what you are getting out of life? Happy with your marriage? Your children? Your financial status? Your spiritual growth? Your choices? Are you happy with you???

Proverbs 16:20 tells us that, "whoso trusteth in the Lord, happy is he". If you are trusting in anything else to bring you happiness, lasting happiness that is, You won't find it. If you are relying on your spouse, your children, or your situation to make you happy you will be let down time and time again.

Learn to rejoice in your life no matter what the circumstances may bring. Trust in Him and Him alone, and you will have a truly happy new year!