Can I Truly Know I Am Saved?

Can I Truly Know I Am Saved?
copyright Millie Plastaras
9/28/2007

Good Morning Everyone,

Often in my devotions I try to remind people what it
means to be born again.

Why? It is the most important decision of your life.

We all must be born
again, according to what Jesus said to Nicodemus in
John 3:3: Jesus answered and said to Him,
"Most assuredly I say to you, unless one is born
again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."

Born again, occurs when one recognizes they
are a sinner and wants to do something about it.
They know that Jesus died for those sins ,and if
we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive
our sins, and cleanse us from all unrighteousness 1 John 1:9.

Recently I have heard many arguing over salvation
and many who say even though they believe they are
saved, they will not know for sure until after they die.

What is their faith based on then? Their thinking?
Their opinion if they are good enough? Their opinion
if they have done enough good things?

I am appalled by this declaration. Either Jesus finished the work
on the cross or He did not. We, ourselves cannot do the work
of the cross, we cannot save ourselves! Why did Jesus
need to come and die if we could save ourselves?

I want you to look at a
few verses, so that you can see to truly understand that
we can know we are saved today.. we don't have to wait
till we die to feel that assurance and rest in God's ability
to save us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

First when we repent, we are truly sorry enough to quit
our sins, that is what repentance means.


"For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation, but the sorrow of the world produces death."
2 Corinthians 7:10

Godly sorrow and conviction make us feel sorry for our sins
and want to repent of them. This repentance and Godly sorrow in
our heart bring about confession from our mouth of those sins
to God through Jesus Christ, whose blood on the cross cleanses
us from sin.

What happens when we repent?

So repent -- change your mind and purpose; turn
around and return to God that your sins may be ERASED,
(blotted out, wiped clean), that times of refreshing
may come from the presence of the Lord.
Acts 3:19

When you repent, you mean business, and you do all you
can to turn away from former habits. You seek to be a new
person in Christ, by reading his word, attending a Bible teaching
church, and learning new habits, and new thinking in Christ.
You become a disciple of Christ!

Does being a Christian give us a license to sin, because
we are already forgiven? I have to emphatically say no.
When we become a Christian, we are no longer our own,
we are bought with a price - the precious blood of Jesus.
This means we change, we don't want to sin, we want to
please God.

So once we confess those sins, are we perfect? No person
is perfect, we are forgiven! For those of you who think
you can work your way to heaven, no person in the world
has ever been good enough to do that, that is why Jesus came!

He saved us, not because of any works of righteousness
which we have done, but because of his own pity and
mercy, by the cleansing bath of the new birth
(regeneration) and renewing of the Holy Spirit, and He did
this in order that we might be justified by HIS GRACE by HIS
FAVOR, wholly undeserved, that is that we might be
acknowledged and counted as CONFORMED to the divine
in will and in purpose, in thought and in action; and that
we might become heirs of eternal life by our hope (in Christ)
Titus 3:5-6

So, even though we are unworthy, can God really forgive us?

Therefore there is now NO condemnation, no adjudging guilty
of wrong, for those who are in Christ Jesus, who live not after
the dictates of the flesh, but after the dictates of the spirit.
Romans 8:1

Ok, so now we have repented,
we know it is Jesus finished work on the cross,
His blood that cleanses us,
not our own work that cleanses us.

We are sufficient in God, because of Christ,
how do we know we are really saved?

It is very clear cut. Here is a verse that makes clear
who is God's and who is not.

He who possesses the son of God has life, he who does not
possess the son of God does not have that life.
1 John 5:12

So how does one possess the son of God? Through belief
in his salvation and atonement on the cross! Through
confession of our sins, and receiving that great salvation
of Jesus Christ. WE ask him to forgive us, cleanse
us, be our Lord and Savior, and then we walk with Him
daily seeking to please Him in all we say and do.

How then can we truly know we are saved?

These things I have written to you who believe in the
name of the son of God, that you may KNOW that you have
eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of
the son of God.
1 John 5:13

WE can have confidence in God's ability through Jesus Christ
atonement on the cross for our sins. God did this, through Jesus
our job is to receive it. If we receive it, we must believe it,
cling to it, walk by it, talk by it, live by it, find strength in it,
grow in it, and shine in it. We are new creatures in Christ,
no longer our own, the old passed away, behold all has become new.

Cleansed
Redeemed
Forgiven
New
Beloved
A child of the King of Kings.

He alone is Trustworthy
His ways higher than our ways
His thinking Higher than our thinking
His forgiveness and grace beyond our understanding.

WE can trust in, rely on, and cling to God.
He sent his son to do the work on the cross,
now we being new in him work for his kingdom
not to attain that kingdom but to please Him.

Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law
but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have
believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by our faith in
Christ and not by the works of the law, for by the works of
the law NO MAN IS JUSTIFIED.

I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live
but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh
I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself
for me, I do NOT set aside the GRACE OF GOD; for if
righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.
Galatians 2:16, 20,21

My dear and precious friends,

If you confess with your mouth, that Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. (Romans 10:9-10)

Just trust Him. Just confess your sins, trust in His ability to save, and go out and live for Him by what He teaches us to do in His Word and walk the walk and talk the talk because He dwells richly in you by HIS MERCY AND HIS GRACE.

You are His child...live like you believe it, receive it.

Love always

millie

Practice What You Preach

Good Morning Everyone,

As people of faith, when we say that we are, we are
declaring to the world, we not only know God, but
live for Him and trust Him.

My question to you today, is do you practice what
you preach?

I often hear people arguing over the doctrine
of works versus faith. Yet the very people who spend
the most time discussing it, rarely are the ones
out doing the works, they just enjoy arguing.

To what profit?

The profit should be for the kingdom of God. What does
God want from us? He wants those who preach and teach
the gospel to live of it. He wants honest, trustworthy people
who have surrendered their will to Him, and seek each morning
what HE would have them do.

He wants us to tell everyone we meet that He sent his only
begotten son to die for our sins. And that to receive this
gift of salvation we must repent of those sins, walk away
from them (showing true repentance) and seek to be His
disciple daily.

How do we do this? We read his word, we let it seep into our
spirit, take root and grow so that when we talk to people we
can give a sound reason of why we believe what we believe.

So, my precious friend, how does your life line up with this today?
Have you spent time in prayer this week? How long? 5 minutes?
Did you ask Him for help or spend time praising Him and talking
to Him too? Did you open your Bible and seek the precious
wisdom and comfort and strength found within its pages?

My dear friend, don't neglect your spiritual life, 100 years from
now, nothing you have done will be remembered or stand, except
what you did for God. Makes it so clear that our life is a investment.

We must keep this in mind, and truly walk the walk that Christ
talked about, and speak the words that are pleasing to Him,
that profit his kingdom, for his glory, and bring his gospel to
the world around us, not only in words, but by the way we
act and speak.

Love always
millie

PS. When you say you trust God...act like you really believe it.
Otherwise, why would anyone want your faith? Great question isn't it?
It is God who is faithful, not us for sure. Seek that which is above
not that which is earthly.

Only one life will soon be past,
Only what is done for Christ will last.

So I say that we have courage. We really want to be away
from this body and be home with the Lord. Our only goal
is to please God whether we live here or there, because we
must all stand before Christ to be judged. Each of us will receive
what we should get -- good or bad -- for the things we did in this
earthly body.
2 Corinthians 5:8-10


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"Practice What You Preach"

You can know all the scriptures,
Have all the bibles you can reach,
But when push comes to shove
Do you practice what you preach?

Anyone can go to church
And collapse on the floor,
But when Judgment Day comes
Will you be at Heaven's door?

You can have the biggest of fits
And say the Holy ghost passed through,
But is that really reflected
In the things you do?

You can yell far and wide
Proclaiming your love for Christ,
But what have you given him
When for you He gave his life?

You can lecture others
About the wrong things they do,
But before you look at others
You need to look at you.

You can damn all the sinners
Tell them they're headed south,
But what have you done lately
Besides run your mouth?

You can call yourself a Christian
Spend all your days at church,
But while you are praising His name,
Have you been doing the Lord's work?

You can boast of good deeds
To show us the spirit is within
But why show it to us?
You should show it to Him!

You can memorize the bible
Know it from front to back,
But you don't use it to regulate others
Regulate how you act!

Take a good look at yourself
Not at what others do,
Because when He comes to get his children ...
Will He be coming for you too?
--Author Unknown

On Being Grateful

Good Morning Everyone,

Blessed be the Lord, Who daily LOADS US with benefits.
The God of our Salvation.
Psalm 68:19

As I read this verse this morning, I thought about how very
ungrateful most of us are. We don't notice the benefits,
we notice what we think God SHOULD be doing in our own
way of thinking.

God you need to pay my bills off.
God you need to make everyone like me.
God you need to make my job stress free.
God please make all my kids perfect.
God let me have perfect health all my life.
God I do not want any problems.
God please make my life a rose garden.

Where in is the respect and honor for God no matter what our
circumstances are? Where is the counting our blessings and
not our sorrows?

I have to say, almost everyone I know, including myself is guilty
of this. We fight this battle in our mind daily thinking and dwelling
on what we do not have, and what we think we should have
and not even noticing what is within our hands that we do have!

My precious friend do you have a ungrateful heart?
Is it prospering you? Do you feel peace? Do you feel thankful
no matter what your circumstances?

Are your circumstances controlling your thinking?
Or is your faith ruling your thinking?

Profound thoughts aren't they? These are needful things
we need to address daily.

Dear God, please give me a heart of thanks. That I may
look around me daily and thank you for the many benefits
that I do have. For your loving care over me, for loving me
and sending your son to die for me. Thank you that I have
a change of clothes, more than one meal today, and a roof
over my head. Many in the world do not have this.
Thank you that I live in a country where I can go to the church
of my choice and worship you freely. Thank you for your precious
Word to guide me daily. Thank you for forgiving my sins. Thank
you for all the times you have worked through my circumstances
to bring good out of evil. Thank you for the provision and love
you have always given me.

I give you all the praise and honor and glory and humble
myself before you in praise and worship.

Help me to be a light with a thankful heart, so people long
for a relationship with you, and not run the other way because
I am always upset or always in despair.

Help me to be a overcomer, and not feel sorry for myself one
more hour of one more day.

In Jesus name,
Amen

love always
millie

When a persons steps follow the Lord, God is pleased with
his ways. If he stumbles, he will not fall, because the Lord
holds His hand. I was young, and now I am old, but I have never
seen good people left helpless or their children begging for food.
Psalm 37:23-25

Under His Wings

“To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you
before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy—to the
only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through
Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore!
Jude 24

How many of you remember that commercial about the lifeline
device where a elderly lady falls and then pushes on this device
and says I have fallen and I cannot get up. Although these circumstances
are not funny, over the years many have used that phrase in various
ways to find humor in their circumstances.

I was thinking tonight about the times we feel like we have fallen and
cannot get up. When we become so weary that we feel like we cannot
take another step.

The times when our heart cries out within us, oh God help me,
I don't know which way to go. I feel lost, I need comfort, I need direction,
I need help!

Have you ever felt lost in your own world? As if it was unfamiliar and
strange? The times when your circumstances seem so hard and lonely
you almost feel like you are living in a alternate universe? Because it
seems like unfamiliar territory.

I am here today to declare to you, that you are human, and these feelings
happen to all of us. But when we fall, and feel we cannot get up God says:

We have troubles all around us, but we are not defeated.
We do not know what to do, but we do not give up the hope of living. We
are persecuted, but God does not leave us. We are hurt sometimes but we
are not destroyed. 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 NCV

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of
the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, "My refuge and my fortress in my God
in whom I trust." For He will deliver you from the snare of the fowler,
and from the deadly pestilence, He will cover you with his pinions (wings),
and under His wings you will find refuge, his faithfulness as a shield
and buckler. Psalm 91:1-4 ESV

My friends, God said He will hide you under the shadow of His wings,
like a mother bird does to her babies, we are hidden, covered,
and protected. But we have to abide there, and trust Him,
and not be afraid. We have to cling to, rely on, find strength and hope in
Christ.

We cannot allow our circumstances to rule our thinking.

We must allow the promises of God to be our shield and buckler.
Our defense, our hope, our strength, our comfort.

We are never alone. You are not facing your circumstances without
your heavenly Father, He said He would never leave us or forsake us!
Cling to Him, abide under his wings, until it is safe to come out
and face this world again, with renewed vigor and strength from
time alone in the presence of your Father God.

For thou hast been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat, when the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall.


Isaiah 25:4

He is not only able to keep us from falling, but to present us faultless
before the throne of God as we close in with Him, daily, grow
closer, surrender our problems and our will, and abide under His
wings, in His strength, and cling to His promises, speaking his
word and finding comfort in it.

Just trust, and abide under the Shadow of the Almighty,
where you are safe and cared for.

Love always
millie


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God's Wings

A little something to put things in perspective...

An article in National Geographic several years ago provided an interesting picture of God's wings. After a forest fire in Yellowstone National Park, forest rangers began their trek up a mountain to assess the inferno's damage.

One ranger found a bird literally petrified in ashes, perched statuesquely on the ground at the base of a tree. Somewhat sickened by the eerie sight, he knocked over the bird with a stick.

When he gently struck it, three tiny chicks scurried from under their dead mother's wings.

The loving mother, keenly aware of impending disaster, had carried her offspring to the base of the tree and had gathered them under her wings, instinctively knowing that the toxic smoke would rise.

She could have flown to safety but had refused to abandon her babies. Then the blaze had arrived and the heat had scorched her small body, the mother had remained steadfast. Because she had been willing to die, so those under the cover of her wings would live.

"He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge." (Psalm 91:4)

Finding The Way Home

Good Morning Everyone.

Do you know how to find the way home?
If Jesus came back tonite, are you ready to go?
If he came back, and you did not go with Him,
would you know how to find the way home to Him?

This is the most important question of your life.
Who is Lord of your life, and if it is not Jesus, do you
know the way to Him?

Sometimes on life's journey we take the wrong road.
A detour, far away from God, and into a place we really
didn't know would be like it turned out. And sometimes,
because of that detour, it is very hard to find our way back.
Sometimes many temptations and trials are along the way
to discourage us and distract us.

The wonderful news is.. we have a good shepherd, who
is waiting for us to come home. To nurture us, dust us off,
clean us up, and lead us beside still waters. A loving,
kind shepherd, who knows us as is, and yet loves us
anyway. Where else in this life, will you get that reception?

My friend, if you don't know Jesus as your Savior,
if you don't know the way back home, and you have
strayed from His arms, or have never been to Him,
let me lead you to His arms. Jesus longs to be with you
and lead you through the hard and good times of this life.
He promises to never leave you nor forsake you.

All you have to do, is find the way to cross, bow before it,
and confess your sins to Jesus Christ.
One by one, tell him confess each sin you remember you have
done, and ask forgiveness for each thing. Ask Him to
remind you of things you don't remember, so that you might
confess them. Ask Him to come in and cleanse you from
all unrighteousness, and be your Savior. He will, the
minute you confess your sins and ask. Then turn from
your old life, and old sins, and walk a path that shows
you are repentant, and want to walk in God's path now.

Get into a Bible believing, Bible teaching church. Don't neglect
it, it is how you grow in the Lord. Take time to read the
Word daily, and talk to God often, as you would a trusted
friend. This will lead you down a wonderful path.
You will never be alone again.

Love
millie

That if thou shall confess with thy mouth, the Lord Jesus,
and shall believe in your heart that God has raised Him from
the dead, you shall be saved.
Romans 10:9

If we say we have no sin, we are fooling ourselves, and
the truth is not in us. But if we confess our sins, He will
forgive our sins and cleanse us from all the wrongs
we have done.
1 John 1:8-9


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I CAN MAKE IT FROM THERE

The story is told of the little boy that had wondered away from his home, not paying attention to where he had wondered to as he followed his dog until he noticed that his surroundings were no longer familiar to him. His eyes welled up with tears, his little heart filled with fright. Directly, his emotions were no longer controllable. He stood on the corner, sobbing uncontrollably.

Soon, a police officer noticed the young boy crying. He approached the little fellow. "What is the matter, son?"

Through his tears and sobbing, the little boy said, "I'm lost! I had followed my dog away from home and now I'm lost!" and sobbed all the more.

The police officer knelt down beside the little one and gently said, "Son, not to worry. I'll help you get home."

The little boy took a step backward. The police officer gently said, "I'll not hurt you. My job is to see to it that you get safely home. Please let me help."

After a second or two, the little fellow took the officer by the hand.

"Now, where do you live? What is the name of the street?" the officer asked.

The little one looked around and said, "I can't remember the name of my street." His fear began to return.

"O.K." the police officer said. "What is your telephone number? We can call your Mom or Dad and they can come get you."

"We don't have a telephone in our house."

"Well, then, can you give me a landmark of some kind?"

"Yes," the little one said and brightened up. "Not too far from our house is a church with a high steeple with a cross on top of it. Do you know where that steeple might be?"

"Yes, I do, son."

"Well, then, please take me to the foot of that cross and I can make if from there!"

Author Unknown

Who Will Go?

Who Will Go?

copyright Millie Plastaras 9/16/2007


Dear Friends, as I sit here today pondering the passing
of a generation of great preachers,
and evangelists, and people who loved God and listened to what He asked them to do.
They went into the whole world teaching the
"real" gospel, I wonder who will rise to the occasion next?

Who will pick up that Spiritual Olympic Torch for God and
continue the journey for souls?

We have seen the passing recently of D. James Kennedy, one of the
great defenders of the faith. A man of God who not only knew the
Bible intricately, but all the languages of the Bible, who knew
all the arguments, and all the apologetics needed to respond to those
arguments. A man who gave his life for God's work. Leaving behind a
powerful legacy as a man who stood his ground for God,
with integrity and honesty, and a desire to reach everyone
he could with the gospel.

We see the Rev. Billy Graham after many years of a powerful
ministry of preaching the gospel to every nation in the world,
and is now had to slow down because of age and disease.
The once powerful man slowed by age, yet his message and
thirst for God, forever changed this generation and the one
before it. If you watch the videos of him as a young man,
no one can equal that fire burning in his heart and sermons,
and the crystal clear message
he taught around the world. So crystal clear, anyone
could understand it, and thereafter could never say, I never heard
the truth of God's word. Because Billy Graham never
compromised the word to be popular, He spoke the word of God
in clarity and with a hunger to reach lost souls. He was
and is a great fisher of men.

Many great men have passed who had the fire of God
burning within their hearts, a hunger for his word,
a uncompromising walk with God, and were not afraid
to teach of sin, hell, accountability and personal righteousness.
Who believed in the inerrancy of the scriptures and stood
as great Defenders of the Faith and ambassadors for Christ.

How many of you are depending on someone else to do it?
How many of you can say within your hearts,
I am doing all I should be for Jesus?

Does God only use great preachers, teachers and orators to reach people?

Do you hear that still small voice pleading with your heart?
My child will you do as I ask?
Will you follow me and give up everything that is not productive?
Will you seek those who do not know Christ and tell them the good news of the gospel? Are you afraid to tell people about me? Is your light hidden?
My child, if it is hidden, it is hidden to those who are lost and dying without Christ.

Why are churches dying?
Why are people growing cold and far from God?

Because those of us who know him have become lazy. We have
depended on our pastor to do the work, and his staff. We become
comfortable, complacent, with the excuse that we have no talent,
we don't know where to go, and what to do to make a difference.

The Body of Christ is a community ALL working together, each
with a task, a responsibility and a accountability.

Too many churches accept that people won't volunteer
any more. Too many people have become pew sitters
and not revolutionaries for the gospel of Christ.
Pastors are afraid to preach the truth and challenge
people to get busy in the church and in their
community and Just do something!
They are afraid people will leave the church,
and that it will be even smaller.

And the churches are withering, and the world is
becoming darker and more violent because the light
that should illuminate the world is flickering by our
very inactivity, lack of prayer, lack of concern
and unsurrendered heart.

What if no one had ever told you about Christ, because they were
simply to lazy or too afraid, or too shy, or too busy?
Where would you be today?

Oh my friends, who will pick up the work and passion of those
who have gone on before us,
and go forth and tell the whole truth of God's word?

When will people get back to the simple message and life style Jesus taught?

We have strayed far from his calling, and teachings.

A new generation is rising, and many are headed in the wrong direction.
This must be a grave matter of prayer to us all.

When will today's preachers stop compromising the gospel
for the feel good preaching they are doing?
Too many are watering
down the Word of God to reach larger crowds. Too many afraid to
offend. God is not politically correct, He wants us to correct
our life of sin, through the atoning blood of Christ, and He must become
the absolute Lord and Savior of our lives,
and then we must become his ambassadors, his disciples!

It has to start with us. We have to challenge ourselves, and to wake up
to the call of Christ, and a burden for lost souls.
We have to be praying fervently everyday for the lost.
We have to be reading the word of God voraciously,
addicted to it, filling our spirits with it's words.
That we may be built up, strong, grounded, rooted in the truth
of God's word and KNOW when someone is not teaching the truth.

So we may be ready in season and out of season to tell the gospel, and the
reason for why we believe what we believe.

And those that tell, teach and preach the gospel, must live of the gospel,
and not compromise it in their lives. We have to walk the walk of integrity and truth, and talk the talk of honesty and surrender to Christ. No compromise!

Are you ready? Can you rise to that calling? Can you leave all behind
except the sweet voice of Jesus leading you?

What must I do to be saved? Repent of your sins, receive Jesus as your Savior,
leave the old life behind and become a disciple. Pick up that cross of Jesus daily and follow Him.

If you don't go, who will?
If you don't pray who will?

If you don't read the word, how will you know the truth?

Nothing is more serious and vital than this.

Only one life, will soon be Past
Only what is done for Christ will Last.

For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

Perspective on Circumstances

Let my mouth be filled with the praise and with thy honour all
the day. But I will HOPE CONTINUALLY, and will
yet praise thee more and more.
Psalm 71: 8, 14


Good Morning Everyone,

What a wonderful lesson this is for us today.

Ever feel kind of jealous that someone else has more
than you, or looks better, or has better clothes?
Ever think someone has a better life than you?

That is because you are not living their life.
You truly have no clue what they must face daily,
or what kind of coping skills they have due to
their background, their way of thinking. Truly
we cannot understand someone else's life
until we have walked a mile in their shoes.

Sometime we go around whining about our
life,and feeling sorry for ourselves or our set of problems,
and we forget the blessings we have.

Each person has a gift, each person has daily
blessings, and were we to change places with
anyone else, I think we would find it very uncomfortable.
For we don't belong there, and we don't know how
to cope with what they are, where they have been, or what
they might be personally facing.

We might find their shoes don't fit very well,
and are painful to wear.

We need to learn to practice thankfulness daily.
In the Word it is called the sacrifice of praise.
We praise God no matter what our circumstances are.
And we learn to have a heart of thankfulness
rather than a heart of complaining.

Have you ever been around someone that was
negative and complained a lot? It is hard to be
around very long isn't it? Because it drains us,
and after while, becomes heavy to be around.
Do you think you ever get like that?

It is a good day to take stock of ourselves and
see if we need a attitude adjustment.
All of us do in some way. Ask the Lord to show you
what you need to change.

And be thankful for what you do have, stop
crying about what you don't, it won't change
anything, it will merely make you miserable.
Make this a good day by the thoughts you have,
and the activities you do, and what you allow
in your spirit.

Love
millie

By Him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise To
God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks
to His name
Hebrews 13:15

Ps. Remember that not only negative people can drain us,
but whatever we allow in our spirit, such as television programs,
books we read, activities we do. We need to take time daily
for positive input, and activities. It absolutely makes a difference
in the way your day goes. Look for that which is good, and
healthy and rebuke that which is evil, and full of despair
and hopelessness.



Remember nothing will happen today to you, that you
and God cannot together handle and overcome.


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I Thank God for My Shoes - They Fit

I woke up one day and I realized that there were many things about my life I was not satisfied with or better still, there were challenges that were threatening my soul. And I said to myself, "Why should anyone envy me and
want to be in my shoes." They don't know how far I've come, they don't know what lies ahead of me, and neither do they know how dissatisfied I get with myself from time to time.


People don't know the troubles that you've had or the price you had to get to where you are. All they want to know is that they wish they were like you.

Why should you wish you were in anybody's shoes when you hardly know how they fit?

When you've worn your shoes for a while, they take the shape of your feet and align to the way you walk.

If you were to wear my shoes, you will not be comfortable in them.

So I stopped wishing that I am in someone else shoes because it might not fit; rather I thank God for my shoes, because they fit!

Lord I thank you for my shoes, for they fit ME!!

Author: Unknown
sent in by Gale

The Neglected Garden

copyright Millie Plastaras 7/10/04

all rights reserved.



Today, I saw God in the garden. He was walking there
and enjoying all that He had created. The birds were
singing, and the plants were in riotous colors of bloom,
it looked so inviting. He was waiting for me to visit Him. I saw Him
looking at me, and I said God, I will be right there,
I just have to finish the chores around the house.

But... I forgot Him after a while.

I remembered a show I wanted to watch on TV.
Then a dear friend called and we talked for what
seemed like hours. I even had time to take a trip to the
department store to buy a trinket I wanted, and
to stop for a treat at the local bakery.

Then I had to make dinner, I didn't have time to stop.
Oh yes, the rest of the day was spent on cleaning up,
and then watching my favorite television show. I had
just enough time left to get on the computer for a while.
I could argue with people in chat rooms about God
for a while before going to bed. Or maybe just play
a few computer games.

I looked outside, the garden was dark, and so was
the feeling in my heart. I had once again let a day
go by, without talking to God. I had let everything
in the world draw me, but had neglected the very person
I needed most. Suddenly I realized how many days
I had done the same thing. The whole day passed
by without me ever taking time for the garden of prayer.

What kind of example can I be to others, if I never
live up to His call upon my life.


Father God,
forgive me for frittering away my days on
things that do not profit,
and for putting my own selfish desires above your will.
I recognize I have wasted many hours on things
that were not pleasing to you, and were of the world.
I realize that my mind has become fleshly,
rather than Godly, I ask your forgiveness for this.

Draw me back into the truth, and teach me about you.
I know that I need your truth, inspiration, hope and
strength in my life, I confess that I have been wrong
in neglecting you and your will every day.
I know I need to talk to you, and read your word
to survive as a Christian.

I ask you to forgive my sins, and cleanse me from all
unrighteousness. I ask you to remind me daily,
that life is about you, and serving you.. not about me.
I know you want me to prosper and be in health,
but above all, you want me to live right before you.

Remind me Lord daily.. that you are waiting in the
garden of prayer for me. Nothing else matters more.
If I neglect this garden, my life will soon be entangled
with the cares and temptations of this world.

If I cannot do this right, not much else will go right.

I give you all the glory and honor, and put you above
all else Father, forgive me for trying to make the
things of this world, take the place of the things of God.

I love you and long to be all you would have me to be.
Let the words of my mouth, and the meditations of my heart,
be acceptable in your sight,Oh Lord, my strength, and
my redeemer.

In Jesus precious name.
Amen

remember

Only one life, will soon be past
Only what is done for Christ will last

The Ultimate Argument

The Ultimate Argument
Copyright Millie Plastaras 9/6/2007

Recently I received a email from someone whose
friend had gone through some rough experiences,
and was questioning God. They wanted to know
why their prayers remained unanswered, and why
life had so many harsh, tragic events.

That evening as I was in a chat room, it was filled
with many atheists. They use a lot of different routines
in Christian chats. Some come to mock and make fun
of people, and tell jokes to each other as if it is great
sport. Some come to challenge with so called intelligent
debates on why God does not exist, and how weak
Christians must be to need a God. Some come with
scientific arguments about evolution, no proof of
creation (in their limited thinking) and how
"Christians" only believe what they are taught.

Many love to say, you are just like sheep, you never
think for yourself, you always need someone to lead you.

All of these things have one thing in common. People
do not believe in God. They lack faith, or they deny his
existence, and follow their own logic and opinions.

So, it gave me a lot of food for thought. Let us follow this
argument to it's ultimate conclusion. I hope you will bear
with me, and read this whole letter, because I felt God laid
this on my heart.

Suppose the person who wrote in, and said their life
was filled with problems, and God never answered their
prayers and they were tired of praying and just didn't know
if they believed in God anymore, actually decided to deny
the existence of God. Suppose they won that argument.

Suppose God suddenly did not exist, and there was nothing
else to argue about.

What then?

You rule your own life? Can you then stop sickness?
Can you overcome the tragedies of disease, car accidents,
tragedies, loss? What do you have power over?

Can you stop death?

I mean you are the one telling me God doesn't exist.

Who is in Control if there is no God? We are at the whim
of fate, or nature?

Ok.. what now? What are you going to use your power for?
Just to live life from day to day whatever way you want?

What happens when troubles come? Who will you blame then?
You no longer have "God" to blame. It must be your fault or someone
else's then right? Ok, if that is true.. and you find someone to blame,
will you become bitter? Will you become cynical? Will you
feel helpless? How is your "hope" level.

I mean God doesn't exist, what do you hope for.
It is just this life, and that's it? Live, drink and be
merry for tomorrow we die?

So when someone tells you God doesn't exist... and they
are firm in their beliefs, and they think they rule their life,
even they will have days where they get frustrated, feel
lonely, feel hurt, have tragedies, get diseases and die.

Just like the rest of us.

I want to show you a article I found in my dad's Bible. It had
a profound effect on my thinking, just as many things Dad taught
me did.

An Infidel's Testimony

An infidel once made the following testimony:

"Did I firmly believe as millions say they do, that the knowledge and
practice of religion in this life influences destiny in another,
religion would be to me everything! I would cast aside earthly
enjoyments as dross, earthly cares as follies, and earthly thoughts
and feelings as vanity. Religion should be my first waking
thought and my last image before sleep sank me into unconsciousness.
I should labor in its cause alone. I would take no thought for
the morrow of eternity alone. I would esteem one soul gained
for heaven worth a life of suffering. Earthly consequence
should never stay my hand nor seal my lips. Earth, it's joys
and its grief's, would occupy no moment of my thoughts. I would
strive to look upon eternity alone, and on the immortal souls
around me, soon to be everlastingly miserable or everlastingly happy.
I would go forth to the world and preach to it in season and out
of season and my test would be, "What shall it profit a man
if he shall gain the whole world, and yet lose his own soul?"

When C. T. Studd, the great Cambridge cricketer of England, read
these words, they made such a tremendous impression upon him
that he gave up a legal career to go to the dark places of
the earth as a missionary. He says: " They decided me at once
to love only and utterly for Christ."

While reading his Bible one day Mr. Studd apparently applied
the story of the rich young ruler to himself and gave away his
entire fortune. At that time it was a half million dollars, and he
followed Christ in voluntary poverty. His last term of service
was in the hart of Africa for nearly thirty years without a furlough!

Listen to what Mr. Studd on Whosoever of you cannot renounce
all he has, he cannot be my disciple.

Don't seek a long life -- Christ had a short one.

Don't live in luxury, Christ lived and died poor.

Don't live in pleasure, Christ pleased not himself.

Don't live in fame, Christ made himself of no reputation.

Don't live at ease, Christ suffered for YOU the shame and
scourge of the cross.

Every saved person knows the truthfulness of the infidel's
comment. We know that there is heaven, and that there is a hell,
because the inspired Word of God tells us so. We know that
all of mankind is destined to spend eternity in one of two
places; those who accept Christ are saved, and those who
reject Him are lost. Therefore it is the supreme duty of
every born again believer is to work for God, and be a sermon
so as to "by all means some may be saved."

So my friend, how serious is your relationship with God?
The Bible says we must be ready in season and out of season
to tell people why we believe what we believe, and to have
the word of God planted in our heart, and live it so others
may see our good works and want to have a relationship with
Jesus Christ.

Can people around you see that? Are you showing them
that eternity waits for their decision? Are you showing
them you have hope? Do you show them your relationship
with God brings you peace? Are you getting answers to prayers?

My friend, I remember years ago, being with a lady who
had prayed 10 long years her husband would come to know
the Lord as his Savior. She prayed day in and day out faithfully.
Loving her husband and caring for him, even though he
often made her very miserable. God did change the life
of that man eventually. He brought circumstances one
by one into that man's life until He sought God for himself.

How many of you will linger in prayer? Remember in
the garden of Gethsemane? Jesus asked the disciples
pray one hour with me.. pray. They fell asleep.
Are you like that?

You have to walk the walk and talk the talk.
Souls hang in the balance.

God says we are either for Him or against Him.

Can a infidel speak greater things about God than you are?

Oh my friend, get on your knees and ask God to lead you
into paths of righteousness, and give up all that clings
to you that keeps you away from Him. Seek that which
is good and rebuke and flee from that which is evil.

Remember
Only one life, will soon be Past
Only what is done, for Christ will last.

Live like you believe it.
Someone's soul hangs in the balance.

That Your Labor Will Not Be In Vain

Good Morning Everyone,

When I think of labor day, today it came
to mind to me how important our labor in
the Lord is.

The question is.. if we are laboring for
the Lord, and we got a salary for it, would
we be earning our keep?

Not that works should be rewarded with
money or even recognition, but the thought
are we really working or just sitting and saying
we are working.

When I was growing up there was a saying,
What are earth are you doing for heaven's sake today?

Or,
If all the people in church were just like me,
what kind of a church would this church be?

Folks, we really need to take a fresh look at ourselves
daily, and ask God, what would you have me do.
After all, we are his children, the sheep of his pasture
bought by the price of the blood of the lamb.

For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands:
happy [shalt] thou [be], and [it shall be] well with thee.
Psalm 128:2

The labour of the righteous [tendeth] to life:
the fruit of the wicked to sin.
Proverbs 10:16

Wherefore do ye spend money for [that which is] not bread? and your labour for [that which] satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye [that which is] good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.
Isaiah 55:2

They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they [are] the seed of the blessed of the LORD, and their offspring with them.
Isaiah 65:23

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
1 Corinthians 15:58

My friends, these excellent verses ask you, what
are you laboring for? What are your goals in Christ?
Are you laboring in vain? Is it all about you?
Who is lost and dying today without the Lord?
Who is in need of food or clothing today that you can
touch? Who is hurting today and needs your prayers?

Let us labor then for the night will soon be over
and the day coming when we shall account for every
word and deed.

Let us be sifted and found faithful.

Love always
millie

Only One Life, Will Soon Be Past
Only What Is Done For Christ Will Last

For Me to Live is Christ

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Work, for the night is coming,
Work through the morning hours;
Work while the dew is sparkling,
Work ’mid springing flowers;
Work when the day grows brighter,
Work in the glowing sun;
Work, for the night is coming,
When man’s work is done.

Work, for the night is coming,
Work through the sunny noon;
Fill brightest hours with labor,
Rest comes sure and soon.
Give every flying minute,
Something to keep in store;
Work, for the night is coming,
When man works no more.

Work, for the night is coming,
Under the sunset skies;
While their bright tints are glowing,
Work, for daylight flies.
Work till the last beam fadeth,
Fadeth to shine no more;
Work, while the night is darkening,
When man’s work is o’er.

Work, for the day is coming!
Children of light are we;
From Jesus' bright appearing
Power of darkness flee.
Soon will our strife be ending,
Soon all our toils below,
Not to the dark we're tending,
But to the day we go.


Words: verses 1-3: Anna Louisa Walker Coghill, 1864; verse 4, attributed to Basil Manley, 1880

Coghill was only 18 years old when she wrote this hymn.

Music: “Work Song,” Lowell Mason, 1864.

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For God [is] not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:
That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself,
Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee.And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.
Hebrews 6:10-15