WHO IS IN CONTROL

 

     History is full of people and states that have wanted to have control.  We have the same thing happening today.  Governments want to control your finances, social media, even what you say and think.  It was a early writer of the United States who said that one thing you cannot control, is someone who reads and lives their bible.

     You can find yourself falling under the control of the enemy by following self esteem which means focusing entirely on yourself, this leads to spiritual and emotional bondage.  This leads to selfishness and conceit.  This leads to an unbridled tongue, false sense of security, a terrible spiritual outlook and eventually spiritual death. 

     This leads to children disobeying their parents.  Teachers and leaders calling that which is good bad and that which is bad good which we see evident everyday.  A decade ago James Dobson founder of Ficus on the family was called by liberals the most dangerous man in America.  You see the breakdown of the family because of selfishness. 

     The writers of the Bible teel us to wake up while there is still day.  We are the retraining and enlightening force in our world.  We remind them that God has a plan and purpose for their lives.  Satan is all about mind control.  Jesus is all about freedom.  See the difference, You make the choice because two things are at stake you eternal and abundant life.  Make sure you have the right person in control of your life.

DOORS

 

      Here is a little lesson about doors that open and close in life.  When a door closes in your life you can knock on the door a few times but if it does not open.  Assume that the door is closed.  This is door is closed for a reason, It may be a career, love or a life moment. 

     When the sentence of that time finishes with a period.  Don’t try to make it become a comma.  You need to know when something is finished and it is time to move on because you don’t want to get stuck somewhere you were never meant to stay.  Some things come to past and they were not meant to stay.  Paul puts it very concisely.  Forgetting those things which are behind I press on to those things which are ahead.  Door’s open and doors close it is a part of life.  The important thing to recognize is which ones are the ones you are to enter or not.

OUR ENEMY

 

     We have an enemy whose name is satan.  At one time he was the guardian of God’s throne , the choir director of heaven and one of there arch angels.  He allowed pride into his life and decided to rebel against God =.  He led an attack on heaven and lost.  He became totally corrupt and an enemy of all God’s creation.

     When man was created, we became the apple of God’s eye because we were made in the mental, moral and social image of God.  Satan made it personal mission to tempt, lie and accuse mankind.  He uses accusation, temptation and deception to do this.

     When a person comes to Christ, they leave satan’s control and come under God’s control.  Now of course that doesn’t mean we will not be tempted that is why we must be alert, wise and resist the enemy.  Pul says give no place to the devil.  Peter says satan is looking for someone to devour. 

     Our primary defense is the word of God.  We are also to resist by saying no.  We are the temple of the Holy Spirit, and we must abide in Him.  We must think on things that are pure, holy, praiseworthy, true lovely and of good report.  Keeping your thought life pure.  Focusing on the right and not on the wrong.

     We must be aware of pride, pleasure, and possession is how the world operates and we must be careful of our own selfish ambitions that can lead us away from the safety of Christ.  We must allow the new nature we have in Christ be the number one priority.  This is accomplished through the reading of the word, prayer, going to church and sharing our faith.

     We must focus on our mission of reaching of world for Christ and loving people who God sends our way.  We must put on the whole armor of God.  Submit our thought life to God.  We must obey; love, forgive, and choose to make the will of God our daily priority.

     Satan has no power over us because we do not live in his kingdom.  Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil.  We must recognize how he operates and his agenda.  We must employ all the weapons, armor, and resources at our disposal to defeat him daily.  We must be obedient, love and walk in forgiveness.  We are on the winning side and remember at the end of life and all things we win.

THE PRODIGAL

 

     Jesus had many loving conversations with people of his day.  Jesus was a man with a mission he came to seek and save the lost.  In the parable of the wayward son Jesus shows how a person can descend into a wrecked life and also how they can restore.  For the prodigal it started with him having a moment of selfishness.  Then he decided to leave where he had been safe and go to a place where he was not.  He had a great time until the money ran out and then he found that life can be cruel and lonely.  The ultimate descent was when he found himself in a pig pen.  It got so bad the pig slop looks good.  It was slow descent, but sin takes time to destroy in some cases, but it destroys.

     In the pig pen he comes to himself and decides to return home.  On the way he has a great speech in store, but when he comes over the hill his father sees him.  He doesn’t even get his speech out and the father embraces him.  They have a feast and he is reclothed and restored. 

     Selfishness always leads to separation and spiritual destruction.  When a person comes to themselves it leads to repentance and reconciliation.  God wants us to be restored and reconciled.  He wants us to have love, peace, joy, access, patience, experience and love.  God wants fellowship with us everyday.  Let us make that decision and walk in fellowship and restoration again.

JUST LIVE

 

     I want you to know that everyday is not productive.  They are days where you get little done and that’s okay too.  Some days you have the energy of a supernova and other days you can’t get off the couch.  Some day you feel like you can conquer the world and other days where deciding what is for dinner is a major accomplishment.

     We put so much pressure on ourselves to make everyday count, and some days feel like they don’t.  Maybe not everyday has to be productive, impressive, exciting and memorable.  Maybe just maybe we should just live them.  Enjoy the little things.  Enjoy who we are with at the time.  Make little memories.  Maybe some days are just be lived and that is enough.  They is a line from the movie Ever after that sums up what we are trying to say. “It wasn’t that they live happily ever after.  It was the fact that they lived.” 

QUOTES FOR OCT 11, 2026

 

GROWTH

 

     The comes a time in your life when instead of wanting revenge or the people that hurt or offended you getting revenge you let it go.  It is called forgiveness.  We must remember that forgiveness is a gift we give to ourselves.  You realize over time that the only one that angers hurts is the person who is carrying it. 

     Choose to let go of anger, hurt and bitterness is a choice and a different path to follow.  It is easy to hurt on to hurt but in time it only destroys you.  Like the song says let it go.  You make a choice to keep your peace, to set boundaries and keep moving forward. 

     You heart is still kind but your have chosen to be careful with who you choose to share your life with.  You look for the red flags and do not ignore them like you use too.  You are wise in your associations and friendships. 

     Your soul is gentle but is not weak.  You have learned from pain and experience.  You have grown in your mistakes and you are wiser, more creative and resourceful.  This is growth,