When I started reading the bible, I saw where the Lord was speaking to people. Other than Jesus being here on earth. I wanted God to speak to me very clearly. So I could recognize His voice. He began with King James English using the scriptures. I asked why later and He told that I was studying the scriptures and it was the place to begin. After I had gained confidence that God was actually speaking to me. He spoke in American English. What God said never contradicted His scripture. It always was peaceable. It never caused me to feel confused or guilty. I always had to be aware that the devil would speak too. I learn how to distinguish between the two. In the Old Testament, God said He wrote His laws upon our heart and mind. Then in the New Testament, God said the He is the witness that confirms we are saved. Everyone hears the voice of God. He does speak to everyone. It is just, have you tuned God out?

Years ago, I help my friend move to Miami. She was engaged to a man who had two daughters and I got to know them. I was reading and studying the bible the whole time I was there. One day I was by myself at the dining room table, I had asked God about something. I was being quiet and waiting on Him to answer. My friend, her fiancé and the two girl walking through the dining room. One of the girls stopped and asked what I was doing? I told her I was waiting for God to answer my question. She looked at me and said, God talks to you? I said yes, just like He talks to you. My friend was a Christian and understood. I began to explain about God and led the two girls in the sinner’s prayer. You never know what God will do if you wait upon the Lord.

There are so many versions of Jesus in this world. I have seen just recently that people tried to show Him as just human and not divine. Many other religions recognize Him as great man. Some even says He was a prophet. All of this is to discredit Him as the son of God. The bible says that there is no other name under heaven by which we can be saved. It also says that in the name of Jesus every knee shall bow and tongue confess that Jesus is the Lord of all. Why do you think that people wince at the name of Jesus? They get angry and curse we his name is said. Have you noticed all the TV programs that proclaim the devil is all powerful? It is an effort to replace Jesus. When I first became saved, I was angry at the devil for leading me around by the nose. So I went on seek and destroy missions. After a month, God stopped me and asked what I was doing. I said I was getting rid of the devil. God said no, I was still following the devil. He said follow me and when you encounter the devil, cast him out in my name. God knows what He is talking about. Follow Jesus and everything else will fall into place.

I look at the things of this world and I want to rant and rave. I could scream at things that are being peddled to people. It is not just products but ideas. They are made to seem right and logical. I could stand on a street corner and protest and wave signs. In the first century when the church was just getting started, there was so much heresy floating around. The leaders of the church began writing letters to different congregations to tell them the truth. They are called epistles. God gave us a choice. He wanted us to hear the truth and believe. God was not going to hit us on the head if we did not believe. He would guide us with the Holy Spirit. If we did not choose the right way, He would let us know in no uncertain terms. As God said the truth will set you free. Now, if you choose not to follow, it is your own fault. It does not mean that God stops trying to win you over, but what it does mean that you are without excuse.

Jesus said, that except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Jesus was talking about lip service, not serving God with your heart. You remember that they asked Jesus what were the two greatest commandments. He said to love God with your whole heart, soul and mind. And Jesus also said the second is like unto to first, to love your neighbor as yourself. He said in this rest the whole law and prophets. God didn’t make serving Him beyond our reach. God make the law simple for us. It is not always easy, but it is simple. He said I know man and what he is made out of. Righteousness is doing what is right in God’s eyes. As the bible says, I am the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus.

As Paul went preaching the gospel, he passed through a country near Greece named Berea. He only stayed a little while because he was on his way to Corinth. Paul said two things about the Bereans, first, they were the most righteous people he had met and second, they were the only ones who gave monies to him without asking. The Bereans accepted the gospel but didn’t trust that Paul was telling them the truth. They took the bible, the scroll and search each night he preached to find what he was preaching about. It was amazing because the bible was written from Genesis to Malachi without stopping. It was one continuous scroll. The second was about tithing. When is the last time you gave to the church without being asked to? These people wanted to know the truth and found it out. Then when they did, they gave to support the ministry the help other peoples. They were more righteous than most. What is your part in the Kingdom? Will anyone write about you?

The bible says that we are seated together with Jesus in heavenly places. I have always preferred to be in heavenly places than in earthly places. I have always wanted to be in the peace of God and to feel His presence around me. I have come to a place where I don’t fit on this earth. I am a stranger here. I am in this world but not of it. I look at the things of this world and wonder why even bother. God constructed this world for one reason. He wanted to have a place for us to prove Him. That God is worthy of our love and adoration. We have a free will to choose what we want. He wants us to choose His way for us to enter into His kingdom. Jesus came to earth and die for our sins that we could choose to go to heaven. What do you choose to do with your free will?

You look at the world and wonder why they are going to hell in a hand basket. It seems that there aren’t any people serving God. Everybody has gone their own way. The bible says that man does what is right in his own eyes. For a large percent of people this may be true. We as Christians are bought with a price. We belong to God and serve Him. Our lives aren’t our own. God never said that the whole world would follow Jesus. What He did says was, strait is the gate and narrow is the way and few that find it. When Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to the temple to be circumcised, two people out of thousands recognized Jesus. The bible says when Jesus comes again, we will see Him as He is for we will look just like Him. And that is the real question. Do you look like Jesus?

Have you ever felt like you know that you are supposed to do something? You aren’t quite certain what it is. You are willing and waiting to find out what it is. The bible says that all creation groans for the revelation of Jesus Christ. I want this event to happen, but it’s not on my timetable. For years I kept hearing my name being called from a distance. For a long time I didn’t know who it was. When I finally realized that it was God calling. He was calling to me from eternity to come home. I feel that same calling again. But it is both ways. He is calling me and I am calling Him. You don’t know how much I want to go home. Paul said he was caught between the two. He wanted to go home, but he had to stay to finish his work on this earth. I am as homesick as I have ever been. Like creation, I groan for the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Several years ago, my oldest son’s basketball team won the state title. They went to the national tournament in Dayton, Tenn. The whole family went and we stayed for a week. In commemoration of this, we bought a pear tree in Tenn. We planted it in the front yard. It was about 3 ft. tall. The nurserymen graphed a flowering pear to a wild pear. So it would be hardy. The tree was growing. It was about 4 ft. tall, when a drunk women hit our 3 ft. ditch in an SUV. She bounced over our driveway and landed on our pear tree. It broke the tree in half. We nursed it back to health. But the graphed part grew slowly and the wild part put out a new shoot. As the tree grew, we twisted the graphed part to the wild part. The graphed part has just about completely in cased the wild part. It flowers regularly, white flowers all over the tree. Especially flowering after a hard freeze. The Lord reminded me that we are graphed into God’s family. Our wild part becomes part of God’s family, then disappears into the tree. Hopefully never to be seen again. Let God transform you into his image. Ask Him and He will answer.