Not a whole lot of people can get caught if we're too busy arguing, strivin' with, and fightin' each other.. to actually go fishin' for em.

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How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity! Psalm 133:1

Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Colossians 3:13-14

Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. 1 Peter 3:8

Be about your Father's biz today. We share, we serve, we pray, God catches.. and He delights to use us to do this. Be too busy worshipping, edifying, patiently fishin' for peeps together. Ya know.. doing His will.. to have time left over for losing your unity with other believers. Overcome evil with good instead of bein' overcome by evil ..or religious.

Why even start if you don't love people, or ever get with Him who can give you love for them?

He who would go fishing ought to really like em ..rather than the opposite of that.. and not really go out to trade places with those he catches.

Posted by Fish For Souls Evangelism™ - Kurt von Schleicher on Sunday, May 31, 2015

Get outside the four walls of the chapel as well. Evangelizing in the local church alone ain't bad at all. In fact more Christians and pastors need to go for it in there, but it's kinda like fishin' in a bathtub in the sense that it’s terribly convenient and not much can get caught.

Why the sense of urgency?

Heaven and hell are prepared places. The former was so carefully n lovingly prepared with people in mind, but not the later. The former was specifically prepared for you and for your friends and it's unlike anything we can imagine.. but sadly many are choosing to go to the later bogus location.

• Pray for courage and opportunities with the lost people you meet, and that God will use you with His truth to get through to em.

• Ask people not-too-personal, intelligent questions regarding their opinions about eternity, and guess what.. many of them will ask you some questions. It's so amazing how easy it is to respectfully segway on into sharing Christ's Message with good questions. It's amazing to me how God can use em.. and how much truth you can graciously get across for seed-planting through asking a few simple questions! 

• Tactfully, clearly, and directly invite individuals to turn from their wrong-doin's and make a firm decision to come to Christ in prayer ..right there on the spot if you can.

Thirteen percent of all that Christ spoke about while here was on the important topics of heaven and hell. With some Christians, hell is like their only topic and it's like they celebrate that so many are opting to go there. Where are the real broken-hearted-tears? The world likes to tell us that if we even bring up the topic of hell ..we're intolerant. That's wrong as well. But listen, what makes heaven so uber-cool is that Jesus is there ..yup, in that place for you. You'll be stoked out to arrive and hear Well done! Who was the later prepared for?.. not for any peeps! Go.

"All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on His right hand, 'Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 'for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.' Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? 'When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?' And the King will answer and say to them, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.' Then He will also say to those on the left hand, 'Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels.." 25/35-41matt.nkjv Also go see 14/9-11rev. 16/24lk.

Once we repent from our sin and get in Him (you can do that right now), the Lord puts a new desire inside us ..to worship God and to go help others get in Him. We start loving what we used to loathe (righteousness, the Bible, doing the will of God) and start really loathing what we used to love (sin and evil - not sinners). 

Did you know that 80% of those who attend a Christian church one or more times per month.. they already know that they all are called to tactfully, boldly, wisely share the Gospel being led by the Spirit in Christ. But 61% of those who attend church have not told another sinner about Jesus Christ and His Gospel in the last 6 months.

"I have but one passion: It is He, it is He alone. The world is the field and the field is the world; and henceforth that country shall be my home where I can be most used in winning souls for Christ." ~ Count Nicolaus Ludwn Zinzendorf

Think about it. On the horizontal level ministry-wise, the real Church (of spiritually new born believers) exists for nothin' else but to edify and draw people to Christ. The Father desires to use us in that drawing to His Son. Yes, to win lost people over to Christ and then speaking the truth in love watch God sanctify em ..makin' em ..with each passing day.. more like Jesus who Himself was/is the first soul-winner. 

Muse some more on that.. if Christians are not doing this evangelistic work, all the beautiful cathedrals, all the lettered or not lettered clergy members, all the social work and so called missions efforts, and all the hearing and hearing and hearing of truthful sermons alone ..they're all simply a waste of time. Apart from Him getting each of us to do our most important ministry of biblcial worship and that stuff.. God became man for no other purpose here. 

You can do this. We can do this in obedience to the Great Commission. Listen, I haven't always shared the Gospel as often as I needed to, but I do find that the Holy Spirit can make this important duty so easy and fun to do. Give God the glory for any and everything that He does. Don't take the credit for it. 

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9

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Simple, to the point, and clear enough.. "Let brotherly love continue. Be not forgetful to entertain strangers..." Hebrews 13:1a

Question ..if ya don't really mind me askin' you:  Are you tenderhearted or hard-hearted today? This world will make you hardhearted if you let it. #DontLetIt!

Please, even if it's not so wise to bring it up publicly with em or to out loud say it directly to them at this time (Might not be best--I've seen some believers go say "I forgive you man!" ..when that lost person doesn't even think they did anyone wrong). But go talk it over with the Lord of love and forgive all those believers or not-yet-believers who have wronged you.. in your heart and don't let the world make you hard of heart. Forgive em inside you. Choose to be humble even if you don't feel like it. Let grace strongly enter stage one. You need to ..and besides, the Lord can help. 

But why, Kurt? Cuz Christian, you and me.. we forever be ..currently are real brothers and sisters in God's big family. And strangers who are lost or saved.. cuz when you think about it there really ain't any other kind of stranger out there ..that we desire to win over to faith in the authentic Bible Christ and or to build up in Him (sounds dif, but I say it like that cuz you know too many preach their own made up non nonexistent Jesus). 

Why? Well (not to sound uber-churchy here but..), it's simply a good witness as we represent our Lord in this darkening dark world that He wants to make brighter through us obeying Him. Why? Well, because we also want all our biological full and half brothers and sisters ..all our family members and relatives, friends and enemies ..to also get right with their heavenly Father so they can harmoniously be with us in His family. Certainly, that's why we want to show it.. why we want to let love from above to continue. 

But hey!.. don't just take my words or mere opinions on this. Much more importantly, ask, seek, check out.. What exactly does God say about our familial charity? He says...

"Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love." 1 John 4:7-8 

"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." John 13:34-35 

"Let all that you do be done in love." 1 Corinthians 16:14 

"And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you," 1 Thessalonians 3:12 

"By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers." 1 John 3:16

"Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins." 1 Peter 4:8 

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love.." Galatians 5:22 

"But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you." ~ Jesus, Luke 6:27-36 

"See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are." 1 John 3:1-24 

"Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers." 1 John 3:15-16 

"Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another.." See Colossians 3:12-15  kurtwvs.tumblr.com

Do you need to first-time focus on what matters most.. or do that over again?

Zoom in ....on Him who is most winsome. 

Get vertically (re)focused..

..so to speak. And do that in what direction? In the direction of the Son. Jesus Christ, you're indeed the most beautiful Person there is. I pray my friends can see You as You really are so like me they will fall in love with, or intentionally re-fall in love with You all over again. 

Beautiful? The Bible says, "He (Jesus) grew up before Him (God the Father) like a tender shoot, And like a root out of parched ground; He has no stately form or majesty That we should look upon Him, Nor appearance that we should be attracted to Him. He was despised and forsaken of men, A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; And like one from whom men hide their face He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.." 

Kurt, what was so stunningly attractive or majestic-lookin' 'bout His robed physical appearance when He walked all those dusty trails with His disciples down here? Nothing really. But does that really matter? Nope. Who He really is does. Yes, take a closer look at this Person today. We Christians still find Him to be most beautiful personality there is. None compare to Him, and nothing compares to relating to Him. You will too find Him that way if you refocus for He kind and really.. the only Way.   

Ask yourself.. Doesn't everybody seem to be pretty much focused on something these days? Sure they are, unless they're already facin' upwards towards the plush-velvet upholstery inside on a dark coffin door? Sure they are unless they're already bit the dust, been knocked off, kicked the bucket, become worm-food, reached room-temp. But perhaps this is a painful subject for you right now cuz you've recently lost a loved one? So sorry about that if you have. I have too. But God by His living Word.. now gives me hope, and joy, peace and love, and a real inner assurance for a great reunion ahead and I want you to have that as well.    

You know that during the details, doldrums, daily-routine, flat out drudgery or everyday distractions of your spiritual journey in this life here, it is way too easy to look right on past the importance of relationship with the Son who can actually give you abundant life–real Life during life. 

from kurtwvs.tumblr.com and giphy.com

I pray that you hit the pause button and take the time to take a break from the normal labor and go on a stroll or somethin'.. to converse straightforward with Christ who really cares about you and your future. Why not? He's the One who can touch, heal, and mend your brokenhearted if you have one. He's the only One who can give you new hope ..for He is a living hope. Yes, I pray that you'll stop..perhaps a 'lil longer than you normally stop.. to focus not on phone notifications, or texts, not on other friends who might even be good influences on you, but to focus on God the Son today.. yeah, the Bible One (the only true bona fide Diety there is).. to focus in a fresh, new, and non-religious kinda way. 

"I am afraid that.. your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ."—Paul

Let's just be ready cuz that beats bein' ill prepared. You, me.. what believer'll be next?

“A Marine being prosecuted for posting a Bible verse? Today our culture tolerates everything--except for God's Word.” ~ @Franklin_Graham

I pray that the Lord goes to bat for convicted Lance Corporal Monifa Sterling. She's the U.S. Marine who was court-martialed for simply failing to remove a Bible verse from her work desk and that has now launched a legal appeal. Wouldn't the Apostle Paul do that? 

Before I get you all worked up, please know that I don't have all the details of her specific "crime" yet, but when one considers how many other Christians have been ousted for their faith during this U.S. Administration.. to me this just sounds so idiotic (of those that ousted her).  

Do a study early on on civil disobedience. Keep an eye on the Supreme Court cuz bein' a Christian and appropriately expressing that is almost hate-speech. It really is.  

When a flawed delegated authority-person tells you as a flawed Christian to disobey what the Bible clearly tells you to do.. be wise and give an un-flawed response. Just maintain a submissive attitude towards all those in authority (even if their behavior or language is totally lame), prayerfully appeal to them (because perhaps there's another righteous way to achieve what they are trying to see happen where you work) showing all respect towards them and their office, and then of course don't do what they say. Inquire first. Do or say what God says for you to do or say.. or not do or not say.   

"Never do anything against conscience even if the state demands it." ~ Albert Einstein

"Ordinarily, a person leaving a courtroom with a conviction behind him would wear a somber face. But I left with a smile. I knew that I was a convicted criminal." ~ Martin Luther King, Jr.

Who knows what the future holds? Not to scare anyone, but Isis might move in here more than they already are, and they show up in your face or home demanding that you'd renounce your biblical Historic faith in God. Or the weirdness could come down from foolish American leaders. Let's get prepared. I'd say.. rebel against rebelling, but not against obeying the Lord. Go tell people about Jesus Christ! 

So where do I start, Kurt? In context, go look closely at... 

Acts 5:29 - Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, we ought to obey God rather than men. Romans 13:1-7 - Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
James 4:17 - Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin. 1 Peter 2:13 - Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme.. Acts 5:28-29 - Saying, did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us.
Daniel 3:1-30 - Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height [was] threescore cubits, [and] the breadth thereof six cubits: he set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon.
Exodus 1:15-22 - And the king of Egypt spake to the Hebrew midwives, of which the name of the one was Shiphrah, and the name of the other Puah.. Romans 13:1 - Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.Acts 4:18-20 - And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.
Romans 13:7 - Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute [is due]; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour. Titus 3:1 - Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work.. Romans 13:1-14 - Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
Hebrews 13:17 - Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.  Fbk.com/shareJesus

Jesus was the Father's first missionary and He was a soul-winner. Not because of religioin; it was because of genuine love.

God left His comfort zone if ya will and came down to make me his neighbor.. to make you His neighbor too. Likes closeness.

“The second is: Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other command greater than these.” Mark 12:31

If we get with and stay next to the Magnet we will catch the magnetism so to speak. If we get our go from God and then go, He will go with us and use us so others will want to go with God. Whatever the Lord does in our community, He will do through us. People are His Plan A for reaching this world gone sideways, and He has no Plan B. We today have the opportunity.. the privilige to go win and edify people.. to shine clean and bright as lights in this darkening darkness.. to simply do as Jesus did showing them what our Father in heaven is like. What or who do worship ..what or who do you primarily represent? 

Unless the Lord builds the house they labor in vain who build it. What are you building first? Things, a relationship with the Lord, people, things that help other people, or things that help yourself? 

Lord, serving is great, but I love You more than serving ..and all. More of you Jesus, and less of me. You're enough, but this world is not. My friends and theirs need you today. Please help me follow but not get in your way.. not impede your work. Amen.

Being a Christian and what you say that is totally biblical as a real believer here in the USA..it's just about "hate speech." Looks like it’s headed there fast. Are you ready for that American, Christian, pastor, and churches? Trust God to help you as an individual be or become ready.

I just heard of a soldier lady today who got booted out of the US Army for simply posting this one true verse on her computer. "No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment you shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is from Me,” says the Lord." Isa. 54:17

I found others too. It's amazing how many Christian soldiers have been ousted under this Administration. God will protect, provide and I pray that God will bless and guides all of those soldiers. Listen, it's no time for hiding it all under a basket. It's time to wisely take a stand for Jesus Christ, for your biblical convictions--what the Bible clearly teaches. The cost might be high, but the Gospel beckons us to abandon our own plans of lesserness for God's plans of spiritual abundance and eternal life (no blab it grab it, 'name it claim it', speak it into reality for selfish riches here..). Let's all let go of em to Him so that we can be free to receive better plans that God desires to replace our plans with. The Gospel calls us to abandon our own dreams for His greater dream for us. We'll like it better, and abandon our possessions and priorities and treasures and pleasures and then it calls us to rise up before the Lord and say, 'Here am I, send me.'

I can do everything through Him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13

Do you have other peoples and their Lands on your mind? Do you have them in your prayers today? Do you have your own nation and their leaders in your prayers? The Christian life ain't about self-promotion, self-advancing over toes, refusing to work just so one "can feel better about themself and go find themself".. as a moocher-burden in their parents basement or gamer in someone elses home at a later age when they could have obediently done something for the Lord. It aint' about self-realization; it's about obeying God and self-denial in His will. Are you a real Christian yet?

Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved. Acts 16:31 

The integrity of your own mind, soul, and conscience is sacred just as your right vertical relationship is.

Your obedience in sharing Christ's Gospel just to please God the Father is also that way. And witnessing in faith for His glory, this intentional world changing, this sharing your faith.. it's just way better when the believer has godly character, sincerity, and integrity. It's God's will that every born again believer have such. But living in God's righteousness comes before and includes ministering in His righteousness. Importing and maintaining what you've gained via faith in Jesus before exporting your faith to others is imperative. Nails it! 

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"So you will walk in the way of the good and keep to the paths of the righteous. For the upright will inhabit the land, and those with integrity will remain in it.." Proverbs 2:20-21

"And as for you, if you will walk before me, as David your father walked, with integrity of heart and uprightness, doing according to all that I have commanded you, and keeping my statutes and my rules, then I will establish your royal throne over Israel forever, as I promised David your father, saying, 'You shall not lack a man on the throne of Israel.'" 1 Kings 9:4-5

"By this I know that you delight in me: my enemy will not shout in triumph over me. But you have upheld me because of my integrity, and set me in your presence forever. Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting! Amen and Amen." Psalm 41:11-13 

"Did he not himself say to me, 'She is my sister'? And she herself said, 'He is my brother.' In the integrity of my heart and the innocence of my hands I have done this. Then God said to him in the dream, 'Yes, I know that you have done this in the integrity of your heart, and it was I who kept you from sinning against me. Therefore I did not let you touch her.'" Genesis 20:5-6

"I will sing of steadfast love and justice; to you, O Lord, I will make music. I will ponder the way that is blameless. Oh when will you come to me? Will walk with integrity of heart within my house.." Psalm 101:1-2

"Whoever walks in integrity will be delivered, but he who is crooked in his ways will suddenly fall." Proverbs 28:18 

"And the Lord said to Satan, 'Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil? He still holds fast his integrity, although you incited me against him to destroy him without reason.'" Job 2:3 

Are you currently facin’ what people call an “impossible” situation ..cuz it like is? No worries! Maintain a hopeful heart. Just turn to Christ - you know He specializes in helping us in all those wild and crazy things if we'll just seek Him.

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Who does God want to reach? The ひきこもり or 引き籠もり. The self-confined. The young, the hurting and the empty people. You.

Hikikomori (hiˌkēkəˈmôri):

A young adult who has withdrawn from social life and society, a recluse who fails to properly prioritize, is self cut off, often obsessed with TV, Internet and video games and rarely ever leaves one's room. As people refuse to leave their house or flat they start to think that their isolation from people is normal and they lose all interaction skills in their homes for say six months plus at a time. Could be mute and somewhat nocturnal–might not get the phone, the door or speak to anyone, often sleeps all day and emerges to visit the fridge and do their big screen stuff by night. 

Okay, so neglect, hurt, aimless hopelessness, and emptiness are all real. But choose to forgive and live footloose and fancy free - you won't be young forever. Make the most of each day and moment as you were designed to. Find out why you are here. Youth lasts about as long as smoke. 

So, remove sorrow, addictions, selfishness, grief, lazy-slothfulness, boredom, entitlement, passive-resentment and anger from your heart . Turn from sin–it destroys. Put away inner pain, porn, evil and time-wasting from you, because youth and the prime of your life are fleeting away. Live to give what will make a difference in your generation. Why feel sorry about all the squandering later on?   

Who does God want to Help with a capital H? The lonely self-confined Hikikomori: ひきこもり or 引き籠もり. You! Why? Cuz He loves you fiercely and has a meaningful, unique, excellent plan for you. Your life is no worthless accident!

"Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come and the years approach when you will say, 'I find no pleasure in them.'"  12/1eccl. 

"Though my father and mother forsake me, the LORD will receive me." 27/10psalm

"Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted." 25/16ps.

"God sets the lonely in families, He leads out the prisoners with singing; but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land." 68/6ps.niv

"A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a Friend who sticks closer than a brother." 18/24prov. The one you and I need most today is Jesus Christ. 

"It is nothing to die (please don’t make it happen).  It is frightful not to live (but any day of the week you can choose to die to selfish ways and really live)." — Victor Hugo, Les Misérables, emph.mine

#Also see 1Cor13:11#Ecclesiastes 12:1#Read and wisely apply the Bible

Can you give.. or can you tell His Story when you don't really "feel His anointing" ..at all? Sure you can. Are we to walk by feelings, by sight, or by faith?

Sometimes the Lord asks me to give what ..it would appear to many ..as something I don't feel I have to give. But then I think.. Wait, He can give me that so that I can give it away. Has he done that with you as well?

Believer, when you don't even feel like doin' it, you can share your story that leads to His Story and that's giving too. Yes, even when you might feel kinda down and out.. or like your body is totally out of it.. I mean energy or fuel so to speak.. God could ask you to speak. He can lead you to open your mouth in such a way that others will be led to God's living Word - Jesus! Other than worshiping Him, what beats that? Nothin'; null, zero does!

Is it really about how much you and I give and serve or is it more about how much love we put into both; about how directed we are by the God of selfless Love in what, how, and when we give and serve? 

There have been times before when He's asked me to serve when I've felt completely out of gas before, or to serve people when I've been sick. I even remember driving on the autobahn in Germany once to go preach near the Alps one night and then afterwards I could not find even one gas-station in the region that was still open in order to refuel for my drive home. The car was sputtering, it was actually 100% my fault for not reading up beforehand, but some friends and I there stopped to briefly pray about it. It wasn't super easy to get my car to start again, but that Audi actually made the entire 30 minute drive through falling the snow to my house in Augsburg. I was feelin' so relieved and grateful. Told Him so! Thank you Lord! 

Don't get me wrong on this.. I'm not at all telling you to serve when you are sick. Don't want to play Lord. I'd like to see you obey God first, and to be honest..also get to a pastor and a doctor that He leads you to. Not sure how it will go with you, how could I, but you can always trust the Lord. I'd say ask Him for wisdom and choose to apply.. to act wisely in obeying the Lord. Sure, daily obey Him more than you would any other human.

How cool that when we run out, we can by faith on any day of the week make a hefty love-withdrawal.  And the bank of God's perfect love up in heaven never ever goes bankrupt.

“We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.”― Winston S. Churchill

Sure, God can ask me to help others when I'm feeling so weak inside though. Has done it before.. or He can also say go speak here or go there when I don't even know what to say.. at all ..or do that at a time when I didn't have any formal Bible education yet. Has happened before! He can tell me to tithe and give offerings at a time when I feel broke. He's done that and I was in need myself. Was blessed after I did cuz the Lord likes to show me and others that He is able. My problems have become His. Yes, I try to plan. I'm far from perfect but Jesus took full responsibility for me and my family's needs when I repented and asked Him in.  

Have you ever said, Lord, please forgive me for my unbelief, please regenerate, come in to be Lord of my life.. not just Savior or Lord in theory. I want You to my CEO to lead me daily, I really do. I choose to trust You even when the circumstances don't look so good.

“Happiness doesn't result from what we get, but from what we give.” ― Ben Carson

So what is God asking from me ..every single day of this year and of me for those following this year? What is God asking of me right now? He's asking for all of me now cuz He actually wants me more than what I can do for Him. And He loves me; has a predetermined plan for ALL of me body, soul, and spirit. Makes sense--Jesus Christ gave His life.. all of it for me.. now wants all of me. He wants all of you too!
  

“You can give without loving, but you cannot love without giving.” ― Amy Carmichael

“Do you not know that God entrusted you with that money (all above what buys necessities for your families) to feed the hungry, to clothe the naked, to help the stranger, the widow, the fatherless; and, indeed, as far as it will go, to relieve the wants of all mankind? How can you, how dare you, defraud the Lord, by applying it to any other purpose?” ― John Wesley

“For it is in giving that we receive.” ― Francis of Assisi

Those words challenge me to my core. Lord, in Jesus' mighty Name.. please help us now to have your persepctive, Your BIG and wise heart, Your trust in the Father, and to simply be more like You are. Need ya gobs. I want to depend on Your grace more!

I've seen and met my own fleshly nature before. Not handsome. I've seen my selfish ways before, and how much I lack spiritually, but I've also come to understand that God gives. He is the Giver of all givers. I wasn't born that way, but now want Him to give through me. And I cannot out-give him. Jesus gives and gives and gives some more. He will give me what I need when I need it. Even promised to do that for us and by faith we can claim that promise!

Does God lead you to give offerings when feeling needy at times? 

When we hear the Lord tell us to..  Try me.. Test Me in this.. it can feel like we're Him say Go jump over the moon! Lord, please forgive and help us believe even when the economy is really bad perhaps due to our nation's sinning as well as all the miss and under-informed voters who helped elect super lame leaders in our Land over us. 

May I ask you.. Have you heard God in Malachi 3:10 tell you to obey Him? I have. (No worries, I'm not asking or even wanting you to give to me. That's not the point of this. Prayer is. I simply want you to talk to, come to trust more, and obey Jesus regarding this area of giving). 

I know this mentioned verse needs to be looked at contextually and with all the other Bible verses dealing with giving. I know it is talkin' about giving financially and that is needed for so many local Christian churches these days. God is very practical. 

But God by His Spirit can also speak to our hearts if we let Him and He can give us wisdom for all kinds of different giving. He can show us step by step how to pull off what seems very impossible ..and He can give grace on a moment by moment regular basis. I'm an ordinary dude, but He's spoken to my heart before.. to give all of me to Him.. to give when it costs a lot and when it's not even convenient. But it's instead a big sacrifice for me. But listen.. you know that Jesus has of course sacrificed far more than me or you. I admit I haven't always obeyed Him, but I sure want to now. I believe that we are living in the last days when it's so crucial to obey God's Word. 

I so want to love Jesus more than I did yesterday.. love Him extravagantly, just like that poor widow in the Bible did when she didn't even have much at all to offer to God financially. How beautiful that she had a heart that was willing to obey Him at that time, yes a mind willing to sacrifice to Him.

Remember God's promise to us: Just be ready and see "if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows. Then I will rebuke the devourer for you.."  

Sometimes not giving to someone is obedience as well. Thinking of a certain drug abuser. They love to lie and get you feeling guilty (with false guilt) in order to manipulate your mercy and use your loan or gift to go sin more. Sure, watch Cops. All kinds of addicts seek to decieve and try to work-us Christians for their own wicked purposes. Be wise as a serpent and gentle as a dove. I say.. always let the Spirit lead you regarding the giving or not giving of anything, even when your bank account seems so empty to you. 

Don't even let the weird scam-tactics or pressure from money-grubbing televangelists (I mean the false teachers) presumptuously lead you to give with your credit card etc. That also would be sin. Jesus is your Lord who cares about you, not them. 

Study and remember how God used Corrie Ten Boom. She kept ministering and serving the Lord with joy inside that lice-ridden Ravensbrück Nazi concentration camp. Listen, these ideas and gentle warnings didn't originate with me, no no, but you and I can still be involved in sharing as Corrie did.. yes, in this kinda Spirit-led giving or wise non-giving even while we're perhaps still feeling pretty needy. And I pray that God will indeed bless and specifically meet your needs real soon, so you too can continue on with JOY! The Bible says... 

"Sitting across from the offering box, he (Jesus) was observing how the crowd tossed money in for the collection. Many of the rich were making large contributions. One poor widow came up and put in two small coins—a measly two cents. Jesus called his disciples over and said, 'The truth is that this poor widow gave more to the collection than all the others put together. All the others gave what they’ll never miss; she gave extravagantly what she couldn’t afford—she gave her all.'" Mark 12:41-44 msg

Here's more fodder for prayerful meditation and application:
*Deuteronomy 16:17 Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the LORD your God which he has given you.
*Deuteronomy 15:10 You shall surely give him, and your heart shall not be grieved when you give to him: because that for this thing the LORD your God shall bless you in all your works, and in all that you put your hand to.
*1 Chronicles 29:9 Then the people rejoiced, for that they offered willingly, because with perfect heart they offered willingly to the LORD: and David the king also rejoiced with great joy.
*Proverbs 3:27 Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of your hand to do it.
*Proverbs 28:27 He that gives to the poor shall not lack: but he that hides his eyes shall have many a curse.
*Proverbs 21:26 He covets greedily all the day long: but the righteous gives and spares not.
*Malachi 3:7 Even from the days of your fathers you are gone away from my ordinances, and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you, said the LORD of hosts. But you said, Wherein shall we return?
*Malachi 3:10 Bring you all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in my house, and prove me now herewith, said the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
*Matthew 6:1 Take heed that you do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise you have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.
*Luke 3:11 He answers and said to them, He that has two coats, let him impart to him that has none; and he that has meat, let him do likewise.
*Luke 6:30 Give to every man that asks of you; and of him that takes away your goods ask them not again.
*John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
*Acts 20:35 I have showed you all things, how that so laboring you ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.
*2 Corinthians 9:6 But this I say, He which sows sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which sows bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
*2 Corinthians 9:10 Now he that ministers seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness..

Tell it unexcitin' if that’s how it was. Let it be unembellished. Your story can make an impact as it is!

When some Christians share their testimony, when they go to explaining their personal story if ya will of how they came into a right relationship with God through faith in Christ.. they kinda seem to be relishing their old sins ..that were indeed fun for awhile I'm sure.. and relishing their old worldly exploits that you know other worldly people (hearers) would of course applaud cuz the flesh loves this, and sins that actually did some damage to some lives that Jesus died to save. Surely you've heard stories like this told? Sometimes with over the years.. these embellished stories can change even and get more embellished - don't do it. It's pretty weird to hear em, especially when it really doesn't have to be that way, believer. Let's be real. 

Why keep using the same four tools only?:  Boycott and protest.. or register and vote (and you know all really should learn and go vote smart). But here are two better tools for believers to use in love: Pray and preach.. yes, tell it tactfully, factually and in a non-pushy-or-preachy-religious-kinda-way. 

"And he (Jesus) did not permit him but said to him, 'Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.'" Mark 5:19 

"And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death." Revelation 12:11 

Tell em how it was before you met Jesus Christ, what you did (you don't have to get so graphic), tell em how you thought and why, tell how you felt, where you went, what you heard, who taught you ..and what they taught, how you processed all that, tell what you said in response, who your buddies were, what they were like, and what the results of your decisions were. Where you influenced by your close buds - sure you were, but explain how that happened. Tell people cuz you've been praying for them and God by His Spirit is sayin' "Go for it now." And also tell them ..because you love them, really care about their future and sincerely want the best for their entire family.. tell what you are like now. Be genuine, let it have a ring of authenticity because it really is spot on target, yup, is completely on the mark. Explain it thoroughly.. I mean the peace in you, the JOY, the agape love you experience, the complete supernatural satisfaction with your vertical love relationship ..even though there is opposition, testings, and trials at times. Sure, be wisely-frank with em; tell it all if they have the time. Give em an easy out if they need to get to their job. But why spend more time on the past than on your life in fellowship with Jesus now cuz you really don't want them going there - to your past moldy and lonely life away from God do you? 

If someone pushes and pressures you towards a weakness, then trust the Lord to turn that perceived weakness into a real strength and glorify Him. Keep tellin' your story as it really is. See Romans 12:21

"Whoever believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself." 1 John 5:10a

Hey there Buckeroo, don't be known for who you were in this world; you know.. for worldly stories that you twisted n tweaked-out, inaccurately embellished, pretty much glorified, and bragged about. No, don't self-promote or seek to be known, but if you are at all ..then be known for who you sincerely are in Christ. Perhaps you were a pretty good kid years ago and not really a gangsta or criminal. Then go tell your story like it really was and is ..even if you don't feel like it's all that thrilling to hear. 

You recall in the book of Acts hearing the Apostle Paul boldy and enthusiastically telling his own story to commoners and even to rulers who were thinking about killing him. The Lord stood with Paul to strengthen him, and you remember how he became all things to all people in a sense.. in order to earn the right to be heard by them. It was in order to win their hearts over to Jesus. He wasn't merely after "scalps" or numbers per se, but said... 

"Even though I am free of the demands and expectations of everyone, I have voluntarily become a servant to any and all in order to reach a wide range of people: religious, nonreligious, meticulous moralists, loose-living immoralists, the defeated, the demoralized—whoever. I didn't take on their way of life. I kept my bearings in Christ—but I entered their world and tried to experience things from their point of view. I've become just about every sort of servant there is in my attempts to lead those I meet into a God-saved life. I did all this because of the Message. I didn't just want to talk about it; I wanted to be in on it!" 1 Cor. 9:19-23 msg

von giphy.com

"But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, He will bear witness about Me." ~ Jesus, John 15:26 

"And you also will bear witness, because you have been with Me (Jesus) from the beginning." John 15:27 

"And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in His Son." 1 John 5:11 

"Give heed to Him and hearken to His voice, do not rebel against Him.." Exod. 23:21a

"For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one." 1 John 5:7 nkjv

Just be listenin' to and open to the leading of the Holy Spirit. Take heart and give heed to Him. Why? Here's why: He's so "for you" and more for you sharing Christ, God's Word, the Gospel message and your story right.. than even you are, believer. Sure, He's more for people finding lasting spiritual satisfaction in Christ than any human here on earth is. So obey Him. Seek to know God well, and to make Him well known. facebook.com/shareJesus