Many Years Ago I Was Talking To One Of My Buddies Who Was A Relatively New Believer, When In Just Shooting

Many years ago I was talking to one of my buddies who was a relatively new believer, when in just shooting the breeze he used a proverbial ’four-letter word’ to describe a problem at work, caught himself, looked embarrassed and apologized and said, “Hey brother, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to say it that way.”

I surprised myself with my response, because I also was a fairly new believer in Christ, but the Holy Spirit gave me a response well beyond my spiritual maturity.

“Hey man, that’s OK. You know, one thing about being in Christ is that as we become more like Him, the sins in our life are like leaves on a tree in the autumn…they fall off the tree one leaf at a time.”

In this life that is how it works…the sin-leaves of our life will never be completely gone, but they will keep on falling one-by-one as we are obedient in Christ and seek to be conformed to His image (Philippians 3:10). When we do - much like a tree at the end of fall - our sins of the flesh will gradually fall away. However because we are still in a sinful world, these 'sin-leaves' will never be completely gone - much like leaves that stubbornly refuse to fall from a tree after winter sets in.

The good news is there is a new spring coming in heaven when we will all be both free from sin and new leaves of purity will spring forth from us in a vibrance that will last forever! Until then Christian, Let The Sin-Leaves of Your Life FALL!

God Bless Your Day Jesus Loves You NotesOnLife.org

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When we see symbols we usually have a good idea what they mean.

For example the barbershop pole means haircuts, the power button starts electronics, and the radiation symbol indicates danger ahead. Although the cross is the oldest and most recognizable of all symbols, few UNDERSTAND what IT means — and the significance and power behind it.

Today crosses are commonly worn as just another piece of jewelry or seen afixed to church buildings and when seen, most people give little or no thought to it, but if they came to understand the power behind it, they would realize that it is THE single most significant of all symbols!

You see, the cross is a powerful parable in wood of a true story that happened over two thousand years ago where an innocent man died —not for HIS crimes — but for the crimes of all people in all times - past, present and future, and that was Jesus Christ.

If you have never seriously considered who Christ is, why he died, and the power of the cross, today is the day you ought look seriously at understanding this mystery, and come to the “...full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ.” (Colossians 2:2)

Friend, if there is ANY One Symbol that essential to understand, it is this one.

God Bless Your Day Jesus Loves You NotesOnLife.org

Most people think of doing wrong as a series of more serious sin on a graduated scale. That is a little white lie like 'The check is in the mail' is a lot less serious than murder.

Galatians 5:19 lists seventeen serious sins, from adultery to wild partying — and a lot of other grevious things inbetween — but none of them is greater than the PRESUMPTOUS SIN. So what is this sin and why is it the most damning?

Inwardly, everyone has a conscience, and when any of the so-called “deadly sins” are committed, people deep-down know they shoudn’t be doing them, but because it feels right or it’s justified in their mind...they do them anyway. However this most deadly of all sins circumvents conscience.

You see, whenever we presume, that is – determine in our minds that what we choose to do or believe is “right” and perfectly OK we fly in the face of the truth, and the #1 presumption of this is “I do not need (or) believe in God.” That, for certain is the surest way to eternal destruction because then you will be NOT innocent from the great transgression and final judgement of God.

This is serious! ALL SINS – no matter how heinous you’ve committed in this life — are forgivable, but the presumptuous sin is the great cosmic sucker punch you NEVER saw coming.

Friend, DO NOT make this - THE biggest of all mistakes.

God Bless Your Day Jesus Loves You

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Oh-Oh!! The years fly by and then one day your last year comes and it is time for you to make an exit. When that day comes, are you ready for it?

If there is one critical question that most people NEVER take the time to answer, it is this - WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? Sadly at the moment of death, if this question was never resolved then there are desperate cries of “I don’t want to die!!” But here is the raw truth - we ALL get booted off planet earth, and there is nothing you can do to stop that, but there IS something YOU can do beforehand to prepare for it!

All that takes is one simple step and one sure decision. Make a choice right now to go before Almighty God and simply say, “LORD, you are God and I am a sinful person that has not lived a perfect life. I am asking you to forgive me of my sins, to make me clean by what Jesus Christ did on the cross on my behalf, and take me when I die to be with you forever. I promise to make you the LORD of my life and to follow you the rest of my days. I ask this in the name of Jesus, AMEN.”

Friend, if you prayed that prayer earnestly from the heart, when that last year comes, you’ll enjoy an 'EEE' (Excellent Earth Exit!)

[ Then, have a nice flight! :-) ]

God Bless Your Day Jesus Loves You

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Many years ago, I was the Chief Judge for the national Concourse d'Elegance Jaguar show. The finest cars from across the nation competed in more than two dozen categories - each hoping to be obtain a flawless, perfect score.

At the awards presentation later that evening, while standing with the President of Jaguar Cars N.A. on one side, and Ian Callum, head director of design on the other, I announced the winners to hundreds of anxious owners who had spent many years and untold hours and dollars bringing their cars to perfection.

After congratulating all the participants on their participation and before announcing the winners, I soberly reminded them that despite all the time, effort, and money spent, that just one wayward NAT found by a judge that was missed somewhere would be the difference between being “perfect” or not.

As today’s scripture tells us, likewise God cannot look upon or accept anything that is not 100% perfect and pure. Even if you have lived and worked diligently by living an exemplary life, just one sin in your life as small as a single 'nat' is what seperates you from perfection.

Friend, no matter how hard you work on the 'car' of your life, the eternal judge cannot judge you as 100% perfect unless you ask God to wipe clean every sin from your life. The GOOD NEWS (Gospel) is that when Jesus Christ died on the cross, his sacrificial death cleaned away EVERY 'nat' of your sin. All you need do to be perfect in this judge's eye is simply and honestly ask him to do so.

At the end of this life’s 'show,' how will your life be judged?

God Bless Your Day Jesus Loves You

NotesOnLife.org

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Character is not inherited or simply obtained by being around outstanding people. Instead, it is created by persevering through difficult problems - and overcoming them.

The Bible tells the story of people that despite circumstances, opposition, or persecution, persevered through situations that were seemingly impossible. Great characters of faith like Joseph, Moses, David - and most significantly Jesus - worked through difficulties beyond what most of us could not imagine. However, all of them eventually not only overcame but persevered to victory. Despite the challenges and suffering set before them, they persevered in the face of their severe trials and tribulations by putting into practical practice faith with persistence.

Because we live in a fallen world, problems will arise, and the unpredictably in this year of 2020 is a sobering example. The good news is that Isaiah 9:6 says that we have a great “Counselor” on our side to help us work through every obstacle and His Name is Jesus.

Perseverance takes practice performed with persistence. While we are all inundated by problems in this life, as you persist in overcoming problems that you have resolved, the better you will become at resolving them going forward, and by doing so, by default you will inherit CHARACTER.

God Bless Your Day Jesus Loves You NotesOnLife.org

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