Things Above Thoughts

TAT 131 The Inch

In Revelation 13:11–18 we read of one who has worldwide control over all humanity. Without their approval no one can buy or sell anything! While they have control of the entire world they are also the enemy of God. How is it possible that such a person could obtain such control over this earth? Possibly because of fear!

Most of us believe that if someone put a gun to our head and said “deny Christ or I will shoot” we would not fear, we would say “pull the trigger.” But the greater problem, a lest fearful problem, is a problem of inches. Back in the early 1900s the government tried to implement a Social Security program which would require everyone to receive a specific, individual, number. It was met with such resistance the government had to first implement it as a voluntary program and stated, in writing, that the numbers would not be used for identification purposes. My Social Security card, obtained in the 60s, has, in writing, in capital letters, the statement “FOR SOCIAL SECURITY AND TAX PURPOSES – NOT FOR IDENTIFICATION.” The government has “inched” its way along to its present position with required Social Security and identification. Another example of “inching along” is realized in treaties the government made with some Native American tribes: “as long as the grass grows and the water flows.” Therefore it is true, it is not the gun we need to fear the most but the inch.

In this time of fear let us not establish a flimsy framework of control which can inch along into a worldwide system of control that can be used by a future antichrist.

On the bright side, it might be nearing the time for us to say – “just pull the trigger?”.

Songs

On October 28, 2015   /   Christian Basics, Darkness & Light, Satan, Suffering, Trials, Victory  

Things Above Thoughts
TAT #22
Songs

The information about the conflict between God and Satan is not new. Ever since this hidden information was revealed to Paul it has been readily available to us (Acts 26:18; Ephesians 3:9–10; 2 Corinthians 2:11). Our mothers and fathers even sang about it!

“For still our ancient foe doth seek to work us woe”
(A Mighty Fortress Is Our God)

“Though the wrong seems so oft so strong, God is the ruler yet.”
(This Is My Father’s World)

“The Prince of Darkness grim, we tremble not for him; his rage we can endure, for low, his doom is sure;”
(A Mighty Fortress Is Our God)

“Jesus who died shall be satisfied, and earth and heaven be one.”
(This Is My Father’s World)

“Sure I must fight, if I would reign; increase my courage, Lord”
(Am I a Soldier of the Cross?)

“Let earth adore, let angels minds inquirer no more”
(And Can It Be That I Should Gain)

“Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, prone to leave the God I love; here’s my heart, O take and seal it; seal it for thy courts above.”
(Come, Thou Fount)

Stay strong and keep singing, you are in good company (Hebrews 12:1)!

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Suffering

On October 28, 2015   /   Christian Basics, Christian Values, Endurance, Eternal, Suffering, Victory  

Things Above Thoughts
TAT #21
Suffering & Value

We all sin every once in a while but we have a loving Father:

And have you forgotten the exhortation addressed to you as sons? “My son, do not scorn the Lord’s discipline or give up when he corrects you. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves and chastises every son he accepts.” (Hebrews 12:5–6 NET)

But He does so (disciplines us) for our benefit, that we may share His holiness. (Hebrews 12:10b)

His discipline reveals His love for us and His holiness is only valuable to us when heaven is our value.

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Heavenly Witness

On October 27, 2015   /   Christian Basics, Darkness & Light, Endurance, Eternal, Faith, Heavenly Witness, Kingdom, Trials, Victory  

Things Above Thoughts
TAT #20
Witness

No body knows the troubles you’ve seen!

You have tried to be faithful to God and you have seen much hurt and pain from all the confrontations and battles. Some of the pain remains with you today. But understanding yesterday’s battles from God’s perspective lessens today’s pain.

The Good of the battle:

Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. (James 1:2–4)

The Glory of the battle:

To me, the very least of all saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ, and to enlighten everyone about God’s secret plan– a secret that has been hidden for ages in God who has created all things. The purpose of this enlightenment is that through the church (that’s you) the multifaceted wisdom of God should now be disclosed to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly realms. (Ephesians 3:9–10 NET clarification and emphasis added)

In heaven – your pain is known and God is glorified by your faithfulness – in heaven!

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Goals

On October 27, 2015   /   Christian Basics, Christian Values, Endurance, Eternal, Faith, Kingdom, Victory  

Things Above Thoughts
TAT #19
GOALS

What goals do you have for your life? Love, family, home, good job, money, retirement?
Check out these goals straight from the lips of our Lord:

Thus says the LORD of hosts, “If you will walk in My ways and if you will perform My service, then you will also govern My house and also have charge of My courts, and I will grant you free access among these who are standing here.” (Zechariah 3:7)

The above goals might add a little clarity to Matthew 6:20–21:

But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal;  for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

If we are not living for eternity we are not Living.

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Expectations

On October 27, 2015   /   Christian Basics, Endurance, Eternal, Faith, Victory  

Things Above Thought
TAT #18
Expectations

We expect governments to be fair and equitable. We expect society to exhibit a certain degree of social manners. We expect loved ones to be loving. We expect our friends to be friendly. We expect those who call themselves Christians to act like Christians. The LORD never asks us to have expectations of others. However:

The anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. (Romans 8:19–21)

All creation is watching, waiting on, and expecting – YOU.

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Discipleship

On October 27, 2015   /   Christian Basics, Christian Values, Eternal, Victory  

Things Above Thought
TAT #16
Discipleship

Just read Oswald Chambers and once again he nails it.

Is your discipleship to Jesus Christ for His glory or is it all about the earthly blessings you can gather from obedience? Or, is sharing in His holiness enough good for you?

For they, our earthly fathers, disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness.  (Hebrews 12:10 clarification added)

The true Good that our heavenly Father has for us is His eternal holiness.

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Eternal Light

On October 27, 2015   /   Christian Basics, Christian Values, Endurance, Eternal, Faith, Victory  

Things Above Thought
TAT #15
Eternal Light

Look at your life in the light of today and you will see your sin;
Look at your life in the light of eternity and you will see your glory—His eternal glory:

If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied.
(1 Corinthians 15:19)

Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready. It was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. (Revelation 19:7–8)

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Workout

On October 27, 2015   /   Christian Basics, Endurance, Victory  

Things Above Thought
TAT #14
Spiritual Strength
How was your workout this morning? A good breakfast? It has been said that: “You are not a physical being having a spiritual experience, you are an eternal spiritual being having a temporary physical experience.”

You shall therefore impress these words of mine on your heart and on your soul; . . . talking of them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road and when you lie down and when you rise up. (Deuteronomy 11:18–19)

“MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE, BUT ON EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD.”  (Matthew 4:4)

So let me ask again: How was your workout this morning?

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Eternity

On October 27, 2015   /   Eternal, Faith, Victory  

Things Above Thought
TAT #13
Dust & Eternity

Today I awoke with no wonderful thought about things above, I was dry, and when I looked around all I saw was dust. What a comfort it is to know that my dryness and this dust will soon pass away – FOREVER!

while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

(2 Corinthians 4:18)

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Regret

On October 27, 2015   /   Endurance, Faith, Suffering, Victory  

Things Above Thought
TAT #12
Regret & Expectations

It seems that some of our expectations have produced regret. It also seems that some of our remembered regret causes us to lower our present expectations. Let us once again raise our expectations.

Forgetting the things that are behind and reaching out for the things that are ahead, I strive toward the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. (Phil. 3:13-14 NET)

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