Wednesday's Words! Encouragement from God's Word

 

(C) 2022, Allen Pearson Photography

"God bless America,

land that I love,

stand beside her

and guide her

Through the night with the

light from above."

- Irving Berlin, 1918, 1938

Sunday's Thought!

"An Open Bible"

Photo by Elena Putina on Unsplash

For several years now, I've been writing "Sunday's Thought" with only one goal. It is to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with others as best as I can through stories. My original intent was to focus on sharing with my fellow artists including photographers that I have met and enjoyed their work over the years. However, I began thinking that was too limited and worked to focus my writing on God's Good News rather than a specific audience.

This week, I began wondering whether you, dear reader, know exactly where you will spend eternity after you die. Yup. Once you die, you will go to heaven or hell. Do you know where you will go? If you dropped dead this second, where are you heading?

Many people believe that because they are good people, doing good things, and staying out of trouble, they will go to heaven. Or, they believe because they call themselves Christian, they are heaven-bound. Some people think because they go to church, doesn't matter what church, sing a few songs, read a few Scriptures, say a few prayers, and recite church liturgical readings, they will go to heaven. It would be great if that were true.

What is true? If you pray to Jesus asking Him to forgive your sins with a sincere heart, He will forgive you of your sins. Follow Him going forward to live the Christian life God wants for you. It is as simple as that. God will form you into the person He wants you to be, possibly without you even realizing it, which is what happened to me. I wouldn't trade my life for anything else... thanks be to God, that is.

If you would like to learn more about Jesus, Christianity, the Bible, and God, please visit Peace With God.

Wednesday's Words! Encouragement from God's Word

(C) 2022, Allen Pearson Photography

"There is Something About That Name!"

- Bill and Gloria Gaither

Sunday's Thought!

(C) 2022, Allen Pearson Photography

Today being Father's Day brings back many memories of my father. He was a great man. Though I have to admit he didn't excel in greatness as society would describe. 

My father was a godly man who made Christ, the teachings of the Bible, and the church the focus of our family. He didn't work a job that would interfere with attending church, church work, or his family. Work had its place. He worked full-time and didn't have a lot of time during the week to do every single activity with us that he would like, he did his best to take my brother and me on many outings. 

We went to car shows, steam engine-led train rides, the zoo, the Christmas parades, and nearly, if not all, of the historical monuments or landmarks and museums (no, you can not get through any Smithsonian museum in one day) in Washington D.C. and where we grew up. I used to think that I knew all any young boy should know about American history in our area. Though, as I kid, I may not have enjoyed all that, now they are great memories.

A very special memory of mine is the many years that Dad took us to Virginia Nazarene Campmeeting for Family Week. It was a week of revival-type evening worship services with special singers and evangelists. He would pitch a good-size tent where we slept all week. He grilled a few meals on a portable stove. I made several friends during the week while hearing some of the best music and sermons.

I look back on this Father's Day thinking that my father was an example of what my Heavenly Father, God, is like. Dad always wanted the best for us, he wanted us to be Christians following God, Worship God, do the work of the church, and help others along the way. I dare say, that Dad would lay his life down for his sons so they would spend eternity in heaven much as God did so we would have eternal life. My earthly father loved us that much.

My heavenly Father did just that. He loves us so much He wants you to spend eternity in heaven. He doesn't force you to follow Him but tries to guide you along life's way to decide where you want to spend eternity after death. Your choice, heaven or hell?

Happy Father's Day to those who are fathers or spend any role with a child/youth as a father. When you see your father, give him a hug and spend some time with him.  I would love to spend Father's Day with my father but he decided to go to heaven with Jesus seven years ago. 

Wednesday's Words! Encouragement from God's Word

(C) 2022, Allen Pearson Photography

“‘If you can?'” 

said Jesus. 'Everything

is possible for one 

who believes.'”

 - Mark 9:23

Sunday's Thought!

"A Bride and Groom"

Photo by Євгенія Височина on Unsplash

Whose Clothes Are You Wearing?

by Adrian Rogers, Love Worth Finding

"I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, My soul shall be joyful in my God; 

for He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with

the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments, 

and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels." -  Isaiah 61:10

Some people reading this will be absolutely speechless when they stand before the King of Heaven. They are church members, but they’re not saved. Instead, they’re dressed in the rags of self-righteousness rather than the wedding garment of His righteousness. Can you say this? “He hath clothed me with the garment of salvation. He hath covered me with the robe of righteousness.”

In 1834 Edward Mote wrote this timeless hymn, “When He shall come with trumpet sound, Oh may I then in Him be found. Dressed in His righteousness alone, Faultless to stand before the throne.”

It would be tragic indeed for those who acted in every conceivable religious way to think they can come to the wedding without being clothed by the righteousness of Christ. I’m not trying to get you to doubt your salvation, but I want to ask you, are you saved? How do you know?

For more from Love Worth Finding and Pastor Adrian Rogers and to learn about salvation, please visit Love Worth Finding - Assurance of Salvation.

Devotion used by written permission of Love Worth Finding.

Wednesday's Words! Encouragement from God's Word

(C) 2022, Allen Pearson Photography

 

"I cannot tell you how much I owe to the

solemn word of my good mother."

- Charles Haddon Spurgeon

Today's "Wednesday's Words" is written in memory of my mother who would have been 79 tomorrow. She passed away around 11 years ago but I still miss her. So many things to share with her as I grew older. 

Sunday's Thought!

"Silhouette of Mountains"
Photo by cmonphotography

Choosing your Destiny

by Jack Graham, Powerpoint Ministries

"Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him…"

- Mark 10:21

I want to talk with you today about one of the most tragic pictures in Scripture. Jesus had just told the rich young ruler that he must sell all his possessions and give to the poor in order to follow him. The man went away brokenhearted because he was clearly unwilling to do what Jesus required.

Do you know what Jesus did next? He did nothing. He didn’t cajole him and say, “Oh, come on back. I’m sure we can negotiate something.” He let the man go.

This young man who had it all lost it all in an instant. He might have become a mighty preacher or used his wealth to the glory of God. He could have laid up treasures in heaven! But none of those things happened.

Now you have a choice to make too. You can choose to follow Christ and to be with him forever or to be separated from him for eternity. Jesus will not force you to follow him, and he will not change the terms of salvation. You come to Jesus on his terms, or not at all!

Right now Jesus is looking at you and loving you. And he invites you to turn loose of anything and everything that would keep you from following him.

Pick up your cross. Follow him, trust him, believe him and receive him into your heart right now.

JESUS WILL NOT FORCE YOU TO FOLLOW HIM.

To learn more about God's Plan for your life, please visit PowerPoint Ministries with Jack Graham, New Life in Christ.

Devotion used by written permission of PowerPoint Ministries with Jack Graham.

Wednesday's Words! Encouragement from God's Word

(C) 2022, Allen Pearson Photography

"Know this,

my beloved

brothers:

Let every person

be quick to hear,

slow to speak,

slow to anger,"

- James 1:9