Nothing in this world has the power...

Nothing in this world has the power to bring and end to the word of God.  No war, no natural disasters, no government corruption, no civil division, no social strife, no marital misconduct, no personal struggles, no failure, no fault, no pain, no sorrow, no amount of anger, and no amount of disbelief.  Nothing in this world will ever nullify, unjustify, or even abolish the power of God's word.  Embrace the fullness of Gods word, instruction, promises and prophesies and then your faith will never be taken, shaken, or forsaken. 

Matthew 24:35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.  - Jesus Christ, son of the living God.

#god #godsword #scripture #bible #bibleverse #jesus #jesuschrist #christ #christian #faith #hope #love #church #worship #eternallife #praise #bornagain #forgiven #redeemed 

Unintentional Christian Hypocrite

The unintentional christian hypocrite:

Yes that's right, self proclaimed Christians can be unintentional hypocrites.  You hear the good news of the gospel, you hear about the favorable attributes of Christianity, you are convicted to live a good life defined by christian morals and values so you join the bandwagon.  The bandwagon of cultural unintentional hypocritical Christianity. 

How does this happen?  It's simple, you responded an reacted to emotion in the midst of excitement. In that emotional high you missed the deeper meaning and purpose and therefor embraced the cultural Christianity bandwagon as a way of life.  Your spirt and soul were not in it, but your heart felt emotions and mind were.

So you joined the team and began to go through the motions of acting and behaving like a christian.  You read a bible, said some public prayers, attended church, stopped cussing, stopped drinking, and whatever else Christians do.  Your fatal mistake was that you never gave your heart, spirit and soul to Jesus Christ as your true LORD and savior to begin with.  You only made Him your standards and values to live by.

When Jesus Christ is nothing more than your standards and values to live by then you have become an unintentional christian hypocrite.  What am I saying?  Well it's simple, everything about you on the outside looks like and acts like a Christian because you want to be that way.  Your motivation is based on emotions, new values and better morals because you like and agree with Christianity.  So on the outside you look the part, but on the inside nothing has changed.  Over time you get tired, worn and stressed leading you to failure.  Your strength is gone because your emotions no longer sustain you then you succumb to what is really inside of you.   So all the while you were only acting and pretending to be what you really were not on the inside.  

Christianity begins with the total surrender of your life, heart, mind, spirit and soul to Jesus Christ as lord and savior.  It must begin on the inside and then manifest itself to the outside.  You must allow you sinful self to be crucified on the inside and then brought back to life in Christ. Christianity is the core of what you are spiritually, making you what you ought to be.  It all happens from the inside out and not the outside in.

Matthew 23:27-28  "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men's bones and everything unclean.28 In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.

May I encourage you to accept Jesus and allow Him to change you from the inside out? 

#god #godsword #jesus #jesuschrist #christ #christian #christianity #faith #hypocrite #worship #insideout #bible #bibleverse #scripture 

LIMU for better health

I have to share something amazing that has happened with my wife and I.  recently we were introduced to a dietary supplement that enhances your immune system and boosts your bodies natural abilities to function.  Long story short, in a few short weeks Carri has benefited from the relief of her huntingtons symptoms, relief of back neck pains, psoriasis on her head is completely gone and a neuroma in her foot if dissipating as well.  for me I am pain free from the last 5 years of shoulder, lumbar, sacroiliac joint and right hip pain.  the two of us have never felt so good and so full of energy.  We are convinced this is an answer to prayer and the LORD has led us to LIMU and has given us more quality in life.  if you are interested please let us know.  we would love to share more of the story and success of health benefits.  way too much to share on a single post.  

the personal testimonies of so many people  have amazed us.  this is truly a God thing.



www.carributcher.iamlimu.com

God Give Me a sign

God Give Me a Sign!

That's is what the religious leaders demanded of Jesus during his physical time on earth.  The crazy thing is that Jesus had already been performing miracles.  He healed the sick, raised the dead, made the lame to walk, the blind to see, healed the demon possessed, fed the multitudes with few loaves of bread a a few fish twice, he walked on water and calmed a storm.  All these miracles were confirmed by multitudes of people and their first hand testimonies.  After all that Jesus had already done to justify That He is in fact the son of God, the religious leaders still were not satisfied. 

Why were they not satisfied?  Perhaps because they had not benefited directly by the miracles Jesus had already performed.  In fact the miracles performed had taken away from the religious leaders because they were losing followers.  

Jesus did not come just to perform miracles as if He were a genie in a bottle.  He never proclaimed "Your wish is my command."  No, Jesus made it clear that He was ultimately here to save us from the consequences of sin.  The ultimate miracle is salvation.  The miracle of His death and resurrection from death in Hell in order that He can extend his hand of mercy and grace as evidenced by salvation.  His mercy to spare us the harm and punishment to justly deserve.  His grace to give us what we do not deserve and can not earn, eternal life.  

If Jesus had given the religious leaders the sign they desired it would only have satisfied their sinful desires.  What sign would they have asked for? I can't help but believe that it would have been for selfish gain.  All the other signs that they had been aware of and witnessed were obviously not good enough.

Jesus's reply was basically this; "you are wicked at heart, I will not give you the sign you desire, but their will be a sign that you can accept or reject.  The sign of Jonah, my death and resurrection. Take it or leave to, it's your choice."  

Jesus was more concerned about our eternal needs before our temporary.  If meeting our temporary needs meant our eternal would be compromised then temporary was withheld.  Jesus did not want people to accept Him and worship Him because of what He could do in this world, He wants people to love Him and accept Him for what is eternal.  

The greatest sign, the ultimate miracle is a new life in Christ an eternal life.  So do we as Christians accept Christ as Lord at His word and life testimony and hope only to experience Him after our death? No.  As if the miracle of salvation is not enough in itself, Jesus Christ fills us with the Holy Spirit here in this world.  The gift of the Holy Spirit is the most tangible miracle anyone can receive here in this life long before death comes knocking on your door.

The spirit affirms with our spirit that God is real.  The Holy Spirit offers gifts that surpass understanding.  Gifts like love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.  The Holy Spirit delivers hope.  The Holy Spirit reveals meaning and purpose. The Holy Spirit guides us in life down the path of God's desires.  The Holy Spirit is not a temporary a emotional high or experience.  The Holy Spirit is the unyielding, persevering, persistent presence of the living God residing right inside your heart and soul.  There is no greater miracle in this world than the gift of the Holy Spirit when one accepts Jesus Christ as Lord.

Matthew 16:1-4 The Pharisees and Sadducees came to Jesus and tested him by asking him to show them a sign from heaven.2 He replied, "When evening comes, you say, 'It will be fair weather, for the sky is red,'3 and in the morning, 'Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.' You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times.4 A wicked and adulterous generation looks for a miraculous sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah." Jesus then left them and went away.

Romans 8:13-16 For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live,14 because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.15 For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, ""Abba," Father."16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children.

#god #godsword #bible #bibleverse #scripture #christ #christian #christianity #jesus #jesuschrist #pray #faith #hope #church #faith #miracle #eternallife #holyspirit #fruitofthespirit 

I need a miracle!

I Need a Miracle!

How many times have you asked God for a miracle just so you could have the proof He is real and cares? God knows what we really need to see and witness.  Are miracles real? Absolutely I have witnessed them myself firsthand.

Do the miracles we hope for save lives? I would have to say no.  At first you are probably saying I am wrong, miracles do save lives.  I say only for a little while.  Sure miracles had cured people of cancer an yes miracles have spared lives from tragic events.  I have seen it and witnessed it first hand.  But never ever have I witnessed or heard of a miracle that kept someone from ever dying later on in life.  Even Jesus Christ died.  

You say I need a miracle, perhaps you do.  If you get your miracle then what will you do?  Will your hope and faith be tied to a temporary stay of life because of a tangible material miracle? It will not last, life will still end in death.  

Do you need a miracle? Absolutely, but not a miracle confined to outward events or physical needs.  You need a miracle that occurs inwardly and spiritually.  You need a miracle that lasts eternally.  The miracle you need goes beyond the grave.  

Are other miracles a waste? Only if they produce no inward spiritual miracles will they be a waste to you personally.  I have seen physical miracles change the lives of witnesses not directly effected.  So miracles don't go to waste.  But your miracle is a waste to you if never produces the inward spiritual miracle  God desires.  

Jesus Christ speaks of this very thing when He spoke about the sign of Jonah.  Then of Nineveh were not saved because of Jonah and the three days in the belly of a whale miracle.  They were saved because God used that miracle to open the door of their hearts in order to see, feel, experience and receive the eternal spiritual miracle of salvation.  

My faith, my hope, my assurance, and my purpose are not grounded and contingent upon the miracles it even the answer to prayers I have blessed to see and receive.  It is all grounded upon the miracle of what Jesus Christ did and continues to do inside of me.  

May I challenge you to ask God for a miracle, a miracle that only you can see?  The same kind of miracle that happened inside of me.  What you need more than anything is not physical healing but spiritual.  

Matthew 12:39-42 Then some of the Pharisees and teachers of the law said to him, "Teacher, we want to see a miraculous sign from you."39 He answered, "A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a miraculous sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.40 For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.41 The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now one greater than Jonah is here.42 The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for she came from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon's wisdom, and now one greater than Solomon is here.

#god #godsword #bible #bibleverse #scripture #christ #christian #christianity #jesus #jesuschrist #pray #faith #hope #answeredprayer #church #faith #miracle #eternallife #healing #maui #Hawaii #whale #humpbackwhale

Ask, seek, knock, and find

Have you ever found yourself on your knees begging and pleading with God for something?  Maybe healing, maybe a way out of a bad situation, or maybe direction in life.  I have.  Did God answer you?  The answer is yes.  Sometimes God says yes, sometimes no, and sometimes not now.  

When it comes to asking God for something, He never said "ask, sit on a tree stump and wait, I will be back with your answer soon."  He said "Ask, seek, and knock."

Finding the answers is conditional on our obedience to act.  God said "ask" so ask.  He then said "seek."  To seek means you have to go and look and search for Gods answer.  Don't just sit there, go find it.  It may be found in meeting the right person, a job interview, or maybe even a new location.  I don't know but go look, just like a kid trying to find a hidden Easter egg.  God also said to "knock."  To knock means to keep looking, keep searching, and if oh didn't find it behind door number one then go knock on another door.  Maybe a job interview failed, then go interview somewhere else.  If it failed then God said "no."  

No matter what you are asking for you must seek and knock.  Sometimes you may find it right away and other times it may take a while.  No matter what God says "ask, seek, knock and you will find."

Matthew 7:8 For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened

Face to Face

Even John recognized the importance of keeping relationships personal 2000 years ago.  People seriously need to heed his example.  

3 John 13-14  I have much to write you, but I do not want to do so with pen and ink.  14 I hope to see you soon, and we will talk face to face.

We live in a day where relationships have predominately become face to Facebook, talk to text, and seeing to selfies.  There is much to be said in making relationships personal.  

What are your favorite memories with friends and family?  Chances are it is not the digital connections, but rather the times when it was personal.  Personal times like camping or hiking trips, holiday get togethers and other gatherings that involved good talks, shared tears and lots of laughter.  

Can I encourage you to make your relationships more personal and less digital?  I have to say, John was right 2000+ years ago just as much as he is right today. 

The little boy in the picture is from Nicaragua.  I met him during a mission trip.  We laughed and goofed off,  great memories and a great example of making it personal. 

Are you a team player?

For years I coached youth soccer.  I really enjoyed taking a group of kids and teaching them to be a team.  For me is it wasn't so much about winning games by points but by winning games by coming together as a team and playing our best.  Real winners worked together,  persevere together and stay together regardless the outcome of the points.

Let me tell you, building a team had its challenges.  I remember a kid who shall remain nameless who was a challenge.  It seemed like no matter what I said he did different and no matter what we were doing he did his own thing.  

As you can imagine his behavior presented some issues for the team. I remember asking him one day if he enjoyed the team, he said yes.  I asked him if he thought he was a part of the team, he said yes.  I smiled and said "no, your not a part of this team."  He looked at me confused, looked at his jersey then the jersey's of the others and the said "yes I am."  Again I said "no."  

Then I went on to explain that if he wanted to be a part of the team he was going to have to listen and do as I say.  Otherwise he was working against us and that made him our opponent.  I shared that a team works together in achieving a common goal not against one another.  I said if no one passes you the ball when you are open you can't score.  He agreed.  I said if you don't pass the ball to your players who are open they can't score either.  

I went on and explained that when a goal was scored, I took the whole team.  Defense to keep the ball away from our goal and offense to keep the ball away from their defense so we could score a goal.  If defense failed, offense never got a chance to score. If offense failed, then all the work defense did was wasted.  

If you are truly a apart of a team, you do as the coach says and work together for the common goal.  In Christ, if your a part of the team you will do as he says.  Otherwise your on the opposing team.

1 John 2:3-6 We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands.4 The man who says, "I know him," but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him.5 But if anyone obeys his word, God's love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him:6 Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.

Sanctification is a perpetual process

Sanctification is a perpetual process.  I confess, God forgives and gives me what I need to be purified.  

When Christ is accepted as Lord and savior over your life, then you have accepted to be sanctified.  Accepting Jesus as lord is not simply acknowledging His existence, virgin birth, righteous life, undeserving crucifixion, or His resurrection.  Even the demons acknowledge these truths. Accepting the living God as Lord over your life is an act of handing your life over to Him to do His will and fulfill His purpose in and through you.  It is entering in to a covenant of sanctification.

Sanctification is the process in which God washes an cleanses our lives of sin and unrighteousness.  It is a process of making us more holy, more righteous, more pure, more blameless, less sinful, less foolish, less us and more like Him. 

Sanctification is a perpetual process.   I confess, God forgives and God gives me what I need to be purified and sanctified.  I must recognize, acknowledge, accept and agree what God defines as sin in my life.  Then I must tell Him that I recognize, acknowledge, accept and agree with Him concerning the sin in my life.  When I am real with God and come into agreement, confessing that sin, He forgives me.  After He forgives, He always gives us a way to purify our lives from that sin.  His provision always starts with repentance. He gives us conviction, perseverance, instruction, new direction, fresh starts, people to encourage, prayer warriors, new provisions, strength, and on and on.  

When we have conquered one sin we move in to the next, repeating the perpetual process of sanctification.  Confess, forgive, and purification.  Before you know it, you are no longer who you were but more and more His. 

1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us out sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 

If only a second earlier...

"If only it was a second earlier or a second later." In my career with emergency medical services I have heard that phrase time and time again. "If only..." Sometimes it is good and sometimes it is bad.  "If only I was a second sooner or later, then no one would have died." "If only it was... Then this never would have happened."  "If only... my life could have been over."  

As Christians we stress about the "if only times."  We want God to move and act on our time.  Our time however is rarely the right time. Our time usually results in missed blessings and missed opportunities. God's time is always the right time.  He is the author and creator of time and everything else in this universe.  Shouldn't we trust his timing?  

1 Peter 5:6 humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time.

Due time is God's time, God's time is always the right time.  Can I encourage you to trust in the lord's timing?

Advice for wives if unbelieving husbands

Time and time again I have talked with and encouraged christian wives concerning their unsaved husbands. It breaks my heart every time I hear the words and see the tears in the eyes of women who want their husbands to find The Lord.  It never fails that the question is posed; "How do I get my husband to find Christ, love him like I do and want to be in church?"   

First Ladies, trust in The Lord and the power of the Holy Spirit.  You will never save your husband, only Jesus Christ can.  Secondly pray, pray, and when you are done praying, pray some more.  Invite other women and men of faith to pray as well.  Prayer works.  Through prayer God changes out hearts, our words and our actions.  Not only does prayer change us, prayer moves us in ways that The Lord needs us to move in order to reveal himself to others.

In my opinion, the most powerful testimony you have in leading your husband to The Lord is submission.  NOT slavery, just simple godly humble submission.  I'm am talking about the same kind of submission that Jesus portrayed for us. He loved us in spite of our sins and weaknesses.  He sought ways to show and express his love to us, even when we were not likeable.  Through his words and actions he showed us He loved us and he valued us.  Even more important than how he proved he loved us, he showed us how much more he loved his father, our God.  Wives, submit first to The Lord as Christ submitted to his father and then submit to your husbands as Christ submitted unto us.

Here is what I am trying to say;  trust in The Lord, petition for your husbands salvation in prayer, prove your love for the lord by how you love your husband because of how Christ loved you.  Don't hide your love for God, but make your husband covet the same relationship  in a holy way.  

When your husband experiences the love, purity and reverence you have in your life because of Jesus Christ by the way you conduct yourself and treat him, he will see The Lord.  Persevere in revealing  Christ daily.  Let your man witness your love for Jesus and His sanctifying works in your life.  When the opportunity arises, us your words.  

1 Peter 3:1-6 Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives,2 when they see the purity and reverence of your lives.3 Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes.4 Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight.5 For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to make themselves beautiful. They were submissive to their own husbands,6 like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her master. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear.

#god #godsword #bible #bibleverse #scripture #pray #prayer #husband #wife #submit #submission #christ #jesus #jesuschrist #christian #love #salvation #unbeliever