Life Lessons

Life Lessons From an Old Marine

The most important thing I learned: God is real and is the rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. ~ Hebrews 11:6  

Learn to love God's Book. If the Book says do a certain thing, try to do it. If the Book says not to do certain things, try not to do it. The Bible is not religious, it's practical down to earth advice.

The second thing I learned: When the going gets tough, the tough get going. I was a United States Marine on active duty from 1958 to 1962. Then in the Marine Corps Reserve from 1962-1964. Marines do the difficult immediately, the impossible just takes a while longer. You never fail until you fail to try.

The third thing I learned: Debt is a killer. The very word mortgage comes from the root word for death. i.e., mortal. mortician. When you are in debt, you are in a "death grip."

Put Everything Into Perspective

1. Always maintain a good sense of humor.
2. Never be too good to start at the bottom. Only ditch diggers start at the top.
   
3. Exercise every single day, even when you don't feel like it.
4. Don't spend more money than you make.
5. Love at first sight is not a fable.
6. Having a bad job is better than having no job at all.
7. Your family is the most precious thing you will ever have in life.
8. Your life is delicate, and if you neglect yourself, you'll spoil.
   
9. Don't ever be afraid to be your true self.
10. Everyone has too many clothes. Wear what you have and quit buying more.
11. You must be able to forgive, even if it's difficult to do.
12. Save your money now and spend it later.
13. Love is not always easy; sometimes you have to work at it.
14. Find something comical in every single situation.
15. If you're faced with a problem, don't delay asking your earthly father and your Heavenly Father for advice.
    
16. Make sure you're doing what you love; don't be afraid to follow those dreams you have for yourself.
17. Education is important, but not necessary. Life can be an education in itself.
18. Explore your world and stay curious.
19. Don't take yourself too seriously.
20. Life is a gift that you must unwrap. It's up to you to determine if what's inside will lead you to happiness or despair. God gave you the power to make that decision for yourself.

Change your perspective from get to give. Another piece of good advice from the Bible found in Acts 20:35

I'm not trying to "get you saved," Your Heavenly Father loves you no matter what, and there's not a darn thing you can do about it. God just wants you to find the true way to live, have peace of mind, and be healthy and happy. Set aside time every day to read one chapter of the Bible. Start with the Book of Proverbs. Pray for wisdom.

You're Invited to Renew Your Strength Bible Study Group... https://mlf1070.blogspot.com/2021/01/renew.html

 

Fishers of Men

 

By Donald Wiley

"For the earnest expectation of the creature waits for the manifestation of the sons of God" (Romans 8:19). That's the King James Version. Most modern versions use the word "creation" instead of "creature." And I think that gives the sense of what is being said a bit more clearly. 

All of the previous generations of mankind were subjected to a futile, vain existence temporarily. Various North and South American Indian tribes rose and fell, living out life's little day in a vain existence. This held true for almost all other sons of Adam - the Asian hordes, the nomadic peoples of other lands, the aboriginal peoples of Australia. God made no effort to enlighten them or enter their lives in any way - THEN! But divine mind had conceived a plan, a plan that would bring many sons to glory and immortality. 

That is why Jesus is called THE FIRSTBORN OF MANY BRETHREN (See Romans 8:29). All the created peoples of ages past are waiting in their graves for our change from physical flesh to immortal spirit. That is WHY when speaking of the dead Jesus Christ, all the prophets, and all the apostles used but one of two terms to describe the condition of the dead, saying they were either dead or "asleep." The "elect" of God, the only truly redeemed will someday be used of God to be "fishers of men." When Jesus told Peter and Andrew, "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men," He was not primarily speaking of them leading others to salvation. (See Matthew 4:19). 

He was actually alluding to an ancient prophecy uttered by the prophet Jeremiah who wrote what God said, "Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that it shall no more be said, The Lord lives, that brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt, but the Lord lives that brought up (from the dead) the children of Israel from the land of the north, and from all the lands whither he had driven them, and I will bring them again into their land that I gave unto their fathers. Behold I will send for many fishers, saith the Lord, and they shall fish them, and after will I send for many hunters, and they shall hunt them from every mountain, and from every hill, and out of the holds of the rocks (used by the Hebrew people as tombs since time immemorial)" (See Jeremiah 16:14-16). 

 

That is WHY Jesus said, "The works that I do shall you do also." He was raising the dead! We, too, shall be used of God in raising the dead of ages past - billions and billions. Those having received that "other" spirit spoken of by Paul in 2 Corinthians 11:4, call this "cherry picking" as they do not have the eyes to see or hearts to understand what God is saying through the writings of His prophets!

Most preachers are totally oblivious to what God is doing on this earth. They think "getting saved" is just escaping being burned alive in hell and flitting off to heaven where one walks on streets of gold for all eternity. They also think "getting saved" is merely confessing publicly you believe Jesus died for you and, presto-chango, you are then and forever a full-fledged child of God heaven bound. Satan's work of deception is staggering!

"For as many as are LED by the Spirit of God, THEY (and no others) ARE THE SONS OF GOD" (Romans 8:14). Led continuously, day in and day out, throughout one's life, from the moment true and lasting full repentance is achieved and one is thereby granted God's wondrous and powerful Holy Spirit. Salvation is not accomplished in one fell swoop, one moment in time way back there in that Sunday service when on the 14th chorus of "Just As I Am" you finally broke down and "went down front" and had the preacher pray over you and assure you that you had just escaped hell and were now bound for glory. Read God's Word and believe it, folks. And the Holy Spirit will help you  understand.

Christ's Faithful Servant (Galatians 1:10-12)

Donald Wiley

What is Salvation and How Do You Obtain It?... https://mlf1070.blogspot.com/2022/10/altar-calls.html

For more Bible enlightenment, You Are Cordially Invited to Renew Your Strength Bible Study Group... https://mlf1070.blogspot.com/2021/01/renew.html