Have you ever considered yourself to be a captive? What does the word captive mean to you? The dictionary defines it to mean: a person who is enslaved or dominated, held bound. We never think of ourselves as prisoners unless we have been convicted of a crime and jailed. Confined behind iron bars with no escape for a period of time.

Our freedoms limited, our actions predetermined, and our choices controlled. But, that is not entirely true. We all have been or are captives by the consequences from the choices of our lives. Unfortunately, many of us are still chained by those choices. What are the chains that bind you?

There are so many chains we get caught up in and find ourselves enslaved. Drugs are a euphoric experience that we feel we are in control of until we try to stop using them. The excitement is temporary and requires continued use. Alcohol numbs the mind and distorts our view of the situations we find ourselves in. It invokes irrational behavior and sometimes confrontations.

Greed is a chain we fail to recognize. Our search for success is measured by the amount of money we have,how big the home we have, how many cars we drive,  and how much influence we have. However; we never seem to have enough. Violence is another chain we fail to recognize,we find ways to justify the actions we take which result in hurting another.

We tell ourselves it is because we know what is best for them, they disrespected us or our opinion, we have to show them who is boss or we have to put them in their place because we are more important and they don’t really matter. The most common excuse is they deserved it.

Sometimes it is not physical but verbal, yet; the hurt is the same. The pain caused is still real and the effects devastating. The enemy is constantly finding ways to chain us to the choices we make. He tempts us with riches of the world, power to control &dominate others, and material things that have limited value.

When we succumb to his temptations we are unable to break away by our own strength. We become his captives, enslaved by our own lust and selfishness. Entangled by chain after chain as we seek to gratify our selfish desires until we are so heavily  bound we give in to captivity. Too weak to fight we are overcome with darkness of heart.

Love is filtered through what we can gain for our selves. Do you want to be Free? Have you realized you are enslaved? Are your passions in control of you instead of you controlling your passions? The enemy is very deceptive, he keeps us confused and distracted from the truth of who we have become with him leading our lives. We fail to acknowledge we are not in control but are being controlled by him.

Freedom is available, but we must want to be free. By our own strength we cannot defeat the enemy nor can we escape his grasp. We must believe he is a defeated foe by the blood shed at Calvary’s cross. Only when covered by this blood can the chains of the deceiver be broken. Redemptive cleansing blood that changes the hearts of men.

Blood that was freely given and is available for the asking to all who wish to be released from captivity. It is the blood of Jesus the Christ, the choice is yours. Live in captivity or BE FREE.

Is it real? or is it memorex? this was a question asked by a commercial some years ago. Recording with memorex was said to be so true to life you couldn’t tell the difference. Some of us as Christians are reflecting a memorex story in our Christian journey. It doesn’t matter if we worship on the biblical Sabbath of the 4th commandment  the 7th day or the changed Sabbath by the Catholic church the 1st day we are not the true example of Christ’s Teachings.

Some are Formal Christians, they go to church to worship because it is what their family has always done. They get baptized because it is what is expected of them. They join organizations in the church and are dutiful in their commitment , however; their heart is unchanged, their tongue remains sharp and mistakes are not tolerated . Some are copy cat Christians, they do what they see everyone else doing. They are outwardly connected in the eyes of those who see them, but; the life in secret has not changed.

They sit by the pool of life giving water but choose not to drink. Then there are Christians who have in their own eyes attained such spiritual enlightenment they consider themselves to be Holy. They sit in judgement of the faults and mistakes of others, forgetting that some of them are the same mistakes they have made. so easily they forget the only difference is they are forgiven sinners, yet; they have no forgiveness in them. They find it easy to hold you to a higher standard then they hold themselves.

The title Christian means you have chosen to follow the Christ who is Jesus. Therefore you should walk as he walked. He met no stranger, relieved suffering wherever it was found, feed the hungry, comforted the broken, spoke truth at all times, rebuked wrong with love, and loved those who were considered bad as he loved those that were considered good.

He was constantly at work for the salvation of all men. He went where the people abode in darkness to give them the opportunity to choose light. So the question to you is, when you look into the mirror of your life and compare it to the example of the life of Christ; “Is it REAL or is it MEMOREX?”

It had been a long day, the body was tired and the mind was consumed with worry. Everything that could go wrong, did. I could do nothing but sit in the darkness and wonder what I had done to deserve what seemed to be endless struggle.

The sun was setting and the last gleam-er of it’s light cast amber shadows against the wall, I should turn on the light I thought but there was no motivation too move. Yet; I no longer wanted to be in the dark. For the first time being in the dark became a reality I had not given much attention.

For the first time I realized my circumstances were the direct result of my choices and for the first time I understood this was the consequence. The realization hit me like a ton of bricks, it shook me to my core. As I tried to regain my composure the silence was shattered by a gentle voice saying “I’m here, I’ve been waiting on you” “if you give me your burden I will carry it for you.”

The sun had fully set, I turned in the direction of the voice trying to adjust my site to the darkness that had now consumed the room. There in the corner stood a quiet figure arms out stretched. Suddenly the peace and joy I felt dispelled the darkness I was engulfed by and in my heart I knew without a doubt, I had just met JESUS

I laid my burdens at his feet, accepted his gift of love and forgiveness. The light was turned on in my soul. I now have a new realization, though I may be surrounded by darkness; the light is always with me because of the visitor.

If you are at your wits end and the problems of life are closing in on you, don’t give up. Open the door to your heart the visitor wants to come in and make you a part of his family.

The jury was seated, the bailiff shouted all rise. The judge entered the court room, you may be seated; the trial began. A hush fell over the court room as the prosecutor stood to address the court.  PA: your honor this defendant is guilty of the despicable act of “treason”.  All residents of the earth know the law requires all men to honor “The Lords day” on the 1st day of each week. No other day is to be honored.

The attention of all in the court room turned to the defense table. The defendant sitting quietly starring  at the sunlight streaming through the court room window seemed unaffected by the prosecutors statement. His appearance was worry free as the sunlight grasped his face in its beams. Whispers came from all around the court room breaking the silence. JUDGE:call your first witness. PA: I call #305 to the stand.

PA: do you know the defendant? W: Yes; that’s my neighbor. PA: how long have you been neighbors?. W: 5 years. PA: what can you tell me about this defendant? W: they have a shop on the corner of our street. It is open everyday but Saturday. PA: do you mean it is open on “the Lords day”? W: yes. PA: what else can you tell us? W: as long as I have known them at sundown Friday they stop working or doing daily task until sundown Saturday.

PA: do you know why they do this? W: they say this is the day God blessed and the day we should worship him. PA: thank you, I have no further questions. JUDGE: Mr. defense attorney do you have any questions for this witness? D: no your honor. JUDGE: you may step down, call your next witness. PA: the prosecution rest your honor.

JUDGE: is the defense ready? D: yes your honor. JUDGE: call your witness. D: I call the defendant to the stand. You have heard the testimony against you, have you anything to say in your defense? W: yes, I do; I am in love with Jesus the Christ and follow his example. This may not be your test,yet; somewhere in the world there are follows of Christ that give their lives for their faith in him.

When you accept the love of Christ  you are transformed into a new creature. His love in you will shine forth as the noon day sun and all who come in contact with you will know you belong to him. He told us to love as he loved and should we deny him before men he would deny us before his Father in Heaven. We must be grounded in him to stand in the time of testing.

Sure we have trials and temptations which come to strengthen our faith,but we must have the bread of life and the word of life so deeply rooted in our hearts and minds that we are not shaken in our beliefs.  Are you prepared  to stand for him? Are you willing to live for him? Are you willing to give ALL for him?  Will you be counted among the witnesses that tell of his marvelous works, his amazing love, and his saving grace?

The challenge is before you, will you be a witness for him? Will you share with someone how his hands have touched your life and allow his love to shine forth from you as the noon day sun.

The question is what makes someone think their knowledge is so great it out ways the knowledge of another? Why do they think their opinion on a matter is the only opinion the matters?. They are never wrong  about anything that concerns you but give what you may think about them no consequence or value.  What makes someone justified in taking away the gift given by the Creator from a Creation they did not create?

The question is did human kind create itself in the beginning? from whence came its knowledge? and why are there so many mysteries unexplained? If ones wisdom is so great that he can control everything in his life as well as everything in the lives of those around him, has he not taken the reigns from the control of the ONE who created them BOTH?

What is the basis for this superior thinking? did not Lucifer perceive himself greater than his creator and was cast out of his ex halted position in the Heavenly Courts. What does not come from love comes from evil;love is kind,compassionate, long suffering, forgiving, understanding and respects others as they wish to be respected.

What is not of love is cruel,unjust,dominating, self ex halting, and disrespectful of the right of others to exercise their right to choose. In their eyes others are incapable of making the right decision for themselves  The question is who has appointed them this task? Has knowledge gained made them wiser or wicked? Knowledge without the wisdom of the Creator is unbridled and contaminated by the loveless one. In it is no understanding.

The question is what do you do when faced with  bullies? This is one who usurps the right of others by binding their will to its will through violence or the threat there of. What is their motivation? some try to disguise it as love and concern but there is no love in their actions. Some are empowered by being stronger then those they see as weaker and some have so much anger and self hatred they impose their hurt on whoever they feel they can.

The question was “what do you do?”. You must realize you can not fight against the forces that empowers this behavior, it is greater than you. But there is a Supreme Power that can answer all questions. ONLY he who Created All things can bring BALANCE. He is the giver and sustainer of life, he loves the sinner but hates the sin and ONLY he can remove the pain healing the brokenness in the hearts of mankind.

ONLY he can restore the time the canker worm has eaten,erase the mistakes of the past and regenerate in men NEW LIFE. Seek him while he may be found, then lay your cares at his foot stool. Leave them there, HE is the greatest problem solver.

We have been given many wonderful gifts from our Father God,of all the great things he has done for us the greatest gift other than the sacrifice of his son is the gift of choice. We often forget just how powerful choice really is.  We fail to realize with choice comes responsibility and we will be held accountable for the choices we make.

It is so easy to give that responsibility to someone other then ourselves. The devil made me do it, it was his/her fault, if they had not done this I would not have done that, or we just don’t care who gets hurt by our decisions; anyone is to blame but us.

As parents we must choose to do what is right for our children, we will be accountable for every wrong road we allow them to walk without reproof. Sometimes this will not be easy but all things are possible with God. We cannot put friendship with our children above what we know is right.

Guard against the adversary; he will try to use our past against us guilty can be a mighty weapon. We must pray for and with our children constantly. It is so hard for parents to allow their children to suffer the consequences of their choices  but if we shelter them how will they learn what is right in the eyes of God.

We are All his children, we must choose to be lead by his Holy Spirit,yield him our will, ask his guidance in all our decisions, and follow his leading. Our nature is sinful; our hearts will deceive us and allow our emotions to lead us away from what is right before God, our eyes will deceive us and we will not see what God is revealing and our mouths will deceive us saying things that are offensive to the ears of God.

We will account for all that we think,say, or do before a Holy and Just God. The Holy Spirit will not leave us without TRUTH but we must be willing to accept the truth that is revealed to us. The choice is still ours; we must make the ultimate decision.  Make no mistake the adversary,father of all lies will not stop trying to mislead us. He comes to kill,steal and destroy ALL that God loves.

Don’t give him the victory, realize our gift of choice is special. What we do with it has consequences not just for us but for all who love and desire our good. Be watchful for all the pitfalls that will be placed in our path. The bling of the rich,the quest for fame,violence and moral decay. They are intended to destroy “so lean not unto your own understanding but allow God to direct your path”. When we are obedient we show WISDOM.

We all have heard the saying “life has it’s ups and downs”, as Christians life seems to have more downs than ups. Yet; our faith keeps us rising to the top, sometimes we are faced with a block in the road. It may be a few pebbles or it could be a mountain.

Usually a block in the road will require a detour, Detours can be tricky and the traveler must decide what is the best thing to do. Some detours will lead you straight to your destination. Some will take you far off the path into unforeseen dangers.

How do you choose? we need to remember as Christians the choice is not ours to make, we are to be lead by the Holy Spirit in ALL our decisions. When we fail to pray for direction and make our decision without the Holy Spirit, the door to the enemy’s detour opens wide.

His detour leads us in the wrong direction. We get caught up in hatred,envy,confusion,guilt,anger and sometimes self righteousness. We are fascinated with the riches and glamour of the world and become blind to the TRUTH of Gods word.

Only through the leading of the Holy Spirit can we navigate the uncertain waters of life. There may be mountains on our path but nothing is insurmountable for our God to carry us through. We must pray for strength to jump over the pebbles and to climb the mountains that block our journey.

Only take the detour if being lead by the Holy Spirit, if he brings us to it he will bring us through it.

Through your eyes I see the struggle of a people,uprooted from their native soil and transplanted in gravel and sand. By their sweat,tears and blood they transformed the land.  In your face I see the wisdom of time, strength and compassion, your smile illuminates the dark corners of ignorance and intolerance and captivates even the coldest heart.

Your voice trumpets the sound of hope to the hopeless, restores the dreams to those who have forgotten how to dream and renews the spirit giving the will to rise higher and higher. The light of love emanating from your being exemplify s your faith and oneness with the creator and the universe,love that knows no color; that transcends all barriers and penetrates despair.

It is through your vision of the world reborn made new in understanding,respect and togetherness that I spread my wings to fly, to soar beyond my own expectations to reach a greater plateau. Motivated by your determination…I fly. Accepting the foundation you have laid….I fly. Yearning for a greater knowledge of life..I fly. Always remembering my roots…….I FLY

We live in a society that is geared toward ownership, the more we possess the more we are perceived as successful.  Everything we purchase comes with instructions on how to operate and maintain for maximum efficiency from household appliances to vehicles.

The instructions are very important to the life of the object, yet; many toss them aside and proceed to use their own ideas of how they should use their item. Unfortunately,this decreases the life expectancy of the product.  It has been said that being a parent dose not come with an instruction book.

While this is considered to be true, mankind was given instructions on how to have a happy, healthy and long existence. These instructions came in the form of TEN rules for peaceful co-existence with creation and each other, rules for maintaining optimum health and longevity, and how to obtain and use resources.

Old habits are hard to brake so we toss the instructions aside and do whatever we think is best for ourselves.We fail to realize how easily we deceive ourselves by thinking we know what is best. The creator of the object knows the best plan for us to maintain the object and receive the best possible results.

Likewise,our creator through his instructions has given us the answer to every dilemma we will encounter during our life time. He has given us specific examples in the lives of others who have used his instructions and prospered and examples of those who did not resulting in destruction.

The creator always knows what is best for his creation but he will not take away the gift of choice he gave.  We must remember whatever the choice there will be consequences, so when in doubt read the instructions……..READ THE BIBLE to know truth for yourself.

Short,tall,thin or stout; people are imperfect. Rich or poor,black or white, red,yellow or brown; people are imperfect. However; we all have common traits. Eyes to see,ears to hear,mouth to speak, feet to walk and hands to feel.  In the beginning our fore parents were perfect, the environment was perfect, and choice was given as a perfect gift.

The wrong choice was made and perfection was marred by darkness. One choice changed the world. Hate was born,love diminished and sin infected our lives. Each one must reach one to start the journey back to a state of perfection. We must learn to forgive, think of other as we do ourselves, treat everyone with respect and acknowledge our differences.

Plant the seed of love with a smile, a act of kindness, or a jester of friendship. Reach out a hand to one in need, comfort a broken heart and wipe away someones tears. Each selfless action will lead to a glimmer of light that will penetrate the darkness of hate. It seems so hard to do those things we know are right to do . We can have faith that all the help we need is at our disposal.

The illuminating love of Jesus the Christ is ever ready to dispel the darkness of sin and restore us to his character which is perfect.  When we submit to his leading a cleansing process takes place which removes the stony places in the heart and creates a new beginning in the life that is willing to change. We have the opportunity to choose. What will your choice be?? Will you choose to seek perfection or will you repeat  the mistakes of the past??