You’re outta here!

"Knowing the correct password—saying 'Master, Master,' for instance— isn't going to get you anywhere with me. 

What is required is serious obedience—doing what my Father wills. 

I can see it now—at the Final Judgment thousands strutting up to me and saying, 'Master, we preached the Message, we bashed the demons, our God-sponsored projects had everyone talking.' And do you know what I am going to say? 'You missed the boat. All you did was use me to make yourselves important. You don't impress me one bit. You're out of here.'" ~Jesus

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How do I focus on Jesus?

I asked this question on Facebook.  The thoughtfulness and depth of answers is wonderful.  Want to share with my blog readers.  Maybe you will choose to help in my search for understanding…

Archie Rhines I have a question. It is important to me. Maybe you can help. Maybe not. Here goes… What does it mean to "Focus on Jesus"? How will I know if I have succeeded?

Jennifer Rutledge

Focus On Jesus — living in His Truth each and every moment and knowing that He is the way to success in the first place. Doing what God says, even in the difficult choices, is how you can feel a measurement of that success, I would think.

Kimberly Guerra Mauldin

PRAYER. i'm pretty simple, and i'm sure there is some great theological answer out there, but for me it is simply keeping Him in the center (sometimes not so easily done for me), how do i measure success, honestly i dont think of it as "am i successful" i just look at where i was, where i am and where i am going, and know that He is working miracles, so i must be doing something right.

Ana Graves

I don't know if we ever succeed at this, until heaven, of course. I was thinking about something similar to "focus on Jesus" last night. I read a part of Psalm 119 that talked about pondering the statutes of God…I thought, what does that look like? I'm so easily distracted from his purposes, from him. The distractions of the world tend to make my eyes towards other things. So, to "focus on Jesus," as I read the Psalms, I'm learning to ask him to help me focus on him and his purposes and his statutes. The more I ask, the more I tend to be looking his way and not towards other things. Interesting question to ponder…

Archie Rhines

I will go back and think on your responses throughout the day. I'm open to more insight from friends….
So far… Truth, Prayer, Ask and Ponder encourages a focus on Jesus. 
I'm Truthfully Asking in Prayer as I Ponder on what it means to focus on Jesus.
Thank you!

David L Mauldin

ill know success when i get to heaven. focus on jesus is hard sometimes self will and all. if living in salvation was easy the bible would be two pages it would say you are saved now go live your life any way you want. the end. keeping god the head of your house and life and decisons is focus for me

Darla Carter

I think Jesus will be truly the focus and in focus when we see Him in the others around us and treat the others around us as if they were Him. I think that would be the ultimate test on if we are loving the Lord our God w/ all our Heart and soul and mind and strength and loving our neighbor as ourself. Am I there and living it-no. Is it a worthy goal-yes. It would be extremely interesting to see all of us focused on Jesus in that manner–can you imaging the change that could occur. That was a very thought prevoking question for me to see-Thanks Archie

Archie Rhines

Great thoughts David and Darla. I think I'll repost on my blog. I am still trying to figure it out. FOCUS on Jesus. How do I do that? hmmm.

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Do your part.

"In prayer there is a connection between what God does and what you do. You can't get forgiveness from God, for instance, without also forgiving others. If you refuse to do your part, you cut yourself off from God's part." ~Matthew

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Simply, Pray…

I woke up yesterday with a simple word on my mind, pray.  That was all.  Just the word, pray.  

I said, "God.  For what shall I pray?" 

God said, "Pray."

So I prayed…

God says in His Word to keep your prayers simple.  Let your yes be yes and your no be no.  Pray something like this…

Our Father in heaven, 
Reveal who you are. 
Set the world right; 
Do what's best— as above, so below. 
Keep us alive with three square meals. 
Keep us forgiven with you and forgiving others. 
Keep us safe from ourselves and the Devil. 
You're in charge! 
You can do anything you want! 
You're ablaze in beauty! 
Yes. Yes. Yes.

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Do you ask and not receive?

Cora and I are with friends at a marriage treat.  I'm up early eating God's Word.  Here is his Word to you and I. If you are praying and not receiving, there is a reason why.  It's pretty simple.  God spells it out like this…

"And here's a second offense: You fill the place of worship with your whining and sniveling because you don't get what you want from God. Do you know why? Simple. Because God was there as a witness when you spoke your marriage vows to your young bride, and now you've broken those vows, broken the faith-bond with your vowed companion, your covenant wife. God, not you, made marriage. His Spirit inhabits even the smallest details of marriage. And what does he want from marriage? Children of God, that's what. So guard the spirit of marriage within you. Don't cheat on your spouse." ~through Malachi

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I worship the God-of-the-Angel-Armies

There is but one God worthy of our worship.  Yes.  Only one.  "That is the God-of-the-Angel-Armies".

If you could line up all the gods in the world, which one would you worship?  There are plenty to choose from, but there is only one "God-of-the-Angel-Armies".  There is only one God worthy of your worship.

I think it likely, you have already chosen your god.  It is represented by what you wake up thinking about.  Or likely when your mind drifts, it drifts toward your god.  Think about it.  When you relax and intentionally think about nothing.  Where does your mind go?  Likely, it takes residence in the temple of your god.

There is but one God.  He is the "God-of-the-Angel-Armies".  Eat His Word.  Meditate on it day and night.  Pray without ceasing and you will know truth.  You will worship the "God-of-the-Angel-Armies"

"I am honored all over the world. And there are people who know how to worship me all over the world, who honor me by bringing their best to me. They're saying it everywhere: 'God is greater, this God-of-the-Angel-Armies.'

"All except you. Instead of honoring me, you profane me. You profane me when you say, 'Worship is not important, and what we bring to worship is of no account,' and when you say, 'I'm bored—this doesn't do anything for me.' You act so superior, sticking your noses in the air—act superior to me, God-of-the-Angel-Armies! And when you do offer something to me, it's a hand-me-down, or broken, or useless. Do you think I'm going to accept it? This is God speaking to you!"

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If you are going to the Grace Point Church marriage retreat….

If you are going to the marriage retreat today, be prepared for struggle!  The evil one will do all he can to totally destroy your day.  You only have one hope.  That hope is in Jesus.  Turn the struggle over to God and let God kick satan in the teeth.  

Do not get derailed from attending!  If you live in the San Antonio area and you have not registered for this event.  Email me and let’s see if we can get you registered.  It is Friday night and Saturday.  My bride and I will be speaking encouragement into your marriage.  Other speakers will be bringing truth, also.

It would be awesome to make new friends.  Contact me.

archie

37stories at gmail dot com (decipher that. ha!) 210-617-3137 google phone

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In the groove…

I'm in the groove.  Do you know the feeling?  It is a frictionless groove.  There is no struggle.  There is no pain.  I am in the groove.  

That doesn't mean all the circumstances of life around me are good.  It doesn't mean I shouldn't naturally be feeling pain.  It just means I am in the groove.  

Whatever forces out there intent on doing me harm are knats on a bull's backside.  INSIGNIFICANT!  I am in the groove.  

I figure there are forces out there planning and plotting for my demise.  But, it doesn't matter.  I am in the groove. 

Wouldn't you like to be in the groove?  

 

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12 dead. 31 wounded. Through whose eyes shall we see?

It is easy to forget God is the creator of all things when you let your natural eyes rest on circumstance.  We live in a dead and dieing world.  There is sin and catastrophe all around us.  To expect anything other than chaos when viewed through your natural eyes is deception at best.  

As a believer, you don't have to look at life through natural eyes.  God has given you the opportunity to view life through His eyes.  You can choose to see God's love at work in people's lives.  You can choose to know that God holds the world in His hands and sing joyful praise to Him, the creator.

Today is a great day to pray for all those impacted by the shooting at Ft. Hood.  No matter how you interpret the facts of the incident, it was satanic.  God instructs us that the evil one is out to destroy His bride.  In God's miraculous grace He will once again, kick satan in the teeth and work this tragic incident to His good will and purpose.  For those that love the Lord, things work out for our good.  

Check out what God had to say through the prophet Habakuk…

Though the cherry trees don't blossom 
and the strawberries don't ripen, Though the apples are worm-eaten 
and the wheat fields stunted, Though the sheep pens are sheepless 
and the cattle barns empty, I'm singing joyful praise to God. 
I'm turning cartwheels of joy to my Savior God. Counting on God's Rule to prevail, 
I take heart and gain strength. I run like a deer. 
I feel like I'm king of the mountain! ~Habakuk

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Made a friend today or at least took a step…

I was lunching at Starbucks today. They have free WiFi. There was a young man in a wheelchair next to me. I’m always looking for God Spots and I chatted a bit with him. Did you know a motorized wheel chair can go 25 miles. WoW!

.

Communication was difficult, but I discovered he Facebooks and I got his name. I look forward to adding him as a friend on Facebook.I appreciated his positive spirit and willingness to put up with this old man. Yes. I think God was there….

 

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