Phil's Thoughts

All the People

I was just sittin here thinkin about ALL the people I’ve encountered in life over the years…and it’s been a bunch of em ! Been some gooduns, as well as, some , not so good. You ever wonder about folks … how some can be so pleasant to be around, and some just act like they can’t stand bein alive ? Nothin satisfies em … they act like they’re better than you … that smile on their face is more like a grimace, as if they’re tryin to suppress gas than promote happiness. Talk about conceited … they lather themselves up as if they’re “it-on-a-stick” and all they wanna talk about is “themselves”…”I” this and “I” that. It makes a person wish they hadn’t run into em or had to deal with em. Yall know the type. But God says,” Hey…better check yourself…I died for that one just like I died for you…and I love em no less or no more than I do you. See ? I don’t play favorites, discriminate or show favoritism” ( Romans 2:11; Acts 10:34 ). For those of us who follow Christ and benefit from it, we need to make allowances for those who still walk in darkness ( Isaiah 9:2 ). They don’t know no better … but hopefully, they will come to a point in their lives when “it’ll” all make sense and become clear to em. Until that time, expect em to use foul language ( Ephesians4:29 ), live like stray dogs ( Isaiah 56:9-12; Ephesians 5:3-4 ), drink like fish ( Galatians 5:21; Proverbs 23:19-21; 1 Corinthians 6:10 ) and overindulge in the corrupt things of this world. Their minds are still blinded by the enemy ( 2 Corinthians 4:4 ) and they can’t see or know what the believer sees and knows. Therefore, be patient and kind…living the example of Christ as you should ( Ephesians 4:32; 1 Corinthians 11:1 ). Pray for them and with them…that “your” Jesus becomes “their” Jesus ! One more thing … as you walk out your journey with God, don’t succumb to worldly ways just because you’re around folks of this world. It leaves a false impression of our Lord and Savior. This world ain’t your home…( Hebrews 13:14-16; John 17:14-16 ). You may live “on”it, but don’t be “of” it. Ten Four ?

Game of Life

I’m not a poker player, but I have played before … not professionally…just for matchsticks, plastic poker chips or “nothing”. If you’ve ever played or watched people play, you’ve no doubt heard somebody say, “ Let’s sweeten the pot”. It’s when more money is thrown in to entice the players to “stay in” ( continue playing ), in hopes of winning a bigger pot…collect a greater return on their investment. Nobody really “wants” to fold ( quit before the hand is played out ), for the simple reason that they’ll lose what they’ve already invested ( thrown in ) in that pot. For now, let’s think of “life” as a “poker game”. You’ve been sittin at the table for however long it’s been and it’s been goin pretty well. You’ve won a few hands and lost a few…but your hopes are high that you’ll come out a winner. ( For real…who wants to be a loser, right ?! ) As you play, you’re reading the faces of those playing with you…trying to imagine the hands they’ve got and whether there’s will beat yours. You’re trying to strategize…hoping for a particular card to increase your chances of winning. Do you discard these two, in hopes of getting two more of those ? What’s the odds ? Do you really wanna gamble on whether or not that other guy’s gonna have what you think they may have…do what you hope they’ll do ? And all the while, that pot keeps gettin sweetened. There’s one thing’s for sure … one person’s gonna win, and everybody else is gonna lose. That’s why it’s called “gambling” … to take risky actions in hopes of a desired result. GOD would have all of us know, life doesn’t haveta be a gamble. We can rest in assurance of a guaranteed win, as long as our “faith” ( not our money ) lies on Him. We don’t haveta know how to play, because He doesn’t consider it a “game” of “chance”. More like, a “choice”. We don’t haveta worry bout whether we can “afford it”, because He’s already covered it … with His Son’s precious blood. And Jesus’ blood trumps everything else ! There’s no gamble when we place our trust on Him ( John 14:6 ) ! Satan will try to strategize and try to bluff us, but once we’re “in”, we’re “in”…and no one, not even Satan, can steal us from the hands of GOD ALMIGHTY ( John 10:28-30; Romans6:10 ) ! He may be given permission to “try” us…to “tempt” us or “put us through the wringer”… but he cannot take away our inheritance that we’ve received from our Lord and Savior ( Matthew 4:1-11; Job 1-5; Luke 22:31-34 ) ! He’s ( Satan ) good , but he ain’t THAT good ! Jesus has already beaten him…he just dont wanna admit it ( Hebrews 2:14-15; Colossians 2:15; Revelation 12:10-11; 1 John 3:8 ) ! Hell, where is your sting ? Jesus done yanked it out ! ( 1 Corinthians 15:54-57 ) !! The one who quits playing Satan’s game, and instead, places EVERYTHING on JESUS, is a winner EVERY TIME ! It’s as easy as “ABC” … admit, believe and confess. Admit you’re a sinner in need of saving ( this is humble surrender )… believe that Jesus is your only hope ( this is faith )… and confess Him as your Lord ( verbal confession before mankind is more than “lip service”…it’s walking in newness ! Romans 10:8-9 ) “If anyone is in Christ, they are a new creation…old ways are gone, replaced by new ( and improved ) ways ! 2 Corinthians 5:17 ) Life in Christ ain’t a gamble. It’s “winner winner chicken dinner” every day !!

Works

“Saved by grace through faith…not from ourselves but by the gift of God…not by works, so no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus TO DO GOOD WORKS, which God prepared in advance for us to do” ( Ephesians 2:8-10 ). Too often, we like to hear 2:8-9, but we leave out verse 10. We want the salvation, but we don’t wanna work. We want the “stimulus check”, but we don’t want to GO BACK to work after it runs out. ( Sorry yall…i just get mad when folks get lazy. ) But seriously though…Ain’t that the way it is so often ? We want the BEST in life, but we don’t want to do anything to capitalize on it. Because it’s “free” ( which it wasn’t ! ), we don’t appreciate it as much as if “we” had to earn it. Go back to your first car, truck, motorcycle, bicycle or 4-wheeler … If mama or daddy was paying for it, you’d boil the tires, rawhide it, speedshift it and never think twice about it…but, if “you” were makin the note and payin for the gas, that was a whole nother story. We tend to appreciate things more when the burden is on us. Why can’t we appreciate them more, for the simple fact that someone cared enough or loved us enough to bless us with it ? When God sent His Son to earth to live us an example and teach us His ways, He knew that Jesus would have to die. He didn’t see a people that would appreciate it, but He sent Him anyway. He foresaw the cruelty and disrespect that His Son would endure, but He sent Him anyway. “While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” ( Romans 5:8 ). That’s how God proved His love for us ! How do we take an example like that and incorporate it into our daily lives today ? BY OUR WORKS !! For which HE created for us to do !! ( Verse 10 !!! ) Unless we “die to self” and surrender to that cross, alongside Jesus ( Luke 9:23 ) , we’ll always live verses 8 and 9, but leave out verse 10 ! This is the greatest lie that Satan uses to keep so-called “Christians”, lost and useless. They live their whole lives thinking they’d checked the right box and secured their place in heaven, but they never produced any fruit ( Galatians 5:22-23 ) that proved their allegiance to Christ ! It’s like the old Wendy’s commercial back in the early 80’s, where the little old lady says, “ Where’s the beef ?!?”. If the tree don’t “produce”, it gets chopped down ( shoot ! chainsawed nowdays ! ) and thowed in the fire ( Matthew 7:19 ). This oughta wake us ”good Christians” up ! If salvation hasn’t changed us ( 2 Corinthians5:17 ) and we’re livin life as if we’re “entitled” … we better get out the coat hangers and hotdogs ! God’s grace is amazing alright ! The faith we exhibit we owe to Him also ! Christ did the work we couldn’t do ! Now it’s our turn ! Saved unto good works … and it’s all for HIS honor and glory !! What are we waiting on ?!? Times runnin out !!

God’s Food

I ain’t gon’ lie…i like t’ eat … and “good” food is as relaxing and enjoyable as the best day on a day off. My wife, Pennye Jacobs Lewis, is a great cook, and she ain’t scared t’ try a new recipe she’s seen somewhere. The real treat is, she enjoys cooking. So many modern-day women ain’t cookin anymore. I talk to dudes all the time that tell me they do most, if not all, of the cooking in their homes. To each his own, but for me, I’m blessed to have a wife that cooks ! Cereal and samwiches ( we don’t pronounce it, “sand”wiches” roun our house ) are ahight ever now an nen, but good food goes deeper…soothes the soul, so-t-speak. Again, i can’t speak for you, but i liken good food, to the Word of God. As regular food satisfies me physically, the Word of God satisfies me, spiritually. I can’t really explain it, but there’s something about “reading” God’s Word that fulfills, nourishes a deep hunger within me. Too often, I’ll allow my flesh to override my spirit. I KNOW i oughta get into the Word, but I’ll look at reels or tv instead. It never fails, when i “skip” God’s urging to study His Word, i wind up regretting my decision … just as if i “fasted” or skipped a meal. There’s just something about gravitating to Scripture and listening to what God wants to tell me. If i choose to ignore Him, i wind up payin the price. If God had a face, i can imagine the disappointing expression that must show in His eyes, when i choose some other activity over His Word. If my wife goes to all the trouble of purchasing grocery items, transferring them from shelf-to-buggy-to conveyer-to-buggy-to-car-to-countertop-to shelf/frig-to-skillet/oven/cooktop-to-plates…and i come home from work and turn my nose up at it, offer some lame, disrespectful comment and grab a bowl of cereal instead, how do you think she’d feel ? So why would we believe God would feel any different, after He’s gone to so much “trouble” to see that we have the spiritual food we need to thrive ?!? Let’s face it…we don’t give God even half of what He’s given us ! And He ain’t askin nothin from us that would do us harm ( Jeremiah 29:11 ) ! We’re quick t’ cry out to Him when we’re sick or in trouble … but when things are goin smooth, we tend to “put Him on the back burner”. He oughta mean more than that to us, yall. Just to have the “privilege” of puttin our feet under His table ( Psalm 23:5 ) oughta make us breathless. This is GOD we talkin about ! The Author and Creator of everything we see and don’t see ( Romans 1:20 ) ! Maybe that’s why we look so undernourished in the “spiritual department” …because we don’t feast on the good food He has prepared for us. We used t’ tell my Mama, “ You don’t eat enough t’ keep a bird alive”… and I’m bettin, God could say the same to us. Be an exception ! Show up at every meal that He supplies … savor every morsel and ask for seconds … and as an old pastor use t’ say, “ Save yer fork…dessert is on its way !” Let’s start lettin God see how grateful we are for His written Word … because one day, it might not be available ! “Your Word is a lamp for my feet and a light for my path” ( Psalm 119:105 ) . “ Your Words were found, and I ate them, and Your Words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart , for I am called by Your name, O Lord, God of hosts” ( Jeremiah 15:16 ). Buurrrpp ! I enjoyed it, Lord !
Now

You may not “be there” yet, but hopefully, you can hear GOD clearly through the words of Haggai and find what you’ve been searching for. Haggai’s one o them “minor prophets” back in the days before God came as baby Jesus … around 520 BC…and even though his “book” doesn’t contain but 2 chapters, the words he relays from God packs all the punch needed. It points to a specific “problem” that the people had THEN, and the main problem that people have NOW. GOD wanted the temple rebuilt and the people kept putting it further down on the priority list ! The LORD says through the prophet Haggai, “ How yall gon’ keep building your fine houses when Mine lays in ruin !? Yall better recognize ! Yall are plantin a lot, but notice how little you’re harvesting. Yall eat, but notice how you never feel full. Yall drink, but you never feel hydrated. Y’all’s closets and dresser drawers are overflowing, but it’s never enough. Yall make plenty o’ money, but it’s never enough ( purse got holes in it ). GIVE CAREFUL THOUGHT TO YOUR WAYS. Yall expected much, but see, it turned out to be little. What you brought home, I blew away. Why ? Because of My house, which remains a ruin, while each of you is busy with his own house. Therefore, because of you, I’ve withheld all the things that would fulfill you and your household ( paraphrased ).” Haggai 1:3-11 I can hear that brain whirring from here ! You’re thinkin, “ What temple ? I ain’t ignoring anything. I’m doin all i can right now just to keep my head above water ! What’s that Old Testament stuff got t’ do with me and today ?” Hey … that’s good ! At least you’re askin the right questions and wanna know how it relates to you and yours “today”. Because of the people’s procrastination and lack of care, God’s house stayed in ruin, while the people were focused on their own material and physical happiness. They weren’t practicing the mandates of God and giving Him their “firstfruits” ( Proverbs 3:9 )…shoot…they hardly gave Him their leftovers ! We get so caught up in ourselves and forget about God. We begrudgingly give, ( if we give at all ), our time, talents and treasures ( that’d be the money He allows us to earn ), and we wonder why we can never “get ahead”. Even livin from paycheck-t-paycheck seems impossible ! “On a fixed income” … more like “broke income” ! If we’d only put into practice what God’s been tryin to teach us ! Seek first HIS kingdom and HIS righteousness , and HE will see to it our cars run, the paycheck is enough , our marriages are happy , the kids are well-fed and successful and our homes are leak-free. “Contentment” doesn’t come when GOD is placed low on the priority scale. “We” are His “temple” ( 1 Corinthians 6:19 )… If we ain’t livin our lives to please Him FIRST , why would He bless us ?!? He told us to “love the Lord with all our hearts , souls , minds and strength …and to love others as we do ourselves” ( Deuteronomy 6:5; Matthew 22:37-40 ). Can you honestly say you do this !?? ( And by the way, He asks the same of me ). If everything else comes before God and His desires, what does that say about His “worth” ? When we finally get to the point that we can’t stand the way things are…hopefully , we’ll seek God’s forgiveness and repent of our selfish and evil ways and turn to Him for restoration. “ If my people , who are called by My name , will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways , then I will hear from heaven , and I will forgive their sin and heal their land” ( 2 Chronicles 7:14 ). By refusing to live in accordance with God’s will , we can expect things to get only worse… But, if we’re ready to hear and heed His message , we can repent and follow with an obedient heart and enjoy life “in abundance” ( John 10:10 ) ! Haggai…you didn’t have a whole lot t’ say , but you said a mouthfull !