John M. Swails

Tribute to Santana by a local group in Myrtle Beach

There is nothing you can give God that is not belong to him in the first place. It is we who take from God, not the other way around. Our resistance concerning tithes and offerings is equivalent of getting upset when someone who has given us everything asks for a very small portion back to be used to further build a life for us!

How foolish are we to do so.

“Wherefore David blessed the LORD before all the congregation: and David said, Blessed be thou, LORD God of Israel our father, for ever and ever. Thine, O LORD, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O LORD, and thou art exalted as head above all. Both riches and honour come of thee, and thou reignest over all; and in thine hand is power and might; and in thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all. Now therefore, our God, we thank thee, and praise thy glorious name. But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort? for all things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee. For we are strangers before thee, and sojourners, as were all our fathers: our days on the earth are as a shadow, and there is none abiding. O LORD our God, all this store that we have prepared to build thee an house for thine holy name cometh of thine hand, and is all thine own.” (1Ch 29:10-16, KJV)

Ok for the record loving the person is not synonymous with condoning behavior. You can love, support, and have nothing but prosperous thoughts for someone and still not condone certain behaviors by that individual. That does not make you oppressive or a hater. In fact true love for an individual can be seen in critical observations if those observations assist the other person and improve their life.

For example you are not my friend if you watch me chasing moving trailer trucks and trains because I feel “I’m an artist and I need to express myself”. My explanation is a justification for potentially life threatening behavior. A real friend will take the risk of losing me and tell me I am speaking and demonstrating top shelf foolishness and I need to stop before one of those trains or trucks hit me.

I am sure the majority of people reading that agree and would not hesitate to tell a friend if they felt they were risking their life. Interestingly enough, preservation of one’s soul is taken very lightly.

So, for the record, let me declare, I believe in the gospel of Jesus Chris. I believe God’s instruction directly and through His Son and prophets provides the direction for a perfect life! So if I care about you I will remind some and instruct others of the love God has for us and some of His institutions on how we are to live our life. This I feel is the greatest demonstration of my love for you.

Lack of comment and/or observation, in my opinion demonstrates a lack of concern for you. God did not call me to be politically correct but to be quick to bear witness when it is popular and especially when it is not ( 2Tim 4:2). Faithful are the wounds of a friend (27:6). Sweet kisses without the bitterness of correction can love you tight to hell.

Selah

Pain is not a teacher…

It is a condition that, if our focus is right, can facilitate learning and personal growth. However, if our focus is on the wrong thing, we can come to the wrong conclusion that inevitably becomes detrimental to our development. Our focus decides the direction our thinking will take and the area and quality of the final destination of those thoughts and then the product of our actions.

Since God is the only author and creator of all things good (John 1:3), and since we cannot think or perceive like Him (Isaiah 55:8-9), unless our focus is on God, we cannot conceive a positive lesson or outcome from pain!

However, with our focus on God and submission to His direction, all situations, no matter their origin or agenda, will work for our good (Rom 8:28), despite what they look like or what their original agenda was for our lives.

In order to enjoy these blessings we must be willing to share God’s word whether it is popular to do so or not (2 Tim 4:2). It should be done in love and with patience, and it should be an “instant” response - a spiritual and physical reflex - done without thought or concern about how it makes us look, how others perceive us, or how it will impact our worldly popularity (Mathew 10:32-33)

Make no mistake, we are in a time where lines are being drawn and our silence will no longer be tolerated by God who gives us the words to say in that very moment.

“And when they bring you unto the synagogues, and unto magistrates, and powers, take ye no thought how or what thing ye shall answer, or what ye shall say: For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say.” (Luk 12:11-12, KJV)

Be loving as Christ was loving. Be patient as God is ever so patient with us, but be bold and prepared to give a witness of your faith to him/her who I s sincerely seeking. No greater love can you demonstrate than a genuine concern for the souls of God’s children.

Good harvesting men and women of God. May your fruit be plentiful in Jesus name,

John Swails