Be prepared!

Be prepared. We live in a world of possibilities. Some are good possibilities and some are not. Nevertheless, we prefer to be prepared. Who wants to have a flat tire without a jack or be out of town without emergency funds available?

Of course, we cannot be prepared for every situation; but there are two situations for which everyone can be prepared. We can be prepared for the return of Christ or for our death, whichever comes first. Although we do not know the precise time of either, we do know that one or the other is definitively going to happen. The Bible urges to be prepare (Matthew 24:42; 25:13; James 4:13-14).

So, the question becomes, "How should we prepare?" The following preparations are paramount.

• Secure the true salvation found in the person of Jesus Christ by grace through faith alone. There is no better preparation for death or Jesus' Second Coming that to receive God's grace (God's unmerited favor) offered to everyone that will confess his or her sinfulness, repent (turn from the sins) and trust in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. This is such an important step that I have include a few links so that you can better understand God's Plan of Salvation. Link 1; Link 2  
• Watch and Pray. Jesus said, "Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is" (Mark 13:33). Watching would include obedience. If you thought this day you would meet God face to face, you would live it in obedience. And! You would pray and pray again. You would be watchful of what you do and what you say; and you would pray that your loved ones, friends, and even enemies would be prepared to meet a Holy God.
• Share the Word. People that are prepared to meet God are people who are sharing the message of salvation.  Follow @pastorbarr

For His Glory: A Kaleidoscope of Wisdom is a collection of meaningful and powerful reflections from real life experiences coupled with practical biblical wisdom. Going beyond the normal inspirational book, For His Glory unveils a kaleidoscope of commonsense precepts that challenges the reader to discover the wonders of living for God's glory. Eye-opening, life-changing and easy to understand, For His Glory will enrich your life. 

Warning! Dangerous Curve!

The southern part of the State of Indiana is very pretty in the fall season. The natural woods and hilly terrain make for a very colorful drive on a sunny afternoon. But the hilly topography also creates some extremely dangerous curves and hills. The roads are peppered with yellow warning signs and speed reduction signs. Occasionally a driver ignores the warnings and the result is fatal.

The Bible warns us about living in a "I-have-arrived" state – the place where you think you have conquered sin and are little more saintly than others. That is an extremely dangerous condition that the devil seldom lets pass by and can be spiritually fatal. Traveling the "I'm better than you" highway has sharp turns and extremely slick and hilly roads that even the most seasoned saint will find difficult to handle. Heed what the Bible says!

Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. 1Co 10:12

This is a sample of the snippets of wisdom that Pastor Jim shares in his book, For His Glory: A Kaleidoscope of Wisdom. Currently Net 153 Publications is offering this book with a 30% discount. Find out more by Clicking Here.

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Fools rush in where angels fear to tread…

The Author’s Personal Note:
The following little piece of wisdom comes from personal poor experiences and a sad heart. Too often I have played the fool. It is my prayer and hope that following little nugget of wisdom will help others from rushing in where angels fear to tread.

Old Blue Eyes, Frank Sinatra, sung a song titled Fools Rush In. The opening lyrics go like this, “Fools rush in where angels fear to tread…” Although Sinatra’s life was far from the model life, the opening word to his song still rings true. When we engage our mouth before engaging our brain, we often end up playing the fool.  A foolish person rushes with rapid responses and answers before knowing fully the matter or understanding the situation. They allow emotions to rule and not the facts.

James 1:19 instructs us to be quick to listen, slow to speak, and even slower to react. Proverbs 17:28 tells us, “even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.” If you do not know the facts or have a full understanding of the matter, the best response is no response.

But when the archangel Michael, contending with the devil, was disputing about the body of Moses, he did not presume to pronounce a blasphemous judgment, but said, “The Lord rebuke you.” Jude 9

If you enjoy Wit and Wisdom, you will love Pastor Jim's book. For His Glory: A Kaleidoscope of Wisdomis a collection of meaningful and powerful reflections from real life experiences coupled with practical biblical wisdom. Find out more and take a peek inside by Clicking Here.