Accountability...

Who are you accountable to? Are you accountable to God? Your husband/wife? Your kids? Maybe a friend or loved one? Accountability is a great tool for any Christian to use in their walk with the Lord. I recently gave a lock with a bandanna on it to the pastor of my church. I did this because I felt like God wanted me to give it to him to show him that God was moving in the hearts of those who attend our church and that God was working in the church. Something told me it was important for me to do this not only for me but for my pastor.
He took it from me after I explained to him that I used to take this and knock off car mirrors and break car windows when someone cut me off or came too close to me when I was riding my motorcycle. I told him that this represented the old man I used to be and that I needed to get rid of it and that God led me to give it to him. He asked if he could share my testimony with the church and I said yes. Little did I know that he would talk about me and the changes I had made and that this weapon that I used to carry represented the life I left behind to follow after Jesus and His path for my life. It was liberating, because now everyone who was at 1st and 2nd service, watched the pod cast or got the CD of the service had heard my story... I then realized that God had used this giving of the lock on a bandanna as a way to keep me accountable to my church body and to all those who were blessed by this service. WOW!!! It made me realize that I have a commitment to keep to God and that I have to make sure that I continue to serve Him and not fall back into my sinful ways!!! It's an awesome thing when God takes something sinful and bad, and uses it for the glory of His Kingdom!
Accountability is a tool that can help you with any struggle you are facing in your walk. Be it alcohol, pornography, lust, cursing, smoking, fighting or just going places that God doesn't want us as Christians to go. Pray to God, then call a Christian friend, a saved family member or a Minister the next time you feel tempted to sin. That one phone call or text message may be the thing that keeps you from making a mistake and going down a path of sin that God doesn't want you to go down!!!
2 Corinthians 5:10 (NLT) For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in this earthly body.
James 5:16 (NLT) Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of the righteous person has great power and produces great results.

The Word!

The Bible, God's Word, The Good Book, Bread of Life, Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth... We've all heard these names before and we probably know a few more names for the Bible. But what does it mean to us? What does it mean to you? I've recently read more of the Bible than any other time in my life. Why? Because I want to learn more about what's in store for me and I want to have the knowledge to help me along my path through life. I have fallen away from God several times in my life, one of the main reasons why was due to my lack of spending time in the study of God's word. I know for a fact that my apathetic attitude towards the study of the Bible helped me fall back into sin. A Christian who doesn't make time to study the Bible is like a soldier who goes into battle with no ammunition for their weapon! The end result is never good.
It is crucial that we make time to read our Bible and time to pray/talk with God. If something is important to you then you will make time for it. If you want to lose weight then you make time to go to the gym. If you want to be a better marksman then you make time to go to the shooting range. If you want to improve your golf swing... I think you see where I'm going. If you want to go where you've never gone before with God you have to spend time in the study of His Word. What does it really cost you to wake up 30 minutes early to read your Bible and pray? What does it really matter if you turn off the t.v. and read a chapter in the Bible? These are small practical things we can do to help us in our walk and to help us stay on the path He has for us. Wake up tomorrow and arm your self for the days battle by reading the Word and praying. Don't be caught in the battle field at work with your ammunition sitting at home!!!
2 Timothy 2:15 (KJV) Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightfully dividing the word of truth.

Freedom

I heard a great minister preach a sermon about freedom yesterday and it got me to thinking about my life. Being a biker when I think of freedom the open road is the first thing that comes to mind. I can't explain the feeling of rolling down the highway at 75 mph with the wind at your back, the sun in your face and nothing but beautiful country side surrounding you. To me that's a great day and I look forward to riding every chance I get. But that's not what this minister was talking about. He was talking about the freedom that the cross and the sacrifice that Jesus made gives us. We are set free from the bondage of sin and death because of Gods love for us.
Freedom doesn't come cheap, there's a cost for it. Jesus paid the ultimate price for our freedom, a freedom and liberty that we can have by just asking for it. What this means is that the bondage of sin in your life is your choice!!! That's right you can be set free if you ask God to set you free and change you! I can't tell you I know what it feels like to be in physical chains, but I do know what it feels like to be a slave to my own desires and sinful nature. It stinks to feel like you have no control over yourself and you continue to do the things that you wish you could stop doing. I have been dipping skoal for the last 6 years and have tried to quit numerous times. Two weeks ago I asked God to help me quit and He did. I haven't had the craving in a few days now and He has given me the strength to stay away form a really bad habit. It's the same thing with my language. I admitted to God that I had a problem with cursing and He helped me to use new words to express myself with out cursing. It wasn't easy and I have slipped up a few times, but the key is to ask forgiveness and continue to walk down the path of freedom knowing that God has set you free and you are changed for good!
Sin is a choice, period. You choose to look at pornography on the internet, you choose to drink alcohol, you choose to curse, you choose to gossip and talk bad about others, you choose to go places that you know you shouldn't, and you can choose freedom if you truly want it. If you are addicted to something in your life ask God to set you free and to take the desires away from you and He will. Freedom comes with a cost, and aren't you glad that our Savior loved us enough to pay the cost for our freedom?
Luke 4:18-19 (NLT)Jesus speaking in the temple- "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for He has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free and that the time of the Lord's favor has come"