Saturday, September 24, 2011
Something Bigger Going On Out There
Folks, ... Amidst all that is coming unglued in this world there is a drama being played out in each and every one of our lives. There is something bigger happening out there than mundane daily conversations about weather and football scores. A choice is being made for our eternal dwelling place. We are choosing it! It isn't being forced upon us. The God of the Universe is trying to get through to you.
There is a God and He loves you so much that He sent Jesus, His only Son for you. Many say they believe in Him today and do nothing different as a result of that claim of belief. Many who "profess" to be a Christian are nothing like what the world knows was taught by Christ.
There are so many today that think that God is SO loving that He won't judge sin! They believe that, "Hey, If He loves me enough to send His Son ... I must be pretty cool. He won't make anyone go to hell." Wrong! God is offering His only Son as a payment for your sins. In doing that, God offers you everything in Jesus! If you reject that offer ... His perfect Son ... don't you believe He will judge you? Read about God's judgments in the Bible. He is SERIOUS about SIN!!! God made you in His image with the ability to choose. God will enforce the judgement of YOUR choice. You choose darkness instead of the light found only in His Son ... and God will see to it that you get your choice.
The Bible says that no one is good enough to earn heaven. Not me! Not you! There isn't enough points for you or me to earn by walking old ladies across the street (by all means keep helping the old ladies). Heaven is a gift. That gift according to the Bible is offered in Christ alone (John 14:6, Acts 4:12, John 3:16). The bigger thing happening out there is that quietly everyday Jesus is asking you and me, "Who do you say I am?" And we answer that question honestly by the way we live and respond to Him. We answer it by where Jesus is placed in importance to us. Do I ignore Him? Do I just say, "I believe" ... and yet live without consideration of Him? Or, ... Have I really given Him control to help me live the way He wants me to live?
If a building is on fire and I remain in the building, ... I could say, I believe there is a fire. In fact, I can feel the heat. I can hear the crackling of wood. I can smell the smoke and I can even SEE the flames. But, if I don't turn and leave that building, ... did I really believe? We can at least say my belief wasn't a saving kind of belief if I choose to remain in the building.
Everyday, I place these photos on this website so that the world might see the beautiful handiwork of our God. Heaven is going to be awesome! I want you to get to see a glimpse of His majesty that I have seen and recorded with my cameras. The most important thing for me is that you find the joy in discovering that Jesus is alive and well and offering you the choice of an eternity with Him or in utter darkness separated from God. Do you know Him? You can!
Lord Jesus, thank You for showing me how much I need You. Thank You for dying on the cross for me. Please forgive all my failures and sins of the past. Make me clean and help me to start fresh with you. I now want to receive You into my life as my Lord and Savior with all my heart. I ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Please do not think that praying a prayer is enough. This is a heart issue. Even the Devil knows that Jesus is God. Many people will miss heaven by 18" (the distance from their brain to their heart). Having the free gift of salvation offered in Christ alone isn't just a tag on prayer ... it's just a beginning of a life in Him. The gift of God is free ... but accepting that gift should be a life altering experience. It should cause you to get up and leave that burning building.
I urge you to find a Bible and start to read the Gospel of John. Also, find a Bible teaching local church and shock the world by walking through the door. If you need any help, write me. Send me a note to nikonsniperguy@aol.com. I want to pray for you either way.
Lord bless you ALL today. I pray you find the truth in Christ!
NikonSniper Steve
There is a God and He loves you so much that He sent Jesus, His only Son for you. Many say they believe in Him today and do nothing different as a result of that claim of belief. Many who "profess" to be a Christian are nothing like what the world knows was taught by Christ.
There are so many today that think that God is SO loving that He won't judge sin! They believe that, "Hey, If He loves me enough to send His Son ... I must be pretty cool. He won't make anyone go to hell." Wrong! God is offering His only Son as a payment for your sins. In doing that, God offers you everything in Jesus! If you reject that offer ... His perfect Son ... don't you believe He will judge you? Read about God's judgments in the Bible. He is SERIOUS about SIN!!! God made you in His image with the ability to choose. God will enforce the judgement of YOUR choice. You choose darkness instead of the light found only in His Son ... and God will see to it that you get your choice.
The Bible says that no one is good enough to earn heaven. Not me! Not you! There isn't enough points for you or me to earn by walking old ladies across the street (by all means keep helping the old ladies). Heaven is a gift. That gift according to the Bible is offered in Christ alone (John 14:6, Acts 4:12, John 3:16). The bigger thing happening out there is that quietly everyday Jesus is asking you and me, "Who do you say I am?" And we answer that question honestly by the way we live and respond to Him. We answer it by where Jesus is placed in importance to us. Do I ignore Him? Do I just say, "I believe" ... and yet live without consideration of Him? Or, ... Have I really given Him control to help me live the way He wants me to live?
If a building is on fire and I remain in the building, ... I could say, I believe there is a fire. In fact, I can feel the heat. I can hear the crackling of wood. I can smell the smoke and I can even SEE the flames. But, if I don't turn and leave that building, ... did I really believe? We can at least say my belief wasn't a saving kind of belief if I choose to remain in the building.
Everyday, I place these photos on this website so that the world might see the beautiful handiwork of our God. Heaven is going to be awesome! I want you to get to see a glimpse of His majesty that I have seen and recorded with my cameras. The most important thing for me is that you find the joy in discovering that Jesus is alive and well and offering you the choice of an eternity with Him or in utter darkness separated from God. Do you know Him? You can!
Lord Jesus, thank You for showing me how much I need You. Thank You for dying on the cross for me. Please forgive all my failures and sins of the past. Make me clean and help me to start fresh with you. I now want to receive You into my life as my Lord and Savior with all my heart. I ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Please do not think that praying a prayer is enough. This is a heart issue. Even the Devil knows that Jesus is God. Many people will miss heaven by 18" (the distance from their brain to their heart). Having the free gift of salvation offered in Christ alone isn't just a tag on prayer ... it's just a beginning of a life in Him. The gift of God is free ... but accepting that gift should be a life altering experience. It should cause you to get up and leave that burning building.
I urge you to find a Bible and start to read the Gospel of John. Also, find a Bible teaching local church and shock the world by walking through the door. If you need any help, write me. Send me a note to nikonsniperguy@aol.com. I want to pray for you either way.
Lord bless you ALL today. I pray you find the truth in Christ!
NikonSniper Steve
Friday, September 23, 2011
Thursday, September 22, 2011
From Parking Line To Job Line
I am clueless! But I am learning fast.
I didn't even know we had an Illinois Department of Employment Security office in my town. Well, ... just like the photo blood hound I am, ... I found it. No parking available. Hmmm, this is not a good sign.
There was a waiting line of cars to park! Honestly, I think I would have jumped a curb and parked on the grass if it weren't for the fact that the local police station is across the street. Your going to have to trust me that it wouldn't be the first time I did something like that.
I finally got a parking spot only to get into the IDES building in order to join a new line of people to the information counter.
Wow! God has blessed me.
It's a walk up line to talk to a rather nice gent ... but everyone in line gets to hear your dirty laundry. There's no privacy! You might as well turn around and talk to the crowd. I actually began to pray for people that I saw standing there in that line. We don't want to listen to your junk ... but we are all looking for clues on how fast the line is moving because there is only 1 guy answering questions. I wanted to add a few more people to handle questions out of the line in which we were standing. So what, if they answered wrong! Just smile and say you care. Take our forms and put them in that big black box o'forms.
Some of these poor folks are talking about losing their homes. I just got in this line. It clearly isn't a good line to be in. Folks, hit your knees tonight and thank the Lord for what you have, then find someone to else pray for and help. This could be you or me in no time and I want to be very mindful of THAT during this process.
Anyway, on a lighter note, ... after I was done and had killed off the better part of the day ... I actually thought about getting back in that line one more time to get back up and tell the guy that I was ready to go now but that I just needed to get his cell number so I could call him 2-3 times a day to see if my job was here yet. I thought if I said it loud enough ... I might get everyone in the room to at least have a good laugh. Can't ya just hear me? "C'MON Dude, be a guy, I need your number!"
NikonSniper Steve
I didn't even know we had an Illinois Department of Employment Security office in my town. Well, ... just like the photo blood hound I am, ... I found it. No parking available. Hmmm, this is not a good sign.
There was a waiting line of cars to park! Honestly, I think I would have jumped a curb and parked on the grass if it weren't for the fact that the local police station is across the street. Your going to have to trust me that it wouldn't be the first time I did something like that.
I finally got a parking spot only to get into the IDES building in order to join a new line of people to the information counter.
Wow! God has blessed me.
It's a walk up line to talk to a rather nice gent ... but everyone in line gets to hear your dirty laundry. There's no privacy! You might as well turn around and talk to the crowd. I actually began to pray for people that I saw standing there in that line. We don't want to listen to your junk ... but we are all looking for clues on how fast the line is moving because there is only 1 guy answering questions. I wanted to add a few more people to handle questions out of the line in which we were standing. So what, if they answered wrong! Just smile and say you care. Take our forms and put them in that big black box o'forms.
Some of these poor folks are talking about losing their homes. I just got in this line. It clearly isn't a good line to be in. Folks, hit your knees tonight and thank the Lord for what you have, then find someone to else pray for and help. This could be you or me in no time and I want to be very mindful of THAT during this process.
Anyway, on a lighter note, ... after I was done and had killed off the better part of the day ... I actually thought about getting back in that line one more time to get back up and tell the guy that I was ready to go now but that I just needed to get his cell number so I could call him 2-3 times a day to see if my job was here yet. I thought if I said it loud enough ... I might get everyone in the room to at least have a good laugh. Can't ya just hear me? "C'MON Dude, be a guy, I need your number!"
NikonSniper Steve
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Strength When The Chips Are Down
God's word is so powerful and it is full of encouragement when the chips are down. I believe that the word of God has so much to say about God's ability to provide because life wasn't always meant to be a rose garden. There are seasons and I have seen quite a few of them now.
Read Psalm 27:13-14 (NIV) it says:
I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.
Be encouraged you who are struggling. God has not forgotten you. He continues to try to get through to you. What should you do if you want to experience this peace?
James 4:8a says:
Draw near to the Lord and He will draw near to you. God is looking for those who will seek Him with all their hearts.
God bless you in your struggle today. Draw near to Him and I am confident that you will see His goodness.
NikonSniper Steve
Read Psalm 27:13-14 (NIV) it says:
I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.
Be encouraged you who are struggling. God has not forgotten you. He continues to try to get through to you. What should you do if you want to experience this peace?
James 4:8a says:
Draw near to the Lord and He will draw near to you. God is looking for those who will seek Him with all their hearts.
God bless you in your struggle today. Draw near to Him and I am confident that you will see His goodness.
NikonSniper Steve
Monday, September 19, 2011
Thank You So Much For Your Prayers!
I know I am not the lone ranger here and I know that so many of you have been experiencing this same trial for a long time. I need to tell you that His promise is true! Our God WILL come through! Always! Do you know Him?
I think I am praying more than I ever have now as we have real need of His deliverence as a family but I want to thank Him for the years of protection He lovingly gave us through employment of nearly 25 years in the same location.
I also want to pray for you! If you are out of work or under-employed, please send me a first name and any details for which you would like me to pray. I want to pray for you ... and I WILL remember. In fact, I really can't forget right now as we find ourselves in the same boat. It would just feel so much better to be approaching God in prayer on behalf of you who are hurting for His provision.
May the God and Father of the Lord Jesus come to your aid quickly. May you choose to go to the source of all good things (James 1:17a) to give thanks for the things you have already. May we praise Him together!
God bless you today.
Thanks to those who have emailed job suggestions. You can email me direct at nikonsniperguy@aol.com. I'm not proud ... I am willing to wash your winshield at an expressway exit ramp near you for cash!
NikonSniper Steve
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)