"Fellowship of the Unashamed"

     I am part of the "Fellowship of the Unashamed."  The die has been cast, the decision has been made, I have stepped over the line.  I won't look back, let up, slow down, back away or be still.

     My past is redeemed, my present makes sense and my future is secure.  I'm finised with low living, sight walking, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed visions, mundane talking, cheap giving and dwarfed goals.

     I no longer need preeminence, prosperity, position, plaudits or popularity.  I don't have to be first, tops, recognized, praised, regarded or rewarded.  I now live by faith, I lean on His presence, walk with patience, live by prayer and labor with power.

     My face is set, my gait is fast, my goal is Heaven.  My road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions are few but my Guide is reliable and my mission is clear.  I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, deluded or delayed.  I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of the adversary, negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity or meander in the maze of mediocrity.

     I won't give up, shut up or let up until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up, paid up and spoken up for the cause of Christ!  I am a disciple of Jesus.  I must go until He comes, give until I drop, preach until all know, and work until He stops me.  And when He comes for His own, He will have no problem recognizing me.  My banner is clear: I am part of the "Fellowship of the Unashamed."

     Be God's man/woman, be a member of the "Fellowship of the Unashamed."  Raised to new life in Jesus Christ; having the spirit of Daniel.  Be a daring man/woman, who knows God and does everything to glorify His name!

Today is your day, will you join me?

     I cannot take credit for writing this post, it was posted to Facebook by a brother in Christ (Jason Henry), with some editing by me.  It has power in its' words and that is why I wanted to share it with you.  If you haven't already, I pray that you will pick up your Cross, follow Christ, and join me on this mission He has set forth for us all.



What do you love more?

Do you love God with all your heart?  Would you sell all your possessions tomorrow if God said: if you love me as you say, sell everything you own and have a place secured for yourself in Heaven, or do you love your possessions more? 

     We live in a world where in the United States it is not uncommon for a family to own a house, have at least two televisions, two vehicles, etc...  We are a rich nation.  There are many nations around the world, where people struggle to feed their families one meal a day, let alone three and usually have leftovers.  And how many of us throw those leftovers away without even thinking twice about it? 

     What if God asked you to sell everything you have, give the money to the poor, and leave yourself with nothing but the clothes on your own back, would you?  Do you love God and trust that he will provide, or do you love your possessions more?  I don't know if God would ever ask any of us to give up everything we have, but I know he does ask us to help those in need. 

     Lets turn to the book of Mark for a story about someone unwilling to give up his possessions to follow Jesus.  Can you believe that?  Would you do it?

      As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. "Good Teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?"
     "Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered.  "No one is good - except God alone (emphasis mine). You know the commandments: 'Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, do not defraud, honor your mother and father.'"
     "Teacher," he declared, "all these things I have kept since I was a boy."
     Jesus looked at him and loved him.  "One thing you lack," he said.  "Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in Heaven.  Then come, follow me."  Mark 10:17-21

     All this guy had to do was sell his things, give to the poor, and he could have followed Jesus and had a place for himself in Heaven.  Guess what, he didn't.  He was very wealthy, and loved his "things" more than he loved God, or wanted to follow Jesus. 

     It's easy for us to fall in love with the things of this world.  The new televisions, new cars, newest games, jewelry, etc... you name it.  This man could see Jesus, and lived during his reign on earth, and could not bring himself to sell everything he owned.  Now, we live on faith and belief in someone we cannot see, and will not see either until our time on this earth ends, or Jesus comes and establishes his Kingdom on earth.  So, how much easier is it for us to fall in love with the things of this world, as opposed to the one who loves us no matter what?

     Do not love the world or anything in the world.  If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.  For everything in the world - the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does - comes not from the Father but from the world.  The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.  1 John 2:15-17

     The Apostle John tells us that we should not love the world, because it is only temporary and will be gone.  Just like everything in this world that we fall in love with, our cars, televisions, etc...  How many of you that are in your thirties bought a TV as an 18 year old, and still have it today?  I would venture to say not many.  How many in the same age category still own the first vehicle they purchased when they first got their driver's license?  I don't, I've had several vehicles since, not because they've all died but some have.  None of our possessions that we hold so near and dear to us will last forever, but God's love will last an eternity.  He loves us even if we don't love Him.  He wants us all to come back to Him, but sadly there are some that love their possessions more than anything else.  What do you love more?  A Heavenly Father who loves you no matter what, or your "things" that will someday be gone?

     Thank you for stopping by my blog and reading the post.  Comments are encouraged and welcomed, if you have something you'd like to add to the post, please do.  Again, thank you and have a blessed day!