The results? I can't promise you a million dollars but I can promise that you will learn to love your neighbor and that will affect your neighbor.

You will walk with much more spiritual power and blessing for yourself as well as for those around you.

I promise much more happiness, much more peace, and contentment, in your life.

Signs, miracles and wonders, will follow you, and there is nothing you can do about that.

Signs, miracles and wonders, will follow you, because you have been transformed. Transformed from what you used to be, into what you thought you should be, into what you were created to be. And that is The image of the invisable God.

Scripture tells us ...

 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. Rom 8:29-30

If God foreknew you, and called you, and He did. You know you are Justfied, have you yet become glorified?

Let that be our goal.

Brother Lee

ThoughtsFromGod.com

I was listening to a conversation one day, that went along these lines. One person had a serious problem but didn't know what to do. Three of His buddies were standing around telling him he needed to go see a lawyer. They encouraged him to get help. One even offered to give him a ride and so on. None of these people were believers.

We can get encouragement from unsaved friends. But it is pretty temporary. Only lasts as long as the beer holds out, Or until their schedule gets busy. The bar remains open, or until the community picnic is over. Then, they go home and leave you to your own devices.

However this temporary help and encouragement is as good or in many cases even better then we get from Christians who often want to judge our problem and then us.

This is because we forget that we live in a fallen world and way to often we are affected by the world instead of the other way around. Because we do attend the movies, company picnics, tell the ethnic jokes, and the pure mind of Christ that is in us gets clouded.

Our mind collects stuff from the world and stuff turns into beliefs and beliefs form emotions and emotions drive behavior.

This works for all behavior. It's true of Abuse of drugs, alcohol, Gambling, Gossip and even bible reading. It is even true of loving your nieghbors and enemies.

Not from what we were. But from what we are today. Totaly changed into an entirely new creature. Not just once but over and over and over until you become perfect as He is perfect, and that is Jesus Christ. Might take a moment.

Brother Lee

http://ThoughtsFromGod.com

Part of the problem is we have our eyes on the wrong list. I think there are two lists. A list of outer stuff that is mans list and a list of inner stuff, that would be God's.

As sons and daughter of God we can go where ever we want with whoever we want and be involed with anything we want. It's a matter of motivation and relation ship with God. ( see 1 Cor. 6:12 )

But here is a list God does approve of.

Luke 6:27-31

27 "But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 29 If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. 30 Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. 31 Do to others as you would have them do to you.

Little to unrealistic? How about this?

Rom 12:9-21

9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.

17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. 20 On the contrary:

"If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.

21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Wow!!

How are YOU doing Christian?

Don't panic! It's just a question.

Sometimes I think that there is no description of us Christians that could be more exaggerated or unreal, than that of being "new creatures."

Take the average member of the church in this country. He wears the
right clothes and bears the name of Christ. He is a fair average specimen of a large group of people. He has the confession of being a Christian; yet . . .

He has a fondness for the world and the things of it; he chases after its gold; he loves its fashionable party, have a good time attitude; he reads its novels; Goes to it's movies,
He frequents its places of amusement; like the Bars for St. Patricks day, or any other day.
He enjoys the company of the world; he relishes all its foolish talking and jokeing. You know what I'm talking about.

Is he "a new creature" in Christ Jesus?

Is it possible that, with . . .so much worldliness, so much selfishness, so much self-indulgence, so much pleasing of the flesh, he can have been "born again," whatever his claim may be?

Who's list are we using anyway?

"If he or she is really a new creature!" Then . . .
old feelings, old habits, old tastes, old hopes, old joys, old sorrows, old places we hang out, old companionships
--all are gone! Old things have passed away, all things have become new!

Part of the problem is we have our eyes on the wrong list. I think there are two lists. A list of outer stuff that is mans list and a list of inner stuff, that would be God's.

Now some of us, before we came to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ were not very nice people and we know it. We look back and can see some change and think, great!

Some of us were rather nice people, we think. Not much wrong. Not a lot of changing to do. We look back, and if we can see anything different then we think fine.

This is particuliarly hard for some of us born into a Christian family and raised in the church. We tend to think, I was raised knowledgable and right, from the first, nothing to change here.

But Jesus said, at some point, You must be born again. Means to start over.

At some point we must stop all we are doing, thinking, believing. We must give up all we hold as important, all we think is right, and every opinion we have.

And be born again of the spirit of God, in other words, according to scripture, we become a new creation, a totaly new creature in Christ Jesus.

Totally changed from the inside out, from one end to the other. In fact when someone looks at your life very closely, they can't see no caterpilliar in your butterfly if you are truly a new creation. This takes time, so how are you doing?

Brother Lee

http://www.ThoughtsFromGod.com

Listen to this ...

We have a list that we use too explain this verse. When a person becomes a Christian they change, right? You know what I'm talking about.

They stop drinking, carousing, swearing, telling off color jokes and ethnic jokes. They don't go to bad movies, hang out in bars or frequent those crazy shopping malls. Or whatever else we think ought to be on the list of what a Christian is not about.

When we see a knew member of the body of Christ, we tend to look them over to see if they have any problem areas in their life. That we need to help them out with.

You know what else? These new Christians have the same list. When they don't measure up in their own eyes, often they are discouraged, more then those of us that have been at this a while.

Can I bring up the fact that God did not put a pair of wings on no caterpilliar? No. He changed the caterpilliar. From the inside out, from one end to the other.

Brother Lee

http://www.ThoughtsFromGod.com

But first today I would like to talk to you about butterflies.

Butterflies, Our grandkids love butterflies, Our kids love butterflies, in fact just about everybody I know can appreciate a good butterfly.

Know where butterflies come from? Caterpilliars. A caterpilliar makes a cocoon and then morph's into a butterfly. Man. Wow.

Totally changed from the inside out, from one end to the other. In fact you can hold a butterfly in the palm of your hand up close to your face and examine it closely. You can't see no caterpilliar in that butterfly. The caterpilliar is gone, only the butterfly still exhists.

The Greekword for that is metamorphoo (met-am-or-fo'-o); to transform (literally or figuratively, "metamorphose"):

Well there is this verse in the bible ...

Rom 12:1-2

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

The greek word in the bible for transformend is Metamorphoo.

Transformed, Totally changed from the inside out, from one end to the other. In fact when someone looks at your life very closely, they can't see no caterpilliar in your butterfly.

That means we need to transform. Change totaly, from one end to the other.

How much have you changed since you became a Christian?

Drug counseling won't help without Jesus, and an inner change. All the marriage and healing seminars won't change anything without Jesus. (They need to be truly born again) No matter what you try, life won't improve much with out you bring yourself to Jesus Christ.

That can't happen in a moment. But don't leave this article with out at least starting. Don't think, I will do it later.
God told Moses He was the great "I Am."
Jesus said, "before Abraham was, I Am."


The Great I AM, not was, not gonna be, or wanna be, but ...
The God of right now! I Am!
Not yesterday, yesterday is gone, I was there, we used it all up.
Not the God of tomorrow, to us tomorrow doesn't even exist yet.
But the God of right now! Only This day, this hour, this minute matter.

We become so involved with what happened yesterday, or what will happen tomorrow, that we often miss what He is doing and wants to do RIGHT NOW…and we lose out on so much associated with that fact!
Don't try to do this later.
If you have something in your life that needs to be fixed, move closer to Jesus. Right now. If you have someone you know who is having trouble getting something in their life fixed, and you want to help them, get closer to Jesus.
Start right now,

I know every body here knows who Jesus is. We know lots of stuff about Him.
But do we really know Him? Personally?
Let me explain what I mean.

When I was just little, my adopted father, the one who gave me the last name of Adams, but he never gave me Jesus.

He used to drag us off to church. I remember a couple of times. I'm sure it was more then a couple of times, but that is all I remember.
But I do remember seeing a picture on the wall and one of the other kids asking who was the man in the picture? Somebody said that was Jesus. I remember thinking good, now I know who Jesus is. But I didn't know Him. He was only a picture on the wall.

See, I know who the Governor is too. But I can't personally take you and introduce you to him in a meaningful way. Because I personally don't know him. But a close family member of his could. See the difference?

For a lot of us, he is still a picture on the wall. Or a historical figure. Perhaps a biblical subject to talk and argue about. I know we all know who Jesus is.

But as you sit here reading this today, do you know Him, well enough that you can help someone get past an unsaved and out of control life? Help them get past church, bible study, prayer group, and counseling (Not that these aren't good, but first, Jesus.) so they can be saved delivered and really healed?

Have you gotten past these yourself? You can't bring the boy to Jesus if you don't know how to get there yourself.

You have taken your self to Jesus, all day long and sometimes all night too!
You gotta take your self to Jesus if you are going to bring anybody else to Him. You can't take Jesus with you. Please don't see it that way. That would put the King of Glory on your agenda and schedule. See it, as taking your self to Him. He is the King.
With Him is where you want to be. So when others need help You can bring them to Him, because you are already there.

The most changed person I know is me.

I never decided to quit drugs, but they are gone. I never decided to get over my anger and hurt, but they are gone, I never decided to get the demons out of me or my life, but they are gone too!

I got off of drugs with No drug rehab, I got over my enemies and my childhood with no counseling and no twelve, seven, or even three step programs. Lost anger without anger management. Even got demons out of my life, without a deliverance ministry. Just lots of Jesus.

The only thing I ever did do, was fill my life with Jesus.
I didn't think I needed to change. I thought it was all circumstances.

But I filled my life with Jesus and He changed my life. He didn't even ask me.

God won't make you do anything you don't want to do. But He will change your want to. And He won't ask

Jesus said, "Bring him to me."

I'm not saying that all our programs are worthless. But without Jesus, statistics say they are. Bring them to Jesus.

Heaven help us, we take them to counseling, to church , to bible study, to prayer group. Is that the same? Jesus said to take them to Him.

See there are those who believe that any religion will get you to God, and into heaven. But I heard a man point out that Buddha did not die for anybody's sins. Neither did Mohammad. Not Krishna, not Gandhi. No. Jesus, Jesus died for your sins and only Jesus.

As I watched the Billy Graham Crusade in New Orleans the other night, I was struck by the fact that Franklin Graham, who was the key speaker spoke for only twelve minutes. From the time he walked to the podium till he asked people to come forward was only twelve minutes.
They came in droves.

Heaven help us, we tke them to counseling, to church , to bible study, to prayer group. Is that the same? Jesus said to take them to Him.