If you are saved and you know it. . .

In our weekly Bible Study we were reading through the book of Philippians, and I was inspired by Paul's words,

Philippians 3:17-18

¹⁷Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you. ¹⁸For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ.

Who are the enemies of the cross of Christ? Is Paul referring to nonbelievers. Those who persecute/d Christians? Could Paul be talking about fellow Christians who take on the title, but not the real life of a Christian. Could he be talking about Christians who read their Bible every day and never miss a church service? Could he be talking about me? Yikes!

Then I hear Jesus say, "A new command I give to you: Love one another. As I have loved you, love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another."

John 13: 34-35

Just last Sunday I volunteered in my daughter's Sunday school class and the lesson was, God wants me to do my best. This is a great lesson we can learn and relearn as we get older. What does it mean to do my best?

When I was young it was picking up all my toys the first time my parents asked without arguing. Now it means give some of my toys away (extra car, clothes, etc.,) the first time my Holy Father asks without arguing.

Do I have to be perfect? No, only Jesus was & is perfect. Does that mean I need to put on my super Christian cape and save the world, no of course not. This world needs and has only one Savior, and thank God we don't have to be it! Thank God for Jesus! In this backwards world in which we live in where wrong is right and right is wrong doing our best starts with ourselves, our family & friends, church family and neighbors. Let's just concentrate on those who are closest to us. If we see a need and we can fill it--fill it! Don't wait for a burning bush! Don't wait for someone to ask you to do something, like the dishes or volunteering in your child's class, just do it! Let's do our best for those we are the closest to and watch the pay it forward effect. One of my favorite tv shows is Heros--thus I say,

Save the family. Save the world.

God wants me to do my very best. Wow, if we applied that to our everyday life what blessings would that bring?

My beautiful daughter & I adapted the famous, If your happy & you know it song, to. . .

If your saved and you know it. . .

show the world

If your saved and you know it. . . show the world

If your saved and you know it. . . then your life will really show it

If your saved and you know it. . . show the world.

If your saved and you know it. . .

show your country

If your saved and you know it. . . show your country

If your saved and you know it. . . then your life will really show it

If your saved and you know it. . . show your country.

If your saved and you know it. . .

show your community

If your saved and you know it. . . show your community

If your saved and you know it. . . then your life will really show it

If your saved and you know it. . . show your community.

If your saved and you know it. . .

show your family

If your saved and you know it. . . show your family

If your saved and you know it. . . then your life will really show it

If your saved and you know it. . . show your family.

If your saved and you know it. . .

show your spouse

If your saved and you know it. . . show your spouse

If your saved and you know it. . . then your life will really show it

If your saved and you know it. . . show your spouse.

If your saved and you know it. . .

show yourself

If your saved and you know it. . . show yourself

If your saved and you know it. . . then your life will really show it

If your saved and you know it. . . show yourself.

If your saved and you know it. . .

show your Savior

If your saved and you know it. . . show your Savior

If your saved and you know it. . . then your life will really show it

If your saved and you know it. . . show your Savior.

My homage to Micheal Jackson (a man who was not perfect, suffered so much, lost so much, struggled with his own demons, and had the desire to do his best and make a difference--only God is his judge and jury now. We may never know the full truth about his life in this life, but in Heaven the truth will be there. I pray Micheal will be there and that he is now in the loving arms of the Holy Father experiencing true pure love from a parent that does not want to use or abuse him and that he finally has the freedom to have the full joy of a child without pressures & demands that should have never been his in this life. The fact remains he was a very talented person who wanted to make the world a better place. May God bless you Micheal Jackson for the joy & inspiration you brought to the world and may He forgive you for any harm you have done to others. RIP Micheal. Hope to see you in Heaven!).

I'm starting with the man in the mirror. I'm asking him to change his ways, and no message could've been any clearer, if you want the world to be a better place, take a look at yourself and make the change.

Romans 8:1-2, 9-17

¹Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit ²for the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.

⁹You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. ¹⁰But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. ¹¹And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you.

¹²Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation—but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. ¹³For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, ¹⁴because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. ¹⁵For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father." ¹⁶The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. ¹⁷Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.