Showing posts with label Daily Devotions. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Daily Devotions. Show all posts

Thursday, September 30, 2021

Every Knee WILL Bow or Kneel

 


I’ve noticed a disturbing trend on my social media accounts lately where it seems to be easier for some to mock Christianity and the beliefs surrounding Christianity. Not just a disagreement, but a mocking, or a reviling of a belief system that for many over the years has been held sacred. Yes, there are some “Christians,” over the years who have mocked as well, but an old morality concept that two wrongs don’t make a right I think still holds true. Unfortunately, we now live in a world Jesus addressed where He said an eye for an eye would leave everyone blind among other things., thus having little or no positive effects.

This afternoon, (I was a little late due to not feeling so well) when doing my study, I came across a compelling passage and thought from various places in the Bible, but I will quote from Romans 14:11,

 

11 It is written: “‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bow before me; every tongue will acknowledge God.” 

 

Another passage from Philippians 2:10-1,

 

10 So at the name of Jesus everyone will bow down, those in heaven, on earth, and under the earth.
11 And to the glory of God the Father everyone will openly agree,
“Jesus Christ is Lord!”

 

The bottom line, whether one likes it or not, every knee will bow and ultimately confess that Jesus is indeed, the Christ, Messiah, Savior, Lord, Son of God, in fact God! 

 

There is a question that arises from that though: the attitude of the one kneeling in the end?  You see, if the Bible is true, and I believe it is, and provable and reliable, what one thinks of Christ now, how they may mock Him, how they may perceive the reality of God, doesn’t matter. It is also very clear and Jesus Himself makes it clear, He is the only way to Heaven. Yet, many think it is their good works, (in reality as filthy rags, (used tampons) before God), or finding God in their own way, or that there are many ways to God that will get them into Heaven, but that clearly is not what the Bible says. Not liking what the Bible says does not make it wrong. In fact, it should cause one to ponder about their thoughts, "what if I’m wrong?"

 

It is important to also understand a misconception that many have, that is that we can earn our way into Heaven and into the good graces of God. That simply isn’t true. In fact, Christianity is a belief system that says we can’t do it on our own, it is what keeps it from being a religion and instead based on a relationship with and an acceptance of Jesus as God’s one and only begotten Son. It isn’t about what we can do, it is about what the Son of God, via the gift of God the Father in perfection, already did, Jesus Christ offering Himself up as a sacrifice, a substitute for our own wrong doings. It is through Him, an ultimate act of Love and sacrifice, that we accept, receive, and make the decision to follow Jesus as our Leader, Savior, Forgiver, and Lord.  Of course, that process is something I am more than willing through The Virtual Pew to talk more about with you, personally, one on one, even helping you find a local church and even providing some teaching and help in helping you understand the relationship with Christ Jesus that He wants to have with you.

 

God has also provided for us now, on this earth, The Holy Spirit as a guide to help us grow more in love with Jesus each day so much that we can’t help but tell more about Him to others tomorrow. That doesn’t mean we will always be happy and everything around us hunky dory and there is unfortunately a great deal of false teachings about Jesus out there. We can however, find a joy and a peace that passes all understanding even in tough times once we come to Christ.

 

Many misunderstand and see God as an Ogre, an evil entity. The truth is, God loves you and wants to have a relationship with you. It is the choice, a free one, that He has given you the right to make in and for yourself. The question is, what decision will you make? 

 

So, realize, one can mock, put down God, be critical and so forth, but if God and the Bible are in fact true, every knee will ultimately bow before God. At that point, will it be too late? Will it be because you recognized through life on this earth that He was in fact God and you chose to follow Him, or, will it be because you realize you have one last grasp to claim him because you were wrong through life, and at that point, you realize it may in fact be too late?  I beg you to consider, making that decision now. For me, lately in life, I’ve seen too many friends and acquaintances dying to not at this point in my life, share what I believe to be truth, not because I am making a judgement on you as a person, but because I want to share the reality of a future that I believe awaits me, even with my problems and imperfections, an eternity with God the Father that will be beyond anything I could have ever imagined, where there will be no more pain, no more suffering, no more PTSD for me, no more heartache, no more tears, no more…. but instead, love, joy, and an eternity of life in incredibly wonderful ways I never imagined. I pray that God's Holy Spirit speaks to you through todays thoughts. 


The following is information on how you can support the work of Mike through The Virtual Pew and his Movie Reviews that provide spiritual insights. 

 

For going on some thirty years now I have done the work of The Virtual Pew, in part planting seeds but another huge part is getting to know people and being called by many Pastor Mike by my involvement in social media. From engaging in life, I have seen the impact of my work on people on the fringes all over the world. I have run homeless programs, housed homeless people worked with drug addicts, prostitutes and much more. All while giving back my salary, and for the last 8+ years not taking a salary. You can help tremendously by supporting the work, not just from the movie reviews but the work that goes along side that in the development of relationships of helping save lives and give purpose to the lives of others. I appreciate your consideration in this calling that I have seen and know God uses. 

If willing to help, it is greatly appreciated. I ask you, do not write checks or make contributions to me. All contributions should be made either to The Virtual Pew or Mosaic. The Virtual Pew is a Religious Organization and Mosaic is a 501-C3 nonprofit. 

If willing to help this ministry continue you can donate online at the following.

You can support us monthly at Mike Furches / The Virtual Pew / Mosaic is creating A Community of Faith To Those on the Fringes | Patreon

Pay Pal to The Virtual Pew at mike@furches.org

Pay Pal to Mosaic at mikefurches@yahoo.com

If making contributions via pay pal, please designate as a gift to family or friends as to prevent us from having to pay additional fees to pay pal. 

You can donate at cash app at $MichaelFurches

Donations can be made at FaceBook via messenger to my facebook account Mike Furches

Or you can send a check to The Virtual Pew or Mosaic at the following address.
1249 North Saint Francis
Wichita Kansas, 67214

If desiring more information about this ministry or the testimonials from others, please don’t hesitate to ask. I really am dependent on others to support this missional ministry to keep it going. I have nothing left to give as I’ve depleted, and I’m not complaining, my savings and retirement accounts, now, it really is dependent on you to allow yourself to be used by God to help us out.

I am more than willing to share at your church, business and so forth. I have shared across America as to the work God has done and done for me. I love those opportunities.

Blessings and thank you,

Mike Furches

To Donate via Cash App, donate at $MichaelFurches

Click here to follow The Virtual Pew on Twitter


Mike Furches on Faceboook.

Click to subscribe to my blog

You can also check out Mike's Musical ventures by searching for Mike Furches and Pastor Mike and the Demon Slayer Blues Band. Mary Jane's album is available online and by contacting Mike and the Pastor Mike and Demon Slayer Blues Band album is available on over 150 download formats.

There are hundreds of postings so make sure to check out the archives on The Virtual Pew and Mike Furches Reviews. You can also contact me for a free audio book link of The Keystone Kid at mike@furches.org You can visit http://www.thevirtualpew.com/.

Hopefully, you will consider a gift to The Virtual Pew.

You can donate via paypal at mike@furches.org or cash app at $MichaelFurches

Now I get asked this quite often, Can we repost your blogs or articles? The short answer to that is, what an honor that you would ask, and by all means, spread the word. Here is our contact information

The Virtual Pew
1249 N. St. Francis
Wichita Kansas, 67214
Email: mike@furches.org

To follow Mike's Band, Pastor Mike and the Demon Slayer Blues Band, click the following link:

 

The Pastor Mike and Demon Slayer Blues Band


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x5lrkdvEZGg

https://www.facebook.com/TheDemonSlayers 

The Movie Guys

Donations to The Virtual Pew

The Virtual Pew Blog

Reviews With Mike

The Virtual Pew Sermons

The Virtual Pew News

Monday, August 23, 2021

Pretend I'm from Missouri, Just Show Me


I would like to let you know; I really care!  If there is anything I can do for you; please let me know! I’ll be there for you; you can always count on me!  I’ll be your friend to the moon and back! I promise; we’ll get together soon! I love you!

Have you heard comments like the ones above before?  Are you like me, doubting and knowing that half the time they are empty words?  I’ve come up with this saying in life, it is one that I wasn’t familiar with until moving to the Midwest a number of years ago and spending time in Missouri, my response more times than not, even if only thought and not spoken are, “Pretend I’m from Missouri; SHOW ME! 

Unfortunately, we live in a world where more times than not words are just empty and the person speaking them either doesn’t take them seriously or the person hearing them is just reminded that it is okay to be lied to and the other person just doesn’t take them seriously or seriously doesn’t care about them. For someone that is a Christian, to speak words without understanding the intent of those words or intention of honoring those words can be devastating to their witness.  It is one of the reasons, that in all honesty for me, is why I continue to have such a difficult time trusting others.

I am reminded of a concept as taught in the Bible:

When you make a promise, say only “Yes” or “No.” Anything else comes from the devil. ~ Matthew 5:37 (CEV)

Think about that concept by the way the words were spoken by Jesus! Does it ever seem like we hear a lot of excuses as to why a person can’t or doesn’t keep their word? Why their yes isn’t yes or their no really no?  This verse gives explanation as to the reasoning here, it plainly says, anything else other than keeping promises anything other than our word is of the devil. No excuses, only the need to improve and make sure that we are acting accordingly with the concept of calling ourselves a follower of Jesus.

Does this mean we won’t make mistakes or that things don’t come up?  Of course not, but it is clear, those are the exceptions as opposed to the rule and that above all, we think about what we say before we say it and we keep our word. If we make a promise, plan on keeping that promise. At that point, all those things in the first paragraph begin to change.  Our experiences, our expectations, and our word will be different.

I’m not from Missouri, I’m originally and always will be from Tennessee. I would rather not have to experience the SHOW ME state moto and concept, but unfortunately, I expect to. Can it change?  Yes, but it requires people to change. Will you think about your commitment, your yes, your no before speaking them in the future? 

I've always felt the following song applied to this in so many ways. Give Broken Promises by Rez Band a listen in this lyric video:

 Broken promises Resurrection Band with lyrics - YouTube

For going on some thirty years now I have done the work of The Virtual Pew, in part planting seeds but another huge part is getting to know people and being called by many Pastor Mike by my involvement in social media. From engaging in life, I have seen the impact of my work on people on the fringes all over the world. I have run homeless programs, housed homeless people worked with drug addicts, prostitutes and much more. All while giving back my salary, and for the last 8+ years not taking a salary. You can help tremendously by supporting the work, not just from the movie reviews but the work that goes along side that in the development of relationships of helping save lives and give purpose to the lives of others. I appreciate your consideration in this calling that I have seen and know God uses. 

If willing to help, it is greatly appreciated. I ask you, do not write checks or make contributions to me. All contributions should be made either to The Virtual Pew or Mosaic. The Virtual Pew is a Religious Organization and Mosaic is a 501-C3 nonprofit. 

If willing to help this ministry continue you can donate online at the following.

You can support us monthly at Mike Furches / The Virtual Pew / Mosaic is creating A Community of Faith To Those on the Fringes | Patreon

Pay Pal to The Virtual Pew at mike@furches.org

Pay Pal to Mosaic at mikefurches@yahoo.com

If making contributions via pay pal, please designate as a gift to family or friends as to prevent us from having to pay additional fees to pay pal. 

You can donate at cash app at $MichaelFurches

Donations can be made at FaceBook via messenger to my facebook account Mike Furches

Or you can send a check to The Virtual Pew or Mosaic at the following address.
1249 North Saint Francis
Wichita Kansas, 67214

If desiring more information about this ministry or the testimonials from others, please don’t hesitate to ask. I really am dependent on others to support this missional ministry to keep it going. I have nothing left to give as I’ve depleted, and I’m not complaining, my savings and retirement accounts, now, it really is dependent on you to allow yourself to be used by God to help us out.

I am more than willing to share at your church, business and so forth. I have shared across America as to the work God has done and done for me. I love those opportunities.

Blessings and thank you,

Mike Furches

To Donate via Cash App, donate at $MichaelFurches

Click here to follow The Virtual Pew on Twitter


Mike Furches on Faceboook.

Click to subscribe to my blog

You can also check out Mike's Musical ventures by searching for Mike Furches and Pastor Mike and the Demon Slayer Blues Band. Mary Jane's album is available online and by contacting Mike and the Pastor Mike and Demon Slayer Blues Band album is available on over 150 download formats.

There are hundreds of postings so make sure to check out the archives on The Virtual Pew and Mike Furches Reviews. You can also contact me for a free audio book link of The Keystone Kid at mike@furches.org You can visit http://www.thevirtualpew.com/.

Hopefully, you will consider a gift to The Virtual Pew.

You can donate via paypal at mike@furches.org or cash app at $MichaelFurches

Now I get asked this quite often, Can we repost your blogs or articles? The short answer to that is, what an honor that you would ask, and by all means, spread the word. Here is our contact information

The Virtual Pew
1249 N. St. Francis
Wichita Kansas, 67214
Email: mike@furches.org

To follow Mike's Band, Pastor Mike and the Demon Slayer Blues Band, click the following link:

 

The Pastor Mike and Demon Slayer Blues Band


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x5lrkdvEZGg

https://www.facebook.com/TheDemonSlayers 

The Movie Guys

Donations to The Virtual Pew

The Virtual Pew Blog

Reviews With Mike

The Virtual Pew Sermons

The Virtual Pew News

 

Monday, October 12, 2020

Daily Devotional, Genesis Chapter 33, 34, Matthew 2

 

Daily Devotional, Genesis Chapter 33, 34, Matthew 2

Love, Revenge and How Do You Get Your Information

How far does one go to show family love? At the start of this story, a good one by the way, we see a reunion of brothers that turns out much better than expected. Jacob has been away from his brother Esau for sometime and the reunion of sorts was far better than what Jacob thought it would be. His brother is wealthier and more powerful and due to the long time away among other circumstances Jacob was concerned about his servants, tribe, wives and family, yet Esau surprised him.

One of the things I've learned myself is that time heals and the love between family can be a deep and passionate love can overlook past transgressions. We can all be surprised at the possibility of reuniting with family if we will only give family a chance. Believe me, I know all too well the hardship that family can cause on each other, but, I also understand the ability of God to heal broken relationships if we give Him a chance. Of course we have to use wisdom in these decisions, we have to be smart, we see the efforts of Jacob to make sure that there is a healing and a effort to bring peace, I think God rewarded that, yet today, we see so many who are unwilling to do the way of love towards anyone, including family who may have done wrong at one point. I know one thing for sure in my life, there are many situations where God may provide healing, but I also know that there are some situations where there will never be peace and healed relationships, but it is important to know, that doesn't take place because you haven't tried, it takes place because the other party hasn't accepted it or tried. I wrote this last week, before I knew the circumstances of the last few days, how true I know the importance now of both parties willing to do what they should, and others who involve themselves to search out truth prior to involving themselves into a family matter, including people with other church groups.

We also see in this passage the love of a brother and sister as Dinah is raped. The brothers, as I an imagine many brothers, decide to take action into their own hands after nothing seems to be done. While I'm not advocating for vigilante justice, it is easy to understand why these brothers did what they did. They thought about a plan, put the plan into action and then were successful in their actions. I guess for me, while there are a lot of things to think about in this story, the one thing I think about is the need to think through ones actions, especially when there is the possibility of danger. 

In some places, and in some times, law does not exist. Later we will see the establishment of laws that God puts into place to see to it that appropriate justice takes place. In this time though, we see the need of revenge often has consequences, even for those who may be innocent.

Matthew 2

From the very start of Jesus life, there were those who wanted to do harm to Him as well as others who wanted to worship Him. We see that illustrated in this passage.

We see how there were those who warned Herod of one that was coming that would be like a shepherd but also be a king. Of course just like today, many hear certain things from a Biblical perspective and take them totally wrong. Herod was prideful and worried about his power, he didn't want to give anything up. Sound familiar? 

Then there was another group who had heard the prophesies and saw Jesus in a different light and wanted to worship him. One group was hearing from God; Herod was hearing from people who had read the prophesies but didn't know or have a relationship with God. In many ways, this explains the different perspectives people have today. I think a good thought is that one has to know God to understand God and His ways or teachings, There is a difference.

The question I have, which of these do you fall into. Are you like those instructing Herod, reading and thinking you understand scripture or you one that knows God and therefore has a different insight into scripture. Of course those who don't know God will disagree and come to their own conclusions, and those who know God will fully understand and get what I am saying.

To see Genesis Chapter 33 and 34 and Matthew 2 Click the following link:

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+33%2C+34%2C+Matthew+2&version=CEV 

Click here to follow The Virtual Pew on Twitter

Mike Furches on Faceboook.

Click to subscribe to my blog

You can also check out Mike's Musical ventures by searching for Mike Furches and Pastor Mike and the Demon Slayer Blues Band.  Mary Jane's album will be out in September of 2020 and the Pastor Mike and Demon Slayer Blues Band album will be released in October of 2020

There are hundreds of postings so make sure to check out the archives. You can also contact me for a free audio book link of The Keystone Kid at mike@furches.org You can visit http://www.thevirtualpew.com/.

Hopefully, you will consider a gift to The Virtual Pew.

You can donate via paypal at mike@furches.org or cash app at $MichaelFurches

Now I get asked this quite often, Can we repost your blogs or articles? The short answer to that is, what an honor that you would ask, and by all means, spread the word. Here is our contact information

The Virtual Pew
1249 N. St. Francis
Wichita Kansas, 67214
Email: mike@furches.org

Click on the following links to learn more about The Virtual Pew

To follow Mike's Band, Pastor Mike and the Demon Slayer Blues Band, click the following link:

https://www.facebook.com/TheDemonSlayers 

The Movie Guys

Donations to The Virtual Pew

The Virtual Pew Blog

Reviews With Mike

The Virtual Pew Sermons

The Virtual Pew News