Famous Actor Surprisingly Confesses Faith in Christ

                   I didn’t suddenly morph into a perfect Christian right after I surrendered to Jesus. Not even close. My mouth needed some cleaning up, my lies needed time to fold into truth, and my porn-burned eyes and brain took years to heal.
Needless to say, sanctification is a process. For most of us, it takes time to prove by our fruit that we’re committed followers (Colossians 1:10). God chips away at the rough edges over years. Even 11 years later, I’m still a work in progress.
That’s why I’m pretty sympathetic when it comes to the enigmatic, mercurial actor Shia LaBeouf. He’s a guy I’ve watched since he appeared in the movie Holes—and sadly, his slow breakdown has been on display for everyone to see. For all his public shenanigans, though, I know there’s grace. His drug issues, plagiarism, masks, and weird public acts smack of a man desperate to fill a void. And now, he says, that void is filled in a surprising way:
“I found God doing [the movie] Fury. I became a Christian man… in a very real way. I could have just said the prayers that were on the page. But it was a real thing that really saved me. And you can't identify unless you're really going through it. It's a full-blown exchange of heart, a surrender of control.”

                     

                            

                           I had to edit that above quote just a bit because of salty language, and no one could be blamed for doubting the sincerity of a man who recently starred in a porn-on-the-big-screen movie called Nymphomaniac. If you keep reading the interview, you’ll also see that his theology needs some major refining as well, since he thinks Brad Pitt’s all-roads-lead-to-God views are just as okay.

But I’m willing to believe here—not only because of my past, but because of what I’m seeing in LaBeouf’s changed demeanor (case in point: his recent appearance on the Ellen show in this clip). Could I be wrong? Sure. But some people doubted my Jesus-changed life, too… until many years later. So, let’s pray for the guy, that this change is real, that God continues to work on him, and that he becomes a wtiness for Christ in Hollywood.

In a recent article on Jesus.org, Dr. Matthew Harmon tackled the questions many have about what “real salvation” looks like and why we can have doubts:

“The Bible clearly teaches that the moment a person turns from his sin and trusts in Jesus to be forgiven of his sin, he is saved (Acts 2:37–41). He has passed from spiritual death to spiritual life (John 5:24) and been declared not guilty in God's court of law (Rom 3:21–26). From God's perspective his salvation is an objective reality that cannot be changed (Rom 8:28–30).

“But from our subjective experience, we may not feel certain. The difficulties of life and discouragement over our sin can lead us to question the reality of our salvation. Or perhaps we read one of the ‘warning’ passages about turning away from the faith or the unforgivable sin and wonder if we are truly saved.”

We know the starting point (Hebrews 12:2), but the road can be pretty bumpy.

What about you? Did any doubt your salvation as first? What do you think about Shia LaBeouf’s confession?

You can be victorious!

Here are some key principles I want you to remember:

Remember that Satan is a defeated foe. Jesus came to destroy his works (1 John 3:8) and will someday cast him into eternal hell (Rev. 20:10).

Remember the power of Christ in your life. John said, "Greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world" (1 John 4:4). The same power that defeated Satan indwells you. Consequently, you are never alone or without divine resources.

Remember to resist Satan. You have the power to resist him, so don't acquiesce to him by being ignorant of his schemes or deliberately exposing yourself to temptation.

Keep your spiritual armor on at all times. It's foolish to enter combat without proper protection.

Let Christ control your attitudes and actions. The spiritual battle we're in calls for spiritual weapons (2 Cor. 10:3-4), so take "every thought captive to the obedience of Christ" (v. 5). Feed on the Word and obey its principles.

Pray, pray, pray! Prayer unleashes the Spirit's power. Be a person of fervent and faithful prayer (cf. James 5:16).

God never intended for you to live in spiritual defeat. I pray you'll take advantage of the resources He has supplied that your life might honor Him.

Enjoy sweet victory every day!   ⓓ™

Advantages of Accountability

Far too often, people turn a good situation into slavery by ignoring wise boundaries of personal freedom. A godly accountability partner can help you enjoy privilege without abusing it. The benefits are plentiful:

Clearer direction. Honesty about faults and failures will open you to receive right counsel and encouragement. This process will increase your potential to do and become all that God has in mind for you.

Increased integrity. If you have to give an account to somebody, you'll be honest and transparent. Even when the truth hurts, the result is heightened integrity.

Better stewardship. Accounting for the way you use money, time, or talent makes you careful not to waste those resources.

Protection against excess. As children of God, we are free in Christ, but an accountability partner keeps us balanced and guards us from taking liberties.

Healthy self-examination. Another person can often point out what we cannot see in ourselves. When we allow someone  to be an accurate mirror of our faults, we're in a better position to make improvements.

Safeguard against unwise relationships. If you have to give an account of where you go and which people you spend time with, you'll be more likely to avoid problematic places and relationships.

Unbridled freedom may seem like a great blessing, but it can be a recipe for disaster. Do you give account to anybody for the way you handle money, time, and relationships? If not, consider inviting a trustworthy Christian to fill that role. Taking this step reveals a heart that longs to please God.

What does it mean to fear God?

Scripture constantly admonishes us to fear God.  But how do you do that?  I believe the Bible gives us at least four ways:

Through a hatred of evil.  Proverbs 8:13 says, The fear of the Lord is to hate evil.
Through radical obedience.  To fear the Lord means to radically obey Him, as Abraham did in Genesis 22 when he was willing to sacrifice his son.
With an awareness that God is always watching you.  Scripture makes it clear there is nowhere you can go that God does not see.
With the knowledge that one day you will have to stand before God as your Judge.  Jesus even tells us that one day, when we stand before Him, we will have to give an account of every idle word we have spoken.
Pray today that God will help you live your life by these four principles.  Because God delights in those who fear Him.

Seven Keys to Contentment

"I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content."-Phili 4:11

Contentment is a byproduct of following the Shepherd. It is experiencing the inner-peace that only He can provide. It is knowing that He will promote you at the right time. Contentment is the sense of satisfaction that comes to a husband and wife as they emulate the provision and care of the Shepherd to their own children. Contentment comes from serving Christ instead of money, and from providing not only financially for your family, but also emotionally, morally, and spiritually.[3]

How can such contentment be cultivated in our life? First Timothy 6:6-17 describes seven principles that promote contentment.

Principle 1-Remember that things are only temporary: "Godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and . . . we can carry nothing out" (1 Timothy 6:6-7). You cannot take it with you. There are no U-Haul trailers behind hearses.

Principle 2-Only seek necessities, and wait for the rest: "Having food and clothing, with these we shall be content" (1Timothy 6:8). We need shelter and the basic provisions of life, but everything beyond that is simply a great blessing. Whether it comes or goes is okay. God has said that all we are supposed to expect in life is food and clothing, so we should be happy with that.

Principle 3-Avoid a consuming desire for prosperity: "Those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and . . . many foolish and harmful lusts. . . . For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith . . . and pierced themselves through with many sorrows" (1 Timothy 6:9-10).

America has been fed a prosperity diet. You might say, "That is not me-I am not rich." If you own a car, you are rich. Ninety-five percent of the people in the world can't afford a car. Your watch and the clothes you have on are worth more than what hundreds of millions of people on earth have. Tens of thousands even starve to death around the world each year, but Americans regularly throw away super-sized leftovers.

Principle 4-Flee materialism: "Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness" (1 Timothy 6:11). Do you seek to accumulate possessions-or to grow in Christlikeness? Value what will count for eternity!

Principle 5-Cling to eternal life: "Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called. . . . Keep this commandment without spot, blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ's appearing" (1Timothy 6:12-14). We need a whole generation of people who are holding tighter to eternal life than they are to this world.

The writer of Hebrews says, "You had compassion on me in my chains, and joyfully accepted the plundering of your goods, knowing that you have a better and an enduring possession for yourselves in heaven" (Hebrews 10:34). When those Christians were persecuted and their jobs and possessions taken away, they still rejoiced because their focus was on Christ.

If we're not careful, before long our possessions can possess us. They then become an anchor that holds us back. The care of riches clouds our mind from seeking the purity of Christ.

Principle 6-Fix your hope on God: "Command those who are rich . . . not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God" (1 Timothy 6:17). There is nothing wrong with wealth, but we are to recognize the danger of relying upon it. All that we own can evaporate as quickly as a blip on a computer screen. There are few things that are real possessions in this world. Through money, stocks, and bonds you are trusting that a company, a bank, or a government won't fail. But the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy, can never fail us-and our trust in Him is certain!

Principle 7-Give until it hurts: "Let them do good, . . . ready to give, willing to share, storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life" (1 Timothy 6:18). The real cure for materialism is to give until it hurts! Giving "until it hurts" means giving at the cost of personal sacrifice. For example, the widow gave both of her mites, or all that she had (Mark 12:42-44). The woman who anointed Jesus broke the flask of fragrant oil and irrecoverably gave all she had to Him (Luke 7:37-47). Sacrificial gifts are especially important to Jesus.

Make a Choice to Live in Hope: The advantages of contentment are many: freedom, gratitude, rest, peace-all of which are also components of good health. Those who are content do not have to worry about the latest styles or what to wear tomorrow. Those who are content can rejoice in their neighbor's good fortune without having to feel inferior. Those who are content do not fret about wrinkles or graying because they accept what comes. Those who are content do not have to worry how they might buy this or that because they have no desire for this or that. Those who are content are not consumed with how to get out of debt because they have no debt. They thus have time for gratitude even in small things, and they have time for relationships because their possessions and the bank do not own them.

If what was just described seems beyond you right now, I encourage you to ask the Lord to help you move in that direction. In doing so, you will be choosing to live for what is eternal. Be content-willingly surrender all that you are and have to the Lord. Then faithfully fight the good fight of faith by laying hold on the eternal life to which you were also called.

Worship God alone

From the Old Testament in the Garden of Eden through today, and to the end of time, God says to all peoples: "Get away from the worship of this world!" Don't lay up treasures that when you leave home you are afraid something might happen to them. Don't have so many possessions that you cannot sleep if you forget to turn on the burglar alarm. Don't have so much stuff that you cut your vacation short because you have to get back to protect it. The care of riches is covetousness and idolatry. So the Lord says, "Give it to Me!"

Anything can be worshiped. Worship, simply stated, is "anything which captivates and draws us toward itself." Here are the most common examples plus questions to help you evaluate whether or not you worship something other than God.

Work Worshipers: These are workaholics who are so captivated by work that they are irresistibly drawn to work all the time. Can you give up your career and your goals in your field to the Lord if He calls you to change directions for Him?

Escape Worshipers: These persons want to escape reality by worshiping the effects of alcohol or drugs, and thus they become alcoholics or drug addicts. Can you completely stop taking whatever substances help you escape reality, and give your life to the Lord? If not, you worship the effects that substance gives you. The Lord says, "You cannot worship both that and Me."

Pleasure Worshipers: These may worship pleasure in the sensual realm, and thus become sex addicts, perverts, or burn with adulterous lust. Can you completely end all selfish sensual pleasure pursuits-pornography, fornication, sodomy, and adultery-and repentantly give those desires to the Lord to deal with in His perfect time and way?

Wealth Worshipers: These persons are drawn by the allurements of wealth and possessions. They may become like the materialistic, greedy, and selfish rich fool Jesus spoke of -one who only planned for prosperity, eating, drinking, and enjoying life. Can you completely give up your money, security, and power into the Lord's control? We cannot keep anything that we grasp onto-only what we give away will last forever.

Self Worshipers: These are drawn to the praise of man, and thus they are proud, inward-seeking, calloused, and unfeeling self-centered persons. Can you give up your pride, self-seeking, self-absorption, and self-focus to humble yourself, deny yourself, and take up your cross to follow Jesus?

The ultimate test of whether or not you worship something other than God is quite simple: Can you give it up today? When nothing satisfies you--you are on dangerous ground!

Restful Promises For Every Woman on Mother's Day

1.  For the mom who needs to know she isn't on her own:

"He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young." Isaiah 40:11
You are always God's Beloved. Especially on days you feel empty and poured out.  

2.  For the woman who longs for the comfort of a mom:

"As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you." Isaiah 66:13
Fold yourself into Him. God will hold you and stay with you. Confide in Him.

3.  For the woman who has left home or family to follow God's story in her:  

"I tell you the truth,"Jesus replied, "no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields-- and with them, persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life." Mark 10:29-30
Sometimes we have to let go of our idea of family in order to become a part of a God's kind of family.

4.  For the woman whose heart longs for a voice to call her mommy: 

"He makes the barren in the house as a joyful mother of children."Psalm 113:9
God made you to be life-giving. He honors your pain. He will make something beautiful birth in you and bring life to others through you.   

5.  For the single mom, who is carrying the fears and emotional weight of parenting alone:

   When Hagar was abandoned by Abraham and sent away to fend for herself all alone in the wilderness with Ishmael, she cried out to God. God "opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water; and she went, and filled the bottle with water, and gave [her son] drink"  Genesis 21:19
God feels the fear in your heart when you feel overwhelmed by the need to emotionally and financially take care of you and your child and will come to your aid. He sees you. He will not abandon you.  He will take care of you both.

6. For the mom whose child has passed away or whose mother has passed away.

"Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you.

I have made you and I will carry you;
I will sustain you and I will rescue you." Isaiah 46:4
God will carry us and will hold us as a father comforts and carries his daughter and son.

7.  For moms of all ages, who are letting go day by day -- to launch their children into the world -- whether they are five going to kindergarten, eighteen off to college in high school, twenty-eight to be married, thirty-forty-something starting their own families or fulfilling their lives in singleness.

"Behold, children are a gift of the Lord... Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one's youth. How blessed is the [woman] whose quiver is full of them. They will not be ashamed." Psalm 127:3-5
Our children don't belong to us. They are a gift. That we open and offer back to the world by launching them, as arrows meant to fly and sing through the air, to go where God directs them to go. 

May these seven promises prompt some stories to rise within you. And may you share them with God in soulful conversation, with friends to confide in and keep you company during the day or night.