Well it's finally here! Aren't you excited? The day as you know that we celebrate romance and love everywhere when in reality though relative few in the world actually experience true love or even know what love truly is. Deep down we all crave that one true love but sadly most in the world today still haven't found it. We often change relationships like we change socks hardly around long enough to ever truly embrace it. I may be exaggerating a bit but you catch my drift. Many today sadly assume one breakup after another that surely their Prince Charming is just around the corner. They're convinced that for sure next time he or she will finally be mine. But with a fifty percent divorce rate in our nation and rising fast there's rarely a knight in shining armor anyhere around still left to be found. Instead there's often only broken promises and broken hearts left lying around. It appears we've fallen quite short in our quest for love lately looking in all the wrong places and in all the wrong faces. We're searching everywhere today for love instead of wisely looking above. What many simply don't realize is that deep within us all there's an emptiness that only God himself can truly fill. The truth is if we're not right with him we're still very alone and still lost in our sin. Regardless of what shape our personal relationships here on earth appear to be in.
Indeed some are fortunate to find love here but eventually the newness wears off and then the real work begins. There's no perfect marriage they all come with many problems and difficulties. And if you haven't take heart you may still find that special someone someday. But if not remember you're never really alone God loves you perfectly and he's still on his throne. In fact if you're single you can have a very unique and intimate relationship with God that many married couples simply don't. True love is certainly hard to find in this day and age and if you're happily married consider yourself a real exception today. The truth is if you've been married long enough you know that a good relationship takes love and dedication along with good communication and plenty of patience (for those of you who know me well just ask my wife. On second thought please don't I have a reputation to uphold!) Seriously though for those of you who know her well you know that I'm very fortunate and truly blessed with an amazing wife. She's more than I could ever ask for or ever dream of in life. She's a wonderful person and loyal friend and she's definitely grown on me over the years. When I was young I just didn't realize it but now I appreciate her much more than I ever did. I just hope I've grown some on her too. Honey if you're reading this I love you and I thank God for you Happy Valentines Day! Thank you for loving me and for all that you do (Do I still need to get you a card? Just kidding I already got you one too).
Recently I asked an elderly man who'd been married over 50 years with his bride close by his side what the secret was to their marital success? He paused for a moment and then with a warm and gentle smile simply said, "Pray a lot." I couldn't have said it better myself! It's true love takes time and it's much more than a feeling as I'm sure you know. And even in the best of earthly relationships we all have our moments and can be very selfish at times if we're completely honest. But God's love for us is unlike any love we can ever experience in this life however good love may be at times here for us. Or bad. That's because God's love never changes and his love never fails. He doesn't fall in and out of love with you no matter what you do. Incredibly God doesn't waver like us often feeling love one minute for someone and then feeling nothing for them the next. That's because feelings come and go but God stays the same. The truth is God loves you exactly the same today as he did yesterday no matter what you've done or what others may say. To prove his love God sent his one and only Son to die on a tree just so you and I could forever be free! In fact long ago in his day here's what the writer of Hebrews once had to say, "JESUS CHRIST IS THE SAME YESTERDAY, TODAY, AND FOREVER (Hebrews 13:8)."
He also defines the hope we now have in him is an "anchor" for our soul. You can totally trust him his love for you is faithful and true. It's true he deeply loves you and he loves me too. But sadly today many believe there may be a God up there somewhere but he doesn't love them and he simply doesn't care. But did you know that the apostle John once said that not only does God have love for us but that he actually is love? His very being and character emanates with agape love! The fact is from the beginning he's always wanted a relationship with man so he gave his Son and now you and I incredibly can! That's right we can now each have an intimate loving relationship with a perfect heavenly Father. Once writing from prison here's what the apostle Paul had to say about where we should have our eyes fixed squarely today, "IF YOU THEN BE RISEN WITH CHRIST, SEEK THOSE THINGS WHICH ARE ABOVE WHERE CHRIST SITS ON THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD. SET YOUR AFFECTIONS ON THINGS ABOVE, NOT ON THINGS ON THE EARTH. FOR YOU ARE DEAD AND YOUR LIFE IS HID WITH CHRIST IN GOD. WHEN CHRIST WHO IS OUR LIFE SHALL APPEAR THEN SHALL YOU ALSO APPEAR WITH HIM IN GLORY (Colossians 3:1-4)." Paul penned these words bound in prison but he knew all along that Jesus was alive and that he had risen! A relationship with God is so much more than rules and regulations as the great apostle himself eventually learned. And while here on earth the Lord Jesus himself said the greatest commandment is to love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. But as I look around today I wonder is he truly yours and is he still truly mine?
Thursday, February 14, 2013
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
Contact Update-Additional Information
Thank you for visiting! If you have any questions or prayer requests please email me at shawnsmith8607@gmail.com In addition I now have a new number as well so if you prefer call me anytime at (858) 722-0695. If I miss you leave me a voicemail and I'll return your call. And finally if you'd like to learn more please VIEW MY COMPLETE PROFILE under ABOUT ME where you can access our WEB PAGE also for additional information about us. Thanks so much for stopping by we look forward to hearing from you!
Sincerely In Christ,
Shawn Smith
President-Full Assurance Ministries
Sincerely In Christ,
Shawn Smith
President-Full Assurance Ministries
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
New Year Drawing Near-Shawn Smith
It's hard to believe it's actually 2013 now and once again I wonder just where does the time go? It's true what they say that as we age time flies and that's definitely the case for me. Or at least it sure feels that way. Whatever the case may be with the rise of technology here in America and around the world life in general is advancing for us all lately at an alarming rate. And in the process last year many assumed and falsely predicted once again that somehow 2012 was the year God would bring it all to an end. But obviously his plans never were and never are according to mans. Without a doubt however we are indeed quickly approaching the end of this age and his judgment will inevitably visit planet earth. Just look what God once spoke to the prophet Daniel long ago about life in our day, "BUT YOU DANIEL SHUT UP THE WORDS AND SEAL THE BOOK UNTIL THE TIME OF THE END. MANY SHALL RUN TO AND FRO AND KNOWLEDGE SHALL INCREASE (Daniel 12:4)." Today we're obviously experiencing a virtual explosion of medical and technological advances that one could only imagine a mere generation or so ago.
It's true we're living in the "last days" but many today stumble over the true meaning of the phrase. It's not to be taken literally but rather in the context of a general time-line, season, or generation. The apostle John referred to life in his day two-thousand years ago as the "last hour." Oviously he wasn't referring to a literal sixy minutes! No John was expressing the urgency of the hour he was living in. In fact from God's perspective and from his view a thousand years is only one day and one day is as a thousand years. That's because he sees life from an eternal perspective and not from a limited earthly one. And the truth is so should we. Seeing life from God's perspective and through his eyes will help us overcome in life against ever-increasing odds.
It never ceases to amaze me just how much misinformation there is on the subject today. But it doesn't surprise me. That's because it's just what God's holy apostles and prophets predicted would occur along with the Lord Jesus himself. And in all the confusion today I fear we're drifting farther from God instead of drawing near! I wonder lately if we still know his voice and can we still hear? It's easy of course to get distracted and stuck in the past tangled up in things that simply won't last. But here's what the apostle Paul writing from prison once said about the proper perspective and looking ahead, "BRETHREN I COUNT NOT MYSELF TO HAVE APPREHENDED BUT THIS ONE THING I DO, FORGETTING THOSE THINGS WHICH ARE BEHIND AND REACHING FORTH UNTO THOSE THINGS WHICH ARE BEFORE. I PRESS TOWARD THE MARK FOR THE PRIZE OF THE HIGH CALLING OF GOD IN CHRIST JESUS (Philippians 3:13-14)." In chains for preaching the gospel still Paul forged ahead keeping his eyes on an everlasting prize!
Recently on Facebook I posted a passage where Paul writing to Timothy describes how life will be at the end of this age. Someone apparently accessed my account however and deleted my post. In lieu of that I'd like to close with the same passage here where Paul had this to say about life in our day, "THIS KNOW ALSO THAT IN THE LAST DAYS PERILOUS TIMES SHALL COME. FOR MEN WILL BE LOVERS OF THEMSELVES, COVETEOUS, BOASTERS, PROUD, BLASPHEMERS, DISOBEDIENT TO PARENTS, UNTHANKFUL, UNHOLY, WITHOUT NATURAL AFFECTION, TRUCE BREAKERS, FALSE ACCUSERS, INCONTINENT, FIERCE, DESPISERS OF THOSE THAT ARE GOOD. TRAITORS, RECKLESS, CONCEITED, LOVERS OF PLEASURES MORE THAN LOVERS OF GOD, HAVING A FORM OF GODLINESS BUT DENYING THE POWER THEREOF FROM SUCH TURN AWAY (2 Timothy 3:1-5)." This sounds so much like the state of man today we'd have to be blind not to see it that way! Clearly we're nearing the end of this age and his return is at hand but will this be the year we truly draw near?
It's true we're living in the "last days" but many today stumble over the true meaning of the phrase. It's not to be taken literally but rather in the context of a general time-line, season, or generation. The apostle John referred to life in his day two-thousand years ago as the "last hour." Oviously he wasn't referring to a literal sixy minutes! No John was expressing the urgency of the hour he was living in. In fact from God's perspective and from his view a thousand years is only one day and one day is as a thousand years. That's because he sees life from an eternal perspective and not from a limited earthly one. And the truth is so should we. Seeing life from God's perspective and through his eyes will help us overcome in life against ever-increasing odds.
It never ceases to amaze me just how much misinformation there is on the subject today. But it doesn't surprise me. That's because it's just what God's holy apostles and prophets predicted would occur along with the Lord Jesus himself. And in all the confusion today I fear we're drifting farther from God instead of drawing near! I wonder lately if we still know his voice and can we still hear? It's easy of course to get distracted and stuck in the past tangled up in things that simply won't last. But here's what the apostle Paul writing from prison once said about the proper perspective and looking ahead, "BRETHREN I COUNT NOT MYSELF TO HAVE APPREHENDED BUT THIS ONE THING I DO, FORGETTING THOSE THINGS WHICH ARE BEHIND AND REACHING FORTH UNTO THOSE THINGS WHICH ARE BEFORE. I PRESS TOWARD THE MARK FOR THE PRIZE OF THE HIGH CALLING OF GOD IN CHRIST JESUS (Philippians 3:13-14)." In chains for preaching the gospel still Paul forged ahead keeping his eyes on an everlasting prize!
Recently on Facebook I posted a passage where Paul writing to Timothy describes how life will be at the end of this age. Someone apparently accessed my account however and deleted my post. In lieu of that I'd like to close with the same passage here where Paul had this to say about life in our day, "THIS KNOW ALSO THAT IN THE LAST DAYS PERILOUS TIMES SHALL COME. FOR MEN WILL BE LOVERS OF THEMSELVES, COVETEOUS, BOASTERS, PROUD, BLASPHEMERS, DISOBEDIENT TO PARENTS, UNTHANKFUL, UNHOLY, WITHOUT NATURAL AFFECTION, TRUCE BREAKERS, FALSE ACCUSERS, INCONTINENT, FIERCE, DESPISERS OF THOSE THAT ARE GOOD. TRAITORS, RECKLESS, CONCEITED, LOVERS OF PLEASURES MORE THAN LOVERS OF GOD, HAVING A FORM OF GODLINESS BUT DENYING THE POWER THEREOF FROM SUCH TURN AWAY (2 Timothy 3:1-5)." This sounds so much like the state of man today we'd have to be blind not to see it that way! Clearly we're nearing the end of this age and his return is at hand but will this be the year we truly draw near?
Saturday, January 12, 2013
Friday, December 7, 2012
Friday, November 30, 2012
Earthly Pain Heavenly Gain-Shawn Smith
November has certainly been intense with the latest developments in the Middle East and with our own election here in the United States. All the while Hurricane Sandy devastating thousands along the East Coast leaving scores without power and without homes. Many have nothing and have lost everything. And looming for us all now of course is a financial crisis of such magnitude that experts are predicting an economic collapse from which America and the world itself will never completely recover. In fact the Bible predicts we are headed for a cashless society soon one day where no one can ever buy or sell without taking the mark of the beast (See Revelation 13). And now it appears that we're not as far removed from this new global economic system as we once believed. And apparently there's nothing that you and I can do it's way too late and for sure now we're through. Or are we?
Often God takes the impossible situations in life and displays his awesome power for all to see. Other times he allows disaster or trajedy on earth to visit us for reasons simply unknown. Looking to the Old Testament we see the hand of God squarely on Daniel the prophet and his three Hebrew friends while living in Babylonian captivity. After bravely refusing to bow to an arrogant King the three men were eventually thrown into a fiery furnace. But instead or perishing God intervened delivering them in the midst of the flames for all to see. Not even one hair on their heads was singed! For us today at times in life for reasons we simply don't understand he often allows our trials to persist teaching us to trust him and not to resist. Without faith of course it's "impossible" to please him and he's a rewarder of those who "diligently" seek him (See Hebrews 11). God wants us to grow in grace and to never stop seeking his face. We must never give up and never give in but continue in life drawing closer to him! Knowing always our earthly pain will some day turn to heavenly gain.
You may recall what Jesus once said about life on earth in the last days. He asked that when the Son of Man returns will he find faith on the earth? Of course he knew the answer as always but was instead revealing an all important truth for you and I living today. He was referring to the depth of deception worldwide that will be so prevalent at the end that even the very "elect" would be deceived if that were possible (See Matthew 24). He also predicted that because of sin in the end the love of many would grow cold. Clearly we're seeing more of this attitude today as things continue to unfold. Although many will choose to look away still his predictions are fulfilling precisely today. It continues looking more and more today like things did back in Noah's day. And we all know sadly the end of the generation living back then.
Needless to say we're living in difficult days. But prophetically speaking things in this world will only get worse. The current crisis in the Middle East only serves to confirm once again the infallible truths of Bible prophecy! Look what the prophet Jeremiah once had to say what the future of Israel will soon hold one day, "AND THESE ARE THE WORDS THAT THE LORD SPOKE CONCERNING ISRAEL AND JUDAH. FOR THUS SAITH THE LORD WE HAVE HEARD A VOICE OF TREMBLING OF FEAR AND NOT OF PEACE. ASK NOW AND SEE WHETHER A MAN DOES TRAVAIL WITH CHILD? WHEREFORE DO I SEE EVERY MAN WITH HIS HANDS ON HIS LOINS, AS A WOMAN IN TRAVAIL AND ALL FACES ARE TURNED TO PALE? ALAS! FOR THAT DAY IS GREAT SO THAT NONE IS LIKE IT. IT IS THE DAY OF JACOB'S TROUBLE BUT HE SHALL BE SAVED OUT OF IT (Jeremiah 30:4-7)." Wow and we think life is hard now! It's true life is painful and often unfair but if we look hard enough God's still right there.
Often God takes the impossible situations in life and displays his awesome power for all to see. Other times he allows disaster or trajedy on earth to visit us for reasons simply unknown. Looking to the Old Testament we see the hand of God squarely on Daniel the prophet and his three Hebrew friends while living in Babylonian captivity. After bravely refusing to bow to an arrogant King the three men were eventually thrown into a fiery furnace. But instead or perishing God intervened delivering them in the midst of the flames for all to see. Not even one hair on their heads was singed! For us today at times in life for reasons we simply don't understand he often allows our trials to persist teaching us to trust him and not to resist. Without faith of course it's "impossible" to please him and he's a rewarder of those who "diligently" seek him (See Hebrews 11). God wants us to grow in grace and to never stop seeking his face. We must never give up and never give in but continue in life drawing closer to him! Knowing always our earthly pain will some day turn to heavenly gain.
You may recall what Jesus once said about life on earth in the last days. He asked that when the Son of Man returns will he find faith on the earth? Of course he knew the answer as always but was instead revealing an all important truth for you and I living today. He was referring to the depth of deception worldwide that will be so prevalent at the end that even the very "elect" would be deceived if that were possible (See Matthew 24). He also predicted that because of sin in the end the love of many would grow cold. Clearly we're seeing more of this attitude today as things continue to unfold. Although many will choose to look away still his predictions are fulfilling precisely today. It continues looking more and more today like things did back in Noah's day. And we all know sadly the end of the generation living back then.
Needless to say we're living in difficult days. But prophetically speaking things in this world will only get worse. The current crisis in the Middle East only serves to confirm once again the infallible truths of Bible prophecy! Look what the prophet Jeremiah once had to say what the future of Israel will soon hold one day, "AND THESE ARE THE WORDS THAT THE LORD SPOKE CONCERNING ISRAEL AND JUDAH. FOR THUS SAITH THE LORD WE HAVE HEARD A VOICE OF TREMBLING OF FEAR AND NOT OF PEACE. ASK NOW AND SEE WHETHER A MAN DOES TRAVAIL WITH CHILD? WHEREFORE DO I SEE EVERY MAN WITH HIS HANDS ON HIS LOINS, AS A WOMAN IN TRAVAIL AND ALL FACES ARE TURNED TO PALE? ALAS! FOR THAT DAY IS GREAT SO THAT NONE IS LIKE IT. IT IS THE DAY OF JACOB'S TROUBLE BUT HE SHALL BE SAVED OUT OF IT (Jeremiah 30:4-7)." Wow and we think life is hard now! It's true life is painful and often unfair but if we look hard enough God's still right there.
Thursday, November 8, 2012
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