When Is Your Expiration Date?

Wandering through the grocery store picking up mac & cheese, a bag of chips, a pound of coffee, and a gallon of orange juice, you can't help but see the expiration dates on the items you are buying.

Have you ever wondered just when is your expiration date? Is today the day the big guy in the sky is coming to save you from Satan's Kingdom? No one knows the date, time, or place they will expire from earth. Nobody except our Sovereign Lord.

When you get dizzy, have shortness of breath, chest discomfort, and it appears you are facing death head-on...suddenly the big TV, the shiny car, the huge house, and the big job don't seem to be such a big deal anymore. Your Little League All-Star Trophy, State Fair Ribbons, and Governor's Community Betterment Award...all of this means nothing as you are checking out from this planet!

It's time to meet your maker. This is your BIG day. Is the run across the street to help the neighbor lady unload her Subaru Outback full of groceries going to come up as you are judged? How about the time you got a car load of neighbor kids together and took them to get ice cream on a hot summer day? You have done some nice things during your life for others.

God has a lot different idea of what a nice guy is than what most people think. How many times have you seen on the news neighbors being interviewed at a crime scene? A man has murdered his wife, kids and killed himself, and the neighbors testify, "Chad was a great guy. Always saw him doing things with his kids. Volunteered a lot in our community." The people can't stop saying what a great guy Chad 'the murderer' was.

You don't know if you are heading down hill fast to the end of the road. Is your expiration day today? Is it in 10 days to two weeks? Or is it a year or more? We just don't know. But one thing I can guarantee you. You can't cancel your appointment with God when he has come to get you. You got to be ready!

You need to admit to God that you are a sinner and repent for your sin. "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God," (Romans 3:23). "Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out," (Acts 3:19). Tell him that you believe he died and rose again to save you from your sin and to give you eternal life as "Christ died for sins once for all." (1 Peter 3:18).

Trust in Jesus, who was God in the flesh, who died on the cross to pay for your sins, that you might be saved. Sin is separation from God. You can be delivered from sin by accepting this free gift that is given to us by the grace of God. There must be an individual response from you.

You can't be saved by good works, or by living with good morals, or by displaying appropriate social concern. "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved." (Acts 4:12). "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16).

Put your faith in God and accept his free gift of salvation. Don't lose focus on your home in gloryland that outshines the sun! Be in HOT pursuit of the unlimited Lord of the Holy scriptures!

"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 6:23)

Rick Hawbaker
'Sinner'

You Don't Need To Be A Better Person, You Just Need To Be A Different Person

Do you need some joy in your life right now? Are you getting beat up with the pressure and stress of this life? You need hope, joy and encouragement. That is exactly what the prophet Isaiah gave us as he wrote 2,700 years ago in the book named after him.

"You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands." Isaiah 55:12 NIV

When Adam's curse is lifted and the Lord restores his kingdom on earth, you will break forth in song as you are filled with peace. You will go out in joy like the Jews when they were released from bondage.

As the curse is overcome, we will not be faced with fires, earthquakes, floods, and droughts. Instead the mountains and hills will be singing before you and the trees with be clapping. Nature will be on your side.

No more sickness, no more pain, and no more working the terrible job you are trapped in. "God will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain any more, for the former things have passed away." Revelation 21:4.

God wants you to live in peace and to be happy forever. The beautiful things of his creation, the mountains, hills and trees, will be preserved for you forever and ever. If you have asked Jesus to come into your heart to take over your life and have asked for forgiveness, then this is your hope and encouragement. You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace!

You don't need to be a better person to cash in on what the Lord has in store for his children. You need to change from the inside out and deal with your sin to become a different person. "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household." Acts 16:31

Sell out to God from the heart!

Rick Hawbaker
'Bold Son of God'

Good Intentions...

Every morning as I struggle to crawl out of bed I say to myself, "I'm going to bed earlier tonight." Then on the drive to work I keep looking at the clock and push harder on the gas and tell myself, "I'm going to start leaving for work earlier." Then, while working I think about what I can do to help a friend in need and think, "I'll go to lunch with him on my day off."

How about you? Are there things you would like to do, but for one reason or another you don't get them done? Unfortunetly, we do this in our spiritual lives as well. Maybe it's helping a single mother move, visiting someone in the hospital, or doing a good will check on the widow lady next door. We mean well, but for some reason, we just fail to get the things done we want to do.

Jesus' disciples had the best intentions. But they failed too. The Son of Man told them how they would respond when he was arrested and crucified. Peter boldly said, "Even if all fall away, I will not." He insisted, "Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you." All the others chimed in and said the same thing.

According to the story in chapter 14 of the gospel of Mark, a crowd was sent by the Sanhedrin. They came with swords and clubs to capture Jesus. Just as Jesus said, the disciples couldn't get out of there fast enough. They all fled. The disciples didn't mean to fail and you don't either.

A sister in the Lord at my work reminded me one day as my failures to do what I intended to do piled up, "the road to hell is paved with good intentions". That is correct, but "the gates of hell will not prevail." (Matthew 16:18) With the power of the Creator of the ends of the earth living in you, you can overcome.

Ask God, through his son Jesus, to allow the Holy Spirit to control you. The power that raised our Great Savior from the dead is available here on earth. Ask for strength to follow through on doing things. "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." Matthew 7:7

Jesus said in John 14:12, "I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father."

Our Father is a superbeing with unlimited power. Get hooked up with God. Move over to the passenger seat and let him get behind the wheel. You can trust God for tomorrow, because he is already there waiting for you!

Rick Hawbaker
'Son of God'

Dusty Old Stories Still Relevant

Saint Paul was one of the most notable of early Christian missionaries. His life-changing conversion took place on the road to Damascus as he experienced a vision of the resurrected Jesus. In his early Christian writings he instructed and inspired believers how to live.

Paul wrote 13 different letters in our bible. In three of the letters, he tells Christians not to be lacking in knowlege or training in three different areas. The writings were relevant two thousand years ago and are fitting for the church today.

In Romans 11:25 Paul warned us not to be ignorant of God's plan to save all Israel. He wrote in 1 Corinthians 12:1 not to be ignorant of spiritual gifts. 1 Thessalonians 4:13 says not to be ignorant of the second coming of Jesus.

If you are lacking in knowlege and training in these three areas, jump into God's word today. The dusty old stories of the bible are still applicable.

Jesus Rested With Friends...

You know how busy you get some days doing the Lord's work. People are coming up to you asking for prayers for themselves, for their love ones, and others. Every time you turn around someone is telling you of a need and we are not to let a need go ignored.

Jesus knows how hard it is to keep up with the demands of all those who are hurting. He also knows the importance of rest. We will be most effective doing the Lord's work or any work if we also take time for rest.

Gospel writer Mark told the story of the disciples returning to Jesus in chapter 6. They told Jesus about their successful time of ministry in the towns of Galilee. Because many people were coming and going they did not have a chance to eat.

Jesus said to the disciples, "Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest." (Mark 6:31) If Jesus thought it was neccessary when he walked on earth for himself and for his disciples to get some rest, who are we to think we don't need it.

To be at the top of your game you must get some rest from time to time. Continue to be God's hands and feet. He is the great provider. Keep showing God's love to everyone.

Rick Hawbaker
'Walking With Jesus'

Disagreeing In Love...

Disagreeing in love...is that what Paul was led to tell us as he wrote to the Romans from Corinth on his third missionary journey...It is o.k. to disagree, but do it in love?

"May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ." Romans 15:5-6.

Paul, the great missionary to the Gentiles, knew we are "children of Adam". That's probably why he wrote the above scripture in the form of a prayer. He knew we were born into a sinful race and couldn't live in harmony no matter how hard we try. We needed this prayer. When we don't agree, we need the help and power of the Holy Spirit to disagree in a loving way.

There isn't a chance that we believers will all come to the same conclusion. But we can show love and respect to one another with the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus wants us to be likeminded and to work "not His own will, but the will of Him that sent Him" (John 6:38.)

Bring a little bit of heaven to earth as you live in harmony and peace with one another. Be connected by the heart with your brothers and sisters here in Satan's kingdom, being one in spirit and purpose.

Rick Hawbaker
'Living in Harmony'

If You Haven't Changed, You Haven't Met Him!

A young man from the bible college campus dorms was combing our neighborhood one summer night spreading the good news of Jesus door to door. I took a chance and invited him in so we could chat.

He asked me to get my bible so I could follow along as he wanted to share some scripture with me and my wife. I returned to the room within 30 seconds with my King James red-letter version. The bible thumper was shocked I could find my bible so fast.

I guess most people he had asked to get their bible had ask him to leave their home. He said some people actually did go on search for their bible, but couldn't find where they had left it. Some returned with a dusty book with the look that it had only been opened by the person who had given it to them.

The apostle Peter wrote in 1 Peter 2:1-2, "Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good."

If you want to know Jesus, you have to dive into his word. Salvation is a forever life changing experience and you continued to change.You may have been baptized as a baby and maybe you said the sinners prayer in a musty church basement as a child. But if you have not changed, you haven't met him.

Increase your desire to know him more. Life with Jesus isn't easier. It's just not lonely.

Rick Hawbaker
'I Never Get Lonely Because I Am Never Alone'

'Be Patient, Then, Brothers, Until The Lord's Coming'

God spoke to believers who are enduring trials through James in early Christian writings. He knew we would have to have the right attitude if we were going to be able to persevere to the end. We would also have to keep focus and have great patience.

The coming of Christ is mentioned some three hundred times from Matthew to Revelation in God's word. God is trying to tell us that life is to be lived with focus on the second coming of Christ.

God told us in James 5:7-8 (NIV), "Be patient, then brothers, until the Lord's coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord's coming is near."

Our walk with Jesus is a marathon and not a sprint. The finish line for Christians is the second coming and that is the goal that we should be looking to. The second coming is the end. The end is not graduating from college, landing the big job, owning the big car and huge house, or retiring while you can still enjoy life. The end is the second coming of Christ!

Walking and talking with his disciples on the ridge called Mount of Olives, God in the flesh told of the end of age, "but he who stands firm to the end will be saved." Matthew 24:13

Keep a clear vision on the coming King of Glory. Be patient, keep hope and you will persevere. There is a light that is coming for the heart that holds on. Live for the Lord. He died for you!
　
Rick Hawbaker
'Not my will, but thine be done'

The Apple Of God's Eye

Our Sovereign Lord loves each and everyone of us so much that we will never be able to understand it. He constantly displays an unending love for us.

Fugitive David was on the run hiding from King Saul who wanted to kill him. David's prayer in Psalm 17 says "I call on you, O God, for you will answer me; give ear to me and hear my prayer. Show the wonder of your great love, you who save by your right hand those who take refuge in you from their foes. Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings from the wicked who assail me, from my mortal enemies who surround me."

We are very special to God. We are a creation of the Creator of the ends of the earth. When we are hurt by others and when we hurt others, God is hurt. But, on the worst day of our life, God still loves us.

Go to your Father, through his son, Jesus, by the power of the Holy Spirit and forgive others for hurting you and ask for forgiveness for hurting others.

We are the "apple of God's eye" just like David prayed to be years ago. God's unending love for us is priceless and we are priceless to the King of Kings. We never lose value in God's eyes!

Rick Hawbaker
'Apple of God's Eye'

The Lord Is Abundantly Compassionate

We are told in the first book of Poetry in the Old Testament that Job was the greatest man among all the people of the East. The Lord said to Satan, "There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil." (Job 1)

But yet this righteous man's story tells of one calamity after another. He loses his children, his wealth, his health, his wife's confidence and finally his friends.

Do you know a good person today that is suffering? Sure you do. There are lot of living saints and others in your very own community that are up against the wall in their trials. Maybe it is even you that is suffering.

Why do bad things happen to good people? That is one of the oldest questions there is. When the trials came upon Job he wondered what the meaning was for his suffering. Just like we wonder about why we have to suffer.

It is tough and we will not always understand why God is allowing things to happen to us. But don't forget this..."in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to this purpose. (Romans 8:28)

It is written, "As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job's perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy." (James 5:11)

"...The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised." In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing." (Job 1:21-22) We are told that the Lord made him prosperous again and that he gave him twice as much as he had before.

God blessed the latter part of Job's life more the the first. Job died, old and full of years knowing that his Redeemer lives and that in the end he will stand upon the earth.

Our loving father is not just compassionate. He shows us every day that he is abundantly compassionate!

Rick Hawbaker
'My Redeemer Lives'

Praise to the guy who hung stars in the sky

Show God's unending love to one another this day. His day. Praise our maker as He continues to bend, shape, and mold us like clay in His warm loving hands. He loves us too much to leave us just as we are.

Thank you Almighty King for blessing us with your great mercy. Your amazing grace constantly rains upon us. When we stumble you are right there to pick us up and brush us off. Your forgiveness is never ending.

The chance to be born again and to have eternal life is only available in you. We are so loved by a God that so answers prayers. Thank you for the way you love us!

Rick Hawbaker
'Thankful'

Filled With The Spirit Again And Again...

Spreading the Good News about Jesus has never been easy, but it is certainly a lot easier today than back in the time of the early church.

Peter and John were tossed in jail overnight for teaching and preaching that Jesus was resurrected from the dead. They were put on trial before the Sanhedrin. This is the same group of rulers, elders and teachers of the law that had just condemned Jesus.

Peter and John had to wonder if they were going to be crucified just like their master. But they didn't collapse under the pressure. No, in fact, Peter displayed a supernatural boldness as he preached to them at the trial. He came on strong and proclaimed that Jesus was raised from the dead. Peter also told them that Jesus was the only way to salvation.

They were released with threats to further punish them, but this too did not stop these men powered by the holy spirit. Peter and John then met with fellow believers that were one in heart and in mind. They had a prayer meeting that literally shook the earth.

As they prayed for boldness their prayer was answered as the evidence was an immediate earth quake. Again they were strengthened and filled with the holy spirit. It was impossible for death to keep its hold on Jesus, the resurrected one. They just couldn't keep quite about it.

The early church grew fast as the believers with the power of the holy spirit worked hard to build God's Kingdom. We too must be filled with the holy spirit from time to time. It wasn't a one time deal for the disciples and it isn't a one time deal for us.

You are much more than a mere human if you have the spirit of God. Be all that God wants you to be. Ask for the holy spirit to come upon you. Pray in the name of Jesus for the power of the holy spirit for you, your church, and your community.

Rick Hawbaker
'Filled with the Spirit'

Go Tell It In Your Workplace...

Are you excited about the Lord? Do you pray every day for a chance to share your faith with others? 'Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.' (Hebrews 13:8). He wants you to tell others how God left his place on high and came to earth and made a way for you to escape Hell.

Heading back to work after lunch one day the song 'Jesus Paid in All' was stuck in my head. I have strummed a guitar in the high country a time or two, but music isn't my long suit. So when I reached my designated work area, I tried to refrain from singing out 'All to him I owe'.

Unable to contain my excitement for our glorious Savior, I must have been whistling the tune. A co-worker, whom I had just met two days earlier, came up to me and said, " I know that song. It's 'Jesus Paid it all'.

We exchanged smiles and I ask her how she came up with that song. She said I had been whistling it since I came back from lunch and now she couldn't get it out of her head. This God stuff is contagious! I just found another Christian in the workplace. I love it when that happens!

Pray to God to remove your fear of witnessing, so that you will not rely on your own ability, but on His supernatural power to lead you. In Matthew 28, He commanded us to share the good news with others as he has included us in His plan to redeem mankind.

Go tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere. Including your workplace.

Rick Hawbaker
'Spreading the News'

There Goes God!

God in the flesh came as a man to earth two thousand years ago to give us the route to connect with him and told us how to have eternal life. I want you to know that God is alive and well and people are still diligently seeking him. Praise be to our resurrected King!

I was at a weekly men's prayer breakfast at church Thursday. We take turns making breakfast and leading a devotion each week. We share prayer requests and then break off in groups of two to three people. That's when we lift up others in prayer to our Almighty Savior.

We were about to complete our prayer requests this day when a young man came wondering through the church. He was holding the hand of his six year-old son. We asked if we could help him and he said, "I am just here looking for someone to pray with. Is anyone here yet?"

I had never seen this group of 50 to 75 year-old men move so fast. Especially at 7 in the morning. We jumped up and welcomed this previously unknown brother and his little boy. We questioned him of his prayer needs.

Do you think God had a little something to do with this? This frightened man needing prayer walked into a group of men that were meeting to pray for others. He told us his story and through his watering eyes, you could see that he knew there was a God. He loved God and trusted him. He is his refuge and he was looking to him for strength.

It's pretty cool how the Lord hooks us up to help those in need. Look for God. He is out there working in your neighborhood, in your community and at your workplace. He is waiting for you to join him and help him bring a little piece of Heaven to earth this day.

I pray that the Lord will reached down from on high and take hold of this man and pull him out of the deep water.

Rick Hawbaker
'Kingdom Builder'