Rick Costa's Blog

…and when you turn to the right hand, and when you turn to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way. Walk in it.”

– Isaiah 30:21 (World English Bible)

We all say we want God to lead us and guide us in the way we should go but are we quiet enough in our souls to be able to hear His Spirit leading us?  Or do we let the cares and worries of this world drown out His voice?  Maybe if we slow down and take the time to listen to Him instead of just doing the first thing that pops into our heads we could avoid a lot of our troubles.

We know that if the life we live here on earth is ever taken down like a tent, we still have a building from God. It is an eternal house in heaven that isn’t made by human hands. In our present tent-like existence we sigh, since we long to put on the house we will have in heaven.

2 Corinthians 5:1-2 (GOD’S WORD® Translation (©1995))

How great will that be when we get our new heavenly bodies?  No pain!  Never get tired!  No sin-nature!  Eternal youth!

Everyone will hate you because you are committed to me. But the person who endures to the end will be saved.

– Mark 13:13 (GOD’S WORD® Translation (©1995))

Do you ever feel like you were treated badly for no reason even though you were nothing but nice to someone?  You must realize that the Jesus inside of you bothers people who are in sin even if they don’t know why.  Stay strong and pray for them until the Holy Spirit finally breaks them down and brings them to the knowledge of Christ.  I’ve seen it happen!  Don’t give up!

Be careful not to let anyone rob you of this faith through a shallow and misleading philosophy. Such a person follows human traditions and the world’s way of doing things rather than following Christ. All of God lives in Christ’s body.

– Colossians 2:8-9

Many people will try to say that they have a way to get to God without Jesus.  That statement makes NO sense because Jesus IS God.  It’s like if you said “I want to talk to Rick directly, face to face” and you go around talking to everyone else but me.  That’s idiotic.  If you want to talk to me directly, you must come to me directly.  In the same way, when you search for God you are in fact searching for Jesus Himself because He is God.  He’s not a piece of God, He’s not a representative of God, HE IS GOD…fully.  Jesus = God and God = Jesus.  It’s that simple and it’s that profound.

We have been sprinkled with His blood to free us from a guilty conscience, and our bodies have been washed with clean water. So we must continue to come to Him with a sincere heart and strong faith.

– Hebrews 10:22 (GOD’S WORD® Translation (©1995))

The enemy of our souls probably wants to do one thing more than any other and that is to keep us separated from our heavenly Father.  If he can keep you feeling like a failure, you won’t live up to your true potential.  But thank God through Jesus’ Blood we are made worthy to serve Him and His people.  As the song says, “satan the Blood of Jesus is against you!”

You have come to Jesus, who brings the new promise from God, and to the sprinkled Blood that speaks a better message than Abel’s.

– Hebrews 12:24 (GOD’S WORD® Translation (©1995))

As Abel’s blood spilled onto the earth when he was killed by his brother, it cried out for revenge for his unjust death.  When Jesus Blood was spilled out it did not cry out for revenge but rather cried out “MERCY!”  Because the Blood has washed you from your sins, all God can see when He looks at your life is His mercy.  Thank you Jesus!

And His eyes are a flame of fire, and crowns are on His head; and He has a name in writing, of which no man has knowledge but Himself.  And He is clothed in a robe washed with Blood: and His name is The Word of God.

-Revelation 19:12-13 (Bible In Basic English)

COME LORD JESUS!!!

As a good soldier of Christ Jesus accept your share of suffering. Every one who serves as a soldier keeps himself from becoming entangled in the world’s business–so that he may satisfy the officer who enlisted him.

2 Timothy 2:3-4  (Weymouth New Testament)

God isn’t against us having fun.  But at the same time we are here with a job to do.  As you go about your business always be on the lookout to do GOD’S business…otherwise He might as well take you “home” now if you’re not going to do anything for Him.  Don’t go A.W.O.L. soldier!

If a person thinks that he is religious but can’t control his tongue, he is fooling himself. That person’s religion is worthless.

– James 1:26 (GOD’S WORD® Translation (©1995))

I have personally witnessed so called devout Christians shout Hallelujah while in church and barely get outside the doors of the sanctuary and are already cussing.  What kind of testimony is that?  And who do they think they are fooling?  Certainly not God.  Control yourself!

Every time you eat this bread and drink from this cup, you tell about the Lord’s death until He comes.

– 1 Corinthians 11:26 (GOD’S WORD® Translation (©1995))

Everytime we join together for communion it is to remember what Jesus did for us on the cross.  It’s not just a ritual.  Never allow it to become that.  Acknowledge that we were sinners on our way to eternal separation from Him but now are adopted children welcomed into His Kingdom because of the Blood of Jesus shed for us.  Thank You Lord.