WE Can't Wash It Off

And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. (Ephesians 4:30-32 NIV)

This verse is one of my favorites. Lets look at this thought: I CAN'T WASH IT OFF!

I had plenty of fun back in the day when I use to hit the clubs (RJ's By The Lake). You know, try to get there when it was free, buy your drinks early and dance until they told you "you ain’t got to go home but you got to get out of here". When I look back I remember paying at the door and getting a big stamp put on my hand. The stamp is what the club used to show you paid just in case you wanted to step outside for a sec.

After hours of dancing (which made most folk sweat like a field hand) I would make my way to a semi lit area only to find that the stamp was still there. After the club shutdown, I would make a stop at IHOP for a little food and after washing my hands I looked down only to find the stamp still there. I would go home and take a shower, sleep and wake up the next morning and guess what was still on my hand? That’s right, the stamp. It seemed like nothing I would do could remove that stamp from my hand. The verse above says that we have been "sealed" with the STAMP (so to speak) of the HOLY SPIRIT!

Because GOD has chosen us for salvation, nothing we do could ever wash away the SEAL. That's good news! Paul tells us in Romans 8 that nothing can separate us for the love of GOD. I don't care what sin we have committed believers are still SEALED until the day of redemption!

Now before somebody gets it twisted, let me make something real clear. Being SEALED doesn't mean we should live any kind of life!!! Its like this, if the city was about to be hit by a nuclear bomb but someone told you they had a place that would keep you safe would you go? And if you go, would you be grateful enough to do what they asked? Look, because we have been SEALED (put in a safe place) we should be grateful to GOD and live the way HE wants us to because HE saved us from the HELL BOMB. Lets live life obediently for THE LORD because we have something that always shows we belong to HIM, which WE CAN'T WASH OFF!

Spoken Word: Divine Direction

These are new times and with them come new ways, new philosophies, concepts and ideas invading our mainstream life trying to get a say; while the values that we once knew as people of God has drifted away to the sea of forgetfulness, like reading the bible because it lifts us, bringing joy to the heart making us witnesses, of the LIVING GOD, has been replaced by choosing the morning paper or perusing this month’s subscription of your favorite magazine; you know with a feature story on “Sister’s learn how to keep your man happy” or “Brothers here is how you make money snappy” now before you get mad at me, here me out because I am not condemning your selection, but trimming your excuses for not finding direction, because if the truth be told you have many questions, about how to deal with life, you know, paying bills or finding that husband or wife, or what do I do when my heart is broken, or how do I keep from flipping out on “des” haters who keep on poking, into my personal biz, like do I have a job, can I afford that or who my baby’s daddy is, Now that doesn’t matter but here is what does, the new way never was and what the mainstreams say can never beat a WORD from ABOVE; No philosophy, concept or idea that comes from man, no matter how good, deep or hard to understand, could ever do for the soul what the WORD of GOD can, you know what I am saying, so pick up THE BOOK and take a look into something that will feed your soul, let go of the horoscope that has you hooked and search the scriptures for value that’s much better than gold!

Up to late

I am setting up this blog to give people a chance to read the fresh thoughts that enter my mind while studying the bible. At the same time this blog should help me formulate creative sentences which should lead to a better style of communication. I chose the name Fresh Off The Press about a year ago. This idea started off as a weekly devotional that was sent out via email. I hope you find this blog a great resource for inspiration and transformation! Let me know what you think by posting responses. I will try to update this site as often as I can so please check back soon. HoLLa~