Genesis 3:8 - They heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden. NASU 
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• Coronavirus 

No, the last thing you want to do on planet earth doesn't have anything to do with the Coronavirus. The virus can only do a few things to us. It will make some people nervous or fearful and some will go on about their life like it doesn't exist. It can make some sick and they will recover or it can kill them.
 
What else can it do? 

• The Last Thing 

Seriously, the last thing we want to do on planet earth is to hide from God as Adam and Eve did while they were living in the Garden of Eden.
 
Now is not the time to hide from God. In fact, there is never a good time to hide from God. The best thing we can do is to find God.
 
Psalm 32:5-6
I acknowledged my sin to You,
And my iniquity I did not hide;
I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD";
And You forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah.
Therefore, let everyone who is godly pray to You in a time when You may be found;…
 
As you read verse six there is an indication of there being a time when God may be found which also means there would be a time when He may not be found.
 
Proverbs 1:28-29
"Then they will call on me, but I will not answer;
They will seek me diligently but they will not find me,
Because they hated knowledge
And did not choose the fear of the LORD.
 
Now some may say, "Serago, this Proverb is speaking about Wisdom."  My question would be to the one who makes that comment, "And who is the embodiment of Wisdom?" You are correct and that would be God. 

• How To Find God 

If you are going to find God then your heart must be right. You must honestly be seeking Him with a repentant heart.
 
On the day of Pentecost you can read in Acts 2 "they were pierced to the heart…" The Gospel message preached by Peter had an effect on them and they wanted to change.
 
They were not trying to hide from God on the day of Pentecost. They were trying to get right with God. They wanted to know what God's terms were for this to take place.
 
Here is a part of their conversation and Peter's reply: Acts 2:37-38 - Brethren, what shall we do?" Peter said to them, "Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
 
In case you don't know what repentance is let me share this with you. Repentance is a changing of one's HEART which will bring about a change in one's BEHAVIOR. 

• What Better Time 

There are a lot of crazy things happening on good ole planet earth today. What better time is there than today to call out to God. Don't be like Adam and Eve and hide from God. Be like the people on the day of Pentecost and ask what it is you can do to get right with God.
 
Think About This:
 
Always remember that a man is not rewarded for having brains, but for using them.

Stay Pumped,
 
Gary A. Serago

Minister of God's Word

Acts 20:35 - "...Remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'"

We always hear about what it is that someone wants. Some want a car, a house, a new loan, a husband, or a wife, or a child who would just listen for once in his/her life. 

Would you like a dollar for every time you heard someone say they wanted to win the lottery?

• If You Don't Give What You Have, You Won't Give.

Let me explain what I mean by that statement. If you say you will help so and so if you win the lottery, or you say you will give to the church if you win the lottery. 

I ask, "What are you giving to them now?"

If you say, "Nothing" then guess what? I don't believe you will give to them if you win the lottery.

Why do I say that?
 
It is because we are creatures of habit.
 
We will do what we have always been doing. If you spend everything on yourself now that habit will continue.

• What Jesus Didn't Say

 
Jesus didn't say, It is more blessed to give when you have an abundance. He said, "It was more blessed to give than to receive."

We are to give from what we already have. God has blessed us all.
 
If you don't believe you are rich right now I suggest that you travel to a third world country and see for yourself. Do you have water and electricity in your house? I stayed at a missionary's house in Uganda and they only got electricity every other day.
 

• Unprepared When I Was In Peru

In 2005, while traveling in Peru on a mission trip I saw a naked man begging for a handout. I was riding on a bus at the time and no way to stop and help him. I made a promise to God right then if I ever saw another naked person begging I would help them.

• Promise Kept In Liberia

 
In 2011, I was in Liberia on a mission trip and I was sitting in a vehicle while others in our party were buying some supplies. I saw a man walking down the street in Monrovia, the capital city of Liberia, totally naked. The promise I made in Peru immediately came to my mind.

I always carried extra underclothes and socks in my computer backpack in case my luggage was lost on an overseas trip.

I pulled out a pair of boxer shorts and a T-shirt from my bag. I approached him holding out the clothes and he accepted them. Before I left Liberia I gave all my clothes to those who were in need. When I gave one man my tennis shoes you would have thought I had given him a $1,000.00.
 

• Jesus' Promise Is True

 
It truly is more blessed to give than to receive. So let me ask you a question, What is on your give-a-way list?

Certainly, you have something to give to others. I am sure you have something in your home that you are not using that could be a blessing in someone else's life. So, why not give it and receive a blessing that comes with giving it away?

If you are a coach can you find one thing to compliment one of your athletes today?

If you are a boss can you find one thing your employee did to receive a compliment from you?

Believe this passage of scripture, "It is more blessed to give than to receive." So start being a giver today, which in turn will make you a receiver. You definitely will not regret it. 

Think on This:

Some of the greatest gifts are not monetary ones. If you have lost a loved one how much money would you give to have 10 minutes with them? Time, we all have time, and others could use some of our time.
 
 Stay Pumped,

Gary A. Serago

Minister of God's Word
 

Gen. 42:21-22 - Then they said to one another, "Truly we are guilty concerning our brother, because we saw the distress of his soul when he pleaded with us, yet we would not listen; therefore this distress has come upon us." Reuben answered them, saying, "Did I not tell you, 'Do not sin against the boy; and you would not listen? Now comes the reckoning for his blood."    NASU
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•  The Cause of their Guilt 

Jacob's sons are in a dilemma. They had years ago sold their brother, Joseph, into slavery. They took his coat of many colors and stained it with animal blood and then lied to their dad, Jacob, about what they had done to Joseph.
 
There had been a famine and Jacob sent his sons to Egypt to buy grain.
 
Little did they know their brother, Joseph, who they had sold into slavery is now in charge in Egypt. Joseph sees his brothers and he recognizes them but they don't recognize him.
 
Joseph has them placed in prison and accuses them of being spies. He leaves them in prison for three days and tells them they must leave one of the brothers in prison, travel home and bring their younger brother, Benjamin, to Egypt to prove they are telling the truth and they are not spies.

•  The Guilt of the Past Returns 

Now is when their guilty consciences kick in and they remember what they had done to Joseph, their brother, and this is why this disaster is coming upon them. We probably all have done something in our past that periodically comes back from time to time to haunt us.
 
The two best ways I know to overcome a guilty conscience if you have hurt someone:

1. Apologize and ask for forgiveness from the hurt person.
2. Apologize and ask for forgiveness from God if the hurt person cannot be contacted.

After their father, Jacob, dies the brothers send a message to Joseph asking him to forgive them. Gen. 50:16-17 -"Your father charged before he died, saying, 'Thus you shall say to Joseph, "Please forgive, I beg you, the transgression of your brothers and their sin, for they did you wrong." 'And now, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father.'"         
 
The brothers asked Joseph for forgiveness and it was granted to them.  

• The Hope We Have In Christ

When your conscience brings up your past here is what I have found works for me.
 
During those times I remind myself that I am not that person any longer. That Gary died and was buried March 2, 1975, in the watery grave of baptism. Jesus was and is the perfect sacrifice that atones for the sins of mankind. The best way to defeat your guilty conscience is to be born again.
 
I am not perfect now but thank God I am not what I used to be nor am I what I want to be.  I want to do what 2 Pet. 3:18 says, "grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."
 
Like the sign says, "Under Construction: God isn't finished with me yet."

• Guilty Conscience About Something Done After Your Baptism?

In case you didn't know Christians aren't perfect and sometimes our guilty consciences come from things we have done after we have become a Christian. You may have done something that hasn't hurt anyone but yourself so you don't have to ask for anyone's forgiveness.

People have told you, "To let it go." You wish you could but everything you have tried isn't working. 

So what should be done in those situations? I would say, "You need to remember what God has done for you and He Has Forgiven You so forgive yourself." 

• I Am Plagued By Feeling Guilty Constantly

Some people have a personality that dwells on the past and if you are a Christian that is constantly fighting your past mistakes then, by all means, you need to dwell on God's ability to forgive you of your sins.

• Christians Have The Same Enemy As Jesus

Christians must remember that we have the same enemy as Jesus had when He was on earth.
 
I like this saying, "When the devil wants to remind you of your past, remind him of his future." 

God is going to CRUSH him one day and so it says in Romans 16:20 - "The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you."    
 
If you want to dwell on something dwell on what God has done for you and what He will do to the devil. 

Think About These:

The head usher to happiness is a well-kept conscience.
 
Your conscience is not the voice of God; it is a gift from God.

Stay Pumped,

Gary A. Serago 

Minister of God's Word

Psalm 35:9 - And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD;
It shall rejoice in His salvation.    NKJV 

• Knowing Where You Are 

As I write this Pump Up I have prepared myself to leave in the morning for a motorcycle trip. First, I am going to Birmingham, AL and connect with a good friend of mine, Mike Puleo. When I leave him I will continue to ride to my house in FL and store my bike there this winter.
 
I have no less than eight times looked at MapQuest to go over my planned trip route. I have been lost before and the uneasy feeling you get is not for me. I like knowing where I am and where I am going.
 
The Psalmist knows where he is. He is in the LORD and because of this fact, he is JOYFUL. He is one who possesses salvation because of what the LORD has done for him. Please remember, the Psalmist, at this time didn't know the feeling of having his sins forgiven by the blood of Jesus. 

• Should We Be Joyful? 

No one should be more JOYFUL than Christians. We all have sinned and fallen short of God's glory. What did God do? He provided us salvation through Jesus Christ. Jesus' blood has atoned for our sins.
 
Look at what the apostle Paul says in the book of Romans 6:23 - For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
 
Christians should be constantly rejoicing in this world. Why? We have salvation IN Jesus Christ our LORD.
 
I may get lost driving and make a wrong turn but spiritually I am on the road that leads to eternal life. I am on the straight and narrow as Jesus called it.
 
Should we be Joyful?
 
I would say we have the greatest reason in the world to have a smile on our faces.
 
The Goins Brothers are a Bluegrass band that I have known for over 40 years and I remember hearing them singing the song below. I hope it will put a smile on your face today.
 TREASURES MONEY CAN'T BUYby: Dee Gaskin

1. While driving one day through the quiet countryside
An old man was walking, so I offered a ride.
His face was all wrinkled, his hair turned to gray
And these are the words that he had to say:

2. I may look like a beggar but I'm rich as a king
What I have in my heart gives me reason to sing
I'm a joint heir with Jesus so why should I sigh.
For these are the treasures that money can't buy.

CHORUS:
Money is worthless when a soul is at stake
If gold bought redemption, how much would it take?
But He loved me and saved me and I can't explain why.
These are the treasures, these are the treasures that money can't buy.

3. So if you look at my garments and you notice they're torn,
Well, I've a new royal garment that's never been worn.
And the cabin I live in is home till I die.
But I've a mansion in glory that money can't buy.

CHORUS:
Tag: Yes, He loved me and saved me and I can't explain why,
And these are the treasures, These are the treasures that money can't buy.

Think About This:

If you don't enjoy what you have, how could you be happier with more?

He who forgets the language of gratitude can never be on speaking terms with happiness. 

Stay Pumped,

Gary A. Serago 

Minister of God's Word