Apples, not caffeine, are more efficient at waking you up in the morning.
Alfred Hitchcock did not have a bellybutton.
A pack-a-day smoker will lose approximately 2 teeth every 10 yrs.
People do not get sick from cold weather; it's from being indoors a lot more.
When you sneeze, all bodily functions stop, even your heart!
Only 7 per cent of the population are lefties.
40 people are sent to the hospital for dog bites every minute.
Babies are born without knee caps. They don't appear until they are 2-6 years old.
The average person over fifty will have spent 5 years waiting in lines.
The toothbrush was invented in 1498.
The average housefly lives for one month.
40,000 Americans are injured by toilets each year.
A coat hanger is 44 inches long when straightened.
The average computer user blinks 7 times a minute.
Your feet are bigger in the afternoon than the rest of the day.
Most of us have eaten a spider in our sleep.
The REAL reason an ostrich sticks its head in the sand is to search for water.
The only 2 animals that can see behind themselves without turning their heads are the Rabbit and the Parrot.
John Travolta turned down the starring roles in "An Officer and a Gentleman" and "Tootsie".
Michael Jackson owns the rights to the South Carolina State anthem.
In most television commercials advertising milk, a mixture of white paint and a little thinner is used instead of real milk.
Prince Charles and Prince William NEVER travel on the same airplane, just in case there is a crash.
The first Harley Davidson motorcycle built in 1903 used a tomato can for a carburetor.
Most hospitals make money by selling the umbilical cords cut from women who give birth. They are reused in vein transplant surgery.
Humphrey Bogart was related to Princess Diana. They were 7th cousins.
If coloring weren't added to Coca-Cola, it would be Green.
Answers: All of the above are true. Don't you just love number sixteen?
Friday, August 31, 2012
Thursday, August 30, 2012
Making the best of problems
Abraham Lincoln knew the value that difficulties can bring to a life. One of his cabinet appointees, Edwin Stanton, frequently found flaws with the president and criticized him -- sometimes in public. But Lincoln seemed to show excessive patience with him. The president was asked why he kept such a man in a high level position.
Lincoln characteristically responded with a story. He told about a time he was visiting with an old farmer. He noticed a big horsefly biting the flank of the farmer's horse. Lincoln said he reached over to brush the fly away. As he did so, the farmer stopped him and cautioned, "Don't do that, friend. That horsefly is the only thing keeping this old horse moving."
Even life's many irritations and problems have their place. That horsefly kept the horse moving. Edwin Stanton, no Yes Man, kept the president sharper, honest and self-reflective. My sore muscles and aching back keep me exercising regularly.
Sometimes we make the best of our problems. But how wonderful it is when those problems can make the best of us.
Lincoln characteristically responded with a story. He told about a time he was visiting with an old farmer. He noticed a big horsefly biting the flank of the farmer's horse. Lincoln said he reached over to brush the fly away. As he did so, the farmer stopped him and cautioned, "Don't do that, friend. That horsefly is the only thing keeping this old horse moving."
Even life's many irritations and problems have their place. That horsefly kept the horse moving. Edwin Stanton, no Yes Man, kept the president sharper, honest and self-reflective. My sore muscles and aching back keep me exercising regularly.
Sometimes we make the best of our problems. But how wonderful it is when those problems can make the best of us.
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Live everyday
If I make it to Saturday I will have outlived my dad by two years. He only got to enjoy two of his grands in his short life span and never got to meet his two granddaughters. I, on the other hand, have lived to see all my grands and am thankful and believing I will see fourth one come next spring.
Nobody knows when their own last day will be either. All that we can do is to live each day we have here to the fullest with love, kindness, goodness, joy, and oneness with God.
This is why I want to start each day by saying, "Good morning God, thank you for my life!" This is why I like to watch the sunrise and sunset. This is why I stop to smell the flowers and listen to the birds sing. This is why I hug my wife, son, daughter-in-law, and grands and tell them that I love them every chance I get. This is why I take the time to bend down and pet a dog or cat. This is why I lend a hand to a neighbor who needs my help. This is why I share a smile and a friendly wave with the people I pass on life’s road. I want to do all I can to show others that they can choose life, share love, and spread joy. I want to show them that everyday is precious, that every act of kindness is priceless, and that everyone of them is a powerful person who can make this world a better place.
None of us knows when our own lives here will end. What we do know is that we can love today. We can learn today. We can laugh today. We can help each other today. We can bring a little Heaven to Earth today. Live today then and when the end does come you will be able to face God with a loving and happy heart.
Nobody knows when their own last day will be either. All that we can do is to live each day we have here to the fullest with love, kindness, goodness, joy, and oneness with God.
This is why I want to start each day by saying, "Good morning God, thank you for my life!" This is why I like to watch the sunrise and sunset. This is why I stop to smell the flowers and listen to the birds sing. This is why I hug my wife, son, daughter-in-law, and grands and tell them that I love them every chance I get. This is why I take the time to bend down and pet a dog or cat. This is why I lend a hand to a neighbor who needs my help. This is why I share a smile and a friendly wave with the people I pass on life’s road. I want to do all I can to show others that they can choose life, share love, and spread joy. I want to show them that everyday is precious, that every act of kindness is priceless, and that everyone of them is a powerful person who can make this world a better place.
None of us knows when our own lives here will end. What we do know is that we can love today. We can learn today. We can laugh today. We can help each other today. We can bring a little Heaven to Earth today. Live today then and when the end does come you will be able to face God with a loving and happy heart.
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
Between the hours of 9-11
I saw a sign online that was posted in a hotel lobby in Georgia that read:
"Visitors are expected to complain at the office between the hours of 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. daily.
So is it a law in Georgia that those are the only hours to receive complaints? If so I think I want move there!
Of course, complaints in themselves are not bad things. I realize that somethings have to be addressed before they can be fixed, and I believe that there are times when dissatisfaction should be expressed. What's more, I realize that we all have different temperaments. Some people naturally see the glass half full, some see it half empty and some just see that they will probably end up washing it. Some people are naturally more accepting while others complain quickly.
But a tendency to constantly look at what is wrong can become a habit. And habits can take over. I just don't want to become a person who spends a lot of time "standing at the complaint counter."
I find that if I fill my mind with the little irritants of life, I have no room, or energy, left for anything that nurtures and feeds my spirit. No room for genuine appreciation. No room for understanding. No room for enjoyment. No room for fond memories. No room for storing a list of things that bring pleasure.
I want to leave room in my mind for a long gratitude list that I can readily recall when I need a boost. I want to notice what's good and right about the world. And I want to fill my heart and head with that which brings some joy so that I may go to bed each evening contented.
Monday, August 27, 2012
Are you a giver?
Luke 6:38 "Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again."
Giving is essential to those who serve the Lord. God is the gift that keeps on giving to us everyday. We in return should be givers as well.
-We should give the Lord our time. Quality time means nothing if it rarely occurs. Spend time reading His Word, seeking His will and way in prayer, and take the time to listen for Him to speak to you.
-We should give attention to the minute details of our Christian walk. It's not the one that runs the swiftest or has a brief moment of enlightenment, but the one that endures and pays attention to the details that will make it to the end of their journey still on fire for the Lord.
-We should give Him our devotion and show Him how much we love Him. God is one of the most important individuals you'll ever have the privilege of knowing and we always tell the important people in our lives how much we love them. Why should He be any different?
-We should give Him our praise enthuiastic in our worship of Him. All of God's children worship differently and there's nothing wrong with that. However, there's a question that follows those who never lift their voice of praise unto the Lord.
-We should give Him our word that we will be committed to our relationship with Him. This is not a short ride someone can finish overnight. You have to be in this race for the long haul. It takes a real man or woman of God to make up their mind that I will finish what I have started and be committed to the One that set me free.
Giving is essential to those who serve the Lord. God is the gift that keeps on giving to us everyday. We in return should be givers as well.
-We should give the Lord our time. Quality time means nothing if it rarely occurs. Spend time reading His Word, seeking His will and way in prayer, and take the time to listen for Him to speak to you.
-We should give attention to the minute details of our Christian walk. It's not the one that runs the swiftest or has a brief moment of enlightenment, but the one that endures and pays attention to the details that will make it to the end of their journey still on fire for the Lord.
-We should give Him our devotion and show Him how much we love Him. God is one of the most important individuals you'll ever have the privilege of knowing and we always tell the important people in our lives how much we love them. Why should He be any different?
-We should give Him our praise enthuiastic in our worship of Him. All of God's children worship differently and there's nothing wrong with that. However, there's a question that follows those who never lift their voice of praise unto the Lord.
-We should give Him our word that we will be committed to our relationship with Him. This is not a short ride someone can finish overnight. You have to be in this race for the long haul. It takes a real man or woman of God to make up their mind that I will finish what I have started and be committed to the One that set me free.
Saturday, August 25, 2012
Earth isn't meant for eternity only
Earth isn’t meant for eternity only-Heaven is.
So...
-Do your best then to spend each precious moment here in joy.
-Do your best to spend your days living, laughing, hugging, helping, praying, and smiling.
-Do your best to spend your seconds here loving God, yourself, and others.
-Do your best to make the passage of time on Earth a passageway to Heaven.
Ecclesiastes 3:14, 15 "I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that people will fear him. Whatever is has already been, and what will be has been before; and God will call the past to account."
I
So...
-Do your best then to spend each precious moment here in joy.
-Do your best to spend your days living, laughing, hugging, helping, praying, and smiling.
-Do your best to spend your seconds here loving God, yourself, and others.
-Do your best to make the passage of time on Earth a passageway to Heaven.
Ecclesiastes 3:14, 15 "I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that people will fear him. Whatever is has already been, and what will be has been before; and God will call the past to account."
I
Friday, August 24, 2012
Don't forget to look!
A defendant was on trial for murder. There was strong evidence indicating guilt, but there was no corpse. In the defense's closing statement the lawyer, knowing that his client would probably be convicted, resorted to a trick: "Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, I have a surprise for you all," the lawyer said as he looked at his watch. "Within one minute, the person presumed dead in this case will walk into this courtroom."
He looked toward the courtroom door. The jurors, somewhat stunned, all looked on eagerly. A minute passed. Nothing happened.
Finally the lawyer said, "Actually, I made up the previous statement. But you all looked on with anticipation. I therefore put it to you that there is reasonable doubt in this case as to whether anyone was killed and insist that you return a verdict of not guilty."
The jury, clearly confused, retired to deliberate. A few minutes later, the jury returned and pronounced a verdict of guilty. "But how?" inquired the lawyer. "You must have had some doubt; I saw all of you stare at the door." The jury foreman replied: "Oh, we did look, but your client didn't."
Sometimes it's the look that can keep you out of trouble. Remember this passage:
Luke 21:28 "And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh."
If you are looking you won't miss out on the promise.
He looked toward the courtroom door. The jurors, somewhat stunned, all looked on eagerly. A minute passed. Nothing happened.
Finally the lawyer said, "Actually, I made up the previous statement. But you all looked on with anticipation. I therefore put it to you that there is reasonable doubt in this case as to whether anyone was killed and insist that you return a verdict of not guilty."
The jury, clearly confused, retired to deliberate. A few minutes later, the jury returned and pronounced a verdict of guilty. "But how?" inquired the lawyer. "You must have had some doubt; I saw all of you stare at the door." The jury foreman replied: "Oh, we did look, but your client didn't."
Sometimes it's the look that can keep you out of trouble. Remember this passage:
Luke 21:28 "And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh."
If you are looking you won't miss out on the promise.
Thursday, August 23, 2012
Fascinating Irrelevant Facts (Part 1)
In 1980, a Las Vegas hospital suspended workers for betting on when patients would die.
Thomas Edison was afraid of the dark.
"Kemo Sabe" means "soggy shrub" in Navajo.
Einstein couldn't speak fluently when he was nine. His parents thought he might be retarded.
In Los Angeles, there are fewer people than there are automobiles.
You're more likely to get stung by a bee on a windy day than in any other weather.
An average person laughs about 5 times a day.
Penguins can jump as high as 6 feet in the air.
The average person is about a quarter of an inch taller at night.
A sneeze zooms out of your mouth at over 600 mph.
The Neanderthal's brain was bigger than yours is.
A Saudi Arabian woman can get a divorce if her husband doesn't give her coffee.
In 1980, there was only one country in the world with no telephones - Bhutan.
Pollsters say that 40% of dog and cat owners carry pictures of the pets in their wallets.
Bubble gum contains rubber.
Only 55% of all Americans know that the sun is a star.
The world population of chickens is about equal to the number of people.
Thomas Edison was afraid of the dark.
"Kemo Sabe" means "soggy shrub" in Navajo.
Einstein couldn't speak fluently when he was nine. His parents thought he might be retarded.
In Los Angeles, there are fewer people than there are automobiles.
You're more likely to get stung by a bee on a windy day than in any other weather.
An average person laughs about 5 times a day.
Penguins can jump as high as 6 feet in the air.
The average person is about a quarter of an inch taller at night.
A sneeze zooms out of your mouth at over 600 mph.
The Neanderthal's brain was bigger than yours is.
A Saudi Arabian woman can get a divorce if her husband doesn't give her coffee.
In 1980, there was only one country in the world with no telephones - Bhutan.
Pollsters say that 40% of dog and cat owners carry pictures of the pets in their wallets.
Bubble gum contains rubber.
Only 55% of all Americans know that the sun is a star.
The world population of chickens is about equal to the number of people.
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
God's Hotline
One of the reasons that people bought cell phones when they first came out was that you could call for help where ever you were located. You would never need to worry if you were stranded somewhere with a flat tire, because you could just call for assistance.
God is the same way, only better. You see, sometimes our friends will see our call and think, “Oh no, he wants something; I don’t want to answer it.” But God is just the opposite. Not only is He totally on-call 24/7, He actually is attracted to people who need help.
The Bible says God is drawn to the brokenhearted and needy. If God had to choose between someone who acted like they had it all together and someone who was sad and desperate, He would choose the latter.
"The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. ” (Psalm 34:18).
He doesn’t run away from people who need help; He runs to them, especially if they call out to Him.
“’Because he loves me,’ says the Lord, ‘I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation’” (Psalm 91:14-16).
This is something to remember when you need help, which may be today. Everyone knows that you call 911 when you have an emergency. Well, God has a hotline too, and it is the name of His Son, Jesus.
Romans 10:13, “For whoever calls on the name of the LORD will be saved.”
No matter what kind of situation you are in be it little or big, you can call on the name of Jesus and He will come to your rescue.
Take time today to use God’s hotline and find help on call. He's always on time.
God is the same way, only better. You see, sometimes our friends will see our call and think, “Oh no, he wants something; I don’t want to answer it.” But God is just the opposite. Not only is He totally on-call 24/7, He actually is attracted to people who need help.
The Bible says God is drawn to the brokenhearted and needy. If God had to choose between someone who acted like they had it all together and someone who was sad and desperate, He would choose the latter.
"The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. ” (Psalm 34:18).
He doesn’t run away from people who need help; He runs to them, especially if they call out to Him.
“’Because he loves me,’ says the Lord, ‘I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation’” (Psalm 91:14-16).
This is something to remember when you need help, which may be today. Everyone knows that you call 911 when you have an emergency. Well, God has a hotline too, and it is the name of His Son, Jesus.
Romans 10:13, “For whoever calls on the name of the LORD will be saved.”
No matter what kind of situation you are in be it little or big, you can call on the name of Jesus and He will come to your rescue.
Take time today to use God’s hotline and find help on call. He's always on time.
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
What the Bible says about mercy
Although the Bible makes it clear that God is the Great Judge who hates all evil-doing, he is also the Merciful One, who forgives and accepts people who turn to him.
"Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever."
1 Chronicles 16:34
"Let the people turn from their wicked deeds. Let them banish from their minds the very thought of doing wrong! Let them turn to the LORD that he may have mercy on them. Yes, turn to our God, for he will abundantly pardon."
Isaiah 55:7
"As surely as I live, says the Sovereign LORD, I take no pleasure in the death of wicked people. I only want them to turn from their wicked ways so they can live. Turn! Turn from your wickedness, O people of Israel! Why should you die?"
Ezekiel 33:11
"God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so very much, that even while we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God's special favor that you have been saved!) For he raised us from the dead along with Christ, and we are seated with him in the heavenly realms -- all because we are one with Christ Jesus."
Ephesians 2:4-6
"Where is another God like you, who pardons the sins of the survivors among his people? You cannot stay angry with your people forever because you delight in showing mercy. Once again you will have compassion on us. You will trample our sins under your feet and throw them into the depths of the ocean! You will show us your faithfulness and unfailing love as you promised with an oath to our ancestors Abraham and Jacob long ago."
Micah 7:18-19
"If a shepherd has one hundred sheep, and one wanders away and is lost, what will he do? Won't he leave the ninety-nine others and go out into the hills to search for the lost one? And if he finds it, he will surely rejoice over it more than over the ninety-nine that didn't wander away! In the same way, it is not my heavenly Father's will that even one of these little ones should perish."
Matthew 18:12-14
"Now turn from your sins and turn to God, so you can be cleansed of your sins. Then wonderful times of refreshment will come from the presence of the Lord, and he will send Jesus your Messiah to you again."
Acts 3:19-20
"He saved us, not because of the good things we did, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins and gave us a new life through the Holy Spirit."
Titus 3:5
"Let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it."
Hebrew 4:16
"Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever."
1 Chronicles 16:34
"Let the people turn from their wicked deeds. Let them banish from their minds the very thought of doing wrong! Let them turn to the LORD that he may have mercy on them. Yes, turn to our God, for he will abundantly pardon."
Isaiah 55:7
"As surely as I live, says the Sovereign LORD, I take no pleasure in the death of wicked people. I only want them to turn from their wicked ways so they can live. Turn! Turn from your wickedness, O people of Israel! Why should you die?"
Ezekiel 33:11
"God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so very much, that even while we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God's special favor that you have been saved!) For he raised us from the dead along with Christ, and we are seated with him in the heavenly realms -- all because we are one with Christ Jesus."
Ephesians 2:4-6
"Where is another God like you, who pardons the sins of the survivors among his people? You cannot stay angry with your people forever because you delight in showing mercy. Once again you will have compassion on us. You will trample our sins under your feet and throw them into the depths of the ocean! You will show us your faithfulness and unfailing love as you promised with an oath to our ancestors Abraham and Jacob long ago."
Micah 7:18-19
"If a shepherd has one hundred sheep, and one wanders away and is lost, what will he do? Won't he leave the ninety-nine others and go out into the hills to search for the lost one? And if he finds it, he will surely rejoice over it more than over the ninety-nine that didn't wander away! In the same way, it is not my heavenly Father's will that even one of these little ones should perish."
Matthew 18:12-14
"Now turn from your sins and turn to God, so you can be cleansed of your sins. Then wonderful times of refreshment will come from the presence of the Lord, and he will send Jesus your Messiah to you again."
Acts 3:19-20
"He saved us, not because of the good things we did, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins and gave us a new life through the Holy Spirit."
Titus 3:5
"Let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it."
Hebrew 4:16
Monday, August 20, 2012
How far will mercy go?
Grace is unlimited and forever. Mercy, on the other hand, is vast but can end in either of two ways:
-Repentance leading to salvation by grace through faith; or...
-The wrath of God and eternal punishment for forsaking or denying the mercy of God in your life.
God is calling us through His mercy into obedience. When we get right with God it becomes clear we cannot get away with unrepentant sin. It is to know that after we have come to a knowledge of the truth His mercy has accomplished it's mission. Then it is time for obedience to His Word and keeping ourselves immersed in His grace by forsaking the path of sin and following after Him.
1 Peter 4:17, 18 "The time has come for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if what we know now is only the beginning, what will it be when it comes down to those who refuse to believe God's Good News?"
Mercy is always available if we ask, but not as an excuse to do wrong. While we say, "Everyone else is doing it!", or "I used to be able to!"--when God "meddles with our affairs" the world of evil is expanding around us.
Some of us have already experienced just how far God will go to form "Christ in us". When the fear of God hits us, and our prayers for deliverance from sin are finally answered God literally scares us out of hell. Mercy teaches us that wisdom begins by fearing the Lord and the Word tells us the way of mercy.
(1) The Word says that God in His mercy chastises us.
Hebrews 12:6-8 (KJV) "For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons."
(2) The Word says that God in His mercy requires our sacrifice.
Romans 12:1 "Think of God's mercy, my brothers, and worship him, I beg you, in a way that is worthy of thinking beings, by offering your living bodies as a holy sacrifice, truly pleasing to God."
(3) The Word says that God's mercy is not an excuse for sinning or backsliding.
Exodus 34:6-7 (NIV) ..."The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the wicked unpunished... "
-Repentance leading to salvation by grace through faith; or...
-The wrath of God and eternal punishment for forsaking or denying the mercy of God in your life.
God is calling us through His mercy into obedience. When we get right with God it becomes clear we cannot get away with unrepentant sin. It is to know that after we have come to a knowledge of the truth His mercy has accomplished it's mission. Then it is time for obedience to His Word and keeping ourselves immersed in His grace by forsaking the path of sin and following after Him.
1 Peter 4:17, 18 "The time has come for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if what we know now is only the beginning, what will it be when it comes down to those who refuse to believe God's Good News?"
Mercy is always available if we ask, but not as an excuse to do wrong. While we say, "Everyone else is doing it!", or "I used to be able to!"--when God "meddles with our affairs" the world of evil is expanding around us.
Some of us have already experienced just how far God will go to form "Christ in us". When the fear of God hits us, and our prayers for deliverance from sin are finally answered God literally scares us out of hell. Mercy teaches us that wisdom begins by fearing the Lord and the Word tells us the way of mercy.
(1) The Word says that God in His mercy chastises us.
Hebrews 12:6-8 (KJV) "For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons."
(2) The Word says that God in His mercy requires our sacrifice.
Romans 12:1 "Think of God's mercy, my brothers, and worship him, I beg you, in a way that is worthy of thinking beings, by offering your living bodies as a holy sacrifice, truly pleasing to God."
(3) The Word says that God's mercy is not an excuse for sinning or backsliding.
Exodus 34:6-7 (NIV) ..."The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the wicked unpunished... "
Sunday, August 19, 2012
Just How Far God's Mercy Will Go
Think of how much mercy God has given us. Most of us have never contracted serious diseases or sicknesses that plague this life. We've miraculously avoided accidents we deserved due to reckless or inattentive, driving. God's angels must be working overtime administering His mercy.
Look in the Word and you will find this about mercy:
1 Timothy 5:24 "Remember that some men's faults are obvious, and are equally obviously bringing them to judgment. The sins of other men are not apparent, but are dogging them, nevertheless, under the surface."
Job 33:27-30 ("I sinned and perverted what was right, but I did not get what I deserved. He redeemed my soul from going down to the pit, and I will live to enjoy the light of life." God does all these things to a man--twice, even three times--to turn back his soul from the pit, that the light of life may shine on him."
Proverbs 28:13 "He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy."
God's Mercy Is Vast And Amazing
Ezra 9:13 "What has happened to us is a result of our evil deeds and our great guilt, and yet, our God, you have punished us less than our sins have deserved... Shall we again break your commands...?"
1 Timothy 2:13 "Even though I used to be a blasphemer and did all I could to injure and discredit the faith. Mercy, however, was shown me, because until I became a believer I had been acting in ignorance."
1 Timothy 1:15-16 "I realize that I was the worst of them all, and that because of this very fact God was particularly merciful to me. It was a demonstration of the extent of Christ's patience towards the worst of men, to serve as an example to all who in the future should trust him for eternal life."
Hebrews 4:16 "Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with fullest confidence, that we may receive mercy for our failures and grace to help in the hour of need."
Psalm 103:8,10-14 "The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love... He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgression from us. As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust."
Micah 7:18 "Who is a God like you, who pardons sins and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy."
Look in the Word and you will find this about mercy:
1 Timothy 5:24 "Remember that some men's faults are obvious, and are equally obviously bringing them to judgment. The sins of other men are not apparent, but are dogging them, nevertheless, under the surface."
Job 33:27-30 ("I sinned and perverted what was right, but I did not get what I deserved. He redeemed my soul from going down to the pit, and I will live to enjoy the light of life." God does all these things to a man--twice, even three times--to turn back his soul from the pit, that the light of life may shine on him."
Proverbs 28:13 "He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy."
God's Mercy Is Vast And Amazing
Ezra 9:13 "What has happened to us is a result of our evil deeds and our great guilt, and yet, our God, you have punished us less than our sins have deserved... Shall we again break your commands...?"
1 Timothy 2:13 "Even though I used to be a blasphemer and did all I could to injure and discredit the faith. Mercy, however, was shown me, because until I became a believer I had been acting in ignorance."
1 Timothy 1:15-16 "I realize that I was the worst of them all, and that because of this very fact God was particularly merciful to me. It was a demonstration of the extent of Christ's patience towards the worst of men, to serve as an example to all who in the future should trust him for eternal life."
Hebrews 4:16 "Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with fullest confidence, that we may receive mercy for our failures and grace to help in the hour of need."
Psalm 103:8,10-14 "The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love... He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgression from us. As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust."
Micah 7:18 "Who is a God like you, who pardons sins and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy."
Saturday, August 18, 2012
Mercy (Part 1)
Ephesians 2:3-5 "Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions--it is by grace you have been saved."
A good way to understand the meaning of mercy is to see how it relates to grace:
-Mercy is not getting what you do deserve / withheld punishment.
-Grace is getting what you don't deserve / unmerited favor.
Mercy is like a judge finding you guilty, but then withholding any punishment. Grace is getting something you could never have imagined. An inexplicable gift. It's like the same judge awarding you a million dollars after finding you guilty!
In this sense, mercy can be thought of as the opposite of grace, or perhaps more correctly the inverse. The words are normally used in Scripture as defined, though occasionally the distinctions are blurred. In Greek as in English, mercy can also mean pity or compassion. (The King James Version, for example, often translated the word love as mercy.) I want to focus on mercy as "not getting what is deserved" in the here and now.
Exodus 33:19 "I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion."
God forgives all confessed sin. By grace we are saved and "put right with" him. But will He intervene to withhold earthly consequences? Will He show mercy? How many times? Even after we know better? Let's look through Scripture to see why, when, and if God doesn't give some of us what we deserve.
Lamentations 3:39 "Why should any living man complain when punished for his sins?"
Jeremiah 21:14 "I will punish you as your deeds deserve, declares the Lord."
Numbers 32:23 "...You may be sure your sin will find you out."
Is God ineffective at making "sure our sin finds us out"? Are we really getting away with it? Can we continue to count on God's mercy if we remain unrepentant?
A good way to understand the meaning of mercy is to see how it relates to grace:
-Mercy is not getting what you do deserve / withheld punishment.
-Grace is getting what you don't deserve / unmerited favor.
Mercy is like a judge finding you guilty, but then withholding any punishment. Grace is getting something you could never have imagined. An inexplicable gift. It's like the same judge awarding you a million dollars after finding you guilty!
In this sense, mercy can be thought of as the opposite of grace, or perhaps more correctly the inverse. The words are normally used in Scripture as defined, though occasionally the distinctions are blurred. In Greek as in English, mercy can also mean pity or compassion. (The King James Version, for example, often translated the word love as mercy.) I want to focus on mercy as "not getting what is deserved" in the here and now.
Exodus 33:19 "I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion."
God forgives all confessed sin. By grace we are saved and "put right with" him. But will He intervene to withhold earthly consequences? Will He show mercy? How many times? Even after we know better? Let's look through Scripture to see why, when, and if God doesn't give some of us what we deserve.
Lamentations 3:39 "Why should any living man complain when punished for his sins?"
Jeremiah 21:14 "I will punish you as your deeds deserve, declares the Lord."
Numbers 32:23 "...You may be sure your sin will find you out."
Is God ineffective at making "sure our sin finds us out"? Are we really getting away with it? Can we continue to count on God's mercy if we remain unrepentant?
Friday, August 17, 2012
We need God in America again
Freedom is what our nation was founded on. It was the freedom to worship as we chose. It was the freedom to no longer be harassed by a government that hated God and all that He stood for. We did make some grave errors along the way, but there is no way to forget that our foundation was based upon Christ Himself.
Mistakes aside, America did get its start as a Christian nation, which is why the Christian people are actually the majority of the population today. The minority are the non-Christians who would like to get the upper hand and turn this country away from its Godly heritage. They are already doing so one little piece at a time. About forty years ago, we could pray and read Bibles in our schools, but then a few atheists got the brilliant idea to tell a lie and managed to get away with it. Now our children can no longer practice their right to freedom of religion on their school campus. The lie I’m referring to is the “Separation of Church and State”. Such a thing is completely unconstitutional in the United States and the atheists know it.
When God was still allowed in our schools, teachers faced such crimes as, throwing spit balls, chewing gum in class, and tripping someone in the schoolyard. Now that God has been evicted, we have kids running around with high-powered rifles shooting classmates and teachers just because they feel like it. Kids have to be searched by metal detectors before going to their classes. It's when you take God out of the classroom that the devil feels free to move right on in. By keeping the Lord in our system we were actually protecting our children from evil, yet now many students and parents are afraid of what can happen on their school campus.
When you remove God you remove all that is wholesome and good, and that leaves darkness, evil and decay to move in to fill that spot. It is quite obvious that the problem with the United States today, and basically with the world at large, is that we need to go back to our foundations again, back to our very roots and bring God back into our lives again. While it is true that even just one individual can make a difference, it is difficult to do so while your hands are tied and your lips are gagged, which is basically what has happened to the Christians in this day and age.
Bringing God back to America again would do no harm and it would in fact, remove the spirit of evil that has spread over this great nation of ours. Without God we are nothing, and with Him, nothing can harm us. That is the hope of the ages, and a successful nation is never without it. God is not now, nor has He ever been, unconstitutional, but we have allowed the few to lead the many and that is unforgivable.
As this school year begins let's prayer for a revival in our schools and in our students. God is still able to do what seems impossible here in America again.
Mistakes aside, America did get its start as a Christian nation, which is why the Christian people are actually the majority of the population today. The minority are the non-Christians who would like to get the upper hand and turn this country away from its Godly heritage. They are already doing so one little piece at a time. About forty years ago, we could pray and read Bibles in our schools, but then a few atheists got the brilliant idea to tell a lie and managed to get away with it. Now our children can no longer practice their right to freedom of religion on their school campus. The lie I’m referring to is the “Separation of Church and State”. Such a thing is completely unconstitutional in the United States and the atheists know it.
When God was still allowed in our schools, teachers faced such crimes as, throwing spit balls, chewing gum in class, and tripping someone in the schoolyard. Now that God has been evicted, we have kids running around with high-powered rifles shooting classmates and teachers just because they feel like it. Kids have to be searched by metal detectors before going to their classes. It's when you take God out of the classroom that the devil feels free to move right on in. By keeping the Lord in our system we were actually protecting our children from evil, yet now many students and parents are afraid of what can happen on their school campus.
When you remove God you remove all that is wholesome and good, and that leaves darkness, evil and decay to move in to fill that spot. It is quite obvious that the problem with the United States today, and basically with the world at large, is that we need to go back to our foundations again, back to our very roots and bring God back into our lives again. While it is true that even just one individual can make a difference, it is difficult to do so while your hands are tied and your lips are gagged, which is basically what has happened to the Christians in this day and age.
Bringing God back to America again would do no harm and it would in fact, remove the spirit of evil that has spread over this great nation of ours. Without God we are nothing, and with Him, nothing can harm us. That is the hope of the ages, and a successful nation is never without it. God is not now, nor has He ever been, unconstitutional, but we have allowed the few to lead the many and that is unforgivable.
As this school year begins let's prayer for a revival in our schools and in our students. God is still able to do what seems impossible here in America again.
Thursday, August 16, 2012
A move of the Sprit
God has provided His people with the supernatural ability to be led by Him thru the indwelling and infilling of the Holy Ghost. It is by the power of God's Holy Spirit that we are able to walk in the Spirit filled with supernatural power and ability to accomplish His will for us on this earth.
He has provided for each of us a supernatural supply of information, power, wisdom, strength, and more. It's available to every Christian simply by knowing and accessing it by receiving the infilling of the Holy Ghost.
-He gives us power.
Acts 1:8 "But you shall receive power, after the Holy Ghost is come upon you..."
-He helps us in our challenged areas.
Romans 8:26 "Likewise the Spirit also helps us in our weaknesses."
-He lives within us.
Ephesians 3:16 "That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with
might by his Spirit in the inner man."
God has made available to every born-again person who receives His Spirit the following:
-Supernatural Power-Acts:1:8
-A Supernatural Supply of the Spirit-Philippians 1:19
-Supernatural Guidance-Romans 8:14
-Supernatural Help-Romans 8:26
-Supernatural Strength-Ephesians 3:16
-Supernatural Peace-John 14:27; Philippians 4:7
-Supernatural Protection-Psalm 91; Psalm 34:7
However most Christians have little or no knowledge of the fact that these gifts are available to them, nor do they understand how to access them or use them.
1 Corinthians 2:14 declares:
"For the natural man is not able to receive the things of the Spirit of God: for they seem foolish to him, and he is not able to have knowledge of them or understand then, because
such knowledge comes only through the Spirit."
To often people are so busy looking for the spectacular that they miss the supernatural moving of the Spirit of God. More often than not they sense God's presence and many even realize that God is attempting to move by His Spirit but they just don't know how to yield to what he is endeavoring to do.
We must learn how to recognize and understand when the Holy Ghost is moving and how to yield to Him when He does. If we can do that we will begin to see a move of God anew throughout the church and our nation.
He has provided for each of us a supernatural supply of information, power, wisdom, strength, and more. It's available to every Christian simply by knowing and accessing it by receiving the infilling of the Holy Ghost.
-He gives us power.
Acts 1:8 "But you shall receive power, after the Holy Ghost is come upon you..."
-He helps us in our challenged areas.
Romans 8:26 "Likewise the Spirit also helps us in our weaknesses."
-He lives within us.
Ephesians 3:16 "That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with
might by his Spirit in the inner man."
God has made available to every born-again person who receives His Spirit the following:
-Supernatural Power-Acts:1:8
-A Supernatural Supply of the Spirit-Philippians 1:19
-Supernatural Guidance-Romans 8:14
-Supernatural Help-Romans 8:26
-Supernatural Strength-Ephesians 3:16
-Supernatural Peace-John 14:27; Philippians 4:7
-Supernatural Protection-Psalm 91; Psalm 34:7
However most Christians have little or no knowledge of the fact that these gifts are available to them, nor do they understand how to access them or use them.
1 Corinthians 2:14 declares:
"For the natural man is not able to receive the things of the Spirit of God: for they seem foolish to him, and he is not able to have knowledge of them or understand then, because
such knowledge comes only through the Spirit."
To often people are so busy looking for the spectacular that they miss the supernatural moving of the Spirit of God. More often than not they sense God's presence and many even realize that God is attempting to move by His Spirit but they just don't know how to yield to what he is endeavoring to do.
We must learn how to recognize and understand when the Holy Ghost is moving and how to yield to Him when He does. If we can do that we will begin to see a move of God anew throughout the church and our nation.
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
Dealing with mean people
Mean people often hurt other people as a result of their own pain. If somebody is rude and inconsiderate, you can almost be certain that they have some unresolved issues inside. They have some major problems, anger, resentment, or some heartache they are trying to cope with or overcome. It is very hard to deal with those type of people.
So what do you do when dealing with people like that?
-Keep on doing right. God is building character in you, and you are passing that test because the greater the struggle, the greater the reward.
-When you are discouraged, remind yourself that according to God’s word, your future is getting brighter.
You may think you’ve got a long way to go, but you need to look back at how far you’ve already come. You may not be everything you want to be but at least you can thank God that you’re not what you used to be.
-Quit worrying about how everything is going to turn out. Trust the Lord!
Live one day at a time and make the most of this moment. It’s good to have a big outlook, goals, and future plans, but if you’re always living in the future, you’re never really enjoying the present in the way God wants you to.
Jeremiah 20:11 "But the Lord is with me as a mighty terrible one: therefore my persecutors shall stumble, and they shall not prevail: they shall be greatly ashamed; for they shall not prosper: their everlasting confusion shall never be forgotten."
So what do you do when dealing with people like that?
-Keep on doing right. God is building character in you, and you are passing that test because the greater the struggle, the greater the reward.
-When you are discouraged, remind yourself that according to God’s word, your future is getting brighter.
You may think you’ve got a long way to go, but you need to look back at how far you’ve already come. You may not be everything you want to be but at least you can thank God that you’re not what you used to be.
-Quit worrying about how everything is going to turn out. Trust the Lord!
Live one day at a time and make the most of this moment. It’s good to have a big outlook, goals, and future plans, but if you’re always living in the future, you’re never really enjoying the present in the way God wants you to.
Jeremiah 20:11 "But the Lord is with me as a mighty terrible one: therefore my persecutors shall stumble, and they shall not prevail: they shall be greatly ashamed; for they shall not prosper: their everlasting confusion shall never be forgotten."
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
The weariness of loss
The loss of your job, your health, of someone you love, loss of your money or a loss of a close relative can be very hurtful. Even though we know there are different types of losses getting over them all can be done is quite a difficult task.
The key to getting over any loss is understanding acceptance correctly. Some people think that acceptance is the act of doing nothing, remaining indifferent and saying “I accept what happened”. This kind of acceptance might be suitable if you lost a close family member but if you lost your job then staying still will only result in more problems.
We have to learn to accept what happened yet keep doing your best in order to get out of this problem you are in. If you lost your money then accepted it while doing nothing then you aren’t practicing acceptance but you are practicing defeat.
Acceptance of a loss may mean you have to change your life style, the way you do things, your job, or even your town. It's the action of acceptance of your loss that leads to true relief instead of the indifference and discomfort.
After any kind of loss you experience different stages of recovery:
-denial
-anger
-depression
-loneliness
-frustration
-fatigue
-Anger and denial in most cases won’t take you but a few days before you go through them successfully.
-Depression, loneliness, and frustration usually also won’t last as long as you think as well.
Fatigue or weariness can gain a stronghold. That's why we need the strength of the Lord in those times of loss. Here's what the Word says:
"Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint."
Isaiah 40:30, 31
Galatians 6:9 says, "And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not."
Losses will come all through life, but don't grow weary. God is still in control.
The key to getting over any loss is understanding acceptance correctly. Some people think that acceptance is the act of doing nothing, remaining indifferent and saying “I accept what happened”. This kind of acceptance might be suitable if you lost a close family member but if you lost your job then staying still will only result in more problems.
We have to learn to accept what happened yet keep doing your best in order to get out of this problem you are in. If you lost your money then accepted it while doing nothing then you aren’t practicing acceptance but you are practicing defeat.
Acceptance of a loss may mean you have to change your life style, the way you do things, your job, or even your town. It's the action of acceptance of your loss that leads to true relief instead of the indifference and discomfort.
After any kind of loss you experience different stages of recovery:
-denial
-anger
-depression
-loneliness
-frustration
-fatigue
-Anger and denial in most cases won’t take you but a few days before you go through them successfully.
-Depression, loneliness, and frustration usually also won’t last as long as you think as well.
Fatigue or weariness can gain a stronghold. That's why we need the strength of the Lord in those times of loss. Here's what the Word says:
"Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint."
Isaiah 40:30, 31
Galatians 6:9 says, "And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not."
Losses will come all through life, but don't grow weary. God is still in control.
Sunday, August 12, 2012
Taking a stand for Jesus
The evangelist Billy Sunday used to tell of a professing Christian who got a job in a lumber camp that had the reputation of being very ungodly. A friend, hearing that the man had been hired, said to him, “If those lumberjacks ever find out you’re a Christian, you’re going to be in for a hard time!” The man responded, “I know, but I need the job!”
The next morning he left for camp. A year later, he came home for a visit. While in town, he met his friend who asked, “Well, how did it go? Did they give you a hard time because you’re a Christian?”
“Oh no, not at all,” the man replied. “They didn’t give me a bit of trouble—they never even found out!”
While we may laugh at that story, many of us wince. It hits too close to home! Living a world that is hostile to Christi- anity, it’s easy just to blend in, to laugh at the dirty jokes, never to confront the gossip, and never to speak a word that would identify yourself as a Christian. Besides, it might cost your reputation or even your job! Sometimes even among Christian friends it’s hard to hold to your convictions for fear of what they will think.
That’s why you should be interested in the story of Joseph of Arimathea, the man who buried Jesus. No one knows where Ari- mathea was located, but the designation helps distinguish him from other Josephs. He was a member of the Jewish Sanhedrin, the body of 70 men who governed the religious and many of the civic matters in Israel. It was the Sanhedrin that had condemned Jesus to death, although Joseph had not consented to their plan and action. But probably he had not spoken out as vigorously as he should have. John 19:38 tells us that he was a secret disciple of Jesus, for fear of the Jews. His fear had caused Joseph not to take a bold stand for Christ, even though in his heart he knew that he should have done so.
But now, after Jesus was dead, when His followers had gone into hiding, Joseph gathered up his courage (Mark 15:43), went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus so that he could give Him a proper burial. If he had not done so, Jesus’ body probably would have been thrown on a garbage heap and burned, robbing us of some of the major proofs of the resurrection, as we’ll see. So we can thank Joseph for honoring Jesus with a proper burial and for giving us many evidences for our faith.
Joseph seemingly had nothing to gain and everything to lose by identifying himself with Jesus at this point in time. Jesus was dead and no one was expecting His resurrection. It would have been much easier for Joseph to have thought, “Oh, well! Jesus was a good man and a prophet of God. It’s too bad that these things happen. But, life must go on. I’ll have more influence if I don’t rock the boat and keep my seat on the Sanhedrin. I’d better not do anything to upset anyone and jeopardize my position of influence.”
But in spite of the risks, Joseph came out of hiding and took a strong stand for Jesus by providing Him a proper burial. He gives us an example of what other Scriptures teach by precept:
The Lord wants us all to take a stand for Him in this hostile world.
The next morning he left for camp. A year later, he came home for a visit. While in town, he met his friend who asked, “Well, how did it go? Did they give you a hard time because you’re a Christian?”
“Oh no, not at all,” the man replied. “They didn’t give me a bit of trouble—they never even found out!”
While we may laugh at that story, many of us wince. It hits too close to home! Living a world that is hostile to Christi- anity, it’s easy just to blend in, to laugh at the dirty jokes, never to confront the gossip, and never to speak a word that would identify yourself as a Christian. Besides, it might cost your reputation or even your job! Sometimes even among Christian friends it’s hard to hold to your convictions for fear of what they will think.
That’s why you should be interested in the story of Joseph of Arimathea, the man who buried Jesus. No one knows where Ari- mathea was located, but the designation helps distinguish him from other Josephs. He was a member of the Jewish Sanhedrin, the body of 70 men who governed the religious and many of the civic matters in Israel. It was the Sanhedrin that had condemned Jesus to death, although Joseph had not consented to their plan and action. But probably he had not spoken out as vigorously as he should have. John 19:38 tells us that he was a secret disciple of Jesus, for fear of the Jews. His fear had caused Joseph not to take a bold stand for Christ, even though in his heart he knew that he should have done so.
But now, after Jesus was dead, when His followers had gone into hiding, Joseph gathered up his courage (Mark 15:43), went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus so that he could give Him a proper burial. If he had not done so, Jesus’ body probably would have been thrown on a garbage heap and burned, robbing us of some of the major proofs of the resurrection, as we’ll see. So we can thank Joseph for honoring Jesus with a proper burial and for giving us many evidences for our faith.
Joseph seemingly had nothing to gain and everything to lose by identifying himself with Jesus at this point in time. Jesus was dead and no one was expecting His resurrection. It would have been much easier for Joseph to have thought, “Oh, well! Jesus was a good man and a prophet of God. It’s too bad that these things happen. But, life must go on. I’ll have more influence if I don’t rock the boat and keep my seat on the Sanhedrin. I’d better not do anything to upset anyone and jeopardize my position of influence.”
But in spite of the risks, Joseph came out of hiding and took a strong stand for Jesus by providing Him a proper burial. He gives us an example of what other Scriptures teach by precept:
The Lord wants us all to take a stand for Him in this hostile world.
Saturday, August 11, 2012
The man who does the will of God
The man who does the will of God abides forever. He knows something: the world shall pass away. It is important to know this, for it means that the lusts of the world will pass away as well.
This man resists Satan and his demons, he controls the urges of his flesh, he refuses to compromise his beliefs and faith with the world and he is vigilant of the spiritual warfare he is called for in resisting Satan and his demons.
This man has learned that the important spiritual warfare for his relationship to, and obedience of, Jesus Christ takes place in his mind.
The world and its lusts pass away when he dies. Every man leaves behind the world and all he has secured. He loses all of the world he has accumulated and enjoyed. He will not be able to take a single pleasure or possession with him when he leaves the world. Imagine! He cannot take a single thing. The world will have passed away from him; time will be no more—not for him, not for his pleasures or possessions.
The world and its lusts will pass away at the end of the world. The world is to be destroyed by fire and a new heaven and a new earth will be created by God where only righteousness will dwell.
Knowing all this is the reason the wise man turns away from the world and turns to God. He wants God and the life God offers, the life that is both abundant and eternal. Therefore, he seeks after the will of God, to do what God commands so that he may live with God forever.
This man knows there will always be spiritual warfare in this life...but he trusts that the Lord will see him thru.
This man resists Satan and his demons, he controls the urges of his flesh, he refuses to compromise his beliefs and faith with the world and he is vigilant of the spiritual warfare he is called for in resisting Satan and his demons.
This man has learned that the important spiritual warfare for his relationship to, and obedience of, Jesus Christ takes place in his mind.
The world and its lusts pass away when he dies. Every man leaves behind the world and all he has secured. He loses all of the world he has accumulated and enjoyed. He will not be able to take a single pleasure or possession with him when he leaves the world. Imagine! He cannot take a single thing. The world will have passed away from him; time will be no more—not for him, not for his pleasures or possessions.
The world and its lusts will pass away at the end of the world. The world is to be destroyed by fire and a new heaven and a new earth will be created by God where only righteousness will dwell.
Knowing all this is the reason the wise man turns away from the world and turns to God. He wants God and the life God offers, the life that is both abundant and eternal. Therefore, he seeks after the will of God, to do what God commands so that he may live with God forever.
This man knows there will always be spiritual warfare in this life...but he trusts that the Lord will see him thru.
Friday, August 10, 2012
No safe zones (Part1)
Spiritual warfare affects everyone. In fact, the day someone becomes a Christian, they are already involved in spiritual warfare. There is no place you can escape from this warfare. There are no “safe zones” or “secure bunkers” where you can hide.
Sadly, many Christians do not even know there is a spiritual war taking place around them. They may even become a spiritual casualty and never understand what has happened to them.
So many Christians have become mortally wounded in the spiritual conflict that takes place around them. They may be so emotionally spent or spiritually dead that they are essentially no longer of any use to God.
Others may have less serious wounds from this spiritual conflict, but are still affected by the battle. They still go about the Christian life but are not as effective as they could be because of the “battle scars” they carry with them.
Jesus never promised that the Christian life would be easy. In fact, He actually warned us of the opposite. He says in John 16:33 that “in this world you will have trouble.”
Anyone who takes even a brief look at the history of Christianity knows that is true. Jesus was beaten and crucified. Most of the disciples died martyrs deaths. Millions of Christians were persecuted throughout history.
Christians today suffer persecution in many lands, and all of us wake up to a spiritual battle every day. That is why we need to be prepared for battle.
So where does this battle take place? Actually the Bible teaches that spiritual warfare takes place in various places in heaven and on earth.
First, we should remember that God dwells above in the heavens.
-Psalm 8:1 says that God has displayed His splendor above the heavens.
-Psalm 108:4-5 says God’s lovingkindness is great above the heavens and that He is exalted above the heavens.
The Bible also talks about the battle in the heavens. When a passage in Scripture talks about heaven, it may be referring to one of three places:
(1) The first heaven is what we would call the atmosphere,
(2) The second heaven is where the angels fly and do battle (Revelation 12:4-12; 14:6-7), and
(3) the third heaven is also called “Paradise” and is what Paul describes in 2 Corinthians 12: 2-4:
"I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know, God knows—such a man was caught up to the third heaven. And I know how such a man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, God knows—was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which a man is not permitted to speak."
Spiritual warfare also takes place below the heavens and on earth. This occurs on the face of the earth (Genesis 6:1; Acts 17:26) where Satan prowls like a roaring lion (1 Peter 5:8). And it will also take place in hell and the bottomless pit (Revelation 9:1-2; 20:1-3) and at the Lake of Fire (Revelation 19:20; 20:10-15) where final judgment will take place.
Sadly, many Christians do not even know there is a spiritual war taking place around them. They may even become a spiritual casualty and never understand what has happened to them.
So many Christians have become mortally wounded in the spiritual conflict that takes place around them. They may be so emotionally spent or spiritually dead that they are essentially no longer of any use to God.
Others may have less serious wounds from this spiritual conflict, but are still affected by the battle. They still go about the Christian life but are not as effective as they could be because of the “battle scars” they carry with them.
Jesus never promised that the Christian life would be easy. In fact, He actually warned us of the opposite. He says in John 16:33 that “in this world you will have trouble.”
Anyone who takes even a brief look at the history of Christianity knows that is true. Jesus was beaten and crucified. Most of the disciples died martyrs deaths. Millions of Christians were persecuted throughout history.
Christians today suffer persecution in many lands, and all of us wake up to a spiritual battle every day. That is why we need to be prepared for battle.
So where does this battle take place? Actually the Bible teaches that spiritual warfare takes place in various places in heaven and on earth.
First, we should remember that God dwells above in the heavens.
-Psalm 8:1 says that God has displayed His splendor above the heavens.
-Psalm 108:4-5 says God’s lovingkindness is great above the heavens and that He is exalted above the heavens.
The Bible also talks about the battle in the heavens. When a passage in Scripture talks about heaven, it may be referring to one of three places:
(1) The first heaven is what we would call the atmosphere,
(2) The second heaven is where the angels fly and do battle (Revelation 12:4-12; 14:6-7), and
(3) the third heaven is also called “Paradise” and is what Paul describes in 2 Corinthians 12: 2-4:
"I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know, God knows—such a man was caught up to the third heaven. And I know how such a man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, God knows—was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which a man is not permitted to speak."
Spiritual warfare also takes place below the heavens and on earth. This occurs on the face of the earth (Genesis 6:1; Acts 17:26) where Satan prowls like a roaring lion (1 Peter 5:8). And it will also take place in hell and the bottomless pit (Revelation 9:1-2; 20:1-3) and at the Lake of Fire (Revelation 19:20; 20:10-15) where final judgment will take place.
Thursday, August 9, 2012
Spiritual Warfare
Spiritual Warfare is an often-swept-under-the-rug topic in today's churches. Folks think it is too much of an "extreme" or "mysterious" topic to discuss, so it is left unsaid. But this way of thinking has produced an entire generation of Christians who are unlearned and unprepared for spiritual warfare.
Why is this a bad thing? Because spiritual warfare is all around us, everyday!
Satan wants to do is hurt God by hurting God's most prized Creation: us.
Satan hates us because we are made in God's very own image, capable of intelligence, problem solving, higher brain functions, and because we are beautiful and the pinnacle of Creation. Humans are the highest level on this earth, and Satan cannot stand that. So he attacks and deceives us, tears us down, and destroys us, simply because he knows that if he hurts us, he hurts God. What a sniveling little coward Satan is! He knows that he is far too weak to fight God face-to-face, so he fights us instead.
Satan's eventual doom is already written and known. His eternal destination will be a place worse than Hell; a black hole of darkness, misery, loneliness, despair, and an utter absence of God's glorious presence. He knows this, so he wants to take us down with him while he can.
Many people (even Christians) think "why would Satan want to attack me? I'm nobody special or important. I don't think Satan really cares about my life enough to interfere in it."
That's exactly what Satan wants you to think! Our daily lives are full of trivial, mundane things, like commuting to work, sitting in front of the computer, doing errands, doing laundry or dishes, making dinner, taking a walk, feeding the cat, and whatever else a day may bring. Satan will do whatever it takes to get involved in the very core of your life, in the "little things", where you won't even notice him. This is what the devil does best.
So how do you combat his evil? You get knowledgeable; you get tough; you get strong; you get intimate with God! Read the Bible and spend time in prayer, really getting to know God and who you are in Him. You belong to Him. You are no longer adorned in filthy rags; a horrible, wretched sinner. You have been covered in Christ's blood, and His blood has made you whole, clean, and redeemed. You are so valuable to God that He died for you on the Cross, to make you right with Him again. Let God tell you who you are, not Satan. Do not let Satan make you doubt who you are.
Once you know the Truth about yourself, learn the Truth about God. Know that He is good, He is just, He is loving, He is powerful, He is Holy, and He has never changed.
Now, every time you think a thought that is unholy, unhealthy, unbeneficial, dishonest, or selfish, you will know that is from Satan, and not from yourself or God.
Whenever you realize Satan is trying to invade your mind, heart, or life, you should respond by verbally banishing him away from you. Declare that you are bringing all the glorious power of Jesus Christ to bear against him, call him out by name, and banish. When you do this, he will flee in fear, because God is so much more powerful than he is.
Don't try and stand strong against Satan using your own strength because he is stronger than you, but use God's power.
Satan may persist for awhile, but he will eventually run away and you will have victory! But be cautious, because Satan will find another avenue to sneak into your life and slyly assault you. Be on guard, stand firm, summon God's awesome strength against the Enemy, and God will give you victory.
Why is this a bad thing? Because spiritual warfare is all around us, everyday!
Satan wants to do is hurt God by hurting God's most prized Creation: us.
Satan hates us because we are made in God's very own image, capable of intelligence, problem solving, higher brain functions, and because we are beautiful and the pinnacle of Creation. Humans are the highest level on this earth, and Satan cannot stand that. So he attacks and deceives us, tears us down, and destroys us, simply because he knows that if he hurts us, he hurts God. What a sniveling little coward Satan is! He knows that he is far too weak to fight God face-to-face, so he fights us instead.
Satan's eventual doom is already written and known. His eternal destination will be a place worse than Hell; a black hole of darkness, misery, loneliness, despair, and an utter absence of God's glorious presence. He knows this, so he wants to take us down with him while he can.
Many people (even Christians) think "why would Satan want to attack me? I'm nobody special or important. I don't think Satan really cares about my life enough to interfere in it."
That's exactly what Satan wants you to think! Our daily lives are full of trivial, mundane things, like commuting to work, sitting in front of the computer, doing errands, doing laundry or dishes, making dinner, taking a walk, feeding the cat, and whatever else a day may bring. Satan will do whatever it takes to get involved in the very core of your life, in the "little things", where you won't even notice him. This is what the devil does best.
So how do you combat his evil? You get knowledgeable; you get tough; you get strong; you get intimate with God! Read the Bible and spend time in prayer, really getting to know God and who you are in Him. You belong to Him. You are no longer adorned in filthy rags; a horrible, wretched sinner. You have been covered in Christ's blood, and His blood has made you whole, clean, and redeemed. You are so valuable to God that He died for you on the Cross, to make you right with Him again. Let God tell you who you are, not Satan. Do not let Satan make you doubt who you are.
Once you know the Truth about yourself, learn the Truth about God. Know that He is good, He is just, He is loving, He is powerful, He is Holy, and He has never changed.
Now, every time you think a thought that is unholy, unhealthy, unbeneficial, dishonest, or selfish, you will know that is from Satan, and not from yourself or God.
Whenever you realize Satan is trying to invade your mind, heart, or life, you should respond by verbally banishing him away from you. Declare that you are bringing all the glorious power of Jesus Christ to bear against him, call him out by name, and banish. When you do this, he will flee in fear, because God is so much more powerful than he is.
Don't try and stand strong against Satan using your own strength because he is stronger than you, but use God's power.
Satan may persist for awhile, but he will eventually run away and you will have victory! But be cautious, because Satan will find another avenue to sneak into your life and slyly assault you. Be on guard, stand firm, summon God's awesome strength against the Enemy, and God will give you victory.
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
You can't have my joy
Isaiah 12:2, 3 "Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord, the Lord, is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation.' WITH JOY YOU WILL DRAW WATER FROM THE WELLS OF SALVATION."
Did you know that there are "wells" salvation? When you got saved, you inherited many wells. Each well contains a unique blessing:
The more you look at the wells you inherited, the more your heart rejoices.
Notice that this scripture says that with joy you will draw from the wells of salvation. You need muscles to draw water from wells. Without strength you can't draw from the wells. This is why Isaiah says, "With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation." It takes joy to draw from the wells. Without joy, you can't draw water from these wonderful wells.
Joy keeps you strong and enables you to draw from the wells of salvation.
You may be facing sickness. Yet God has provided the well of "healing." But only through joy can you draw from this well. So rejoice despite your sickness.
You may be experiencing poverty. But through joy you can draw from the well named "prosperity."
You may be tormented with fear, worry and depression. However, you can draw the water called "sound mind" through joy!
Don't get down. Don't get discouraged.
The devil may be able to attack you, but he has no power to steal your joy. Joy is a spiritual force inside your human spirit. Satan can touch your body, finances and family as the book of Job teaches, but he can't touch your spirit. Your spirit is off limits to the devil. And since he can't touch your spirit, he can't rob you of your joy.
Satan can not steal your joy since it is spiritual. If you lost your joy it is because you gave it away. However, if you will keep your joy, Satan has to release your blessings.
So keep on rejoicing and hold the enemy at bay. Just tell he can't have
your joy.
Did you know that there are "wells" salvation? When you got saved, you inherited many wells. Each well contains a unique blessing:
The more you look at the wells you inherited, the more your heart rejoices.
Notice that this scripture says that with joy you will draw from the wells of salvation. You need muscles to draw water from wells. Without strength you can't draw from the wells. This is why Isaiah says, "With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation." It takes joy to draw from the wells. Without joy, you can't draw water from these wonderful wells.
Joy keeps you strong and enables you to draw from the wells of salvation.
You may be facing sickness. Yet God has provided the well of "healing." But only through joy can you draw from this well. So rejoice despite your sickness.
You may be experiencing poverty. But through joy you can draw from the well named "prosperity."
You may be tormented with fear, worry and depression. However, you can draw the water called "sound mind" through joy!
Don't get down. Don't get discouraged.
The devil may be able to attack you, but he has no power to steal your joy. Joy is a spiritual force inside your human spirit. Satan can touch your body, finances and family as the book of Job teaches, but he can't touch your spirit. Your spirit is off limits to the devil. And since he can't touch your spirit, he can't rob you of your joy.
Satan can not steal your joy since it is spiritual. If you lost your joy it is because you gave it away. However, if you will keep your joy, Satan has to release your blessings.
So keep on rejoicing and hold the enemy at bay. Just tell he can't have
your joy.
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Yet I Rejoice
I love the verse in Habakkuk 3:17:
"Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crops fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls..." But look at the next verse:
He says, "Yet I will REJOICE IN THE LORD, I will be JOYFUL IN GOD MY SAVIOR" (v. 18).
He is not going to surrender to his problems. He is going to do something about his problems. He is going to REJOICE because, "The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights" (v. 19).
You see, Habakkuk had no intention of staying defeated. He may look defeated, but he is not going to stay defeated. The difference between the person who is defeated and the person who is victorious is their attitude.
An attitude of gratitude will put you over in life. This is the kind of attitude that this prophet had. Even though nothing good was happening in his life yet he rejoiced.
Regardless of the circumstances, you can rejoice! You just have to put your mind to it and your heart in it.
"Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crops fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls..." But look at the next verse:
He says, "Yet I will REJOICE IN THE LORD, I will be JOYFUL IN GOD MY SAVIOR" (v. 18).
He is not going to surrender to his problems. He is going to do something about his problems. He is going to REJOICE because, "The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights" (v. 19).
You see, Habakkuk had no intention of staying defeated. He may look defeated, but he is not going to stay defeated. The difference between the person who is defeated and the person who is victorious is their attitude.
An attitude of gratitude will put you over in life. This is the kind of attitude that this prophet had. Even though nothing good was happening in his life yet he rejoiced.
Regardless of the circumstances, you can rejoice! You just have to put your mind to it and your heart in it.
Monday, August 6, 2012
Rejoice (Part 2)
Philippians 4:4 says, "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!" How often are you to rejoice? You know the answer, Always! You are to rejoice always, because "joy" is the easiest fruit to lose. You can't live off of the joy you had yesterday. Joy can give you strength only when you possess it.
If you had joy last week, that joy will not give you strength today. Joy can only give you strength today, if you have it today. This is why you must rejoice always.
You might say, "I don't feel like rejoicing." God didn't say, "Rejoice, only if you feel like it." No! He said, "Rejoice always." Obviously, God knows that you don't feel like rejoicing always. Yet you need to rejoice always because if you don't then you lose the strength to fight.
James 1:2 says, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds."
Pure joy is not happiness. "Happiness" comes from the word "happen." Happiness, therefore, is based on what is happening. If something good is happening, then you are happy.
However, God says that pure joy occurs even in the midst of trials--even when the car breaks down, or when the kids get sick, or when the boss cuts your hours, or when your spouse is in a bad mood, etc.
Why is James telling us to count it pure joy whenever we face trials? Because joy gives you strength to fight your trials, and if you'll fight the trials, you will overcome.
James continues, "Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything" (v. 4). You see, James has in mind "victory over trials", not "acceptance of his trials." So by rejoicing, you overcome your trials.
If you had joy last week, that joy will not give you strength today. Joy can only give you strength today, if you have it today. This is why you must rejoice always.
You might say, "I don't feel like rejoicing." God didn't say, "Rejoice, only if you feel like it." No! He said, "Rejoice always." Obviously, God knows that you don't feel like rejoicing always. Yet you need to rejoice always because if you don't then you lose the strength to fight.
James 1:2 says, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds."
Pure joy is not happiness. "Happiness" comes from the word "happen." Happiness, therefore, is based on what is happening. If something good is happening, then you are happy.
However, God says that pure joy occurs even in the midst of trials--even when the car breaks down, or when the kids get sick, or when the boss cuts your hours, or when your spouse is in a bad mood, etc.
Why is James telling us to count it pure joy whenever we face trials? Because joy gives you strength to fight your trials, and if you'll fight the trials, you will overcome.
James continues, "Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything" (v. 4). You see, James has in mind "victory over trials", not "acceptance of his trials." So by rejoicing, you overcome your trials.
Sunday, August 5, 2012
Nehemiah 8:10 (Part 1)
Why is joy important?
Because the "joy of the Lord is your strength!" Joy produces strength. And strength is needed to fight. You are called to "fight the good fight of faith" (1 Timothy 6:12). I sense in my spirit that many people in the body of Christ are tired of fighting the good fight of faith. They are struggling to fight because they have lost their joy.
Perhaps you are tired of fighting for your marriage. You are fed up with your spouse. You think that she doesn't love you any more, so why fight for her love. You are ready to throw in the towel.
Maybe you're sick and tired of being sick and tired. You have been sick for so long that you don't remember what it's like to be healthy. At one time, you battled this sickness, but the sickness seems to be winning. So you think, What's the use, I might as well accept this sickness and learn to live with it. I'm never going to get well.
Possibly you once waged war against your financial debts. But things haven't changed much, and you're beginning to get discouraged. You think that you are never going to get out from under all your bills.
You might be having trouble with your children. You wonder if they are ever going to straighten up. You are exhausted from their rebellion. Is God ever going to change them? you wonder.
I know how you feel. As a pastor, I face many trials every day. I do my best to be a good pastor. I teach the word of God, counsel the distraught, visit the sick, etc. Yet there are always people who are never happy with my performance. People complain:
"I don't get fed spiritually." "The pastor didn't visit me in the hospital." "The pastor was not available to counsel me when I needed him to." "I'm not going to church because brother X is a hypocrite." "The people at church are not friendly." "The church is not open for me to use my gifts." "Nobody cares about me at church."
After experiencing these and many other trials, I too want to give up. I lament over my troubles, What's the use of trying to be a good pastor. They don't appreciate me. I want to say, "Forget them!" Of course that's my flesh talking, not my heart.
My heart says, "They don't know what they are doing. They are simply frustrated themselves. They don't mean to hurt me. I'm going to rejoice." This is what you need to do: Rejoice!
Because the "joy of the Lord is your strength!" Joy produces strength. And strength is needed to fight. You are called to "fight the good fight of faith" (1 Timothy 6:12). I sense in my spirit that many people in the body of Christ are tired of fighting the good fight of faith. They are struggling to fight because they have lost their joy.
Perhaps you are tired of fighting for your marriage. You are fed up with your spouse. You think that she doesn't love you any more, so why fight for her love. You are ready to throw in the towel.
Maybe you're sick and tired of being sick and tired. You have been sick for so long that you don't remember what it's like to be healthy. At one time, you battled this sickness, but the sickness seems to be winning. So you think, What's the use, I might as well accept this sickness and learn to live with it. I'm never going to get well.
Possibly you once waged war against your financial debts. But things haven't changed much, and you're beginning to get discouraged. You think that you are never going to get out from under all your bills.
You might be having trouble with your children. You wonder if they are ever going to straighten up. You are exhausted from their rebellion. Is God ever going to change them? you wonder.
I know how you feel. As a pastor, I face many trials every day. I do my best to be a good pastor. I teach the word of God, counsel the distraught, visit the sick, etc. Yet there are always people who are never happy with my performance. People complain:
"I don't get fed spiritually." "The pastor didn't visit me in the hospital." "The pastor was not available to counsel me when I needed him to." "I'm not going to church because brother X is a hypocrite." "The people at church are not friendly." "The church is not open for me to use my gifts." "Nobody cares about me at church."
After experiencing these and many other trials, I too want to give up. I lament over my troubles, What's the use of trying to be a good pastor. They don't appreciate me. I want to say, "Forget them!" Of course that's my flesh talking, not my heart.
My heart says, "They don't know what they are doing. They are simply frustrated themselves. They don't mean to hurt me. I'm going to rejoice." This is what you need to do: Rejoice!
Saturday, August 4, 2012
At the foot of the cross
The person with the greatest persistence that I have ever heard or read about is the apostle Paul. In the Bible in 2 Corinthians 11, he tells this story. He says, "I have worked harder, been put in jail more often, been whipped more times, without number, and faced death again and again. Five times I was given thirty nine lashes (a whipping), three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, and three times I was ship wrecked, once I spent a whole night and a day adrift at sea. I have traveled many weary miles. I have faced dangers from flooded rivers and from robbers. I have faced dangers from my own people as well as from Gentiles. I’ve faced dangers in the cities, in deserts and on stormy seas. I’ve faced dangers from men who claim to be Christians but are not. I’ve lived with weariness and pain and sleepless nights. And often I’ve been hungry and thirsty and I’ve gone without food. And often I’ve shivered with cold without enough clothing to keep me warm. Besides all this, I have the daily burden of how all the churches are getting along [the ones he started]." That’s Paul’s experience.
Now see Paul’s perspective in 2 Corinthians 4:
"Since God has so generously let us in on what He is doing, we’re not about to throw up our hands and walk off the job just because we run into occasional hard times. [I call it a lifetime of disaster! It’s all a matter of perspective!] We’ve been surrounded and battered by troubles, but we’re not demoralized; we’re not sure what to do but we know that God knows what to do. So we’re not giving up. How could we? Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without His unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. There’s far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. [Those are the problems and the pressures.] But the things we can’t see [our relationship to Christ and our character] those are going to last forever."
Jesus said it like this:
Matthew 11:28-29 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls."
Life is full of hardships and challenges that will try to stress you out. Life comes equipped with stress. You have the choice of how you handle that stress. Does the stress get placed under the rug or at the foot of the Father? You decide.
Friday, August 3, 2012
Get Your Focus In Focus
When you get under stress, your life gets out of focus. In fact, when you get under stress you start looking at your problem and stop looking at Christ. When you really get stressed out and the heat is on in your life, you become very preoccupied with yourself. All you can see is your pain. Your focus just gets narrower and narrower when you’re under stress.
What you need to do is get your focus off your problem and back on the Lord.
Do you remember the story of Jonah? It was not just your typical Mediterranean cruise. Jonah did everything wrong. God told him to do this and he did the exact opposite. He thumbed his nose at God and said, "I’m going to go my own way, do my own thing. Forget You." God said go east and he went as far west as he possibly could. He went down and found a ship going the opposite direction he was supposed to go, headed out across the Mediterranean. A storm came up and the sailors thought, "This guy must be the problem" and they threw him overboard. The Bible says that God had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. If you believe that God could create the world, you can believe that God can create a fish that had a man-sized compartment in it. The fish could only stomach him for three days. Talk about a guy literally swallowed by his problems!
What do you do when your problems swallow you up? What do you do when you are so overwhelmed, you’re just engulfed, literally engulfed by stress? You do the same thing Jonah did.
Jonah 2:7 is Jonah’s prayer. He said, "When I had lost all hope, I turn my thoughts once more to the Lord." Some of you are about to lose hope, maybe in your marriage, your career, your family, or your life. What do you do? The same thing Jonah did. Focus on Him.
How do you refocus your life on Christ? Three ways to refocus on Christ when you’re at the breaking point:
-Remember God’s goodness
(Psalm 27). We need to remember God’s goodness because the problem is, we’re usually focusing on the bad and then exaggerate them. -Rely on God’s power (2 Corinthians 1:9). If God can raise a dead person, He can raise a dead marriage, a dead career, or a dead anything.
Thursday, August 2, 2012
Before the crisis
It is one reason why being a part of the church family is so important. Some people come and attend but maybe never join the church family. You need to build those friendships with some godly Christians who know the Bible and who can pray for you when you can’t pray. Have you ever been in so much pain you couldn’t pray? Sure. Have you ever been so depressed you couldn’t pray? Probably. When you’re in that situation, you need some friends who can pray for you. When you can’t believe God because you’re so devastated, you need somebody to believe God for you, somebody to have faith when you have no faith, and somebody to have confidence when you’re full of doubt. A genuine Christian friend walks in when everybody else walks out.
Set up those kinds of relationships before the crisis
! When the storms come into your life and those hurricane winds sweep in is not the time to find friends or to get into a small group.
Galatians 6:2 "By helping each other with your troubles, you obey the law of Christ."
1 Thessalonians 5:11 "Encourage each other and give each other strength."
Never underestimate the power of just a little word of encouragement. You may need to go make a phone call this afternoon, or send a fax, or write a little note. It doesn’t have to be long – just a note of care, a note of encouragement because we all need to receive help from others.
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
The Gratitude Attitude
Bitterness is often a by-product of finding yourself stressed to the breaking point. You start feeling bitter and resentful. You are convinced that "This shouldn’t be happening to me." The fact is, you’re going to be hurt in life – by circumstances, by things, by other people, sometimes intentionally and sometimes unintentionally, but you’re going to be hurt. You cannot stop the hurt in your life. You can’t keep yourself from being hurt. You may not control what happens to you, however, you can control how you choose to react to a particular circumstance or person that has hurt you.
You have to decide at some point in life (and the earlier on you decide this, the better it’s going to be for you), "Am I going to be bitter in life or am I going to be happy?" You have a choice. Happiness is a choice, but bitterness is a choice as well. You can make the choice, but you cannot choose both. You’re either going to be bitter or happy.
I have observed after many years that there is no correlation at all between your circumstances and your happiness in life. The fact is we all know people who have it all and are unhappy. Obviously, it’s not a matter of circumstances. Happiness is a choice. I’ve known many, many people who have gone through horrible, terrible, devastating crises -- one problem after another, yet in spite of their circumstances, they are happy and filled with joy.
The Bible tells us that bitterness is far more devastating to your life than stress is. In the long haul, bitterness will hurt you more than the actual problem that you’re going through. It’s a cancer or something that takes over your body like a virus and eats you from the inside out. The Bible is very clear about the danger of allowing bitterness to reside in your heart.
Hebrews 12:15 "Looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled".
Is there another choice besides bitterness? Gratitude is the antidote to bitterness. Studies have shown that gratitude is the healthiest emotion that you can possibly have. Count your blessings. Even in the darkest days, you can find something to be thankful for. When you invite gratitude in the front door of your heart, bitterness goes out the back. You can’t be grateful and bitter at the same time.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 "No matter what happens, always be thankful, for this is God’s will for you."
The attitude of gratitude is what helps you make it through a stressful situation.
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