Adversity

Romans 8:18 "For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us."

Adversity is the grindstone of life. Intended to polish you up, adversity also has the ability to grind you down. The impact and ultimate result depend on what you do with the difficulties that come your way. Consider the phenomenal achievements of people experiencing adversity.
-Beethoven composed his greatest works after becoming deaf.
-Sir Walter Raleigh wrote the History of the World during a thirteen year imprisonment.
-If Columbus had turned back, no one could have blamed him, considering the constant adversity he endured. Of course, no one would have remembered him either.
-Abraham Lincoln achieved greatness by his display of wisdom and character during the devastation of the Civil War.
-Luther translated the Bible while enduring confinement in the Castle of Wartburg.
-Under a sentence of death and during twenty years in exile, Dante wrote the Divine Comedy. John Bunyan wrote Pilgrim's Progress in a Bedford jail. 

Just this past year, my student pastor's wife has had a very difficult and serious battle with cancer. Even when she went into surgery the first time not knowing the tumor was there, she had faith and believed that she would pull through. She has endured months of treatment and recovery, but I'm glad to say today she is living proof that you can endure suffering and difficulty with faith in God and still make it through. Sometimes the greatest miracles we need to see happen don't take place until we have faced the greatest obstacles we can face in life. Sometimes it's a grind, but instead of wearing you out it can polish you up.

Adversity is the grindstone of life. Will it polish you up or will it grind you down?

James 1:2-4 "My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing."

God created woman

God said....

When I created the heavens and the earth, I spoke them into being. When I created man, I formed him and breathed life into his nostrils. But you, woman, I fashioned after I breathed the breath of life into man because your nostrils are too delicate.

I allowed a deep sleep to come over him so I could patiently and perfectly fashion you. Man was put to sleep so that he could not interfere with the creativity.

From one bone I fashioned you. I chose the bone that protects man's life. I chose the rib, which protects his heart and lungs and supports him, as you are meant to do. Around this one bone I shaped you. I modeled you. I created you perfectly and beautifully.

Your characteristics are as the rib, strong yet delicate and fragile. You provide protection for the most delicate organ in man, his heart. His heart is the center of his being; his lungs hold the breath of life. The rib cage will allow itself to be broken before it will allow damage to the heart. Support man as the rib cage supports the body.

You were not taken from his feet, to be under him, nor were you taken from his head, to be above him. You were taken from his side, to stand beside him and be held close to his side. You are My perfect angel. You are My beautiful little girl. You have grown to be a splendid woman of excellence, and My Eyes fill when I see the virtues in your heart. Your eyes - don't change them. Your lips - how lovely when they part in prayer. Your nose, so perfect in form, your hands so gentle to touch. I've caressed your face in your deepest sleep; I've held your heart close to Mine.

Of all that lives and breathes, you are the most like Me. Adam walked with Me in the cool of the day and yet he was lonely. He could not see Me or touch Me. He could only feel Me. So everything I wanted Adam to share and experience with Me, I fashioned in you: My Holiness, My Strength, My Purity, My Love, My Protection and Support. You are special because you are the extension of Me.

Man represents My Image - woman, My Emotions. Together, you represent the Totality of God. So man - treat woman well. Love her, respect her, for she is fragile. In hurting her, you hurt Me. What you do to her, you do to Me. In crushing her, you only damage your own heart, the heart of your Father, and the heart of her Father. Woman, support man. In humility, show him the power of emotion I have given you. In gentle quietness show your strength. In love, show him that you are the rib that protects his inner self.


Addendum -- 1 Corinthians 11:12 (NKJ)   "For as woman came from man, even so man also comes through woman; but all things are from God."

But Love

A house is a house is a house-until love comes through the door, that is. And love intuitively goes around sprinkling that special brand of angel dust that transforms a house into a very special home for very special people: your family.

-Money, of course, can build a charming house, but only love can furnish it with a feeling of home.

-Duty can pack an adequate sack lunch, but love may decide to tuck a little love note inside.

-Money can provide a television set, but love controls it and cares enough to say no and take the guff that comes with it.

-Obligation sends the children to bed on time, but love tucks the covers in around their necks and passes out kisses and hugs (even to teenagers!).

-Obligation can cook a meal, but love embellishes the table with a potted ivy trailing around slender candles.

-Duty writes many letters, but love tucks a joke or a picture or a fresh stick of gum inside.

-Compulsion keeps a sparkling house. But love and prayer stand a better chance of producing a happy family.

-Duty gets offended quickly if it isn't appreciated. But love learns to laugh a lot and to work for the sheer joy of doing it.

-Obligation can pour a glass of milk, but quite often love will add a little chocolate.

Happy Birthday Gannon!

One year ago today the Lord blessed Shane and Candy with our newest grandson, Gannon. He has become the joy of our life these past 12 months. He has a different personality than the other three and has made our growing older years more tolerable. It's amazing what a baby can do to a family. He has certainly changed my whole perspective on life.

I never really thought it could get this much better. We were never able to have more than one child because of Becky's health. I was just so grateful for Shane when he was born healthy and not long after that Becky's heart condition worsened. We were afraid to try for any more after that because the doctor did not think her heart would be able to take it. Believe me, he was a joy and miracle that preserved our linage and heritage. I couldn't have been more blessed.

Our daughter-in-law is also very special. When she and Shane got together never did we imagine we would be blessed with such beautiful grandchildren. I carry on about them a lot because they really are blessings to me each in their own way.

-Hannah is my musical and artistic grand. She can sing, play the guitar and piano, draw and paint like there is no tomorrow, and is just a wonderful and beautiful girl. She is my first and from the first moment I held her she stole my heart.

-Gracie is my actress and dancer. If the Lord tarries His return, she will storm Hollywood or Broadway someday. She was born with natural rhythm and can make even a mundane day brighter.

-Hayden is my champ. My soon-to-be first grader has the imagination of his father and yet still wants to be loveable even as a rough and tumble boy. He has made an amazing big brother so far and  I believe that will continue.

So that brings me back to my birthday boy, Gannon. He's the only one of the four that resembled my dad so much when he was born. He has a different personality than the other three and just brings joy to everyone when he's around. He is very, very special as well.

So to my buddy who can't read this today (Folks, he's only one!) but hopefully one day will be able to do so-Happy Birthday! Meme and Popee wish we could be there with you. Have a great birthday.

Famous Last Words

1. "Are you sure the power is off?"
   
2. "Don't be so superstitious."
   
3. "He's probably just hibernating."
   
4. "I can do that with my eyes closed."
   
5. "I wonder where the mother bear is?"
   
6. "I'll get a world record for this."
   
7. "I'll hold it and you light the fuse."
   
8. "And that one over there, the red flashing
   one, what does that mean?"
   
9. "I'm making a citizen's arrest."
   
10. "It's fireproof."
    
11. "It's strong enough for both of us."
    
12. "I've done this before."
    
13. "I've seen this done on TV."
    
14. "Let it down slowly."
    
15. "Nice doggie."
    
16. "Now watch this..."
    
17. "Pull the pin and count to what?"
    
18. "Rat poison only kills rats."
    
19. "So, you're a cannibal..."
    
20. "Listen, I'm taking a course in chemistry,
    I know what I'm doing."
    
21. "That's odd..."
    
22. "These are the good kind of mushrooms."
    
23. "This doesn't taste right."
    
24. "What does this button do?"
    
25. "Which wire was I supposed to cut?"

Two Churches

There once were two churches. One day, a homeless man came into town. He had not eaten for many days and was very hungry. He thought that he might be able to get a morsel to eat at one of the churches. The first church was huge -- a Gothic masterpiece, built of solid limestone, with a spire that seemed to reach into the heavens. When he tried to open the massive front door he found that it was locked. Then he saw a sign that said "Office" with an arrow pointing to his right.
When he walked into the office, he found himself in a large, well-lighted room. A secretary sat at the front desk, typing the church bulletin onto a computer. She looked up at the shabby man and frowned. "May I help you?" she asked crisply.

"Yes ma'am," the homeless man answered. "I am very hungry. Do you have any food here?"

"Indeed we do," the woman answered proudly. "This church has the largest food bank in the state. People from far and wide donate to it. It's been written up in all the papers."

"Then," the man said, "may I have something to eat?"
The woman looked him up and down. "Do you live here in town?" she asked. "I've never seen you before."

"No, ma'am. I'm just a traveler passing through."

The woman turned icy. "I see," she said, reaching into her desk drawer. She pulled out two sheets of paper and handed them to the man. "Please fill this out and bring it back to me. It's an application for assistance. The church board demands that everything be done properly and in good order here."

The homeless man took the papers, walked over to a small desk, sat down, and filled them out. Then he returned the application to the secretary. She looked over the papers and said, "Before we can give you anything, our Executive Board has to approve this. You're in luck. They meet tomorrow night. Come back Wednesday morning and we'll see if we can do anything for you."
"But I'm so hungry," the man said. "Maybe the minister can help me. May I see him?"

The secretary was clearly becoming agitated. "Do you have an appointment?"

"No, ma'am."
"You must have an appointment. Our minister is very busy. Right now he's meeting with the mayor and the committee to beautify our town. The pastor is a very important man. He's been written up in all the papers. You come back on Wednesday and maybe we can feed you. You don't need to see the minister about this."

The homeless man walked out of the church office and continued down the street. A few blocks later, he saw another church. This one was small and made of wood. It looked very poor. Inside he found a young man sweeping the floor between the old wooden pews. The young man looked up and smiled. "Welcome stranger," he said brightly. "What can we do for you?"

"May I see the minister or the secretary?" the homeless man asked.

The young man chuckled. "We don't have a secretary, but I'm the minister."

"Then," the homeless man said, "can I get something to eat from your food bank."

"I'm afraid we don't have one of those either," the minister said. "This church is so poor that our members barely have enough to feed themselves."
The homeless man turned to leave but was stopped by the minister. "But," the young man said, "my wife is fixing me lunch right now. It's not very fancy, but I'd he honored to share it with you. She will bring it to my office in a few minutes. Come in and eat with me."

A half hour later, the homeless man was just polishing off the last of a thick ham and cheese sandwich and a steaming bowl of homemade vegetable soup. Then the preacher's wife produced a small paper sack and an old thermos bottle. "Here are a few more sandwiches, sir, some cookies, and some hot coffee. You can return the thermos to me whenever you come back through town."

As the homeless man walked out of the town, He looked back to see the spire of the big church rising high above the rest of the buildings. He could not see the small church at all. Yet, He knew that it was there and praised His Father for the kind young minister and his generous wife. He would not forget them -- ever -- and neither would His Father.

The thermos bottle was, even then, sitting on the stoop of the little church. But instead of containing coffee, it was now overflowing with God's blessings.
"Then the King will say to those on his right, `Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'"   (Matthew 25:34-36 NIV)
"You will know them by what they do. Thorn bushes do not bear grapes, and briers do not bear figs."   (Matthew 7:16 GNB)

Reach

Reaching up and reaching out. What does it mean and why do we aspire to do so?

Think of the cross.  It’s where God’s work of redemption was accomplished, where Jesus bore our sins.  Yet it’s a symbol of our faith beyond that.  The cross has both the vertical and the horizontal.  It bridges the gap between us and God with the vertical and encourages us to love others with the horizontal.  The cross represents Jesus’ ministry fully in fulfillment and in action.

Because of Jesus and the Holy Spirit, we can reach up to God.  He fills our lives and empowers us.  We reach up through prayer, worship, studying God’s Word, and even interaction with one another.  God uses all these to teach us and help us to grow closer to Him.  In reaching up, we listen for His voice and are prepared to follow His call.

Jesus calls us not to live for ourselves, but to live for others.  By reaching up to Him and trusting Him, He gives us His heart and His compassion for others.  Throughout the Gospels, Jesus showed a heart for the outcast and the captive.  We have all been both, though we have not always known it.  Christ empowers us through His Spirit to go out and not only preach the Gospel, but to serve and love others

We seek to grow to be more like Jesus by reaching up. We seek to grow to be more like Jesus by reaching out to those in need everywhere.

Planted

Psalms 1:1-13 "Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper."


I have placed a picture here for you to see what the Scripture was referring to because I never would have believed it until I saw it.  To the right, you see a tree that has been fed by a wadi- a river of water than rushes down off of a desert mountain when the rains come. Wadis work like this: you don’t see them until the flood comes. And then they rise quickly. Afterwards, the disappear almost as abruptly as they came. Yet they leave the effects of their nourishment behind them.

You can see those mountains in the distant background-and, of course, you can see that the tree is in the middle of nowhere with no life or vegetation. However, we know that the tree has been receiving water from the wadi (which is called a “stream of water”) because of its growth.

I always imagined that the Bible was speaking of a tree that stood on a river bank. But, that doesn’t appear to be the case. And, the illustration we see here fits more with the climate and culture where the Bible was written. It shows us that life may be tough, but that God sends what we need, as we need it, so that (despite the climate) we can stay nourished and grow. Other verses that shows us much this image is found in the Psalm 23:1, 2: “The Lord is my Shepherd… He leads me beside still waters.”

David said in Psalm 1 that we would be like a tree planted by a stream of water. I always conjured up images of massive trees by wide rivers- placid rivers with lush vegetation and lots of water. Water as far as you could see. But David lived near the desert. He fled for his life-multiple times in the desert. Yet God sustained him. Though the environment looked bleak, The Lord brought streams of water to him each time he needed them- in just the right place.
Think about this:

-What if the tree did not trust where the Creator placed it?

-What if the tree kept moving with the circumstances, chasing greener grass or a different pasture when, all along, the rain was about to send a stream to the exact place where the tree was?! The tree would never grow, and it would always miss the streams.Can you imagine what would happen if that tree kept getting transplanted to find the next best stream? It’s roots would continually find themselves uprooted, never taking hold and, even when the good rain did come, the tree would not be able to stand and catch the blessing.

-What if, in His grace, God has you right where He wants you to be, right where He has orchestrated your destiny?

Your church may not be what you want it to be, so you begin to pray with your pastor that God will be the centerpiece of the church and use it for His glory.  God put you there for a reason and although it may be hard to understand at sometimes why you have to deal with what you have to, trust the Lord. He will bring you through each and every step of the way and when it's all said and done, prove to you why He put you there in the first place.

Finding your niche

I had to learn that my church cannot be all things to all people. For example, our worship style won't attract every demographic in our community. Not everyone will like the way I preach. Our programs will not meet the needs of all persons. And, as hard as I try, I'll never develop a theology that every Christian will agree upon. The sooner we learn that our church cannot reach every person in our community, the better off we'll be. When we finally figure out that we can't please everyone, we can begin the exciting process of discovering our own unique niche.

Of course, your niche will be different from ours as it should be. Every community needs a rich diversity of congregations from small to large, traditional to contemporary, pentecostal to liturgical, and conservative to liberal. Since every community has different kinds of people, every community needs different kinds of churches, all of whom are essential parts of the body of Christ (see Rom. 12:12-31).

As you seek to identify your own unique niche, ask yourself and your church the following three questions.

-What is your passion? When you and your congregation can identify your greatest passion, you are well on your way to determining your niche. 

-What are your strengths? Before you can determine your niche, you must identify what you do well, because that will substantively impact whom you reach. For example, one of our strengths at DGOG is worship that incorporates traditional and contemporary styles of praising The Lord. Of course, not everyone likes our blended style of worship. That's OK! Lots of people do like our style of worship. The important point is that our unique worship style helps create and complement our niche.

-Whom are you reaching? Perhaps the best way to determine your niche is to find out what kind of people you are currently reaching. 

When your answers to the above three questions dovetail together, you have successfully found your niche. I know we can't meet the spiritual needs of everyone in our community so I focus instead on reaching those i can, trusting God to use the other good churches in our town to reach the people we cannot. That way, every church in our community gets to play their own unique role in advancing God's kingdom in our small part of the world.

If you want to be successful in this business, you need to find a niche." So what's your niche?

The Minister

One of the toughest tasks a church faces is choosing a good minister. The chairman of the official board undergoing this painful process finally lost patience.

He'd just witnessed the Pastoral Selection Committee reject applicant after applicant for various minor faults -- real or imagined. It was time, he thought, for a bit of soul-searching on the part of the committee. So, after the meeting adjourned, he wrote a letter to the Pastoral Selection Committee, which he stood-up and read at the next Pastoral Selection meeting. Supposedly, the letter was from another Pastoral applicant.

Gentlemen: Understanding your pulpit is vacant, I should like to apply for the position. I have many qualifications. I've been a preacher with much success and also had some success as a writer. Some say I'm a good organizer. I've been a leader most places I've been.

I'm over 50 years of age and have never preached in one place for more than three years. In some places, I have had to leave town after my preaching caused riots and disturbances. I must admit I have been in jail three or four times, but not because of any real wrong-doing. My health is not too good, but I still accomplish a great deal. The churches I have preached in have been small, though located in large cities.

I've not gotten along well with religious leaders in some of the towns where I have preached. In fact, some have threatened me, and even attacked me physically. I am not too good at keeping records. I have been known to forget whom I have baptized. However, if you can use me, I promise to do my very best for you.

The chairman than turned to the other committee members and said, "Well, what do you think? Shall we call him?"

The good church committee members were appalled! Consider a sickly, trouble-making, absent-minded, ex-jailbird? Are you crazy, they asked? Who signed that application? Who had such colossal gall to think we would consider someone like that to be our church minister?

The chairman of the board eyed all the committee members keenly before he replied -- "It's signed: 'The Apostle Paul'."


Addendum -- Luke 6:37 (NKJ) "Judge NOT, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven."

Dealing with angry and difficult people

Later in David's life, the Amalekites had attacked the village of Ziklag, carrying off the wives and children of David's army. Scripture says David and his men wept until they had no strength left. Understandably the men were angry, but instead of being mad at the Amalekites, they blamed David:

"David was greatly distressed because the men were talking of stoning him; each was bitter in spirit because of his sons and daughters." (1 Samuel 30:6)

Often people take their anger out on us. Sometimes we deserve it, in which case an apology is needed, but usually the difficult person is frustrated in general and we are the handiest target. Striking back is not the solution, but turning to God is.

"But David strengthened himself in the LORD his God." (1 Samuel 30:6)

Turning to God when we're attacked by an angry person gives us understanding, patience, and most of all courage. Some suggest taking a deep breath or counting to ten, but the real answer is saying a quick prayer. David asked God what to do, was told to pursue the kidnappers, and he and his men rescued their families.

Dealing with angry people tests our witness. People are watching. We can lose our temper as well, or we can respond calmly and with love. David succeeded because he turned to the One stronger and wiser than himself. We can learn from his example.

The most difficult person each of us has to deal with is our self. If we are honest enough to admit it, we cause ourselves more trouble than others do.

David was no different. He committed adultery with Bathsheba, then had her husband Uriah killed. When confronted with his crimes by Nathan the prophet, David admitted:

"I have sinned against the Lord." (2 Samuel 12:13)

At times we need the help of a pastor or godly friend to help us see our situation clearly. In other cases, when we humbly ask God to show us the reason for our misery, he gently directs us to look in the mirror.

Then we need to do what David did: confess our sin to God and repent, knowing he always forgives and takes us back.

David had many faults, but he was the only person in the Bible God called "a man after my own heart." (Acts 13:22) Why? Because David depended completely on God to direct his life, including dealing with difficult people.

We can't control difficult people and we can't angry people, but with God's guidance we can understand them better and find a way to cope with them.

 

 

What Is Hope?

Ephesians 2:11-13 " Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ."

-Hope is knowing that a positive outcome awaits your future..

-Hope is not only expecting a dream to come true, but having a deep assurance that it's within your reach regardless of circumstances.

-Hope is saying you can when everyone else says you can't..

-Hope is knowing that you can improve and that you always get better with practice.

-Hope is knowing that you can achieve your goals through hard work, persistence, and faith.

-Hope is looking to the future with joy and having an expectation of better things to come.

-Hope is the knowledge that life is everlasting, and that miracles happen every day.

-Hope is something that never abandons you. Even when your life is filled with sadness and disappointment, a spark remains inside to help you get through the rough times.

-Hope is one of God's greatest gifts to you, because it's the magic that inspires you to keep trying, learning, loving, and living.

Never surrender

In the 9th Century there was a young man with an army of 500 men. He was going to battle against a mighty king and his army of 3,000 trained soldiers. The king sent a messenger to this young man and the message from the king was: “If you will give up we won’t harm you” 

This young leader called one of his men up and pulled a dagger out of his sheath and said, “Drive this dagger into your heart” Without a moments hesitation and without saying a word he drove the dagger into his heart and fell dead at his feet. He looked at another one of his soldiers and said, “Go and jump in yonder chasm”, and without saying a word that soldier ran and jumped into the chasm and plunged many feet below to his death. 

This young leader said to the king’s messenger, “Now, you go tell your king that we will fight but we will never surrender. Tell him that I have 500 men just like these two that you have seen. Within 24 hrs. your king will be chained with my dog." 

The messenger went back to his king and told him about what had happened and the king ran and the whole army deserted. Within 24 hours the king was tied with a chain around his neck beside of the young leader’s dog. 

They would fight but they would never surrender. 

Don't give up on the dreams God gave you regardless of your age, health, wealth, or your enemies that say it's impossible. With God all things are possible.

Life Sucks

Life sucks! I hear people saying this all the time, to describe their awful journey through life. The truth is that life on this sinful planet can be unfair and tough at times, and we all need to know how to turn to God for His help.

Sometimes sinful people highjack our lives for no particular reason. Sin always robs people of their dignity and splendor. It always demeans us. We have all been wounded by other less than perfect humans, even by our family and those close to us.

Often we feel like a loser and everyone hates a loser. If you have ever felt left alone when you needed people the most then you understand what I am writing about. Yet what amazes me is that people in real need still cannot bring themselves to call on God for His help. They continue to say no to God’s great love and believe that every problem they face is their fault so they must face it alone.

One of the saddest things I do as a Pastor is to counsel with people who have been abused as children, and see them live with the lie that it was in some way their fault. No-one deliberately intends to mess up their lives. Most people are going about their lives as usual and fall into the wrong crowd or get ambushed by some evil person.

If you are in this situation today, do not believe it is your fault. Yes, you have made many mistakes, but there has been a sinister plot to destroy your life by the enemy of your soul – the devil. You must know that God sent His only son Jesus to take the punishment for your sins and to redeem you into His loving care. Stuff happens. When it does, turn to God and He will redeem you from the works of the evil one.

Jeremiah 33:3 "Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not."

Got To Leave A Tip

This is from an old story, back in the ’30s, in the days when an ice cream sundae cost much less. A 10 year-old boy entered a hotel coffee shop and sat at a table. A waitress put a glass of water in front of him.
“How much is an ice cream sundae?” the little boy asked.
“Fifty cents,” replied the waitress.
The little boy pulled his hand out of his pocket and studied the coins he had. “Well, how much is a plain dish of ice cream?” he inquired.
By now, more people were waiting for a table and the waitress was growing very impatient. “Thirty-five cents,” she brusquely replied.
The little boy again counted his coins. “I’ll have the plain ice cream,” he said.

The waitress brought the ice cream, put the bill on the table and walked away. The boy finished the ice cream, paid the cashier and left. When the waitress came back, she began to cry. As she wiped down the table, there placed neatly beside the empty dish were two nickels and five pennies. You see, he couldn’t have the sundae because he had to have enough money to leave her a tip.

Mark 9:41 "For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward."

When Things Go Wrong

Romans 7
¹⁹ For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.
²⁰ Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
²¹ I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.
²² For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:
²³ But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
²⁴ O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
²⁵ I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

When things go wrong, we often begin by asking ourselves the wrong questions like “Why is this happening to me?” Our first reaction is often negative, bringing to mind incorrect questions. But if in each moment of decision we can instead discipline our thoughts to look behind those initial questions and ask better ones the questions themselves will lead us to better results because in a sense the answers are in the questions.

When a problem arises, we start looking for some control of the situation. The problem is, we quite naturally begin by looking at those around us and ask the wrong types of questions like “why?” and “who?” The wrong questions take away any control of the situation we might otherwise gain. 

We should ask self-revealing questions first like:

-What does it say about me that I have this problem?

-What can I learn from this?

-How can I make this situation useful to me?

We find ourselves on shaky ground if we attempt to fix a problem without first understanding what it means to overcoming whatever has caused it in the beginning. By looking for inherent meaning, you open a rich treasure chest of valuable jewels that lead to new information, insight, and opportunities.”

The right questions contain an “I” and not “you,” “they,” and “them.” “I” questions lead to action. Questions that contain an “I” turn our focus away from other people and circumstances and put it back on ourselves, where it can do the most good. We can’t change other people. We can’t control circumstances and events. The only things we have any real control over are our own thoughts and actions. Asking questions that focus our efforts and energy on what we can do makes us significantly more effective, not to mention happier and less frustrated.

True Or False ( A little Laughter for a Friday)

1. Apples, not caffeine, are more efficient at waking you up in the morning.
   
2. Alfred Hitchcock did not have a bellybutton.
   
3. A pack-a-day smoker will lose approximately 2 teeth every 10 yrs.
   
4. People do not get sick from cold weather; it's from being indoors a lot more.
   
5. When you sneeze, all bodily functions stop, even your heart!
   
6. Only 7 per cent of the population are lefties.
   
7. 40 people are sent to the hospital for dog bites every minute.
   
8. Babies are born without knee caps. They don't appear until they are 2-6 years old.
   
9. The average person over fifty will have spent 5 years waiting in lines.
   
10. The toothbrush was invented in 1498.
    
11. The average housefly lives for one month.
    
12. 40,000 Americans are injured by toilets each year.
    
13. A coat hanger is 44 inches long when straightened.
    
14. The average computer user blinks 7 times a minute.
    
15. Your feet are bigger in the afternoon than the rest of the day.
    
16. Most of us have eaten a spider in our sleep.
    
17. The REAL reason an ostrich sticks its head in the sand is to search for water.
    
18. The only 2 animals that can see behind themselves without turning their heads are the Rabbit and the Parrot.
    
19. John Travolta turned down the starring roles in "An Officer and a Gentleman" and "Tootsie".
    
20. Michael Jackson owns the rights to the South Carolina State anthem.
    
21. In most television commercials advertising milk, a mixture of white paint and a little thinner is used instead of real milk.
    
22. Prince Charles and Prince William NEVER travel on the same airplane, just in case there is a crash.
    
23. The first Harley Davidson motorcycle built in 1903 used a tomato can for a carburetor.
    
24. Most hospitals make money by selling the umbilical cords cut from women who give birth. They are reused in vein transplant surgery.
    
25. Humphrey Bogart was related to Princess Diana. They were 7th cousins.
    
26. 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?

You Are Getting Older

Ecclesiastes 12:3–8 "In the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those that look out of the windows be darkened, ⁴ And the doors shall be shut in the streets, when the sound of the grinding is low, and he shall rise up at the voice of the bird, and all the daughters of musick shall be brought low; ⁵ Also when they shall be afraid of that which is high, and fears shall be in the way, and the almond tree shall flourish, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail: because man goeth to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets: ⁶ Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern. ⁷ Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it. ⁸ Vanity of vanities, saith the preacher; all is vanity."

Solomon keeps a deep subject light and reminds us that life should be enjoyed day by day and step by step. Through this teaching we learn how to embrace the aging process thankfully and realize God is with us every step of the way.

Solomon gives us a simple picture of getting older with these few verses.  He writes:

-When the keepers of the house tremble. Those are your arms and hands. As we get older, they begin to shake and tremble more.

-And the strong men bow themselves. Knees and shoulders grow weaker, more frail as we age, bending and bowing and slumping.

-When the grinders cease because they are few. What are “grinders”? Your teeth, of course! We can be thankful for improved dental care, but we still lose a tooth every now and then.

-And those that look out of the windows shall be darkened. Are you getting the idea? No one had spectacles in Solomon’s time; they had to live with blurry vision.

-When the doors shall shut in the streets, and the sound of grinding is low. We can’t hear the old street sounds or the mills grinding away.

-When one rises up at the sound of a bird. Teenagers can sleep until noon, but that is a skill we lose as we age. We old-timers are up with the chickens.

-And all the daughters of music are brought low. Your voice starts to quiver and weaken. You don’t sing as loudly or clearly as you once did.

-You're afraid of things that are high and fear gets in the way. Changes happen and the things you used to do that were simple have now become complicated and difficult.

-When the almond tree blossoms. Your hair puts forth white shoots!

-The grasshopper is a burden. By summer’s end, grasshoppers lose their hop. They are more like “grass-limpers.”

-And desire fails. Your sexual needs become less and less.

-For man goes to his long (eternal) home, and the mourners go about the streets. This is referring to the unavoidable funeral and funeral procession.

Solomon goes on in verse 6 to give us four images of what it is like to die.
a. It’s like a silver cord that loosens and falls away.
b. It’s like a golden bowl that plummets to the floor and crashes.
c. It’s like a pitcher shattered at the fountain.
d. It’s like a wheel broken at the well.

Fallen. Crashed. Shattered. Broken. These are all images of lost beauty. Together their picture is heartbreaking.

Whatever life is for us, wherever we find ourselves in age or stage, every moment is a gift of God , brightly wrapped, waiting to be opened, admired, and delighted in. The bittersweet nature of loss makes the present more precious; knowing that the silver cord will one day slip away, we cherish it all the more while it is in our hands.

We must not spend too much time brooding over our future fate, for that defeats the very purpose. The time is to be used, to be invested in joy and meaning. That includes today. So enjoy life even with all it's bumps and bruises. It's till worth living.

Something Great Is Going To Happen To You

If you want something different, you have to do and believe in something different. Let your past failures go. They are doing nothing for you. They do not matter anymore. Take a deep breath, and release all your stories of failure. Start telling a new story. Your life is about change and you are always changing for the better. Nothing in your past can hold you back. It is gone. It is behind you. Move on spiritually and emotionally from where you are now to get to the place God wants to put you.

God is great. Everything He does is great and wonderful. Everything God gives and offers is greater than what the devil offers, so shouldn’t our expectations come from God? God wants to do something outrageously wonderful in your life every moment of every day, but you have to be ready and expect it to happen.

Isaiah 30:18 KJV "And therefore will the Lord wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for the Lord is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for him."

God is looking and longing for someone who’s waiting for Him to be great to them. God wants to be great to you today, but you have to be expecting Him to move in your life and begin to praise Him for it. 

Today is your day to start believing something great is going to happen to you! God is working in your life right now, and when you get your breakthrough, it will be the result of what God has been doing for a long time. Whether you see it or feel it or not, keep praying and expecting because God is longing to be gracious and great to you.

Isaiah 54:17 "No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord."

This Is Going To Be A Great Week-God Can Heal The Broken

Only God is able to help you overcome your brokenness and be made whole. There is hope for healing in Jesus and He can help you deal with the things that have shattered your life. But you have to accept His help and also do your part as well. You must:

Cause you change
worthless into precious
guilty to forgiven
hungry into satisfied
empty into full
and all the lies are shattered and we believe we matter
when you change broken into beautiful

Read more at http://www.lyrics.com/broken-into-beautiful-lyrics-karen-peck-new-river.html#6UktbGHFAE3LwRcO.99

-Acknowledge the fractures in your life. Recognize signs of brokenness - swelling, sadness, numbness, aches. Denial delays fulfillment, in this case, healing.

-Embrace your personal value.
Believe that you are worthy of the time, effort and investments to become whole. Nurture your mind with positive thoughts; your body with nutritious food; and your spirit with love.

 
 -Exercise discipline.
Sometimes to complete their recovery, patients may enter a rehabilitation program. Participants must be willing to do the hard work facing them. Whether a fractured hip, incarceration, substance abuse, or a suicide attempt, "coming back" requires a mixing of intention and sweat.

-Prepare for the healing.
Reach out for the support. Spiritual sit-ups will strengthen the core muscles of faith in your Higher Power. You can do this!

-Let go of the resentment, guilt and anger.
The Gospels offer counsel on the difficult task of forgiving those who have caused us harm. Begin with self-forgiveness. The released energy will become available for channeling into your healing.

-Dare to venture outside your comfort zone.
This may mean disregarding stigma, making life-style changes, developing new friendships, and forming new habits. This is not easy stuff. To paraphrase the words of a world leader who came from a "broken" home, there is audacity in hope.

-Express appreciation.
If you envision wholeness, then imagine the experience of wholeness, believe in the possibility of wholeness, thank God for the coming transformation, and start the healing process.

Celebrate in Jesus Name because He can make broken into beautiful.

This Is Going To Be A Great Week

This is going to be a great week. Here are some suggestions on how to make it so, plus they might help you as well in the weeks to come.

-When someone is pushing you, it's ok to tell them they're pushing, but set your own pace. Don't burn out.

-Take nothing in life for granted. Allow yourself time some lazy time. Remember rest is a necessity.

-Take time to listen to the wind blow or a bird sing. Don't forget that life was meant for living not scheduling things just to occupy your time.

-Quit planning how you're going to use what you know, learn or possess. God's gifts just are. Be grateful and their purpose will be clear. 

-Divide big jobs into little jobs. If God took six days to create the universe, can you do any better?

-Direct your life with purposeful choices, not with speed and efficiency.

-Let go of stuff you can't handle. It is usually the hardest thing to do, but often it is the best.

-Count your blessings everyday. You'll never know how rich you are until you begin to see what God has already done with and in your life.

This is going to be a great week!

Don't blame God

Some people think that only wicked people suffer, but God is on the side of the righteous and will remove all their troubles. It follows that, if a person is suffering, he must have committed some sin he should repent of.

This was the theory of Job's friends and disproving that idea is a main theme of that book. This same false doctrine is taught by many today who teach people that God will remove all their problems if they get right with Him.

But we have learned that even righteous people suffer. This is important for the following reasons:

-We should not conclude that we have been guilty of sin every time we have a problem. Maybe we are suffering because of sin, so we should examine our lives; but maybe we are suffering for other reasons, perhaps because we are righteous.

-We should surely never reject a Bible teaching just because it may lead to suffering. If all suffering was the result of our own sin, and if a course of action led to suffering, then we would conclude it was a sinful act; but we have learned that godly people often suffer for doing right.

-We should not become Christians thinking it will automatically solve all our problems. If this is our motive, we may fall away when the hardships come.

But the main lesson to learn is that God should not be blamed for the existence of suffering.

If we believe that all suffering results from a person's own sin, and if we see good people suffering, we may be tempted to blame God or to think He is not keeping His promises. But we have learned that all people suffer, whether or not they are righteous.

The command to endure suffering is just another part of a Christian's life, like the command to study the Bible, pray, worship, etc. Faithful Christians of all ages have suffered; we are not the only ones. We should expect suffering to come, so our faith will not be shaken when it does.

The ultimate and primary blame for suffering rests on Satan who tempts people to sin and thereby brought sin into the world. The secondary blame rests upon people, ourselves included, who have given in to temptation and committed sin that led to suffering.

Yes, God did create suffering as a punishment for sin, but only after He had given people a life without problems and had warned them of the consequences of sin. When they chose to sin, He should no more be blamed for punishing them than a parent should be blamed when he must punish a rebellious child. 

Remember, if you blame God and reject Him because you are suffering, then you are doing exactly what Satan wants you to do. He has defeated you! The only way to defeat Satan and really overcome hardship is to maintain your faithfulness to God in spite of it.

Ready For Spring

My grandchildren enjoyed the snow we had a few weeks ago here in South Carolina. It is a rarity for us to get so much at one time. That usually only happens once or twice in a decade. Although they were excited about it I was glad to see it gone and I am ready after all this cold to see winter leave as well.

Maybe it's because I'm getting older, but for me this has been a very bleak, hard,  and cold winter. I am so ready for spring even though that means pollen, grass cutting, yard work, etc. It seems like only yesterday it was Christmas Eve and then we got blasted by the cold of January and February. My bones ache, my disposition has been down, and my health challenged all by the cold of winter. That's why I'm ready for spring!

There is something about making it through a cold winter that makes you appreciate what spring brings. You know that spring is close by when things begin to smell fresh and new. Each spring reminds you of your youth, refills your heart with joy, and seems to renew your love for living life. You always thank God for the memories of winter, but also for the simple truth that with each spring you are never too old to be young again. Spring is a time of renewal, rejuvenation, and replenishing of your energy.

God wants you to always feel young in spirit no matter how old or achy your body may be. He wants you to always delight in the simple joys of life. He wants you always share your happiness with the heart of a child. My prayer is that you will always give your love, your light, your laughter, and your warmth to others whether it's cold or hot outside.

How To Stay Young

1. Throw out nonessential numbers. This includes age, weight and height. Let the doctors worry about them. That is why you pay them.
   
2. Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches pull you down.
   
3. Keep learning. Learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening, whatever. Never let the brain idle. "An idle mind is the devil's workshop." And the devil's name is Alzheimer's.
   
4. Enjoy the simple things.
   
5. Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath.
   
6. The tears happen. Endure, grieve, and move on. The only person who is with us our entire life, is ourselves. Be ALIVE while you are alive.
   
7. Surround yourself with what you love, Whether it's family, pets, keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies, whatever. Your home is your refuge.
   
8. Cherish your health: If it is good, preserve it. If it is unstable, improve it. If it is beyond what you can improve, get help.
   
9. Don't take guilt trips. Take a trip to the mall, even to the next county; to a foreign country but NOT to where the guilt is.
   
10. Tell the people you love that you love them, at every opportunity.

AND ALWAYS REMEMBER:
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

Change is gonna come

Jeremiah 29:11-13 KJV"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart."
You are not satisfied with your routine. You have a great family. You are working at a decent company for decent pay (or a great company for great pay). You may be active socially, involved in the community, have fascinating hobbies. And yet there’s something missing. Maybe you simply need to alter your routine, or maybe you are ready for a significant and substantial spiritual change in your life. Here’s how to tell if the answer is: You’re ready for the change to happen.

Long before we acknowledge that we’re ready for a change, our heart is well aware and working on making it happen. If you find yourself thinking about a different lifestyle, if your thoughts wander off to things you’d much rather be doing, or if activities you used to be excited about don’t bring the same level of interest, this could be a sign you’re poised for a spiritual change.

When those you respect, suggest that not only are you ready for a change but you need to change. There’s nothing like confirmation from those you love, trust, and have your best interest at heart that the restlessness you’ve been feeling in your heart is present for a reason. Often, we dismiss and/or overlook what our hearts tell us. When people who are important to us take us aside and share what they’ve noticed, it may be time to consider a new paths to find the direction of God.

Do you sometimes feel uninspired? When people ask, “How’s it going?” is your response often lukewarm? Are you unchallenged? Maybe you’re not in a rut now, but are you headed in that direction? Are you eager to do something different or learn something new? Several “yeses” to these questions signal you’re on the horizon of change and that God is dealing with you about it.

Along with inspiration, energy levels can suggest whether you’re in a “good place.” At the end of the day, do you feel drained (depleted) or empowered (energized)? If you feel empowered, energized, lifted, or if you’re tired, encouraged by the goals you’re striving for, change probably isn’t necessary. On the other hand, when you end your day depleted and wondering where renewal will come from, your life is in the “ready, set” position for God to do something different within you.

When you believe, are told, or know that you were meant to do something more with your life, don’t be afraid to act on that knowledge. You may just discover the change your life has been seeking as God opens new doors for you.
-If there are things you want to do, but in your current position can’t because of situations you inherited, trust God to make the change.
-If you want to make a difference, but you don’t think you can because of past limitations, let go and let God do His thing.
-If you ask, “Why did God put me  here?”, you must realize He had a reason. Believe that He will reveal to you why.

Doing your best for God

If you want your work to be blessed by God, you need to exceed what is expected of you. Do more than just the minimum. Don’t just get by.

God wants you to go beyond the normal and surpass what is required of you. The Bible instructs us to exceed the expectations of your boss, to exceed the expectations of your customers. That is the kind of work God blesses.

We live in a world of mediocrity. How many times do we complain about shoddy workmanship or poor service or inferior quality? Americans used to take pride in their craft, but today it has become about just getting by. So many people just put in their time, do the minimum that’s required of them, and cut corners, getting by on as little effort as possible.

That’s the bad news. The good news is that this makes it very easy to stand out at work. Any time you take pride in your work and decide to do more than expected, you’ll rise to the top.

Another reason we should exceed in our work is because we represent Jesus Christ. And Jesus said, “If someone demands that you go one mile, go with him two miles” (Matthew 5:41). Exceed what’s expected of you, and watch God bless it.

On A Train Bound For Nowhere

 

Kenny Rogers' greatest hit was called, 'The Gambler". It was about a man who was having a hard time with life on a "train bound for nowhere". It was his encounter with a gambler that changed his perception of life when he heard the advice of the grizzled gambler.

Do you ever feel like a nobody riding on a train going nowhere no where?  I mean, down deep inside when it’s quiet and everybody else is in bed or when you’re driving and you don’t have to pay too much attention, do you start thinking about where your life is headed or what you’ve done or haven’t done?  At those times do you feel like a nobody going nowhere?  Has the thought ever crossed your mind “If I was gone a week later no one would even notice. Maybe a few family members, but no one would really notice.”

So many feel that their lives are like a treadmill. There’s a lot of activity, but they’re not getting anywhere. You’re working hard, but it doesn’t amount to much?  If so you are not alone!  Lot’s of people feel like that, but their perception is not necessarily true because everyone is special to God.

I have felt at times that God had forgotten my name, my dreams were dying, and I was a nobody going nowhere.  How about you? Do you ever struggle with such feelings? You don’t feel significant, needed, or recognized for what you contribute? Maybe you feel your spouse, your boss, or some other significant person in your life doesn’t appreciate you or what you do. 

Looking back on your past you think, “If I don’t get with it this is all I’m going to have for the rest of my life.”  Or perhaps you are saying, “What does it matter anyway?  No one gives a rip.”  Whoever you are, at whatever stage of life, I am here to tell you that you do matter. Someone does care because you are somebody destined to go somewhere because God says so.

Your perception of yourself makes all the difference in the world and determines in large measure the way your life will go. What you believe about yourself, whether it’s true or not, will influence your relationship with God and how you face life’s challenges.  Mistaken perceptions that aren’t in keeping with reality must be corrected by the light of God’s Word.  If you believe you are a nobody going nowhere your view needs to be corrected in the light of the truth found in Psalm 139.   This is the one Psalm that best describes God’s personal relationship with us. It reminds us that God is not far off, but is near to each of us.  

What Does this Psalm conclude? Well, in simple fashion I can sum it ups in four sentences:

1-God knows you.

2-God is pursuing you.

3-God says you are awesome.

4-God has a plan for you.

Read it and realize you are not on a train bound for nowhere and that you are not a nobody. You are special to God and always will be. Your destiny is decided by the choices He allows you to make. Don't blow it; pursue God and find out what He has in store for you.

His Word

Psalm 119:105 "Thy Word is a lamp for my feet, and a light unto my path."  

God put together a plan that instructs us on how to have a life that is rich in His success. He provided detailed instructions for building a life that is pleasing to Him thru His Word, but we too often leave the Bible sitting idle and unused, feeling comfortable with our Christian status quo. We throw together a few spiritual sounding phrases from the Word's pages with the hope that somehow this will take care of our problems and go our merry way. 

However, we often find we have too many situations to deal with and not enough phrases to go around. We speak phrases that are long and short, but never get the job done that is needed to be done to handle those situations. We wonder why godly men and woman in the Word were overcomers, but we sure do have a hard time just getting by.

Maybe it’s because the life we put together was with the wrong phases or perhaps you’re using phrases that don’t fit your situation. Since God made us and it only makes sense that He should know what we need to do to build our lives in Him and that's why He gave us His Word and helps us to speak what needs to be spoken at just the right time to make a difference.

So what are you trying to build? A dynamic relationship with Jesus Christ or a Christ-centered family? Godly children? God’s Word is filled with instructions that can help you in every area of your life. That's the good news. The bad news is that you'll never build it properly if you don't read the Bible. God’s instruction manual not only tells you how to build a God-honoring life, it also let's you know about where to find all the tools you will need thru the anointing and empowering of the Holy Spirit. The Bible has what you need when you need it the most.

His Word is a lamp for your feet. It will guide you thru the dark places of discouragement and despair. It will enlighten you when the storms and tempest howl. It will encourage you when all you friends have forsaken you and let you down.

His Word is a light unto you path. It's your path and your alone. No one can walk it for you. Isn't wonderful to know that whatever darkness you encounter can be defeated by the light of the world. That's exactly who Jesus is today and forever.


 

 

Predestined

Ephesians 1:5, 6 “Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.”

Theologians have argued the meaning of predestination for centuries. Since the question involves the eternal, undeniable counsel of an infinite Creator, it is evidently impossible for finite humans to comprehend its full meaning. But we don’t have to understand it before we can rejoice in its truth. The Scriptures teach that the purpose of God’s predestinating work is that we might glorify Him and His amazing grace. We have been predestinated to become adopted sons of God, “to the praise of the glory of his grace.”

Verse 5 said that He has “predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself."

Verse 11 declares, “We have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will." 

Verse 12 says we have been predestinated to a great inheritance, in order “that we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ." 

Verses 13, 14 say we have been “sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,” and, again, this is all “unto the praise of his glory."

We have also been predestinated “to be conformed to the image of his Son” according to Romans 8:29, which is predestinated unto eternal holiness, sonship, heirship, and Christlikeness. Surely these gifts are cause enough for us to praise eternally the glory of His grace.

That is, indeed, what we shall do in the ages to come. Paul said in Ephesians 3:21' “Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.". And since we are to be testifying to the praise of the glory of His grace throughout all ages, the challenge is for us to do so now.

So let's praise The Lord for all He has done for us!