Move Quake Shake

If I could sum up in one word why most of us have problems, why we depend on mood altering drugs more than any other generation in history. 23 million Americans battle with Addictions every day and lose, 2 Million people will begin abusing prescription drugs this year alone, 10 % of America's youth abuse drugs on a Regular basis, 30% of youth under 21 have used alcohol in the last year, 31% of Fundamental Pastors admit to viewing internet pornography in the last year, 69% of Christian school students forsake their faith after graduation. That one word would be "FEAR!" So why are we so afraid? Could it be we are afraid of catching the swine flu? Is it the fear of being sued? The fear of going Broke? Is it the fear of that mole on your neck being cancerous? The sound of the clock as it ticks telling you your last day on earth is nearing? Fear robs us of our happiness for you can't be happy and afraid at the same time. You can't think clear and be afraid and you can't be confident and be afraid. What had His Disciples just heard & seen? They had just been taught ASK you say what in the world is ASK?

Matthew 7:7
Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
They had just seen a Leper made clean Matthew 8:2
And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. Matthew 8:3
And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.
They had just seen the centurion put great faith in the Lord Jesus Matthew 8:5-13

They had just seen Peter's mother-n-law healed of a fever by the touch of His Hand Matthew 8:14
And when Jesus was come into Peter's house, he saw his wife's mother laid, and sick of a fever. Matthew 8:15 And he touched her hand, and the fever left her: and she arose, and ministered unto them. Now that these disciples had heard and seen all of these things did it do them any good? Let's see! Mathew 8:23 And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him.
Matthew 8:24
And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep. I am interested in that word "TEMPEST" Strong says the Greek word used is seismos sice-mos' From G4579; (seiō si'-o Apparently a primary verb; to rock (vibrate, properly sideways or to and fro), that is, (generally) to agitate (in any direction; cause to tremble); figuratively to throw into a tremor (of fear or concern): - move, quake, shake.) a commotion, that is, (of the air) a gale, (of the ground) an earthquake: - earthquake, tempest. 14 X that word sice-mos' is used in the N.T. In every other time the word is used the word Earthquake is used. So out of 14 X's it is only used as tempest once. I think Matthew was trying to get the message across to us that the storm was in earthquake proportions. What fear are you dealing with that is at earthquake proportions? Are you dealing with it yourself or are you allowing the Lord to handle it and putting it into His hands? I'll show you tomorrow how His disciples handled it.

 

Consumer

I can remember when I was a child people would ask me questions that I had no real answer for. They would say to me "what do you want to be when you grow up?" I would always give the standard answer a policeman or fireman. Then at Christmas time my parents would take me to sit on Santa Clauses knee and he would ask the most important question "what do you want me to bring you for Christmas." But as I think about it, it's so easy to want or become a consumer. You and I live in a consumer culture. We consume goods, endless cups of coffee, worship services, sermons, Bible studies, Church programs, food and on and on we could go. Many times we can't even remember what we have experienced, like that great meal you had on Monday what was it? Our Pastor's last message was about what? Most people don't even remember and if the truth be known we are too busy thinking about what we want next! Like the man in Luke 12:17-And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?

18-
And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. It's time we become givers instead of consumers. What do I have that I could give that anybody would really want? How about reaching out more to those who are desperate! So who do you know who is desperate? How about that young boy who lives next door or down the street or the one you see at Church whose dad ran off and left him when he was about four years old. Give him some of your time and love. When you and I get so much going that we just don't have time for others all we have become is one who consumes more. I don't care how big or important one thinks they are in comparison with Jesus we are only a speck if that. I mean God walking the streets of Jerusalem and He had time for anyone and everyone. To the man who could not see his hand in front of his face to the one with an incurable disease that no one would have anything to do with? To the mother who was grieved at the death of her son, to the man who had been waiting for someone to put him in the pool that he might be healed. Jesus Christ had time for them all and never one time did He complain or say there were too many I haven't time for them all. He wasn't a consumer He was a giver! Do you remember the day He gave you eternal life? Then why not share your life with others and become a giver; I'm not talking about money but yourself that's what Jesus did. So how about it; why not today give part of yourself away to someone! A smile goes a long ways a pat on the back may tell someone you care, a kind word to a friend, an encouraging word to a discouraged person who needs to hear someone say something good. Mat 10:8…….freely ye have received, freely give.
2Co 9:7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
So whatever you do today let someone know you care!

 

 

THAT

That is a word we use quite frequently, but have you ever really thought about what it means? Webster gives the definition as - That is a word used as a definitive adjective, pointing to a certain person or thing before mentioned, or supposed to be understood. "Here is that book we have been seeking this hour." "Here goes that man we were talking of."

A word that is used to point out something before mentioned. With that in mind let's look at

Romans 6:6 Knowing this, (We know)
that our old man
(that the person we used to be)
is crucified with him, (Jesus)
that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
(Because of this we are no longer slaves to sin)

Did you notice the word "THAT" was used three times in that verse? The first time it is prefixed with "Knowing this," So what are we to know? That our old man is crucified with Him, Why? That from now on we should not serve sin. That, from this time forward we are no longer slaves to sin. Webster says the word slave means a person who is wholly subject to the will of another; one, who has no will of his own, but whose person and services are wholly under the control of another. Does that mean that a person who is wholly subject to another has no will of their own? We want to stop doing what ever we are doing, drinking, drugs, lust, anger………... but we can't. We have tried many times but we have yet to succeed in becoming free. Listen! So there must be a change. We can't do this on our own I have tried to do it on my own just like you and have failed just like you. Until!!!!! I quit trying and started TRUSTING. For something to be old there has to be something NEW! The problem you are having is the same one I was having I didn't know Christ and I had never asked Him to forgive me of my sin and come into my heart. Guess what, you haven't either. John 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

So knowing the truth does more than set you free, it makes you free. That is much better than set free.

So here we are maybe for the first time or the thirty-first time it makes no different, for it is the truth that will make you free. You want that which is giving you a problem to be old? It can be for there are many that have been made free and they now know Jesus and now they are no longer a servant to the drugs, drink, lust, anger. Well to put it in short form, you can have as much as you want or as little as you are satisfied with. The problem, many are satisfied with too little. I am like the man who says I want it all. How about you?

 

Resting of the Mind

As our children were growing up I would tell them that their mother and I trusted them; it was something we gave them. If there ever came a day that you broke your trust you would have to build it back and it would not be an easy task. The meaning of the word "Trust" Confidence; a reliance or resting of the mind on the integrity, veracity, justice, friendship or other sound principle of another person. Now to put trust in someone or something means to have confidence in. Now let me ask you a question have you ever put trust in someone only to be betrayed? I think we could all say yes to that question. I was at a car dealership in 1986 and was making a deal on a Ford Mini Van. The salesman had given me an unreal price and I had told another salesman who was trying to sale me one from his dealership what the other dealership had quoted me. He told me that there was no way he could sale that Van to me at that price and then he told me to get it in writing. Good idea; I said to myself! So I went back and asked him to put in writing for me and he said no problem. Then his boss called him in his office and when he returned he informed me that they couldn't sale me that van at that price. Can I tell you he just lost my trust as a salesman? Even today I have trouble trusting car salesmen. I said all that because trust is a very important thing and there are those like the salesman who abuse their privileges. We all have had experience in losing trust in others. I talked with a man not long ago who told me that he didn't believe God would forgive him and he wasn't going to ask Him too. I said to him were the things you have done bad, awful things. He told me you don't even want to know they are so bad. I asked him had he personally ever killed anyone. He said no that he had not. I said have you ever had someone else kill someone for you. He said no. I said did you know that King David had a man killed and did you know that the Apostle Paul had people killed? Did you know that God forgave both of those men and used them mightily? Without Paul the New Testament would be much smaller almost half the size. 2Samuel 11:2
And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king's house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon.

2Samuel 11:3
And David sent and enquired after the woman. And one said, Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite? Watch out David you are about to commit Adultery

2Samuel 11:4
And David sent messengers, and took her; and she came in unto him, and he lay with her; for she was purified from her uncleanness: and she returned unto her house.

2Samuel 11:5
And the woman conceived, and sent and told David, and said, I am with child So what does David do? He brings her husband Uriah home from battle and tries to get him to go home and be with his wife. But Uriah says no that would not be right because his fellow soldiers were still in the battle field. Then David tries to get him drunk and Uriah spends the night at David's door. So how in the world is David going to cover up his mistake? Here is what he does 2Sameul 11:14
And it came to pass in the morning, that David wrote a letter to Joab, and sent it by the hand of Uriah.

2Sameul 11:15
And he wrote in the letter, saying, Set ye Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle, and retire ye from him, that he may be smitten, and die. Uriah trusted his King and his King had him killed. But you know what? God forgave King David you can read about in
Psalms 51 so I said to this man; if God will forgive and use these men don't you think if you ask Him to forgive you He will? 1John 1:9
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Did you read in there anything that would prevent you from being forgiven? Then would you agree with me that trust is the deciding factor. So what is it that you are not asking forgiveness for? Could it also be Trust that's the problem?

Charging the Batteries

The year was 1988, the month was March and I was on my way with three other men to the First Baptist Church of Hammond, Indiana. It was their twenty fifth annual Pastor School; little did I know what God was about to do in my life. It was a week of meetings; in the morning, in the afternoon and then again at night. It was in one of the morning meetings that Dr. Jack Hyles stood with a cordless razor in his hand; he turned it on and it started to buzz. There was no cord and he began to teach, he said this razor will give me a close shave but after awhile it will start to run low on power then it will run out of power and then must be plugged back into the charger so that it may be recharged. He then said we are like that in our spiritual life we can run for awhile but if we don't recharge our spiritual batteries we like this razor will have no power. What a great concept! There are days in our lives for what ever reason we get up and we are running full speed and we soon realize that we fail to take time to pray and read our Bibles. We may be able to run on yesterday's power for awhile but if we keep trying to run on yesterday's power our spiritual battery will run dry. I Peter 1:3
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, The word "lively" means living; Peter wanted his readers to know that we didn't have a dead faith but one that was very much alive.
1Peter 1:23
Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

1Peter 2:4
To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious,

1Peter 2:5
Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

1Peter 2:24
Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

1Peter 4:5
Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead.

1Peter 4:6 For this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit. As you and I start off our lively day we must not forget that our batteries must be charged on a daily basis; we might get by one day but if we want to have full power we must go to the charger, our Bibles and ask for power for the day through prayer. Don't let your battery go dead for we need the power that only God can give us on a daily basis. As Peter has said we have a faith that is living so therefore if it is alive it must be fed. If it's not then our faith will become weak and with all that is going on in our world today we must have a strong faith. So read your Bibles and pray everyday and you will grow, grow, and grow.

 

 

Credentials

Credentials, what are they and are they important? Webster says it means “That which gives credit.” I guess they are important in many areas of our life and also in our Christian life. But too often, we get caught up in competition with other Christians, other churches or other ministries, and we forget that our primary purpose is not to seek attention for ourselves, but it is to point others to Jesus. I remember what a man of God told me many years ago. He said “too many times a Church will choose a man to be their Pastor on credentials and miss the man whom God had for the work.” Let me give you a true illusion. Here are the credentials this man has. He had outward appearance, was extremely successful and people flocked to him. They even modeled their lives after him and praised him. Now put your feet in his shoes how would you react to all that. I mean would you get the big head and think you were somebody? Well, this man didn’t because he knew life’s purpose. This is what John the Baptist said John 3:30 He (Jesus) must increase, but I must decrease. When John’s disciples began leaving him to follow Jesus, he did not fuss, whine, complain or argue. Is that not what our lives should be about? God uses all kinds of people with or without credentials! God uses big Churches as well as smaller ones! God uses ministries to reach the world for Christ, not to build our egos, our Church attendance or our offerings. So what did the Lord Jesus Christ have to say about John the Baptist? Well we are told in Matthew 11:11 Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: And if some how we weren’t paying attention when we read that He tells us again in Luke 7:28 For I say unto you, Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist: I was standing with two men on yesterday, one I had the previously lead to the Lord and the other was a man whom had just asked the Lord to come into his heart. One of the men made a statement to the effect of the reason he had to be resaved. I watched as the man who knew the Lord put his hand on the others shoulder and said “Just want you to know that if you have ever asked the Lord to save you, you will never have to be resaved.” Wait, wait what credentials did this man have to tell him that? Did he have a degree from a Bible College? How could he even know what he was talking about he had only asked the Lord to save him a few years ago himself? He couldn’t possibly know what he was talking about he had spent most of his life in drugs and alcohol. It is true that he doesn’t have a degree but neither did the man who had his dwelling among the tombs; not only that he abused himself on a regular basis by cutting himself with stones. Let’s just admit it; his credentials would be very poor. But we read in Mark 5 that when he saw Jesus something happened to him that changed him. Read on a few more verses and we now see this man sitting and in his right mind. You see before he wasn’t in his right mind nor did he have the right credentials. Now look at what Jesus tells him Mark 5:19 Jesus saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee. What are the right credentials? Are they important? The right credentials Know Jesus! How important are they? If you don’t know Jesus how can you tell others with compassion? You can’t! Therefore you’ll know nothing about decreasing.
That’s it we must decrease He must increase! Philippians 2:3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
Philippians 2:4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
Philippians 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

Which Doll

What would it take to earn God’s love? If I gave lots of money to the Church would that earn His love? If I gave my life to go to a far off land would that earn His love? If I loved everyone like He did would that earn God’s love? If I never said an unkind word to anyone, would that earn God’s love? If I forgave everyone that has ever done me wrong would that earn God’s love? Once there was a young girl who had a wonderful doll collection in her bedroom she had shelves of dolls from all over the United States. She had dolls that could sing and dance and do just about anything a doll could possibly do. On a certain day a man and his wife came by to visit her parents and during the course of their conversation they found out about her dolls. They asked if they could go to her room and see her collection; she was excited to show them. When she opened the door to her room her guest saw all the dolls and soon they said you have some what of a collection here could you show us which one is your favorite doll? She said sure and went to her toy box and pulled out a doll which was coming all apart and proudly said this is my favorite. The couple asked with all the beautiful dolls you have here in this room why on earth is this one your favorite? The little girl smiled and said if I didn’t love this doll no body would? You see God doesn’t love us for how much money we may or may not have. If we give our life in His service or not makes no difference. 1Corintians 13:3 And though I bestow (give away) all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, (love) it profiteth me nothing. Here is the key; we are told if we give away all our goods for a good reason; to feed the poor and even give your body to be burned, all of that is nothing without “love.” If I can’t do anything to merit God’s love then how do I get God’s love? We already have God’s love. That’s why people go to far off lands; it’s not to merit God’s love it’s because of God’s love toward them. 1Jn 4:19 We love him, because he first loved us.
1Jn 4:8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
1Jn 4:16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. You see back when they were cursing at Jesus and beating Him and nailing Him to a cross He didn’t open His mouth and say one hateful or hurtful word.
Isaiah 53:7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.
He did nothing wrong and they nailed Him to a cross and as He looked down on those who had spit in His face, pulled out His beard with a heart full of love this is what He had to say about it! Luk 23:34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. Only Love can do that; so it’s not what you do to earn His love He already loves you so much that He died for you. Joh 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. All you and I have to do is except His love and quit trying to earn it for that is impossible.

Know Him

Brian Tracy is one of America's leading authors on the development of human potential. He said this..."If I had to pick the #1 key to success, it would be...self-discipline. It is the difference in winning or losing; between greatness and mediocrity." As I read that I said to myself that is also true spiritually. It take self discipline to read your Bible, Pray if we are to know who Jesus Christ really is. That means we are going to have to self discipline ourselves. Reading your Bible with your Pastor every time you go to Church is not what I would call Bible reading. Bible reading is when you on a daily basis read and as you read you think about what you are reading. It does you no good to read and be thinking about other things. If you are going to know anything about praying you are going to have to use self discipline and many times self doesn’t want too. Some times self doesn’t want to go to work but then self discipline kicks in and off you go. I want to give you what has helped me in my prayer life. I had not been long asking Jesus to come into my heart and forgive me of all my sins when I first realized I needed to pray. Every morning before my wife would leave for work I would hold her hands and say the Lords prayer and off to work she would go. That’s fine for a young Christian but when I looked at what we call the Lord’s Prayer that is not what the Lord was teaching. He didn’t want us to repeat that prayer on a daily basis. Read with me what is said? Luke 11:1 And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.

Luke 11:2 And he said unto them, When ye pray, (not if) say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.

Luke 11:3 Give us day by day our daily bread.

Luke 11:4 And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. Was Jesus telling his disciples to repeat these words just as I have spoken them? NO! I want to teach you the pattern in how to pray. The first thing is to “PRAISE.” Praise God for who He is and what He has done. Many times we rush into our prayer closet and we began telling Him all our problems; poor old me! NO! NO! We must first praise Him. Then look what’s next, our “NEEDS”, this is the time to ask our Heavenly Father to supply our needs whatever they are. Then we are to ask for “FORGIVNESS” for our sins; not somebody else’s, but our own. You may think you don’t have any; that’s not what the Bible says 1John 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

1John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

1John 1:10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. Then we are to ask for “PROTECTION” Lord, protect me from the weak areas in my life which are; name them and ask the Lord to keep you from being lead in those directions. In order for you pray like this you will have to get honest with yourself for you will have to know your weak areas of your life. Where are you most vulnerable, and where did you fail yesterday? Ask for help today that you don’t fall into the same traps. So what do you want in your Christian life Greatness or mediocrity. If you are to know Jesus Christ and see Him do great things in your life and the life of others. Then you must spend time with Him and if you don’t you will only know about Him but you will not know Him. Paul said in Philippians 3:10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

Why not Names a Few

As we looked at heavenly treasures on yesterday; I would like to look at giving today. Giving can be difficult. Read a few verses from the book of Luke with me. Luke 21:1 And he (Jesus) looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury.

Luke 21:2
And he (Jesus) saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites.

Luke 21:3
And he (Jesus) said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all:

Luke 21:4
For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury (poverty) hath cast in all the living that she had. All she had. If it were I would I have held on to at least some of the money! It's hard to part with money. But let's stop and ask ourselves a question why was the reason the Lord put this story in the scriptures? Was it to teach us something about trust? I remember years ago my oldest son was about five years old, we were at Church and his aunt had given him a bunch of change. It was mostly quarters and dimes. I was teaching in children church and we took up and offering as we did every Sunday. When the basket got to my son he reached in his pockets and brought out a hand full of that change. As the boy taken up the offering started to move to the next person my son stopped him and said he wasn't finish yet and began to unload his pocket until all the money was gone and he had nothing for himself left. Like this widow woman he too gave it all. So why do you think God put this story here for us? There were rich men there and they were giving what that could afford; they were giving from their abundance but here was this widow who had only two mites; a mite was the smallest of copper coins and was worth very little. Well you might say "she didn't have anything anyways why not give it." Do you really think this is the case? I don't think so for the Lord would not have allowed this story to be here if that were case. This woman gave it all, now she has nothing. We don't read of her begging from the rich nor do we read about her worrying herself to death. You see we are simply managers of His provisions while we live this life. In her giving she was saying thank you Lord for all that you have given and done for me. She gave with an attitude of gratitude, with an attitude of joy, dedication and thankfulness. It was not the amount she gave it was the way she gave. She didn't give that her name might have been known for we don't even know who she is but she realized that God is the giver of all good gifts and she in no way could ever repay Him for what He had done for her. She realized that she was breathing air she could not afford; living a life of real joy without money simply because she had put her trust in the one who loved her more than words could express. It becomes easier to be a cheerful giver when you realize you don't have anything anyways. Are we grateful of what the Lord has done for us? What are we giving to show our gratitude or are we just complaining about what we don't have? We are blessed and somewhere today why don't you just stop and thank the Lord for His Blessing upon you and name a few out laud. You'll be glad you did!

Heavenly Treasures

If I were to play football in order for my team to win I would have to at least score a field goal. If by the same token I were to play on a baseball team we would have to at least score one run in order to win. Now if I were to play a game of horse shoes I would try to get the horse shoe around a pin which is called a ringer. But I don't have to get a ringer to win all I have to get is an almost get a ringer and I could win at that game. But there is nothing else I know of that you can almost and win. In Mark chapter ten and verses 17-22 we read of a young man coming to Jesus and asking Him a question in verse 17
we read these words there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life? The problem here is he thought he could do something to have eternal life. Then Jesus said to him Mark 10:19
Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother. This young man thought, man is that all; if so I'm as good as having eternal life, this was too good to be true he thought Mark 10:20
And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth. But wait Jesus has something else to say Mark 10:21
Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me. Give your earthly treasures for heavenly treasures! Could it be that this man had a problem with being selfish? Maybe, but the real problem was that he had put his trust in the wrong place; what he could do and what he had. It's not in what we can do for we can do nothing to inherit eternal life it is a gift given to us by God Himself. We receive many gifts in life; birthday, Christmas, wedding, father's day, mother's day and a host of other gifts. Gifts are given out of love and they cost the receiver nothing and all one has to do to receive a gift is be willing to accept it. That's all our Heavenly Father want us to do is to receive the gift of eternal life Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
John 1:12
But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
I love what the Psalmist says in Psalms 90:9
For all our days are passed away in thy wrath: we spend our years as a tale that is told. What does your life story have to say? We have read of a young man who had an opportunity to accept Christ and have eternal life and what does he do? Mark 10:22
And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions. He went away without receiving eternal life, his tale is sad. I am glad to say that my tale is a whole lot different for I received Jesus Christ and riches or earthly treasures are wonderful but have you ever gave this any thought; at death you and Bill Gates will both be broke as far as this world is concerned. Now that is when those treasures in heaven come into play and if you don't have them you will be really broke. Think things are bad now you just wait when you don't have heavenly treasures then you will understand what being without is really like. We are here for just a short time and in heaven for eternity I don't know just how long that is? But I know it's much longer than here!

Study

Back on March 11 I wrote about my Banana tree. If you will remember I told you that my Son-N-Law gave it to me four years ago. Well today I looked at it and man is it doing good; I don’t have any Bananas but it has about 10 big leafs and it has really out grown my Son-N-Laws again this year. Well I didn’t tell you all that to brag on my Banana tree but as I looked at it I was reminded about something else. During the past two winters I have put all kind of stuff in the hole where I plant the Banana tree and I now have a tomato plant, three cantaloupes and a potato plant growing. Now here is what the Lord taught me about that. I put all kind of things in that hole over the past winter and all I had was a hole. Nothing was growing, it was cold and everything looked dead but I kept putting things in the hole. Now today I will reap a few things from that hole because of what I put in it over the winter. It reminds me about studying God’s Word; there are a lot of mornings I read my Bible and the Lord doesn’t show me very much {or at least I don’t think so}, and then there are other mornings that I just reap a bunch. Why is that? It’s like that Banana Tree hole I kept putting in, but I didn’t with my eyes see anything but all the time it was there just waiting to sprout. My life verse is 2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. That word “study” means to apply the mind to; to read and examine for the purpose of learning and understanding; as, to study law or theology; to study languages. Would you go to a Doctor that had never studied Medicine? I don’t think so! The Bible also says we are to grow in 2 Peter 3:18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen. The only way that you and I are going to grow is to study and as we study we too will see things coming up in our lives just as I have seen the tomatoes and cantaloupes in the compost hole. Keep planting that Bible into your heart and you too will see it become alive in your everyday life. It’s easy for me to look and see the tomatoes and cantaloupes around my Banana Tree, but it may not be as easy for you to see your spiritual growth so here is a little test for you to help see the results.

Luke 6:45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh. Just listen to yourself talk, what are you talking about? You see you can’t help it whatever you put in your heart will come out your mouth you can’t stop that no matter how hard you try. Ask the Lord to help you listen to yourself and show you what is sprouting up.

How to Help

What do you do when you want to do so much and there is nothing you can say that will change anything? I remember years ago I received a phone call in the early hours of the morning. When I answered the phone all I could hear was someone crying and talking so fast I couldn't understand them. Then someone else got on the phone and asked if I would come over to their home that this woman's son had just been hit by a car and was dead. As I went to a home I had just left hours ago and all was fine; I had, had prayer and went home. Now this ladies world was upside down. As I enter the home she grabbed me by the arm and with tear streaming down her face she asked me to pray for she knew God would raise her son from the dead if I would only pray. I wish that would have been true but you and I know that would not be the case. What would I say? How would I act? This was awful and this ladies heart was broken into a million pieces and who was I to change anything. But what I learned that night has helped me greatly for over 30 years now. Let me share with you. Words may be powerful at times and words will sometimes comfort and while words are important they will never substitute for a hug. No word can shed a tear. No word can hold a hand. It's hard to find the right word in the midst of another's sorrow and pain. In moments like this our presence is often more important than words. Just being there speak volumes. Read what Paul said 2 Corinthians 1:3
Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;

2 Corinthians 1:4
Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, (whenever we suffer) that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. Ability to comfort rests solely on God! Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to give us peace. When we are lost, confused, hurt, sad, scared, and tired or misunderstood, He brings comfort. The Comforter will not offer meaningless words or responses. His presence in our lives holds us through life's ups and downs. We can comfort others because God first comforted us. I am sure that you have just been able at times to just be there and hold a hand and say I am so sorry as you look that hurting person in the eyes with tears in yours. Those acts will not soon be forgotten! But you may say what did I do? You my friend just let the God of all comfort work through you to help another. When you say I can't, you are thinking right, but when you let God work through you He makes a world of differences. One quick last thought. When my Daddy died there was a woman there at the funeral home and I will never forget what she said. She said I remember when my husband was out of work he gave me $20.00 and told me to take my little girl to her Piano lesson and then he walked away. He spoke few words, and with an act of kindness that she remembered years and years later. Now let the God of Heaven use you to make an impact in someone's life this weekend. It's not you it's Him in you!

Wrong Voice

Have you ever listened or followed the wrong voice? The Bible warns about listening to the wrong voice. Have you ever read Psalms Chapter 1? It tells about listening to the wrong voice and shows us what happens when we do. The wrong voice is always there; read with me Psalms 1 verse 1 "Blessed (Happy)
is the man that walketh (Travels) not in the counsel (advice) of the ungodly, (Morally wrong) nor standeth in the way of sinners, (accounted guilty) nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful." (to make
mouths at, that is, to scoff) We are warned that if we are to be happy then we will have to be on guard for the wrong voice. Not one of us would just decide to do wrong; it happens over a time span as Casting Crowns sings in their song "It's a slow fade." Be careful and heed to the warning God has for us. It seems so innocent at first; I mean what harm could this lead to? Before you know what has happened it has gone way too far, but remember it didn't just happen all at once. Your happiness began to fade when you started traveling and taking advice from those that were doing things that were morally wrong. Then you started standing around them that were guilty and then it wasn't long before they made you feel like you were part of their group. You see what we read here is not a hunch, has nothing to do with positive thinking but has everything to do with emotions and feelings. Just because it feels good or even right, doesn't make it so! Poison Ivey feels wonderful when you scratch it, but when you do it spreads and turns into a nightmare before it's over. Marriages have failed because the grass looked greener on the other side but when they got to that supposedly greener field it was brown too. Actions that have been done that we refuse to face or things done to us we refuse to face. So we drug and drink to hide the pain. The wrong voice is always there to help you go down the wrong road, so be careful that you don't follow it. But we are also told who and what to follow Proverbs 3:5
Trust (Put confidents in) in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean (Support yourself) not unto thine own understanding.

Proverbs 3:6
In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

Proverbs 3:7
Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil. Be alert and listen for the right voice for it is there too! So what are you hearing? Who are you following? Where is it getting you? Are you happy or are you miserable? Isaiah 30:21
And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left. Put your faith in taking God at His word and you will see that you will become dumb to your discouragements and blind to your impossibilities and your doubts will soon die. Don't follow the wrong voice many have and they are miserable!