Self Control

I and two other men were in Paraguay visiting with a Missionary and his family. The first day we awoke to fog floating over the floor. My friend pulls out his electric razor to give himself a shave; my other friend looked at the fog and said “what have I let you talk me into.” My other friend plugs his electric razor into the wall socket and all of a sudden his razor was running real fast! Well; for about 3 seconds and that was it, the razor was no more. We later learned that the electric was not 110 but 220; too much power for his 110 razor. I was wondering do you have enough power? I would like to write on Self Esteem and Self Control for a moment. What is self control? It is restraint exercised over one's own impulses, emotions, or desires. Krispy Kreme wants us to buy a dozen doughnuts while they are hot; Best Buy wants us to buy a television before you leave the store; self control is being able to restrain from doing so. There is something else; you can't touch it, but it affects how you feel. You can't see it, but it's there when you look at yourself in the mirror. You can't hear it, but it's there every time you talk about yourself. What is this important but mysterious thing? It's your self-esteem! Esteem is a fancy word for thinking that someone or something is important or valuing that person or thing. And self means, well, you! It's how much you value yourself and how important you think you are. Now I realize you can go over board but we are told in Romans 12 and verse 3 “not to think of ourselves more highly than we ought to. Romans 12:3  For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. You and I must learn to have self control.  Proverbs 16:32  He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit (has self control)  than he that taketh a city. Self control isn’t praying and asking God if He wants you to have a hot Krispy Kreme doughnut let there be a free parking space at the front door and then riding around the building 16 times until there is one.  Self esteem is understanding that you are a value to God and that God has something for you to do; understanding and knowing that you can do all things through Christ Jesus.  Philippians 4:13  I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.  Philippians 1:6  Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ: Self-esteem isn't bragging about how great you are. It’s about who you are in Christ Jesus. My prayer for you and your family is that Sunday Morning you will find yourselves in Church getting to know about the Lord Jesus. If you live close I invite you to Victory at 88 Brand Rd Loganville GA. We’ll talk again on Monday.

Happy

When I was a young boy I was playing in our back yard up in a big wild cherry tree. While I was playing I picked up a rope; I don’t know how but I got tangled up and fell. As I fell the rope tightened up and there I was hanging in that tree. My mother and Dad were inside the house and didn't see me as time was of the upmost importance. Little did I know that our next door neighbor had seen what had happened and was quickly on his way to cut me loose? I had not thought of that in years until I read Psalms 40 and verse 1 I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.

Well, to tell you the truth I wasn’t waiting very patiently that day hanging up in that tree but I am glad that someone inclined unto me and heard my cry. No, it wasn’t God that day; it was my next door neighbor. He came and lifted me up where I was able to put my feet on solid ground; that day he saved my life. There was another day in April of 1973 I found myself with a great need and on that day the Lord inclined unto me and heard my cry. The Lord did something for me that my next door neighbor couldn’t do; the next three verses tell us 

Psalms 40:2  He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.

Psalms 40:3  And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.

Psalms 40:4  Blessed is that man that maketh the LORD his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies. Do you see it? It was the Lord that brought me up out of a horrible pit; it wasn’t me, it was Him! It was the Lord that set my feet upon a rock. It was the Lord that established my goings; not me. It was the Lord that put a new song in my mouth; not me. Yes, many have seen what the Lord has done for me. So happy is the person whom puts their trust in the Lord. Are you happy? Are you trying to make yourself happy; it’s the Lord who makes one happy. “I’m happy in the lord today.” “This  is the say the Lord has made I will rejoice and be glad in it.” Happiness is not found in things; happiness is found in the Lord. I hope you haven’t been looking for happiness in all the wrong places for happiness is in reaching distance. 

Proverbs3:5  Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 

There it is Psalms 40:4  Blessed(happy) is that man that maketh the LORD his trust

 May I say to you this Thursday that I am Happy and I'm Happy because Jesus lives withing my heart and whatever comes my way this day the Lord knew about it before my eyes opened this morning.

Get Up

Walter Payton was known around the NFL as "Sweetness". He is remembered as one of the most prolific running backs  in the history of American football. There are not many people that would disagree that professional football is a rough, sometimes violent sport. Years ago, during a Monday-night football game between the Chicago Bears and the New York Giants, one of the announcers observed that Walter Payton, the Bears’ hall-of-fame running back, had accumulated over nine miles in yardage by running with the football. Another announcer remarked, “Yeah, and that’s with someone knocking him down every 4.6 yards!” As I read that I was reminded of what we are told in 

Proverbs 24:16  For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.

There is not a one of us who have not been discouraged from time to time. Some get discouraged because they don’t feel they are meeting goals and expectations that they have made for themselves. Maybe someone else would be better at this than I am, so I’ll just quit! Ok, Ok let’s just all get around you and pat you on the back, feel sorry with you and let you believe that we never have problems or get discouraged or make the same mistake over and over again. In Luke chapter 24 you will find two that had just left Jerusalem on the greatest day in History; resurrection Sunday and they are both discouraged. 

Luke 24:13  And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs. (7-9 miles)

Luke 24:15  And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them.

Luke 24:17  And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad?

Here we find two that are in the same shape; discouraged.  But Jesus, on the most important day in History takes time out of His busy schedule to help encourage them both.  Did you my friend get knocked down? Then do what Walter Payton did time and time again get up! Walter Payton was one of the most successful running backs to ever play professional football. He knew that everyone even the best gets knocked down. The key to his success was getting back up and running again just as hard the next time he took the football. If you and I are going to succeed when we get knocked down we are going to have to get back up. If you don’t then you will soon lose out and never become one of the most successful. Peter was knocked down but he got back up. Even the Apostle Paul made mistakes; what if he would have just quit? Now what about you; if you just quit how many will be hurt in you weak decision? In the race that is the Christian life, keep your eyes on the finish line and run hard! No matter who tries to cause you to stumble or whatever circumstances knock you off balance, when you fall down along the way, get back up, dust yourself off and get back in the game! The team is depending on you. 

They Came, They Found

Upon the first day of the week; I love hearing those words. There is something else that excites me and those are these words “they came ”and “they found” they came to find their Master in his grave clothes, they didn’t expect to see angels in their shining garments. These women had questions of concern for they said one to another ”who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre?” Little did they know that the stone had already been rolled away; not to let Christ out but to let them in. To their great surprise Jesus wasn’t there; is that not the way many go to their place of worship not expecting anything unusual to happen? All our mistakes in religion spring from ignorance or forgetfulness of the words Christ has already spoken. I went to dear friend’s funeral on yesterday he was 82 years 9 months and 25 days old. I don’t know how many tried to win this man to Christ; I tried, my associate tried more than once we talked with him about giving his life to Christ. We would ask him if he died today where would he spend eternity. He would say I’d go to hell and then we would say ask God to save you? But he never did. Then one night in a revival meeting on a Friday night he made his way to an old fashioned altar his Pastor met him and asked him what he needed and he said a Savior. That night at age 80 he asked God to forgive him of his sin and became a child of the King. He had always been a humble man, never did you hear any unkind words come from his lips. Hard work never scared him, his hand were worn and rough from all the days he spent in the fields plowing the mules, picking the cotton, splitting the fire wood and if he was ever married I didn’t know anything about it; but he still needed a Savior. I was so glad the day I got the call as the voice on the other end told me about his decision; you see he too came and he found. Jesus said in

John 3:3 Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

No one has to tell me that I have been born physically I know it without a doubt; neither does anyone have to tell me that I’ve been born spiritually. I  know that also without a doubt. These eyes one day will close in death just like my friends did, but I too came and found that Jesus loved me just as I was. My friend cut it close, I’ll admit. As we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ let’s thank Him and Praise Him for His goodness to you and I or let’s ask Him to forgive us of our wrongs and come into our hearts and give us the free gift of salvation. Don’t you even think about laying out this Sunday for there will be something just for you down at God’s house. Oh, by the way my friend that was buried on yesterday well we just said good-bye for a short time for we will see one another again in the near future.

James 4:14  Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.

Don’t know where to go to Church this Sunday come and go with me to Victory at 88 Brand Rd. in Loganville Ga. I will be teaching in the Sanctuary at 10 am on No Need to be Discouraged This Day. See you then!

Opportunities

Hanna lives in coal country so she's been around miners a lot. Hanna and a friend were talking recently about the mines and the miners and a surprising fact came out.  Hanna said the most common cause of death among those coal miners was electrocution.  They live in a real remote area and the mining operation there is pretty old and relatively primitive.  So there are sometimes problems with the wiring in the mine, and miners actually get electrocuted.  What compounds the problems is that the nearest doctor is many miles away, which led Hanna to ask the doctor if there was anything the local folks could do to help while they're waiting for the doctor to arrive.  She was surprised by the doctor's answer.  "Well," he said, "there is one thing, hug the injured miner."  Well, obviously Hanna wanted to know why.  He said, "When people are about to go into shock, I think there is something about a hug, about human touch - about human tenderness.

Not all shocks are electrical are they? People around us are getting shocked every day by bad news they've just received, by bad treatment, by unexpected developments, by a death, or a failure, or by pain in a relationship.  And not all hugs are two arms around a person, although that kind of hug is great.  But a hug can be a word of encouragement, or an offer to help, a gift, a compliment, a place to rest and recover.  It's practical love when someone has really been hit hard. I am reminded of what we are told in

Galatains 6:10  As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.  As we what? Have opportunity! Have you and I been looking for OPPORTUNITIES? To give somebody; anybody a word of encouragement or have you and I been so caught up in our own problems that we are not looking to give a kind word to anyone else. When we learn to get our mind off our problems and began to look for ways to encourage others we will soon find it is far better to encourage others and we will find that our problems will become less and less. Try it and see what will happen. Tell yourself, today I will look for and find at least one person to encourage. Take time and look for an opportunity a kind word, a pat on the back, a small touch, a listing ear and a caring heart; you will do fine now pray and ask God to give you that opportunity today.   

Ever Get

Ever get discouraged? We all do from time to time. As I was reading I ran across an article about Adoniram Judson. Adoniram at age 25 was the first  American Baptist Missionary sent from North America to preach in Burma; he labored for almost 40-years in Burma which is now known as Myanmar. Read about him and then be thankful for what God has given you today.

On one occasion Judson was falsely accused of being an English spy. As a result, he endured a cruel imprisonment by the Burmese government. His wife, Anne, faithfully and courageously attempted to have him released through every possible channel, but to no avail.

His prison cell was so tiny that he was forced to stand, while the cells of others allowed room to lie down to sleep. The sun was unbearably hot at times; prisoners were never allowed to bathe; pain filled every fiber of his body as he was tortured day after day. His only respite from the agony of his incarceration was a visit from Anne. In those brief but wonderful moments, she would encourage him with the same message, "Hang on, Adoniram, God will give us the victory."

Week after tortuous week, Anne came and encouraged him, delivering the same words, "God will give us the victory." After many months, Adoniram was unexpectedly released and assigned the task of interpreter for affairs between the English and Burmese. Because of this new duty, he was still separated from Anne. Sadly, during his time of absence, Anne became deathly ill.

Months passed and Judson was finally allowed to return home a free man. Body broken and weak, he approached the place he once called home. As he slowly limped toward the door, he saw a child sitting in the dirt. The little girl was so covered with filth that he failed, at first, to recognize her as his own daughter. He went into their simple hut, squinting in the darkness, and gasped as he saw the emaciated form of his wife lying on a cot, weakened by disease. Tears coursing down his cheeks, he hugged his daughter close to him and knelt beside the cot.  Anne looked up at him and with her last breath, smiled and whispered the words, "Adoniram, God will give us the victory."

If you were to be able somehow to interview the Judsons today, they would no longer be saying, "God will give us the victory"; instead, they would joyfully deliver the news, "God has given us the victory!"

Be encouraged, my friend. No matter what you're going through right now, your life is in God's hands. Hold fast to your faith as Anne and Adoniram did, even in the face of squalor and disease, deprivation and disappointment, heartache and loss.

Your reward in the end is everlasting, and the celebration of final victory is . . . just ahead!  Adoniram Judson, Sr. (9 August 1788 — 12 April 1850) 

Glorify

A poll was taken that asked Americans what they thought was their main purpose in life. The responses were interesting. You would think some might say, "To make a contribution to society," or "To have a meaningful life." But what most people said was, "The main purpose of life is enjoyment and personal fulfillment." It's interesting to note that 50 percent of those polled identified themselves as born-again Christians. So what does the Bible say?

Isaiah 43:7  Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him.

Psalms 30:12  To the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever.

Psalms 50:15  And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.

Psalms 86:12  I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify thy name for evermore.

1Corinthain 6:20  For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

Don’t see that much anymore; you would think you  would see that at the Church house I mean after all God has done you would think we would see an expression of His Glory. On the other hand go to the Ball Park and you’ll see another picture; people waving their hands and shouting at the top of their lungs. Now there is nothing wrong with that but I feel that just maybe we should have some of that energy left to show our appreciation for all that God has done in each of our lives. When we pray  we should praise Him and praise Him without doubt. 

1Timothy 2:8  I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.

Every Friday night as we close our Reformers meeting I ask those who received help to lift their hand and many hands always go up. I then ask them to do something; I say that it is  God and not I that has helped them and before they go to sleep this night to thank God for His goodness to them.  Our heavenly Father wants to have fellowship with you and I and He wants us to Glorify Him and make Him known to those around us.  

Matthew 5:16  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. 

Wrestling Match

Hulk Hogan; the Hulkster ruled professional wrestling for two entire decades. Possessing incredible charisma and physical stature he helped transform wrestling from a niche pastime; spread out over several regional promotions to a mainstream brand of entertainment. Hogan’s marketability and appearances in movies and television helped turn the WWE into a billion dollar industry and paved the way for today’s high paid stars and elaborately produced shows. His in-ring ability; however left much to be desired, as he is widely regarded as a below average wrestler. Nevertheless Hogan rarely lost a match, even into his 50s. Hulk Hogan is said to have been the greatest wrestler thus far.

I would like to take a second look at this wrestling thing and see if the Hulk can hold up to whom I believe to be the greatest wrestler. His name was Jacob and his wrestling match lasted all night. Genesis 32:24  And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. Now Jacob didn’t win a belt to wave in the air but what he got was much, much better than any belt. Jacob didn’t wrestle in front of a great crowd; as a matter of fact no one knew that there was even a match going on. When the sun came up in the east that next morning Jacob had a hip that was out of joint. That wrestling match that night changed the way he would walk for the rest of his life; that wrestling match changed him forever. Jacob had a different walk and a different name. Have you ever had an experience that changed you? Maybe you saw something that had frightened you so that it changed the way you had been doing a certain something. Maybe you became convicted of the wrongs you had been doing and felt you needed to ask the Lord to forgive you. So you bowed your head and asked the Lord for forgiveness and for Him to come into your heart and He did just that. Now you can say the with the song writer

I thought that number one would surely be me,
I thought I would be what I wanted to be.
I thought I could build on life's sinking sand,
But I can't even walk without You holding my hand.

I thought I could do a lot on my own,
I thought I could make it all alone;
I thought of myself as a mighty big man,
But I can't even walk without You holding my hand.

Lord I can't even walk without You holding my hand.
The mountain's too high and the valley's too wide.
Down on my knees, I learned to stand.
Because I can't even walk without You holding my hand.

I think that I'll make Jesus my All,
From now on when I'm in trouble, on Him I will call;
If I don't trust Him, I'll be less than a man,
You see I can't even walk without You holding my hand.

Lord I can't even walk without You holding my hand.
The mountain's too high and the valley's too wide.
Down on my knees, I learned to stand.
Because I can't even walk without You holding my hand.

 So how is your walk; any different than it has ever been? Maybe you need to be in a wrestling match like Jacob and come out a changed person. Have a great week!

Wrong Ladder

Edmund Hillary once expressed surprise that it was he -- "an ordinary person with ordinary qualities" -- who became the first man to conquer the world's tallest peak. He spent the rest of his life telling the story of the climb up Mount Everest that made him one of the 20th century's best-known adventurers. But he maintained his reputation for humbleness, while working to aid the impoverished people of Nepal. Have you ever had the thoughts of getting to the top or as many say “the top of the ladder?” Who doesn’t want a better life for their family as well as their self? But what if you fought your way all the way to the top of the ladder only to find out that you were at the top of the wrong ladder?  Jacob did that; Jonah did that and they both found that they were at the top of the wrong ladder. They were running hard and fast in the wrong direction; a direction away from God and not toward God. Jacob was busy tricking and deceiving everyone while Jonah was running away from God in the opposite direction. What about ourselves? Maybe God doesn’t want you to be president of the company. Maybe God doesn’t want you to be wealthy. A man quit his job making $150,000 dollars a year to pastor a Church only able to pay him $30,000 dollars a year. You may say that was a poor business move. Better to be at the top of the right ladder making $30,000 a year than be at the top of the wrong ladder making $150,000.  We may never understand why God does certain things but one day when we look back we will see clearly. Joseph in prison for something he never did; but God had him there so He could move him into the palace. Don’t complain where you find yourself today as long as you know you are where God wants you and you will find that it will bring joy and happiness into your life. One day like Joseph you too will be able to look back and say “now I see why I had to go through all that and you like Joseph will say “it was worth following God to be where I am today". So whatever you do don’t find yourself at the top of the wrong ladder. Have a great weekend and find you way to the House of God this weekend; you’ll be glad you did.

Best Gift Ever

Back in the early 60’s a man came driving down the street my aunt lived on. He lost control of his car knocking over mailboxes as he continued down the street. His car finally stopped in the middle of a neighbor’s yard across the street from my aunt’s home. The driver was out of his car by the time the police arrived walking around as he told them he was not driving the car; my aunt said you sure weren't. He like so many don’t want to take responsibility for their actions. It wasn’t my fault…then whose was it? Was it this man’s fault or was it the alcohol this man had been drinking? That’s what Adam said “it’s not my fault it’s your fault God for you are the one who gave me this woman".

Genesis 3:12  And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.

So we have passed on the blame ever since then. Many times we don’t realize that we have done wrong. The apostle Paul put it this way

Romans 7:7  What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.

Paul said that he would not have known that lust was sin had it not been for the law.

Exodus 20:17  Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet (to desire that which it is unlawful to obtain or possess)thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's.

Maybe the driver of that car that night had never read that it would be breaking the law to drink and drive a motor operated vehicle. That was possible but the law doesn’t care if you know it or not for ignorance of the law is no excuse.  The only hope that man would have is that the Judge he stood before would have mercy on him for he was without doubt guilty. The same with you and I; the only hope we have is for God to show us mercy because of His Son Jesus Christ who has already paid the price which the law requires and that price is death. 

Romans 6:23  For the wages of sin is death; The next part of that verse is where we see God’s mercy but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

A gift is something we receive; we don’t work for it, we don’t pay for it. Let me explain let’s say I was to give you my watch which was a very expensive one. I said “I want to give it to you as a gift; you reach out and receive it then it becomes yours; that’s a gift. Now let's say I give you that same watch and tell you that it was a gift and say all I want you to do is cut my grass once a year. It is no longer a gift for them you have to do something to get it.  All one has to do to have eternal life is receive Jesus Christ. Best Gift Ever, bar none!

How Much Further

 In 1988 a man wrote a book entitled 88 reasons why Jesus would return in 1988. Well it’s been 23 years and Jesus hasn’t returned yet; but I assure you He will; we just don’t know the day nor the hour. When my children were young they would always ask a question when we were on a trip “how much farther.” It didn’t matter what we told them for they would ask the same question every few miles. You and I live in a day when the Lord may come but have you ever thought that today we are closer than we have ever been to our end. Have you asked yourself ‘how much further?” That, we just don’t know but there is one thing we can know; Jesus said

Matthew 24:3  And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? 

Matthew 24:4  And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.

Matthew 24:5  For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

Matthew 24:36  But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.

Just as my children sat in the back seat not knowing when we would arrive; I as the Dad and driver didn’t really know either but I did have a better understanding than my children. There are two things I’m not sure of #1-when Jesus will return or #2- when I will depart this earth.  There are something’s though that I’m sure of #1- eternal life and I have it 

John 10:28  And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 

#2- I’m confident of being present with the Lord 

2Corinthians  5:8  We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. #3- my sins are forgiven 

1John 2:12  I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake. “For his name’s sake?” Not for ours but HIS. In the Old Testament we read this

 Psalms 106:6  We have sinned with our fathers, we have committed iniquity, we have done wickedly.

Psalms 106:7  Our fathers understood not thy wonders in Egypt; they remembered not the multitude of thy mercies; but provoked him at the sea, even at the Red sea.

Psalms 106:8  Nevertheless he saved them for his name's sake, that he might make his mighty power to be known.

Here are a group of people like you and I, they had sinned like their fathers before them and done wickedly.  I see God mercies saving a people who didn’t deserve it and He did it for His name sake that his mighty power might be made known. God didn’t save you and I because of our good looks or our great abilities or our talents but He saved us that He might be made known, so others will hear and come to know Him also. For it’s not Gods will that any should perish. 

Nightmare

A nightmare; I guess that is what you would call it. It was a major mistake made because of a faulty piece of equipment. The end results by the time it was over were that I had lost everything I had worked for all my life. Now without a place to lay my head, car to drive not so much as a bike to ride and still those who had taken me to court wanted more. I didn’t have more and they were going to make sure I’d never have anything all because of some dead fish. In my dream I had allowed some insecticide to get into a water current and downstream it went killing fish as it worked its way down. When I awoke I couldn’t shake that dream; I knew it was a dream and there was no danger in a court case. But I kept asking myself why can’t I shake this? Then it hit me or may I say the Lord showed me something and I rejoiced in Him for His greatness. The rich man in Luke chapter 16 had it all; all this world could offer him. The man in Luke chapter 12 had done so well he was going to have to build. Isn’t that what we all want? Grow our business to the place where we can finally sit back and never have to worry about anything. House paid for, cars, boats, airplane all paid for. Vacation home paid for, mountain home paid for, plenty of money in the bank and in the pocket. Ok, so I let it get out of hand a bit. Back to the dream and what God showed me; if I had no money in the bank, no car to drive and no home to go to in the evening have I lost it all? No! Because my family loves me for who I am not what I have. No! Because my friends love and like me even if I don’t have a mountain home they can go to on their vacation. Money and things don’t buy families nor friends; money doesn’t buy love nor life. If I lost it all today there is something the courts could not take away and that’s my joy, happiness and the smile I get to have on my face. “But there is something else and that’s my eternal life; read this and see what you think? John 10:28  And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. Romans 8:38  For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Romans 8:39  Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Excuse me I had to get up and run around a minute on that one. Lose it all? NEVER, NEVER, NEVER! So what’s really important here? Dead Fish or having life eternally, family that loves you and friends who look forward to seeing you and spending time with you? It’s just things you can lose and if things make you happy then you can lose being happy. I’m happy in the Lord today how about you?

Nip It

Remember the movie Wizard of Oz? Dorothy had  joined with the Scare Crow and the Tin Man and were in a thick forest as they began to think about wild animals. They began to say Lions and Tigers and Bears oh my. Well that was a wonderful childhood story but you know I have never been in fear of a Lion, a tiger or a Bear. I have never once worried about being eaten by any of those wild animals. Now the Bible warns us that the devil is like a Lion and his desire is to devour us

1Peter 5:8  Be sober, (keep your mind clear)   be vigilant; (be alert)   because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: In one sense you and I should be alert because our enemy is wanting to devour (to eat up greedily or ravenously) us. But I’m not expecting to have to run and hide from a Lion or a Tiger nor a Bear at all. But there is something you and I both need to be on the watch for and that is Nat’s, Flies and Mosquitos for we will be faced with those. Know what? You don’t see them coming until they are already there; they slip up on you. No, they don’t want to eat you or devour you like the Lion, Tiger or Bear, but none the less they are capable of spreading serious diseases. In Europe in the 14^th century the bubonic plague killed a third of the population and that plague was started by the fleas on rats not a Lion.The Bible warns us about small things that will destroy

Song of Solomon 2:15  Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes. It wasn’t the big Foxes it was the little ones that did the damage, caused the problem and spoiled the vines. So it is with you and I, it’s the small talk; cutting others down, it’s too cold, it’s too hot, never happy always complaining, always talking and destroying; this too can be catching. It’s the little things that you and I must be on guard for not the Lions, Tigers and Bears. The picture that pops up you didn’t see coming, it’s the thought that flashes through your mind, it’s the small words that slipped out; its thinking life would be better if I had! Are we ever satisfied? 

Proverbs 27:20  Hell and destruction are never full; so the eyes of man are never satisfied.

 As we start a fresh week let’s think before we speak.  Let’s make a plan when that little misquote of a thing comes our way that wants so badly to suck out the very blood and life. Let’s not give it the opportunity, let’s shut it down like we would slap the mosquito we saw on our arm. As Barney Fife would say “you’ve got to nip it in the bud.”

Have a great week and be thankful for it!

Now Not Later

Wednesday morning as I was driving to a meeting; around 7:30 I crossed a small bridge and as I went across it I looked up the creek. The creek was up because of the hard rain on the night before. As I looked I saw what would have been a wonderful picture. Fog rising off the creek as it came across the rocks; what a nice picture I told myself but all I had was my cell phone which wouldn’t have given it justice. What an opportunity missed because I wasn’t ready nor was I expecting to see anything so picture worthy. I go across that bridge all the time and pay little or no attention to what’s going on in the creek. As I thought about that I asked myself do I get so use to the people I come in contact with on a daily bases that I miss the most important  things about them? Do I miss opportunities to let them speak or share what is going on in their lives? Do I miss opportunities to let my light and life shine?  Do I fail to look on the field that is ready for harvest? Is what I am doing so important that I miss what is really important? One day Jesus gave His disciples a view of what many miss seeing He told them 

John 4:35  Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest. He said look for the time is now not later. One of the regrets I hear love ones say after someone has passed away is “I wished I would have spent more time with them.” What about when we leave the house are we really expecting to help someone? Maybe even spend time with them? Are we in such a hurry that we run right by that hurting person? The Lord taught me something a few years back that I have learned to watch for; it’s not easy but I still watch for it. I believe that every day the Lord has at least one appointment already set for me. The problem is I don’t know what time of day or when and where it will be, but He places those in my pathway on a daily bases that I may help. One night in a Burger King I was talking with a man, as we talked he told me that his life was all messed up and he asked me if I could help him. I asked him how long he had been a Christian. He told me that he had never become a Christian. I asked him if he would like to ask the Lord to come into his heart. He said that he would. There were many eating in that restaurant that night as I asked him if he would be willing to knell in this restaurant and ask the Lord to forgive him of his sins and come into his heart. He said he was willing so we both bowed our heads and knelt beside our table, as he asked the Lord into his heart. You see that was one of my appointments that day. Too many are waiting for the four months when it’s already harvest time.  Slow down this weekend and ask the Lord to place someone in your pathway that you can help and then let me know how it went. We’ll write again on Monday God Bless each and every one. 

He's Down

 Some time back I and a few other men were on our way to the North Georgia Mountains to do some trout fishing. Now I like to trout fish and these men that were with me had not been before; so as the old pro I began to tell them all about how it was done. When we arrived it was cool; no, it was cold and the water was cold. I warned them about being careful and not to fall in as the current could be and would be strong in places. They assured me that they would be careful. Well, we started and we moved up the creek. They soon got a few hundred feet ahead of me; bunch of rookies I thought.  I the pro was doing fine and then I made a wrong step onto a slick rock. The current that I had warned them about hit me and down into the cold water I went; as I eased myself up all wet and now freezing my first thought was did anyone see me fall? Well, it wasn’t long before I found out the answer to that question and it was yes. It was one of those moments you wish you were invisible but invisible I wasn’t, wet I was and me the pro not only wet but freezing too. That was bad enough but those rookies; yes. They were bent over laughing so hard that their tears caused the river to raise 2 inches. Well what did I learn that day? What Paul said in 1Corinthians 10:12  Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. I thought I would never fall, not as many times as I have been up and down that creek. Not once had I ever got tripped up, but on this day the Lord took the opportunity to show me that I too could fall. So when I think I am standing firmly I should be careful because there is a possibility that I could fall and that not only goes for trout fishing but anything else too.     

Lost

Have you ever thought what it would be like to be homeless? No home to come home to, no one to meet you when you arrived; no wife, no children, not even a dog; no one at all. What an awful thought and something I just do not have any desire to be a part of. I read about a man in Denver who the police called Al and Al has no idea who he is or where he is from. When Al spoke to the press he was hoping that someone would recognize him. As Al addressed the TV cameras his hands were shaking and his voice was wavering. He spoke and said “I feel totally lost, I feel totally alone very depressed and very anxious about everything.” You know the best thing about Al? He knew he was lost and wanted someone; anyone to help him. Al was lost and Al made a plea for help; Al couldn’t find himself. Al’s only hope is that someone would come looking for him. That’s the kind of person Jesus is looking for?  

Luke 19:10  For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. Jesus is looking for those who are lost, the problem is many don’t see or understand that they are lost. Notice what Paul says

Ephisians 2:12  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:

In time past without Christ, strangers, having no hope and the reason there was no  hope “Without God in the World.” God was not part of their world, lives, daily activity. But did you notice the words “that time” what time? The time before Jesus found you; because you were not looking for Him. All you have to be is lost and He will find you.