Tomorrow

In the movie "Gone With the Wind" when Rhett Butler left Scarlett while she was standing in the door way she made this statement “ I can’t think about that right now. If I do, I’ll go crazy. I’ll think about that tomorrow.” Could it be that we all put off a lot of things until tomorrow. We might get by with putting some things off until tomorrow but there is one thing that we must not put off until tomorrow. As my grandmother always told me tomorrow never comes for when tomorrow gets here it will be today. How true that is. This is only a story, but the point it makes should not be ignored. There was a demon that came up with a plan that would cause more people to go to hell and his strategy worked. Here’s his strategy “I will actually tell people that they do need Jesus and that they should give Him their life, open up your heart to Jesus and be saved.” I will tell them that there is no real hurry, tomorrow will be fine. We better be fearful of that kind of thinking for here is what the Bible has to say about that way of thinking.

Proverbs 27:1  Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.

Then in

2Corinthians 6:2  (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: (helped you)  behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.) If we put off our salvation until tomorrow it might be an eternal mistake. Remember there were two thieves hanging beside the Lord Jesus that day on Calvary and only one of them asked the Lord to forgive him. The Lord told him “today you shall be with Me in paradise.” 

Luke 23:42  And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. 

Luke 23:43  And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise. The other guy, maybe he was waiting on tomorrow.

So we know it possible to wait but do you really want to cut it that close? I think it’s better to have salvation now and enjoy it here, for the Bible is clear telling us we can know that we have eternal life.

1John 5:13  These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.  Do you know or are you waiting on tomorrow? Remember it is possible but also very dangerous. Don't say what Scarlett said "I can't think about that right now...I'll think about that tomorrow.”

Hebrews 4:7  Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts. (don't be stubborn)

Hope you have a great weekend and please don’t wait on tomorrow for you don’t know what tomorrow may bring.  Last though for you can’t wait until tomorrow here all you must do to have Jesus in your heart today.

Romans 3:23  For all (for you) have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Romans 6:23  For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

 Romans 10:10  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Romans 10:13  For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Right now, today!

Investing

 Back when I was in my thirties my dad told me to take $2000.00 and put it in an IRA and to do that every year. He said if I was to do that every year that when I get old enough to retire I will have enough money to do so. My dad was a wise man about finances but sad to say I didn’t take his advice. If I had invested every year my investment would have grown way more than I had invested. That is also true about knowing and learning about our Heavenly Father the more time we invest the more we’ll know Him. If we will invest time every day in reading our Bible then we will learn more about our Heavenly Father.  Have you ever seen a crowd of people at a stadium or a crowd in a mall? If we were asked what we saw our answer might be people. Has someone ever told you they were going to see the Braves play on a given night? When the camera went across the stadium what were you looking for; was it that person? Other than that all you saw were just people not a person.  To God every face is a child and every child has a name. God knows each one of us by name, He knows your name He knows my name and He will never forget it according to what Isaiah tells us.

 Isaiah 49:16  Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me.

God has graven our name in the palms of his hands and they are continually before Him. We would never know that unless we invested some time in reading God’s word and letting Him speak to us. When God looks down on this planet He doesn’t see just people as we would but He sees each individual with a name like you Joe and you too Mark and He hasn’t forgotten about you either Ron even though you live in another state. God wants to talk with each one of us but unless we open the pages of His word and invest some time  how will we know His voice?

John 10:27  My sheep hear my voice, Have you ever been in a crowd of people, noise all around and all of a sudden you hear your son or daughter crying for you? How did you know their voice from all the other voices around you? Was it because you knew their voice; I think so. Why then would it be any different from knowing God’s voice. We as God's children hear His voice because we know it and the rest of that verse tell us this and I know them, and they follow me: You see we first hear His voice and then we follow Him. We hear our child’s voice in the crowd and we run to them. God hears our voice in the prayer saying I don’t know what to do about this matter, I need your advice on this, I need wisdom to understand, I need direction to know where to go. We then follow God because we are listening to Him and He is speaking out of His word. Let me ask you this question is it important to invest time in reading what God has to say? Let me answer that for myself; yes. What’s your answer? 

 

Your Bible Doesn't Care

My wife and I had only been married 6 months when I received orders for an 18 month tour of duty. I remember getting on an air plane and leaving everything behind going to a place I didn’t want to be, but I had no choice. I can remember going to the mail room sometimes more than once a day just hoping to get a letter from my wife. Other soldiers were getting letters from home why some even got them with a perfume smell on them. I didn’t care about a perfume smell but the letter itself. When those letters came I would read those same words over and over again, not because there was any new information, not because it was a letter it was the person who had written the letter. While reading her letters I was with her and that is all I had until I could be with her again in person.

Our Bible is like that it’s not just a book but the person of the book that changes everything. I sometimes wonder do I look as forward to reading my Bible as I did those letters from my wife. I wonder when I read my Bible do I act as if it is God’s love letter to me? Do I get excited about my Bible reading time? As I write this I am reminded of two women in Luke chapter 10 their names are Mary and Martha. Martha was busy and upset because her sister Mary wasn’t helping her at all. Martha peeks in at her and finds her sitting at the feet of Jesus and gets all upset because she is not helping her.

 Luke 10:39  And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word.

Luke 10:40  But Martha was cumbered (distracted) about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.

Luke 10:41  And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:

Luke 10:42  But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.

Mary set at the Lord’s feet listening to what He said. Mary may have look at this time as David did  

Psalms 119:72  The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver.

Now Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. Martha begins to criticize Mary for not running around like she is. But Jesus says Mary has chosen that good part; Mary had chosen spending time with Jesus more important.  When you and I read our Bible we need to see it as time well spent at Jesus feet. It’s all about Him, it’s all about a person and it all about a relationship with Him. The Bible doesn’t care if you show up. Jesus does! Have you ever had an appointment with someone and they forgot to show up? It wasn’t the appointment that failed you it was the person that failed you. Jesus is there waiting, did we show up to spend time with Him today or were you too busy like Martha to take the time to sit at His feet distracted by many things. 

Ken

Sometimes the impressions as well as the impact we make on others may be priceless; let me explain. What we sometimes think as wasted time someone else may think it was the best day of their life. It happened on June 4 many years ago as an older man was digging around in his attic not long after his wife Elizabeth had went home to be with the Lord. He was mostly looking for pictures of him and his dear departed wife for she never got rid of much. As he looked at one album after another his mind ran back to years gone by and he remembered those joyous days. He reached for another album when he saw what appeared to be a journal from his now grown son. He couldn’t remember ever seeing it before and wasn’t aware that his son even kept a journal. As he began to view his son’s journal and read entry after entry he was reminded of the journals that he too kept. He went to a cabinet where his old journals were kept and soon his eyes fell upon a short note that he had recorded on June 4 which read “Wasted the whole day fishing with Jimmy. Didn't catch a thing.” He then took his sons journal turned to June 4 and here is what his son had written for the same day “went fishing with my dad. Best day of my life.” If someone was to ask you what was the best day of your life what would you say? I have had many a good day in my life. But if I had to name one day as the best day of my life it would have to be a day in April of 1973. It was a day like any other day except I was going to keep a promise that I had made to a man that I worked with. He asked me to go to Church and I told him that I would go but not to his Church I would go to the Church where my father-n-law attended. The reason; I got to thinking that maybe I could get in some good points with him for his thinking of me was not all that good. If he’s see me in the Church service that might make him think of me a little better. But little did I know that God had something much better planned for me. For on that day I gave my heart to the Lord and my life has never been the same. But you and I make imprints in others life we may never realize just like Ken did in mine when he asked me to go to Church and I did. I don’t know where Ken is and wouldn’t even know how to get in touch with him but God used Ken in my life and my life has never been the same.  One day I’ll see Ken again, if not in this life then in heaven; know what? He want be hard to find then. So I wonder how many lives have been touched by the way we act, by the way we conduct ourselves, by the words we speak. It takes only a few minutes for us to impress someone and in those few minutes God might use us to impact them as Ken did me on that night in April of 1973 which lead to the best day of my life. 

Peace

The word “STRESS” - a load, force, or system of forces producing a strain. Stress is a normal part of life. Many events that happen to us, or around us and many things that we do ourselves  put stress on our bodies. We can experience stress from our environment, our body and our thoughts. So stress is pressure that is applied or a strain in any given circumstance.  Stress can be positive, keeping us alert and ready to avoid danger. Stress becomes negative when a person faces continuous challenges without relief or relaxation between challenges. As a result, the person becomes overworked and stress related tension builds. Stress that continues without relief can lead to a condition called distress; a negative stress reaction. Distress can lead to physical symptoms including headaches, upset stomach, elevated blood pressure, chest pain and problems sleeping. Research suggests that stress also can bring on or worsen certain symptoms or diseases. Stress also becomes harmful when people use alcohol, tobacco or drugs to try to relieve their stress. Unfortunately, instead of relieving the stress and returning the body to a relaxed state, these substances tend to keep the body in a stressed state and cause more problems. In order to keep from having stress filled lives we must learn to have “PEACE” in our lives.

Philippians 4:7  And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.  

Don’t forget about the thief? What is he going to do? John 10:10 says “ The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy:” Do you think that the thief might help you have an overworked life, little rest and much tension? You can count on it! What does the next part of that verse tell us “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” So which do you want? Who are you TRUSTING in to have peace in your life? Are you putting your trust in the THIEF? YOURSELF? OR THE LORD JESUS CHRIST?  Oh you say it is not that easy? Oh, but it is! If you were drowning would you put your trust in one who was trying to rescue you? Would you question if they were able to help you? Would it matter who they were? NO! You would quickly reach out. So what did you learn here? Did you learn that Alcohol and Drugs only bring short term relief? Get high and drunk all you want but it will never solve the problem of stress. If we learn to put our trust in the Lord Jesus and get the proper rest then without doubt help will be on the way. Did you get the rest you need last night? I am praying that you have a great week now don’t overdo it.  

He's Looking For You

Have you ever seen a real hero? Sure you have; remember September 11, 2001 police and firefighters went running into the burning twin towers. They knew they might not come out alive but there were people to rescue. I got to thinking about that word “hero.” What is a hero? Here’s what I think a hero is, one who shows great courage in the face of danger. Now those men and women who ran into those burning towers didn’t do it to be hero’s! They did it because there were moms and dads, sons and daughters as well as someones grandchildren that needed help. Not everyone went running in; oh no, there were those running away from the towers to get to a place of safety. Then there were those who were bystanders; what’s a by stander? Well, it is one that is present but not taking part in a situation. Your house in on fire and everyone is out by the big tree in the front yard; that’s what you taught your wife and kids to do.  If there is a fire we will all meet at the big tree. You look around and your little girl is not at the big tree then; you hear her and she is still in the house. What do you do? Running back inside may make things worse instead of one casualty there may be two which would makes your wife a widow and leave your other child without a father. What do you do? Do you run in to be a hero or for the safety of your daughter or do you just become a bystander? Now remember you have been trained not to put yourself in a position that could cause you to have the same fate or fatality.  Let me say I would run back into the burning house to rescue my daughter; living or dying would not be on my mind. I hope no one reading this will ever have to make a decision like that but one has already  made that decision and it concerns you and I. We will find that hero in our Bibles

Luke 19:10  For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.  The Lord Jesus came into this world to rescue each and every one of us; He didn’t have to but because of His great love for us He did.

Ephesians 2: 4  But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,

Ephesians 2:5  Even when we were dead in sins,  (because of our failures) hath quickened us (made us alive) together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

Jesus saw we were not all at the big tree in the front yard, so He came running into this world to rescue each one of us. In the process He dies; but that’s not a bad thing for you and I for that’s what He had to do to rescue us.

Matthew 16:21  From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.

Aren’t you glad? One day my friend and I were out and he lost his footing and began to slide toward the mouth of a large opening. If he were to go over the edge it might be sudden death  or a broken body for sure. I not thinking of becoming a hero or thinking he might pull me off with him, ran and grabbed hold of him and pulled him to safety. Now I don’t think that makes me a hero but I have never regretted that action for one minute I just couldn’t stand there and watch. Jesus can't either He came to rescue you and I; has He found you? You know He is looking for you, let yourself be found. I assure you you’ll never regret it. Read your Bible for He may find you there, go to Church for He may just find you there but whatever you do quit hiding.

Jude 1:22  And of some have compassion, making a difference:

Jude 1:23  And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.

Jude 1:24  Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,

Jude 1:25  To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.

Have a great weekend!

Not Needed

What do you still have that you really don’t need anymore? Maybe an old VHS video recorder;  you still have it somewhere but when is the last time you have used it? An old computer, an old camera that uses real film, a cassette player we all have things we don’t need or use. There was a woman of the night in the days of Jesus that used a costly perfume she though it had powers of attraction. One night she heads out on her nightly journey; she sees a crowd, she hears a voice and then she finds herself face to face with a man named Jesus. That night she heard and she forgot the purpose of her coming into the city. She returns back home with the words of Jesus ringing in her heart and she felt unclean. This woman returns to Jesus but this time the perfume is not on her body but in the box.

Luke 7:37  And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment,

What will she do with the box of perfume?

Luke 7:38  And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.

Her heart is broken and then she does something amazing she begins to wash Jesus feet with her tears that came from her broken heart. She then begins to wipe them with the hair of her head and then she begins to kiss Jesus feet. Then she takes her treasure and anoints the feet of Jesus and the odor filled the room

John 12:3  Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment.

Now that didn’t go over very well in the home of the Pharisee and he now questions the credentials of Jesus

Luke 7:39  Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner.

Judged convicted and sentenced as far as he was concerned for this was the worst kind of sinner; why she was a woman of the night. Aren’t you glad Jesus can and does see the inside of our heart; it’s not what others may think it’s what He knows. Without a word this woman speaks with her actions and Jesus speaks to her.

Luke 7:48  And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven.  Did you notice that she was not commanded to reach new heights in her morals, why Jesus didn’t even tell her to go to the synagogue?  What do we see in that broken box? A life that wasn’t needed or desired anymore. She gave it all up and was placed in the family of God; got anything you don’t need anymore?

 

The Debt

 Saving Private Ryan is a 1998 American war film

 

 set during the invasion of Normandy

 

 in World War II. The film begins with an elderly World War II

 

 veteran and his family visiting the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial

 

 at Colleville-sur-mer

 

; Normandy, France. Ryan's brothers have both been killed in combat, and, unbeknownst to him, he is his mother's only surviving son. The mission involves the captain's unit in brutal battles with the Germans but Private Ryan is located and his life is saved by his captain who dies in the process. As Private Ryan attends to his mortally wounded rescuer, the captain speaks his last words in a hoarse whisper - "Earn this."  Ryan many years later, near the end of his life kneels by his captain's grave and says: "Every day of my life, I've thought about what you said to me that day on the bridge. I've done my best. I hope at least in your eyes that I've lived up to all you gave for me." Here's a man who tried to live his life here in light of what was sacrificed for him. Now Jesus will never say of His death for us, "Earn this." We couldn't. That's why He died because there is nothing we could ever do that could pay our sin-bill with God. He did it all. 

Colossians 1:10  That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;

Colossians 1:11  Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;

Colossians 1:12  Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:

Colossians 1:13  Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:

Colossians 1:14  In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

In verse 13 we are told of the rescue mission Jesus came here on. He has rescued us from  darkness and has translated us (to bear, remove, or change from one place, state, form, or appearance to another) into the kingdom of his dear Son: If you still find yourself messing around with the dark stuff then you are embracing the very junk Jesus died to set you free from.  We can’t earn what Jesus did for each of us but we can live each day of our life in the light of what He did for us.

He paid a debt He did not owe

He paid a debt He did not owe;

I owed a debt I could not pay;
I needed someone to wash my sins away.
And, now, I sing a brand new song,
“Amazing Grace.”
Christ Jesus paid a debt that I could never pay.

He paid that debt at Calvary.
He cleansed my soul and set me free.
I'm glad that Jesus did all my sins erase.
I, now, can sing a brand new song,
“Amazing Grace.”
Christ Jesus paid a debt that I could never pay.

One day He's coming back for me
To live with Him eternally.
Won't it be glory to see Him on that day!
I, then, will sing a brand new song,
“Amazing Grace.”
Christ Jesus paid a debt that I could never pay.
Yes, Jesus paid a debt that I could never pay.
Ellis J. Crum

 

Honor

 As I was at Church this past Sunday morning my pastor was on a needed vacation with his family. A young preacher of whom I think the world of was given the opportunity to preach. He was preaching on the family and in his message he said something that the Lord used to speak to me about and I would like to share that with you this morning. I want to talk about the word “honor.” Merriam and Webster say the word “honor” means good name or public esteem or reputation; a showing of respect, recognition especially as a title for a holder of high office; one whose worth brings respect or fame. The Bible tells us to honor our parents.

Exodus 20:12  Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.

We are to honor our parents but the Apostle tells us that this is the first commandment with promise

Ephesians 6:2  Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) Want to live a long life then honor your parents. We are also told to honor all men, the king and in our case our President.

1Peter 2:17  Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.

 To our wife

1Peter 3:7  Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.

We are to give honor and show respect for those who hold high office, our boss, our senators, our church leaders, Pastor, Deacons and so on. I think you get the picture; we are to honor and show respect and rightfully so. Wait a minute would it not be better for you and I if that person or persons holding the office of President, Parent or Pastor were worthy of that honor? We are not told that we have to like our President, Parent or Pastor but to honor them. It is far better if those holding those offices were worthy of that honor. I love my mother she now lives with my wife and I and I honor her but you know what she is worthy of that honor. You have them in your life too, there are those you honor because of their office and then there are those you honor who are worthy of honor. There’s a big difference. As a parent I want my children to honor me because I am worthy of that honor. As a minister I want to be worthy of that honor. As a grandparent I want to be worthy of that honor. As a leader I want to be worthy of that honor, as a boss I want to be worthy of that honor. Do you really want to be honored because of your position or of who you really are? You can be a hard task master; they honored Pharaoh but they didn’t like him. Remember you can be honored for who you are but it is far better to be worthy of that honor.  Proverbs 18:21  Death and life are in the power of the tongue: So use your tongue wisely. 

Impact

Departing on his white stallion, Silver, the Lone Ranger would shout, "Hi-Yo, Silver! Away!"  Tonto usually referred to the Lone Ranger as "Kemo Sabe

 

", meaning "trusty scout" or "trusted friend. The lone Ranger was a person you liked to see coming in the moment of desperation; he came to help not make a name for himself. When it was all over he disappeared and people would ask "Who was that masked man anyway?" This past weekend I heard two great messages by two wonderful preachers. I would like to share with you if I could. I can remember watching the TV series of the Lone Ranger and it was one of my favorite programs. In the book of Exodus and chapter 17 we read these words.

Exodus 17:10  So Joshua did as Moses had said to him, and fought with Amalek: and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill.

Exodus 17:11  And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed.

Exodus 17:12  But Moses' hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.

Here comes two men to hold up the hands of Moses. Two of these men we know, Moses and his brother Aaron but the third man “Hur” we know little about. He was unknown but on this day he was used by God for a great purpose.  Out of over 3 million people God allowed this man Hur to be used. We don’t read anywhere if anyone thanked him.  I don’t think he really wanted that. I know you have met them they do most of the work and others get thanked. There was a lady in our Church who put our Bible Schools together. She put the theme together and how it was all to be done; in other words she did all the real work and we just followed her directions. She didn’t care about being thanked that was not what she was doing it all for; and God always blessed her work. Hur was that kind of person I believe. I told you all that to show you this. Hur made an impact in his family.

Exodus 31:1  And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

Exodus 31:2  See, I have called by name Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah:

Exodus 31:3  And I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship,

Exodus 31:4  To devise cunning works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass,

Exodus 31:5  And in cutting of stones, to set them, and in carving of timber, to work in all manner of workmanship.

God later calls Hur's grandson to help in the building of the Tabernacle; you see there were others watching Hur; including his grandson. You know what? Others are also watching you and I. Have we impacted our family and friends in the right manner? Have we impacted others for the Gospel's sake? If not let’s start today I hope you have a great week and be sure to thank God for giving you another day to live. 

Detour

I wrote a blog not long ago; I am afraid it took a little detour and while one was on that detour they missed the real point. The real point was having a relationship with Jesus. Jesus had that same problem with the woman at the well in John chapter 4; it begins in verse 20 when she tries to get Jesus to take a detour.

John 4:20  Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship. She starts talking religion. She said “our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem.”  It’s easy to start talking about our Church and why we do this or that and even show them in the Bible why.  Jesus didn’t attempt to talk about religion for that was not the issue. Instead He says John 4:24  God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. He says this isn’t about what religion you are, it’s about your relationship with God. The woman comes back with her answer

John 4:25  The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things. Then Jesus introduces Himself as the Messiah.

 John 4:26  Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he..

We could spend a lot of time talking about our religion but it not about that. It’s all about our relationship with God. Don’t fall into the detour of religion with someone who needs Jesus. For the issue has nothing to do with our religion but whether or not we have been forgiven of our sins so we can have a relationship with God. It’s not about you and I; it’s all about Jesus.  The Apostle Paul put it this way

Corinthians 2:2  For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.  It’s not about our religion nor is about our religious rules or rituals it’s all about Jesus and His Cross where our sin debt was paid in full! One can have religion and not have Jesus. One can be a member of a Church and have done all the rituals that they say is needed and still not have a relationship with Jesus. Do I think we need to be in Church? Yes! You will never hear an altar call being given on a dance floor, at a ball game, grocery store, a theater but you will at a Church. There at the Church is where I met Jesus the Savior of my soul and this Sunday will be no different than last Sunday I will be at Church. Make sure you make it to your Church too! Have a great weekend and find a cool place…there’s A/C at the Church. 

 

Making A Difference

The richest person in town may not have much money at all.  Remember George Bailey in the Christmas movie, “It’s a Wonderful Life". George never got to travel the world, never became a builder of great cities, he never made a lot of money. It wasn’t until he saw the world without him, courtesy of Angel Second Class Clarence Oddoby, that he realized the impact of his life on others.  At the end of the movie, Harry Bailey, George’s younger brother, raised a glass in the air and said, “Here’s a toast to my big brother, George, the richest man in town.”

Luke 9:24  For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it. Hold onto your life, you lose it. Give your life away, you find it.  Too many times we're looking for someone to help us instead of someone to help. We're focused on who could meet our needs instead of whose needs we could help meet. And we're miserable. Nobody wants to come to our pity parties, and life looks ugly because we keep looking through a dirty window called "It's all about me."  We may need a new spark, a new spring in our step, with a song on our lips and that my friend might just make an overnight difference in our life. Maybe it's a broken heart, that God has allowed you to overcome; then help someone else with a broken heart. Maybe it was an unforgiving spirit that you were holding on to in your heart and God helped you learn to forgive; then help someone else. Maybe it's a drug addiction, alcohol, pornography or an anger issue, then help someone else.  Find a place where you are needed, where you can pour yourself into someone other than yourself, into something bigger than yourself. When you do, prepare to experience the awesome healing power of making a difference! You may just become the richest man or woman in town.

Farmer? Business Man?

Erik Weihenmayer (born September 23, 1968) is an acrobatic skydiver

 

, long distance biker, marathon

 

 runner, skier, mountaineer, ice climber, and rock climber.On May 25, 2001 he the was the first person to reach the summit of Mount Everest. I didn’t say that right; he was the first blind person to reach the summit of Mount Everest. Life is what you choose to make it. A Business man lets out an angry sigh. Knowing that traffic will be slow he thinks WHY ME? WHY TODAY? JUST TELL ME WHY!

Outside of town a Farmer sees the storm rolling in and with JOY & CELEBRATION calls out We Are Blessed! At last the drought will end! You and I have a choice; we can be angry like the business man or we can be joyous like the farmer; it’s our choice and it begins with how we choose to make it. I saw  two people on yesterday that caught my attention; both were in motorized wheel chairs. Now that in its self tell  me that they are there for rest of their life. As I watched both, one was faster than the other; one was a man and one was a woman, the man had an older chair and the woman a newer on. Neither complained but moved quickly through the store. I watched as they returned to their vans. One drove their chair up in the van and then jumped into the driver seat and drove away. I think they both were farmers just like Erik finding the good in life’s problems. We are quick to think like the business man but as I watched those two on yesterday I like them have much to be thankful for. Maybe that is why the Lord starts off His praying with praise and not the problems.

Matthew 6:9  After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

Matthew 6:10  Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

 Remember life is what you choose to make it you can focus on the problems or you can focus on overcoming them. Revelation 12:11  And they overcame him(the devil) by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; Be an over comer! 

Rescue

Rescue workers in Alameda, California were forced to watch as a man drowned after they realized they could not save him because they did not possess the proper certifications for water rescue required to legally do so.

Had the workers attempted a rescue without the legal certifications, they could have faced lawsuits leading to massive fines and career ending rulings.

The victim was a suicidal man who waded into the waters to take his own life. Onlookers, including police, firemen and other rescue workers were forced to watch from the water’s edge hopelessly.

In fact, because of certifications and laws, rescue workers could not even legally enter the water to retrieve the body after the man had died. The police asked an onlooker to do it for them.

Can you believe that everyone just stood around watching another die? Not because they weren’t able to save the man but because lack of a certification. My, my, my; but wait a minute we might be doing the same thing. Christ has forgiven us by His grace we have a new future but are we standing around watching those around us drown in their grief still a prisoner and a victim of sin?  Our excuse may be I just don’t feel qualified, I just don’t know the Scriptures well enough; well do like the Apostle Paul did, tell your story! Tell what the Lord did for you!

Act 26:13  At midday, O king, I saw in the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me and them which journeyed with me.

Act 26:14  And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

Act 26:15  And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.

Act 26:16  But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee;

Just like the Apostle Paul you too have a story to tell of how the Lord rescued you from a life of sin; you don’t have to stand by, go tell them what the Lord has done for you. That’s a story that can’t be argued with. Let me share a story of another with you. I was working in a restaurant as a cook at the time. A new lady was hired as the breakfast cook. She would be finishing up as I came in to begin preparation for the lunch rush. I would always hear her talking to others about Jesus. It always seemed like she had had coffee with Him that morning before coming to work. Did you notice what he said the lady talked as if she had had coffee with Jesus that morning before coming to work? Who are we having coffee with in the mornings? Maybe that’s why we don’t have a story to tell and maybe that’s why we feel we need some kind of certification. That man just heard her story and this is what it did for him. That always intrigued me. So much so that I developed a hunger to know Jesus myself, if that were possible. That’s what the Apostle Paul said Philippians 3:10  That I may know him, That’s it we can and must know HIM!  Believe I’ll go have a cup of coffee with Him!

Vision

 The late Steve Curington President and Founder of Reformers Unanimous Addictions program would always close the Reformers Conference in Rockford, Illinois with what he called an Envision the Vision banquet. Where he would explain and show his vision for the next year; it was always an exciting time. I was thinking about that word “ENVISION” so I looked it up to see what the meaning was and here is what Merriam Webster said about the word Envision : to picture to oneself. Every year Steve Curington would do his best to get those who were there at the banquet to catch his vision for themselves. Have you ever stopped to think about what you envisioned? Our Bibles tell us in 
Proverbs  29:18  Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he. I can understand what that means for we must have a vision; but sometime people have visions and the vision dies before it ever becomes visible, why? I believe here is the answer; if you can’t visualize you can’t materialize and if you can’t materialize you can’t realize. Maybe too many get a vision without ever visualizing. I remember standing in a field with my father-n-law back in the early 70’s. He showed me where we were fixing to start building their new home. All I saw was a field of grass and weeds. The words he said next impacted my life a little that night but God never let me forget what he said and would remind me over and over again until I understood.  This is what he told me that night, "I know you can’t see it but I see it as clear as if it was already built.” That’s it; if you can’t visualize it, you can’t materialize it and it can’t be realized. If we never materialize in our minds that people are dying without knowing who Jesus is and what He has done for them, than we will never realize that they are going to a devil’s hell. When that happens we lose the vision. Just as my father-n-law saw his new home already built before it was ever built; so you and I must in the same manner see those we come in contact with, with a clear vision. No, I am not talking about pushing someone in a corner and making them feel like dirt. Oh no, Jesus never used that approach and neither should we become so called Christian Police and humiliate them to the place of no return! We must just get the vision and with it get understanding and approach those around you with the love of Christ in your heart and it will come out of your mouth.  
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. Have a blessed week!

Better

 It matters not what you are going to buy whether it’s a TV, radio, car, boat or anything there is always something better if you are willing to pay for it. I have done things the hard way and the easy way and then have found a better way of doing them. I was reading in the book of Hebrews in chapter one and saw this 

Hebrews 1:4  Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. That word better caught my eye; notice, not just better but so much better. Well, that brings up the question "what is so much better?" Let’s see if we can find out. First of all it says “being made so much better than the angels.” Something better than angels? There are a few angels that come to mind; there was Gabriel and he was a Mighty Angel and there was Michael and he was a Messenger. As we to continue read there is something better than the angels; I am interested, how about you? Notice what is said “He hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name.” The personal pronoun is referring to Jesus, God's Son which is God in the flesh and God hasn’t’ inherited anything for He owns it all. 

Hebrews 1:2  Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;

Read it; hath by (past tense) inheritance obtained a more excellent name. 

Proverbs 22:1  A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold.

Charles Weigle says it best in his song “No One Ever Cared For Me Like Jesus.” He wrote that song after a great heart break. Charles' wife decided that she no longer wanted to be a preacher's wife. Charles pleaded with her to stay with him, but she refused to do so. Charles Weigle, in the middle of his evangelistic success, had to say goodbye to his wife. His wife left him  never to return. As soon as she left, he sat down and wrote, “No One Ever Cared for Me Like Jesus.”

1. I would love to tell you what I think of Jesus Since I found in Him a friend so strong and true; I would tell you how He changed my life completely He did something that no other friend could do. Refrain: No one ever cared for me like Jesus, There's no other friend so kind as He; No one else could take the sin and darkness from me O how much He cared for me!

2. All my life was full of sin when Jesus found me, All my heart was full of misery and woe; Jesus placed His strong and loving arms around me, And He led me in the way I ought to go. 3. Ev'ry day He comes to me with new assurance, More and more I understand His words of love; But I'll never know just why He came to save me, 'Till some day I see His blessed face above.

When you hurt turn to God in prayer, tell Him all that is on your heart, tell Him everything.  Do not be led by your emotions, turn the issue to God and trust Him, then you can be emotionally free and be a useful servant of the Savior. Have a Great Week End and we will meet again on Monday. May the Lord Bless you is my prayer!