What was Jesus Thinking?

Would you invite a known thief into your home to live? I mean this person has been convicted by the court system. He is guilty without a doubt, he has been the front page news and he and his buddy are finally caught. The court date has been set and the trial is under way, the jury is now out to make the verdict; do you have the verdict? Yes, we do your honor; what is it? We find these men guilty of thievery. The Judge says your punishment death? Now would you if possible tell one of these men that he could move in your home? Probably not! Some years back Jesus told a thief that today he would be in paradise with Him. Come on move in!

Luke 23:43  And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.  What was Jesus thinking? Gold, pearls, jasper and much more wasn’t He fearful of this thief helping himself?  Jesus, not like many we come in contact with is no respecter of people.

Act 10:34  Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: What that means is that it doesn’t matter if you are a banker, lawyer, doctor, president, car salesman, plumber, user, drunk or anything else you might think of. Some like to think that now I have this great position no one will know my past; wrong, Jesus knows our past. What one thing made the difference on that thief’s last day on earth? Do you get the picture? There are three men dying on crosses. One can talk big, act big and think big but when death is staring you square in the face it will knock the wind out of you. All of a sudden this thief says something that changed everything, what was it.

Luke 23:41  And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.

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. Here is what happened, this thief admitted his guilt. He simply said I’m a sinner and then he calls Jesus Lord and asked Him to remember him. Jesus didn’t look at what he had done but what he was doing and asking; “Jesus forgive me” and that is just what Jesus did, today you my friend are going to be with me in paradise. Now the other thief didn’t do that and he didn’t go to paradise. If you don’t admit that you’re a sinner and that you need a Savior you will not be going to paradise. Remember we can talk big, act big and think big but when death is staring us in the face I’m afraid it is a much different story as you can see. So Jesus didn’t allow a thief to go to paradise because that thief became a new person in Christ. It’s there for all of us for the asking, don’t rob yourself of this opportunity.

1Corinthians 6:9  Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,

1Corinthians 6:10  Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.

1Corinthians 6:11  And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. 

Joy

Joy! I read where that means Jesus, Others, Yourself. One person said that we should put Jesus first and that is true and then others before yourself. Now that is where the problems start; you see we all from when we were just small children had a favorite word we used "mine." We like ourselves! We want the best seat, the name brand clothes, the perfect body and we want to be the first one in line. I think you get the picture. We want what's best for ourselves, could that be called being selfish?  Sure it is, God gave Adam one command:

Genesis 2:16 And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:

Genesis 2:17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. God tells Adam that he is not to do just one thing and all is well until Adam sees that what was wrong might just better himself; so Adam decided to be selfish. He takes of the tree God told him that he couldn’t have, and why did Adam do such a thing? He thought that it would make life better for him and he would be wise but instead he now is kicked out of a perfect garden for his selfishness. You and I have the same problem we say things like ‘everybody else gets to……. I want, I want and I want it for myself. I remember when I was a kid and it was time to share with my brother my wise mother would have one of us cut the item and then the other would get to choose first. It didn’t matter which one of us was doing the cutting we made sure that the other one didn’t get a bigger piece. No, our problem was selfishness. This week we will all have an opportunity to do something for someone else that we ourselves would rather do. Why not offer it to another and not be selfish. Jesus was always doing and giving Himself for others; let’s be more like Jesus this week. 

Miracles

Do you still believe in Miracles? Webster says the word means In theology, an event or effect contrary to the established constitution and course of things, or a deviation from the known laws of nature; a supernatural event. Miracles can be wrought only by Almighty power, as when Christ healed lepers, saying, "I will, be thou clean," or calmed the tempest, "Peace, be still."  Many are missing real miracles all around them because they are looking for the white to be turned to black.  It is wonderful to hear that the growth the doctors were about to operate on has suddenly disappeared. The person that was told that without a miracle they will never walk on their own again is soon walking. If those are the things that constitute a real miracle then we may never experience a miracle. Let’s look at the meaning a little closer for I’m sure we all understood the end where a leper is no long a leper. In the meaning of the word miracle we read this “a deviation from the known laws of nature” Is that not what happened when David went to meet the Goliath did he not deviate from what was normally done rocks instead of a spear. David decided to do something different, trust in God and use what was familiar to him. You know the rest of the story God blessed and honored David because David put his trust and faith in God and brought honor to His Name.

1Samuel 17:37  David said moreover(likewise), The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. David never made anyone think that he could defeat Goliath but it would be the Lord and when it was all said and done David still gave God the credit.

1Samuel 17:46  This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.

1Samuel 17:47  And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD'S, and he will give you into our hands.

There are miracles all around us. I just don’t think we are looking or are aware of them. There is a man in South Carolina that a few years ago had an awful drug problem; he had lost almost everything he had, right down to his family. Today that same man is a walking miracle he’s hasn’t had any drugs in awhile, his family is back together, he and his family are in Church and if you know anything about Reformers Unanimous then you’ll know him. Talk to him long and he will give God all the honor and glory for what has happened in his life.  I remember the first night I met him; I’ll never forget that night. He talked, I listened and he made no since at all for all that was coming from his lips were words not sentences with subjects, just words. God allowed me to see Him work a miracle in his life. No, he wasn’t in a wheel chair and got out and started walking. No, his life was all messed up and God kept him from crashing and burning. From time to time my phone will ring and I will hear his voice on the other end and he’ll say “I was thinking about you and wanted to call you and tell you I love you.” Now I would love to take the credit for all that has been done in his life but it was not me; it was and still is our great God, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to whom all the honor and glory belongs.  Tonight I’ll meet with a group of people; some have drug issues others have alcohol issues, some have anger issues and some have sex issues. I love it because when we all ( did you catch that word all) walk through those doors we are all on the same level. There will be men and women there that have no education while others there are well educated. We will come together as a group and allow God to work on each of us and when the night is done we will give Him the honor and praise for all He has done not us but HIM! God has given me the opportunity and the privilege to see Him work miracles in others. Quit looking for the lumps, humps and the bumps to disappear for there are miracles standing all around each of us. Have a blessed weekend and find your way to Church this Sunday for you may get to see a miracle in progress.   

Lost

It was a day that I was with my mother in this department store; she was shopping when something caught my eye. I began to pay more attention to it than where my mother was. Why she was just right over there or so I thought. When I went to where I thought she was she was gone. Fear gripped my heart so I began to look for her not realizing I was moving in the wrong direction. Some predicament I have gotten myself into, it wasn’t long before the tears came and the look on my face must have been noticeable for another adult soon asked me if I had lost my mother. She knew exactly what to do and went right to a sales person and asked for her help. The sales person asked me what my name was and then she spoke it into the loud speaker and told my mother where she could find me. Soon my mother came to get me; boy was I glad to see her. With that little adventure of mine I would like to share with you 5-things about being lost.

First, being lost can be a really frightening thing to those who suddenly realize just how lost they truly are. I wasn’t frightened until I realized I was lost.

Second, somebody somewhere needs to hear the cries of those who are lost and crying out for help. I wonder how many I pass by each day that need my help and are crying for it?

Third, upon hearing those cries, somebody needs to do something to help those that are crying even when it doesn't fit into their plans for the day.

Fourth, getting on their level and speaking in words they can understand is vital if one is serious about bringing the lost back to the father.  My Sunday School Teacher said that in our class not long ago; “meet them where they are at and take them to where they need to go.”

fifth, delivering them safe and secure in the father's presence is the goal. Our task isn't over until that has occurred. Or in my case mother! I’m glad someone saw and heard my cry then responded to my need. I believe that every day God has an appointment for me the problem is I don’t know who it is with neither do I know what time of day it is. I just know that somewhere God has someone that needs His help and He is going to use me. My job is to be on the outlook for those He sends my way. Heard any crying lately? It’s just outside your door. Listen for a minute; you'll hear it.

The Plan

The problem looked unsolvable; with the only solvable thing about the problem that Joshua faced was God telling Joshua that He wanted them to overtake Jericho. At best, that is only a comforting thought if you don’t trust God to start with. Wait this isn’t the same crowd of people that refused to go into Kadeshbarnea the ones that said repeatedly “would to God we had died in the land of Egypt!” No this is their children and now it’s time for them to put their trust in God. The problem looks unsolvable; what’s the plan? Are you ready to see what God tells His people who are trusting in Him. Here’s the Plan;

Joshua 6:3  And ye shall compass the city, all ye men of war, and go round about the city once. Thus shalt thou do six days.

Joshua 6:4  And seven priests shall bear before the ark seven trumpets of rams' horns: and the seventh day ye shall compass the city seven times, and the priests shall blow with the trumpets.

Joshua 6:5  And it shall come to pass, that when they make a long blast with the ram's horn, and when ye hear the sound of the trumpet, all the people shall shout with a great shout; and the wall of the city shall fall down flat, and the people shall ascend up every man straight before him.

Uh, didn’t we forget something here? Like the weapons! All I read there was something about trumpets and some great shouting. Now I want you to think about how you would feel if you had been in that crowd and heard that!  What would you be thinking? If trusting God is your answer you might be saying “ok, let’s go.” If not you would have thought it was the craziest plan you had ever heard. Now you and I have the privilege of reading the before and after and we might just think, just trust God for He will take care of you. But when you and I face a Jericho (something that seems unsolvable or impossible) do we say the same thing about our difficulty? We’re not reading this and we sure don’t know the outcome. I had a close friend, he and his wife found out that they were going to have their first baby; boy were they excited. Unfortunately their excitement turned into horror one day at the doctor’s office. The doctor told them that their baby would not live and the best thing for them was to abort the child. They were shocked to say the least for neither one thought that was the right thing to do. Then it got more complicated when the doctor told them that if they didn’t abort the child that his wife’s life would be in great danger. They would not only lose the child but his wife stood a great possibility of dying while trying to deliver the baby. They had time to think about it but the doctor wanted to make sure they understood. Many gave them advice and many advised them to abort the baby. He and his wife began to pray and I do mean pray; none of this God is great stuff but really pray. My close friend told me that his wife had a dream that the doctor was wrong and the baby was fine so she decided to go the full term. That is what she did and the labor was hard she delivered the baby and the doctor was half right the baby lived a short time and then died. My close friend, after making sure his wife was alright went to where the baby was picked her up, held her tight in his arms and began to sing I’ll meet you in the morning. They trusted God! No, it didn’t turn out like they would have liked it to but had they listened to those who only saw the surface they would have never experienced what God wanted to teach them. In just a few years they would face another life or death matter. You see God brings you and I to our Jericho’s so that we may learn to trust Him. Because the Israelites followed God’s plan they too later in their journey were able to put more trust in God. Are you facing a Jericho? Then pray, seek God’s face and put your trust in Him for He loves you more than you could ever imagine. The more trust you put in God the more you’ll trust Him!   

Problem

The problem was so large that I couldn’t come up with an answer in my little tin cup mind. I know what I’ll do I’ll call someone much wiser that I; but no one I called answered their phone. I remember feeling so discouraged and helpless; I remember going to a Wendy’s restaurant getting a small frosty and sitting on the outside wall. There I asked God what shall I do about this matter please speak to my heart and let me know what to do. He did and it all worked out perfectly and God let me know that it was by His hand. I have thought back on that day many times, God didn’t allow me to get any advice, He made sure no one answered their phones that day, He wanted me to come to Him and He wanted me to see His mighty hand at work. For as the song says;

“Above all, you can ask or think According to, power That worketh through you and me
God is able to do just what he said he would do
He's gonna fullfill every promise to you
Don't give up on God, cause he won't give up on you
He's Able”

That’s the problem that Joshua faced; Jericho was shut up and no one went in and no one came out.

Joshua 6:1  Now Jericho was straitly shut up because of the children of Israel: none went out, and none came in.

Joshua 6:2  And the LORD said unto Joshua, See, I have given into thine hand Jericho, and the king thereof, and the mighty men of valour.  God tells Joshua that He wants them to overtake Jericho. Now from man’s point of view here is a problem that is impossible.

Joshua 5:6  For the children of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness, till all the people that were men of war, which came out of Egypt, were consumed, because they obeyed not the voice of the LORD: unto whom the LORD sware that he would not shew them the land, which the LORD sware unto their fathers that he would give us, a land that floweth with milk and honey. Ok, God says I want you to take a city that is well able to fight because it has soldiers. The children of Israel had walked 40 years in the wilderness and now all the soldiers were dead. God asked Joshua to take a well protected city that has men well able to fight with men who were not soldiers and knew nothing about battle. Now that’s a problem; if you look at it from man’s point of view. God in no way wants His people to think that they have done this on their own and on tomorrow we see the plan that only God could make work. I hope you have a blessed week and be kind to one another.

Ephesians 4:32  And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. Don’t forget what Christ has done for YOU!

The Woman

I read this story and just wanted to share. There was an elderly woman traveling on a trip when her tire went flat. While she was sitting in her car thinking about what she was going to do she heard a tap at her window. When she turned to see who had tapped she saw a young man and was frightened, but the young man calmed her fears by saying “I’m here to help you ma’am. Why don’t you wait in the car where it’s warm? By the way, my name is Bryan.” There was no way she could have changed her own tire. Bryan had the spare tire on and the jack down in less than ten minutes. As he was tightening the lug nuts, the woman rolled down her window and began to talk to him. She told him that she was from St. Louis and was only just passing through. She couldn’t thank him enough for coming to her aid. Bryan just smiled as he closed her trunk. The woman asked how much she owed him. Any price would have been all right with her. She could only think of the awful things that might have happened if Bryan hadn’t stopped. Bryan never thought twice about asking for money, even though he could have used some financial help. He just told the woman that changing a tire was not a job to him; it was a matter of helping someone in need. He told the woman that if she really wanted to pay him back, the next time she saw someone who needed help, she could give that person the assistance they needed. “And when you do,” think of me. Bryan waited until the woman started her car and drove off.  It had been a cold and depressing day, but Bryan felt good as he headed home. A few miles down the road the woman saw a small diner. The small diner didn’t look like much, she went in to grab a bite to eat and take the chill of before she made the last leg of her trip home. Her waitress brought a clean towel for the woman to dry her wet hair. She had a sweet smile, one that couldn’t be erased, even though she had been on her feet all day. The woman noticed that the waitress was pregnant. She wondered how someone who seemingly had so little could be so generous and kind to a stranger. Then the woman remembered Bryan and after she finished her meal, she gave the waitress a $100 bill. While the waitress went to get change, the woman slipped quietly out the door. When the waitress came back to the table, she noticed something written on a napkin. When she picked it up to read it, she noticed four $100 bills that had been left underneath it. There were tears in the waitress’s eyes when she read what the woman had written: “You don’t owe me anything. I’ve been there, too. Somebody nice helped me out, the way I’m helping you. If you really want to pay me back, here is what you do: don’t let this chain of love end with you.” That night when the waitress got home from work and climbed into bed, she was thinking about the money and what the woman had written. How could the woman have known how much she and her husband needed that money? With the baby due in a month, she knew how worried her husband was. As he lay sleeping next to her, she gave him a soft kiss and whispered softly, “everything’s going to be all right. I love you Bryan.

Luk 6:38  Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again. 

Control

Have you ever heard the phrase “out of control?” Have you ever wondered what that meant? Webster says the word control means: To overpower; to subject to authority; to counteract; to have under command.  To have under command so to be out of control would be to not have in command to be overpowered. In Mark chapter 5 we find Jesus being a Psychiatrist, Gynecologist and Pediatrician. He is in control of three different people first there is a man bound in chains abusing himself and a victim of delusions. Then there is a woman who has become the object of a weakening disease that she had carried for 12 years. When the chapter closes we see a little girl that is dead and Jesus restores her life. In all three of these cases we see that Jesus has control over demons, as well as disease but Jesus also has control over death. In all three of these Jesus has control to overpower the demons, He had authority over a disease that was hopeless and then Jesus had the command of life. Well, He has the same power to day as He did then for the Bible says in: 

Malachi 3:6  For I am the LORD, I change not; We have seen a man that was hell bound,  a woman that was helpless and a young girl that was hopeless. And the answer in all three cases was JESUS! What’s the answer in mine and your lives? The same as it was in days gone by JESUS!

Good

This past Saturday afternoon I was with some friends when one of them gave me a card. It was a card that was gold in color and it had a square in the middle of it about the size of a thumb. It read “are you a good person place thumb in square and press for 10 seconds if you are a good person it will turn green.” To the left of the card it had a green color and then it got lighter; I just assumed that it worked off your body heat. I had a ruler something similar to the card and you press your thumb in a square and it would tell you if you were stressed; I thought the card was like that. As I began to press the card a friend said that I might have to hold it for at least 20 second. I just figured he had already done this and he had to hold it a little longer himself; for he was a good person in my eyes. Well, I didn’t expect the square to be green maybe a light green. As I raised my thumb it had not changed colors at all. Well, we all, including myself like to think we are a good person, we treat people fair and do good things. Webster says the word good means Valid; legally firm; not weak or defective; having strength adequate to its support; as a good title; a good deed; a good claim, sound; not weak, false or fallacious. Legally firm, not weak or defective; wait a minute here on whose standards? If we go by God’s standards then I’m going to come up short. The reasoning behind that is God says not to use His name in vain; I am guilty. He said to honor our parents and I am guilty again. He said thy shalt not lie and I am guilty there too. God tells us not to covet, not to lust; in my standards I’m a good person if we go by God’s standards then I’m not. If in our court systems the guilty are punished, then what about God? He will have to punish the guilty too. In our society if a person pays his debt he can be returned back into society. This is not true with God He says that we are not to lie, steal, kill, commit adultery and we are not to covet. Now that I have broken the law of God I am guilty; what’s the punishment?

Romans 3:12……there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

Romans 6:23  For the wages of sin is death It’s true we are not as good as we would like to believe and each one of us have sinned, therefore that makes us guilty before a righteous and Holy God. I am grateful that God made a provision of each of us and that provision is Jesus Christ. Jesus came and did what you and I couldn’t He lived a perfect life not one unkind word slipped out of His mouth not one unclean thought went through His mind, not one time was He unkind to Joseph or His mother. That made Him able to pay the supreme price He gave His life so that you and I could have life. As Romans 6:23  goes on to say “but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Just like any other gift you must except it; He knocks at our hearts door but you must open it, just like you would for anyone else to come in. We deserve the punishment but Jesus took our punishment so that you and I might have life and have it more abundantly. It’s a gift for each of us to take; this is a no brainer and if for some reason we think we are good enough then we will have messed up big time and have to pay the price; eternal death.   

Unforgiving

 You may have decided to read through your Bible in the year 2012 if so may I say that you will not be sorry for doing so. As you read you will see words like “forgiveness” it will not be on every page but you will see it for it is mentioned 7 times. You will also see the word “forgiving” you will have to look closer for it for it is only mention 4 times. Then you will see the word “Forgiven” it will be easier to find for you will see it 42 times. You will also see the word “forgive” and you will find in 56 times. Now I have told you basically about the word forgive but there are some other words that you will not find. Nowhere in the Bible will you find these words Unforgiven, Unforgiving and Unforgotten; wonder why?  I heard it said that “to have an unforgiving heart is like taking poison and expecting someone else to die.” How true that is, someone says something or does something to us and we refuse to forgive them and we allow that bitterness to grow in our heart over a period of time. It never hurts the one that has done us wrong it only hurts the one holding the grudge. There have been times in my life that others have not treated me right. I remember a few years back a man owed me some money, he kept promising to pay me but he never did. I didn’t realize it at first but I allowed a root of bitterness to infiltrate my heart and every opportunity I had I told others how I had been mistreated. The Lord began to deal with my heart about the matter. I remember one day as I was about to tell another about my experience with this gentleman the Holy Spirit spoke to my heart and said “don’t say anything.”  I am sorry to say I just could not resist the opportunity to share my bitterness so I did. Then there came another time to share my bitterness and the same thing happened but this time I kept my mouth shut. The Lord was teaching me a very value lesson in forgiveness. After all that He has forgiven me for how could I be so angry and hold bitterness in my heart and then be so happy to destroy this man in front of others. What if the Lord did that to me? Every time the Lord had an opportunity that He would belittle me in front of others, how would that make me feel? Well, He wants me to have a forgiving heart. Could that be the reason he didn’t mention any words with a “un” on the word forgive? He didn’t allow the word unforgotten because He didn’t want you or I to think that He had forgotten anyone of us. So that day I learned that where there is no wood the fire will go out.

Proverbs 26:20  Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.

Ephesians 4:31  Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:

Ephesians 4:32  And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. If I will forgive others the way Christ forgave me my words will not be hurtful or angry and I will not be a talebearer or one that spreads gossip.    

10520641

Finished; we see that word all the time and think little of it. We see it after we have finished downloading a computer program on our computer. We see it at an event where there is a finish line. We see it at sporting events we attend or watch on   television and it comes to an end or finish.

Genesis 5:5  And all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years: and he died. Or he finished! Ten million, five hundred twenty, six hundred and forty one finished in the year 2011. If you are reading this then you’re not one of the finishers yet.

Webster says the word “finish” means To arrive at the end of.

Hebrews 12:1  Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Do you see the picture that is painted before us? We enter the stadium and there is a crowd of people that are witnessing what we will do. We are prepared for this race we had gotten rid of the weight and the sin that will easily set us back and now we are to run with patience the race before us. Now what are we to be looking at as we run this race? Will we run looking at those in the crowded stadium? Will we run looking at the runners, running beside us? Oh no, it will be the finish line or in this case it will be the finisher, the one who has already set the pace and has endured the cross; Jesus!  

Hebrews 12:2  Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. When you and I  near the finish line of this life it really will not matter how much money we have in the bank, if our bills are all paid, why it won’t even matter about our health; for we know that’s shot. When we get close to our finish line the only thing that will matter is what we have done for Jesus Christ.  

Romans 14:10  But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For we shall all stand, does that mean “ALL” I think then it is very important how we run in this race of life. Paul said in:

2Timothy 4:7  I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Did you notice what Paul didn’t say? He didn’t say he won but finished, he didn’t say he came in first place but that he finished and in the process of finishing he says he kept the faith. Yes it’s true that 10,520,641 finished their course last year: wonder how many kept the faith? Have a blessed week and stop and really see what important! 

Plumbing

I read a news letter that a friend of mine in the Plumbing business placed on the internet. They put it there hoping that all who read it will pay attention and go keep their pipes from freezing. Here is what they said in short form. We see it every winter. People forget or simply neglect to take protective steps regarding their home's plumbing system in advance of cold weather. We get called after the damage is done. The repairs can get expensive. Here's what you can do to prevent emergency calls to us this winter. Disconnect Garden Hoses, Close Dripping External Faucets, Close Interior Shut off Valves to Outside Faucets, Cover Exposed Faucets, and Wrap Exposed Pipes. That is great advice and if we would do that we might just save ourselves some problems. There was a word used in what they said that will prevent their readers from escaping this oncoming disaster. That word is “neglect.” Webster says the word means To omit by carelessness or design; to forbear to do, use, employ, promote or attend to; as, to neglect duty or business;  I only found the word “neglect” used 3-times in the Bible. The last time it was used was in the book of Hebrews and this is how it read.

Hebrews 2:3  How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;

How shall we escape frozen pipes if we neglect to pay attention to what we are advised. We wake up to go to work and we find that our water pipes are frozen. Not only does that cost us time off work but then we pay the plumber for our neglect. All of this could have been prevented; could we do the same thing about our salvation? How does one think they will escape the righteous judgment of God, and eternal punishment if we neglect the great salvation that has been provided for each of us? In other words “what are you thinking?”  How will we escape punishment if we reject the important message, the message that Jesus came to save sinners. Luke 19:10   For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

1Timothy 1:15  This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.

Who is a sinner? Am I one? I’ll let you answer that and it’s real easy to answer. Have you ever stolen anything in your life? Ever told a lie? Ever had a wrong thought? The Apostle Paul found out that he too was a sinner. 

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.

Romans 7:8  But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. (longing for that which is forbidden) For without the law sin was dead. Paul said I wouldn't have recognized sin if those laws hadn't shown it to me. Sin made me have all kinds of wrong desires and clearly, without laws there is no sin it’s dead.  Here’s what the law says

Exo 20:3  Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

Exo 20:4  Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image

Exo 20:7  Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; 

Exo 20:8  Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.

Exo 20:12  Honour thy father and thy mother:  

Exo 20:13  Thou shalt not kill.

Exo 20:14  Thou shalt not commit adultery.

Exo 20:15  Thou shalt not steal.

Exo 20:16    Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.

Exo 20:17  Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house,

Don’t neglect your responsibility, admit you’re a sinner and ask Jesus to come into your heart NOW! Don’t NELGLECT!  See you Monday!

Building A Relationship

This past weekend my wife and I went to see some very close friends in the state of Indiana. It was a nice trip and time well spent. My mother and father-n-law went with us and also our favorite daughter. Our daughter has a close friend that lives there and they were looking forward to seeing each other as well as spending time together. Now I wrote all that to say this; my daughter and her friend text every day telling each other about what’s going on in their lives. Now it has been over a year since they have seen each other but by way of texting they have kept in touch. As I thought about their relationship I got to thinking about her texting her friend is like our praying to our Heavenly Father. You see my daughter doesn’t see her friend she just talks to her by way of text. You and I don’t see our Heavenly Father but we should be talking to Him on a daily basis. It’s like the Apostle Paul said;

2Corinthains 5:8  We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. “We are confident” have you ever stopped to wonder why Paul said he was having full belief; trusting; relying; fully assured? Could it be that he spent time in prayer talking with his Heavenly Father? I think so!  But he didn’t stop there he said he was willing to be absent from my body so that I might be present with the Lord. Now why would anyone want to spend time or live with someone they didn’t know? My wife had always wanted to spend the night at a bed and breakfast. On our 37 anniversary I arranged a trip that included just that. To me it was like going to someone’s home you didn’t know and spending the night there and then eating breakfast with people you didn’t know. That’s all I got to say about that. If a person was to go to heaven that didn’t read their Bible, talk with their Heavenly Father or spend time getting to know our Heavenly Father. I think you might hear questions like what did you say your name was again? Obadiah! And you say that there was a book in the Bible that was named after you? Well, maybe you can help me I am looking for my Heavenly Father? That’s just how it will be if we don’t spend time in prayer and allowing our Heavenly Father to lead and guide us. How foolish to think like that.   My daughter was glad to see her friend because although she hadn’t seen her in over a year she had been talking with her all that time and strengthening their relationship. We do the same when we pray and read our Bibles, we build a relationship with our Heavenly Father and if we aren’t doing that then there’s no relationship.

John 10:27  My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: Because we have been talking to each other.

As I journey through the land, singing as I go,
Pointing souls to Calvary—to the crimson flow,
Many arrows pierce my soul from without, within;
But my Lord leads me on, through Him I must win.

When in service for my Lord dark may be the night,
But I’ll cling more close to Him, He will give me light;
Satan’s snares may vex my soul, turn my thoughts aside;
But my Lord goes ahead, leads whate’er betide.

When in valleys low I look toward the mountain height,
And behold my Savior there, leading in the fight,
With a tender hand outstretched toward the valley low,
Guiding me, I can see, as I onward go.

When before me billows rise from the mighty deep,
Then my Lord directs my bark; He doth safely keep,
And He leads me gently on through this world below;
He’s a real Friend to me, oh, I love Him so.

Oh, I want to see Him, look upon His face,
There to sing forever of His saving grace;
On the streets of glory let me lift my voice,
Cares all past, home at last, ever to rejoice.

Do you really want to see HIM? Do you really want to look upon HIS face?

Finger Printed

 My wife read me a story that she received by email. It was about a lady that had all kinds of Christian sayings on the back of her car. For instance "what would Jesus do?" and "Follow me to Sunday School!" I think you get the idea. She approached a turning light hoping she could get under it before it changed. It was not to be for there was a man in front of her that decided to stop for the light. At that point this lady started yelling and waving her hands in frustration; she was just all upset. That is when she heard a tap at her window; it was a police officer. He asked her to get out of her vehicle and proceeded to handcuff her and take her down to the Police Station where she was then finger printed, a mug shot taken and locked up. After a few hours she was set free and the police officer told her had made a mistake. I hope you understand; after reading the verbiage all over your vehicle I was sure that this vehicle must be stolen. I am sorry my assumption was wrong.  After she had read that to me I was reminded of the day that happened to me. I used to wear a pin; don't remember what it read but the day came I took it off because of my actions. I learned something that day and it was I don't need a pin or a sticker on my vehicle to let others know who I represent. I just need to let my life and actions speak for themselves for I'm an ambassador for Christ not perfect just one that represents the Lord Jesus Christ in my life. Nothing wrong with a pin or a sticker but there is much more than that and that’s living each day for the Lord and a pin or a sticker will not help me there. I realized that day that no matter how hard I think I have overcame the flesh it is still there and it may just rise up when things go wrong.

Romans 7:24  O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?

Romans 7:25  I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin. If the Apostle Paul had problems with his flesh then it should not be a surprise that I should have some of the same problems with my flesh. So when you or I think that we have become the super Christian then it may be time for us to see that we’re not where we think we are.  

Chasing

Yesterday, late in the afternoon, I noticed a rainbow and I remembered a childhood experience. When I was a young boy I always heard that there was a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. One day after a small rain as I was returning home from a childhood adventure I noticed a rainbow. It looked like the end was just inside a patch of woods so I quickly decided to go check it out. As I walked toward that rainbow's end I noticed I could not quite see the end but none the less I headed in that direction. The thoughts of joy filled my mind at how proud my Mom and Dad would be when I would get to the front door and I finally say "would someone please come help me with this pot of gold please." As I got into that patch of woods the end of that rainbow moved.  Not far just a little bit but once again the end could not be seen. None the less I headed once again toward the end until the rainbow finally dissipated and there were no more rainbows, no end and no pot of gold. Go ahead and laugh because as I thought about that day I too laughed. That's fine for a childhood experience but if I were to do that as an adult you would think I was a nut and rightly so.  I'm afraid that there are too many adults that have childish adulthood experiences. What is that you may ask? The Bible says this in:

1Co 13:11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. When I was child I talked as a child and I had rainbow experiences because I thought as a child. When I became an adult I should have put childish things away. Unfortunately now I find myself chasing after dreams that seem as real as the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow and just about the time I get to them they diminish. It’s the new job, the bigger pay check or the promotion. Just like that pot of gold that I thought would have made my Mom and Dad happy that I was chasing after. What I failed to realize was that my Mon and Dad were already happy with me and the pot of gold would not have made them love or like me anymore. That is the same with our Heavenly Father He’s not going to love you or me more because we do bigger and greater things. Have a big pay check or are the President of the company, no He just loves His children. We can never win His love by what we do; a pot of gold will not cause Him to love you and me any more. Just like when I was a child I would have been in a real mess without my Mom and Dad and a pot of gold was nothing. So it is with you and I we would be in a real mess without our Heavenly Father and nothing could or should take His place. So today just enjoy the love from our Heavenly Father for He really does love His children. 

Years Later

My wonderful wife and I are in Nashville, you see tomorrow is our wedding anniversary. The year 1969 the date December 31 and I was downtown Atlanta on the fifth floor of the Georgian Terrace Hotel at a New Years Eve Party when I and a young girl first got together. We had a few dates and then it happened on January the fifth as we were sitting in the parking lot of Walker High School where she and I had both graduated. I asked her to marry me and I never expected to hear her say yes but she did. I had spent one year in the military by now and didn't know my future, in less than two weeks I would be back in Minnesota and who knows where and when they would ship me out. Jacob has to wait for 7 years and then another 7; I only had to wait 7 days.   On May I, 1970 I received orders that were not my choice. A tour of duty without her may I say that was tough, would this marriage survive? Only married four months and now we will be apart; we hadn’t planned for this at all. Do you have any idea what the chances of this marriage working out were? Well, we made it through the military and then it got real bad and we were headed for a break up it seemed. Then it happened, it wasn't planned but it happened just the same, I asked the Lord to come into my heart, forgive me of my sins and He did; and my life changed in a day forever. January 7, 2012 we will celebrate 42 years together and today she is still the love of my life. I think about her love for me in the day time when we are apart, I look forward to come home to her each night my desire is to spend as much time with her I as I can. Here is the secret: 

Proverbs 5:19 Let her be as the loving hind and pleasant roe; let her breasts satisfy thee at all times; and be thou ravished always with her love. When a husband is ravished with loving his wife then his heart will never wonder. I am glad for the day the Lord saved me for on that day He not only changed me eternally but gave life to two more children. By the way my mother-n-law and father-n-law are here with us and it was my idea. I love them too. In 1968 I and some of my buddies were having fun. As we drove by his home I leaned out the car window and hosed him down with water it was funny until he caught up with us. He has long forgiven me for that but I am thinking about repeating that while we are together and refreshing his memory; just kidding I would never do such a thing. We have a wonderful relationship. Life is good when you have those around you who love you. Tell someone you love them as well as show them and mean it. Go to Church this weekend and just remember while you are there that the Lord loves you.

Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. See you next week.

Protection

Like I said on yesterday, I want you to see in all this just how much God loves His children. We saw first a prayer answered and God had a plan. Then it was God’s Power, today I want you to see God’s protection and presence. Their prayer had been answered and they’re on their way; it was a time to enjoy their new found freedom. Then it happened Pharaoh changed his mind and decided to go bring the Israelites back    

Exodus 14:5….   Why have we done this, that we have let Israel go from serving us?

Exodus 14:6  And he made ready his chariot, and took his people with him: Here is where Pharaoh made a fatal mistake. Off he goes with his chariots and soldiers to bring back the Israelites, but he and his men would never return.

Exodus 14:10  And when Pharaoh drew nigh, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes, and, behold, the Egyptians marched after them; and they were sore afraid: and the children of Israel cried out unto the LORD.

Exodus 14:11  And they said unto Moses, Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt?

Exodus 14:12  Is not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness. After all they had seen of how God had protected then now for some reason they think they’re all on their own. Israel now finds themselves in a place that is hopeless and from a human standpoint it is. Mountains on both sides of them, the Red Sea blocking their way in front of them Pharaoh and his great army coming up behind them. God takes what’s impossible to man and shows them that nothing is impossible with God. God opens up the Red Sea

Exodus 14:21  And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided.  Israel enters in on dry ground and right behind them goes Pharaoh and his army.

Exodus 14:23  And the Egyptians pursued, and went in after them to the midst of the sea, even all Pharaoh's horses, his chariots, and his horsemen. Not a good plan as it began to get light God had plans for Pharaoh and his men.

Exodus 14:24  And it came to pass, that in the morning watch the LORD looked unto the host of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and of the cloud, and troubled the host of the Egyptians,

Exodus 14:25  And took off their chariot wheels, that they drave them heavily: so that the Egyptians said, Let us flee from the face of Israel; for the LORD fighteth for them against the Egyptians. Now all of a sudden it wasn’t about bringing Israel back it was save our necks. It was too late they had gone too far.

Exodus 14:26  And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand over the sea, that the waters may come again upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots, and upon their horsemen. Here’s what I want you to see; not one time do we ever see God not caring and providing for His children. No matter what they said or did God never left them but protected them with His power and His presence. Do you not think He’ll do the same for you and I?

Hebrews 13:5  Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. Our heavenly Father knows how we feel and where we are at all times.  You and I must trust Him with all our heart. 

Free at Last

On yesterday we saw God answering prayer with a plan for His people. Let’s look today at how they responded. God has answered the prayer of His people and they are on their way free from bondage, no more making bricks. I can hear them now Free, Free, Free at last. Moses had gone before Pharaoh and asked him to let my people go more than once but Pharaoh refused and refused. God sent plague  after plague and Pharaoh time after time asked Moses to go before God and remove the plague and then when God would remove the Plague then Pharaoh went right back to being as he has been in the past. Now the one I thought was interesting was the plague of frogs. Frogs are everywhere; in the river, in the house, in their bed, in their ovens. You name it and there were frogs. 

Exodus 8:9  And Moses said unto Pharaoh, Glory over me: when shall I intreat for thee, and for thy servants, and for thy people, to destroy the frogs from thee and thy houses, that they may remain in the river only?  Pharaoh answered

Exodus 8:10  And he said, Tomorrow. Do what? Tomorrow, why not now!  Do you enjoy having frogs in your bed? The children of Israel witness frogs, flies, pestilence, hail, darkness and other plagues, in other words they witness firsthand the power of God. Then came the night they were to put the blood on the door post. That night the Lord was looking for blood on the door post and where there was no blood then the first born died. When that night came this is what we read.

Exodus 12:30  And Pharaoh rose up in the night, he, and all his servants, and all the Egyptians; and there was a great cry in Egypt; for there was not a house where there was not one dead. Pharaoh then called for Moses and told him and his people to get out and take everything they own with them. They left and God has answered the Children of Israel’s prayer and has now delivered them from Egypt and hard bondage. Moses told them that this is a night to be much remembered, it is a night that you will tell your children about and they will tell their children and it will be remembered. It was all because of what we read early in the book of Exodus that God heard the prayer of His own.

Exodus 3:7  And the LORD said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows; I didn’t read of any praising or thanksgiving when they were delivered from Egypt.  That is strange; not one word of thanksgiving and no hands were raised in praise. None. I’ll finish up on tomorrow for there something I want you to see in all of this. It is just how much God loves His children. Have a great day!  

Delivered

If you are reading this today then you have made it into the year 2012 and may I say welcome and Happy New Year. You and I have a new start, there’s nothing we can do about the mistakes of 2011 they are gone even though the fruit may still exist. What will you do in this New Year? If you did what you did in 2011 then don’t expect different results for they will be the same. No matter where you find yourself today I want to encourage you with the Word of our Lord and what He has already told us. The difficulties we find ourselves in sometimes are that we get our eyes on ourselves and our problems and not on the Lord and His Power. There were a group of people in the Old Testament that found themselves in the poor oh me category all because God answered their prayer. We find God bringing the children of Israel out of Egypt as an answer to their prayers, but also along with answering their prayers He also had a plan that He set before them.

Exodus 13:17  And it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God led them not through the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, Lest peradventure the people repent when they see war, and they return to Egypt:

Exodus 13:18  But God led the people about, through the way of the wilderness of the Red sea: and the children of Israel went up harnessed out of the land of Egypt.

Out of bondage and free at last God has heard and answered their prayers. All is good, all is well and no more worries. That is what we would all like to think as we start this New Year off but may I remind you that there will be some problems ahead of each of us. How will we handle them? Will we try to handle them ourselves or will we pray and ask God to handle them? When God answers will we take Him at His word or will we complain? I want us to see what happened to this group of people that God delivered from Egypt and see if we find ourselves doing some of the same things. We may learn from their mistakes for as we see in:

1Corinthain 10:6  Now these things were our examples. Webster tells us that an “example” is A pattern; a copy; a mode; that which is proposed to be imitated. Here are some examples that we are not to imitate, copy or pattern. We should not  live by the examples that they set for they were plain; I’ll show you tomorrow why.