Not Seen

It seems crazy I know but as I was thinking the other day; what if someone told you that they had seen something that was invisible and heard something that was not audible? The first impression would be there is no way, and logically that would be right. There again we don’t see electricity but it’s there! If a tree falls in the forest and no one is around it will still make a sound but we will not hear it. Men and women have given their lives for what was invisible and not audible yet they saw it and heard it. I know up to this point I have not made much sense. Let me explain;

Hebrews 11:1  Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Here we see evidence of something that’s not seen 

 Hebrews 11:3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. Here it is seeing something that is seen but made of things which does not appear

Hebrews 11:27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible. Here seeing him who is invisible

 Polycarp was a second century Bishop of Smyma; he died a martyr when he was stabbed after an attempt to burn him at the stake failed. Polycarp was asked to deny Christ and they would set him free. Listen to what he told them; "Eighty and six years have I served him, and he never once wronged me; how then shall I blaspheme my King, Who hath saved me?" At the stake to which he was only tied,  for he assured them he should stand immovable, the flames, on their kindling the fagots, encircled his body, like an arch, without touching him; and the executioner, on seeing this, was ordered to pierce him with a sword, when so great a quantity of blood flowed out as extinguished the fire. Polycarp saw someone who was invisible to all those around him but to him He was clearly seen. I guess it’s true men and women are willing to suffer for what is invisible and not audible. Let me ask you, have you heard Him or seen Him today.

Matthew 25:35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:

Matthew 25:36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.

Matthew 25:37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?

Matthew 25:38  When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?

Matthew 25:39  Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?

Matthew 25:40  And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. Will you see Jesus today? You will if you look in the right place. Will you see Him this weekend? It will depend on how you look at others! Have a great weekend. 

Well Done

 It was many years ago now but the lesson I learned that day hopefully will never leave my mind. I was working with a trim carpenter running trim in some very costly homes. We were working on a house as usual when we were asked to get all our tools and go to another house. It had been sold and they needed to get the trim work finished. We began working and worked hard to please everyone involved.  We worked long hours, as we got closer to being through everyone was pulled off that job but me. I worked hard to get everything finished. One more thing was to be done; it was after lunch as I began this task which would take the rest of the day and then some. I raced to get it finished and as I was finishing up my boss came to check it all out. He spent his time looking around and then he spoke up and told me this “I would like for you to stop for a minute and look at what you have done.”  He then said “you have turned that piece of wood upside down.” I couldn’t believe what I was hearing he was not saying thanks for working late and getting this job finished for me, I wasn’t hearing, it all looks good we are pleased with your workmanship. No, all I was hearing was some negative talk. I learned that day that complaining comes quicker than compliments. Too many times we don’t hesitate to point out what’ s wrong, but completely neglect to point out what’s right. Eager to find fault, but hesitant to praise, we express our grief and regrets, but overlook our blessings. On that day I remembered how I felt and I made a decision. That decision was that I had within myself the power to tear down or built up, destroy or improve, appreciate a job well done or act as if I never noticed. I want to be the one who not only notices a job well done but give praise where it is due. Remember that in the book of Matthew we read about three servants that were given talents or money. Only two of those servants heard the words “well done” one was called wicked and a lazy servant. We may not have all been given money, but we all have been given the ability to do something that will bring good results in others as well as ourselves. What words had you rather hear?  

Matthew 25:21  His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. Or

 Matthew 25:26  His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant,  How will you be remembered? 

Desires

Desires, we all have them, we all have to be cautious of our desires and fight against them. The Apostle Paul who wrote most of the New Testament gave testimony to his own failure in this battle.

Romans 7:19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.

Everyone of us have had this frustrating experience of wanting to do what is right only to find ourselves doing that which we didn't plan. It's no different in the Christian life but we should never use this as a scapegoat. We want to do what pleases the Lord, but we find ourselves being unable to accomplish it; so what causes this?

Galatians 5:17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

Do you see the reason, "Our flesh?" Our natural desires are not toward holiness, but rather toward self-indulgence and self-sufficiency. Therefore what the Spirit desires and what our flesh craves are set against each other. "These are contrary to one another." The consequence of this internal conflict is "that we do not do the things that we would like to do." That’s the problem Paul was having; his personal resources, his flesh was not able to produce the desired results.

Romans 7:18  For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.

Paul had Godly desires.

Romans 7:22  For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:

But there was a problem.

Rom 7:23  But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.

There is a battle going on inside of every believer; which one wins? The one that you and I feed! Steve Curington gives an illustration about an Indian with two dogs a black one and a white one. He would take them to dog fights and fight them against each other. The Indian always knew which dog would win and always walked away with the money. Then someone asked him how he always knew which dog would win. His answer was simple he said “me want white dog to win me feed white dog and me starve black dog and white dog always wins.’ “Me want black dog to win me feed black dog and me starve white dog and black dog wins.” Now the truth to the story is that whatever you and I feed the most will win. Feed our flesh and our flesh will win. Feed our spirit and our spirit will win. How do we avoid failure? Here is what Solomon said.

Proverbs 22:3  A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.

 A sensible man sees evil coming and hides themselves from it but gullible people pay no attention and suffer the consequences. Feed the spiritual man and the spiritual man will win. Feed the flesh and the flesh will win. You and I won’t win every battle but the more we put our trust in the Word of God and trust His leadership we will win more and more. 

The Field

Proverbs 24:30  I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding; 

Proverbs 24:31  And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down. 

Proverbs 24:32  Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it, and received instruction. 

Proverbs 24:33 [Yet] a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:

Proverbs 24:34 So shall thy poverty come [as] one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man.

As we read these verses we quickly see and understand what is being said. We then move on to the next verses, but did we miss something in the process? If you have spent any time at all in the book of Proverbs you will remember reading earlier about a little sleep and folding of the hands and how that poverty is sure to follow.

Proverbs 6:10 [Yet] a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:

Proverbs 6:11 So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man. After reading both sets of verses did you notice the endings of verse 34 and verse 11 "as an armed man." So great and wise a man as Solomon received instruction from the field and of the slothful and foolish man. The teaching is in the field; learn what happens in the field. There should be just a little sleep; not a lot. There should only be just a little folding of the hands; not much and then just a little dozing and nodding; not much. Poverty will come; not all at once. A little drug use, a little alcohol use, a little viewing on the Internet, a little anger, a little look, a little desire, a little lust, a little pride, a little greed.

Proverbs 23:21 For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe [a man] with rags.

Proverbs 23:32 At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder.

Because of the little and the not paying attention, because you think you have it all under control you lose as if you were held up by an armed man. When in reality we allow it to happen to us and we did nothing to stop it. Do nothing and we will be over taken, not all at once; a little at a time. Then the same is true in reverse. The mental picture is a field that was once kept neat, nice and clean but because the owner slowly stops attending to it, it was eventually over taken. Today if we will start work little by little with God’s help we can restore the years that the locust has eaten.

Joel 2:25 And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you.

In HIM we have help without HIM we are held up! 

John 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have [it] more abundantly.

Not all at once a little at a time!

Moments

The moments of our lives pass by so quickly, but the memories we create will last forever. What if you were asked what is the best moment of your life? Would they be the moments you've shared with loved ones and family? Moments together that shaped who you've become. That being said I want to share with each of you what a young missionary wrote about our Pastor:

 Today my Pastor turns 40 years old!   I have known my pastor long before he ever became pastor of our church.

In fact, Pastor Lawrence has had many “names” over the years.

Here are some, just to name a few.

When he began picking me up on the busses over 15 years ago, he was “Bus Captain.”

When I was in 6th grade in his youth group he was “Bro D.”

When I was in 7th grade in the middle of Mexico on my first ever missions trip he was “Amigo.”

When I was in 8th grade and he would come to our middle school each week to preach the Bible, he was “The Preacher.”

All throughout high school as he would teach us, train us, take us on trips he was “Youth Pastor.”

When I would call him late at night with any problem I would have he was “Counselor.”

When he took me hunting in the pouring rain and we saw nothing he was “Hunting Guide.”

When he drove 8 hours round trip to my grandfather’s funeral, to my family he was “Compassionate.”

When he married my wife and I (who also grew up in our youth group) he was “The One Who Said I Could Kiss Her.”

When he encouraged me to take a trip with him to Peru to pray about getting involved in missions he was “Leader.”

When he would take me visiting with him, or teach me in a class setting, he was “Trainer.”

When I ventured out on deputation last year, and I knew he was behind me the entire time, he was the “Sender.”

When I can call him on the road when I am not sure how to handle a problem, he is my “Phone-a-Friend

When he asked me to preach our entire missions conference last year, when I was scared to death to do so, he was “The One Who Believes In Me.”

When he stood at my side as I was ordained last month, he was my “Hero.”

When I watch the way he treats his wife and children, he is my “Example.”

And when I see the way he loves the Lord Jesus, His church, and His mission, he is “My Pastor.”

And now as I reflect on the last 15 years that I have known this man, this small list of events that make up my life do not even begin to scratch the surface to describe what Derik Lawrence has done for me and meant to me.  I am glad that I can now call him not only my Pastor, but I can call him my friend.

2 Corinthians 12 Paul says “And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved.”  Every time I read this verse, my mind immediately thinks of how my pastor has given and poured his life into those around him.

Pastor, I have watched you grow as a leader, a husband, a father, and a pastor over the last 15 years.  You have taught me more by your actions and how you live out your Christian faith than any words could ever be spoken.  I love you, and appreciate all you have done for me and my family.  Happy Birthday!

When you look back on the seasons of your life, you won’t remember everything...you remember moments. We each impact those around us; let us leave moments in their life that will last.

Forgive

When you read the name Ted Bundy does your mind remember the horror that he left behind in his wake of rape, kidnapping, and murder. The lives he not only took but the lives he destroyed in his acts of selfishness for his own personal pleasures. The night he was executed (January 24, 1989) there were many outside the prison voicing their opinions. Waving signs of hate and cheered when the words came "he is dead." Should he have been punished for his acts? The answer is sure but then the question comes to light should this man be forgiven for his awful deeds to so many?  Some may answer this question as no, never but this thing about forgiveness becomes a big matter. Many will not forgive themselves and others can’t forgive others for the wrongs done unto them. God forgave King David for murder; the Lord Jesus forgave the thief that was beside Him that day on Calvary. I was reading and came across these verses that were able to help me understand this matter about forgiveness.

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.

Paul takes the time to help us he says I want you to know that wicked people won’t inherit the kingdom of God. Then he names a bunch of things for instance sexual sins, worshiping false God, those who commit adultery, thieves, those that are greedy, those that use abusive language and drunkards for a few. We might say “amen” to that list. But it’s the next verse that we must read.
1Corinthains 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. Wait a minute did that say that’s what some of you were? Yes, now step outside of the box and look at it. Paul uses the word “were” past tense for to be; so something has changed? What was it “but you are washed, but you are sanctified, but you are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.

 Acts 4:12  Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.  It’s because of the Lord Jesus that you and I can be washed, sanctified and justified. Therefore we are no longer what we were or could have been. I personally didn’t have to forgive Ted Bundy or any other serial killer but I have had to forgive others who have done hateful and awful things to me and my family. I could only have done that through the Lord Jesus Christ, for He forgave me of all never to be remembered no more.

Heb 10:17  And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. God says I choose not to remember their sins. Are we willing to do the same? Make that decision and choose not to remember?

The Door

A good friend of mine was taken one night to see a man who was living a life that was on the wild side. While there my friend began to tell him about what the Lord could and would do for him. After a very short time that man got up walked across the room and opened his front door and asked my friend to leave. As I was thinking and remembering about that night on yesterday I had this thought that I would like to share with each of you this morning. That man opened the door to let my friend out and my friend got up and left; he walked right out the front door and went home. If you were to take the word “door” and run it with your computer you would find that it is mentioned 189 times in the Bible. You will find that the first time it is mentioned is in the fourth chapter of Genesis and verse seven:  If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.

Cain’s offering had been rejected and because of that Cain got angry and disappointed. In the next verse God tells Cain if he was to do well would he not be accepted? On the other hand if you decide not to then sin is lying outside your door ready to attack, for sin wants to control you. Cain decided to allow the sin outside the door to master him and in the next verse we read of him killing his brother.

Genesis 4:8  And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.

Cain allowed sin to master him instead of him mastering sin. In John Chapter 10 and verse nine we read of Jesus saying that He was the door. I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. Here we are told of a door that we need to enter. We then read of a door in Revelation chapter three and verse twenty Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. Here we read of a door that is being knocked on with a voice that is saying open the door for if you do I will come in. This morning we have looked at three doors one where there is sin just outside that needs to be mastered. Another where Jesus is saying that He was the door and that we can enter in. Then we read of a door that is being knocked on. It is closed and must be opened from the inside and once the door is opened then the visitor which is Jesus Christ will come in. In other words Jesus is the door to heaven and happiness and all you and I have to do is open the door of our hearts and let Jesus come in. So that night when my friend was asked to leave with an open door he did. We have read of an open door that anyone who will can enter; not leave but enter and if we fail to enter in the results will be awful. Those who have entered the change will be noticeable.

2Corinthains  5:17  Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. Are the old ways of life passing away? Are things becoming new or is sin just outside the door waiting to master you? 

Found

If you remember back on February 15, 2012 I wrote a blog "Lost at the Mall." I told you of getting lost in the Mall; my truck was not far from where I was but I had gotten myself separated from where I had parked it. As I was reading in 2 Kings I read something that reminded me of that day; except what had become lost should have never been lost to start with. There was a young boy named Josiah at the age of 8 he became king.

 2 Kings 22:1 Josiah [was] eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned thirty and one years in Jerusalem.

Then we read that when Josiah was 26 years old something happened.

2 Kings 22:3 And it came to pass in the eighteenth year of king Josiah, [that] the king sent Shaphan the son of Azaliah, the son of Meshullam, the scribe, to the house of the LORD, saying,

2 Kings 22:4 Go up to Hilkiah the high priest, that he may sum the silver which is brought into the house of the LORD, which the keepers of the door have gathered of the people:

The high priest was told to go to the house of the Lord to count the money that the people had brought but something was found that was far more important than money.

2 Kings 22:8 And Hilkiah the high priest said unto Shaphan the scribe, I have found the book of the law in the house of the LORD. And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan, and he read it.

The book of the law found in the house of the Lord how could the book of the law be lost in the house of the Lord? The reason I had gotten lost at the mall was I wasn't paying attention to where I was. As I read about the book of the law being found I wondered if that could be true in the day you and I live in. Is the house of the Lord of our day concerned more about the budget than the book? Concerned more with prestige than people? Have we become blind to the Bible? Has it been lost right where we come to worship as in the day of Josiah? What was true in Josiah's day is true in ours "For God so loved the world that He gave."

Luke 19:10  For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

We must be concerned about our Heavenly Father's business.

Luke 2:49  And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?

The question becomes personal have we lost God’s Word in our daily lives? Do we read it, study it, do we search for the treasures that lay within our reach or have we become so busy that we just don't take the time. Don't let the Bible become lost in your life it will give what money can't buy; love, joy ,peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, meekness and self control. Count your blessings and stay close to the One that gave His life for you; Jesus Christ! You’ll find Him in the Bible.

  

Content

Our behavior is important not only to us but to those around us. I read if you keep doing the same thing over and over it will soon become a habit. Now this could be a good habit or a poor habit. I am sure we all want to have good habits; it would be wonderful to replace our poor habits with good ones, but how? I think we must learn to think different; you and I live in a world that so many are not satisfied with themselves. Their hair is the wrong color, they are not tall enough, old enough, young enough and on and on with the list of uncertainties. First learn to change the way we think. What if today I wrote down three things that I am grateful for? What if as I drove to work I would notice three things that I’m grateful for along the way? What if I were to write down some things that I appreciate about my job? Now what if I were to do that on a consistent basis; don’t you think it would start to change the way I look at things? Sure it would and is that not what the Apostle Paul was saying?

Philippians 4:11  Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. Paul said that he had learned, he wasn’t born knowing how to be content but he learned how to be content. Then he tells us about our conversation.

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. There it is again “be content” talk about being content “let your conversation be without craving for possessions.” Be content with what you have and stay far away from covetousness (A strong or disorderly  desire of obtaining and possessing some supposed good; usually in a bad sense.) What’s the plan? Keep doing the same thing you have been doing and you’re going to keep getting the same results you have been getting. Change the way to talk and think and you’ll see what you already have to be grateful for and you will learn to appreciate what you already have. 

The String

Sometimes we don't always see the importance of small things. There was a story of a kite. As the kite would soar high in the sky it would say to its self if it wasn't for that string holding me back I could go as high as the stars. One day the string broke and the kite said "finally I'm free, free at last." Unfortunately with the string now broken the kite realized that what was holding him down was what really was fulfilling his dreams. So it was in the Garden of Eden. The one thing that seemingly was holding Adam and Eve back was really allowing them to be able to reach their dreams. The string that held the kite was the same string that was allowing the kite to soar. What is it that you think is holding you back? Maybe it's time to rethink or as the Apostle Paul put it, examine yourself.

2 Corinthians 13:5  Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

That small string that you think is holding you back may just be the string that is allowing you to reach your dreams and goals.

Have a great weekend and be sure to pray for your Pastor that the Lord may use him greatly this Sunday.

Time Well Spent

Have you ever heard anyone say that it was just their nature to do….? I want you to think for a moment about what nature really is. Our nature will determine what our appetite is. Just like a pig wants slop, and sheep desire green pastures our nature will also determine our behavior. The bird’s nature is to fly, the fish’s nature is to swim, a monkey’s nature is to swing from tree to tree while our nature is to walk up right. Nature will also determine our environment, squirrels nest in trees, rats have burrows underground and fish live in the water. Nature also will determine our association, just as wolves travel in packs, sheep in flocks and fish in schools. If a person says that they are a child of God then that person should have within themselves an appetite for God’s word.

1Pe 2:2  As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

In this verse we see there is a desire to know what Gods Word has to say, just as a newborn baby cries for milk because they are hungry. As they drink milk they grow to the point that they began to desire a food that is more fulfilling. Our nature and appetite should do the same; there should come a point to where we want to understand more. The more we take in the more we grow; we can have as much as we want or as little as we are satisfied with. Ask the sheep would you like a green pasture or a brown one? They would say a green pasture. What do you want? Remember you can have as much as you want or as little as you are satisfied with. Do you want to know about God or do you want to know God? There are those who know my wife. What I mean is they know her by her name, her appearance, the sound of her voice maybe but  I know her! I know what she likes and doesn’t like, I know how she feels about many things, I can tell by looking at her if she is upset with me. The difference is I know her by relationship. The same is true with God. We can know Him by relationship and just like my wife it comes by spending time with Him. We do that by reading and learning His word.

Psa 119:9   Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.

Psa 119:11  Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

Psa 119:16  I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.

Psa 119:17   Deal bountifully with thy servant, that I may live, and keep thy word.

Psa 119:50  This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me.

Psa 119:65   Thou hast dealt well with thy servant, O LORD, according unto thy word.

Psa 119:89   For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.

Psa 119:105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

Psa 119:140  Thy word is very pure: therefore thy servant loveth it.

The only way to have a relationship with the Lord is to know Him through His Word. You may know about the Lord but if you never spent time in His Word you don’t know HIM!

But Grow

If I were too ask you to name a man that in his earlier years was overconfident when danger was near and who overlooked the warnings of his master what would your answer be? He would rush ahead when he should have waited; slept when he should have prayed; talked when he should have listened and he was courageous but careless. If you said the Apostle Peter you would have answered right. Now what does this man Peter have to do with each of us? Have you ever overlooked warnings? I remember a few years back my family and I took a vacation to the Grand Canyon. We were told before going to be sure that we had hiking shoes because many a person had lost their footing and went off into the Canyon. Well, I didn’t really know what to expect for all I had ever seen of the Grand Canyon were only pictures but none the less we purchased the hiking shoes. After arriving there I could understand why it was important to have this type of shoe.  I looked around and saw that there were a lot of other people not wearing hiking anything. Some had on sandals, flip flops and a few were bare footed. As I looked off into that Canyon it was a long ways to the bottom and I for one sure didn’t want to take that trip down. The next to the last day we were there I saw people doing dumb things. There were three young men jumping from one point to another; it was a short jump but had they missed their goal they would have went straight to the bottom of the Canyon. That afternoon I heard this lady scream and as I turned around to see where that scream was coming form I saw a lady go right off the edge.  She had not taken the precaution to wear hiking shoes and her footing gave way and off she went. Her family went to the edge and lucky for her there was another ledge just below her and she was just skinned up. The next time that lady goes to the Grand Canyon I assure you she will not be wearing sandals. As we follow the life of Peter we see that he also learned not to be so loose with what he has been taught. By the time the Apostle writes his second epistle he is now singing a much different tune. He tells his readers not to be negligent but to remember the things that you know and be established in the present truth.

2Peter 1:12  Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth.

Then the next to the last verse in his letter he warns about being led away with the error of the wicked for it will cause you to fall from your steadfastness.

2Peter 3:17  Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.

At the close of Peter’s life he knows when to pray and when to sleep, he knows when to listen and when to talk. He gives us the secret in how this is done in the last verse of his letter. In order to know these things it takes some growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior, then Peter says learn how to praise Him here and now each day that He allows us to live and whatever happens praise Him now and forever.

2Peter 3:18  But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever. Amen. Have you grown in your Christian life or are you still struggling with the same old things that you did two years ago? When’s the last time you praised the Lord for the things going on in your daily life? Seven times Peter uses the word knowledge in this epistle and it’s about knowledge of our Lord and Savior. This should tell each of us the more we know about Jesus the more we’ll know how to live each day. The more we know about Jesus the more we’ll praise HIM! 

Time

The word consider means;  To fix the mind on, with a view to a careful examination; to think on with care; to ponder; to study; to meditate on.

Have you ever fixed your mind on and viewed with careful examination what is given to us in one 24 hour period? The greatest commodity you and I have at our fingertips is time. Everyone has the same amount of time to use or waste today. The happiness in our life depends on how we use our time. 

Take time to THINK-it is the source of power.

Take time to PLAY-it is the secret of perpetual youth.

Take time to be FRIENDLY-it is the road to happiness.

Take time to LOVE-it is a God-given privilege.

Take time to READ-it is a fountain of wisdom.

Take time to PRAY-it is the greatest power on earth.

Take time to LAUGH-it is the music of the soul.

Take time to GIVE-it is too short a day to be selfish.

Take time to WORK-it is the price of success. In Ecclesiastes chapter 3 and verse 1 Solomon, the wisest man to have ever lived said " To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:" Then he begins to name them. I noticed that he never said anything about a time to waste! We must make our time today count. 

Blind

Have you ever wanted somebody to do something for you and really didn’t how or what to ask for? That is exactly what we read happening in Matthew chapter 20. It is here we read about two blind men. They are sitting on the side of the road when they hear a sound of people coming toward them. They hear the name Jesus; they may have heard of this man Jesus before. Maybe they had heard about Jesus walking on the Sea of Galilee or Jesus feeding the four thousand or maybe the healing of a devil possessed boy. Whatever it was they began to shout out to Jesus but something happened that they were not expecting. This multitude that was now following Jesus began to tell them to be quiet. Be quiet, they must have thought not on your life so they began to shout louder. That is when we read this in verse 32 “And Jesus stood still.”  These two men have now gotten the attention of Jesus so much so that He comes to a complete stop. Jesus then asked them this question” What will ye that I shall do unto you? ” What happens next is very important for these two men are much like you and I; they didn’t really know how to ask Jesus. Read what they said.

Matthew 20:33They say unto him, Lord, that our eyes may be opened.  Jesus knew what they wanted as well as what they needed so Jesus gives them what they needed not what they asked for.

Matthew20:34 So Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him. The multitude had their eyes open but they were blind to the real need of two blind men even to the point that they were doing their best to keep their mouths shut. I pray that our eyes are not just opened but that we can see to the needs of others to the point that we will do what we can. I have said on many occasions to others “if there is anything I can do please let me know.” I really mean what I said at the time but there was no phone call or message sent to me for me to help. God showed me something very valuable about this that I want to share with each of you. Back at the end of 2010 my wife fell down the stairs here at our home. It was a bad fall she broke her leg in 2 places and had to have rods and plates and screws and could not put any weight on her leg for three months. There were many that helped in that time of need but there were two women that God used to really teach me something. This lady called and asked how my wife was doing and we chit-chatted for a few moments. She then said this “I am taking the day off this Friday and my sister and I are coming to cook and clean and spend some time with your wife. Now neither one of these ladies really knew my wife; I’m not sure if they had ever seen her.  This lady didn’t give me time to say anything, she didn’t ask if I wanted her help she just said we’re coming; and they did; more than once. God taught me something priceless, many times we will not ask because of pride or we just don’t want to put others out. We tell Tom or Sue if you need anything just let me know. Do we really mean it? Sure we do and if they were to call we would fulfill our promise. But we ride by their home and we see that the grass needs cutting and we do nothing, our eyes are open but we are blind to the needs around us. This was the problem within the multitude that day; they just didn’t see the need. When the two blind men asked to have their eyes opened Jesus saw the real need and not only opened their eyes but also gave them sight. This is what we may need this week, sight in the blind areas of our day to day actives that we might be a blessing and a help to those around us. Ask the Lord to help you see the needs of others and then go and do what He shows you. 

Generosity

It was a night like any other night. I was out visiting some of my bus kids making sure they would be riding my bus to Sunday School on Sunday. I was in a part of town no one would go, but I went gladly. It was what they called a bad neighborhood and told me if you go be out of there before it gets dark. Well, it was dark before I went but I went anyways. I talked to a lot of people that night and now it was time to go home. I went to my car and guess what it didn’t start. Then all of a sudden a man appeared he told me to pop the hood so I did. He looked and then started pulling wires off; I just stood there and watched. He then looked up at me and asked if I had a certain part. I said I think so; I never got rid of anything. I went to the trunk and sure enough there was that part. I gave it to the man and then he put all my wires back on and told me to start it up. I turned the key and it started right up. I thanked the man and then asked him “how much do I owe you.” He said you don’t owe me anything preach. You the one that comes and gets my little girl every Sunday. That has been a long time ago but I still remember that night in a part of town I was told not to go, that a man I didn’t know showed me an act of kindness. Abraham’s servant was asked to go to Abraham’s country and get a wife for his son, Isaac. So off he goes when he arrives it is evening and it’s at the time when the women go to draw water. There is a young lady there waiting her time to draw water, after she draws water she starts back home with her jar of water on her shoulder. That is when Abraham’s servant approaches her and asks for a drink. Without any hesitation she lowers her jar and gives him a drink and he drinks and drinks. Then this young lady saw the need for this man’s camels and she begins to water them also. Little did that young lady know that on that night that act of generosity would change her life as well as the lives of so many other people forever. You read about this young lady by the name of Rebekah in Genesis chapter 24. What is so interesting to me is that Rebekah was generous, not with just giving a little of herself but she also gave water for the camels of a man she didn’t even know. As I think about Rebekah I have to ask myself this question “Am I willing to give my time and talents as well as my treasures to those I don’t know?”  Then I have to come face to face with my actions; do I do things expecting something in return or do I do them expecting nothing in return. Rebekah didn’t expect anything in return. She never did it knowing what would happen to her in the future, she just did what she could at a time of need.  Today each one of us will have an opportunity to do some kind act of generosity for someone we don’t even know. It may be just letting them over because they have gotten in the wrong lane. It may be that you see that they are in a hurry and you let them in front of you in line at the grocery store. It could be something as simple as taking the time to push your grocery cart to the proper place so it doesn’t have an opportunity to roll into someone else’s car causing damage after you leave. It might be reaching down and picking up a candy bar at the checkout line and then giving in to the cashier while smiling at them telling them to eat it on their break time. There are so many ways we can each show kind acts of unselfishness and generosity to others and who knows how God may use you to change someone else’s life today. 

Real Need

If you were to reflect back on some of what your parents taught you when you were small what would you be able to say? Could you say that today, many years later that you are a better person because of their teaching? I can only reflect back on what I was taught and I would have to say yes. I would have to say that the teaching was simple so that I could understand it. I also remember the times I was asked to go to my room this was a time that we were alone and a time I was reverent. This was also a time of unselfishness where I would hear words like “it hurts me to have to do this.” It was also a time of a real need and a time of faith in hopes that we would never have to come to this place again. As I thought on the impact that my parents had on me and the teachings that I learned, I can also see a picture of the Lord’s Prayer. One day the Lord’s disciples came to Him and asked him this question “teach us to pray.”

Luke 11:1  And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray,…..   There on that day those men were given a pattern or taught how they should pray. It too was Simple “Our Father “that’s simple and easy to understand. They were also taught that they should be Reverent “Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.” These are simple words reminding us that God is in Heaven and you and I are here upon earth.

Ecclesiastes 5:2  Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few.

Prayer must also deal with real needs.

Luke 11:3  Give us day by day our daily bread. Prayer must also be unselfish.

Luke 11:4  And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us.

Prayer is a time that you and I get alone with our Heavenly Father and ask Him to give us guidance for the day that is before us. It’s a time we can be completely open for He knows all. It’s a time we can completely put trust in Him as well as a time that we can expect to see His mighty hand at work. Have you been alone with HIM today?  If so then expect to see HIS mighty hand at work in your life today. 

My Son

It was always a joy to me to hear my dad say to someone else, “this is my son”, “this is my oldest son” or anything that identified me as being his son. When he would say things like that it assured me of being his son or in his family, it gave me a feeling of security and of love. In the book of Proverbs the words “My Son” are mentioned sixteen times in the first seven chapters. In chapter one we are told to hear the instruction of your father. 

Proverbs 1:8 My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother:

It’s the instruction from the father of warning.

Proverbs 1:10 My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.

Proverbs 1:15 My son, walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path:

Chapter two we are told to receive;

Proverbs 2:1 My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee;

We must have a mindset for receiving and that comes by hearing. Chapter three deals with keeping that which we have received by placing it in our heart and allowing Him to direct our path. After we have received and hid then comes the understanding and results.

Proverbs 4:4 He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live. By the time we come to chapter five the one being instructed or taught has had some training. Here’s what’s important; teaching is useless if there is no training and training becomes useless if there is no testing. It’s one thing to know what not to do, it’s another to do what you’ve been taught when the time comes.  The military helped me to learn this principle; follow your training not what you think in time of danger, listen to the one in command and follow their instructions. Now with all we have just read about listening to be instructed; the day will come when your training will keep you safe. “If sinners entice” (to attract artfully) don’t consent and you do that by not walking with them.  We all will be tested on our training and we see that in chapter seven. Want your marriage to stay together? Here’s the training;

 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.  In other words stay out of Hooters, get your wings somewhere else. Never let what you saw in your wife depart from your memory and be ravished, delighted to ecstasy always with her love. If we do that then we will never be running after someone else or allowing another to entice us, the reason being that we are satisfied and satisfied people don’t allow themselves to be attracted artfully.

Where's The Beef

 A few years ago there was an advertisement that had an older lady asking this question “where is the beef.” What she was saying was that there is no evidence that there was any beef on her bun that she had just purchased. Evidence, what does that mean? That which elucidates and enables the mind to see truth. As I was looking for something I ran across this site that read “Where is the evidence that jesus christ existed?” What I first noticed was that there was no capitalization of Jesus Christ. Then I read what was said. “So, bring the evidence. What evidence is there? Prove that jesus christ, the son of yahweh and the christian messiah, existed. I couldn't give a care about a "historical" Jesus, that's as useful as a historical Santa in terms of the supernatural claims made.“ Very interesting; did you happen to see once again that Jesus Christ was not capitalized but Santa was. Wonder if he believed in Santa? On this writer goes saying that there is no “reliable evidence of the existence of Jesus and then says that the Apostle Paul wrote that he only knew Jesus through revelation, which is another term for fantasy.” Ok, is there any real evidence that would state differently? I think so, and by the way the Apostle Paul didn’t live in a fantasy world nor did he write about one.   

Acts 9:3  And as he (Paul) journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:

Acts 9:4  And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?

Acts 9:5  And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

Acts 9:6  And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do. This is neither a revelation nor fantasy that Paul is writing about, but an actual event that happened to him. It’s interesting that as we read the opening chapter of the Bible that God never tries to prove His existence, He just simply states that “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” I’m sorry, you have arrived too late to tell me such nonsense for I have seen the hand of God at work in many lives over many years. I have had too many prayers answered myself to think such foolishness of not putting trust in Jesus.

Psalms 14:1   The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. 

Psalms 53:1   The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God.  Once our eyes close in death this life as we know it will be gone forever. The only thing that will last is that which has been done for Christ and you will open your eyes somewhere.

2Corinthains  5:8  We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.  Sounds very comforting!

Luke 16:23  And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments… Sounds very fearful!

I wouldn’t personally advise this revelation and fantasy business; it sounds very costly to me.