I am Embarrassed

I remember when I was in high school a friend of mine met a young lady and asked her for a date. She accepted but said she would meet him at a certain place. Every time they went out he would pick her up at this certain place when the date was over he would take her to her house but she would never let him walk her to the door. She would get out and walk around to the back door to go in. This went on for some time when he started getting suspicious. So one night when he let her out he watched to see where she went. He noticed that she did not go in at the house he let her out at, but went to a house a few doors down. After a while he began to ask questions but she would change the subject. Then finally one night he told her I know you don't live where I have been letting you out and then he drove her in front of her home and said this is where you live. Why are you telling me you live there when here is where you live? Then she told him this story. My dad is nothing but a drunk and I am embarrassed for you to meet him. We have nothing because he drinks it all up. Look at me my clothes are used; nice, yes, but still bought from a second hand store. Then my friend said listen to me, I am not dating you for the way you dress or where you live or even who your parents are I am dating you for who you are. As time when on he married that young lady and raised a family. Is that not the way God is? He doesn't love us because of where we might live, the way we dress or the money we may or may not have. He doesn't love us because of the family we were born into. But He does love us for who we are John 3:16 For God so loved the world, (Who's in the world? You and I are!) that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
As that young man said to that young lady," I am going to take you out of here and away from all this" and he did. That's just what Jesus told his disciples John 14:2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

John 14:3
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. That's what the Apostle Paul told the Church at Thessalonica in 1Thessalonians 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

1Thessalonians 4:17
Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

1Thessalonians 4:18
Wherefore comfort one another with these words. I like that "comfort one another with these words." When things look bad the child of God can have words that comfort. This isn't home so don't get too comfortable. For we aren't going to be here long; our real home is a few doors up and Jesus is going to take us out of here and away from this to a much better place than my friend did for that young lady he married. To a place where there is no need of the Sun for the Son of God will be the light. A land where we will never grow old; a land where there is no sickness or death; a home that we won't be ashamed of and a Father that we will not be embarrassed for anyone to meet. Are you looking for His Return?

Contentment

This month of June our Pastor spent each Sunday morning in a series he named "Following Him As A Man." I must say he covered some deep ground and yes he even spent one Sunday morning dealing with sex. But on yesterday he preached form I Timothy chapter 6 verses 11&12 on "O man of God." He was not preaching to preachers but to men as he preached on Flee, Follow, and Fight. As he preached he said some things that the Lord spoke to me about or should I say reminded me. In verse 7 these words are said "For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out." Each and every one of us were born with nothing and it matters not how much we gain in this life we will carry none of it out with us. I think many times if I could only have this or that I would be happy; but you know happiness in not found in things or how many things we have. Then he talked about riches and he said this "we in America are rich." We are, if you don't think so then get on a plane and go to a third world country and get outside all the tourist attractions and you will see. I have been there and seen it and yes it's true. I remember one night in Nicaragua in a meeting with about 1500 people, they had nothing we gave out tracts and not one did I see on the ground. They started a movie called the "Burning Hell" which was a movie I saw in the 70's; it is now 1993 the bulb went out in the projector and they sat and listen to just the sound and no one complained. They know what it is to have nothing! As I listen and as the Lord spoke to my heart I was reminded once again, that I am rich in Christ Jesus! The temptations that we all face will be like a snare to us and will drown us in destruction. So what did the Lord say to me? Very simple; "Godliness with contentment is great gain." Be happy and content with what I have! I have a wonderful family, A loving and great wife, a home to sleep in, friends to enjoy, a Great Church to be a part of, good health, a job God has placed me in, where I get to see God work in the lives of those others have given up on. I get to watch God change the unchangeable and give life back to those who for the most part have thrown it all out the window for drugs, alcohol, sex and a host of other things. I am about to shout now for He has been so good to me and my family and one day when I am finished here on this earth He will call me home; I am now going down the back side of the mountain; I don't have much here but my treasures are in heaven. Matthew 6:19
Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:

Matthew 6:20
But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: One last thought our Pastor told of a lady who died and left a large sum of money to four Churches ( ours being one). Then I had this thought "you can, take it with you and have interest too by leaving it here to work for the Lord." Hebrews 11:4
By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh. Here was a lady I have never seen or had the privilege of knowing yet God used her to speak to my heart months after her death. What a great God we serve! Be content with what you have and share it with others! One day after you're gone you too will get to speak to others.

 

 

 

 

 

Amazing or Is It?

It's amazing? How the mind works to put words together. It goes against everything I was taught in school and totally ends the need for spell check! It's the perfect example that confirms what you see may not be what' really going on. Acrodcing to rseearch at Cmabirdge Uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoatnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit a porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid  deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. You know to, to many people you may look all confused but to God; well He knows our heart I Samuel 16:7
But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.
You may look like you have it all together even to the point of being successful; but that is looking at you from the outside. We see this all the time in prestigious people that have plenty of money; they appear to be successful and in most cases are. But then you hear of them getting a divorce, picked up doing something that was just not understandable to you. We have even read of them committing suicide. How could this be? They made us laugh, cry and want to like them or so we thought. But you and I are only seeing the outside not the inside. There was a song in the early 1970's by Savory Brown and the lyrics said

 

I'm looking in from the outside 

I wish my mind could read the score

Some day a door will open

Then I'll know then I'll see

What I'm striving for

If I could get an answer 
If someone would give me a clue
I know I'd feel much better 
But I can't find anyone
To put my question to

And when I'm old and wiser
And I look back on my youth
Will I be contented or will I see
Nothing but a faint search for the truth

The problem with that song is we can all look from the outside but looking from the outside we never get inside. Many run and hide and act as if they have not a care in the world but we can't see the inside. You've seen them they say things like "if I were any better I'd be twins." Something else I see is that when I'm older and wiser and look back on my youth and nothing but a faint search for the truth. Pilate asked that question many years ago! John 18:38
Pilate saith unto him, (Jesus) What is truth?
Pilate couldn't see the truth standing right in front of him. Neither can many in the day you and I live in. The truth is still Jesus John 14:6
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. So when you look on your youth what are you going to find? Were you looking for the Truth….I wasn't but thank God the Truth found me because He was looking for me. And another thing what if you never have a youth to look back on? Cemeteries are full of young people. So what are you hiding on the inside? God already knows what's there!

The Big Cruise

A couple years ago my wife and I went on a cruise with some good friends from our Church. We had a great time to say the least. While we were out to sea one of our friends told me of an elderly couple he had met and they told him that this is where they live. They get off one cruise ship on to another they said it was as cheap and much better than a nursing home……Assisted Living….. I mean Retirement home. Could this be true? Oh yes it is; this is what I read. A lady by the name of Bea Muller has been a permanent resident since January, 2000 on Cunard cruise line's Queen Elizabeth 2. Mrs. Muller said, "I've got full-time maid service, great dining rooms, doctors, a medical center (where she volunteers), a spa, beauty salon, computer center, entertainment, cultural activities and, best of all she said dancing and bridge." That sounds awful good to me except for the dancing and bridge. Well that got me to thinking! It's for sure this life is too short and one day Mrs. Muller's cruise will be over and then what? I may never live on a cruise ship with fine dining and all the other things she talked about but those are not my life goals. Jesus as He spent the last night with His disciples He told them these words. John 14:1
Let not your heart (don't let the whole man) be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. John 14:2
In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. John 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. Jesus knew that His disciples would have many a tuff day, days they didn't understand, days they seemed confused, even days with no direction. But He wanted to leave them with a promise, I know you will be troubled but believe and put your trust in me. Because I'm going home to my Father's house, to prepare a place for you and I'm coming back for you. One day you and I will take our last breath here and as far as this land we will be just a memory. Good memories I am sure in the minds of those who knew us and loved us but none the less a memory. You may be thinking of that cruise ship retirement, but that too will be gone. But I have my eyes on something far better; how does this sound? Revelation 21:18 And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass.

Revelation 21:19 And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald;

2Corinthians 5:8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. We will have no need of Doctors, fine dining, spa, beauty salon, computer center or any cultural activities. This sounds like a much better plan to me! Too many people are living their lives with only this life in view. We were born, live and die. But this life is not the end of the story. Our Bible certainly makes it clear that there is life after death and that there is a real heaven and a real hell. Everyone ends up somewhere! And, like Mrs. Muller, we have the choice to opt for the best of all accommodations: Heaven a choice of faith to believe in Jesus. I am booked for that fantastic journey. Make sure you are too for if not you'll miss the boat.

A Big Fish

I was trout fishing in the North Georgia Mountains some years ago when I stopped by one of those Mom & Pop owned stores. I stopped to get some hooks or something, but I saw something in there that I have never forgotten. It was a postcard of a huge Rainbow trout on the back of a flat bed truck and this is what it said "I caught a trout so big I had to call my friend John to haul it home for me." Now I have never caught a trout or have known anyone to catch one that size. I may have stretched the size a little bit to make the story more interesting…….NO! I mean embellished the size. Well, for whatever reason or words I used it was more than likely my pride wanting to shine. In the book of Jonah we read about the biggest fish story ever. I mean it's a big fish story; so big was this fish that it swallowed a grown man. Jonah 1:17
Now the LORD had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights. I have no problem believing that God could prepare a fish big enough to swallow up Jonah, but I want to look at those three day and nights. I am well aware of the picture that is painted here about the Resurrection of our Lord but look with me in Jonah 2:7
When my soul fainted within me I remembered the LORD: and my prayer came in unto thee, into thine holy temple.
Was Jonah saying? Hey as my life was slipping away, I remembered the Lord and I prayed. Do what? What in the world were you thinking and doing before then, Jonah! Shining your shoes so you might look sharp! I am going to be honest with you I have never been swallowed by anything but I believe before I was even swallowed I would be praying! I sure wouldn't be setting up house, this isn't a vacation! How long does one have to be fish food before seeking a little help? Here is what happened as Jonah's pride kicked in. You see Pride screams, "I can do it myself." "I don't need anyone's help," or "I got myself into this mess, I'll get myself out." Why is it that instead of immediately turning to God when things get messy we turn to our spouse, neighbors, co-workers, counselors, or other things. Can we not put trust in the God of the Universe who knows us, loves us and is willing and wanting to help us? No! And I speak for myself we must not let others know we are weak or don't know what to do. What will others think…that's pride showing up in mine and your lives. Have we not read the scriptures? Proverbs11:2
When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom. Sharing our burdens and concerns with those who love us and know us is important but we should never make God our last resort. Peter put it this way 1Peter 5:7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. Once Jonah returned his thoughts to God, his prayer was answered. Jonah 2:10
And the LORD spake unto the fish, and it vomited out Jonah upon the dry land. Are you confused and don't know what to do? Are you starting to smell like 3-day old fish food? Here are three things you can do

#1-
Cast all your care upon the Lord Jesus Christ.

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

#3- Be an Over comer Revelation 12:11
And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. You may ask who is the pronoun "him" referring to? Check it out Revelation 12:9
And you will overcome him the same way!

 

 

 

Did They Get it All

Let's use our imagination for a moment. Let's say you have been having some continuous pain for a while and you make yourself an appointment with a Doctor. After running some test the Doctor wants to meet with you and your spouse. He then tells the both of you that there were some lumps found that was causing your problem and that the lumps were Cancerous. Then he adds that there are more forms of treatment and successful cancer surgeries than there have ever been. So a date is set to remove the lumps. What would be the first words out of your mouth after the surgery? Would they be "Did they get all the cancer!" I think that would be my first words. A little cancer that's missed can actually end up destroying so very much. That is why it should be the surgeon's goal to do his very best to remove all the cancer. That's what God seems to be saying to His people in Numbers 33:55
But if ye will not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you; then it shall come to pass, that those which ye let remain of them shall be pricks in your eyes, and thorns in your sides, and shall vex you in the land wherein ye dwell.
The Israelites removed some of the cancer of idolatrous and immoral cultures, but not all of it. What they didn't remove kept coming back to attack for generations to come. That was bad in itself but worse that they were attracted to some of the culture they were supposed to get rid of. Compromise brought down the judgment of God and it ultimately even cost them their land.

For over 30 years I have been working with people who want real solutions to their problems. The problem I see that keeps coming up is they want their problems gone but they want to compromise. This always brings big problems. They want to keep their marriage but want to able to see their lover too. That will never work. They want to quit drinking or doing drugs but want to still go to the same place and hang with the same people. They want to fix their depression but don't want to go back and find out what is causing the depression. If you are going to get rid of the cancer you have to get of it all! A man some time ago got out of prison and wanted me to give him some advice so he wouldn't start back drinking. I asked him did he plan on going back to the same places and people he was hanging around before he went to prison. He told me that he was for those are the only friends he knew. I then asked him how many letters or times did these friends come to visit him while he was in prison? He told me they never wrote or came. I said then you don't have any friends do you? Proverbs 18:24
A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother. He didn't want to get rid of it all. That is like a person coming from a cancer operation and saying I hope they didn't get all the cancer. We want our problems gone but we don't want to get rid of all that is causing them because everything is not all bad we think. Ask the mechanic if he thinks all the small steal shavings should be removed from the newly rebuilt engine. I think he would agree if you want your problem solved yes they must all be removed. So it is with all problems; mine, yours or anyone's. Too many compromise and therefore forfeit the solution and think they can handle problems they never could before and wonder why they failed! To get what we've never had, we must do what we've never done. I would write that down if you want something different!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Learning

What would you think if you read an ad such as this, Men Wanted: For hazardous journey. Small wages, bitter cold, long months of complete darkness, constant danger, safe return, doubtful. Honor and recognition in case of success. What would be your response? Well 5000 applications were taken for a crew of 28; no this was not for the T.V. series Gilligan's Island, but for an exhibition to the Antarctic. On August 1, 1914 Sir Ernest Shackleton set sail with a crew of 28 on an exhibition to the Antarctic. Their mission was to cross the Antarctic on foot- something never done before.

Had someone told you years ago the problems and troubles that you would encounter as you went through your Christian life would you have still been willing to follow Christ? Too many times we want to have a parade going on everyday of our lives. People waving and smiling, flag flying, money flowing; in other words everything going our way. It's not going to happen! There will be hazardous, long months, bitter cold, complete darkness, constant danger; Hey, are you still in? I am! I was reading my Bible one day and this is what the Lord showed me
Philippians 4:11
Not
that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

Philippians 4:12
I know both how to be abased, (live in poverty) and I know how to abound: (prosperity) everywhere and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.

Philippians 4:13
I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. Paul said he had learned which means he didn't always know. That's what the Christian life is, learning what we don't know. Peter put it this way 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. The question is are you growing? Watch out for this danger Proverbs 21:2
Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts. Get your eyes and mind on Him and He will without doubt get you through this day because He is the Author of Salvation Hebrew 5:9
And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;
He is also the Almighty which is;

Revelation 1:8
I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty. He is also the Anchor of hope Hebrews 6:19
Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; As you and I start this week let's have the attitude of learning and allow the Lord to teach us something this week and when He does write it down. For if you don't the thief may come and steal it away from you. John 10:10
The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: But Jesus said "I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly."

Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrre yoooooooooou reeeeeeeeady for this week? I am excited what the Lord will teach me this week!