Sowing

Principle #9- We lose our freedom to choose when we give in to temptation. The consequences of our choices are inevitable, incalculable and up to God.

Galatians 6:7  Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. The sowing of choices always brings a harvest of consequences. We harvest what we sow; we harvest more than we sow; the farmer that sows corn will grow a cornfield.  It’s those choices that we make; we are free to make good choices or bad choices, but we must remember that those choices we make will also produce a harvest. The man or woman who decides to have an affair, get behind the wheel of their car after ingesting drugs or alcohol will reap a harvest; and  the harvest will cost much more than they were willing to pay. The affair will not stay hidden and the price tag could be your family? Stop and think is it worth it? The one that drives while drinking or doing drugs could cost you your life or the life of another; is it worth it? The quick look on the internet at inappropriate material will stay in your mind maybe a life time; is it worth it? Those unkind words that went flying out of your mouth before you realized what you were really saying could destroy a lifelong friendship; is it worth it?  Judas chose to sale the Lord out; if we could ask him was it worth it I’m sure he would say NO! Peter denied the Lord not once or twice but three times; was it worth it Peter? NO! If you plant it you’re going to reap it. So let’s work on sowing that which will please the Lord and will be worth the reaping.

Early Appointment

The 2012 Summer Olympic Games are scheduled to take place in London from the 27^th of July to the 12^th of August 2012. All the contestants have plans to bring the gold home; that’s what they have all been training for. This will be no place for the lazy, the players for this contest have been encouraged by their trainers but it will take more than encouragement to win. There has been much preparation, discipline, self denial and self control and the commitment has been made to do their absolute best. These are the rules if you plan on winning. Just a minute; I’m not going to the summer games as a player or even as one sitting in the crowd, the best I’ll do is watch some of the games on the T.V.  As I think about those games I am reminded of Hebrews chapter 12 where the writer tells his readers that there is a great cloud of witnesses in the grand stands. The players have gotten rid of the weights that would hold them back and the sin that so easily distracts them. With patience they are to run the race that is set before them and just as in any race they are to have in view the finish line; but here in this chapter it’s Jesus the author and finisher of our faith. As we Christians run this race that is set before us it will take dedication, commitment, patience, self denial and self control. When you got up this morning what did you see? Was it just another day with the same routines; or did you say to yourself wonder what the Lord will bring my way today? Are you looking for it? Will you know it when it arrives? What are you expecting? If you say nothing then why not take the time to ask the Lord to show you what He wants you to do today. A few years ago I started leaving home each morning knowing that sometime during the day the Lord has something or someone He wants me to spend time with. I call them appointments from my Heavenly Father. I don’t know when or where or what time they will be but they come each and every day. It may be a phone call or a face to face meeting with someone; I don’t know, I just want to be available. I don’t want you to think that I am so patient and self-disciplined that I never get ants in my pants. That being interpreted means having no patience; I can’t see waiting or killing time when I could be somewhere else. It could be and has been in the past that the Lord had me waiting for someone; in other words I was early for the appointment. In John chapter 4 Jesus is setting at a well waiting on a woman; He was early for the appointment, so sometimes we are to just stop and wait; that’s patience. Why don’t you look at this day a little different; it’s you sitting at the well waiting on a person whom God will use to change a life forever!

What's More Important

On Page 4 of Texas City Sun July 6, 2002 you’ll read about a man by the name of Paul Loetz. Paul has a bad punctured lung, broken ribs and internal bruising. While lying in the ER barely conscious and in pain the unthinkable happened; two doctors who were responsible for his care began arguing over who would get to put a tube into his chest. The argument became a shoving match and one doctor threatened to have the other doctor removed by security. Would you agree this was not the time or the place for this type of attitude and action to have taken place? I am sure you would agree but have you ever read in Matthew chapter 20 what took place? Jesus is going up to Jerusalem with His 12 disciples. He begins to tell them that there He shall be betrayed, condemned to death, scourged and then crucified but on the third day He shall rise again. Now what is so amazing was what happened next. One would think that some questions would be asked about what was just told them; but no questions were asked.

Mat 20:20  Then came to him the mother of Zebedee's children with her sons, worshipping him, and desiring a certain thing of him.

Mat 20:21  And he said unto her, What wilt thou? She saith unto him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left, in thy kingdom.

What? The question was asked not about what was about to happen to Jesus but a mother wanting her sons to sit one on the right and the other on the left in the Kingdom. What was really important, where there’re going to sit or knowing about the greatest event in history? What is important to you and I what someone is telling us or the next question we want to ask? What is important a man’s life or which doctor will be chief? Please keep me from falling into the big I! I’m the greatest; I’m the most important person around here. Please Lord; keep me from that type of an attitude.

Mat 18:4  Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Jas 4:6  But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.

1Pe 5:6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:

Humble- not proud or haughty : not arrogant or assertive  

It’s totally up to each of us; we can be proud or we can be humble.

Father Knows Best

Proverbs 15:15 All the days of the afflicted [are] evil:

John Gill- And some are afflicted all their days, from their youth up; so that not only the days of old age are evil days, in which they have no pleasure, but even the days of their youth; all their days, as Jacob says, "few and evil have the days of the years of my life been",

Genesis 47:9 And Jacob said unto Pharaoh, The days of the years of my pilgrimage [are] an hundred and thirty years: few and evil have the days of the years of my life been, and have not attained unto the days of the years of the life of my fathers in the days of their pilgrimage.; because they had been filled up with affliction and trouble of one sort or another. Or, "all the days of the poor" {f}; either in purse, who want many of the good things of life; or in knowledge,

but he that is of a merry heart [hath] a continual feast.

a heart that has "the kingdom of God" in it, which lies "not [in] meat and drink, but [in] righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost",

Romans 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.: which has the love of God shed abroad in it by the Spirit, where Christ dwells by faith; and that lives by faith on him, and on the provisions of his grace; all this is a constant continual feast to a gracious soul, made joyful hereby.

That word "afflicted " means depressed in mind or circumstances. He that is depressed in mind or circumstances his days are evil, but he that has, keeps a merry heart has a feast continually. As we are told in Romans 14:17 The kingdom of God IS NOT meat and drink; is that all we want? Good job, more money, good health, big house, get away house, camper, condo...... Those are only earthly treasures and will make this life more comfortable. If the Lord doesn't give them to us and we think we should have them then we will become depressed. We should have peace and joy in the Holy Ghost with what The Lord has seen fit to let us have, for He knows best. If we keep this attitude then we will have a continual feast for our happiness will be in the Lord and not the things we have. I am blessed to be a child of the King and I must remember;

Psalms 118:24 This [is] the day [which] the LORD hath made; we (I) will rejoice and be glad in it. Could it be we're not rejoicing and glad because we think this is the day I have made. Have a blessed weekend and rejoice in who you are in the Lord!

Dead Dreams

The young boy sat in the doctor’s office; he loved to play football but not only did he love the game he was good at playing it. The colleges were already talking with him about a full scholarship if he would play for them.  The doctor walks into the room the words were "You'll never play football again." That was the day his dream died.  I’m sure you’ve had dreams die. I sure have; eleven grade in high school I decided what I wanted to do and for two years I made plans to accomplish that goal. But 3 months out of high school I another friend decided we would join the military; the recruiter convinced me as well as my friend this is what we both needed to do; we did. For the next four years my dreams died; it was like hearing you’ll never play again and I didn’t. Now, many years later as I look back over my life I can say I have no regrets. God had a better way for me and it took me off the way I was headed which was my way and not His way. He did that with the Paul, as Paul headed out to cause harm to the Christians of his day.

Act 9:1  And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,

Act 9:2  And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.

Paul’s way, go get those men and women who say they love the Lord, bound them and bring them back to Jerusalem. But something happened on that day; he heard as if the words were said you’ll never play again.

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

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

Act 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.

Act 9:6  And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?  And from that day forward Paul’s life was changed for the best. Sometimes we really don’t know what’s best for us or which direction we are to go, but if we will listen to the Lord and follow after Him I assure you we will be far better off. Paul was and so was I and you?  

Just the Facts

“Just the Facts, Ma’am, just the facts!”  Sergeant Joe Friday was his name and all that mattered to him were just the facts. He was not interested in hear say, just the facts. Sometime the facts aren’t what we like to hear but facts are facts and we can’t change them even if we want to. As I was thinking about the facts I got to thinking about those 12 spies that went to view the promise land and the report they came back with. These 12 spies were to go into the land and they were to see if the people of the land were strong or weak, few or many. They were also to view the land and see if it was good or bad. They were to check out the cities where these people lived and see if they lived in tents or in strong holds. They were to see what the land was; whether it be fat or lean, is there wood there or not. They were to be of good courage and bring back fruit from the land they spied.  After 40 days these 12 spies returned with one cluster of grapes that it took two men to carry, they also brought pomegranates and figs. Here is their report after 40 days; just give us the facts men!

Numbers 13:27  And they told him, and said, We came unto the land whither thou sentest us, and surely it floweth with milk and honey; and this is the fruit of it.

Numbers 13:28  Nevertheless the people be strong that dwell in the land, and the cities are walled, and very great: and moreover we saw the children of Anak there.

 Numbers 13:31  But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we.

Numbers 13:32  And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched unto the children of Israel, saying, The land, through which we have gone to search it, is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it are men of a great stature.

Numbers 13:33  And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.

The fact is, it’s for sure a land that flows with milk and honey; great fact. But then comes what they really saw, the people are strong, the cities are walled and very great, we saw men of great stature, we saw giants and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers .  Where was God? Not one word of what and how God was going to deliver them, all they saw were the facts! No one saw beyond the facts; Oh, I’m sorry there were two men who saw God and not giants. They looked beyond the fact and by faith they knew the land could be theirs.

Numbers 14:6  And Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, which were of them that searched the land, rent their clothes:

Numbers 14:9  Only rebel not ye against the LORD, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defence is departed from them, and the LORD is with us: fear them not.

These two men saw beyond the facts and instead of seeing themselves as grasshoppers they saw their enemy as bread. So, just what was it you were seeing? The facts, that looks like giants or beyond the facts and in Faith looking unto God who will give you the victory. What are you seeing? Giants or God? Mountains or Mole hills? Lemons or lemonade? Glass half empty or half full? The you that can’t or the God that can????

Overcome the Moment

“Have you ever felt like life is not fair? Looking around you see other people seemingly glide through life receiving one blessing after another while you’re dealing with a double dose of hardships. Their children make the honor roll; their careers prosper; their marriage flourishes. You find yourself stuck wondering why is all this happening to me; I serve you Lord, I give to His work, I pray and read my Bible on a daily basis and my life seems always hard. I am afraid that someone has told you that those who serve the Lord will always be blessed. You’ll not have to read very far in the Bible to find out that’s not true. There was Joseph; he goes to prison for something he did not do. Job lost all he had even down to his health and this is what he had to say about it.

Job 19:25  For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:

Job 19:26  And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God:

Job 19:27  Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me.

There was the Apostle Paul; he too spent time in prison and this is what he had to say.

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 learned to be pleased and satisfied with what he had no matter what state he found himself in.  Paul had leaned to lean on the God of Grace no matter what; when he was cold he was thankful, when he was hungry he was thankful. Paul refused to give up to his outward problems and by doing that he learned to trust God, his Savior and God’s love was stronger than any problem that would come his way. May I remind each of us we are all going to have down  times in our life but we must remind ourselves that God has something much better for His children.

1Corinthains 2:9  But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

Maybe Joseph, Job and Paul didn’t look so much at what was happening now but instead reminded themselves of what eternity would be like and in so doing was able to overcome the moment of hardships.