Hero Material

He became our 34^th President; his name was Dwight D. Eisenhower. He was a leader, he was a hero in World War II; he knew what it was like to have a tear run down his cheeks for he was a compassionate man. All I know about this man is what I have read for he died in 1961 I was only 11 years old and what does an 11 year know about the Presidents, leader and such as that! When I read about the night before D-Day and what this four star general did reminded me of someone else. Let me explain. It was the night before the attack the General spent it with the men of the 101^st Airborne; they called themselves The Screaming Eagles. As his men prepared their planes and checked their equipment, General Eisenhower went from soldier to soldier offering words of encouragement. These men were young enough to be his son and he treated them like they were. As he watched the C-47s take off and disappear into the night his eyes filled with tears. But what this man did next showed what kind of leader he really was. General Eisenhower went to his quarters and sat at his desk, took a pen and paper and wrote these words which would be delivered to the White House in the event of a defeat. "Our landings have failed the troops, the Air, and the Navy did all that bravery and devotion to duty could do. If any blame or fault attaches itself to the attempt it was mine alone." Rare leader, most are willing to take credit for the good, some are willing to take the rap for the bad, but few will assume responsibilities for the mistakes of others. Still fewer will accept the blame for mistakes yet uncommitted. As I read about our hero and 34^th President I was reminded of another, His name was Jesus, read with me this verse Matthew 20:28
Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many. Before the war began He forgave. Before the mistake could be made, forgiveness was offered. Before blame could be given, grace was provided. Dwight D Eisenhower became a hero for his actions. Jesus Christ became our Savior for His actions. As I read about General Eisenhower I could feel and see his compassion for his troops. As I read my bible I can see that long before I knew Jesus Christ as my personal savior He was concerned about me. He had already taken the responsibility of my failures and forgiveness had already been given. Can you for a minute image how those soldiers felt when they read or heard how and what this great General had felt and done on their behalf? When I realized how Jesus must have felt and what Jesus had done for me, He became more than a name, more than a figure in a Bible story. I saw Him in a different light and I wanted to know more about Him for His great love toward me.

Ephesians 2:1 And you hath he quickened, (Made alive) who were dead in trespasses and sins;

Ephesians 2:2
Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

Ephesians 2:3
Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

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

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

Ephesians 2:6
And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

Ephesians 2:7
That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 2:8
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of
God:

Ephesians 2:9
Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Ephesians 2:10
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. How is our walk?

Useless, Worthless

He had a ball cap on with a big fish hook on the brim. I don't remember his name but what I do remember about him I love. He had a bad southern drawl as he stretched his words as he spoke; I could have listened to him for hours. I was told a story about him that broke my heart, his mother was what they call unfit and this young man now lives with his grandparents and has for some time. Grandparents are wonderful people but children need their moms and dads; that is the way God designed it. Then I got to thinking, did this young boy ever think he was forgotten? Did he ever feel he was a lost ball in tall grass? A small guy in a tall world! Did he ever have a feeling of only the rotten fruit gets left in the bin! The good thing about this sad story is that his grandparents are good Christian people and love this young man greatly; but they are still grandparents and grandparents may not hold as tight on the rope as they should. Many of you may very well fit yourself into this picture somehow. Maybe your parents were separated, for whatever reason or maybe you were raised by your grandparents or even in a foster home. You may feel no one cares and few people have ever loved you! Well, I have great news for you for God has a passion for the forgotten. As I read my Bible I see Jesus taking time with what the world would call losers. I personally don't think there are any losers just those who have made some bad choices in life. Do you remember the prostitute in John chapter 4? The man that was a leper Mat 26:6
Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper, Do you see what society puts out, God puts in. What this world writes off, God picks up. I still hear my sergeant saying to me "boy you want never amount to anything you are useless." I can still hear one of my bosses of days gone by "you will never make it you are worthless." As I look back on those days I can still remember how it made me feel; useless and worthless! For a long time I believed them; and there were others that told me similar things. But one day not long after I asked the Lord to come into my heart I read this 2 Corinthian 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.
What? Old things; the way I was thinking, what I was doing, what I had done, what others have said about me, the way I felt. New! Can I tell you it was like honey fallen from heaven. I wasn't worthless, the King of all Kings thought I was priceless! He had plans for my life so that meant I wasn't useless: need to take a break here and wipe the tears from my eyes and just shout for a moment. Ok! Now where were we! Oh yes, if I have felt like that I wonder how many others have? It is all a lie because the Bible tells me so John 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.

Romans 8:1
There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. Don't even start to believe that lie you are someone, somebody and the Lord loves you greatly. So much so that He died for you "For God so loved the World," that's you and I. So when you start to feel like no one even cares just remember God does and He showed us just how much. Not just by the words I love you but by the action He showed us. You can't love others without giving!

The Keeper

When I read something that sticks out to me I will put it in the fly pages of my Bible so I can look at it from time to time. I found this poem back in 2004, as I read it, the meaning behind it was so powerful and I have thought on it often. I don't remember where I first read it but when I did I immediately put it in my Bible, it is call the "Keeper of the Keys" I hope it means as much to you as it does to me.

You are the Keeper of the Keys

You are the Guard at the Gate

Waiting in line to get through the door

Is Love, and also HATE.

In line to enter is gentile peace.

You must choose who may, and who

May not come through the door.

INTOLERANCE tries to sneak on through

On wings of FEAR or PRIDE.

It hides behind DREAMS of BELONGING,

And tries to sneak inside.

On! Be Alert! You're the Guard who decides

Who GOES and who may STAY.

You are the Keeper of The Keys to your Mind.

Who will you let in today?

When you put good things into your mind and life, then good things will flow out. Your mind is like a field it cares not what the farmer plants, it will produce whatever is planted. It doesn't care. Our minds will do the same thing, that is why we are told in Philippians 4:8
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Think on things that are true, honest, pure, just, lovely, good report….think on these things. Why is this so important? Have you ever heard this saying? "Garbage in Garbage out;" your mind doesn't care. It will produce or reproduce whatever you put in or allow to enter. You my friend, are the Keeper of the Keys what will you let in today?

 

 

What did you say it was Worth

I carry a green card! What is a green card? Many people have moved here to the United States but they keep their citizenship with their home country. They are required to carry a visitor registration card called a "green card," which allows them to work here even though they aren't citizens. I have a spiritual green card which reminds me that my citizenship is in heaven. Therefore I must never forget two truths: First, compared with eternity, life is extremely brief. Second, earth is only a temporary residence. I won't be here long, so I don't want to get too attached. Psalms 39:4
LORD, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is; that I may know how frail I am. I have come to the conclusion my identity is in eternity, and my homeland is heaven. I don't need to be worrying about having it all on earth for there is a danger of living for the here and now and adopting the values, priorities, and the lifestyles of this world around me. Think for a moment; what if you were asked to be an ambassador to an enemy nation by our country. If you agreed to, you would more than likely have to learn a new language and adapt to some customs and cultural differences so that you could be polite and accomplish your mission. As an ambassador you would not be able to isolate yourself from the enemy. To fulfill your mission, you would have to have contact and relate to them. But let's suppose you became so comfortable with this foreign country that you fell in love with it, preferring it to your homeland. Your loyalty and commitment would change. Your role as an ambassador would be compromised. Instead of representing your home country, you would start acting like the enemy. You'd be a traitor. Too many of God's children have concluded that because they live on earth, it's their home. The Bible is very clear on this matter 2Corinthians 5:20
Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, Hebrews 11:13
These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

God warns us not to get too attached to what's only temporary. We are warned three times about this matter of gaining and losing the most value thing to us.
Matthew 16:26
For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? Is there a price tag on your soul?

Mark 8:36
For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?

Luke 9:25
For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?

Be careful that you don't indulge your ego at the expense of your soul the reason for not doing so is found in 1John 2:17
And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. You might be saying I understand all of that but why do I experience circumstances that seem unfair and prayers that seem unanswered? Could it be that our Heavenly Father doesn't want us to get too attached to earth? So He allows us to feel discontent. Earth is not our final home; we were created for something much better. A fish would never be happy living on land, because it was made for the water. An eagle could never feel satisfied if it wasn't allowed to fly. You, my friend should never feel completely satisfied on earth because we were made for something far better. This is temporary, heaven is permanent. You will not be in heaven two seconds before you say "why did I place so much importance on things that were so temporary?

Something to Laugh At

When we are sick we go to the Doctor and he may give us some type of medicine to take that will make us well. We always take it for we want to get back to our old selves. What if I were to tell you that there is something we can do anytime we like and it would help our health like the medicine that a Doctor would prescribe for you! I have a good friend, that not along had a heart attack and the Doctor told him to laugh at least 10 times a day. In Proverbs 17:22 we are told A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones. I read somewhere else that we are to laugh 12 times a day. I have come to the conclusion that we should laugh everyday of our lives. I read of an exercise we can all do. The next time you are in your car alone pull off and park and start laughing as loud and as hard as you can for one solid minute. Not 30 seconds but a full minute. Once you start it becomes easy to keep going because your brain is thinking….this is one of the nuttiest things I've ever done. I start laughing when I think about it. I read a true story not long ago about a flight attendant who worked for Southwestern Airlines. He announced over the P.A. system: "Today we have a gentleman on board who's celebrating his 99^th birthday, and this is the first time he's ever flown." Well, the cabin broke out in light applause. Then the flight attendant said. "Now on the way out, stop by the cockpit and wish him a happy birthday." Everyone on board roared with laughter. I love to do things like that myself, too many are like robots going through the same old motions asking the same old questions and getting the same old answers. At a checkout line everyone give the same answers. Is this your correct address Mr. Smith? I will say something to the affect of "yes everything is correct except for my name, address and phone number." At that point they will look up and when we have made eye contact I will say something like "that's the way I found it out in your parking lot." They will most of the time smile and I will say that looks good on you keep wearing it. I tell you we just don't laugh enough and worry too much. Just think about it as going to the Doctor and him telling you to take this medicine and you should feel better in a day or so. Then you going home and never taking a drop of it and then you complain that the Doctor was a quack. If God says a merry heart does good like a medicine then believe Him and take it. Now go laugh at something; even if it's at yourself and do that at least 10 times every day for the rest of your life. That's what Dr. Jesus prescribed so Laugh loud, and Laugh often. It will keep you happy, keep you healthy, and keep your attitude headed in a positive direction.

 

Truly Missed

I don't know about you but I enjoy living this life the Lord has given me on this earth. I know that when this life is over I have a home in heaven; not by feelings or positive thinking but by what the Lord has told me in His word the Bible. But to be honest there are some things I truly miss from time to time. I have always had friends that were older than I and because of that I have seen some of them come to know the Lord as their Savior. There were some who knew the Lord and I learned much from them. I have watched some struggle with disease, I've witness others who outlived their wife. The knowledge that I have gain from my older friends is priceless. I have asked what was it like when Pearl Harbor was bombed? Tell me about the changes you have witness in our country? Just simple things I learned from watching and listening to them as they talked. I remember one of my dearest friends Alvin Honea; he was around 75 years old when he I became friends. I remember inviting him to Church 4 or 5 times before he ever came. He kept coming and one day he asked Jesus to come into his heart. I learned from him that just because things look impossible that doesn't mean they are. I remember I had some wood at the house that I could not split. He told me that he had a wood splitter; so we set a day to split the wood. Well that day came and he showed up with his splitter. We put the first log on it to split it and the splitter just would not do it; we tried another and the same thing it was just to tuff for his little splitter. I said "Mr. Honea thank you for trying to….." he stopped me and said this isn't a problem I have a friend that has a 25 ton splitter I'll call him. He did and he and I and a few more spend one Saturday splitting that wood. He was like that about everything. I remember one time I haven't heard from him so I went by his house to find he had just had open heart surgery. I said to him why didn't you tell me? He said well I started to, but it wasn't really anything to worry about. Before he died at the age of 82 he got cancer and went blind and never one time did he ever say anything but this isn't anything; he always overcame. He has been gone now since May of 2002 and I still miss him and would love just to go by one more time and spend some time with him. You can say the same about someone who was dear to you also. Somewhere, a soldier on the other side of the world longs for his family; I know how that feels. Somewhere, an 85-year old man, and his friends, longs for the old days; I'm getting very close to that. Somewhere, a woman struggling with disease, longs for her old self and grieves that her life will never be the same again. It's normal for people to long for those things they no longer can enjoy. The next time you have a longing for something beautiful like the company of a faraway friend, or wishing for a triple-scoop ice cream cone on a hot summer day, or dreaming of a wonderful moment from your past and wishing you could relive that moment once again, take a moment to reflect. Many of us love the gift of our earthly life! Most of us have enough quality of life here on this earth to want to continue living. Still, the Scriptures clearly convey that this world is not our home. We are only visiting here
for a time. We are to live this life with mission in mind: To love and serve God—and others. Matthew 20:28
Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

I Saw Jesus

Today, I'm passing along a story (author unknown). It asks a powerful question, "Do people see Jesus in you?" After you read it, pray that everyone would see your Lord in and through you each day!

I SAW JESUS
I saw Jesus last week. He was wearing blue jeans and an old shirt. He was up at the building we call our church; He was alone and working hard. For just a minute he looked a little like one of the people who regularly attend our church. But it was Jesus, I could tell by his smile.

I saw Jesus last Sunday. He was teaching a Bible class. He didn't talk real loud or use long words. But you could tell he believed what he said. For just a minute, he looked like my Sunday School teacher. But it was Jesus, I could tell by his loving voice.

I saw Jesus yesterday. He was at the hospital visiting a friend who was sick. They prayed together quietly. For just a minute he looked like the guy I saw at the worship gathering last week. But it was Jesus, I could tell by the tears in his eyes.

I saw Jesus this morning. He was in my kitchen making my breakfast and fixing me a special lunch. For just a minute he looked like my wife. But it was Jesus, I could feel the love from his heart.

I saw Jesus this afternoon. He was cutting the grass in the community where I live. He was smiling and waving at everyone who was driving down our street. It made me feel special even if it was only for a moment. For a minute, I thought it was just another person we paid to keep our community clean. But it was Jesus. No one else has that much joy.

I saw Jesus tonight. He was sitting out in the street looking for someone to help him. For a minute he looked like just another homeless person. But it was Jesus. I could tell by the look of sincere suffering in his eyes.

I see Jesus everywhere. Taking food to the sick,
welcoming others to his home, being friendly to a someone who needs love and for just a minute I think he's someone I know.

But, it's always Jesus. I can tell by the way He serves.

May someone see Jesus in you today. Colossians 1:27
To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: