Cannot Keep

Water parks; I had seen them but had never been to one. Then one day on our vacation my daughter said “I think tomorrow we’ll go to the water park” and then looked at me and said “you are going aren’t you.” I said “sure I’m going” little did I know what was ahead of me; I did say I have never been to one didn’t I? Well; off we go the next day my wife, daughter, grand kids and of course me. The first thing we did was this big covered tube looking thing which was alright but things would get longer, darker and faster before this day was over. At one time I found myself 40 or 50 feet in the air looking down at tubes running every which of way. All was well while I was standing there waiting for my turn to go down this big enclosed tube but then it was my time to go. That is when I said to myself what in the world are you doing? When the day was done; It was sad to say goodbye to the water park as the manager leads us to the gate telling us the park was closed.{just kidding} The reason I told you all that was to tell you this. I could have stayed back at the motel and no-one would have gotten mad at me but I would have missed out on a day I will never forget.  A day that I got to spend with my family doing crazy things. One day a man invited me to go to Church and I did and on that day I gave my heart to the Lord Jesus Christ. I didn’t go planning to do anything but go to Church and come home. Thank God on that day almost 38 years ago I put my trust in the shed blood of Jesus Christ and my life has never been the same. Just as I would have missed out on all the fun by not going to the water park I may have missed heaven by not going to Church thatSunday morning. Sometimes we might need to make a change from the ordinary to have a memory that we’ll never forget. As I am now on the back side of life and can see clearly some opportunities I missed because I didn’t change the ordinary.  As missionary Jim Elliot wrote in his journal on October 28, 1949 at age 22 "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose."  What is it that is keeping you away from accepting Christ? January 8, 1956 Jim Elliot was killed in his mission work to reach the Auca Indians  at age 28.  We read this in the book of James: James 4:14  Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.  As you and I don't know what will happen to us tomorrow or even later today. What is Life compared to eternity; a vapor!

 

Know

Proverbs 1:2  To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive (to distinguish) the words of understanding;

As I read that verse the word “know” jumped out at me. I am sure that you like me have ran across people who were know it all’s. Ask them anything and yes they have an answer; may not be the right answer but they have one none the less.  I thought I understood what that word meant and I still think I do, but I will say I have seen it in a little different light.  Strong says the word “know” carries these meanings; Observation, Recognition and Punishment. I get wisdom by Observation; by taking notice of something or someone. I get wisdom by recognizing my mistakes and correcting them. I get wisdom by being punished for my wrong doings.  You see discipline always helps me to be able to observe and recognize much better; let me explain. When I was much younger than I am today I told a lie to my mother so I could go somewhere with my Dad. It was Friday after school and my mother asked if I had brought my spelling book home so that I could learn my spelling words for next week. I had brought it home and it was in my book bag; but I told her no! I had forgotten and left it at school. Well she made such a big deal out of it I just let it be and when things were cooled down I asked if I could go with my Dad and she said yes. Off we go and I was having the best of fun when all of a sudden I remembered something; MY SPELLING BOOK it was still in my book bag; need I tell you the fun stopped and all I could think about was that spelling book. I tried to comfort myself by telling myself that my mother as nosy as she was would not look in my book bag; WRONG!  When we got back home my mother looked at my Dad and began to tell him about the spelling book that she had found while we were gone and how that I had told them both a big fat lie. At that point my Dad walked me down the hall to my bedroom and shut the door; I hate to even think about it to this day for I still can fill the pain. I knew that day that my Dad was a strong believer in the Bible and that he also belived in time out.

Proverbs 23:13  Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die. That day my Dad didn’t withhold the correction and I didn’t die from the rod of correction. Oh the time out; he stopped long enough to catch his breath and then went right back to the not withholding. On that day I learned how to observe and recognize lying by the punishment administered to me on that day; I KNOW the difference and to always tell the truth. May I say one more thing about “know” Christ is the Word and the Wisdom of God, and He will help you and I to know wisdom (Christ) even if He must punish us. 

Hebrews 12:8  But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.

Prosper

Have you ever noticed how easy it is for us to pick out the faults of others? We may say things like “he’s a good guy but his elevator doesn't go all the way to the top floor.” It is so easy to find the faults and sins of others. When I would counsel with a married couple that were having problems; I would give them both a piece of paper and ask them to write all that was wrong with their mate. They would begin to write away and list many things. After they were finished I would collect their papers and then I would give them another piece of paper and ask them to write all that was wrong with themselves. There was never much put on that piece of paper and the reason why is that it is harder to see our faults and sins. In Proverbs chapter 28 and verse 13 we read these words He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy. We must keep short accounts that means confess and forsake our sin quickly.  Notice what is being said “He that covereth his sins” that word “covereth” carries the meaning of hide. Who are we hiding our sins from? It can’t be ourselves for we know what we have done or thought. It can’t be from God for He knows what and why we have sinned. So the question remains who are we hiding our sins from? All that is left are the people we know and come in contact with. I think we must take the time out of our busy schedule on a daily basis to ask God for forgiveness. When his disciples asked Him to teach them to pray He said these words in Matthew chapter 6 and verse 11 Give us this day our daily bread. In verse 12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. In verse 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: We should pray on a daily basis, we should confess and ask for forgiveness on a daily basis and ask for His power to help us stay far away from temptation. We must confess our sins and not cover them if we want to prosper.

Defeat

Defeat, Webster says it means  Overthrow; loss of battle; destruction of an army by the victory of an enemy. I am sure we have all experienced a defeat in our live. We were defeated by a better team; we may have blamed our defeat on the bad calls from the umpires but none the less we were defeated. The part “destruction by the victory of an enemy” caught my attention because you and I face an enemy every day that wants to defeat us.  I am sure you are like me; we  don’t get up in the mornings and say to ourselves; I must plan ways so that I can be defeated today.” No, there’s an enemy that is going to try to defeat me and I must be on guard against their tactics.  There was a young lady by the name of Bethany Hamilton who by the time she was 13 years old was considered a surfing protégé. Her thoughts of becoming a professional surfer was in her reach and her plans were, go for it.  One day in 2003 without warning, she felt a tug on her left arm and in a split second she realized that she’d been attacked by a shark. A 14 foot tiger shark had bitten clean through her board, taking her left arm in a single bite. At age 14 her future had been bright but her dreams of becoming a professional surfer were now gone up in smoke; but wait! What’s this I see an ESPN award for her in 2004? An award for the Best Comback Athlete of the year! Bethany had the ability to overcome her physical and mental challenges by leaning on support from her friends; they kept telling her she could. Her family; they loved her and told her that her dreams were not hopeless. By her faith in God for she believed in what the Lord could do for her and in her.

Mark 9:23  Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.

Philippians 4:13  I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Remember today there is an enemy that wants to see you defeated but there is one who wants and is willing to help each of us to overcome the enemy. Help us even with the defeat so that we too may have Victory in our lives.  Be careful and watchful for the enemy wants to see you defeated.

Matthew 13:25  But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.

Matthew 13:39  The enemy that sowed them is the devil;

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.

Have a blessed week.

Invisible not Audible

It seems crazy 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. But it’s not; 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 do 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 Smyrna 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 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 its 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 be looking for someone this weekend you can see or invisible? Have a great weekend.

Appetite

The man who first climbed Mt. Everest said his reason for risking it was simply "because it was there." It was the second week in January and my daughter called and said her and the grand kids were going snowboarding. Now snowboarding to them was a garbage pale lid, some plastic garbage bags and a plastic float you use in a swimming pool. They came and picked me up and off we went.  My mind said you are too old, what if you break something, just stay home; but the kid in me said go for it, get out of the house and have some fun. So I did go for it. It was fun we were all sliding down this small hill and I must say the garbage pail lid was the fastest. My granddaughter said I think I will slide down that hill as she pointed to it and off she went. It was some more steep hill but she went down it. Then everyone else head toward that hill and began to go down it. Then the question was asked, did I want to take the garbage lid and slide down. I guess I said yes because the next thing I know my grandchildren are helping up the hill. When kids have to help you up a hill that should be an enough to tell you that you shouldn't be doing that. Once at the top I looked down; why does it always look higher standing at the top looking down than standing at the bottom looking up? I got in the lid and then was pushed and off I went traveling at the speed of 50 to 80 miles per hour; or that’s the way it seemed at the time. As I was traveling down the hill my mind said to me “what are you doing and what in the world were you thinking” to which I could only answer “I don’t know why I am doing this and I didn’t give it any thought what so ever.” I had a great time with my grandchildren and we all came home in one piece. Sometimes you and I do things just because they are there. We may be tempted to do wrong; sliding down a hill on a garbage pail lid wasn’t wrong but at the same time I was tempted. You see I had an appetite that day to slide on the snow, but we all have an appetite for something wrong. As Steve Curington said “before you did it you thunk it” and how true that is and the reason we thunk it was because we had an appetite for it. 

James 1:14  But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.

James 1:15  Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

We all have appetites for different things and those appetites if not controlled will led into sin that will hinder our relationship with our heavenly Father. Did you read that verse closely?  Drawn away of HIS OWN LUST not someone else’s but your very own and we all have different appetites.  Be careful out there today and don’t let your appetite get out of control. 

Empty Chair

Temporary life or eternal life! Temporary life Jamess 4:14  Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. Eternal life 1John 5:11  And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. John 17:3  And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. Did we just read that word “know?” I thought so! There are a lot of people that you and I may know and there are people that know you and I that we can’t remember ever seeing. I passed a young lady the other day and she knew my name and said hi but for the likes of me I cannot place her; that has happened to me more than once. The word “know” is a very interesting word which means To perceive with certainty; to understand clearly; to have a clear and certain perception of truth, fact, or any thing that actually exists. To be informed of; To distinguish; To recognize; To be no stranger to; When we are told that we can know the only true God and Jesus Christ what are we being told? To know means we will be able to have a clear and certain perception of and can be informed as well as be able to distinguish and recognize Gods presence in our lives? I read something that I want you to read that may help us understand a little clearer. A Godly old man whose days were coming to an end had a visit from a priest. The priest noticed an empty chair beside the man's bed. He asked, "Have you had a visitor?" The man replied, "No, I haven't had a visitor. But when I became a Christian as a youth, someone told me that praying was like talking to your very best friend. When I heard that, I decided to pull up an empty chair beside me every day and invite Christ to sit and talk with me.  I just finished my conversation with the Lord." After the man passed away, his daughter wrote of her visit to the hospital room. She said of her father: "He seemed content, so I left him for a few hours. When I returned, I knew that he had gone to be with the Lord. The interesting thing was that his head was not resting on his pillow. His body had turned and his head was resting on the seat of an empty chair that had been pulled up close to his bed." I guess the man decided to lay his head in the lap of the one he knew. 1Corinthain 13:12  For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.