Different Result

The year 2011 is almost over, only hours left. For some the year 2011 has been a great year for others it has not been so good. As we face this New Year we all are in hopes that this New Year will be a great one. To some this New Year will be as the last because if you keep doing the same things you’re going to keep getting the same results. Some will say themselves that in the New Year that they will spend more time with their families, some will say to themselves that they would like to quit doing some bad habit. There are many things that we tell ourselves that we would love to do but words are easily spoken but to accomplish those words, wishes and desires it takes work as well as commitment. Before this New Years starts off ask yourself some questions; How did I get where I’m at today? How will I get to where I want to be in the oncoming year?  In Proverbs chapter 27 and verse 8 we read these words “As a bird that wandereth from her nest, so is a man that wandereth from his place.” The word “wander” means To rove; to ramble here and there without any certain course or object in view; as, to wander over the fields; to wander about the town, or about the country. Men may sometimes wander for amusement or exercise. Persons sometimes wander because they have no home and are wretched, and sometimes because they have no occupation. One who wanders begins to do so with no course or object in view and doesn’t plan on getting off track but in their wondering they lose sight of where they should be. The bird that wonders from their nest leaves its place of security and puts himself in the place of possible danger. So is the man that wonders from his place of security he also puts himself in the place of possible danger. It is true that birds of a feather flock together. We hang around with those we feel comfortable around because we enjoy the same type of things. If we are going to be different in this New Year then we’ll have to commit to living our lives much differently. One day I was told something wonderful that help me tremendously; it was very simple but it took laying down my pride. I was told if I wanted to be stronger than I must know my weaknesses. That is where pride comes in for we all like to think we are strong in all areas of our lives. Then after you understand your weaknesses surround yourself with men who are strong where you are weak. This isn’t an easy task because of our pride but understanding pride will help us; so what is pride? Here are a few verses to help.  

Proverbs 11:2  When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom.

Proverbs 13:10  Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom.

Proverbs 16:18  Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.

Pride brings shame, contention, and destruction and on top of all that the Lord hates pride; out of seven things mentioned that He hates the first one is “pride.”

Proverbs 6:16  These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:

Proverbs 6:17  A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,

  As the New Year come in what in our lives what will go out? Just remember to get different results you must do something different or you’ll keep getting the same results.

Proverbs 29:23  A man's pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit. Do something different or expect the as results. See you next year!!

No Discounts

 After the Allied forces stormed ashore at Normandy on D-Day, charging into deadly German fire and land mines, General Eisenhower said, "There are no victories at discount prices." It was true at Normandy. It's true in following Jesus. Beginning at the cross, it has always been expensive and victorious. The hymn writer nailed it when he said: "Must I be carried to the skies on flowery beds of ease, when others fought to win the prize and sailed through bloody seas?"  We all know that Freedom is not free but neither is our Faith in Jesus Christ Free. Abel’s Faith cost him his life.

Heb 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. Enoch’s Faith changed his walk.

Heb 11:5  By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. Noah’s Faith changed his work.

Heb 11:7  By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith. Abraham’s Faith changed his obedience.

Heb 11:8  By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.

Many try to just fit in, don’t rock the boat, may I remind you that if our Faith is not worth living it may not be much in our dying. Each day that you and I live we move closer to our last day; all the way through the Bible we read such verses as these

Gen 49:33  And when Jacob had made an end of commanding his sons, he gathered up his feet into the bed, and yielded up the ghost, and was gathered unto his people.

Gen 47:28  And Jacob lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years: so the whole age of Jacob was an hundred forty and seven years.

That day comes for all one day you may hear the lump in your breast is…. You have a….in your….and it inoperable. One of my good friends got that news when he was 36 and we buried him in 1988 you may ask how was his faith?  The last time I went to see him I went for the purpose of encouraging him but instead he encouraged me with his great faith. Its one thing to look at death’s door afar off but it’s another to be able to reach out and touch it and say with Job

Job 1:21  And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.

Has your faith in Christ changed your life? Faith is not free and a Faith that can’t change you may not be Faith at all for there are no discounts with Faith. As we come closer to the end of this year make up your mind that you will be different in the New Year and start in that direction today. 

Imagination and Thoughts

 Adam and Eve hid after doing wrong. A parent may walk into a room where their child has been eating chocolate and ask them “have you been eating any candy” to which they might answer “no.” What they hadn’t realized is that there was chocolate all over their face. That is what is going on here.

 Genesis 6:5  And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. The first thing we notice is “God Saw” there is no hiding from the eyes of God.

Proverbs 15:3  The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.

What did God see? “The wickedness of man;” Webster says the word “wickedness” means Departure from the rules of the divine law; evil disposition or practices; immorality; crime; sin; sinfulness; corrupt manners Wickedness generally signifies evil practices. God is watching mankind departing from His divine law doing evil practices, corrupt manners and crime. We are told that this is no small matter for He uses the word “great.” How did it become so wicked and immoral? It started in their imagination and then there imagination moved into their thoughts; we may call it premeditated (to think about and revolve in the mind beforehand) then into their heart

Proverbs 23:7  For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Then it becomes an action only evil continually. Does it really matter what we are thinking? I would say so! Look at

Genesis 6:6  And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. Did you notice what the wickedness, the imagination and thoughts did to God? It grieved Him; Webster say the word grieve means (To give pain of mind to; to afflict; to wound the feelings. Nothing grieves a parent like the conduct of a profligate child.) Our thoughts and imaginations do affect God. After all that God has done for mankind we cause Him to become heartbroken because of our imaginations and thoughts. When the imaginations slip into our mind if we don’t dismiss them then they will become thoughts and then the thoughts will become actions.  Here is how to deal with imaginations

2Corinthian 10:5  Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

It’s our wrong and stinking thinking that breaks the heart of God so the thought must die before it becomes an imagination for if it becomes an imagination it will not be long before it becomes an action?  There it is; get those imaginations out of our head before they turn into evil actions. Then there is our heart? What’s in our heart? If you don’t know it will soon come out your mouth.

Matthew 12:34  O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.

Philippians 2:5  Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

Where do you think we might find the mind of God? Do you think that reading our Bible would help? For our Bible will tell us all we need to know about the Lord Jesus Christ.

Isaiah 26:3  Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.

What Happen to We

Gen 27:8 Now therefore, my son, obey my voice according to that which I command thee.

Gen 27:9 Go now to the flock, and fetch me from thence two good kids of the goats; and I will make them savoury meat for thy father, such as he loveth:

Gen 27:13……only obey my voice, and go fetch me them.

Gen 27:45 Until thy brother's anger turn away from thee, and he forget that which thou hast done to him: then I will send, and fetch thee from thence: why should I be deprived also of you both in one day?

 In these few verses we read of a mother instructing her son to betray and lie to his dad. Jacob’s mother Rebekah tells Jacob to obey her voice and commands him to do wrong. Rebekah had all the answers and it all seemed to work just fine in deceiving Jacob’s dad Isaac. Jacob was able by the advice of his mother to fool four of Isaac’s senses but not his hearing. I don’t think Rebekah realize the results this would all bring.

Gen 27:41 And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing wherewith his father blessed him: and Esau said in his heart, The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then will I slay my brother Jacob.   What happened next should teach us all something very valuable. Up to now it was Rebekah telling Jacob to obey her voice and her commands and Jacob obeyed his mother. One time he did question her:

Gen 27:12 My father peradventure will feel me, and I shall seem to him as a deceiver; and I shall bring a curse upon me, and not a blessing. But Rebekah responded:

Gen 27:13 And his mother said unto him, Upon me be thy curse, my son: only obey my voice,

When Esau said he hated his brother and had decided to kill him as soon as their father died Rebekah tells Jacob to:

Gen 27:43 Now therefore, my son, obey my voice; and arise, flee Then notice what Rebekah said:

Gen 27:45 Until thy brother's anger turn away from thee, and he forget that which thou hast done to him: then I will send, and fetch thee from thence: why should I be deprived also of you both in one day? Thou to Laban my brother to Haran;

Do what, flee away until your brother’s anger turns away from you Jacob and he forgets what you have done unto him. Wait, would it not have been correct for her to have said “flee Jacob until Esau’s anger is turned away and he forgets what WE have done into him.” Jacob was not innocent, by no means, but it was his mother that instructed him to do wrong. I am sure we have all been in a similar situation where we were instructed and when all went wrong the use of a personal pronoun came into use. I remember many years ago my brother and I were with our cousin and she did something wrong. She instructed us to tell a lie and that she would do the same. She then added under no circumstances were we to change our story. My brother and I were not in any kind of trouble at all but to help her I decided to stay with the story. My mother started in on me and asked me what had happened so I told her the story my cousin had told me to tell. All went well for awhile but then my mother said you might as well tell the truth for we know what happened. She then said that my cousin had already told what had happened and if I would tell them I would be in no trouble. Oh yea right! I had seen this kind of stuff on TV where  a police officer would try to get one person to tell on another; not me I’m not falling for that trick for I remember the words “under no circumstances.” Did she really think I would crack under this kind of questioning? Tell the truth son my mother said to which I said I am telling the truth. Then my mother said you are not in any trouble but if you keep tell me these lies then I’ll have to punish you. Yea right another trick for me to rat out on my cousin no way and the word “CIRCUMSTANCES” rang that much louder in my head. Then my mother began telling me what had happened and the only way she could have done that was that my cousin had broken down and told the truth. She was in no trouble because she told the truth and I got punished for telling a lie trying to protect her; instead of “we” it became me. Well so much for stuff one can learn on TV.  As we get closer to facing the New Year let us remind ourselves to learn from the Scriptures by reading them daily. It’s a New Year, put the old one behind you the best you can and put change into the New Year. Have a great last week of 2011. 

Seeing Him

Ralphie, a young boy growing up in the '40's, dreams of owning a Red Rider BB gun. He sets out to convince the world this is the perfect gift. Along the way, he runs into opposition from his parents, his teacher, and even good 'ol Santa Claus himself. We may not be a Ralphie desiring a BB gun but I’m sure we have at one time or another desired to have something and went about convincing others that it would be the perfect gift. We can read of those in our Bibles that had some desires to see the perfect gift; there was Simeon; Luke 2:25  And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him. He said “Can I stay alive until I see him?” There were the Wise Men; Matthew 2:1  Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem. They said “we aren’t stopping until we find him.” Then there were the Shepherds;

Luke 2:15  And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. They said “Let’s go…. Let’s see.” I love what we read in the book of Hebrew chapter 11 and verse 6  But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. The last three words “diligently seek him” should encourage each of us. Webster says this about the word “diligently” With steady application and care; with industry or assiduity; not carelessly; not negligently. It could be like a Christmas gift as you find yourself with steady application and care looking for it. Don’t be satisfied with angels or content with stars. Seek Him out as the Shepherds did. Worship Him as the wise men did. Long for Him as Simeon did. In other words do whatever it takes to see Christ this Christmas. Raphie finally got his BB gun. The Wise men were able to give their gifts to Jesus. The Shepherds didn’t stop until they found Him. Christmas is a wonderful time so don’t get so caught up in the lights, trees, presents and people that you miss the most important part “JESUS.” Make sure you see HIM! Have a great Christmas and enjoy the time together with your family and we’ll talk again on Tuesday December 27 may the blessing of our Lord and Savior be with each of you this Christmas season.  MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Joyous Christmas

Act 20:35 I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.

Christmas time is a time of giving as well as receiving. Which is the better of the two? Giving or Receiving? Well we all like to receive but where do we find the most joy. We may receive a nice gift but sooner or later that gift will lose its shine and become useless. Now when we give from a true heart we will never forget the joy or the smile on the face of the one that received. Let me explain; there was a young man that received a nice gift from his brother one Christmas. It was a nice car and the young man was proud to have received such a gift. One night after work as the young man approached his car he saw a poor and raggedly clothed youngster walking around his car admiring it. The young boy asked “is this your car?” The answer came back “Yes, my brother gave it to me as a Christmas gift.” “You mean this car didn’t cost you anything?” “Yes, it was a gift.”  The young boy then said, “You know what I wish? I wish that I could give my brother a car like this for Christmas.” “Would you like for me to take you for a ride in it?” “Oh yes, I’d love that.” So off they went for a short ride around town after a while the young boy said “would you mind driving in front of my house?” The young boy said, “There’s my house would you stop for a moment.” The young boy opened the door, ran to his front door went in and then soon came back. He was not alone, when he came back he was carrying his crippled brother. He sat him down and pointed to the car and said “There she is Buddy, just like I told you. His brother gave it to him for Christmas and it didn’t cost him a cent. Someday I’m gonna give you one just like it. Then you can ride me around and see for yourself all the pretty things in the Christmas windows that I’ve been trying to tell you about.” The older man got out of his car, picked up that crippled young boy and put him in the front seat. He told his brother to get in the back seat as the three of them began a memorable joyous Christmas ride. The joy is not in receiving but giving, for this is the way to real JOY. J is for Jesus first; O is for others and Y is last for yourself. Like I said the shine will one day be outdated by something new but the joy of giving will never dull. It’s like Jesus said it’s more blessed to GIVE than to receive. 

Train Whistle

 I read a true story of a young man away at college for his first year. His very first night as he began to fall asleep in his dorm he was suddenly awakened by the sound of a train whistle. It sounded as if it was coming right through his room and as he looked out the window of his dorm he found that the railroad tracks were right next to his room. It was hard to fall asleep at first but as time went on he found that the roaring of the train and its whistle were not even noticed anymore. It’s strange how we can become so accustomed to something that we don’t even know the difference. Could that be said about Christmas? When I was a young boy we sang about Christmas and about the birth of the Savior. There were the songs of Rudolf the red nose reindeer, Jingle bells and a few others but most of the songs were of the Christ of Christmas. Christmas was a time for family; I remember our home was full of family members that I might only see at Christmas time. The cake, the coffee [oh, we kids didn’t get any coffee] but the cakes we ate plenty of. It was an exciting time of the year and it was all based on Jesus and His birth in Bethlehem. Then came the Happy Holidays; sure it was a happy time of the year but it was Christmas. Over the years just like that train and whistle many have just gotten used to the idea and have said to themselves what difference does it really make. Maybe none to some but to me there is a lot of difference between Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays. Christmas is more of a Holy Day than a holiday. It’s a time of being grateful for what God has given us than just a day away from work. It’s still MERRY CHRISTMAS to me and the whistle and the train is still loud and clear. Thank you Lord for your blessings at this time of year when we can once again think of your love toward us and your great gift to us; Jesus!