Not Golden

Silence Is Golden was a song redone by the Tremeloes in 1967 which was a #1 hit on the UK Singles Chart on May 18, 1967, staying at the top for a total of three weeks. That may be well and fine for a song but is silence really golden? I am afraid we are silent about too much; we must not be silent about those we love. We must tell our children we love them, our wife that we love her, those we care about that we love them, they must hear us say that, for love is golden and keeping silent about it is not golden.  One day you and I will be gone, we must ask ourselves this question will the ones I love know that I loved them. I have made  many mistakes in my life, I have said words that I wish I could recall, but many years ago I decided to let those I love know it on a regular basis. When talking to one of my children on the phone I always say before I say good-bye “I love you.” When talking with my wife I always say before I say good-bye “l love you.” My mother lives with us now she has Alzheimer disease and she doesn’t remember like she once did but every morning and every night she gets to hear me tell her that “I love her.” What a blessed opportunity I have; I realize that one day she will not even know who I am but today I get to tell her I love her. God has told each of us that He loves us in His love letter to us the Bible.

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.

Don’t you see it “For God so loved the world” aren’t you and I in the world? God so loved each one of us that He gave the only Son He had; Jesus Christ that you and I could have everlasting life. Now that’s something to shout about! He doesn’t stop there.

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

We are told again that God loves us.

1John 4:10  Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation(payment) for our sins.

God not only loves us He likes us and He wants us to know that it’s not that we loved God but that He loved us and sent Jesus Christ to be the payment for our sins. So learn a lesson for our Heavenly Father don’t just say I love you show your love for the ones you love by your actions. Take the time today to let someone you love hear you say the words “I love you.”

Have a blessed day and a lovely weekend and don’t be silent!

Forward Ho

Years ago there was a T.V. program that came on called "Wagon Train.”I can still see Major Adams played by Ward Bond sitting upon his horse as he raised his hand in a forward motion and yelled “forward, ho.” There is a lesson for each of us to learn in those fateful words “forward, ho."  We should not be satisfied in staying in one place for the remainder of our lives.  No need to spend years upon years doing the "same old thing."  No progress will ever be made by someone who constantly changes direction or worse yet, by someone who never moves at all. The person that doesn't move will not grow, and when there is no growth there is no change. The Christian life is a life that should be going forward, growing day by day as we read our Bibles, as we pray, as we love one another. I dare say that there is not a one reading this blog that hasn’t had discouragement come into their life, upsets as well as disappointment. When those things come into our lives when can give up, quit or we can say forward, ho. Paul put it this way.

1Th 4:13  But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.

Paul didn’t want those who have put their trust in Christ to be ignorant and to be sorrowing as those who have no hope.

1Th 4:14  For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

1Th 4:15  For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.

1Th 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:

1Th 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.

1Th 4:18  Wherefore comfort one another with these words. Paul says when times get bad and disappointments come, comfort each other with the words of hope in other words “forward, ho.”  Job said it long before Paul and he put it this way.

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

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.

Job said, “Forward ho”. These two men had something forward that they were looking for greater than the problems of this life so our attitude should be forward ho.  

Comma

Years ago while working for my father-n-law we were riding to get our last pay check; the contractor we were working for had just laid us off. I was thinking how was I going to pay the bills? No money and no work; it looked very bad. That's when my father-n-law said something to me that I have never forgotten. He simply said to me these few words "the sun is going to shine again." I actually knew what he meant and those few words have helped many times. In other words he was saying don't put a period when you should just put a comma. Too many put a period when times are tuff, some go as far as to end their lives. Now that's definitely a period when it should have only been a comma. Marriages come to an end and a period is placed upon it without ever trying to make it work. Those periods are costly; they not only cost each one of us but also the ones we love. We put periods on our learning when we should put a comma. We put a period on a friendship when we should put a comma. We judge others and feel that they will never amount to anything so we put a period when it should be just a comma. We put a period in our lives and quit just before topping the hill. I like what the Apostle Paul had to say, he said “I can do all things.” Wow what an attitude to have and if that is all we were to read it would sound as if Paul was arrogant and proud but there is more that he had to say.

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

You see Paul said I can do all things not through myself but it is through Christ and in Him do I find the strength to do all things. Now think about where you may be putting a period when it should be just a comma. Paul was ship wrecked but it was only a comma. Paul was bitten by a poisonous snake but it was just a comma. Paul was beaten and left for dead but it was just a comma. Paul was imprisoned and knew that his day of death was fast approaching but it was only a comma.

2Timothy 4:6  For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.

2Timothy 4:7  I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:

2Timothy 4:8  Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

Just comma’s in his life, for he saw beyond what others saw as periods to what was laid up before him. Paul knew that this life wasn’t permanent. I went by the grave of my grandmother yesterday she’s been gone 55 years and still engraved on her tombstone are these words “Earth has not Sorrow that Heaven can’t Heal.” Don’t be so quick to put a period learn to put commas for it is true Earth has its sorrows, but one second in Heaven will heal all those sorrows.

Psalms 103:2  Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: 

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!