Just wanted to express our sincere desire for you and yours to enjoy a blessed and joyous holiday season and end the year with this thought...
As we go forth in the coming year, why not allow the spirit of this time of the year to go with us. I'm not talking about the fighting for the last parking space at the mall, fighting off an elderly grandmother for the last of a particular game that you have to have, or even the anticipation of wanting to see what is in the package with your name on it. No...rather I am speaking of the warm feeling of having your family near, the act of sharing or giving to another, inviting strangers into our midst and offering them our kindness. Maybe we could carry with us the understanding that Christ was born for us year round and that if it were not for His LIFE and DEATH and RESURRECTION we would not have the opportunities that we do.
So why celebrate only His birth and His resurrection? Why not celebrate every second of His life here on earth? I bet that the woman at the well is happy for more than 2 days of Jesus' existence! What about Lazarus, the demon possessed young man, Nicodemus, or even the criminal on the cross. It was because of the life of Jesus that these people had their futures changed forever. It is because of the truths that He demonstrated through His life that we are able to have His guidebook, the Holy Bible, for our lives. Celebrate and live your life in honor of His and then you will be able to show the world the true "Spirit" of the holiday season, every day of the year...
25.12.08
16.12.08
Natural Disaster...
We have all heard about or seen some of the recent "disasters" that have hit our planet. From hurricanes to earthquakes to famine or drought, these natural disasters drastically alter our lifestyles and enhance our appreciation for the times when things are "good". Not to belittle these events or the impact that they have had on people's lives, but I believe that the most potent natural disaster is found within us and among us everyday...Us.
We settle into an area and consume every resource that God has graciously blessed us with and then like a plague move on to the next "host" that we can consume. And the worst part of it all is that we often fail to even acknowledge the God that has given us the ability to enjoy this frivolous and cavalier lifestyle in the first place. Think about it. We openly exploit the environment that He has given us. We use hatred and prejudice to validate our reckless destruction of people and ideals. We openly profess to love God at the same time as we kill His creation. We predicate and push our own agendas under the banner of Godliness (this applies to all religions, even we as "Christians") and then we completely humiliate and embarrass our faith by in one breath shouting and proclaiming the benevolence, grace, and mercy of a God that we cannot possibly know and love because we twist and convolute His teachings to try to demean everyone who is different or believes things differently than ourselves.
Why don't we, instead of arguing and bickering, even among ourselves, express the love and kindness that we profess to enjoy. Why not let that be our legacy to the world rather than the bitterness and disdain that we currently perpetuate. What if we took the time to appreciate where someone was coming from before we condemn them to hell! Why not allow them to get to know the God that we worship by first getting to know Him through us. I recently heard it put this way, "You cannot lead someone to a place where you have never been and you cannot show someone something that you yourself do not have."
Maybe that is the bigger problem...
We settle into an area and consume every resource that God has graciously blessed us with and then like a plague move on to the next "host" that we can consume. And the worst part of it all is that we often fail to even acknowledge the God that has given us the ability to enjoy this frivolous and cavalier lifestyle in the first place. Think about it. We openly exploit the environment that He has given us. We use hatred and prejudice to validate our reckless destruction of people and ideals. We openly profess to love God at the same time as we kill His creation. We predicate and push our own agendas under the banner of Godliness (this applies to all religions, even we as "Christians") and then we completely humiliate and embarrass our faith by in one breath shouting and proclaiming the benevolence, grace, and mercy of a God that we cannot possibly know and love because we twist and convolute His teachings to try to demean everyone who is different or believes things differently than ourselves.
Why don't we, instead of arguing and bickering, even among ourselves, express the love and kindness that we profess to enjoy. Why not let that be our legacy to the world rather than the bitterness and disdain that we currently perpetuate. What if we took the time to appreciate where someone was coming from before we condemn them to hell! Why not allow them to get to know the God that we worship by first getting to know Him through us. I recently heard it put this way, "You cannot lead someone to a place where you have never been and you cannot show someone something that you yourself do not have."
Maybe that is the bigger problem...
3.12.08
Excuse my absence...
I apologize for the long period between postings, I have been out of town on vacation. In the time that I have been gone I was humbled to hear more teachings on the life of Daniel. Surprisingly enough, his encounter in the lion's den was not the only time in his life where he exhibited strength and proved his willingness to serve and devotion to God. His life's story is a shining testimony to the power, glory, and awe inspiring majesty that is a life left in the hands of an almighty God. I would encourage anyone who would like to see what a Christian life could and should be to read the book of Daniel. There is no telling where God may take you when you are able to see where God took him...
20.11.08
You Have What You Are...
I know that most people don't like to talk about death. They either avoid the subject all together or the breifly touch the topic on their way to another converstation, and while we are not going to delve too deeply into the subject, I would like to encourage you to think about this one thought. "When you die, you leave all that you have, and you have all that you are..."
When you die, you will not take any of your possessions with you! Remember this... There was a story that I heard one time where a rich elderly oil tycoon had married a woman who was considerably younger than he was and his one dying wish was to be burried with all of his money. So when he died she honored his request and as she passed by his coffin to "pay" her last respects, she dropped in a check for the entire sum of money...A lot of good that did him?!?
The only thing that last once you die who and what you are! Think about this, what appears on tombstones? It rarely ever mentions the things that you own but rather says to the world who and what you were. Possibly a husband, mother, child, loving, caring, compassionate...Christian? Never "Here lies Joe who had 3 houses, $4 Million, and drove a Lexus"?!? This is intended to be humerus but also true. Things get put in perspective when you die. The tradgey is that for many people this is the only time where things are in proper perspective...
So who and what will you take with you? You have time to change the answer if you choose...
When you die, you will not take any of your possessions with you! Remember this... There was a story that I heard one time where a rich elderly oil tycoon had married a woman who was considerably younger than he was and his one dying wish was to be burried with all of his money. So when he died she honored his request and as she passed by his coffin to "pay" her last respects, she dropped in a check for the entire sum of money...A lot of good that did him?!?
The only thing that last once you die who and what you are! Think about this, what appears on tombstones? It rarely ever mentions the things that you own but rather says to the world who and what you were. Possibly a husband, mother, child, loving, caring, compassionate...Christian? Never "Here lies Joe who had 3 houses, $4 Million, and drove a Lexus"?!? This is intended to be humerus but also true. Things get put in perspective when you die. The tradgey is that for many people this is the only time where things are in proper perspective...
So who and what will you take with you? You have time to change the answer if you choose...
10.11.08
Father Knows Best...
We often hear pastors, preachers, speakers, teachers, etc. tell us that if we want something from God that we should pray about it. All of us have, at some point or another, wanted something so badly or thought if I only had this or that then I would be happy and content, only to experience an unanswered prayer. But at this point it is important to note that simply because God does not respond in the way that we would want Him to, does not mean that He isn't listening nor does it mean that He does not care about you enough to give you your desire. It might just be that He is saying "Not right now" or "In a minute" or maybe even "No". Yes, contrary to what some popular evangelist might have you to believe, the Bible does mention the word No!
I had one such experience when I was younger. I wanted to date a certain girl and I wanted it so badly that I would pray and pray for God to allow me to be with her. I would make deals like "If You will allow me to be with her then I will do this" or say things like "If You care about me at all then You would want me to be happy, and she would make me happy." I didn't realize it at the time but I can see it now after approximately 15 years or so. If I had been granted my request then my life would be extremely different and I don't mean for the better. The girl that I had my eye on turned out to be a drug user, she stole from her parents, friends, and family to get these drugs. She is now divorced twice with 3 children by 3 different men. Why would anyone want that?
God saw what was best for me not what I want! So remember, like the old TV show, Father knows best! God will allow you to be the best that you can possibly be and just like with your parents, you may not always like their answer but often times they do know what is best for you and want what is best for you...
I had one such experience when I was younger. I wanted to date a certain girl and I wanted it so badly that I would pray and pray for God to allow me to be with her. I would make deals like "If You will allow me to be with her then I will do this" or say things like "If You care about me at all then You would want me to be happy, and she would make me happy." I didn't realize it at the time but I can see it now after approximately 15 years or so. If I had been granted my request then my life would be extremely different and I don't mean for the better. The girl that I had my eye on turned out to be a drug user, she stole from her parents, friends, and family to get these drugs. She is now divorced twice with 3 children by 3 different men. Why would anyone want that?
God saw what was best for me not what I want! So remember, like the old TV show, Father knows best! God will allow you to be the best that you can possibly be and just like with your parents, you may not always like their answer but often times they do know what is best for you and want what is best for you...
3.11.08
God's Waiting On You...
Have you ever thought to yourself that you were not ready to make the commitment to follow God because you didn't have everything all worked out and there were still somethings in your life that weren't exactly, for lack of a better word, Godly? Have you ever said that once I get everything straightened out and get my life together, then I will serve the Lord? News Flash, YOU WILL NEVER GET IT ALL TOGETHER WITHOUT GOD!
There is an old saying that says, "You can't get good then get God, but you can get God and get good." Truer words could not have been spoken!
God's not waiting on you to get all of the inadequacies and failures out of your life. He does not need you to be sinless or even blameless. He could honestly care less about what you've done or where you've been. God is simply waiting on you. That's all!
So please, today, open the door and let Him in. You will find that it was the best decision that you ever made!
There is an old saying that says, "You can't get good then get God, but you can get God and get good." Truer words could not have been spoken!
God's not waiting on you to get all of the inadequacies and failures out of your life. He does not need you to be sinless or even blameless. He could honestly care less about what you've done or where you've been. God is simply waiting on you. That's all!
So please, today, open the door and let Him in. You will find that it was the best decision that you ever made!
27.10.08
Light Shines From the Inside Out...
Here's something to think about the next time you find yourself in a situation or predicament where you are unsure of which way to go or which path to choose. Step back, take a look at the situation, and ask yourself, "Is my desire to do this coming from outside influences or is this something that I, internally, really want to do?".
You see, the answer to this question, all be it somewhat elementary in nature, can help you to establish whether or not the decision you are about to make is of God or not. You see, God works from the inside out where Satan works from the outside in. Now before you dismiss this as being some kind of Christian psycho-babel, give it time to sink in. Think about it for a minute, everything that you do that is sinful in nature is externally motivated. You want to impress another person so you steal what you can not afford. You feel peer pressure so you smoke, drink, do drugs, or abuse your body. You turn on the television or open a magazine (external sensation) and give in to the urge to watch or look at something you know you should not. The list goes on and on...
We read in Ephesians 6:10-13 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
The devil tempts us, causes us to question God's Word, and even adds his own words from time to time to do just enough to cause us to slip and fall. Once he is able to do this then he goes on full attack. It's like the recovering alcoholic who sincerely wants to change his life. He knows that he MUST stay away from the bar. But, in a moment of weakness, he gives in to the badgering of his old "friends" and goes into the bar just to spend time with them. Once inside, the devil goes to work. He says something like, "You're gonna look stupid if you sit here without a beer, you don't have to drink it, just sit it there so you don't look foolish." Once he get the beer, then the devil says something like, "One sip won't hurt, I mean after all even the people of the Bible drank, see it says right there in 1 Timothy 5:23, Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach's sake and thine often infirmities., so a little won't hurt." So he drinks the beer and then the devil pours it on! "Well how can you say that you're a changed man when you are here in a bar drinking!?! You might as well go on and have another since you've gone this far!" And so the man who wanted to change his life ends up staggering out of the bar the next morning, a prisoner to the very thing that he desperately wants to be set free from...
His "friends", the bar, the beer, all external influences that he listened to rather than the internal voice that said NO!...Just something to think about.
You see, the answer to this question, all be it somewhat elementary in nature, can help you to establish whether or not the decision you are about to make is of God or not. You see, God works from the inside out where Satan works from the outside in. Now before you dismiss this as being some kind of Christian psycho-babel, give it time to sink in. Think about it for a minute, everything that you do that is sinful in nature is externally motivated. You want to impress another person so you steal what you can not afford. You feel peer pressure so you smoke, drink, do drugs, or abuse your body. You turn on the television or open a magazine (external sensation) and give in to the urge to watch or look at something you know you should not. The list goes on and on...
We read in Ephesians 6:10-13 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
The devil tempts us, causes us to question God's Word, and even adds his own words from time to time to do just enough to cause us to slip and fall. Once he is able to do this then he goes on full attack. It's like the recovering alcoholic who sincerely wants to change his life. He knows that he MUST stay away from the bar. But, in a moment of weakness, he gives in to the badgering of his old "friends" and goes into the bar just to spend time with them. Once inside, the devil goes to work. He says something like, "You're gonna look stupid if you sit here without a beer, you don't have to drink it, just sit it there so you don't look foolish." Once he get the beer, then the devil says something like, "One sip won't hurt, I mean after all even the people of the Bible drank, see it says right there in 1 Timothy 5:23, Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach's sake and thine often infirmities., so a little won't hurt." So he drinks the beer and then the devil pours it on! "Well how can you say that you're a changed man when you are here in a bar drinking!?! You might as well go on and have another since you've gone this far!" And so the man who wanted to change his life ends up staggering out of the bar the next morning, a prisoner to the very thing that he desperately wants to be set free from...
His "friends", the bar, the beer, all external influences that he listened to rather than the internal voice that said NO!...Just something to think about.
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