A Thanksgiving Prayer
Oh wonderful God, Savior, my Lord.
I open my heart to you in prayer, continuous.
Even though my thanks is only one word.
Our praise in words is always endless.
Sometimes my Lord, we forget to pray,
Over the wonderful things you give.
Our worldly wishes and dreams may stay,
Though it is in you that we should live.
Sometimes we fail to see the loving stand,
That Jesus, your son endured for us all.
The pain, torment by many a mistaken hand,
And completing his divine altar call.
Sometimes we know not what to pray,
And forget what to be Thankful for.
We miss the blessings every single day,
Even the lost hearts that you restore.
So this is my prayer,
Thanks for always being there,
Lord
Keeping us in your loving care,
Lord
Comfort in the things I can’t bare,
Lord
Thanks for the heart to always share,
Lord
For the Grace that I wear,
Lord
In Jesus’s wonderful name we declare
You’re Love!
Amen
It is neither Turkey day nor even Thanksgiving day in my eyes…
It is Thanks-God-for-Giving day.
God Bless!
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Saying his Peace
(Singing with a joyful noise)
I’ve got the Joy, Joy, Joy, Joy down in my heart…….(Where?)
Down in my heart……(Where?)
Down in my heart
I’ve got the Joy, Joy, Joy, Joy down in my heart…….(Where?)
Down in my heart to stay!
Okay, I’ll stop singing so you can read in peace.
For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.
1 Corinthians 14:33 (KJV)
Many citizens of these great United States don’t have peace. We swallow 9 tons of sleeping pills and 15 tons of aspirin everyday. Does that sound like peace? Over 30,000 people a year take their lives because they don’t have peace. I did a Search on the Web and came up with close to 300,000 sites devoted to peace.
What’s this tell us besides my inside job for this week is on peace???
People are miserably unhappy!!!
There once was a King who offered a prize to the artist who would paint the best picture of peace. Many artists tried. The King looked at all the pictures, but there were only two he really liked and he had to choose between them.
One picture was of a calm lake. The lake was a perfect mirror of peaceful towering mountains reflected all around it. Overhead was a blue sky with fluffy white clouds. All who saw this picture thought that it was a perfect picture of peace.
The other picture had mountains too. But these were rugged and bare. Above was an angry sky from which rain fell, in which lightening played. Down the side of the mountain tumbled a foaming waterfall. This did not look peaceful at all.
But when the King looked, he saw behind the waterfall a tiny bush growing in a crack in the rock. In the bush a mother bird had built her nest. There, in the midst of the rush of angry water, sat the mother bird on her nest ... perfect peace.
Which picture do you think won the prize?
The King chose the second picture.
Why?
Because peace does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble, or hard work. Peace means to be in the midst of all those things and still be calm in your heart. That is the real meaning of peace."
Jesus said, “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”
John 16:33 (KJV)
A great many people are trying to make peace, but that has already been done. God has not left it for us to do; all we have to do is enter into it. Our peace and confidence are to be found not in our empirical holiness, not in our progress toward perfection, but in the complete righteousness of Jesus Christ that covers our sinfulness and alone makes us acceptable before a holy God.
Keep your eyes on the prince of peace, "Blessed are the poor, the gentle, those who mourn, and those who hunger and thirst for righteousness; blessed are the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers and those who are persecuted in the cause of uprightness" (Matt. 5:3-11); the one who touches the lame, the crippled, and the blind; the one who speaks words of forgiveness and encouragement; the one who dies alone, rejected and despised. Keep your eyes on him who becomes poor with the poor, weak with the weak, and who is rejected with the rejected. He is the source of all peace.
Where is this peace to be found? The answer is clear, in weakness; in our own weakness; in those places of our hearts where we feel most broken, most insecure, most in agony, most afraid. Why there? Because there our familiar ways of controlling our world are being stripped away; there we are called to let go from doing much, thinking much, and relying on our self-sufficiency. Right there where we are weakest the peace which is not of this world is hidden.
Claim that peace that remains unknown to so many and make it your own. With that peace in your heart you will have new eyes to see and new ears to hear and gradually recognize that same peace in places you would have least expected.
Peace
Through Jesus is joy,
he gives great peace to you.
When the waters are dark and deep,
Only God can see you through.
You may be hurting and hopeless,
but he will give you hope anew.
For His arms are always extended,
in his love and peace to you.
Peace that we barely understand,
just follow him in all things.
Jesus is that peace and wisdom,
and great love to you he brings.
PC
I’ve got the Joy, Joy, Joy, Joy down in my heart…….(Where?)
Down in my heart……(Where?)
Down in my heart
I’ve got the Joy, Joy, Joy, Joy down in my heart…….(Where?)
Down in my heart to stay!
Okay, I’ll stop singing so you can read in peace.
For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.
1 Corinthians 14:33 (KJV)
Many citizens of these great United States don’t have peace. We swallow 9 tons of sleeping pills and 15 tons of aspirin everyday. Does that sound like peace? Over 30,000 people a year take their lives because they don’t have peace. I did a Search on the Web and came up with close to 300,000 sites devoted to peace.
What’s this tell us besides my inside job for this week is on peace???
People are miserably unhappy!!!
There once was a King who offered a prize to the artist who would paint the best picture of peace. Many artists tried. The King looked at all the pictures, but there were only two he really liked and he had to choose between them.
One picture was of a calm lake. The lake was a perfect mirror of peaceful towering mountains reflected all around it. Overhead was a blue sky with fluffy white clouds. All who saw this picture thought that it was a perfect picture of peace.
The other picture had mountains too. But these were rugged and bare. Above was an angry sky from which rain fell, in which lightening played. Down the side of the mountain tumbled a foaming waterfall. This did not look peaceful at all.
But when the King looked, he saw behind the waterfall a tiny bush growing in a crack in the rock. In the bush a mother bird had built her nest. There, in the midst of the rush of angry water, sat the mother bird on her nest ... perfect peace.
Which picture do you think won the prize?
The King chose the second picture.
Why?
Because peace does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble, or hard work. Peace means to be in the midst of all those things and still be calm in your heart. That is the real meaning of peace."
Jesus said, “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”
John 16:33 (KJV)
A great many people are trying to make peace, but that has already been done. God has not left it for us to do; all we have to do is enter into it. Our peace and confidence are to be found not in our empirical holiness, not in our progress toward perfection, but in the complete righteousness of Jesus Christ that covers our sinfulness and alone makes us acceptable before a holy God.
Keep your eyes on the prince of peace, "Blessed are the poor, the gentle, those who mourn, and those who hunger and thirst for righteousness; blessed are the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers and those who are persecuted in the cause of uprightness" (Matt. 5:3-11); the one who touches the lame, the crippled, and the blind; the one who speaks words of forgiveness and encouragement; the one who dies alone, rejected and despised. Keep your eyes on him who becomes poor with the poor, weak with the weak, and who is rejected with the rejected. He is the source of all peace.
Where is this peace to be found? The answer is clear, in weakness; in our own weakness; in those places of our hearts where we feel most broken, most insecure, most in agony, most afraid. Why there? Because there our familiar ways of controlling our world are being stripped away; there we are called to let go from doing much, thinking much, and relying on our self-sufficiency. Right there where we are weakest the peace which is not of this world is hidden.
Claim that peace that remains unknown to so many and make it your own. With that peace in your heart you will have new eyes to see and new ears to hear and gradually recognize that same peace in places you would have least expected.
Peace
Through Jesus is joy,
he gives great peace to you.
When the waters are dark and deep,
Only God can see you through.
You may be hurting and hopeless,
but he will give you hope anew.
For His arms are always extended,
in his love and peace to you.
Peace that we barely understand,
just follow him in all things.
Jesus is that peace and wisdom,
and great love to you he brings.
PC
Monday, October 25, 2010
Spiritual Control
On my laptop computer, there are 2 keys abbreviated “CTRL” which stand for control. I have used these keys multiple times but never seem to be in total control of my computer???
I used to be afraid to fly! You probably would never see me parachute out of a perfectly good plane or tie rubber bands to my feet and jump off a bridge. When I went long distances in a car, I needed to drive. You probably can see where I am going with this, control issues!!! All of these fears have to do with control and not being in it.
My inside job for this week, is “Letting Go and Letting God” have the controls.
Now, I’m not the best at analogies… so bear with me. When I first got saved, many moons ago, I spiritually was riding a Big Wheel. I know I’m showing my age with that reference but stick with me on this. The Big Wheel has one big wheel up front with pedals and two little wheels in back. If you get going fast enough, you can do all kinds of tricks with it. Now these wheels are made of plastic. After doing a lot of spinning, sliding and braking, they have a tendency of wearing out.
Spiritually, as a babe in Christ, this described me to a ‘T’! The plastic wheels resembling how frail I was in my faith. My excitement for God spun me and slid me through my stand, sometimes uncontrollable. This slowly wore down my trust in God because my wheels were made of plastic. Eventually, my big wheel became unusable. I either needed to buy another big wheel or grow into another vehicle.
My faith did take the next step, well, I took a giant step. I spiritually purchased a 100 speed bicycle with all the gadgets and gizmos that came along with it. It was definitely a leap of faith; I wasn’t really ready for the bicycle… at least without some training wheels.
What I didn’t realize is that this bike I bought was a tandem bike. I was steering and pedaling and in back Jesus was just pedaling. I attempted to take the shortest distance between 2 points on my bicycle built for two. I was in control and Jesus provided the power and inspiration. Sounds pretty good doesn’t it? Nope.
Once again though, I was destined for disappointment. I was steering were I wanted to. Not observing the traffic signs (Not listening to wisdom); Not planning my route (Not praying everyday); Not doing required maintenance on the bike (Not reading the bible); Of course, this resulted in a couple flat tires and the chain kept falling off.
I was out of control!!! Until I let go and let God, that is. Now, Jesus is at the front of my tandem bike steering and pedaling… I get the easy job for once. I just pedal!!!
So, now as I go through life, I keep my eye on Jesus and following him wherever he goes. When I get a little down, tired or self satisfying???
Jesus turns to me and says, “Paul!… keep pedaling!!!”
Spiritual Control
I used to be afraid to fly! You probably would never see me parachute out of a perfectly good plane or tie rubber bands to my feet and jump off a bridge. When I went long distances in a car, I needed to drive. You probably can see where I am going with this, control issues!!! All of these fears have to do with control and not being in it.
My inside job for this week, is “Letting Go and Letting God” have the controls.
Now, I’m not the best at analogies… so bear with me. When I first got saved, many moons ago, I spiritually was riding a Big Wheel. I know I’m showing my age with that reference but stick with me on this. The Big Wheel has one big wheel up front with pedals and two little wheels in back. If you get going fast enough, you can do all kinds of tricks with it. Now these wheels are made of plastic. After doing a lot of spinning, sliding and braking, they have a tendency of wearing out.
Spiritually, as a babe in Christ, this described me to a ‘T’! The plastic wheels resembling how frail I was in my faith. My excitement for God spun me and slid me through my stand, sometimes uncontrollable. This slowly wore down my trust in God because my wheels were made of plastic. Eventually, my big wheel became unusable. I either needed to buy another big wheel or grow into another vehicle.
My faith did take the next step, well, I took a giant step. I spiritually purchased a 100 speed bicycle with all the gadgets and gizmos that came along with it. It was definitely a leap of faith; I wasn’t really ready for the bicycle… at least without some training wheels.
What I didn’t realize is that this bike I bought was a tandem bike. I was steering and pedaling and in back Jesus was just pedaling. I attempted to take the shortest distance between 2 points on my bicycle built for two. I was in control and Jesus provided the power and inspiration. Sounds pretty good doesn’t it? Nope.
Once again though, I was destined for disappointment. I was steering were I wanted to. Not observing the traffic signs (Not listening to wisdom); Not planning my route (Not praying everyday); Not doing required maintenance on the bike (Not reading the bible); Of course, this resulted in a couple flat tires and the chain kept falling off.
I was out of control!!! Until I let go and let God, that is. Now, Jesus is at the front of my tandem bike steering and pedaling… I get the easy job for once. I just pedal!!!
So, now as I go through life, I keep my eye on Jesus and following him wherever he goes. When I get a little down, tired or self satisfying???
Jesus turns to me and says, “Paul!… keep pedaling!!!”
Spiritual Control
I ran in search of ungodly things;I thought I was in control.
I had no need for what God brings;I wasn’t in touch with my soul.
“I’m always to busy” to myself I said,I was lacking something so deep inside.The mind is confused, my heart dead,Till I turned to God and letting love abide.
God revealed his plan for me and you:Saying Give your life to Me, just let go.
Pray always, study, read the Bible through,His blessings are more than we may know.
So simple, and it will bring me his peace,Living life for God the way I should.Direction, purpose, fullness and releaseLife with God will always be good.
Saturday, October 16, 2010
God's Love
Okay, so I haven’t written in a couple weeks but there is a reason for this. Last weekend was a pivotal weekend for me in that I saw how really extreme God’s Love for me was. That’s putting it mildly though!
My inside job for this week is bigger than any other week so far. It’s simply labeled:
God’s Love
What is God’s Love? Why does he even take the time to love me? How do I know he loves me?
The story starts out with a Christian man sitting at an airport terminal, waiting to board a plane. He was sitting there with several other people who were also waiting, whom he did not know.As he waited, he pulled out his Bible and started reading. All of a sudden he felt as if the people sitting there around him were looking at him. He looked up, but realized that they were looking just over his head, in the direction right behind him.He turned around to see what everyone was looking at, and when he did, he saw a flight attendant pushing a wheelchair, with the old man sitting in it, that he had never seen before. He had this long white hair that was all tangled and such a mess. His face was really, really wrinkled, and he didn't look friendly at all. He didn't know why, but he felt drawn to the man, and thought at first that God wanted him to witness to the old man.
In his mind, he was thinking, "Oh, God, please, not now, not here."
No matter what he did, he couldn't get the man off of his mind, and all of a sudden he knew what God wanted him to do. He was supposed to brush this old man's hair. He went in front of the old man, and said "Sir, can I have the honor of brushing your hair for you?"
The older man replied "What?"If you are going to talk to me, you are going to have to speak up, I am practically deaf."
Yelling, "Sir may I please have the honor of brushing your hair for you?"
Everyone was watching to see what his response would be. The old man just looked at him confused, and said "Well, I guess if you really want to."
He said, "I don't even have a brush, but I thought I would ask anyway."
The older man said, "Look in the bag hanging on the back of my chair, there is a brush in there."
So he got the brush out and started brushing his hair. Somehow he knew how to be gentle with him. He worked for a long time, until every last tangle was out. Just as he was finishing up, he heard the old man crying, and he went and put his hands on the older man, looked directly into his eyes, and said "Sir, do you know Jesus?"
He answered, "Yes, of course I know Jesus. You see, my bride told me she couldn't marry me unless I knew Jesus, so I learned all about Jesus, and asked Him to come into my heart many years ago, before I married my bride."
He continued, "You know, I am on my way home to go and see my wife. I have been in the hospital for a long time, and had to have a special surgery in this town far from my home. My wife couldn't come with me, because she is so frail herself."
"I was so worried about how terrible my hair looked, and I didn't want her to see me looking so awful, but I couldn't brush my hair, all by myself."
Tears were rolling down his cheeks, as he thanked him for brushing his hair. All around people witnessing this were crying, and as they were all boarding the plane, the Flight Attendant who was also crying, stopped him, and asked, "Why did you do that?"
God’s extreme love is why I did this and why I then spoke of salvation to that Flight Attendant. All because of love.
The Apostle Paul stated this in Ephesians 3:14-19;
14 This is the reason I kneel in the presence of the Father 15 from whom all the family in heaven and on earth receives its name. 16 I'm asking God to give you a gift from the wealth of his glory. I pray that he would give you inner strength and power through his Spirit. 17 Then Christ will live in you through faith. I also pray that love may be the ground into which you sink your roots and on which you have your foundation. 18 This way, with all of God's people you will be able to understand how wide, long, high, and deep his love is. 19 You will know Christ's love, which goes far beyond any knowledge. I am praying this so that you may be completely filled with God.
I love this passage; it speaks to me as a man. I like to build things with my hands. When I do and how I start reflects on the rest of the project. The foundation; the base; the groundwork must be strong or else the rest of the project will fail. This passage is the “Home Depot” of my heart. You know the advertisement, “You can build it, and we can help!”Well, we CAN have strength and power, with God’s help!!!
(Insert Tim Allen’s ‘Tool Time’ grunt here)
In 1John 3:13 is says:
1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knows us not, because it knew him not. 2 Beloved, now are we the son of God and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifies himself, even as he is pure.
We are the sons of God, once again indicating his immense love towards us! In this passage his love is expanded on, but wait!!! There’s more; it also says when he appears we shall be like him, and we shall see him as he is. That’s some wonderful hope there!
This whole chapter of 1John 3 is filled with this hope, promises and maybe a few warnings. I recommend that you read this chapter to discover God’s wonderful and extreme love for us!
I asked a few questions when I started writing this. Some have been answered and some require you to read, trust, and love and research God’s love. Here are a few scriptures to start with:
John 3:16, 15:9&13
Psalms 36:5, 36:7, 48:9, 52:8, 86:15, 136:26
Jeremiah 29:11, 31:3
Romans 8:35-39
Ephesians 2:4-5, 5:2
Titus 3:4-5
1John 4:9-10
I also wrote a prayer that you can connect with God concerning his extreme love:
Father, out of your glorious riches you strengthen me with power through your Spirit so that Christ may dwell in my heart through faith. I pray, being rooted and established in love, and have power, together with all followers of the Lord Jesus Christ, to realize how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ; knowing this love that surpasses knowledge--that I am filled to overflowing in the fullness of God.
God, who is able to do immeasurably more than all I ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within me, in Christ Jesus, for ever and ever! Amen.
God Bless!!!
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Birthdays
For my birthday I got a humidifier and a de-humidifier... I put them in the same room and let them fight it out. ---Stephen Wright
My birthday was last week so I thought, “What a Novel idea to write about that!” Now, I don’t have a problem with birthdays, as long as they aren’t mine. I never really have been into celebrating them. I mean I like getting presents and all but some where deep down inside me, it just doesn’t click.
It’s not just presents though, it’s the singing, cake & ice cream and let’s party till we drop mentality. I’m not that into parties. Singing “Happy Birthday” always seems to embarrass me; I’m diabetic so the cake and ice cream are out. (I know what you’re thinking, “Paul, get sugar free stuff!” Nope, that stuff just doesn’t taste right to me and I consider it a tease!); I don’t drink alcohol so I find different ways to party.
My idea of a great birthday is hanging out with friends, a nap; dinner at one of my favorite restaurants, a nap and possibly another nap. (What can I say…? I like naps!!!) Of course, hanging out at the pool/beach is fun to and a nap, I always get some good reading done there.
What’s this got to do with my inside job??? Maybe I need to renew my mind to this way of thinking. After all, I am setting an example for my son as well as I couldn’t stand not giving my friends the chance of embarrassing me! I do it to them, fair is fair!
So I pose this question to you…
Am I thinking correctly on this or do I truly need to get over it and start enjoying my birthdays more?
While you consider a answer, let’s see what God has to say. As I researched this, I soon realized I wasn’t prepared well enough to share a verse about celebrating birthdays or your attitude about these things. Panic set in, I am not ready to finish this article… I will be late to post it.
Then an idea sprang forth, how many birthday cards have I received with biblical verses on them. Yes, what a wonderful idea I thought to myself. So, I furiously dug through all my old holiday and birthday cards. (Yes, I save every card I ever received. Sentimental it may be but it was more to the fact I couldn’t bring myself to throwing away these memories…especially from my son.)
This is what I came up with, or at least my favorite ones:
"This is the day the LORD has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it."
Psalm 118:24
This one brings a tear to my eye everytime.
"Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well."
3 John 1:2
Wonderful prayer, wonderful birthday verse!
"Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate."
Luke 15:23
Since I don’t eat red meat this one isn’t exactly appropriate. Can we kill the fattened fish?
"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!"
Philippians 4:4
Okay, so I think I should rejoice everyday. Looks like a mind renewing action daily is in the cards for me.
"May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you."
1 Thessalonians 3:12
Okay, tears again…
What did I find in all this? I see that I need to change my mind about all this and except God’s rejoicing words of wisdom. Since it is my heart to love all people as God does that means I must accept them for whom God has inspired in them.
Today, I have a new birthday attitude but not exactly what you may think. I decided to celebrate my birthday by giving gifts to those who mean the most to me in life. Those who have provided me much joy and also much understanding. This is how I want to thank them for loving the God in Christ in me. Isn’t that what Jesus would have done?
"God bless you and keep you,
God smile on you and gift you,
God look you full in the face
and make you prosper."
Numbers 6:24-26
My birthday was last week so I thought, “What a Novel idea to write about that!” Now, I don’t have a problem with birthdays, as long as they aren’t mine. I never really have been into celebrating them. I mean I like getting presents and all but some where deep down inside me, it just doesn’t click.
It’s not just presents though, it’s the singing, cake & ice cream and let’s party till we drop mentality. I’m not that into parties. Singing “Happy Birthday” always seems to embarrass me; I’m diabetic so the cake and ice cream are out. (I know what you’re thinking, “Paul, get sugar free stuff!” Nope, that stuff just doesn’t taste right to me and I consider it a tease!); I don’t drink alcohol so I find different ways to party.
My idea of a great birthday is hanging out with friends, a nap; dinner at one of my favorite restaurants, a nap and possibly another nap. (What can I say…? I like naps!!!) Of course, hanging out at the pool/beach is fun to and a nap, I always get some good reading done there.
What’s this got to do with my inside job??? Maybe I need to renew my mind to this way of thinking. After all, I am setting an example for my son as well as I couldn’t stand not giving my friends the chance of embarrassing me! I do it to them, fair is fair!
So I pose this question to you…
Am I thinking correctly on this or do I truly need to get over it and start enjoying my birthdays more?
While you consider a answer, let’s see what God has to say. As I researched this, I soon realized I wasn’t prepared well enough to share a verse about celebrating birthdays or your attitude about these things. Panic set in, I am not ready to finish this article… I will be late to post it.
Then an idea sprang forth, how many birthday cards have I received with biblical verses on them. Yes, what a wonderful idea I thought to myself. So, I furiously dug through all my old holiday and birthday cards. (Yes, I save every card I ever received. Sentimental it may be but it was more to the fact I couldn’t bring myself to throwing away these memories…especially from my son.)
This is what I came up with, or at least my favorite ones:
"This is the day the LORD has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it."
Psalm 118:24
This one brings a tear to my eye everytime.
"Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well."
3 John 1:2
Wonderful prayer, wonderful birthday verse!
"Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate."
Luke 15:23
Since I don’t eat red meat this one isn’t exactly appropriate. Can we kill the fattened fish?
"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!"
Philippians 4:4
Okay, so I think I should rejoice everyday. Looks like a mind renewing action daily is in the cards for me.
"May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you."
1 Thessalonians 3:12
Okay, tears again…
What did I find in all this? I see that I need to change my mind about all this and except God’s rejoicing words of wisdom. Since it is my heart to love all people as God does that means I must accept them for whom God has inspired in them.
Today, I have a new birthday attitude but not exactly what you may think. I decided to celebrate my birthday by giving gifts to those who mean the most to me in life. Those who have provided me much joy and also much understanding. This is how I want to thank them for loving the God in Christ in me. Isn’t that what Jesus would have done?
"God bless you and keep you,
God smile on you and gift you,
God look you full in the face
and make you prosper."
Numbers 6:24-26
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Non-Conforming Chrisitians
“I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where. I love you straightforwardly without complexities or pride. I love you because I know no other way then this. So close that your hand, on my chest, is my hand. So close, that when you close your eyes, I fall asleep.”
Patch Adams
When Robin Williams said this in the movie by the same title, I was in awe. This is exactly how I feel (most of the time) concerning our Lord Jesus Christ. Every time I read this quote it sends shivers down my spine and brings a tear to my eye (eyes).
This was a wonderful movie and although a little weird in parts, as a whole a very good movie. It’s about a non-conformist named Patch who, after some mental difficulties, decides to become a medical doctor. His thought process is that Hospitals have lost there connection with there patients, all they do is treat diseases. Patch doesn’t believe all that, and tries to change it by treating the patient through humor and being friendly.
Treating the patient and not the disease, WOW!!! You treat a disease, you win, you lose. You treat a person, I guarantee you, you’ll win, no matter what the outcome. We should be improving the quality of life, not just delaying death.
What's wrong with death? What are we so mortally afraid of? Why can't we treat death with a certain amount of humanity and love, and decency, maybe even humor. Death is not the enemy, if we're going to fight disease, let's fight one of the most terrible diseases of all, indifference.
What’s this entire thing have to do with my inside job???
Not conforming to this world!
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Romans 12:1-2 (KJV)
When I was growing up, my father was a very determined man. He played football in High School and College and expected all 4 of his son’s to do the same. I was a non conformist; I had absolutely no interest in playing football. In my child’s mind, I was being pressured to do something that I didn’t want to do. I rebelled in my own way, I joined the soccer team.
This angered my father to no end and he constantly berated me for it. Did I play soccer because I loved it or to get back at my father? Both, I actually grew very fond of the game. My father didn’t support me in soccer; never went to my practices/games; I purchased my own equipment and even had to find my own ride to the field.
This didn’t bother me at all and I actually enjoyed doing it myself. I may have not been treated like the rest of my brothers but I enjoyed beating my own drum. No pun intended, I did play percussion in the band. That was another attempt at being a non-conforming son and that’s another story.
Little did I know, I started my walk towards being like Jesus. The Jewish priests saw these Christians, believers of the Lord Jesus Christ as disobedient non-conforming Jews. I’ll go with being disobedient!
“Sometimes the reward for non-conforming is joy in what you are doing and loving yourself.”
So, where am I going with this? It’s simply better to break out of prison after you realize you’re locked up. I realized the mold my father was trying to put me in early in life and refused to conform to his way of thinking. I’m not saying all fathers have bad intentions or that he was wrong in wanting me to play football. Rebelling against your parents is not a good idea.
Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord. 21 Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.
Col 3:20-21 (KJV)
The 20th verse of Colossians is simple biblical truth; we are to obey our parents. Most of us want to please the Lord and in this lays the key. We must obey our fathers for he is the Head of the family just as Christ is the head of the church.
In the 21st verse he speaks of not provoking our children to anger. When my father asked me to play football it wasn’t a request but an order.
Ephesians 6:2 (KJV)
I have long since forgiven my father but never had the chance to tell him. We all make mistakes in life, causing wounds and scars to form and miss out on certain joys and love given to us. We move on, heal and learn from our mistakes.
If we keep doing things like we've always done them, what we'll get is what we've already got.
Being a non-conformist is not a bad thing as long as the true and living Word of God is what your living by daily. Remember, only dead fish swim with the stream.
Patch Adams
When Robin Williams said this in the movie by the same title, I was in awe. This is exactly how I feel (most of the time) concerning our Lord Jesus Christ. Every time I read this quote it sends shivers down my spine and brings a tear to my eye (eyes).
This was a wonderful movie and although a little weird in parts, as a whole a very good movie. It’s about a non-conformist named Patch who, after some mental difficulties, decides to become a medical doctor. His thought process is that Hospitals have lost there connection with there patients, all they do is treat diseases. Patch doesn’t believe all that, and tries to change it by treating the patient through humor and being friendly.
Treating the patient and not the disease, WOW!!! You treat a disease, you win, you lose. You treat a person, I guarantee you, you’ll win, no matter what the outcome. We should be improving the quality of life, not just delaying death.
What's wrong with death? What are we so mortally afraid of? Why can't we treat death with a certain amount of humanity and love, and decency, maybe even humor. Death is not the enemy, if we're going to fight disease, let's fight one of the most terrible diseases of all, indifference.
What’s this entire thing have to do with my inside job???
Not conforming to this world!
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Romans 12:1-2 (KJV)
When I was growing up, my father was a very determined man. He played football in High School and College and expected all 4 of his son’s to do the same. I was a non conformist; I had absolutely no interest in playing football. In my child’s mind, I was being pressured to do something that I didn’t want to do. I rebelled in my own way, I joined the soccer team.
This angered my father to no end and he constantly berated me for it. Did I play soccer because I loved it or to get back at my father? Both, I actually grew very fond of the game. My father didn’t support me in soccer; never went to my practices/games; I purchased my own equipment and even had to find my own ride to the field.
This didn’t bother me at all and I actually enjoyed doing it myself. I may have not been treated like the rest of my brothers but I enjoyed beating my own drum. No pun intended, I did play percussion in the band. That was another attempt at being a non-conforming son and that’s another story.
Little did I know, I started my walk towards being like Jesus. The Jewish priests saw these Christians, believers of the Lord Jesus Christ as disobedient non-conforming Jews. I’ll go with being disobedient!
“Sometimes the reward for non-conforming is joy in what you are doing and loving yourself.”
So, where am I going with this? It’s simply better to break out of prison after you realize you’re locked up. I realized the mold my father was trying to put me in early in life and refused to conform to his way of thinking. I’m not saying all fathers have bad intentions or that he was wrong in wanting me to play football. Rebelling against your parents is not a good idea.
Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord. 21 Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.
Col 3:20-21 (KJV)
The 20th verse of Colossians is simple biblical truth; we are to obey our parents. Most of us want to please the Lord and in this lays the key. We must obey our fathers for he is the Head of the family just as Christ is the head of the church.
In the 21st verse he speaks of not provoking our children to anger. When my father asked me to play football it wasn’t a request but an order.
Ephesians 6:2 (KJV)
I have long since forgiven my father but never had the chance to tell him. We all make mistakes in life, causing wounds and scars to form and miss out on certain joys and love given to us. We move on, heal and learn from our mistakes.
If we keep doing things like we've always done them, what we'll get is what we've already got.
Being a non-conformist is not a bad thing as long as the true and living Word of God is what your living by daily. Remember, only dead fish swim with the stream.
Monday, August 16, 2010
Listening...
Listening...
A man asked his wife what she'd like for her birthday. 'I'd love to be eight again' she replied. On the morning of her birthday, he arose early and made her a bowl of Coco Pops and milk!
He took her to Busch Gardens and put her on every ride in the park.
Five hours later she staggered out of the theme park. Her head was
reeling and her stomach felt upside down.
Right away they journeyed to a McDonalds where her loving husband ordered her a Happy Meal with extra fries and a refreshing chocolate milk shake. Then it was off to the movies: the latest children’s three hour cartoon show, a hot dog, popcorn, all the Coke she could drink, her favorite lollipop and M&Ms. What a fabulous adventure!
Finally she wobbled home with her husband and collapsed onto the bed exhausted. He leaned over his precious wife with a big smile and
lovingly asked 'Well dear, what was it like being eight again?' Her eyes
slowly opened and her expression changed to one of total
realization...'I meant my dress size, silly!
The moral of this story:
Even when one is listening, we can still get it wrong
These past couple weeks the Pastor has been sharing on Parenting. Boy, did I need to hear this. It hurt so well! Sometimes, I think our Senior Pastor sends out these investigators to see what I need correction in. Of course this isn’t the truth, but he does have an inside connection… God!!!
Which brings me to this weeks inside job, our inside connection. When I was first saved and water baptized in Christ, my thoughts were on my invincibility. Nothing seemed to faze me; nothing seemed to need correction; I not only read my bible everyday but many times a day. I prayed whenever I thought about my faith. I fervently researched the word and it’s truths.
2 Tim 2:15 (KJV) “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needed not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
Yes, that was my theme verse, I wanted to be approved by researching the word of truth. I continued in this manner for a few years walking with my head held high thinking nothing could harm me. I should have studied Ephesians 6 a little closer, you think?
I was knocked down off my horse, and I saw it coming. At the time I was sharing a Townhouse with another Christian Man and great friend. Within our study group, there was a married lady, will call her Ann, attended regularly without her husband. It was a mixed group and we all had our specific prayer partners, mine being my roommate.
Not long after our group had left for the evening, Ann called and I had answered the phone. Seems her husband was taken to Jail for abusing her which she stated was the actual fact. She was in the hospital being taken care of and would be released soon. She was hoping her prayer partner hadn’t left the house yet since she couldn’t reach her on the phone.
To make a long story short, I got a hold of her partner and we both went and picked her up. My first mistake was allowing her to stay in my home for fear her husband would get out of jail quickly. I know… I didn’t think it through. Even still, everything went fine and she went to work the next day.
She worked as an Operator for a Live Phone Answering company and she worked the second shift. She stayed with us for a week when one night she called the house and said her car wouldn’t start, and could I give her a ride home. This is where the 2nd and biggest mistake began.
It’s often been stated that God may speak to us in a “still, small, voice”. God spoke to me concerning picking her up from work and it wasn’t a still small voice. He spoke loudly to me… not to go! If anybody else was in the house with me, anywhere in the house; they would have heard it too. I wouldn’t be surprised if the neighbors on the next block had heard it.
Did I listen… nope. Call it ignorance; selective hearing; I had a one track mind. I was determined to help my friend. I got into my car and it wouldn’t start, so I had the neighbor give me a jump start. Curious enough, I had never had a starting problem with this car before.
Upon getting to her employment place, I sat and waited for her outside. There are a couple things that may be helpful in understanding this situation. Where she works was a high security area, I wasn’t allowed inside the building. The building was positioned in the back of a Business Park which sat next to a wooded park.
As I sat in my car, I noticed movement to my right. That is just before he broke my driver side window. He had a coat hanger straightened out that he wrapped around my neck and attempted to pull me from the car, through the window. It was my quick reaction that I was able to insert my hand between the coat hanger and my throat.
When he realized he couldn’t pull me out, he took a stick that he had sharpened to a point and attempted to gouge my neck with it. Apparently the stick was to dry and broke in the process. This seemed to infuriate this person and he grabbed me by the shoulders and finally managed to pull me out the window.
Recognition finally came to me as I saw that it was Ann’s husband. Apparently he had finally been released and he came looking for her. This is also when I found out her husband was a trained Martial Artist. As he punched and kicked me repeatedly, besides attempting to defend myself, I prayed. (This is probably a good place to tell you that I wasn’t trained in martial arts. Where was Mr. Miyagi when you need him?)
God did answer my prayer, and 5 minutes before the Police arrived, he stopped beating on me. He picked me up off the ground, set me down on the curb, and then sat and talked to me. His wife had seen the commotion and called 911.
As the Police arrived, they took one look at me, called for an ambulance and arrested him. In the ambulance, the only thing I remember is the Medical person asked me what I did to warrant such a beating. I believe I said, “I didn’t listen to God!”
There is more to this God story but I think you get the picture. Even though God told me not to go, he was still there for me. I’m not sure what would have happened if I listened but I do know what happened when I didn’t.
(For the LORD thy God is a merciful God ;) he will not forsake thee, nor destroy thee…
Deut 4:31 (KJV)
All this happened 25 years ago and to say it didn’t change my life would be nothing more than exaggeration. I still have the same excitement/passion that I had back then but I also learned a very valuable lesson. I was thinking of myself during this time, trying to perfect my spirituality, like that could be achieved.
I would say the experience opened my eyes to listening to the Lord more effectively. There is no moral to the story, morals are man’s idea. I will say this though; God is with you always, even when we don’t listen. When we listen with full awareness in the moment, the quality of listening becomes a quality of loving. And when we listen to God, or more specifically, listen to God’s will for us, we can cultivate a more satisfying and loving experience of life.
Can you remember a time when God was there for you even when you didn’t listen?
A man asked his wife what she'd like for her birthday. 'I'd love to be eight again' she replied. On the morning of her birthday, he arose early and made her a bowl of Coco Pops and milk!
He took her to Busch Gardens and put her on every ride in the park.
Five hours later she staggered out of the theme park. Her head was
reeling and her stomach felt upside down.
Right away they journeyed to a McDonalds where her loving husband ordered her a Happy Meal with extra fries and a refreshing chocolate milk shake. Then it was off to the movies: the latest children’s three hour cartoon show, a hot dog, popcorn, all the Coke she could drink, her favorite lollipop and M&Ms. What a fabulous adventure!
Finally she wobbled home with her husband and collapsed onto the bed exhausted. He leaned over his precious wife with a big smile and
lovingly asked 'Well dear, what was it like being eight again?' Her eyes
slowly opened and her expression changed to one of total
realization...'I meant my dress size, silly!
The moral of this story:
Even when one is listening, we can still get it wrong
These past couple weeks the Pastor has been sharing on Parenting. Boy, did I need to hear this. It hurt so well! Sometimes, I think our Senior Pastor sends out these investigators to see what I need correction in. Of course this isn’t the truth, but he does have an inside connection… God!!!
Which brings me to this weeks inside job, our inside connection. When I was first saved and water baptized in Christ, my thoughts were on my invincibility. Nothing seemed to faze me; nothing seemed to need correction; I not only read my bible everyday but many times a day. I prayed whenever I thought about my faith. I fervently researched the word and it’s truths.
2 Tim 2:15 (KJV) “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needed not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
Yes, that was my theme verse, I wanted to be approved by researching the word of truth. I continued in this manner for a few years walking with my head held high thinking nothing could harm me. I should have studied Ephesians 6 a little closer, you think?
I was knocked down off my horse, and I saw it coming. At the time I was sharing a Townhouse with another Christian Man and great friend. Within our study group, there was a married lady, will call her Ann, attended regularly without her husband. It was a mixed group and we all had our specific prayer partners, mine being my roommate.
Not long after our group had left for the evening, Ann called and I had answered the phone. Seems her husband was taken to Jail for abusing her which she stated was the actual fact. She was in the hospital being taken care of and would be released soon. She was hoping her prayer partner hadn’t left the house yet since she couldn’t reach her on the phone.
To make a long story short, I got a hold of her partner and we both went and picked her up. My first mistake was allowing her to stay in my home for fear her husband would get out of jail quickly. I know… I didn’t think it through. Even still, everything went fine and she went to work the next day.
She worked as an Operator for a Live Phone Answering company and she worked the second shift. She stayed with us for a week when one night she called the house and said her car wouldn’t start, and could I give her a ride home. This is where the 2nd and biggest mistake began.
It’s often been stated that God may speak to us in a “still, small, voice”. God spoke to me concerning picking her up from work and it wasn’t a still small voice. He spoke loudly to me… not to go! If anybody else was in the house with me, anywhere in the house; they would have heard it too. I wouldn’t be surprised if the neighbors on the next block had heard it.
Did I listen… nope. Call it ignorance; selective hearing; I had a one track mind. I was determined to help my friend. I got into my car and it wouldn’t start, so I had the neighbor give me a jump start. Curious enough, I had never had a starting problem with this car before.
Upon getting to her employment place, I sat and waited for her outside. There are a couple things that may be helpful in understanding this situation. Where she works was a high security area, I wasn’t allowed inside the building. The building was positioned in the back of a Business Park which sat next to a wooded park.
As I sat in my car, I noticed movement to my right. That is just before he broke my driver side window. He had a coat hanger straightened out that he wrapped around my neck and attempted to pull me from the car, through the window. It was my quick reaction that I was able to insert my hand between the coat hanger and my throat.
When he realized he couldn’t pull me out, he took a stick that he had sharpened to a point and attempted to gouge my neck with it. Apparently the stick was to dry and broke in the process. This seemed to infuriate this person and he grabbed me by the shoulders and finally managed to pull me out the window.
Recognition finally came to me as I saw that it was Ann’s husband. Apparently he had finally been released and he came looking for her. This is also when I found out her husband was a trained Martial Artist. As he punched and kicked me repeatedly, besides attempting to defend myself, I prayed. (This is probably a good place to tell you that I wasn’t trained in martial arts. Where was Mr. Miyagi when you need him?)
God did answer my prayer, and 5 minutes before the Police arrived, he stopped beating on me. He picked me up off the ground, set me down on the curb, and then sat and talked to me. His wife had seen the commotion and called 911.
As the Police arrived, they took one look at me, called for an ambulance and arrested him. In the ambulance, the only thing I remember is the Medical person asked me what I did to warrant such a beating. I believe I said, “I didn’t listen to God!”
There is more to this God story but I think you get the picture. Even though God told me not to go, he was still there for me. I’m not sure what would have happened if I listened but I do know what happened when I didn’t.
(For the LORD thy God is a merciful God ;) he will not forsake thee, nor destroy thee…
Deut 4:31 (KJV)
All this happened 25 years ago and to say it didn’t change my life would be nothing more than exaggeration. I still have the same excitement/passion that I had back then but I also learned a very valuable lesson. I was thinking of myself during this time, trying to perfect my spirituality, like that could be achieved.
I would say the experience opened my eyes to listening to the Lord more effectively. There is no moral to the story, morals are man’s idea. I will say this though; God is with you always, even when we don’t listen. When we listen with full awareness in the moment, the quality of listening becomes a quality of loving. And when we listen to God, or more specifically, listen to God’s will for us, we can cultivate a more satisfying and loving experience of life.
Can you remember a time when God was there for you even when you didn’t listen?
Monday, August 9, 2010
The Cheerful giver
The Cheerful Giver
2 Corinthians 9:6-15 (KJV)
But this I say, He which sowed sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which sowed bountifully shall reap also bountifully. 7 Every man according as he purposes in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work: 9 (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remained for ever. 10 Now he that ministered seed to the sowed both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;) 11 Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causes through us thanksgiving to God. 12 For the administration of this service not only supplied the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God; 13 Whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto them, and unto all men; 14 And by their prayer for you, which long after you for the exceeding grace of God in you. 15 Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.
I have to admit, I’ve been struggling with this passage this week. So I needed to perform a inside job, do a check up from the neck up so to speak. This was the situation, someone I know wanted to go to a special event but they didn’t have the money to attend. I prayed for them and God put it on my heart to bless them with the gift of full tuition to the event.
I believe this was from God to do.
A few months back, I too was in this situation. I wanted to go to a special event but didn’t have the cash to attend. 1 week before the event, a friend called to tell me that I was going and that it was taken care of. What a wonderful gift and blessing for God to put this on his heart.
This person I wanted to bless with the tuition, refused the gift. The reasoning was pretty evident in there explanation of it, and they had 2. First, they explained to me they had already applied for a scholarship and they wanted to see what came of that request. The second, because this person was of the opposite sex, she felt as it may harm our friendship.
We aren’t and probably would never have a relationship outside our friendship but I feel she didn’t see it this way. Of course, I prayed about this, and prayed… and prayed. The answer I received was joyfully and alarmingly clear, I gave the gift directly to the scholarship fund and not to a individual person.
What bothers me most about this is that, in a way, I still paid her way, anonymously. My thoughts are this; did I go against my friends wishes and still provide her a means to go? Why is giving so complicated at times? Why do some people believe you have a ulterior motive when ever you perform a random act of kindness? What if I was interested in her, beyond a normal friendship?
Who boy!!!
The bible verse at the beginning of my blog states, “God loves a cheerful giver”. Does that mean if I am not happy to give, that I shouldn’t give at all? A cheerful giver does not give “out of sorrow” or “reluctantly”; “out of necessity” or “under compulsion.”
Three words come to mind when I think of giving from the heart:
Blessings
Contentment
Grace
When you give, your not just giving of your resources your giving blessings.
“and whoever sows with blessings will also reap with blessings.”
The giver is cheerful because he is sowing blessings for others. And when you go around planting blessings, you harvest blessings yourself! What types of blessings do we reap from giving? Here’s a couple…
Acting Out God’s love in this world.
Fulfilling your God given, purpose in life.
We can show how much God loves us! Psalms 67:1,4 (KJV)
1 God be merciful unto us, and bless us; and cause his face to shine upon us; Selah.
4 O let the nations be glad and sing for joy: for thou shall judge the people righteously, and govern the nations upon earth. Selah.
2 Corinthians 9:8 (KJV)
And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:
The word sufficiency is Contentment! Or having all that you need”, “What do you need?” I needed to sponsor her for this event, or did I? My son wants those sour candies and I say it’s too late for candy, Logan. The he’ll say I need those candies, I promise I’ll go to bed on time. Of course, never saying anything about sleeping! We think we need lots of things that we desire. Given our confusion about our needs, the phrase “having all that you need” is misleading.
Our contentment comes from our confidence in the God of all grace, who at all times will give us the grace we need in all things.
God gives us grace so that we can be content in whatever our circumstances might be. And knowing that we are content, knowing that we will be content at all future times, knowing that God will supply our every true need, knowing that He will guide us and direct our paths and bring us safely to His heavenly kingdom, we are free to give and love.
We can be content in every circumstance by the grace of God. We thus can abound in every good work, no matter what it costs us in time, in position, or in money.
So, why does God love a cheerful giver? Because the cheerful giver trusts Him, loves Him, believes in Him. The grudging giver does none of those things. The cheerful giver gives out of His joy in God.
My check up from the neck up is, who was I doing this for God or her? The correct answer is God! My answer, I had no ulterior motive. I wanted her to go because God put it on my heart, my great friend, should see this.
Believe in God’s future grace to you – and then step up and out!
God Bless,
Paul
2 Corinthians 9:6-15 (KJV)
But this I say, He which sowed sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which sowed bountifully shall reap also bountifully. 7 Every man according as he purposes in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work: 9 (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remained for ever. 10 Now he that ministered seed to the sowed both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;) 11 Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causes through us thanksgiving to God. 12 For the administration of this service not only supplied the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God; 13 Whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto them, and unto all men; 14 And by their prayer for you, which long after you for the exceeding grace of God in you. 15 Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.
I have to admit, I’ve been struggling with this passage this week. So I needed to perform a inside job, do a check up from the neck up so to speak. This was the situation, someone I know wanted to go to a special event but they didn’t have the money to attend. I prayed for them and God put it on my heart to bless them with the gift of full tuition to the event.
I believe this was from God to do.
A few months back, I too was in this situation. I wanted to go to a special event but didn’t have the cash to attend. 1 week before the event, a friend called to tell me that I was going and that it was taken care of. What a wonderful gift and blessing for God to put this on his heart.
This person I wanted to bless with the tuition, refused the gift. The reasoning was pretty evident in there explanation of it, and they had 2. First, they explained to me they had already applied for a scholarship and they wanted to see what came of that request. The second, because this person was of the opposite sex, she felt as it may harm our friendship.
We aren’t and probably would never have a relationship outside our friendship but I feel she didn’t see it this way. Of course, I prayed about this, and prayed… and prayed. The answer I received was joyfully and alarmingly clear, I gave the gift directly to the scholarship fund and not to a individual person.
What bothers me most about this is that, in a way, I still paid her way, anonymously. My thoughts are this; did I go against my friends wishes and still provide her a means to go? Why is giving so complicated at times? Why do some people believe you have a ulterior motive when ever you perform a random act of kindness? What if I was interested in her, beyond a normal friendship?
Who boy!!!
The bible verse at the beginning of my blog states, “God loves a cheerful giver”. Does that mean if I am not happy to give, that I shouldn’t give at all? A cheerful giver does not give “out of sorrow” or “reluctantly”; “out of necessity” or “under compulsion.”
Three words come to mind when I think of giving from the heart:
Blessings
Contentment
Grace
When you give, your not just giving of your resources your giving blessings.
“and whoever sows with blessings will also reap with blessings.”
The giver is cheerful because he is sowing blessings for others. And when you go around planting blessings, you harvest blessings yourself! What types of blessings do we reap from giving? Here’s a couple…
Acting Out God’s love in this world.
Fulfilling your God given, purpose in life.
We can show how much God loves us! Psalms 67:1,4 (KJV)
1 God be merciful unto us, and bless us; and cause his face to shine upon us; Selah.
4 O let the nations be glad and sing for joy: for thou shall judge the people righteously, and govern the nations upon earth. Selah.
2 Corinthians 9:8 (KJV)
And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:
The word sufficiency is Contentment! Or having all that you need”, “What do you need?” I needed to sponsor her for this event, or did I? My son wants those sour candies and I say it’s too late for candy, Logan. The he’ll say I need those candies, I promise I’ll go to bed on time. Of course, never saying anything about sleeping! We think we need lots of things that we desire. Given our confusion about our needs, the phrase “having all that you need” is misleading.
Our contentment comes from our confidence in the God of all grace, who at all times will give us the grace we need in all things.
God gives us grace so that we can be content in whatever our circumstances might be. And knowing that we are content, knowing that we will be content at all future times, knowing that God will supply our every true need, knowing that He will guide us and direct our paths and bring us safely to His heavenly kingdom, we are free to give and love.
We can be content in every circumstance by the grace of God. We thus can abound in every good work, no matter what it costs us in time, in position, or in money.
So, why does God love a cheerful giver? Because the cheerful giver trusts Him, loves Him, believes in Him. The grudging giver does none of those things. The cheerful giver gives out of His joy in God.
My check up from the neck up is, who was I doing this for God or her? The correct answer is God! My answer, I had no ulterior motive. I wanted her to go because God put it on my heart, my great friend, should see this.
Believe in God’s future grace to you – and then step up and out!
God Bless,
Paul
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Listening: Spiritual Discipline
My inside job question is, am I listening effectively to God? Since God is a person, who desires intimacy with those who he calls his friends, is it possible God talks to us?
Yes!!!
God wants us to listen to his voice - he created us for that very purpose. God is not human so we would expect that listening to God might be a bit different from listening to another person. Yet we are also spiritual beings, made in the image of God, and created for communion, and therefore communication, with him. God has built numerous ways into the creation by which we hear him speak.
There are a number of effective ways for people to develop their spiritual hearing and discernment. Human imagination is not only intended for us to make things up but a way for God to work within us, creatively. The human memory not only recalls information from our past, but it is crucial to our ability to imagine the future.
As Christians, it pretty much goes without saying that we love God and want to obey Him. The issue for many of us Christians is similar to the issues we all face today. God speaks, but often people do not listen. I know that as a parent, there many times when I am irritated with my son because I have asked him to do something, and then upon finding out that the task didn’t get done, he’d claim, well, “you never told me to do that.” What’s even more frustrating is when I remember, distinctly, telling them, to do that chore. I spoke; he heard me, but he didn’t listen.
God speaks, but that we sometimes do not listen. So let me ask you, when is the last time God spoke to you? Does He speak to you? And if so, do you hear him? Are you listening to Him?
What are the ways we as Christians can learn to listen to, and obey God? God wants us to do more than simply hear Him; He wants us to listen, and in listening, we have God on our side as we resist evil, and, moreover, turn our lives in the direction of God. So listening to God is far more than hearing. But hearing is the starting point of where we receive God’s word. In His love for us, he has given us many ways to hear His message and to listen to it; these ways are gifts from God or spiritual disciplines.
These spiritual disciplines are practices—they are putting into practice what we have learned. The Bible itself lists many of the spiritual disciplines that God has given us, as tools in growing closer to Him. One of the most important spiritual disciplines is God’s Holy Word. The Bible unfolds the Law of God to us and shows us how we have all broken it.
When we hear and listen to the written Word of God, we are literally hearing and listening to our own salvation.
Romans 10:17,
“Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.”
We learn the ways and will of the Lord; we find how to live in a way that is pleasing to God in hearing God’s Word.
Luke 11:28,
“Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.”
So the Bible is our first line of communication with God. We can study it, we can memorize it, we can read it as part of our daily devotion. These are all spiritual disciplines related to God’s Word.
“The largest radio receive on earth is in New Mexico. Its name is the Very Large Array, also know as the VLA. It is a series of huge satellite disks on thirty-eight miles of railways. Why is such a giant satellite needed? Because the radio waves, often emitted from sources millions of light years away, are very faint. The total energy of all radio waves ever recorded barely equals the force of a single snowflake hitting the ground. What great lengths people will go to searching for a faint message from space when God has already spoken so clearly through His Son and through His Word.
2 Peter 1:19
“We have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.”
God not only has spoken clearly and powerfully to us through Christ and through the Scripture, the Lord also has a V. L. E…
Very Large Ear continuously open to hearing us. God hears every prayer of His children, even when our prayers are weaker than a snowflake. Communication by prayer is second only to the God’s Holy Word in importance. Not only does God want to hear our prayer, but He expects us to pray to Him.
God commands us to pray.
Colossians 4:2 the
“devote yourselves to prayer.”
1 Thessalonians 5:16-17,
“be joyful always; pray continuously; give thanks in all circumstances for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
Martin Luther said, “As it is the business of tailors to make clothes and of cobblers to mend shoes, so it is the business of Christians to pray.”
Matthew 4:10
“As it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’”
Psalm 95:6
“let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.”
Worshiping, together with the first two spiritual disciplines, works together in our spiritual life. In worship, we focus our attention on God. True worship of God is more than going to Church on Sunday though.
Matthew 15:8,
“These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.”
True worship of God happens when we put God first in our lives; matters more than what others say; and when loving God, matters more than being loved. The heart of worship is to seek to know and love God in our own unique way.
There are many Spiritual Disciplines and we need to focus our lives on our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The Spiritual Disciplines that God has given us open us up to Him.
Here’s how I remember it:
W = worshiping God
O = opening myself to God
R = relinquishing the false self and idols of my heart
S = sharing my life with others
H = hearing the Word of God
I = incarnate Christ’s love for the world
P = pray to God.
This helps me to hear God.
God Bless!!!
Yes!!!
God wants us to listen to his voice - he created us for that very purpose. God is not human so we would expect that listening to God might be a bit different from listening to another person. Yet we are also spiritual beings, made in the image of God, and created for communion, and therefore communication, with him. God has built numerous ways into the creation by which we hear him speak.
There are a number of effective ways for people to develop their spiritual hearing and discernment. Human imagination is not only intended for us to make things up but a way for God to work within us, creatively. The human memory not only recalls information from our past, but it is crucial to our ability to imagine the future.
As Christians, it pretty much goes without saying that we love God and want to obey Him. The issue for many of us Christians is similar to the issues we all face today. God speaks, but often people do not listen. I know that as a parent, there many times when I am irritated with my son because I have asked him to do something, and then upon finding out that the task didn’t get done, he’d claim, well, “you never told me to do that.” What’s even more frustrating is when I remember, distinctly, telling them, to do that chore. I spoke; he heard me, but he didn’t listen.
God speaks, but that we sometimes do not listen. So let me ask you, when is the last time God spoke to you? Does He speak to you? And if so, do you hear him? Are you listening to Him?
What are the ways we as Christians can learn to listen to, and obey God? God wants us to do more than simply hear Him; He wants us to listen, and in listening, we have God on our side as we resist evil, and, moreover, turn our lives in the direction of God. So listening to God is far more than hearing. But hearing is the starting point of where we receive God’s word. In His love for us, he has given us many ways to hear His message and to listen to it; these ways are gifts from God or spiritual disciplines.
These spiritual disciplines are practices—they are putting into practice what we have learned. The Bible itself lists many of the spiritual disciplines that God has given us, as tools in growing closer to Him. One of the most important spiritual disciplines is God’s Holy Word. The Bible unfolds the Law of God to us and shows us how we have all broken it.
When we hear and listen to the written Word of God, we are literally hearing and listening to our own salvation.
Romans 10:17,
“Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.”
We learn the ways and will of the Lord; we find how to live in a way that is pleasing to God in hearing God’s Word.
Luke 11:28,
“Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.”
So the Bible is our first line of communication with God. We can study it, we can memorize it, we can read it as part of our daily devotion. These are all spiritual disciplines related to God’s Word.
“The largest radio receive on earth is in New Mexico. Its name is the Very Large Array, also know as the VLA. It is a series of huge satellite disks on thirty-eight miles of railways. Why is such a giant satellite needed? Because the radio waves, often emitted from sources millions of light years away, are very faint. The total energy of all radio waves ever recorded barely equals the force of a single snowflake hitting the ground. What great lengths people will go to searching for a faint message from space when God has already spoken so clearly through His Son and through His Word.
2 Peter 1:19
“We have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.”
God not only has spoken clearly and powerfully to us through Christ and through the Scripture, the Lord also has a V. L. E…
Very Large Ear continuously open to hearing us. God hears every prayer of His children, even when our prayers are weaker than a snowflake. Communication by prayer is second only to the God’s Holy Word in importance. Not only does God want to hear our prayer, but He expects us to pray to Him.
God commands us to pray.
Colossians 4:2 the
“devote yourselves to prayer.”
1 Thessalonians 5:16-17,
“be joyful always; pray continuously; give thanks in all circumstances for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
Martin Luther said, “As it is the business of tailors to make clothes and of cobblers to mend shoes, so it is the business of Christians to pray.”
Matthew 4:10
“As it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’”
Psalm 95:6
“let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.”
Worshiping, together with the first two spiritual disciplines, works together in our spiritual life. In worship, we focus our attention on God. True worship of God is more than going to Church on Sunday though.
Matthew 15:8,
“These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.”
True worship of God happens when we put God first in our lives; matters more than what others say; and when loving God, matters more than being loved. The heart of worship is to seek to know and love God in our own unique way.
There are many Spiritual Disciplines and we need to focus our lives on our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The Spiritual Disciplines that God has given us open us up to Him.
Here’s how I remember it:
W = worshiping God
O = opening myself to God
R = relinquishing the false self and idols of my heart
S = sharing my life with others
H = hearing the Word of God
I = incarnate Christ’s love for the world
P = pray to God.
This helps me to hear God.
God Bless!!!
Monday, July 19, 2010
Courage
What makes a King out of a slave?
What makes the flag on the mast to wave?
What makes the elephant charge his tusk in the misty mist or the dusky dusk? What makes the muskrat guard his musk?
Courage.
What makes the Sphinx the 7th Wonder?
What makes the dawn come up like THUNDER?!
What makes the Hottentot so hot?
What puts the "ape" in ape-ricot?
Whatta they got that I ain't got?
Courage!
As quoted by the Cowardly Lion in the “Wizard of Oz”.
Is this a good representation of courage? Probably from a materialistic or secular view it could well be. Some say courage is the discovery that you may not win and trying when you know you can lose.
An action is courageous if you attempt to achieve an end despite penalties, risks, costs, or difficulties that normally deter most people. Similarly a state such as joyfulness is courageous if it is maintained no matter what the difficulties may be. Courage is not the absence of fear, it’s an ability to feel the appropriate amount of fear.
My inside remodeling job this week has been courage. I have courage but not in the areas that I feel I need it most this week. It hurts to be interested in someone and not knowing if that they feel the same way. What even hurts more is to be interested in that person but never finding the courage to let them know how you feel.
I read this story the other day about an Eagle and some chickens. It seems this farmer found an eagle egg out near the edge of the pasture and the forest. He brought it back to the farm and placed it into the chicken coop with hopes that it would still hatch. The miracle is the chickens treated it as there own and it eventually did hatch.
As the eaglet was born the chickens taught him the way of the chicken. How to scratch at the ground and crack the corn; eat the worms; or bugs found there. As a matter of fact, that Eaglet was very good at finding food and became well fed.
About a year or so later the Eaglet turned into a beautiful Eagle. As the Eagle was outside the coop looking for food he gazed upwards, noticing how beautiful the birds in the sky soared through the air.
The Eagle said, “How great would it be to soar and fly like that one day”. The chickens quickly admonished the Eagle saying he couldn’t fly; would get caught in the chicken wire; or if by chance made it out, would die of starvation.
The Eagle believed the chickens and a few weeks later the farmer came to check on the Eagle. The Eagle didn’t seem to be outside the chicken coop so he looked inside the coop. Over in the corner was the Eagle, dead.
What’s this story have to do with courage? We sometimes get so used our lifestyle that we fear stepping out of the box, learning to fly so to speak. If the Eagle only tried, gained courage and didn’t listen to the chickens he would have flown the coop. Sometimes we believe what others say, a sense of familiarity if you will, that keeps us from being who we ought to be. Our prayers and dreams are attainable when we have courage and not when we listen to the chickens.
What/who are your chickens? Are you feeling like your stuck in the chicken coop?
So what does God think of courage???
Deut 31:6-8 (KJV)
Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. And Moses called unto Joshua, and said unto him in the sight of all Israel, Be strong and of a good courage: for thou must go with this people unto the land which the Lord hath sworn unto their fathers to give them; and thou shall cause them to inherit it. And the Lord, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.
Psalms 31:24 (KJV)
Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord.
If God be for us who can be against.
"Christian courage is the willingness to say and do the right thing regardless of the earthly cost, because God promises to help you and save you on account of Christ."
What makes the flag on the mast to wave?
What makes the elephant charge his tusk in the misty mist or the dusky dusk? What makes the muskrat guard his musk?
Courage.
What makes the Sphinx the 7th Wonder?
What makes the dawn come up like THUNDER?!
What makes the Hottentot so hot?
What puts the "ape" in ape-ricot?
Whatta they got that I ain't got?
Courage!
As quoted by the Cowardly Lion in the “Wizard of Oz”.
Is this a good representation of courage? Probably from a materialistic or secular view it could well be. Some say courage is the discovery that you may not win and trying when you know you can lose.
An action is courageous if you attempt to achieve an end despite penalties, risks, costs, or difficulties that normally deter most people. Similarly a state such as joyfulness is courageous if it is maintained no matter what the difficulties may be. Courage is not the absence of fear, it’s an ability to feel the appropriate amount of fear.
My inside remodeling job this week has been courage. I have courage but not in the areas that I feel I need it most this week. It hurts to be interested in someone and not knowing if that they feel the same way. What even hurts more is to be interested in that person but never finding the courage to let them know how you feel.
I read this story the other day about an Eagle and some chickens. It seems this farmer found an eagle egg out near the edge of the pasture and the forest. He brought it back to the farm and placed it into the chicken coop with hopes that it would still hatch. The miracle is the chickens treated it as there own and it eventually did hatch.
As the eaglet was born the chickens taught him the way of the chicken. How to scratch at the ground and crack the corn; eat the worms; or bugs found there. As a matter of fact, that Eaglet was very good at finding food and became well fed.
About a year or so later the Eaglet turned into a beautiful Eagle. As the Eagle was outside the coop looking for food he gazed upwards, noticing how beautiful the birds in the sky soared through the air.
The Eagle said, “How great would it be to soar and fly like that one day”. The chickens quickly admonished the Eagle saying he couldn’t fly; would get caught in the chicken wire; or if by chance made it out, would die of starvation.
The Eagle believed the chickens and a few weeks later the farmer came to check on the Eagle. The Eagle didn’t seem to be outside the chicken coop so he looked inside the coop. Over in the corner was the Eagle, dead.
What’s this story have to do with courage? We sometimes get so used our lifestyle that we fear stepping out of the box, learning to fly so to speak. If the Eagle only tried, gained courage and didn’t listen to the chickens he would have flown the coop. Sometimes we believe what others say, a sense of familiarity if you will, that keeps us from being who we ought to be. Our prayers and dreams are attainable when we have courage and not when we listen to the chickens.
What/who are your chickens? Are you feeling like your stuck in the chicken coop?
So what does God think of courage???
Deut 31:6-8 (KJV)
Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. And Moses called unto Joshua, and said unto him in the sight of all Israel, Be strong and of a good courage: for thou must go with this people unto the land which the Lord hath sworn unto their fathers to give them; and thou shall cause them to inherit it. And the Lord, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.
Psalms 31:24 (KJV)
Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord.
If God be for us who can be against.
"Christian courage is the willingness to say and do the right thing regardless of the earthly cost, because God promises to help you and save you on account of Christ."
God Bless
Saturday, July 3, 2010
Eternal Independence Day
A document that gives us our independence and our freedom for living in this country is the Declaration of Independence. When people come to America, the thing that strikes them most strongly is the freedom that we enjoy, and rightly so. Where did this freedom come from?
The only Pastor to sign the Declaration was John Witherspoon. I believe God guided those men when they created this document and it was adopted by the United States on July 4, 1776. It states, “We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable right and among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” It is true that God wants all of us to have these three wonderful gifts.
In John 8:32, you will find the words that Jesus said, "Ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free." Jesus is talking to His disciples saying if there is anything that will inspire your life, it is the TRUTH. In the 36th verse Jesus says, "If the Son therefore shall make you free, you shall be free indeed."
All people of earth are a creation of God and there is a life that never ends. God talks about this life and he offers us life eternal. If the Son shall make you free, you shall be free indeed; Liberty! You could arrest me; throw me in prison; bind me; you could blind my eyes, close my ears, and my mouth but you cannot change my capacity to think. Through this the Declaration of Independence instills freedom.
This life that I speak of is riddled with problems because we are made of flesh. Nearly everyone has some little thing wrong with them. Everyone here today is living, and everyone is going to die unless the rapture comes. What will happen then? The life God speaks of, the one Jesus wants us to have, is Eternal Life.
All of us, everyone, are not here by accident but by the grace of God. If we go to Heaven and enjoy the abundant life, we will go by the grace and mercy of God.
In John 3:16 it says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.”
Also John 10:27-29 states, “My sheep hear my voice and I know them and they follow me and I give unto them eternal life, and they shall never perish.”
This is where everlasting life comes in. We think so much about this life sometimes that we forget about the life that is to come until just before death. If you want to live a super and abundant life as God expects, the only way we can is through Jesus Christ. There is no other way.
In Romans 6:23 it says, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ, our Lord.” Eternal life, everlasting life, abundant life, the super-life is only found in Jesus Christ.
The only way we are going to keep peace is to stand up for it, reach out and take hold of it, believe in it, and possess it. That is what God wants us to do about spiritual peace. Christ Jesus came into this world and gave his life that we might be free. I’m not weak or timid; I’m aggressive and know what I want. I believe in defending our country if it need be with my life.
The Statue of Liberty sits on Liberty Island. It sits out on the protruding island standing 305 feet and one inch from the base of the pedestal to the top of the torch. It is the most glorious sight to see. It is up there to guard the harbor. Jesus Christ nailed high on the cross is that torch for us. Jesus Christ is our Savior and the eternal light beckoning us into his harbor of peace, abundant life, liberty and true happiness.
A plaque before it reads, “Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame with conquering limbs astride from land to land; here at our sea while sunset gates shall stand a mighty woman with a torch whose flame is the imprisoned lightning and her name is Mother of Exiles. From her beaconed hand glows worldwide welcome, her mild eyes command the air bridged harbor that twin cities frame. Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses, yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shores. Send these, the homeless, tempest tossed to me. I lift my lamp beside the golden door.”
God offers us liberty, true liberty. Most people today don’t know what it means to live under a dictator with selfish ideals. Thank God for this great country in which we live. Peace, contentment, and joy comes only in using what we have in the pursuit of happiness through the gospel of Jesus Christ. The Bible says where a man’s treasure is, there will his heart be also. Lay not up treasures up on earth, but lay them up in heaven.
So, on this Fourth of July, think about those who lost there lives to make us free. Jesus Christ should be at the top of the list!!!
The only Pastor to sign the Declaration was John Witherspoon. I believe God guided those men when they created this document and it was adopted by the United States on July 4, 1776. It states, “We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable right and among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” It is true that God wants all of us to have these three wonderful gifts.
In John 8:32, you will find the words that Jesus said, "Ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free." Jesus is talking to His disciples saying if there is anything that will inspire your life, it is the TRUTH. In the 36th verse Jesus says, "If the Son therefore shall make you free, you shall be free indeed."
All people of earth are a creation of God and there is a life that never ends. God talks about this life and he offers us life eternal. If the Son shall make you free, you shall be free indeed; Liberty! You could arrest me; throw me in prison; bind me; you could blind my eyes, close my ears, and my mouth but you cannot change my capacity to think. Through this the Declaration of Independence instills freedom.
This life that I speak of is riddled with problems because we are made of flesh. Nearly everyone has some little thing wrong with them. Everyone here today is living, and everyone is going to die unless the rapture comes. What will happen then? The life God speaks of, the one Jesus wants us to have, is Eternal Life.
All of us, everyone, are not here by accident but by the grace of God. If we go to Heaven and enjoy the abundant life, we will go by the grace and mercy of God.
In John 3:16 it says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.”
Also John 10:27-29 states, “My sheep hear my voice and I know them and they follow me and I give unto them eternal life, and they shall never perish.”
This is where everlasting life comes in. We think so much about this life sometimes that we forget about the life that is to come until just before death. If you want to live a super and abundant life as God expects, the only way we can is through Jesus Christ. There is no other way.
In Romans 6:23 it says, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ, our Lord.” Eternal life, everlasting life, abundant life, the super-life is only found in Jesus Christ.
The only way we are going to keep peace is to stand up for it, reach out and take hold of it, believe in it, and possess it. That is what God wants us to do about spiritual peace. Christ Jesus came into this world and gave his life that we might be free. I’m not weak or timid; I’m aggressive and know what I want. I believe in defending our country if it need be with my life.
The Statue of Liberty sits on Liberty Island. It sits out on the protruding island standing 305 feet and one inch from the base of the pedestal to the top of the torch. It is the most glorious sight to see. It is up there to guard the harbor. Jesus Christ nailed high on the cross is that torch for us. Jesus Christ is our Savior and the eternal light beckoning us into his harbor of peace, abundant life, liberty and true happiness.
A plaque before it reads, “Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame with conquering limbs astride from land to land; here at our sea while sunset gates shall stand a mighty woman with a torch whose flame is the imprisoned lightning and her name is Mother of Exiles. From her beaconed hand glows worldwide welcome, her mild eyes command the air bridged harbor that twin cities frame. Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses, yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shores. Send these, the homeless, tempest tossed to me. I lift my lamp beside the golden door.”
God offers us liberty, true liberty. Most people today don’t know what it means to live under a dictator with selfish ideals. Thank God for this great country in which we live. Peace, contentment, and joy comes only in using what we have in the pursuit of happiness through the gospel of Jesus Christ. The Bible says where a man’s treasure is, there will his heart be also. Lay not up treasures up on earth, but lay them up in heaven.
So, on this Fourth of July, think about those who lost there lives to make us free. Jesus Christ should be at the top of the list!!!
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