HALLELUYAH!! ! A man woke up early in order to have his morning devotion (prayer) in the lords house (church).He got dressed, set on his way to the lord's house (church). On his way to the church, the man fell and his clothes got dirty. He got up, brushed himself up, and headed home. At home, he changed his clothes, and was, again, on his way to the lord's house. On his way to the church, he fell again and at the same spot! He, again, got up, brushed himself off and headed home.
At home he, once again, changed his clothes and was on his way to the lords house (church). On his way to the church, he met a man holding a lamp. He asked the man of his identity and the man replied "I saw you fall twice on your way to the church, so I brought a lamp so I can light your way. The first man thanked him profusely and the two went on their way to the church.
Once at the church, the first man asked the man with the lamp to come in and pray with him. The second man refused. The first man asked him a couple more times and, again, the answer was the same. The first man asked him why he did not wish to come in and pray.
The man replied, "I am Satan". The man was shocked at this reply. Satan went on to explain, "I saw you on your way to the Church and it was I who made you fall. When you went home, cleaned yourself and went back on your way to the church, God forgave all of your sins. I made you fall a second time, and even that did not encourage you to stay home, but rather, you went back on your way to Church.
Because of that, God forgave all the sins of the people of your household. I was afraid if I made you fall one more time, then God will forgive the sins of the people of your village, so I made sure that you reached the house of God (Church) safely."
So do not let Satan benefit from his actions. Do not put off the good you intended to do as you never know how much reward you might receive from the hardships you encounter while trying to achieve that good. For your righteousness can save your family and nation at large.
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Prayer is one of the best free gifts we receive
Good morning dear family and friends, I just wanted to tell everyone that I am so grateful to have each of you in my life.
I pray you all have a day filled with grace.
It was difficult for me to decide who I thought would DO this because many people claim to pray, but not everyone does. I hope I chose the right twelve. Please send this back to me (You'll see why).
May everyone who received this message be blessed. There are 12 months/ 12 disciples/ 12 tribes of Israel /Jesus' birth celebrated in the 12th month. There is nothing attached.Just send this to twelve others.
Prayer is one of the best free gifts we receive. There is no cost, just a lot of reward. Make sure you pray, and pray believing God will answer. May today be all you need it to be.May the peace of God and the freshness of the Holy Spirit rest in your thoughts, rule in your dreams tonight, and conquer all your fears.
May God manifest himself today in ways you have never experienced. May your joys be fulfilled, your dreams be closer, and your prayers be answered. I pray that faith enters a new height for you; I pray that your territory is enlarged.
I pray for peace, healing, health, happiness, prosperity, joy, true and undying love for God.
I pray you all have a day filled with grace.
It was difficult for me to decide who I thought would DO this because many people claim to pray, but not everyone does. I hope I chose the right twelve. Please send this back to me (You'll see why).
May everyone who received this message be blessed. There are 12 months/ 12 disciples/ 12 tribes of Israel /Jesus' birth celebrated in the 12th month. There is nothing attached.Just send this to twelve others.
Prayer is one of the best free gifts we receive. There is no cost, just a lot of reward. Make sure you pray, and pray believing God will answer. May today be all you need it to be.May the peace of God and the freshness of the Holy Spirit rest in your thoughts, rule in your dreams tonight, and conquer all your fears.
May God manifest himself today in ways you have never experienced. May your joys be fulfilled, your dreams be closer, and your prayers be answered. I pray that faith enters a new height for you; I pray that your territory is enlarged.
I pray for peace, healing, health, happiness, prosperity, joy, true and undying love for God.
Psalm 55:22 "Friends are God's way of taking care of us."
I was driving home from a meeting this evening about 5, stuck in traffic on Colorado Blvd., and the car started to choke and splutter and die - I barely managed to coast, cursing, into a gas station, glad only that I would not be blocking traffic and would have a somewhat warm spot to wait for the tow truck. It wouldn't even turn over. Before I could make the call, I saw a woman walking out of the "quickie mart" building, and it looked like she slipped on some ice and fell into a Gas pump, so I got out to see if she was okay.
When I got there, it looked more like she had been overcome by sobs than that she had fallen; she was a young woman who looked really haggard with dark circles under her eyes. She dropped something as I helped her up, and I picked it up to give it to her. It was a nickel.
At that moment, everything came into focus for me: the crying woman, the ancient Suburban crammed full of stuff with 3 kids in the back (1 in a car seat), and the gas pump reading $4.95.
I asked her if she was okay and if she needed help, and she just kept saying "don't want my kids to see me crying," so we stood on the other side of the pump from her car. She said she was driving to California and that things were very hard for her right now. So I asked, "And you were praying?" That made her back away from me a little, but I assured her I was not a crazy person and said, "He heard you, and He sent me."
I took out my card and swiped it through the card reader on the pump so she could fill up her car completely, and while it was fueling, walked to the next door McDonald's and bought 2 big bags of food, some gift certificates for more, and a big cup of coffee. She gave the food to the kids in the car, who attacked it like wolves, and we stood by the pump eating fries and talking a little.
She told me her name, and that she lived in Kansas City. Her boyfriend left 2 months ago and she had not been able to make ends meet. She knew she wouldn't have money to pay rent Jan 1, and finally in desperation had finally called her parents, with whom she had not spoken in about 5 years. They lived in California and said she could come live with them and try to get on her feet there.
So she packed up everything she owned in the car. She told the kids they were going to California for Christmas, but not that they were going to live there.
I gave her my gloves, a little hug and said a quick prayer with her for safety on the road. As I was walking over to my car, she said, "So, are you like an angel or something?"
This definitely made me cry. I said, "Sweetie, at this time of year angels are really busy, so sometimes God uses regular people."
It was so incredible to be a part of someone else's miracle. And of course, you guessed it, when I got in my car it started right away and got me home with no problem. I'll put it in the shop tomorrow to check, but I suspect the mechanic won't find anything wrong.
Sometimes the angels fly close enough to you that you can hear the flutter of their wings...
Psalms 55:22 "Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and He shall sustain thee. He shall never suffer the righteous to be moved."
My instructions were to pick four people that I wanted God to bless, especially for the months in 200 8 , and I picked you.
Please pass this to four people you want to be blessed and a copy back to me.
When I got there, it looked more like she had been overcome by sobs than that she had fallen; she was a young woman who looked really haggard with dark circles under her eyes. She dropped something as I helped her up, and I picked it up to give it to her. It was a nickel.
At that moment, everything came into focus for me: the crying woman, the ancient Suburban crammed full of stuff with 3 kids in the back (1 in a car seat), and the gas pump reading $4.95.
I asked her if she was okay and if she needed help, and she just kept saying "don't want my kids to see me crying," so we stood on the other side of the pump from her car. She said she was driving to California and that things were very hard for her right now. So I asked, "And you were praying?" That made her back away from me a little, but I assured her I was not a crazy person and said, "He heard you, and He sent me."
I took out my card and swiped it through the card reader on the pump so she could fill up her car completely, and while it was fueling, walked to the next door McDonald's and bought 2 big bags of food, some gift certificates for more, and a big cup of coffee. She gave the food to the kids in the car, who attacked it like wolves, and we stood by the pump eating fries and talking a little.
She told me her name, and that she lived in Kansas City. Her boyfriend left 2 months ago and she had not been able to make ends meet. She knew she wouldn't have money to pay rent Jan 1, and finally in desperation had finally called her parents, with whom she had not spoken in about 5 years. They lived in California and said she could come live with them and try to get on her feet there.
So she packed up everything she owned in the car. She told the kids they were going to California for Christmas, but not that they were going to live there.
I gave her my gloves, a little hug and said a quick prayer with her for safety on the road. As I was walking over to my car, she said, "So, are you like an angel or something?"
This definitely made me cry. I said, "Sweetie, at this time of year angels are really busy, so sometimes God uses regular people."
It was so incredible to be a part of someone else's miracle. And of course, you guessed it, when I got in my car it started right away and got me home with no problem. I'll put it in the shop tomorrow to check, but I suspect the mechanic won't find anything wrong.
Sometimes the angels fly close enough to you that you can hear the flutter of their wings...
Psalms 55:22 "Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and He shall sustain thee. He shall never suffer the righteous to be moved."
My instructions were to pick four people that I wanted God to bless, especially for the months in 200 8 , and I picked you.
Please pass this to four people you want to be blessed and a copy back to me.
Here is the prayer:
"Father, I ask You to bless my children, grandchildren, friends, relatives and email buddies reading this right now.
Show them a new revelation of your love and power.
Holy Spirit, I ask You to minister to their spirit this very moment. Where there is pain, give them Your peace and mercy.
Where there is self doubt, release a renewed confidence through Your grace, In Jesus' precious name. Amen."
I know I picked more than four -- you can, too.When Satan is knocking at your door, simply say, "Jesus, could You please get that for me?"
A Pastor with GUTS!!
Thought you might enjoy this interesting prayer given in Kansas at the opening session of their Senate. It seems prayer still upsets some people.
When Minister Joe Wright was asked to open the new session of the Kansas Senate, everyone was expecting the usual generalities, but this is what they heard: Heavenly Father, we come before you today to ask your forgiveness and to seek your direction and guidance.
We know Your Word says, 'Woe to those who call evil good,' but that is exactly what we have done. We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and reversed our values.
We have exploited the poor and called it the lottery.
We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare.
We have killed our unborn and called it choice.
We have shot abortionists and called it justifiable...
We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building self esteem.
We have abused power and called it politics.
We have coveted our neighbor's possessions and called it ambition.
We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it freedom of expression.
We have ridiculed the time-honored values of our forefathers and called it enlightenment.
Search us, Oh, God, and know our hearts today; cleanse us from every sin and set us free. Amen!
The response was immediate. A number of legislators walked out during the prayer in protest. In 6 short weeks, Central Christian Church, where Rev. Wright is pastor, logged more than 5,000 phone calls with only 47 of those calls responding negatively.
The church is now receiving international requests for copies of this prayer from India, Africa and Korea. Commentator Paul Harvey aired this prayer on his radio program, 'The Rest of the Story,'and received a larger response to this program than any other he has ever aired.
With the Lord's help, may this prayer sweep over our nation and wholeheartedly become our desire so that we again can be called 'one nation under God.'
When Minister Joe Wright was asked to open the new session of the Kansas Senate, everyone was expecting the usual generalities, but this is what they heard: Heavenly Father, we come before you today to ask your forgiveness and to seek your direction and guidance.
We know Your Word says, 'Woe to those who call evil good,' but that is exactly what we have done. We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and reversed our values.
We have exploited the poor and called it the lottery.
We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare.
We have killed our unborn and called it choice.
We have shot abortionists and called it justifiable...
We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building self esteem.
We have abused power and called it politics.
We have coveted our neighbor's possessions and called it ambition.
We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it freedom of expression.
We have ridiculed the time-honored values of our forefathers and called it enlightenment.
Search us, Oh, God, and know our hearts today; cleanse us from every sin and set us free. Amen!
The response was immediate. A number of legislators walked out during the prayer in protest. In 6 short weeks, Central Christian Church, where Rev. Wright is pastor, logged more than 5,000 phone calls with only 47 of those calls responding negatively.
The church is now receiving international requests for copies of this prayer from India, Africa and Korea. Commentator Paul Harvey aired this prayer on his radio program, 'The Rest of the Story,'and received a larger response to this program than any other he has ever aired.
With the Lord's help, may this prayer sweep over our nation and wholeheartedly become our desire so that we again can be called 'one nation under God.'
Through the eyes of a child. Children's Bible in a Nutshell.
JUDAS ASPARAGUS
In the beginning, which occurred near the start, there was nothing but God, darkness, and some gas. The Bible says, 'The Lord thy God is one, but I think He must be a lot older than that. Anyway, God said, ''Give me a light!'' and someone did. Then God made the world.
He split the Adam and made Eve. Adam and Eve were naked, but they weren't embarrassed because mirrors hadn't been invented yet. Adam and Eve disobeyed God by eating one bad apple, so they were driven from the Garden of Eden. Not sure what they were driven in though, because they didn't have cars.
Adam and Eve had a son, Cain, who hated his brother as long as he Was Abel. Pretty soon all of the early people died off, except for Methuselah, who lived to be like a million or something.
One of the next important people was Noah, who was a good guy, but one of his kids was kind of a Ham. Noah built a large boat and put his family and some animals on it. He asked some other people to join him, but they said they would have to take a rain check.
After Noah came Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Jacob was more famous than His brother, Esau, because Esau sold Jacob his birthmark in exchange for some pot roast. Jacob had a son named Joseph who wore a really loud sports coat.
Another important Bible guy is Moses, whose real name was Charlton Heston. Moses led the Israel Lights out of Egypt and away from the evil Pharaoh after God sent ten plagues on Pharaoh's people. These plagues included frogs, mice, lice, bowels, and no cable. God fed the Israel Lights every day with manicotti. Then he gave them His Top ten Commandments. These include don't lie, cheat, smoke, dance, or covet your neighbour's stuff. Oh, yeah, I just thought of one more: Humour thy father and thy mother.
One of Moses s' best helpers was Joshua who was the first Bible guy to use spies. Joshua fought the battle of Geritol and the fence fell over on the town.
After Joshua came David. He got to be king by killing a giant with a slingshot. He had a son named Solomon who had about 300 wives and 500 porcupines. My teacher says he was wise, but that doesn't sound very wise to me.
After Solomon there were a bunch of major league prophets. One of these was Jonah, who was swallowed by a big whale and then barfed upon the shore. There were also some minor league prophets, but I guess we don't have to worry about them.
After the Old Testament came the New Testament. Jesus is the star of The New Testament. He was born in Bethlehem in a barn. (I wish I had been born in a barn, too, because my mom is always saying to me, 'Close the door! Were you born in a barn?' It would be nice to say, 'As a matter of fact, I was.')
During His life, Jesus had many arguments with sinners like the Pharisees and the Republicans. Jesus also had twelve opossums. The worst one was Judas Asparagus. Judas was so evil that they named a terrible vegetable after him.
Jesus was a great man. He healed many leopards and even preached to some Germans on the Mount. But the Republicans and all those guys put Jesus on trial before Pontius the Pilot. Pilot didn't stick up for Jesus. He just washed his hands instead.
Anyway's, Jesus died for our sins, then came back to life again. He went up to Heaven but will be back at the end of the Aluminium. His return is foretold in the book of Revolution.
In the beginning, which occurred near the start, there was nothing but God, darkness, and some gas. The Bible says, 'The Lord thy God is one, but I think He must be a lot older than that. Anyway, God said, ''Give me a light!'' and someone did. Then God made the world.
He split the Adam and made Eve. Adam and Eve were naked, but they weren't embarrassed because mirrors hadn't been invented yet. Adam and Eve disobeyed God by eating one bad apple, so they were driven from the Garden of Eden. Not sure what they were driven in though, because they didn't have cars.
Adam and Eve had a son, Cain, who hated his brother as long as he Was Abel. Pretty soon all of the early people died off, except for Methuselah, who lived to be like a million or something.
One of the next important people was Noah, who was a good guy, but one of his kids was kind of a Ham. Noah built a large boat and put his family and some animals on it. He asked some other people to join him, but they said they would have to take a rain check.
After Noah came Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Jacob was more famous than His brother, Esau, because Esau sold Jacob his birthmark in exchange for some pot roast. Jacob had a son named Joseph who wore a really loud sports coat.
Another important Bible guy is Moses, whose real name was Charlton Heston. Moses led the Israel Lights out of Egypt and away from the evil Pharaoh after God sent ten plagues on Pharaoh's people. These plagues included frogs, mice, lice, bowels, and no cable. God fed the Israel Lights every day with manicotti. Then he gave them His Top ten Commandments. These include don't lie, cheat, smoke, dance, or covet your neighbour's stuff. Oh, yeah, I just thought of one more: Humour thy father and thy mother.
One of Moses s' best helpers was Joshua who was the first Bible guy to use spies. Joshua fought the battle of Geritol and the fence fell over on the town.
After Joshua came David. He got to be king by killing a giant with a slingshot. He had a son named Solomon who had about 300 wives and 500 porcupines. My teacher says he was wise, but that doesn't sound very wise to me.
After Solomon there were a bunch of major league prophets. One of these was Jonah, who was swallowed by a big whale and then barfed upon the shore. There were also some minor league prophets, but I guess we don't have to worry about them.
After the Old Testament came the New Testament. Jesus is the star of The New Testament. He was born in Bethlehem in a barn. (I wish I had been born in a barn, too, because my mom is always saying to me, 'Close the door! Were you born in a barn?' It would be nice to say, 'As a matter of fact, I was.')
During His life, Jesus had many arguments with sinners like the Pharisees and the Republicans. Jesus also had twelve opossums. The worst one was Judas Asparagus. Judas was so evil that they named a terrible vegetable after him.
Jesus was a great man. He healed many leopards and even preached to some Germans on the Mount. But the Republicans and all those guys put Jesus on trial before Pontius the Pilot. Pilot didn't stick up for Jesus. He just washed his hands instead.
Anyway's, Jesus died for our sins, then came back to life again. He went up to Heaven but will be back at the end of the Aluminium. His return is foretold in the book of Revolution.
Revelations 3:8
When God leads you to the edge of the cliff, trust Him fully and let go, only 1 of 2 things will happen, either He'll catch you when you fall, or He'll teach you how to fly! ¡
The power of one sentence!
God is going to shift things around for you today and let things work in your favor. If you believe, send it. If you don't believe, delete it. God closes doors no man can open & God opens doors no man can close.
If you need God to open, some doors for you...send this to ten people. Have a blessed day and remember to be a blessing...
8 %
One day a while back, a man, his heart heavy with grief, was walking in the woods. As he thought about his life this day, he knew many things were not right. He thought about those who had lied about him back when he had a job..
His thoughts turned to those who had stolen his things and cheated him. He remembered family that had passed on. His mind turned to the illness he had, that no one could cure. His very soul was filled with anger, resentment, and frustration.
Standing there this day, searching for answers he could not find, knowing all else had failed him, he knelt at the base of an old oak tree to seek the one he knew would always be there. And with tears in his eyes, he prayed:
'Lord- You have done wonderful things for me in this life. You have told me to do many things for you, and I happily obeyed. Today, you have told me to forgive. I am sad, Lord, because I cannot, I don't know how.
It is not fair Lord, I didn't deserve these wrongs that were done against me and I shouldn't have to forgive.
As perfect as your way is Lord, this one thing I cannot do, for I don't know how to forgive. My anger is so deep Lord, I fear I may not hear you, but I pray you teach me to do the one thing I cannot do: Teach me to forgive .'
As he knelt there in the quiet shade of that old oak tree, he felt something fall onto his shoulder. He opened his eyes. Out of the corner of one eye, he saw something red on his shirt. He could not turn to see what it was because where the oak tree had been was a large square piece of wood in the ground. He raised his head and saw two feet held to the wood with a large spike through them.
He raised his head more, and tears came to his eyes as he saw Jesus hanging on a cross. He saw spikes in His hands, a gash in His side, a torn and battered body, deep thorns sunk into His head. Finally he saw the suffering and pain on His precious face. As their eyes met, the man's tears turned to sobbing, and Jesus began to speak.
'Have you ever told a lie?' He asked?
The man answered - 'Yes, Lord.'
'Have you ever been given too much change and kept it?'
The man answered - 'Yes. Lord.' And the man sobbed more and more.
'Have you ever taken something from work that wasn't yours?' Jesus asked?
And the man answered, 'Yes, Lord.'
'Have you ever sworn, using my Father's name in vain?'
The man, crying now, answered - 'Yes, Lord.'
As Jesus asked many more times, 'Have you ever'? The man's crying became uncontrollable, for he could only answer - 'Yes, Lord'.
Then Jesus turned His head from one side to the other, and the man felt something fall on his other shoulder He looked and saw that it was the blood of Jesus. When he looked back up, his eyes met those of Jesus, and there was a look of love the man had never seen or known before.
His thoughts turned to those who had stolen his things and cheated him. He remembered family that had passed on. His mind turned to the illness he had, that no one could cure. His very soul was filled with anger, resentment, and frustration.
Standing there this day, searching for answers he could not find, knowing all else had failed him, he knelt at the base of an old oak tree to seek the one he knew would always be there. And with tears in his eyes, he prayed:
'Lord- You have done wonderful things for me in this life. You have told me to do many things for you, and I happily obeyed. Today, you have told me to forgive. I am sad, Lord, because I cannot, I don't know how.
It is not fair Lord, I didn't deserve these wrongs that were done against me and I shouldn't have to forgive.
As perfect as your way is Lord, this one thing I cannot do, for I don't know how to forgive. My anger is so deep Lord, I fear I may not hear you, but I pray you teach me to do the one thing I cannot do: Teach me to forgive .'
As he knelt there in the quiet shade of that old oak tree, he felt something fall onto his shoulder. He opened his eyes. Out of the corner of one eye, he saw something red on his shirt. He could not turn to see what it was because where the oak tree had been was a large square piece of wood in the ground. He raised his head and saw two feet held to the wood with a large spike through them.
He raised his head more, and tears came to his eyes as he saw Jesus hanging on a cross. He saw spikes in His hands, a gash in His side, a torn and battered body, deep thorns sunk into His head. Finally he saw the suffering and pain on His precious face. As their eyes met, the man's tears turned to sobbing, and Jesus began to speak.
'Have you ever told a lie?' He asked?
The man answered - 'Yes, Lord.'
'Have you ever been given too much change and kept it?'
The man answered - 'Yes. Lord.' And the man sobbed more and more.
'Have you ever taken something from work that wasn't yours?' Jesus asked?
And the man answered, 'Yes, Lord.'
'Have you ever sworn, using my Father's name in vain?'
The man, crying now, answered - 'Yes, Lord.'
As Jesus asked many more times, 'Have you ever'? The man's crying became uncontrollable, for he could only answer - 'Yes, Lord'.
Then Jesus turned His head from one side to the other, and the man felt something fall on his other shoulder He looked and saw that it was the blood of Jesus. When he looked back up, his eyes met those of Jesus, and there was a look of love the man had never seen or known before.
Jesus said, 'I didn't deserve this either, but I forgive you.'
It may be hard to see how you're going to get through something, but when you look back in life, you realize how true this statement is.
Read the following first line slowly and let it sink in.
If God brings you to it - He will bring you through it.
It may be hard to see how you're going to get through something, but when you look back in life, you realize how true this statement is.
Read the following first line slowly and let it sink in.
If God brings you to it - He will bring you through it.
My Name is Rose - Enjoy!
My Name is Rose
1. The first day of school our professor introduced him and challenged us to get to know someone we didn't already know. I stood up to look around when a gentle hand touched my shoulder. I turned around to find a wrinkled, little old lady beaming up at me with a smile that lit up her entire being. She said, my name is Rose. I'm eighty-seven years old. Can I give you a hug?'
2. I laughed and enthusiastically responded, 'Of course you may!' and she gave me a giant squeeze. 'Why are you in college at such a young, innocent age?' I asked. She jokingly replied, 'I'm here to meet a rich husband, get married, and have a couple of kids...' 'No seriously,' I asked. I was curious what may have motivated her to be taking on this challenge at her age.
2.1. 'I always dreamed of having a college education and now I'm getting one!' she told me. After class we walked to the student union building and shared a chocolate milkshake.
3. We became instant friends. Every day for the next three months we would leave class together and talk nonstop. I was always mesmerized listening to this 'time machine' as she shared her wisdom and experience with me.
4. Over the course of the year, Rose became a campus icon and she easily made friends wherever she went. She loved to dress up and she reveled in the attention bestowed upon her from the other students. She was living it up.
5. At the end of the semester we invited Rose to speak at our football banquet. I'll never forget what she taught us. She was introduced and stepped up to the podium. As she began to deliver her prepared speech, she dropped her three by five cards on the floor. Frustrated and a little embarrassed she leaned into the microphone and simply said, 'I'm sorry I'm so jittery. I gave up beer for Lent and this whiskey is killing me! I'll never get my speech back in order so let me just tell you what I know.'
6. As we laughed she cleared her throat and began, ' We do not stop playing because we are old; we grow old because we stop playing. There are only four secrets to staying young, being happy and achieving success.
6.1. You have to laugh and find humor every day.
6.2. You've got to have a dream. When you lose your dreams, you die.
6.3. We have so many people walking around who are dead and don't even know it! There is a huge difference between growing older and growing up. If you are nineteen years old and lie in bed for one full year and don't do one productive thing, you will turn twenty years old. If I am eighty-seven years old and stay in bed for a year and never do anything I will turn eighty-eight.
6.4. Anybody! can grow older. That doesn't take any talent or ability. The idea is to grow up by always finding opportunity in change. Have no regrets. The elderly usually don't have regrets for what we did, but rather for things we did not do. The only people who fear death are those with regrets.'
7. She concluded her speech by courageously singing 'The Rose.'
7.1. She challenged each of us to study the lyrics and live them out in our daily lives. At the year's end Rose finished the college degree she had begun all those years ago.
7.2. One week after graduation Rose died peacefully in her sleep. Over two thousand college students attended her funeral in tribute to the wonderful woman who taught by example that it's never too late to be all you can possibly be. When you finish reading this, please send this peaceful word of advice to your friends and family, they'll really enjoy it! These words have been passed along in loving memory of ROSE.
8. REMEMBER, GROWING OLDER IS MANDATORY. GROWING UP IS OPTIONAL. We make a Living by what we get. We make a Life by what we give.
8.1. God promises a safe landing, not a calm passage. If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it.
8.1.1. (...look out your window when you wake in the morning and think about it)
8.1.2. 'Good friends are like stars.... .....You don't always see them, but you know they are always there.'
1. The first day of school our professor introduced him and challenged us to get to know someone we didn't already know. I stood up to look around when a gentle hand touched my shoulder. I turned around to find a wrinkled, little old lady beaming up at me with a smile that lit up her entire being. She said, my name is Rose. I'm eighty-seven years old. Can I give you a hug?'
2. I laughed and enthusiastically responded, 'Of course you may!' and she gave me a giant squeeze. 'Why are you in college at such a young, innocent age?' I asked. She jokingly replied, 'I'm here to meet a rich husband, get married, and have a couple of kids...' 'No seriously,' I asked. I was curious what may have motivated her to be taking on this challenge at her age.
2.1. 'I always dreamed of having a college education and now I'm getting one!' she told me. After class we walked to the student union building and shared a chocolate milkshake.
3. We became instant friends. Every day for the next three months we would leave class together and talk nonstop. I was always mesmerized listening to this 'time machine' as she shared her wisdom and experience with me.
4. Over the course of the year, Rose became a campus icon and she easily made friends wherever she went. She loved to dress up and she reveled in the attention bestowed upon her from the other students. She was living it up.
5. At the end of the semester we invited Rose to speak at our football banquet. I'll never forget what she taught us. She was introduced and stepped up to the podium. As she began to deliver her prepared speech, she dropped her three by five cards on the floor. Frustrated and a little embarrassed she leaned into the microphone and simply said, 'I'm sorry I'm so jittery. I gave up beer for Lent and this whiskey is killing me! I'll never get my speech back in order so let me just tell you what I know.'
6. As we laughed she cleared her throat and began, ' We do not stop playing because we are old; we grow old because we stop playing. There are only four secrets to staying young, being happy and achieving success.
6.1. You have to laugh and find humor every day.
6.2. You've got to have a dream. When you lose your dreams, you die.
6.3. We have so many people walking around who are dead and don't even know it! There is a huge difference between growing older and growing up. If you are nineteen years old and lie in bed for one full year and don't do one productive thing, you will turn twenty years old. If I am eighty-seven years old and stay in bed for a year and never do anything I will turn eighty-eight.
6.4. Anybody! can grow older. That doesn't take any talent or ability. The idea is to grow up by always finding opportunity in change. Have no regrets. The elderly usually don't have regrets for what we did, but rather for things we did not do. The only people who fear death are those with regrets.'
7. She concluded her speech by courageously singing 'The Rose.'
7.1. She challenged each of us to study the lyrics and live them out in our daily lives. At the year's end Rose finished the college degree she had begun all those years ago.
7.2. One week after graduation Rose died peacefully in her sleep. Over two thousand college students attended her funeral in tribute to the wonderful woman who taught by example that it's never too late to be all you can possibly be. When you finish reading this, please send this peaceful word of advice to your friends and family, they'll really enjoy it! These words have been passed along in loving memory of ROSE.
8. REMEMBER, GROWING OLDER IS MANDATORY. GROWING UP IS OPTIONAL. We make a Living by what we get. We make a Life by what we give.
8.1. God promises a safe landing, not a calm passage. If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it.
8.1.1. (...look out your window when you wake in the morning and think about it)
8.1.2. 'Good friends are like stars.... .....You don't always see them, but you know they are always there.'
An Unexpected Visitor
I HAD AN UNEXPECTED VISITOR THIS MORNING.
HE ARRIVED EARLY, SAT DOWN WITH ME AND CHATTED FOR A WHILE ABOUT HOW THINGS WERE CURRENTLY GOING FOR ME IN MY LIFE.
AFTER VERY CAREFULLY AND COMPASSIONATELY LISTENING TO ALL THAT I HAD TO SAY, HE SAW THE STRESS ON MY FACE AND THE TEARS IN MY EYES. HE STOOD UP, WALKED OVER TO ME, LEANED OVER AND GENTLY HELD ME FOR A WHILE BECAUSE I WAS HAVING A REALLY BAD MORNING.
THEN, AFTER REASSURING ME NOT TO WORRY, THAT EVERYTHING WOULD WORK OUT FOR ME AND BE JUST FINE, HE ASKED ME IF I KNEW OF ANYONE ELSE THAT COULD USE A VISIT FROM HIM.
I IMMEDIATELY THOUGHT OF YOU MY FRIEND. I GAVE HIM YOUR NAME AND TOLD HIM WHERE YOU LIVED.
HE GAVE ME ANOTHER REASSURING HUG, THANKED ME AND I WALKED WITH HIM TO MY FRONT DOOR.
HE TOLD ME THAT HE WAS ON HIS WAY TO YOUR PLACE.
THIS ONE PACKS A FIRM PUNCH!
Here is a woman who should run for Prime Minister!
Written by a housewife in New Brunswick , to her local newspaper.
Was it or was it not started by Islamic people who brought it to our shores on September 11, 2001 and have continually threatened to do so since?
Were people from all over the world, not brutally murdered that day, in downtown Manhattan , across the Potomac from the nation's capitol and in a field in Pennsylvania ?
Did nearly three thousand men, women and children die a horrible, burning or crushing death that day, or didn't they? And I'm supposed to care that a few Taliban were claiming to be tortured by a justice system of the nation they come from and are fighting against in a brutal insurgency.
I'll start caring when Osama bin Laden turns himself in and repents for incinerating all those innocent people on 9/11.
I'll care about the Koran when the fanatics in the Middle East start caring about the Holy Bible, the mere belief of which is a crime punishable by beheading in Afghanistan .
I'll care when these thugs tell the world they are sorry for hacking off Nick Berg's head while Berg screamed through his gurgling slashed throat.
I'll care when the cowardly so-called 'insurgents' in Afghanistan come out and fight like men instead of disrespecting their own religion by hiding in mosques and behind women and children.
I'll care when the mindless zealots who blows themselves up in search of nirvana care about the innocent children within range of their suicide bombs.
I'll care when the Canadian media stops pretending that their freedom of speech on stories is more important than the lives of the soldiers on the ground or their families waiting at home to hear about them when something happens. In the meantime, when I hear a story about a CANADIAN soldier roughing up an Insurgent terrorist to obtain information, know this: I don't care.
When I see a wounded terrorist get shot in the head when he is told not to move because he might be booby-trapped, you can take it to the bank: I don't care. When I hear that a prisoner, who was issued a Koran and a prayer mat, and 'fed special' food that is paid for by my tax dollars, is complaining that his holy book is being 'mishandled,' you can absolutely believe in your heart of hearts: I don't care. And oh, by the way, I've noticed that sometimes it's spelled 'Koran' and other times 'Quran.' Well, Jimmy Crack Corn you guessed it, I don't care!! If you agree with this viewpoint, pass this on to all your E-mail friends.
Sooner or later, it'll get to the people responsible for this ridiculous behavior! If you don't agree, then by all means hit the delete button. Should you choose the latter, then please don't complain when more atrocities committed by radical Muslims happen here in our great Country! And may I add: 'Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference in the world.. But, the Soldiers don't have that problem.' I have another quote that I would like to add, AND........I hope you forward all this.
One last thought for the day: Only five defining forces have ever offered to die for you:
1. Jesus Christ
2. The British Soldier.
3. The Canadian Soldier.
4. The US Soldier,
and 5. The Australian Soldier One died for your soul, the other 4 for your freedom...
YOU MIGHT WANT TO PASS THIS ON, AS MANY SEEM TO FORGET ALL OF THEM
Precious Pearls/Kosbare Pêrels
Love of enemies: Read Matt.6:43-48; Lev.19:17-18
Jesus defined our enemies as those who curse us, abuse us, hate us and exploit us selfishly. Since Christian love is an act of the will, and not simply an emotion, He can command us to love our enemies. After all, He loved us when we were His enemies (Rom.5:10). We may show this love by blessing those who curse us, doing good to them, and praying for them. When we pray for our enemies, we find it easier to love them, it takes the “poison” out of our attitudes.
Jesus gave 3 reasons for this admonition. (1) It is a mark of maturity. But you must be a child of the Father and the Holy Spirit indwelling you to have the power to live like this. (2) It is Godlike. God shares His good things with those who are against Him. Matthew 5:45 implies that our love creates a climate of blessings that makes it easy to win our enemies and make them our friends. Love is like the sunshine and rain that the Father sends in His mercy and grace. (3) It is a testimony to others. God expects us to live a much better kind of life than the lost people of the world who return good for good and evil for evil. We must return good for evil in all circumstances. I was once insulted and falsely accused by a former colleague in the presence of others where I was teaching. It left me speechless and shocked. I first of all made sure his accusations were not true by consulting with other teachers who knew me well. That weekend I prayed for him each time his name appeared in my thoughts…and that happened frequently! In my prayers for him to God I gave thanks, supplications and intercessions for him. It turned the bitterness into a blessing. On the Monday he apologized in the presence of others.
The word “perfect” in Matthew 5:48 do not imply sinless perfection, for that is impossible in this life. It speaks of completeness, maturity, as the children of God. The Father loves His enemies and seeks to make them His children if they repent (turn from sin) and put their trust in the Lord Jesus alone. We as His children should assist Him in loving them (not condoning their sin) and treat them like the Father does.
Abstain from all appearance of evil (1 Thess.5:22)
Paul warns us to abstain (stay away) from even the very appearance of evil. He’s speaking about the outside, visible part of us as what others might see as evil. Born again believers in Christ have an awesome responsibility to Jesus, we’ve put on Christ therefore we are to hold ourselves above even the appearance of evil. Christians should know what the appearance of evil is and what not.
A married Christian once asked if it was alright for him to be alone in his car with a single woman. 1 Thessalonians 5:22 was quoted to him to explain why this was not a good idea. The explanation of why this would be seen as wrong was not understood by him. Another man asked if two older people in their sixties could live together without being married. Again, it’s the appearance of evil, and it could lead others astray. He went on to give the reason why this older Christian couple decide to live together instead of following God’s way of marriage. “But if they get married they’re placed in a higher tax bracket and that’s why they remain unmarried”. Excuse me, but where in the Bible is there a verse that condones living together to avoid paying your taxes?
As for those who belong to the Lord Jesus, we must find ways to prevent even the slightest manifestation of evil in our lives. Our intensions may be perfectly innocent but remember it’s the perception of evil that’s being discussed here.
There should be no stepping out of the light into darkness. As Christians we are to not only avoid the darkness but even the appearance of darkness in our lives. We know God sees everything, every sin we commit whether out in the open or hidden by darkness. “The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good,” Proverbs 15:3. When we are out in public others can see how we act and how we speak. Believers know it’s their responsibility to present the Lord Jesus to the lost and they see Him through our lives. How can we be His light to the lost if we are stepping back and forth in and out of darkness?
The second part of Paul’s warning is for us to have no occasion to stumble a fellow brother in Christ. In other words there should be nothing in our walk with Christ that would lead another into sin. Again, we stay away from every appearance of evil (sin).
Many Christians today have become lax in their attitudes toward sin. Having a grasp of what the appearance of evil may be, before we step into that dark arena might just keep us from stumbling a brother, not to mention ourselves. Wisdom, knowledge, and understanding, comes with maturity, Christian maturity. Christians who are mature in their walk with the Lord Jesus will do anything to avoid the appearance of evil; no one wants to knowingly lead another astray.
When we look around at the world today we can plainly see evil permeating everything in society. They’ll tell us that bad and evil are now good. Believers must be constantly on guard and thoroughly prepared for what’s coming. This world is turning upside down. We must abstain from joining the crowd. Instead, we must present the Biblical Gospel to the lost (www.NeedGod.com).
Many today who call themselves Christians haven’t a clue as to the full scope of evil that currently permeates our society.
Believers have neglected their Bibles long enough. We read and study God’s word and learn His truth and what God considers evil and what He accepts as good. Then we need to take it one step further and apply His commands and principles to our lives.
Put on righteousness, allow no evil into your circle of influence, be the light Christ has ordained you to be. Be wise, be careful, be an example of Christ on earth. Avoid at all cost the appearance of evil. Remember the temptation to embrace evil comes from the lust of the flesh: read James 1:13-15.
Bible teacher Woodrow Kroll used to say: “Have a good day – but what is the worth of a good day if it is not also a Godly day?”
In Everything Give Thanks
Life has its troubles and tragedies. There are times when it is not easy to be thankful. But 1 Thess. 5:18 commands us, “In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” We cannot escape the fact that God expects us to be thankful no matter what circumstances may come to our lives. True, these verses are easier read than obeyed.
Last year (2009) during our visit to South Africa, the second day in our hometown of East London, a car came from behind and rode over my right foot. The foot was fractured and I needed an operation to be able to walk again. As I lied on my back next to the parked cars in the parking lot, I wondered what to make of this setback. All our holiday plans were cancelled and I faced weeks of using crutches after the operation and then painful physiotherapy. My dear wife had to do most of the domestic duties and even help me to get around and drive the car. The initial shock diminished and I started to have positive thoughts about God’s presence right there on the road.
The fact is: God never commands what He cannot enable us to do. So if He commands me to be thankful in all things, then He will enable me to obey Him, and I will be a better person because of it. God permitted Job to go through all kinds of trials (Job 1-2), yet in the end the trials were for Job’s good and His glory. Job suffered and wept but his trials led to glory and joy (James 5:10-11). You can be sure that your Father in heaven loves you and He can be trusted. Our first reaction to difficulties, tragedy or some trial is, “Why did this happen?” and our second reaction is probably “Why did this happen to me?” Well, I am walking with the Lord, obeying Him, and serving Him, why should this trial come to me? At this point the devil will come and tempt us to doubt God’s love and care. Now you must lay hold of the truth that God loves you and cares. Circumstances may seem against you, the devil may accuse you, friends may abandon you, but God loves you just as much as He did when He gave the Lord Jesus to die for you on the cross. Your circumstances have changed and your feelings have changed, but God’s character has not changed.
“In everything give thanks…” We cannot obey that commandment in our own strength; we need the power of the Spirit of God and the encouragement of the Word of God. I looked at the situation with disappointment and wondered what God has planned, but I knew and had peace that His love, care and plan can never fail me. Because we love Him and He loves us, we trust Him and as our hope grows stronger, we are able to praise the Lord and give thanks – in everything.
Loss of joy – put it back in your life.
“These things have I said to you that your joy might be full” John 11:15. A missionary organization once said that they would never send a missionary to the field if he or she did not have a sense of humor. To laugh at yourself and the world around you and to laugh with others is a mark of maturity. Those who never laugh are usually bitter and critical and hard to live with. The person who can’t laugh at his own mistakes has a hard time forgiving the mistakes of others. We are not talking about silliness but good healthy holy humor. The Lord Jesus wants us to have joy. He had joy. As children of the living God we have all the reason to have inner joy: our sins are forgiven, no more fear of judgment, our Father cares for us, He will never leave us and forsake us, and we have an eternal home waiting when this life is over. We can’t always rejoice over our circumstances but we can rejoice in them. But sometimes we lose that joy. How?
Sin and disobedience. When king David confessed his sins to God, he said:”Restore to me the joy of my salvation.”(Psalms 51:12). He lost his joy and for more than a year he lived a miserable life of despair and gloom. Read Psalms 32. If you have lost your joy in Christ think clearly and see if there maybe unconfessed sin or a bad attitude in your life.
Neglecting the Word of God. Jesus said:”These things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves.”(John 17:13). The prophet Jeremiah found joy in the Word of God:”Your words were found and I did eat them; and Your word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of my heart.” At the beginning of the day I discipline myself and get alone with my Bible and read it in a systematic way. I ask God to speak to me and He does as I study His Word. No matter how difficult my life sometimes was, God always had a promise, a warning, a truth to believe or a command that gave me joy. Read and obey the Bible if you want increase your joy.
Forgetting to pray. Jesus said:”Ask and you shall receive, that your joy may be full.”(John 16:24).We are weak in ourselves and can’t depend on our own strength and thinking. We will soon become miserable and frustrated with people and life. We will fail because we depend on our own flesh for victory. But God’s strength and supply can never run out. Prayer opens for us the treasury of God. “Ask and it shall be given you…You have not because you ask not” (James 4:2-3, 8, 10). Of course it must be in His will and we have His Word to find His will for us. If you have a problem, a burden, a need, take time to pray about it and God’s joy will fill your heart again.
Don’t let sin, neglect of the Bible and prayerlessness rob you of your joy. A joyful Christian is a strong Christian: the devil has a harder time tempting a person with joy in his/her heart. A joyful Christian is a witnessing Christian because he has the Biblical Gospel (www.NeedGod.com) in his/her heart and something exciting to share with others, and they can see the difference. The joyful Christian shares his joy by accepting the burdens of life without complaining; willing to do small tasks that others ignore and when doing big jobs, willing to share the credit. A joyful Christian is a thankful Christian and every hour of every day there is something to be thankful for. Keep your heart clean; spend time in the Word and prayer; look for ways to live for others. And when you do, God’s love and joy will fill your heart.
The Bumps Are What You Climb On
A little boy and his sister were going up a mountain and the climb was not easy. “It’s not a path at all. It’s all rocky and bumpy,” she complained. Her brother said:”The bumps are what you climb on.” What do you do with the rocky bumps on the path of life?
Nobody who did something for God or rise above their circumstances found that the path was easy and without troubles. We have yet to find a successful person whose life was free from problems and difficulties. As we look at these people we think they had it made and that life was easy for them, but take a closer look and you will discover that the climb was rocky and bumpy. Read the Bible and you will discover this truth.
Abraham didn’t become a great man of faith overnight. He had to go through difficult tests before he reached the “top of the mountain”. Consider, as he arrived in Canaan soon a famine came to the land of promise. He made the wrong decision to go down to Egypt (Genesis 12:7–20) and was humiliated. He had problems with his nephew Lot; they separated; war came to the land and he had to fight and save Lot (14:1–16). His wife gave him bad counsel and Ishmael was born, who brought sorrow to the home (16:1-6). Isaac was born later and Abraham was tested again regarding his obedience (21:1–11; 22:1–17; 23:2). Yes, there are many bumps on the road but Abraham used them to climb higher.
Joseph also walked a very rocky road. He was hated by his brothers (Genesis 37:3); pampered by his farther; sold by his brothers as a slave; taken to Egypt far away from home (37:18-28); falsely accused of rape (39:6-20); put into prison; forgotten and forsaken for 12 years (40:23; Psalms 105:17-20). His trials resulted in him becoming mature in the faith and later he became a leader and second in command of all Egypt. Think of others who had similar experiences e.g. Moses, Daniel, Paul and many other believers who suffered (Hebrews 11:36-40). They accepted the difficulties of life and used them to get to the top of the mountain.
What difficulties are you going through right now? You feel like quitting, giving up. You can’t understand why the road doesn’t get easier, why God doesn’t remove the stones and straighten the path. Well, if He did that, you might never get to the top, because the bumps are what you can climb on. Realize this by faith in God’s eternal Word. The trouble with most of us is that we are used to paved roads and level sidewalks. But life is not made that way. Sometimes the road is level and easy, the birds are singing and the way is wonderful and then sometimes not. God knows how to balance our lives for us not to get discouraged. That is why Hebrews 12:2 commands us to look to the Lord Jesus and be strengthened in our faith. “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Don’t try and sidestep the bumps by complaining, running away, becoming bitter or give up, because they are there to climb on!
Jesus defined our enemies as those who curse us, abuse us, hate us and exploit us selfishly. Since Christian love is an act of the will, and not simply an emotion, He can command us to love our enemies. After all, He loved us when we were His enemies (Rom.5:10). We may show this love by blessing those who curse us, doing good to them, and praying for them. When we pray for our enemies, we find it easier to love them, it takes the “poison” out of our attitudes.
Jesus gave 3 reasons for this admonition. (1) It is a mark of maturity. But you must be a child of the Father and the Holy Spirit indwelling you to have the power to live like this. (2) It is Godlike. God shares His good things with those who are against Him. Matthew 5:45 implies that our love creates a climate of blessings that makes it easy to win our enemies and make them our friends. Love is like the sunshine and rain that the Father sends in His mercy and grace. (3) It is a testimony to others. God expects us to live a much better kind of life than the lost people of the world who return good for good and evil for evil. We must return good for evil in all circumstances. I was once insulted and falsely accused by a former colleague in the presence of others where I was teaching. It left me speechless and shocked. I first of all made sure his accusations were not true by consulting with other teachers who knew me well. That weekend I prayed for him each time his name appeared in my thoughts…and that happened frequently! In my prayers for him to God I gave thanks, supplications and intercessions for him. It turned the bitterness into a blessing. On the Monday he apologized in the presence of others.
The word “perfect” in Matthew 5:48 do not imply sinless perfection, for that is impossible in this life. It speaks of completeness, maturity, as the children of God. The Father loves His enemies and seeks to make them His children if they repent (turn from sin) and put their trust in the Lord Jesus alone. We as His children should assist Him in loving them (not condoning their sin) and treat them like the Father does.
Abstain from all appearance of evil (1 Thess.5:22)
Paul warns us to abstain (stay away) from even the very appearance of evil. He’s speaking about the outside, visible part of us as what others might see as evil. Born again believers in Christ have an awesome responsibility to Jesus, we’ve put on Christ therefore we are to hold ourselves above even the appearance of evil. Christians should know what the appearance of evil is and what not.
A married Christian once asked if it was alright for him to be alone in his car with a single woman. 1 Thessalonians 5:22 was quoted to him to explain why this was not a good idea. The explanation of why this would be seen as wrong was not understood by him. Another man asked if two older people in their sixties could live together without being married. Again, it’s the appearance of evil, and it could lead others astray. He went on to give the reason why this older Christian couple decide to live together instead of following God’s way of marriage. “But if they get married they’re placed in a higher tax bracket and that’s why they remain unmarried”. Excuse me, but where in the Bible is there a verse that condones living together to avoid paying your taxes?
As for those who belong to the Lord Jesus, we must find ways to prevent even the slightest manifestation of evil in our lives. Our intensions may be perfectly innocent but remember it’s the perception of evil that’s being discussed here.
There should be no stepping out of the light into darkness. As Christians we are to not only avoid the darkness but even the appearance of darkness in our lives. We know God sees everything, every sin we commit whether out in the open or hidden by darkness. “The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good,” Proverbs 15:3. When we are out in public others can see how we act and how we speak. Believers know it’s their responsibility to present the Lord Jesus to the lost and they see Him through our lives. How can we be His light to the lost if we are stepping back and forth in and out of darkness?
The second part of Paul’s warning is for us to have no occasion to stumble a fellow brother in Christ. In other words there should be nothing in our walk with Christ that would lead another into sin. Again, we stay away from every appearance of evil (sin).
Many Christians today have become lax in their attitudes toward sin. Having a grasp of what the appearance of evil may be, before we step into that dark arena might just keep us from stumbling a brother, not to mention ourselves. Wisdom, knowledge, and understanding, comes with maturity, Christian maturity. Christians who are mature in their walk with the Lord Jesus will do anything to avoid the appearance of evil; no one wants to knowingly lead another astray.
When we look around at the world today we can plainly see evil permeating everything in society. They’ll tell us that bad and evil are now good. Believers must be constantly on guard and thoroughly prepared for what’s coming. This world is turning upside down. We must abstain from joining the crowd. Instead, we must present the Biblical Gospel to the lost (www.NeedGod.com).
Many today who call themselves Christians haven’t a clue as to the full scope of evil that currently permeates our society.
Believers have neglected their Bibles long enough. We read and study God’s word and learn His truth and what God considers evil and what He accepts as good. Then we need to take it one step further and apply His commands and principles to our lives.
Put on righteousness, allow no evil into your circle of influence, be the light Christ has ordained you to be. Be wise, be careful, be an example of Christ on earth. Avoid at all cost the appearance of evil. Remember the temptation to embrace evil comes from the lust of the flesh: read James 1:13-15.
Bible teacher Woodrow Kroll used to say: “Have a good day – but what is the worth of a good day if it is not also a Godly day?”
In Everything Give Thanks
Life has its troubles and tragedies. There are times when it is not easy to be thankful. But 1 Thess. 5:18 commands us, “In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” We cannot escape the fact that God expects us to be thankful no matter what circumstances may come to our lives. True, these verses are easier read than obeyed.
Last year (2009) during our visit to South Africa, the second day in our hometown of East London, a car came from behind and rode over my right foot. The foot was fractured and I needed an operation to be able to walk again. As I lied on my back next to the parked cars in the parking lot, I wondered what to make of this setback. All our holiday plans were cancelled and I faced weeks of using crutches after the operation and then painful physiotherapy. My dear wife had to do most of the domestic duties and even help me to get around and drive the car. The initial shock diminished and I started to have positive thoughts about God’s presence right there on the road.
The fact is: God never commands what He cannot enable us to do. So if He commands me to be thankful in all things, then He will enable me to obey Him, and I will be a better person because of it. God permitted Job to go through all kinds of trials (Job 1-2), yet in the end the trials were for Job’s good and His glory. Job suffered and wept but his trials led to glory and joy (James 5:10-11). You can be sure that your Father in heaven loves you and He can be trusted. Our first reaction to difficulties, tragedy or some trial is, “Why did this happen?” and our second reaction is probably “Why did this happen to me?” Well, I am walking with the Lord, obeying Him, and serving Him, why should this trial come to me? At this point the devil will come and tempt us to doubt God’s love and care. Now you must lay hold of the truth that God loves you and cares. Circumstances may seem against you, the devil may accuse you, friends may abandon you, but God loves you just as much as He did when He gave the Lord Jesus to die for you on the cross. Your circumstances have changed and your feelings have changed, but God’s character has not changed.
“In everything give thanks…” We cannot obey that commandment in our own strength; we need the power of the Spirit of God and the encouragement of the Word of God. I looked at the situation with disappointment and wondered what God has planned, but I knew and had peace that His love, care and plan can never fail me. Because we love Him and He loves us, we trust Him and as our hope grows stronger, we are able to praise the Lord and give thanks – in everything.
Loss of joy – put it back in your life.
“These things have I said to you that your joy might be full” John 11:15. A missionary organization once said that they would never send a missionary to the field if he or she did not have a sense of humor. To laugh at yourself and the world around you and to laugh with others is a mark of maturity. Those who never laugh are usually bitter and critical and hard to live with. The person who can’t laugh at his own mistakes has a hard time forgiving the mistakes of others. We are not talking about silliness but good healthy holy humor. The Lord Jesus wants us to have joy. He had joy. As children of the living God we have all the reason to have inner joy: our sins are forgiven, no more fear of judgment, our Father cares for us, He will never leave us and forsake us, and we have an eternal home waiting when this life is over. We can’t always rejoice over our circumstances but we can rejoice in them. But sometimes we lose that joy. How?
Sin and disobedience. When king David confessed his sins to God, he said:”Restore to me the joy of my salvation.”(Psalms 51:12). He lost his joy and for more than a year he lived a miserable life of despair and gloom. Read Psalms 32. If you have lost your joy in Christ think clearly and see if there maybe unconfessed sin or a bad attitude in your life.
Neglecting the Word of God. Jesus said:”These things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves.”(John 17:13). The prophet Jeremiah found joy in the Word of God:”Your words were found and I did eat them; and Your word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of my heart.” At the beginning of the day I discipline myself and get alone with my Bible and read it in a systematic way. I ask God to speak to me and He does as I study His Word. No matter how difficult my life sometimes was, God always had a promise, a warning, a truth to believe or a command that gave me joy. Read and obey the Bible if you want increase your joy.
Forgetting to pray. Jesus said:”Ask and you shall receive, that your joy may be full.”(John 16:24).We are weak in ourselves and can’t depend on our own strength and thinking. We will soon become miserable and frustrated with people and life. We will fail because we depend on our own flesh for victory. But God’s strength and supply can never run out. Prayer opens for us the treasury of God. “Ask and it shall be given you…You have not because you ask not” (James 4:2-3, 8, 10). Of course it must be in His will and we have His Word to find His will for us. If you have a problem, a burden, a need, take time to pray about it and God’s joy will fill your heart again.
Don’t let sin, neglect of the Bible and prayerlessness rob you of your joy. A joyful Christian is a strong Christian: the devil has a harder time tempting a person with joy in his/her heart. A joyful Christian is a witnessing Christian because he has the Biblical Gospel (www.NeedGod.com) in his/her heart and something exciting to share with others, and they can see the difference. The joyful Christian shares his joy by accepting the burdens of life without complaining; willing to do small tasks that others ignore and when doing big jobs, willing to share the credit. A joyful Christian is a thankful Christian and every hour of every day there is something to be thankful for. Keep your heart clean; spend time in the Word and prayer; look for ways to live for others. And when you do, God’s love and joy will fill your heart.
The Bumps Are What You Climb On
A little boy and his sister were going up a mountain and the climb was not easy. “It’s not a path at all. It’s all rocky and bumpy,” she complained. Her brother said:”The bumps are what you climb on.” What do you do with the rocky bumps on the path of life?
Nobody who did something for God or rise above their circumstances found that the path was easy and without troubles. We have yet to find a successful person whose life was free from problems and difficulties. As we look at these people we think they had it made and that life was easy for them, but take a closer look and you will discover that the climb was rocky and bumpy. Read the Bible and you will discover this truth.
Abraham didn’t become a great man of faith overnight. He had to go through difficult tests before he reached the “top of the mountain”. Consider, as he arrived in Canaan soon a famine came to the land of promise. He made the wrong decision to go down to Egypt (Genesis 12:7–20) and was humiliated. He had problems with his nephew Lot; they separated; war came to the land and he had to fight and save Lot (14:1–16). His wife gave him bad counsel and Ishmael was born, who brought sorrow to the home (16:1-6). Isaac was born later and Abraham was tested again regarding his obedience (21:1–11; 22:1–17; 23:2). Yes, there are many bumps on the road but Abraham used them to climb higher.
Joseph also walked a very rocky road. He was hated by his brothers (Genesis 37:3); pampered by his farther; sold by his brothers as a slave; taken to Egypt far away from home (37:18-28); falsely accused of rape (39:6-20); put into prison; forgotten and forsaken for 12 years (40:23; Psalms 105:17-20). His trials resulted in him becoming mature in the faith and later he became a leader and second in command of all Egypt. Think of others who had similar experiences e.g. Moses, Daniel, Paul and many other believers who suffered (Hebrews 11:36-40). They accepted the difficulties of life and used them to get to the top of the mountain.
What difficulties are you going through right now? You feel like quitting, giving up. You can’t understand why the road doesn’t get easier, why God doesn’t remove the stones and straighten the path. Well, if He did that, you might never get to the top, because the bumps are what you can climb on. Realize this by faith in God’s eternal Word. The trouble with most of us is that we are used to paved roads and level sidewalks. But life is not made that way. Sometimes the road is level and easy, the birds are singing and the way is wonderful and then sometimes not. God knows how to balance our lives for us not to get discouraged. That is why Hebrews 12:2 commands us to look to the Lord Jesus and be strengthened in our faith. “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Don’t try and sidestep the bumps by complaining, running away, becoming bitter or give up, because they are there to climb on!
Thursday, March 25, 2010
EXCERCISE YOUR GIFT OF TONGUES
As we pray this week, use your gift of tongues to pray each day. Pray in the Spirit whenever you can and let’s see what happens!
MONDAY 22/03: Isaiah 12:2 – 3: “Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust and will not be afraid; for the Lord God is my strength and my song, and He has become my salvation.” With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.
Have you become weary and complacent in your faith? Confess this and ask the Lord to fill your heart with joy once again. Pray for the church to rejoice in the Lord again, because He is our salvation.
TUESDAY 23/03: Jeremiah 2:11 – 13: ...Be apalled, ... for my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water.
Have you “done your own thing”, because you have become tired of waiting for God to act? Surrender to the guidance of the Holy Spirit once more. Pray for the church to align herself with God’s plan for her in families, the community and the nation.
WEDNESDAY 24/03: Genesis 26:12,18: And Isaac sowed in that land and reaped in the same year a hundredfold. The Lord blessed him... and Isaac dug again the wells of water that had been dug in the days of Abraham his father, which the Philistines had stopped after the death of Abraham.
Ask the Lord to “unplug” the well of His Spirit in you and in the church, so that the living waters can flow freely.
THURSDAY 25/03: Psalm 36:7 – 9: How precious is Your steadfast love, O God! The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of Your wings. They feast on the abundance of Your house, and You give them drink from the river of Your delights. For with You is the fountain of life; in Your light do we see light.
Come before the throne of God and simply fellowship with Him.
FRIDAY 26/03: Song of Solomon 4:12 – 15: A garden locked is my sister, my bride, a spring locked, a fountain sealed. Your shoots are an orchard of pomegranates with all choicest fruits, ... – a garden, a well of living water, and flowing streams from Lebanon.
Allow the Holy Spirit to search your life. Repent of fruitless deeds. Submit to the pruning of the Holy Spirit, which will result in much fruit.
SATURDAY 27/03: Numbers 21:16 – 18: And from there they continued to Beer; that is the well of which the Lord said to Moses, “Gather the people together, so that I may give them water.” Then Israel sang this song: “Spring up, O well! Sing to it! The well that the princes made, that the nobles of the people dug, with the septre and their staffs.
Woshipping the Lord will open the wells of living waters. Keep worshipping Him until you get your breakthrough. Focus on giving Him thanks and praise.
SUNDAY 28/03: Ezekiel 47:9: And wherever the river goes, every living creature that swarms will live, and there will be many fish. For this water goes there, that the waters of the sea may become fresh; so everything will live where the river goes. And on the banks, on both sides of the river, there will grow all kinds of trees for food. Their leaves will not wither, nor their fruit fail, but they will bear fruit every month, because the water for them flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for healing.
Praise God that the release of His River of Life will change our families, our community and our nation! Pray that He will use you as you move in the Spirit, sharing the Good News.
MONDAY 22/03: Isaiah 12:2 – 3: “Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust and will not be afraid; for the Lord God is my strength and my song, and He has become my salvation.” With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.
Have you become weary and complacent in your faith? Confess this and ask the Lord to fill your heart with joy once again. Pray for the church to rejoice in the Lord again, because He is our salvation.
TUESDAY 23/03: Jeremiah 2:11 – 13: ...Be apalled, ... for my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water.
Have you “done your own thing”, because you have become tired of waiting for God to act? Surrender to the guidance of the Holy Spirit once more. Pray for the church to align herself with God’s plan for her in families, the community and the nation.
WEDNESDAY 24/03: Genesis 26:12,18: And Isaac sowed in that land and reaped in the same year a hundredfold. The Lord blessed him... and Isaac dug again the wells of water that had been dug in the days of Abraham his father, which the Philistines had stopped after the death of Abraham.
Ask the Lord to “unplug” the well of His Spirit in you and in the church, so that the living waters can flow freely.
THURSDAY 25/03: Psalm 36:7 – 9: How precious is Your steadfast love, O God! The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of Your wings. They feast on the abundance of Your house, and You give them drink from the river of Your delights. For with You is the fountain of life; in Your light do we see light.
Come before the throne of God and simply fellowship with Him.
FRIDAY 26/03: Song of Solomon 4:12 – 15: A garden locked is my sister, my bride, a spring locked, a fountain sealed. Your shoots are an orchard of pomegranates with all choicest fruits, ... – a garden, a well of living water, and flowing streams from Lebanon.
Allow the Holy Spirit to search your life. Repent of fruitless deeds. Submit to the pruning of the Holy Spirit, which will result in much fruit.
SATURDAY 27/03: Numbers 21:16 – 18: And from there they continued to Beer; that is the well of which the Lord said to Moses, “Gather the people together, so that I may give them water.” Then Israel sang this song: “Spring up, O well! Sing to it! The well that the princes made, that the nobles of the people dug, with the septre and their staffs.
Woshipping the Lord will open the wells of living waters. Keep worshipping Him until you get your breakthrough. Focus on giving Him thanks and praise.
SUNDAY 28/03: Ezekiel 47:9: And wherever the river goes, every living creature that swarms will live, and there will be many fish. For this water goes there, that the waters of the sea may become fresh; so everything will live where the river goes. And on the banks, on both sides of the river, there will grow all kinds of trees for food. Their leaves will not wither, nor their fruit fail, but they will bear fruit every month, because the water for them flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for healing.
Praise God that the release of His River of Life will change our families, our community and our nation! Pray that He will use you as you move in the Spirit, sharing the Good News.
WE’RE MOVING FORWARD!!!
Numbers 10:11 – 14... Now it came to pass ... that the cloud was taken up from above the tabernacle of the Testimony. And the children of Israel set out from the Wilderness of Sinai on their journeys;... So they started out for the first time according to the command of the LORD... The standard of the camp of the children of Judah set out first according to their armies...
Judah: It is with praise that we enter His gates and it is with praise that we move forward.
Psalm 100:4, 5: Enter into His gates with thanksgiving and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him and bless His Name. For the LORD is good, His mercy is everlasting and His truth endures to all generations. Make a special attempt to praise the Lord every time you pray this week. If we are moving forward, we must praise Him and give Him thanks for His deliverence, mercy and truth. Thank Him in your praises for all that He has accomplished in our lives, especially in the dark times that we have passed through. Believe also, that the Lord is doing a new thing among us.
Judah: It is with praise that we enter His gates and it is with praise that we move forward.
Psalm 100:4, 5: Enter into His gates with thanksgiving and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him and bless His Name. For the LORD is good, His mercy is everlasting and His truth endures to all generations. Make a special attempt to praise the Lord every time you pray this week. If we are moving forward, we must praise Him and give Him thanks for His deliverence, mercy and truth. Thank Him in your praises for all that He has accomplished in our lives, especially in the dark times that we have passed through. Believe also, that the Lord is doing a new thing among us.
Ephesians 5:20, 21 ... giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another in the fear of God. Thank Him for teaching us so much in the past. At the same time, lay down the past at the cross if you still have not done so. Believe that Jesus is our standard, leading us towards a new an exciting future where He wants us to go. Faith, hope and love is written on this standard in His Blood.
Romans 1:8... First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world. As we move forward, we reflect on God’s Word that has been sown in so many hearts because of our faith. His Word will not come back empty. The seeds we have sown in the past will come to fruition, because His Word never fails. Thank God for the many times you have experienced answered prayer and thank Him for the prayers still to be answered. God is not a man that He should lie and Jeremiah 33:3 tells us that He will answer us. We move forward, knowing that He is faithful and true.
Daniel 2:23.. I thank You and praise You O God of my fathers; You have given me wisdom and might. Daniel spoke these words of thanks and praise upon receiving the interpretation of the King’s dream which saved the lives of the very people upon whom the King relied to give his dream an interpretaion. Let us thank and praise God for the people whose lives will be saved, because we are prepared to move forward, guided by the Holy Spirit, to encourage, counsel, advise and pray for the lost. James 1:5 tells us that He will give us wisdom.
Luke 18:11...The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, “God, I thank You that I am not like other men...” Rid yourself of the mantle of pride and clothe yourself with humility. We are no better than other saved saints. Check your attitude towards others and lay down any sense of haughtiness that you have that you are better than “other men”. Thank Jesus for all that He has done for you through His death on the cross.
John 6:11... And Jesus took the loaves, and when He had given thanks He distributed them to the disciples, and the disciples to those sitting down; and likewise of the fish, as much as they wanted. How much do you want to move forward? Are you straggling behind, making those ahead of you, wait for you to catch up? Jesus distributes gifts and talents freely to all, as many as you want. Remember, you have gifts and talents that we ALL need! Give Him thanks for these gifts and talents and ask for opportunities to use them in HIS ministry to the Body and to the world.
Read the whole of Psalm 145 every day. Here is a foretaste:
All Your works shall praise You, O LORD, and Your saints shall bless You.
They shall speak of the glory of Your Kingdom, and talk of Your power, to make known to the sons of men His mighty acts, and the glorious majesty of His Kingdom.
Your Kingdom is an everlasting Kingdom, and Your dominion endures throughout all generations.
Read the whole of Psalm 145 every day. Here is a foretaste:
All Your works shall praise You, O LORD, and Your saints shall bless You.
They shall speak of the glory of Your Kingdom, and talk of Your power, to make known to the sons of men His mighty acts, and the glorious majesty of His Kingdom.
Your Kingdom is an everlasting Kingdom, and Your dominion endures throughout all generations.
Loss of joy – put it back in your life.
“These things have I said to you that your joy might be full” John 11:15. A missionary organization once said that he would never send a missionary to the field if he or she did not have a sense of humor.
To laugh at yourself and the world around you and to laugh with others is a mark of maturity. Those who never laugh are usually bitter and critical and hard to live with. The person who can’t laugh at his own mistakes has a hard time forgiving the mistakes of others. We are not talking about silliness but good healthy holy humor. The Lord Jesus wants us to have joy. He had joy. As children of the living God we have all the reason to have inner joy: our sins are forgiven, no more fear of judgment, our Father cares for us, He will never leave us and forsake us, and we have an eternal home waiting when this life is over. We can’t always rejoice over our circumstances but we can rejoice in them. But sometimes we lose that joy. How?
Sin and disobedience. When king David confessed his sins to God, he said:”Restore to me the joy of my salvation.”(Psalms 51:12). He lost his joy and for more than a year he lived a miserable life of despair and gloom. Read Psalms 32. If you have lost your joy in Christ think clearly and see if there maybe unconfessed sin or a bad attitude in your life.
Neglecting the Word of God. Jesus said:”These things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves.”(John 17:13). The prophet Jeremiah found joy in the Word of God:”Your words were found and I did eat them; and Your word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of my heart.” At the beginning of the day I discipline myself and get alone with my Bible and read it in a systematic way. I ask God to speak to me and He does as I study His Word. No matter how difficult my life sometimes was, God always had a promise, a warning, a truth to believe or a command that gave me joy. Read and obey the Bible if you want increase your joy.
Forgetting to pray. Jesus said:”Ask and you shall receive, that your joy may be full.”(John 16:24).We are weak in ourselves and can’t depend on our own strength and thinking. We will soon become miserable and frustrated with people and life. We will fail because we depend on our own flesh for victory. But God’s strength and supply can never run out. Prayer opens for us the treasury of God. “Ask and it shall be given you…You have not because you ask not.” If you have a problem, a burden, a need, take time to pray about it and God’s joy will fill your heart again.Don’t let sin, neglect of the Bible and prayerlessness rob you of your joy. A joyful Christian is a strong Christian: the devil has a harder time tempting a person with joy in his/her heart. A joyful Christian is a witnessing Christian because he has the Biblical Gospel (www.NeedGod.com) in his/her heart and something exciting to share with others, and they can see the difference.
The joyful Christian shares his joy by accepting the burdens of life without complaining; willing to do small tasks that others ignore and when doing big jobs, willing to share the credit. A joyful Christian is a thankful Christian and every hour of every day there is something to be thankful for. Keep your heart clean; spend time in the Word and prayer; look for ways to live for others. And when you do, God’s love and joy will fill your heart.
Compiled by Louis Ackermann
To laugh at yourself and the world around you and to laugh with others is a mark of maturity. Those who never laugh are usually bitter and critical and hard to live with. The person who can’t laugh at his own mistakes has a hard time forgiving the mistakes of others. We are not talking about silliness but good healthy holy humor. The Lord Jesus wants us to have joy. He had joy. As children of the living God we have all the reason to have inner joy: our sins are forgiven, no more fear of judgment, our Father cares for us, He will never leave us and forsake us, and we have an eternal home waiting when this life is over. We can’t always rejoice over our circumstances but we can rejoice in them. But sometimes we lose that joy. How?
Sin and disobedience. When king David confessed his sins to God, he said:”Restore to me the joy of my salvation.”(Psalms 51:12). He lost his joy and for more than a year he lived a miserable life of despair and gloom. Read Psalms 32. If you have lost your joy in Christ think clearly and see if there maybe unconfessed sin or a bad attitude in your life.
Neglecting the Word of God. Jesus said:”These things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves.”(John 17:13). The prophet Jeremiah found joy in the Word of God:”Your words were found and I did eat them; and Your word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of my heart.” At the beginning of the day I discipline myself and get alone with my Bible and read it in a systematic way. I ask God to speak to me and He does as I study His Word. No matter how difficult my life sometimes was, God always had a promise, a warning, a truth to believe or a command that gave me joy. Read and obey the Bible if you want increase your joy.
Forgetting to pray. Jesus said:”Ask and you shall receive, that your joy may be full.”(John 16:24).We are weak in ourselves and can’t depend on our own strength and thinking. We will soon become miserable and frustrated with people and life. We will fail because we depend on our own flesh for victory. But God’s strength and supply can never run out. Prayer opens for us the treasury of God. “Ask and it shall be given you…You have not because you ask not.” If you have a problem, a burden, a need, take time to pray about it and God’s joy will fill your heart again.Don’t let sin, neglect of the Bible and prayerlessness rob you of your joy. A joyful Christian is a strong Christian: the devil has a harder time tempting a person with joy in his/her heart. A joyful Christian is a witnessing Christian because he has the Biblical Gospel (www.NeedGod.com) in his/her heart and something exciting to share with others, and they can see the difference.
The joyful Christian shares his joy by accepting the burdens of life without complaining; willing to do small tasks that others ignore and when doing big jobs, willing to share the credit. A joyful Christian is a thankful Christian and every hour of every day there is something to be thankful for. Keep your heart clean; spend time in the Word and prayer; look for ways to live for others. And when you do, God’s love and joy will fill your heart.
Compiled by Louis Ackermann
Love of enemies: Read Matt.6:43-48; Lev.19:17-18
Jesus defined our enemies as those who curse us, abuse us, hate us and exploit us selfishly. Since Christian love is an act of the will, and not simply an emotion, He can command us to love our enemies. After all, He loved us when we were His enemies (Rom.5:10). We may show this love by blessing those who curse us, doing good to them, and praying for them. When we pray for our enemies, we find it easier to love them, it takes the “poison” out of our attitudes.
Jesus gave 3 reasons for this admonition. (1) It is a mark of maturity. But you must be a child of the Father and the Holy Spirit indwelling you to have the power to live like this. (2) It is Godlike. God shares His good things with those who are against Him. Matthew 5:45 implies that our love creates a climate of blessings that makes it easy to win our enemies and make them our friends. Love is like the sunshine and rain that the Father sends in His mercy and grace. (3) It is a testimony to others.
God expects us to live a much better kind of life than the lost people of the world who return good for good and evil for evil. We must return good for evil in all circumstances. I was once insulted and falsely accused by a former colleague in the presence of others where I was teaching. It left me speechless and shocked. I first of all made sure his accusations were not true by consulting with other teachers who knew me well. That weekend I prayed for him each time his name appeared in my thoughts…and that happened frequently! In my prayers for him to God I gave thanks, supplications and intercessions for him. It turned the bitterness into a blessing. On the Monday he apologized in the presence of others.
The word “perfect” in Matthew 5:48 do not imply sinless perfection, for that is impossible in this life. It suggests completeness, maturity, as the children of God. The Father loves His enemies and seeks to make them His children if they repent (turn from sin) and put their trust in the Lord Jesus alone. We as His children should assist Him in loving them (not condoning their sin) and treat them like the Father does.
Jesus gave 3 reasons for this admonition. (1) It is a mark of maturity. But you must be a child of the Father and the Holy Spirit indwelling you to have the power to live like this. (2) It is Godlike. God shares His good things with those who are against Him. Matthew 5:45 implies that our love creates a climate of blessings that makes it easy to win our enemies and make them our friends. Love is like the sunshine and rain that the Father sends in His mercy and grace. (3) It is a testimony to others.
God expects us to live a much better kind of life than the lost people of the world who return good for good and evil for evil. We must return good for evil in all circumstances. I was once insulted and falsely accused by a former colleague in the presence of others where I was teaching. It left me speechless and shocked. I first of all made sure his accusations were not true by consulting with other teachers who knew me well. That weekend I prayed for him each time his name appeared in my thoughts…and that happened frequently! In my prayers for him to God I gave thanks, supplications and intercessions for him. It turned the bitterness into a blessing. On the Monday he apologized in the presence of others.
The word “perfect” in Matthew 5:48 do not imply sinless perfection, for that is impossible in this life. It suggests completeness, maturity, as the children of God. The Father loves His enemies and seeks to make them His children if they repent (turn from sin) and put their trust in the Lord Jesus alone. We as His children should assist Him in loving them (not condoning their sin) and treat them like the Father does.
In Everything Give Thanks
Life has its troubles and tragedies. There are times when it is not easy to be thankful. But 1 Thess. 5:18 commands us, “In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” We cannot escape the fact that God expects us to be thankful no matter what circumstances may come to our lives. True, these verses are easier read than obeyed.
Last year (2009) during our visit to South Africa, the second day in our hometown of East London, a car came from behind and rode over my right foot. The foot was fractured and I needed an operation to be able to walk again. As I lied on my back next to the parked cars in the parking lot, I wondered what to make of this setback. All our holiday plans were cancelled and I faced weeks of using crutches after the operation and then painful physiotherapy. My dear wife had to do most of the domestic duties and even help me to get around and drive the car. The initial shock diminished and I started to have positive thoughts about God’s presence right there on the road.
The fact is: God never commands what He cannot enable us to do. So if He commands me to be thankful in all things, then He will enable me to obey Him, and I will be a better person because of it. God permitted Job to go through all kinds of trials (Job 1-2), yet in the end the trials were for Job’s good and His glory. Job suffered and wept but his trials led to glory and joy (James 5:10-11). You can be sure that your Father in heaven loves you and He can be trusted. Our first reaction to difficulties, tragedy or some trial is, “Why did this happen?” and our second reaction is probably “Why did this happen to me?” Well, I am walking with the Lord, obeying Him, and serving Him, why should this trial come to me? At this point the devil will come and tempt us to doubt God’s love and care. Now you must lay hold of the truth that God loves you and cares. Circumstances may seem against you, the devil may accuse you, friends may abandon you, but God loves you just as much as He did when He gave the Lord Jesus to die for you on the cross. Your circumstances have changed and your feelings have changed, but God’s character has not changed.
“In everything give thanks…” We cannot obey that commandment in our own strength; we need the power of the Spirit of God and the encouragement of the Word of God. I looked at the situation with disappointment and wondered what God has planned, but I knew and had peace that His love, care and plan can never fail me. Because we love Him and He loves us, we trust Him and as our hope grows stronger, we are able to praise the Lord and give thanks – in everything.
Louis Ackermann
Last year (2009) during our visit to South Africa, the second day in our hometown of East London, a car came from behind and rode over my right foot. The foot was fractured and I needed an operation to be able to walk again. As I lied on my back next to the parked cars in the parking lot, I wondered what to make of this setback. All our holiday plans were cancelled and I faced weeks of using crutches after the operation and then painful physiotherapy. My dear wife had to do most of the domestic duties and even help me to get around and drive the car. The initial shock diminished and I started to have positive thoughts about God’s presence right there on the road.
The fact is: God never commands what He cannot enable us to do. So if He commands me to be thankful in all things, then He will enable me to obey Him, and I will be a better person because of it. God permitted Job to go through all kinds of trials (Job 1-2), yet in the end the trials were for Job’s good and His glory. Job suffered and wept but his trials led to glory and joy (James 5:10-11). You can be sure that your Father in heaven loves you and He can be trusted. Our first reaction to difficulties, tragedy or some trial is, “Why did this happen?” and our second reaction is probably “Why did this happen to me?” Well, I am walking with the Lord, obeying Him, and serving Him, why should this trial come to me? At this point the devil will come and tempt us to doubt God’s love and care. Now you must lay hold of the truth that God loves you and cares. Circumstances may seem against you, the devil may accuse you, friends may abandon you, but God loves you just as much as He did when He gave the Lord Jesus to die for you on the cross. Your circumstances have changed and your feelings have changed, but God’s character has not changed.
“In everything give thanks…” We cannot obey that commandment in our own strength; we need the power of the Spirit of God and the encouragement of the Word of God. I looked at the situation with disappointment and wondered what God has planned, but I knew and had peace that His love, care and plan can never fail me. Because we love Him and He loves us, we trust Him and as our hope grows stronger, we are able to praise the Lord and give thanks – in everything.
Louis Ackermann
Abstain from all appearance of evil (1 Thess.5:22)
Paul warns us to abstain (stay away) from even the very appearance of evil. He’s speaking about the outside, visible part of us as what others might see as evil. Born again believers in Christ have an awesome responsibility to Jesus, we’ve put on Christ therefore we are to hold ourselves above even the appearance of evil. Christians should know what the appearance of evil is and what not.
A married Christian once asked if it was alright for him to be alone in his car with a single woman. 1 Thessalonians 5:22 was quoted to him to explain why this was not a good idea. The explanation of why this would be seen as wrong was not understood by him. Another man asked if two older people in their sixties could live together without being married. Again, it’s the appearance of evil, and it could lead others astray. He went on to give the reason why this older Christian couple decide to live together instead of following God’s way of marriage. “But if they get married they’re placed in a higher tax bracket and that’s why they remain unmarried”. Excuse me, but where in the Bible is there a verse that condones living together to avoid paying your taxes?
As for those who belong to the Lord Jesus, we must find ways to prevent even the slightest manifestation of evil in our lives. Our intensions may be perfectly innocent but remember it’s the perception of evil that’s being discussed here.
There should be no stepping out of the light into darkness. As Christians we are to not only avoid the darkness but even the appearance of darkness in our lives. We know God sees everything, every sin we commit whether out in the open or hidden by darkness. “The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good,” Proverbs 15:3. When we are out in public others can see how we act and how we speak. Believers know it’s their responsibility to present the Lord Jesus to the lost and they see Him through our lives. How can we be His light to the lost if we are stepping back and forth in and out of darkness?
The second part of Paul’s warning is for us to have no occasion to stumble a fellow brother in Christ. In other words there should be nothing in our walk with Christ that would lead another into sin. Again, we stay away from every appearance of evil (sin).
Many Christians today have become lax in their attitudes toward sin. Having a grasp of what the appearance of evil may be, before we step into that dark arena might just keep us from stumbling a brother, not to mention ourselves. Wisdom, knowledge, and understanding, comes with maturity, Christian maturity. Christians who are mature in their walk with the Lord Jesus will do anything to avoid the appearance of evil; no one wants to knowingly lead another astray.
When we look around at the world today we can plainly see evil permeating everything in society. They’ll tell us that bad and evil are now good. Believers must be constantly on guard and thoroughly prepared for what’s coming. This world is turning upside down. We must abstain from joining the crowd. Instead, we must present the Biblical Gospel to the lost (www.NeedGod.com).
Many today who call themselves Christians haven’t a clue as to the full scope of evil that currently permeates our society.
Believers have neglected their Bibles long enough. We read and study God’s word and learn His truth and what God considers evil and what He accepts as good. Then we need to take it one step further and apply His precepts to our lives.
Put on righteousness, allow no evil into your circle of influence, be the light Christ has ordained you to be. Be wise, be careful, be an example of Christ on earth. Avoid at all cost the appearance of evil. Remember the temptation to embrace evil comes from the lust of the flesh: read James 1:13-15.
Have a good day – but what is the worth of a good day if it is not also a Godly day? (Woodrow Kroll).
A married Christian once asked if it was alright for him to be alone in his car with a single woman. 1 Thessalonians 5:22 was quoted to him to explain why this was not a good idea. The explanation of why this would be seen as wrong was not understood by him. Another man asked if two older people in their sixties could live together without being married. Again, it’s the appearance of evil, and it could lead others astray. He went on to give the reason why this older Christian couple decide to live together instead of following God’s way of marriage. “But if they get married they’re placed in a higher tax bracket and that’s why they remain unmarried”. Excuse me, but where in the Bible is there a verse that condones living together to avoid paying your taxes?
As for those who belong to the Lord Jesus, we must find ways to prevent even the slightest manifestation of evil in our lives. Our intensions may be perfectly innocent but remember it’s the perception of evil that’s being discussed here.
There should be no stepping out of the light into darkness. As Christians we are to not only avoid the darkness but even the appearance of darkness in our lives. We know God sees everything, every sin we commit whether out in the open or hidden by darkness. “The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good,” Proverbs 15:3. When we are out in public others can see how we act and how we speak. Believers know it’s their responsibility to present the Lord Jesus to the lost and they see Him through our lives. How can we be His light to the lost if we are stepping back and forth in and out of darkness?
The second part of Paul’s warning is for us to have no occasion to stumble a fellow brother in Christ. In other words there should be nothing in our walk with Christ that would lead another into sin. Again, we stay away from every appearance of evil (sin).
Many Christians today have become lax in their attitudes toward sin. Having a grasp of what the appearance of evil may be, before we step into that dark arena might just keep us from stumbling a brother, not to mention ourselves. Wisdom, knowledge, and understanding, comes with maturity, Christian maturity. Christians who are mature in their walk with the Lord Jesus will do anything to avoid the appearance of evil; no one wants to knowingly lead another astray.
When we look around at the world today we can plainly see evil permeating everything in society. They’ll tell us that bad and evil are now good. Believers must be constantly on guard and thoroughly prepared for what’s coming. This world is turning upside down. We must abstain from joining the crowd. Instead, we must present the Biblical Gospel to the lost (www.NeedGod.com).
Many today who call themselves Christians haven’t a clue as to the full scope of evil that currently permeates our society.
Believers have neglected their Bibles long enough. We read and study God’s word and learn His truth and what God considers evil and what He accepts as good. Then we need to take it one step further and apply His precepts to our lives.
Put on righteousness, allow no evil into your circle of influence, be the light Christ has ordained you to be. Be wise, be careful, be an example of Christ on earth. Avoid at all cost the appearance of evil. Remember the temptation to embrace evil comes from the lust of the flesh: read James 1:13-15.
Have a good day – but what is the worth of a good day if it is not also a Godly day? (Woodrow Kroll).
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