Happy Tuesday

Thought for Today

"Twenty years ago, the question: 'Does television shape our culture or merely reflect it?' held considerable interest for many scholars and social critics. The questions have largely disappeared as television has gradually become our culture." - Patrick Michele


T-R-A-V-E-L
(Author Unknown)

Inmate Mitchell King had a visitor -- his wife. King was serving a six-year jail term in Auckland, New Zealand for armed robbery. But his wife didn't want to be away from him for that long. So they held hands. And they stuck. She'd rubbed her palms with Super Glue. Their new-found closeness was short-lived. And their separation painful. Her technique is not one I'd recommend for a closer relationship.

But if you want more closeness; if you desire relationships that are deeper and broader, more meaningful and longer-lasting, then remember the word "travel."

T is for TRUST 
Trust is the glue that holds people together (not Super Glue). A relationship will go nowhere without it.

R is for RESPECT 
"Do not save your loving speeches for your friends till they are dead; do not write them on their tombstones, speak them rather now instead," writes Anna Cummins. It's about respecting others and letting them know that you value them.

A is for AFFECTION
Love - genuine love and care is a key.

V is for VULNERABILITY 
Though we may feel afraid to let another too close, no relationship will go anywhere without risking vulnerability. Entrepreneur Jim Rohn says, "The walls we build around us to keep out the sadness also keep out the joy." And the love.

E is for EMOTIONAL INTIMACY 
Learn to be open. Learn to communicate freely. What kinds of relationships you make are largely determined by how openly you have learned to communicate.

L is for LAUGHTER 
Victor Borge got it right when he said, "Laughter is the shortest distance between two people." It's also the most enjoyable.

For relationships that can really go somewhere, just remember the word "travel." Make sure the relationship is one that God wants for you. Then enjoy the trip!

Daily Smile:

Too helpful

Working for a Judge in a common pleas court, I saw many criminal defendants. One man facing drug charges proved unusually helpful.
To determine the exact quantity of the illegal substance allegedly sold, the judge asked the prosecutor how many grams there are in an ounce.

As both attorneys checked their notes, the defendant, who had not yet entered his plea, proudly announced, "There are 28.3 grams in an ounce, your honor." 

His attorney advised him to plead guilty.

Happy Monday

Thought for Today

"The greatest need in the world is the transformation of human nature. We need a new heart that will not have lust and greed and hate in it. We need a heart filled with love and peace and joy, and that is why Jesus came into the world. He died on the cross to make peace between us and God and to change us from within by His Spirit. He can change you, if you will turn to Him in repentance and faith." - Billy Graham


For You and For Me by Roy Irwin

You may find this hard to believe, but just about everyone has a scar somewhere on their body. And with every scar there is a story to go with it.

I learned this lesson at a gathering where most of the people did not know one another very well and appeared to have little in common. As you might expect, there was a lot of small talk as each person more or less kept to themselves. Then the hostess introduced an 'Ice Breaker' - a question meant to jump-start the conversation by getting everyone to participate. Each person was asked to share their personal "scar story" - a story about how they got a scar.

As we went around the room everyone shared their particular story; some were funny, some very serious. But with each story we learned more about the person. It became obvious that everyone had more in common than was first thought and the walls that had once separated us began to disappear, bringing us closer together as a group.

As I was remembering that meeting I was reminded of my own scars. I have three: one on my foot caused when running barefoot in a field as a child; one on my forehead from a college prank - it becomes more noticeable each year as my hair becomes less noticeable; and one on my hand, caused in a moment of anger just a few years ago...

For every scar there is also the memory of the pain that went with it.

I was trying to imagine what it would be like if Jesus shared about His scars. About how He was mocked and beaten. About how He suffered the cruelest form of death by being nailed to a cross. About how He lived a sinless life yet would bear your sins and mine. About how He knew since the beginning of time those events would take place, yet He came, willingly, to take our place - paying a debt He didn't owe because we owed a debt we couldn't pay - removing the sin that separates us from God.

One day we will see Jesus face to face. We will see His scars and know the truth from Romans 5:8: "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (NIV)

For you and for me.

"Dear Lord Jesus, thank you loving us so much that you were willing to die for us so that we could live with you for all eternity. Help us to see the world through the scars in your hands. Help us to live each day for you. Amen."

Daily Smile:

The Atheist and the Shark

There is this atheist swimming in the ocean. All of the sudden he sees this shark in the water, so he starts swimming towards his boat.
As he looks back he sees the shark turn and head towards him. His boat is a ways off and he starts swimming like crazy. He's scared to death, and as he turns to see the jaws of the great white beast open revealing its teeth in a horrific splendor, the atheist screams, "Oh God! Save me!"

In an instant time is frozen and a bright light shines down from above. The man is motionless in the water when he hears the voice of God say, "You are an atheist. Why do you call upon me when you do not believe in me?"

Aghast with confusion and knowing he can't lie the man replies, "Well, that's true I don't believe in you, but how about the shark? Can you make the shark believe in you?"

The Lord replies, "As you wish," and the light retracted back into the heavens and the man could feel the water begin to move once again.

As the atheist looks back he can see the jaws of the shark start to close down on him, when all of sudden the shark stops and pulls back.

Shocked, the man looks at the shark as the huge beast closes its eyes and bows its head and says, "Thank you Lord for this food for which I am about to receive..."

Happy Sunday

Order

"Dominion and awe belong to God; he establishes order in the heights of heaven." Job 25:2, NIV

God is a God of order. He established order in heaven. He establishes order for worship. God values order. He brings blessing where there is order.

We’ve recently been working in our offices to bring order to areas that have been neglected, due to our busy schedules. It’s amazing how much we hold onto just because it’s easier than throwing it away. But as we clear the office of things we no longer need, the environment is cleaner and more peaceful and easier to work in.

It’s this way in our lives, as well. Sometimes we choose to not deal with issues in our lives because it’s easier to ignore them. But what we don't realize is that these things are cluttering up our lives just as much as the pieces of paper clutter up our offices, when we don't deal with them on a daily basis. God wants us to bring order into our lives so we can live the full lives He’s planned for us, unencumbered by the hurts and sins of our past.

The good news is that today we can start the clean-up process. It takes time, but God is faithful to help us sort through all the things that are cluttering up our lives. Won't you take time to talk to Him today and ask Him to reveal to you the things that He wants you to get out of your life?

Prayer: Lord, forgive me for allowing the busyness of life to keep me from the time I need with You and allowing my life to become cluttered. Would You please show me the areas that You want me to address in my life. Would You please help me to bring Your order into my life, that I may live the life that You want me to live? Thank You for Your grace to do this. Amen.

Today's Writer : Tanya Person

Daily Smile:

A wealthy lawyer

One afternoon, a wealthy lawyer was riding in the back of his limousine when he saw two men eating grass by the road side. He ordered his driver to stop and he got out to investigate. "Why are you eating grass?", he asked one man.

"We don't have any money for food.", the poor man replied.

"Oh, come along with me then."

"But sir, I have a wife with two children!"

"Bring them along! And you, come with us too!", he said to the other man.

"But sir, I have a wife with six children!" the second man answered.

"Bring them as well!"

They all climbed into the car, which was no easy task, even for a car as large as the limo.

Once underway, one of the poor fellows says, "Sir, you are too kind. Thank you for taking all of us with you."

The lawyer replied, "No problem, the grass at my home is about two feet tall."

NOTICE:

     The August '12 edition of The StarLight News is ready to read on line... Go To http://the-starlight-news.blogspot.com/
Happy Reading,
Richard

Happy Saturday

Failure Is Not Final

Devotional taken from messages by Adrian Rogers

BIBLE MEDITATION: “O love the Lord, all ye His saints: for the Lord preserveth the faithful.” Psalm 31:23

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
Ty Cobb and Babe Ruth were two of the greatest baseball players of all time. Ty Cobb was known for his record number of stolen bases, and Babe Ruth was known for his record number of home runs. What you may not know is that Ty Cobb was also thrown out more than any other man in baseball trying to steal bases. And Babe Ruth struck out more than any other man in baseball! These fellows didn’t let their failures stop them, and neither should you!

Fix your goal.
Face your faults.
Forget your failures.
Failure in the Christian life is not final.

ACTION POINT:
Maybe you or someone you know is feeling discouraged today. Remind them or yourself of the promise in Philippians 4:13.

Saturday Extra:

The whole POINT of our lives is

to POINT  everything and everyone to God;

To pray for and encourage with conviction & faith.

And I am convinced and sure of this very thing, that He Who began a good work in you will continue until the day of Jesus Christ [right up to the time of His return], developing [that good work] and perfecting and bringing it to full completion in you.
Philippians 1:6

.·´v`·.·´v`·.·´v`·.·´v`·.·´v`·.·´v`·.·´v`·.·´v`·.·´v`·.·´v`·.·´v`·.

These Mini-Devos are composed and made by me, SissyMarlene.
Quotes are a collection of unknown authors.
I am however the major contributor of them, tee hee

Also, I have a Library of other Christian writings I have done.

Please check them out here:

http://anewcreationinchrist.yuku.com/forums/99/SissyMarlene-sWritings

Daily Smile:

Ol' Fred had been a faithful Christian and was in the hospital, near death. The family called their preacher to stand with them.

As the preacher stood next to the bed, Ol' Fred's condition appeared to deteriorate and he motioned frantically for something to write on.

The pastor lovingly handed him a pen and a piece of paper, and Ol' Fred used his last bit of energy to scribble a note, then suddenly died.

The preacher thought it best not to look at the note at that time, so he placed it in his jacket pocket.

At the funeral, as he was finishing the message, he realized that he was wearing the same jacket that he was wearing when Ol' Fred died. He said, "You know, Ol' Fred handed me a note just before he died. I haven't looked at it, but knowing Fred, I'm sure there's a word of inspiration there for us all."

He opened the note, and read, "Please step to your left -- you're standing on my oxygen tube!"

http://the-starlight-news.blogspot.com

Happy Thursday & Friday

Editor's Note: Finished the paper layout at 8am Thursday... Way too tired to think about a Thursday Devotional... Hope to get the paper posted in the next day or so... 
Happy Thursday & Friday,
Richard 
Overcoming the Four Ds
By Gene Markland, CBN Staff Writer

Roy was the Senior Pastor of the church he pioneered, when his marriage came to an end. This most significant disaster in his life nearly destroyed him. Feeling like he could not go on, Roy left his church of nineteen years and moved to Virginia to live with his sister and brother-in-law.

In the months and years to follow, Roy describes what he went through as the four Ds: Depression, Despair, Defeat, and finally Despondency. Though he would not admit it at the time, Roy was, in fact, a man of faith with the strength of a lion. God would not let him languish forever. Oh no. Christ was in him and scripture helped him keep his sanity.
"And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them" (Romans 8:28 NLT).

Roy began to attend his sister’s church and eventually headed up the men’s group. He had one consistent message. It’s not too late, God is not through with you yet, and the best is yet to come. I was in that men’s group and witnessed the optimism and faith that sustained him.

Roy went on a short-term mission trip to Romania, and developed relationships there with Christian leaders. On a subsequent trip to Romania, God sparked a vision in him and Roy began to stay for extended periods of time, preaching in churches all over the country.

He found the Romanians to be a poor people with a rich hunger for God. All day they would work in the fields, and afterward eagerly come to his meetings at night. The people touched his heart and he realized God’s purpose for the next phase of his life.

He received the vision and calling to reach the Nation of Romania for Christ. With only his small minister’s pension, he turned his face from retirement and set out on his greatest adventure with Christ as his only partner.

He bought an old house with a barn and declared it Apa Vie, which means living water. He repaired and then renovated the building into a conference center. From this commitment began Evangelistic meetings for youth, and Pastors conferences training hundreds for ministry. Roy has spoken before the elite political and scientific leaders in the country, including major Universities.

He developed an outstanding reputation among Romanians from all walks of life. Pastors and churches in the U.S. have partnered with him and use his Apa Vie conference center as a base of operations for mission trips.

God proves through Roy that we do not have to wait until everything is in place to start. We must face the reality of our circumstances, hold faith in God and His plan for us, and act! You do not have to languish either. Don’t give up hope. Your dreams may seem impossible to accomplish. The four Ds may be your daily companions, but don’t quit!

Remember what the Bible says,
"For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him" (Philippians 2:13 NLT).

Roy’s dream is still in progress as he has plans for further expansion. We are all part of God’s expanding Kingdom, so don’t fall prey to the four Ds. Take your rightful place in the Kingdom. With Christ, your dream is possible! In Roy’s words, "You are significant! The best is ahead of you! You never know what God is up to! Keep the faith, and trust God!

Daily Smile:

The Difference Between Men and Women

Let's say a guy named Fred is attracted to a woman named Martha. He asks her out to a movie; she accepts; they have a pretty good time. A few nights later he asks her out to dinner, and again they enjoy themselves. They continue to see each other regularly, and after a while neither one of them is seeing anybody else.


And then, one evening when they're driving home, a thought occurs to Martha, and, without really thinking, she says it aloud: "Do you realize that, as of tonight, we've been seeing each other for exactly six months?"


And then, there is silence in the car.


To Martha, it seems like a very loud silence. She thinks to herself: I wonder if it bothers him that I said that. Maybe he's been feeling confined by our relationship; maybe he thinks I'm trying to push him into some kind of obligation that he doesn't want, or isn't sure of.


And Fred is thinking: Gosh. Six months.


And Martha is thinking: But, hey, I'm not so sure I want this kind of relationship either. Sometimes I wish I had a little more space, so I'd have time to think about whether I really want us to keep going the way we are, moving steadily towards, I mean, where are we going? Are we just going to keep seeing each other at this level of intimacy? Are we heading toward marriage? Toward children? Toward a lifetime together?

Am I ready for that level of commitment? Do I really even know this person?


And Fred is thinking: ...so that means it was...let's see...February when we started going out, which was right after I had the car at the dealer's, which means...lemme check the odometer...Whoa! I am way overdue for an oil change here.


And Martha is thinking: He's upset. I can see it on his face. Maybe I'm reading this completely wrong. Maybe he wants more from our relationship, more intimacy, more commitment; maybe he has sensed - even before I sensed it - that I was feeling some reservations. Yes, I bet that's it. That's why he's so reluctant to say anything about his own feelings. He's afraid of being rejected.
And Fred is thinking: And I'm gonna have them look at the transmission again. I don't care what those morons say, it's still not shifting right. And they better not try to blame it on the cold weather this time. What cold weather? It's 87 degrees out, and this thing is shifting like a garbage truck, and I paid those incompetent thieves $600.


And Martha is thinking: He's angry. And I don't blame him. I'd be angry, too. I feel so guilty, putting him through this, but I can't help the way I feel. I'm just not sure.


And Fred is thinking: They'll probably say it's only a 90-day warranty...scumballs.


And Martha is thinking: Maybe I'm just too idealistic, waiting for a knight to come riding up on his white horse, when I'm sitting right next to a perfectly good person, a person I enjoy being with, a person I truly do care about, a person who seems to truly care about me. A person who is in pain because of my self-centered, schoolgirl romantic fantasy.


And Fred is thinking: Warranty? They want a warranty? I'll give them a warranty. I'll take their warranty and stick it right up their...


"Fred," Martha says aloud.


"What?" says Fred, startled.


"Please don't torture yourself like this," she says, her eyes beginning to brim with tears. "Maybe I should never have...oh dear, I feel so..."(She breaks down, sobbing.)


"What?" says Fred.


"I'm such a fool," Martha sobs. "I mean, I know there's no knight. I really know that. It's silly. There's no knight, and there's no horse."


"There's no horse?" says Fred.


"You think I'm a fool, don't you?" Martha says.


"No!" says Fred, glad to finally know the correct answer.


"It's just that...it's that I...I need some time," Martha says. (There is a 15-second pause while Fred, thinking as fast as he can, tries to come up with a safe response. Finally he comes up with one that he thinks might work.)


"Yes," he says. (Martha, deeply moved, touches his hand.)


"Oh, Fred, do you really feel that way?" she says.


"What way?" says Fred.


"That way about time," says Martha.


"Oh," says Fred. "Yes." (Martha turns to face him and gazes deeply into his eyes, causing him to become very nervous about what she might say next, especially if it involves a horse. At last she speaks.)


"Thank you, Fred," she says.


"Thank you," says Fred.


Then he takes her home, and she lies on her bed, a conflicted, tortured soul, and weeps until dawn, whereas when Fred gets back to his place, he opens a bag of Doritos, turns on the TV, and immediately becomes deeply involved in a rerun of a college basketball game between two South Dakota junior colleges that he has never heard of. A tiny voice in the far recesses of his mind tells him that something major was going on back there in the car, but he is pretty sure there is no way he would ever understand what, and so he figures it's better if he doesn't think about it.
The next day Martha will call her closest friend, or perhaps two of them, and they will talk about this situation for six straight hours. In painstaking detail, they will analyze everything she said and everything he said, going over it time and time again, exploring every word, expression, and gesture for nuances of meaning, considering every possible ramification.


They will continue to discuss this subject, off and on, for weeks, maybe months, never reaching any definite conclusions, but never getting bored with it either.


Meanwhile, Fred, while playing racquetball one day with a mutual friend of his and Martha's, will pause just before serving, frown, and say: "Norm, did Martha ever own a horse?"

 

http://the-starlight-news.blogspot.com/

Happy Wednesday

The Value of Disaster
For 10 years Thomas Edison attempted to invent a storage battery. His efforts greatly strained his finances, then in December 1914, nearly brought him to ruin when a spontaneous combustion broke out in his film room. Within minutes all the packing compounds, celluloid fluid for records and film, and other flammable goods were ablaze. Though fire departments came from eight surrounding towns, the intense heat and low water pressure made attempts to douse the flames futile. Everything was destroyed. While the damage exceeded $2 million the concrete buildings thought to be fireproof, were insured for barely a tenth of the amount.
The inventor’s 24-year old son Charles searched frantically for his father, afraid that his spirit would be broken. Charles finally found him, calmly watching the fire, his face glowing in the reflection, white hair blowing in the wind. “My heart ached for him,” said Charles. “He was 67 - no longer a young man - and everything was going up in flames. When he saw me, he shouted, “Charles where’s your mother?” When I told him I didn’t know, he said, “Find her. Bring her here. She will never see anything like this as long as his lives.” The next morning, Edison looked at the ruins and said, “There is a great value in disaster. All our mistakes are burned up. Thank God we can start anew.” Three weeks after the fire, Edison managed to deliver the first phonograph.”
With each new day, we have the opportunity to start again, to start fresh – no matter what our circumstances. Let the Lord show you how to salvage hope from debris. You never know what joys are ahead. We also glory in tribulations knowing that tribulation produces perseverance. Romans 5:3 NKJV

Daily Smile:

You Might Be A Redneck if...
Your mustache is longer than your wife's hair.

 You Might Be A Redneck if...
Cruise control in your truck involves fishing line, a pulley and a hook.

 You Might Be A Redneck if...
Your gear shift lever is a pair of vise grips.

Happy Tuesday

*Jerry and Sipho*
Today's Author: Pastor Bill

Scripture: Revelation 6:9  "When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held" NKJV

The story is told of a man named Jerry. Jerry was a good "Christian man". Lived by the Ten Commandments and went to church every week. He was faithful in his giving. Jerry ushered at church and was friendly to everyone.

Jerry was very busy raising a family, earning a living and enjoying his life. He didn't tell many about Jesus because he felt that was the "preachers job." Jerry hardly ever read God's Word because the preacher spoke about it every Sunday. He didn't worry about the needy around him because that is what the government does. He did pray --- he knew the "Lord's Prayer" well.

Jerry was driving to work one day when he had an accident and died.

Moments later Jerry found himself standing at the gates of heaven. An angel approached him and introduced him to a man who would show him heaven. They started walking together and the man introduced himself as Sipho.

Sipho began to talk as they walked. He told Jerry of the times he had his neighbors over to his house for dinner --- shared Jesus with them --- and he lost count after ten families were saved.

Sipho continued to speak about how he would tell people at work about the wonderful things Jesus had done for him. How Jesus loved him and helped him live a righteous life --- and many more were added to the roles of the Kingdom.

He told Jerry about helping needy people with clothing, food and how more people found Jesus.

Jerry listened intently and said, "you must have studied the Bible a lot or gone to a fancy Bible school. Perhaps even graduated from a Christian College. Then Jerry said he figured it out --- "God called you to minister to others."

Sipho stopped walking --- turned and looked at Jerry and said, "No, we were very poor, we could never afford a Bible school or college. There were no churches where I lived and I had only the book of John from the Bible that some missionaries left in our village years before. When I found the book the chief admonished me and said, "If you are ever caught speaking about Jesus it will be your last words."

Sipho started walking again and said, "Enough of me and my struggles. I want to hear about all the wonderful things you did for Jesus in your land of plenty and freedom."

Today in countries all over the world Christians are risking their lives and the lives of their families to speak about the Lord Jesus Christ. Not because they want to --- but because they have to. The Holy Spirit inside them is bubbling over and they are compelled to tell their testimony. Even if it means great harm will come to them and their families.
If you are like Jerry in our story now is an excellent time to switch gears and ask the Holy Spirit to teach you how to share your Jesus experiences with others --- you will be glad you did.

Prayer: Father thank you for what Jesus does for me daily and help me pass it on as a testimony to HIS love. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen!

Pastor Bill Team Prayer:

Father please bring 1............. 2............. 3.............. into your kingdom.

In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen!

Copyright (c) 2012
Pastor Bill - Christian*Cyber*Ministries

Daily Smile:

Church Signs

1. CHURCH CAR PARK - FOR MEMBERS ONLY! Trespassers will be baptised!
2. "No God - No Peace. Know God - Know Peace."
3. "Free Trip to Heaven. Details Inside!"
4. "Try our Sundays. They are better than Baskin-Robbins."
5. An ad for one Church has a picture of two hands holding stone
tablets on which the Ten Commandments are inscribed and a
headline that reads, -"For Fast Relief, Take Two Tablets."
6. "People are like tea bags - you have to put them in hot water
before you know how strong they are."
7. "Come in and pray today. Beat the Christmas rush."
8. "Fight truth decay - study the Bible daily."
9. "How will you spend eternity - Smoking or Non-Smoking."
10. "Dusty Bibles lead to Dirty Lives."
11. "Come work for the Lord. The work is hard, the hours are long
and the pay is low. But the retirement benefits are out of this world."
12. "It is unlikely there'll be a reduction in the wages of sin."
13. "If you're headed in the wrong direction, God allows U-turns."
14. "If you don't like the way you were born, try being born again."
15. "Looking at the way some people live, they ought to obtain
eternal fire Insurance soon."
16. " A ch__ch is a church when (U R) in it.
17. "In the dark? Follow the Son."
18. "Running low on faith? Stop in for a fill-up."
19. "If you can't sleep, don't count sheep. Talk to the Shepherd."

Happy Monday

"I took your place!"

One day, a man went to visit a church. He got there early, parked his car and got out. Another car pulled up near the driver got out and said, "I always park there! You took my place!"

 

The visitor went inside for Sunday School, found an empty seat and sat down. A young lady from the church approached him and stated, "That's my seat! You took my place!" The visitor was somewhat distressed by this rude welcome, but said nothing.

 

After Sunday School, the visitor went into the sanctuary and sat down. Another member walked up to him and said, "That's where I always sit!  You took my place!" The visitor was even more troubled by this treatment, but still said nothing.

 

Later as the congregation was praying for Christ to dwell among them, the visitor stood up, and his appearance began to change.

 

Horrible scars became visible on his hands and on his sandaled feet. Someone from the congregation noticed him and called out, "What happened to you?"

The visitor replied, as his hat became a crown of thorns, and a tear fell from his eye, "I took your place!"

 

Daily Smile:

The Score

When I was visiting a friend who lived on the edge of a wilderness preserve, we drove along a rutted trail, and we saw a small creek ahead whose bridge was under water. 

"We have a serious beaver problem," our friend said. "They build dams that cause the creek to flood. Forest rangers take down the dams, and the beavers rebuild them." 

As we got closer, we could see a large scoreboard posted by the bridge. 

It read: BEAVERS 3 RANGERS 0

 

Happy Sunday

A Son given-literally

"For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, On the throne of David and over his kingdom, To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness From then on and forevermore The zeal of the LORD of hosts will accomplish this" Isa. 9:6,7.

Literal fulfillment
"A child will be born...a son will be given" was literally fulfilled. The last part, "the government upon his shoulder...upon the throne of David" must be and will be fulfilled literally too.

No more wars
Isa. 2 and scores of passages in the O.T. fit in here. "They shall hammer their swords into plowshares...and never again will they learn war." Imagine a thousands years of peace, no wars and a reign of righteousness. Satan is bound for this 1000 years "that he should deceive the nations no more" Rev. 20:1-6. Isa. 11 tells so much about that 1000 years of peace. "The wolf and the lamb shall lie down together"

The book
"All the Prophesies of Scripture" explained in one volume by Dr. John F. Waloord, you must get. This is by far the greatest book on prophecy ever written. I feel I have spent too much time on these articles on prophecy and must end them this week. There is, of course much more I have not touched on but this book will give you all the answers.

My goals
There are two reasons for this series, that we might be men like Issachar's sons, "men who understood the times, with knowledge of what Israel should do" 1 Chron.12:323. The second is that we might be blessed and transformed by this truth Rev; 1:3, 1 John 3:2,3.

O dear people, "Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth" 2 Tim 2:15. Dig deeper daily. Soak yourself in the Word of God. Don't read or set your eyes on junk but fill your mind on "whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things" Phil 4:8.

Prayer:  Father, bless your dear people and may we understand what is going on even though the lost world is blind to You and Your plans for all of us. In Jesus name

Daily Smile:

A guy is passing a Mental Hospital surrounded by a wall and he hears the chanting inside, Thirteen! Thirteen! Thirteen! Curious to see what’s going on he finds a small hole in the wall, so he bends and peeks inside. Someone inside pokes him hard in the eye and everyone starts inside chanting, Fourteen! Fourteen! Fourteen! 

Happy Saturday

Rapture! How in the world is it going to happen?

Surprise! Swiftly. Shockingly.

"In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye" 1 Cor. 15:52.

"The second coming of Christ is mentioned in both the Old Testament and Matthew 24-25 but the Rapture was not revealed until the night before the Crucifixion in John 14:1-3" Dr. John F. Walvoord pointed this out in his book, "Prophecy in the New Millennium." That is quite amazing. There is a multitude of Christians today who do not know about the Rapture or have not had it emphasized enough to be consciously looking for His coming for Believers.

How in the world is it going to happen?

SUDDENLY! The Rapture, the gathering and assent ion of who have accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, will take place just before the beginning of the Day of the Lord. More on this later. Paul tells us, "Now as to the times and the epochs, brethren, you have no need of anything to be written to you. For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night. While they are saying, "Peace and safety!" then destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape” 1 Thess. 5:1-3.

 
SWIFTLY! "In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound" vs.52. No man knows the day nor the hour. "But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day would overtake you like a thief" vs. 4. "So then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober" (be serious about it) vs. 6. The blowing of the trumpet was for the gathering of the people of God Num. 10:2 ff. So it will be at the rapture.

Systematically! "The dead in Christ will rise first" 1 Thes. 4:16. This is all the believers from the day of Pentecost. "For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body" 1 Cor. 12:13. Christ only has one body Eph. 4:4. This takes place at the moment of salvation even as we are "born of the Spirit" at that moment. "If any man be in Christ he is a new creation" 2 Cor. 5:17. Every believer has been baptized by the Holy Spirit or he is not "in Christ."

"Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord." 1 Thes. 4:17. "What a day that will be, when my Jesus I shall see" and "we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is" 1 John 3:2. What a grand homecoming that will be. Please don't miss it, get in on it right now. Look up all the verses listed on the chart under "Rapture."

Prayer:  Father, help your children to be keenly aware that Jesus is coming so we will be ready and waiting with our eyes on You and things above. In Jesus name

And I love you, all because the Lord Jesus suffered and died for our sins, paid our debt in full and rose again so we can be forgiven and go to heaven, sumner.

Do you believe in that alone for your salvation? Believe and pray to receive Him as your Savior right now. "He that has the Son, has life" 1 John 5:12.

Daily Smile:

One loyal friend is worth ten thousand relatives.  

Happy Friday

"The left behind" crowd

Who will be left behind?

The cultist and modernist church Suppose the Lord Jesus came on Sunday morning about 11:30 a. m. The cultist and modernist church, who deny that Jesus is Lord, won't miss a thing. Church will go right on as usual. There could be a believer who would suddenly disappear and shock a few but that would be all.

The Bible believing church
Remember Jesus had a Judas. They could have some visitors or professing Christians who would be shocked to death to suddenly see almost everyone around them just disappear in a "moment, in the twinkling of an eye."

A moderate church
Imagine a church where about half are saved and about half don't have a clue.  Can you imagine the consternation that will come over the lost left behind. There will be a lot more done than just scratching their heads in wonderment.

Transportation vehicles
Can you imagine what is going to happen to all the traffic on the roads, in the air and on the seas. On the roads there will be tons of wrecks. In the air, plane after plane will crash if the pilot were saved and no one to take over. A co-pilot will be stunned and call traffic control and report the disappearance. I have met a good number of "born again" pilots who have been aware of what could happen if they were flying at the coming of Christ. Awesome, when you think about it. The same goes for ships.

A husband and wife
She goes and he stays. What a shock will come over him. Years ago, I ran into John one day. He burst out to me, "Preacher, I got saved." Tell me about it John, I asked. He had heard me preach and heard about the rapture taking place. He said, "Last night, I was reading in bed. Mary fell asleep and when I looked at her it dawned on me that she would be taken and I would be left and I did not want her to go to heaven without me and so I prayed right then and accepted Christ as my Savior. I will be there Sunday and confess the Lord Jesus to everyone there." He did the next Sunday and went on with the Lord.

Prayer:  Father, help those who are not saved, and may they come to know Christ as their savior too. In Jesus name.

And I love you, all because the Lord Jesus suffered and died for our sins, paid our debt in full and rose again so we can be forgiven and go to heaven, sumner. Do you believe in that alone for your salvation? Believe and pray to receive Him as your Savior right now. "He that has the Son, has life" 1 John 5:12.

Daily Smile:

Money can't buy friends, but you can get a better class of enemy.  

Happy Thursday

"One shall be taken and the other left"

"Then there will be two men in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. "Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one will be left" Matt. 24:40, 41.

The context of this is clearly, the one taken in the flood was the lost person, the one left was Noah and his family, the saved ones. More on this later. BUT at the rapture, one is going to be taken, caught up to meet the Lord in the air and the other, the lost, left behind to go through the tribulation. What is it going to be like?

Let's start with churches
There will be many "left behind." The cultists and any who deny that Jesus is Lord (God), will be left. "In the beginning was the word and the word was with God and the word was God" John 1:1. Excuse me, but I majored in Greek in seminary and this can only be translated, "the word was God" not "a" God, one among many but the only God. "All things were made by him" verse 3. "And the word was made flesh and dwelt among us and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the father, full of grace and truth" Jn. 1 3, 14. It does not take a rocket scientist to see this is referring to the Lord Jesus as God.

"Who is the liar but the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, the one who denies the Father and the Son. Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father; the one who confesses the Son has the Father also. " 1 John 2:22, 23. This is strong language but solemn truth. It is not said by me in bigotry or hate but humbly as the servant of God, true to the Word of God. They will be left behind.

The modernist
In the Dallas newspaper, talking about Mel Gibson's movie, "the Passion of the Christ" said, "Not all believers share Gibson's view that Jesus died to atone for sin." One professed Christian said, "It doesn't make sense to me that God would need to be satisfied by sending his son to be killed. That's a vengeful God and not a God I want to worship." How blind can you be. I am so sorry, but that kind will be left behind.

The professer but not possesser "They went out from us, but they were not of us: for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that it might be made manifest that they were not all of us" Vs. 19. Judas is the perfect example. He went "to his own place" Acts 1:25. There is a lot of professed believers as in Matt. 7:22, 23 who will hear the Lord Jesus say, "depart from me, I never knew you." These were never :"once saved" for Jesus said, "My sheep hear my voice and I know them" John 10:27. He also said, "I WILL NEVER DESERT YOU, NOR WILL I EVER FORSAKE YOU" Heb 13:5. These could have never been "once saved" because he said, "I will never leave you." They would have been taken in the rapture!

The unbelievers
"For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will... be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord." 1 Thes. 4:15, 17.

"But for the cowardly and unbelieving, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death" Rev. 21:8.

Prayer:  Father, wake up those who profess to be saved but are not and open their eyes that Christ suffered and died for their sins, rose again and to trust You for that alone to get them to heaven so they can be born again. In Jesus name

And I love you, all because the Lord Jesus suffered and died for our sins, paid our debt in full and rose again so we can be forgiven and go to heaven, sumner. Do you believe in that alone for your salvation? Believe and pray to receive Him as your Savior right now. "He that has the Son, has life" 1 John 5:12.

"Rejoice evermore" 1 Thes. 5:16. The joy of the Lord is your strength" Neh. 8:10

Daily Smile:

 Friends may come and go, but enemies accumulate.
- Thomas Jones

Happy Wednesday

What Scares the Devil?

by Dr. Larry Ollison

Over the years I have discovered many things about the devil and I have narrowed them down to three main categories.
1) The devil does not give up attacking you
2) The devil never quits attacking you
3) The devil always continues to attack you

The reason I am making this point is this. The solution to your problem does not come through changing the character of Satan. In John 8:44 Jesus said that Satan was a murderer and a liar from the beginning and that when he speaks his lies, he speaks from his own resources because he is a liar and the father of lies. 

In Hebrews 13:8 the Bible says that Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He cannot lie because He is the truth. But likewise we could say that Satan is the same yesterday, today, and forever. From the moment iniquity was found in him, his character was established. According to the Bible, that character will never change and because his character will never change, he has been judged and has been sentenced to the pit forever. 

The Word tells us that our shield of faith will extinguish all of the fiery darts of the enemy. (Eph. 6:16). Some people believe that if they stand in faith that the enemy will quit shooting the fiery darts. But that's not what the Word says. We must understand that our deliverance does not come from stopping the fiery darts, but from extinguishing them with our shield of faith.

Faith is:
1) Hearing God's Word
2) Believing God's Word
3) Speaking God's Word
4) Doing God's Word

(Romans 10:17) says that faith comes by hearing the Word of God. In order for faith to develop, we must expose ourselves to the Word of God and allow that Word to become alive (rhema) in our hearts. When the Word lives in our heart, our words will automatically speak our heart. 

Jesus said out of the abundance of your heart that your mouth would speak. (Luke 6:45.) Likewise, your actions will follow your heart. When your lifestyle is such that there is a continuous flow of the Word of God into your heart, there will be a continuous flow of the Word of God out of your mouth and you will be compelled to act on His Word. That lifestyle is called walking by faith. That lifestyle will create a shield that extinguishes the attack of the enemy.

We must understand this. Jesus said that offenses would always come. We know that the enemy is relentless. He always has and he always will attack those who follow God. The question is not, "Will he attack?" The question is, "How do we react to the attack of the enemy?" It doesn't matter what the weather is outside if you're inside-protected. To react in faith yields protection. To act in fear secures defeat. 

Actually, his attack is designed to create fear because fear is the opposite of faith and he knows that one spirit filled Christian walking in faith can deal a severe blow to his kingdom. That is his fear. 

Daily Smile:

Boss A man entered a pet shop, wanting to buy a parrot. The shop owner pointed out three identical parrots on a perch and said, "The parrot to the left costs 500 dollars."

"Why does that parrot cost so much?" the man wondered.

The owner replied, "Well, it knows how to use a computer."

The man asked about the next parrot on the perch. 

"That one costs 1,000 dollars because it can do everything the other parrot can do, plus it knows how to use the UNIX operating system." Naturally, the startled customer asked about the third parrot.

"That one costs 2,000 dollars."

"And what does that one do?" the man asked.

The owner replied, "To be honest, I've never seen him do a thing, but the other two call him boss!"

Happy Tuesday

GOD'S TRANSFORMING GRACE
By Pastor Robert Roosendaal

"For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared unto all men teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, right and godly in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour, Jesus Christ" (Titus 2:12, 13).

The religious world in the realm of Christendom is blinded to salvation by grace. The cults are unanimous in its rejection. Within the ranks of fundamentalism and evangelicalism much confusion remains. In the latter group there is further confusion relative to what effect this has in the believer's walk. Paul answers this in verse 14- "Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people zealous of good works."

Let us learn how effective God's grace can he in the home: God's grace will create love to replace the sting of bitterness. A beautiful obedience to God's Word will terminate disobedience, and the miracle of harmony will prevail over disharmony. The grace of thoughtfulness will touch the heart and dispel indifference. Divine hope will triumph over the pain of hopelessness. The preeminence of Christ will blossom forth---no longer will Christ be ignored. Prayerfulness will certainly be victorious over prayerlessness. Unselfishness now enters in to bless the home and to dispose the shame of selfishness. The parents learn to excel in spiritual positives, avoiding the folly of nagging negatives. The hearts of lovers now offer praise to God and for each other to wipe out the depression of murmuring. Contentment will bring glory to God for His goodness. Our Wonderful Lord is the giver of rest and refreshment for those in turmoil, the restlessness and fatigue that afflict so many. God is willing to direct us in attaining meaningful goals to replace the aimlessness and indirection that makes life so dull. Emerging from a life of wandering and confusion, Christ will thrill our hearts with eternal joy. The loveliness of Christ will shine with glorious beauty while the lackluster of sin with its attractions, will fade away. God's grace can do all that and much more. 

Daily Smile:

What did the salt say to the pepper?
Season's Greetings.
 

Happy Happy Monday

PAUL'S THANKFULNESS

Scripture Reading:  2 Thessalonians 1:1-3.


The same three men named in 1 Thessalonians are named here as sending greetings. Paul's use of "we" (1:3-4, 11-12) is worth noting. More than one man was responsible for establishing this, and other churches. God's laborers work together, by His design to accomplish His work. Silas was Paul's primary associate on his second missionary journey (Acts 15:40). Timothy was a young man Paul had led to Christ (1 Tim. 1:2) during his first missionary Journey (Acts 13-14). It was Timothy who brought Paul news of the Thessalonian situation the first " time (I Thess 3: 12,6). These three men were those who brought the faith to and nurtured the Thessalonian Church.

Again Paul greets the Thessalonians with his characteristic "grace and peace" (vs.2). Paul wants his readers to experience these blessings in their fullest measure. Grace is God's unmerited favor bestowed upon all who receive Him (John I:12). "Peace" is the ending of the alienation that previously separated the unbeloved from God (Rom.. 5:1).

Paul thanks God for this Church because of the continual growth in their faith (gk. huperauxanei). He has seen their faith grow super abundantly or vigorously in spite of hardship and persecution. Paul often uses superlatives in his Greek expressions. The Thessalonians' faith in God continues to increase as well as their love for others (James 2:14-17). Is this a reality in Our lives?

Daily Smile:

Q. What do you call two fat men having a chat?
A. A heavy discussion.

Editor's Note: Before you become offended, I am fat and my conversations can be sometimes Heavy... Laugh with me...

Happy Sunday

Working Versus Striving

Today God Is First (TGIF) devotional message, Copyright by Os Hillman, Marketplace Leaders.
"So he said to me, This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: 'Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,' says the Lord Almighty." - Zechariah 4:6 

Your greatest obstacle in fulfilling God's purposes in your life is the skills you have acquired to perform well in your work life. One of the great paradoxes in Scripture relates to our need to depend on the Lord; yet at the same time, we're instructed to use the talents and abilities God gives us to accomplish the work He gives us to do. It has been one of the most difficult principles to live out. How do we know that what we achieve is by the power of the Holy Spirit in our life versus our own abilities, and is there a difference? When we reach a level of excellence and performance in our fields, it actually becomes an obstacle to seeing God's power manifest in our work. What we naturally do well becomes the object of our trust. When this happens, God retreats. You see, God allows us to develop skills, but these must be continually yielded to God's Spirit. There will be times when God will use these skills to accomplish His purposes. There will be other times that God will not use any of our skills just to ensure that we know it is by His power that we can do anything. 

It is the oxymoron of all oxymorons for Christian workplace believers. Learning not to act until God shows you to act is a sign of maturity in God. "Do not lean on the natural skill which you have been given. Let God manifest Himself in what you are doing," said a mentor who has learned this balance of skill and walking with God. "You must almost restrain from doing those things you know you are prone to do and actually go against them." 

I was learning this lesson recently when I was asked to participate in a large event that would give great exposure and much needed financial increase to my ministry. It made all the sense in the world to participate. Then I prayed with a friend and asked the Lord His mind on it. The Lord showed us this was not His plan for me. I declined the invitation. 

Ask God to teach you what it means to walk according to the power of the Holy Spirit in your business life. Develop a listening ear to the small voice inside that wants to direct your efforts by His Spirit. 

Daily Smile:

Stuffed Pockets

A small boy stunned his parents after church one Sunday when he began to empty his pockets of nickels, dimes and quarters. 

Finally his mother asked the obvious question, "Where did you get all that money?"

"At Sunday school," the boy replied nonchalantly. 

"They have bowls of it."

Happy Saturday

The Poor

Psalm 74:21 O let the oppressed return ashamed: let the poor and needy praise thy name.

A government official was asked why more wasn't being done for the poor and starving. He answered, "We have no right to impose our culture on their chosen life-style. These people do nothing to better themselves, so they must want to live as they do. What should we be expected to do, in a case like that?"

Why do we look for ways to shame the poor and destitute? Of course, there are a few who are poor because they choose nothing better for their lives, but they are a distinct minority. All too often, poor people are made out to be lazy, evil, and greedy, when nothing could be further from the truth. The poor are our brothers and sisters, and they are worthy of our help, just because Christ said so. God blesses the poor and those who help them. Take hold of your blessing. Help someone in need.

Prayer: All your children deserve dignity and respect. Let me give all people the respect that I would give You, Lord. Humble my heart when I feel myself looking down on those around me. Amen.

Daily Smile:

A lawyer died and arrived at the pearly gates. To his dismay, there were thousands of people ahead of him in line to see St. Peter. To his surprise, St. Peter left his desk at the gate and came down the long line to where the lawyer was, and greeted him warmly. Then St. Peter and one of his assistants took the lawyer by the hands and guided him up to the front of the line, and into a comfortable chair by his desk. 

The lawyer said, "I don't mind all this attention, but what makes me so special?" 

St. Peter replied, "Well, I've added up all the hours for which you billed your clients, and by my calculation you must be about 193 years old!"

Happy Friday 13th

Today is Friday the 13th... If I actually believed in back luck or even good luck, I would have to say that amazing things have happened to me on this special day... Most of them were good... 
The first time I realized that the 13th was not back luck was when I went fishing with my Daddy Mac... It was my only time to go fishing with him and it was Friday the 13th... Caught 13 bream using Roaches as bait... Unlucky for the Roaches and Bream...
I have never been into fishing so that day was my personal best... 
I have sales calls to make today... Looking forward to a successful day... Happy Friday the 13th... Richard...
 
Forgiveness

“Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” – Luke
23:34 NASB

Ruggiero Leoncavallo was a rising star. Born in Naples in 1857, he became a successful composer, particularly after his opera, “Pagliacci,” premiered under the baton of Arturo Toscanini in 1892. Seeking to build on this success, he discovered the novel, La Vie de Bohème. This, he believed, was the story upon which he could base his next great opera.

He was distressed to learn that another composer, Giacomo Puccini, already was writing an opera based on the same book. Nonetheless, Leoncavallo continued with his project.

Puccini was first to finish his work, and his opera, La Bohème, became a sensation. Leoncavallo also finished his opera, but after a fairly successful debut, it was quickly forgotten. In the aftermath, he never could forgive Puccini, and the two men never spoke again. Crippled by bitterness and unforgiveness, Leoncavallo was stuck with the label of “one-opera composer.”

A spirit of unforgiveness can creep into any person’s life. Just like Leoncavallo, our lack of forgiveness can poison our attitudes and even lead to physical or emotional anguish.

Jesus said it was important to forgive others and to receive forgiveness from those we may have offended. If we are “at the altar,” we are to be ready to forgive those who have something against us. We even are to leave our offering and “go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering” (Matthew 5:23-24).

Forgiveness is so important that, while dying on the Cross, Jesus took the time to forgive those who were crucifying Him. As He demonstrated, we are not just to forgive our friends, but also our enemies. Forgiveness is not an option, but a cornerstone of the Christian faith—a key to mental, emotional, and spiritual health, and the healing of relationships.

Have you been wounded by the actions or words of someone? Have you forgiven them?

Daily Smile:
It was a cold winter day. An old man walked out onto a frozen lake, cut a hole in the ice and dropped in his fishing line. He was there for almost an hour, without even a nibble, when a young boy walked out onto the ice, cut a hole in the ice not far from him. The young boy dropped his fishing line and minutes later he hooked a Largemouth Bass.

The old man couldn't believe his eyes but chalked it up to plain luck. But, shortly thereafter, the young boy pulled in another large catch.

The young boy kept catching fish after fish. Finally, the old man couldn't take it any longer. "Son, I've been here for over an hour without even a nibble. You've been here only a few minutes and have caught a half
dozen fish! How do you do it?"

The boy responded, "Roo raf roo reep ra rums rrarm."

"What was that?" the old man asked.

Again the boy responded, "Roo raf roo reep ra rums rarrm."

"Look," said the old man, "I can't understand a word you're saying."

The boy spit the contents of his mouth into his hand and said, "You have to keep the worms warm!"

Happy Thursday

Not Allowing Past Sins to Silence Our Witness

Devotions taken from the messages of Adrian Rogers.

BIBLE MEDITATION: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
A young preacher was called out of a life of sin to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ. While in the pulpit one day, he received a note in which someone had written all his past sins. In addition it read, “Aren’t you ashamed of yourself? And you’re up there telling people to get right with God!”

Do you know what the young preacher did? He read that note, bowed his head in prayer, stood up and said, “Ladies and gentleman I have received a note, and here is what it says.” Then, in front of that whole crowd, he read every one of those sins. Then he said this: “Yes, I am ashamed of myself, but I am not ashamed of my Savior!”

ACTION POINT:
What are some past sins in your life that are holding you back from fully proclaiming God’s power to others? Confess them and bury them in His sea of forgetfulness.

Daily Smile:

First Ham

A young couple got married. When the wife prepared to bake a ham to celebrate their first Thanksgiving, she carefully cut off each end before placing it in the pan.

Her husband asked her why she did that and she replied, "I don't know - it's what my mother always did. But I can ask her."
She called Mom, who responded, "I always saw your Grandma do it, so I did the same."

They decided to check further, so the young woman called Grandma, who explained, "It was the only way I could get it to fit into my pan."

Happy Wednesday

A Letter from the Lord

‘Those who drink the water that I will give them will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give them will become a spring which will provide them with life-giving water and give them eternal life’

For almost 10 years I have been living in South America and in my garden I grow papyrus plants. Every morning I can see them outside my window. These plants have long, sleek stems that open upwards into a multitude of smaller stems. Actually they look like small hands being held upwards.

In the early morning hours they are covered with drops of rain, or dewdrops falling during the hours of dawn. These drops glimmer in the sunshine before they fall to the ground, watering the plants during the long hours under the tropical burning sunshine. If these plants don’t get enough water, they fall over, break down, and shrink into dry, dead, brown stalks.

One morning, looking out at the papyrus plants, the Lord reminded me about the importance of taking time out with Him before the day starts. Like the papyruses He wants us to stretch towards Him to receive His life-giving water, so that we don’t wither during the day. Jesus said: ‘Those who drink the water that I will give them will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give them will become a spring which will provide them with life-giving water and give them eternal life’ (John 4:13-14).

It’s so easy to become a busy bee and push aside our vital time of being with the Lord, reading His word, praying and just waiting upon Him in silence. For me the best time for this is in the morning.

In ancient times the papyrus plants were used to make paper, and to write upon. The plants went through a special process, and soon their green lush stems were converted to paper, where the scribes could write down important messages (often words dictated by the king!). But the plants needed to be fresh and green to fulfill this purpose.

You see, when we come close to the Lord, and let Him fill us with life-giving water, He is not only refreshing us but can also use us to write His messages upon, to reach those who need a special greeting from Him during the day.

In Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians he says that ‘Christ himself wrote this letter….not with ink , but with the Spirit of the living God, and not on stone tablets, but on human hearts’ (2 Corinthians 3:3).

Prayer: Dear Lord, please forgive me for not given You priority as much as I should. I want to receive Your living water! Help me to open up my heart to You today, so that You can talk to me, touch me, refresh my heart, and use me as a letter for those that I meet today, who really need Your blessing on their life! Amen.

Today's Writer : Beatriz Benestad

Daily Smile:

After the Sunday school teacher told the story of the Prodigal Son to the class, she asked, "Was anyone sorry when the Prodigal Son returned?"

One boy answered, "The fatted calf."

Happy Tuesday

Trying to Please Everyone By Alan Smith

The story is told of a man and his grandson traveling down the road, walking and leading a donkey. They met a man who said, "How foolish for you to be walking. One of you should be riding the donkey." So the man put his grandson on the animal.

The next traveler they met frowned and said, "How dreadful for a strong boy to be riding while an old man walks." So the boy climbed off the donkey and his grandfather climbed on.

The next person they met said, "I just can't believe a grown man would ride and make a little boy walk." So the man pulled the boy up and they rode the donkey together. That is, until they met another man who said, "I never saw anything so cruel in all my life -- two human beings riding on one poor defenseless donkey!"

Down the road a ways, they met a couple of men. After they passed, one of the men turned to the other and said, "Did you ever before see two fools carrying a donkey?"

The point is: You can't please everyone! And it can be very frustrating to even try to do so because it's impossible. The truth of the matter is, even if we could please everyone, we shouldn't. In fact, trying to please others can [easily] distract from the One we should be pleasing, if we're not careful.

Though Paul was certainly mindful of the feelings of others, he wrote: "Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ." (Galatians 1:10, NIV)

Living our lives so as to receive the praise of people around us will only get us into trouble. I think of the chief rulers who "believed in Him [Jesus], but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God." (John 12:42-43). When we become attached to public opinion and pleasing others around us, we will eventually end up denying God.

Have you found lately that everyone isn't pleased with your decisions? Don't lose any sleep over it, as long as you're seeking to please the only ONE that really matters!

Daily Thought:
"Standing in the middle of the road is dangerous; you get knocked down by traffic from both sides." - Margaret Thatcher

Daily Smile:

Soup Du Jour

When the waitress in a New York City restaurant brought him the soup du jour, the Englishman was a bit dismayed.

"Good heavens," he said, "what is this?"

"Why, it's bean soup," she replied.

"I don't care what it has been," he sputtered. "What is it now?"

Starlight News on Facebook