How many of us have ever sat down and thought about how our God feels as he watches the choices that we make in life? How do you think God feels about the choices you make? We know about the text book answers about glorifying him, praising him, but do we think about God's feelings being hurt? Because we definitely want people to know how we feel when we have our feelings injured. We refuse to talk. We run silent and run deep staring into nothing. God has feelings! We can quickly think about our God getting angry. But how many times have we seriously thought about the way his feelings are hurt as a Father when one of his children break their oath? You have the right to remain silent?
One of the greatest hindrances in being completely dedicated to Jesus is the excuse of fulfilling our own personal desires. We all have personal obligations and God understands that. But the Lord's focus is not on our natural desires because those desires are what often cause us to forsake him or have gotten us into trouble again and again. God's focus is on our supernatural desires. Listen carefully, He gave us all gifts but we get the idea that we can just dedicate our gifts you know, do something every now and then. However, you must realize the danger of that thinking that's like saying, your doing God a favor! Take a look at your personal life and how dedicated you are to it. Now, compare that to how dedicated you are to God. You have the right to remain silent. There is only one thing you can dedicate to God, and that is to give up your right to yourself (Romans 12:1).
Sometimes we all get fed up with people. We feel like were being disrespected, neglected, rejected and even disconnected but not respected. And God who made us in his image also has times when he allows his feelings to show. Have you ever hurt God's feelings? You have a right to remain silent!
November 29, 2008
November 26, 2008
A Great Thanksgiving Story
One day, a poor boy who was selling goods from door to door to pay his way through school, found he had only one thin dime left, and he was hungry.
He decided he would ask for a meal at the next house. However, he lost his nerve when a lovely young woman opened the door. Instead of a meal he asked for a drink of water. She thought he looked hungry so brought him a large glass of milk. He drank it slowly, and then asked, 'How much do I owe you?'
'You don't owe me anything,' she replied 'Mother has taught us never to accept payment for a kindness.' He said... 'Then I thank you from my heart.'
As Howard Kelly left that house, he not only felt; stronger physically, but his faith in God and man was strong also. He had been ready to give up and quit.
Years later that young woman became critically ill. The local doctors were baffled. They finally sent her to the big city, where they called in specialists to study her rare disease. Dr. Howard Kelly was called in for the consultation. When he heard the name of the town she came from, a strange light filled his eyes.
Immediately he rose and went down the hall of the hospital to her room. Dressed in his doctor's gown he went in to see her. He recognized her at once. He went back to the consultation room determined to do his best to save her life. From that day he gave special attention to the case.
After a long struggle, the battle was won. Dr. Kelly requested the business office to pass the final bill to him for approval. He looked at it, then wrote something on the edge and the bill was sent to her room.
She feared to open it, for she was sure it would take the rest of her life to pay for it all. Finally, she looked, and something caught; her attention on the side as She read these words.....
'Paid in full with one glass of milk.' (Signed) Dr. Howard Kelly.
Tears of joy flooded her eyes as her happy heart prayed: 'Thank You, GOD, that Your love has spread abroad through human hearts and hands.'
He decided he would ask for a meal at the next house. However, he lost his nerve when a lovely young woman opened the door. Instead of a meal he asked for a drink of water. She thought he looked hungry so brought him a large glass of milk. He drank it slowly, and then asked, 'How much do I owe you?'
'You don't owe me anything,' she replied 'Mother has taught us never to accept payment for a kindness.' He said... 'Then I thank you from my heart.'
As Howard Kelly left that house, he not only felt; stronger physically, but his faith in God and man was strong also. He had been ready to give up and quit.
Years later that young woman became critically ill. The local doctors were baffled. They finally sent her to the big city, where they called in specialists to study her rare disease. Dr. Howard Kelly was called in for the consultation. When he heard the name of the town she came from, a strange light filled his eyes.
Immediately he rose and went down the hall of the hospital to her room. Dressed in his doctor's gown he went in to see her. He recognized her at once. He went back to the consultation room determined to do his best to save her life. From that day he gave special attention to the case.
After a long struggle, the battle was won. Dr. Kelly requested the business office to pass the final bill to him for approval. He looked at it, then wrote something on the edge and the bill was sent to her room.
She feared to open it, for she was sure it would take the rest of her life to pay for it all. Finally, she looked, and something caught; her attention on the side as She read these words.....
'Paid in full with one glass of milk.' (Signed) Dr. Howard Kelly.
Tears of joy flooded her eyes as her happy heart prayed: 'Thank You, GOD, that Your love has spread abroad through human hearts and hands.'
November 25, 2008
The Word Remission (Acts2:28)
Have you ever been really hurt by someone? Most conflict occurs over silly things where two opposite opinions clash and spin out of control until it blows up into a full scale fight or argument. Sometimes people will not speak to each other for days, months and even years. The rationalization is, "I don't need to be bothered with that person in my life." But then you find yourself not going to places if you know the person will also attend. Some people go out of their way to avoid seeing someone. Well, socially you may never speak to that person again but truthfully and psychologically you're carrying that person around with you in your heart wherever you go, it's a disease of UN-forgiveness! What makes it a disease? It's a disease because it eats at you in your heart, soul, mind and conscience continually. And you think about it over and over again periodically. The therapeutic gossip approach is to talk about that person to someone else which only makes the thing bigger. There are many diseases that eat and deteriorate the human body but the greatest affect is seen in what it does to the mind. When people get their feelings hurt they think of all kinds of crazy things relating to revenge, retaliation, retribution, road-blocking, anything to hurt the person back. The pain from this kind of disease will never stop until it's treated and sent into remission. Remission means the symptoms begin to disappear and eventually you're cured. What kind of hurt are you carrying around inside you?
God's feelings are hurt by millions of people every day and you and I are in that number. But we don't think of God's feelings like we do our own. The difference between God and us is he's willing to forgive us and forget about the hurt right away. God so loved the world that he gave his Son Jesus for the sole purpose of granting us remission of our sins. How can we say that we are God's people, God's children and yet we sensitively carry our feelings on our shoulders refusing to forgive others? She who doesn't identify with God's forgiving nature is not of God! Today we look at a forgiving father, a repentant son and an unforgiving brother (Luke 15:11-32). The quickest way to be cured from anyone hurting you is to forgive them as fast as you can, then the hurt and pain can go into remission!
God's feelings are hurt by millions of people every day and you and I are in that number. But we don't think of God's feelings like we do our own. The difference between God and us is he's willing to forgive us and forget about the hurt right away. God so loved the world that he gave his Son Jesus for the sole purpose of granting us remission of our sins. How can we say that we are God's people, God's children and yet we sensitively carry our feelings on our shoulders refusing to forgive others? She who doesn't identify with God's forgiving nature is not of God! Today we look at a forgiving father, a repentant son and an unforgiving brother (Luke 15:11-32). The quickest way to be cured from anyone hurting you is to forgive them as fast as you can, then the hurt and pain can go into remission!
November 18, 2008
The Top 5 Fear List
The fear of man brings a snare, but he who trusts in the Lord will be exalted.Proverbs 29:25
A college professor did a survey of two thousand students and asked them what their greatest fears were. Here is the list of their top five fears:
1. Public speaking;
2. Blindness;
3. Heights;
4. Heart attack or cancer;
5. Death.
Fear is a snare. A trap. It can cause us to become paralyzed and discouraged. It intimidates us and causes us to feel inferior to others and to our circumstances. I believe fear operates like a magnifying glass, making seemingly small objects and circumstances seem giant and insurmountable.
Today, I believe too many Christians suffer from what I call the "What If Syndrome." Like a dog chasing its tail, they don't make any decisions because they continually worry "What if...?"
This is exactly how the devil wants you to think.You see, if Satan can get fear to line the interior of your soul, it becomes like a impenetrable coating that causes you to take your focus off God. Satan will do all he can to keep us from yielding our lives to God and experiencing His peace and love.
First Peter 5:8 tells us, "Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour." He is trying to use the snare of fear to devour us!But God's Word says, "He who trusts in the Lord will be exalted."
And although Satan may win a few battles on this earth, the victory is God's in the end.Fear is the emotional pain in the soul of unbelief. When we feel fearful, it is God's warning light to us that we need to respond with faith; fear and faith cannot exist in the same spot simultaneously.
A college professor did a survey of two thousand students and asked them what their greatest fears were. Here is the list of their top five fears:
1. Public speaking;
2. Blindness;
3. Heights;
4. Heart attack or cancer;
5. Death.
Fear is a snare. A trap. It can cause us to become paralyzed and discouraged. It intimidates us and causes us to feel inferior to others and to our circumstances. I believe fear operates like a magnifying glass, making seemingly small objects and circumstances seem giant and insurmountable.
Today, I believe too many Christians suffer from what I call the "What If Syndrome." Like a dog chasing its tail, they don't make any decisions because they continually worry "What if...?"
This is exactly how the devil wants you to think.You see, if Satan can get fear to line the interior of your soul, it becomes like a impenetrable coating that causes you to take your focus off God. Satan will do all he can to keep us from yielding our lives to God and experiencing His peace and love.
First Peter 5:8 tells us, "Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour." He is trying to use the snare of fear to devour us!But God's Word says, "He who trusts in the Lord will be exalted."
And although Satan may win a few battles on this earth, the victory is God's in the end.Fear is the emotional pain in the soul of unbelief. When we feel fearful, it is God's warning light to us that we need to respond with faith; fear and faith cannot exist in the same spot simultaneously.
November 14, 2008
Are You Spinning Plates?
Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it.Psalm 127:1.
Do you remember the man who spun the plates on the "Ed Sullivan Show" years ago? I've never forgotten him.He would start at one end of a long table, place a stick perpendicular to the table, then spin a plate on the stick. Working on down the table, he would place other plates and set them to spinning on their own sticks. As the first plate began to wobble, the man would rush back and expertly spin it again as the audience breathed a sigh of relief.On he would go...seven, eight, nine plates. By this time, plates two, three and four were now beginning to wobble. But just before you knew everything would come crashing down, he would quickly scoop up all of the plates in his professional hands and bow to the applause of the audience.
Similarly, the roles we assume in life as husband, wife, father, mother, businessman, civic leader, church leader, Sunday School teacher...all represent different plates in our lives. We begin spinning them early in our married lives, with plate number one being our marriages. Through the years we add other plates-career, children, church responsibilities-and our efforts to focus become more difficult.The real problems come when we begin to make wrong choices.
We mistakenly choose to meet more material "needs" by applying our efforts primarily to our work. This isn't about keeping our families from starving, but more about status, significance and the accumulation of "more."The result is that our focus is lost. We add even more plates. Important plates begin to wobble-even fall and shatter.
How are your essential plates spinning? Any wobbling? Are you giving your energy to the right "ones" according to God's value system?
Do you remember the man who spun the plates on the "Ed Sullivan Show" years ago? I've never forgotten him.He would start at one end of a long table, place a stick perpendicular to the table, then spin a plate on the stick. Working on down the table, he would place other plates and set them to spinning on their own sticks. As the first plate began to wobble, the man would rush back and expertly spin it again as the audience breathed a sigh of relief.On he would go...seven, eight, nine plates. By this time, plates two, three and four were now beginning to wobble. But just before you knew everything would come crashing down, he would quickly scoop up all of the plates in his professional hands and bow to the applause of the audience.
Similarly, the roles we assume in life as husband, wife, father, mother, businessman, civic leader, church leader, Sunday School teacher...all represent different plates in our lives. We begin spinning them early in our married lives, with plate number one being our marriages. Through the years we add other plates-career, children, church responsibilities-and our efforts to focus become more difficult.The real problems come when we begin to make wrong choices.
We mistakenly choose to meet more material "needs" by applying our efforts primarily to our work. This isn't about keeping our families from starving, but more about status, significance and the accumulation of "more."The result is that our focus is lost. We add even more plates. Important plates begin to wobble-even fall and shatter.
How are your essential plates spinning? Any wobbling? Are you giving your energy to the right "ones" according to God's value system?
November 13, 2008
The Grocery List
Louise Redden, a poorly dressed lady with a look of defeat on her face, walked into a grocery store. She approached the owner of the store in a most humble manner and asked if he would let her charge a few groceries.
She softly explained that her husband was very ill and unable to work, they had seven children and they needed food.
John Longhouse, the grocer, scoffed at her and requested that she leave his store at once.
Visualizing the family needs, she said: "Please, sir! I will bring you the money just as soon as I can."
John told her he could not give her credit, since she did not have a charge account at his store.
Standing beside the counter was a customer who overheard the conversation between the two. The customer walked forward and told the grocer that he would stand good for whatever she needed for her family.
The grocer said in a very reluctant voice, "Do you have a grocery list?
"Louise replied, "Yes sir." "O.K" he said, "put your grocery list on the scales and whatever your grocery list weighs, I will give you that amount in groceries.
"Louise, hesitated a moment with a bowed head, then she reached into her purse and took out a piece of paper and scribbled something on it. She then laid the piece of paper on the scale carefully with her head still bowed.
The eyes of the grocer and the customer showed amazement when the scales went down and stayed down.
The grocer, staring at the scales, turned slowly to the customer and said begrudgingly, "I can't believe it."
The customer smiled and the grocer started putting the groceries on the other side of the scales. The scale did not balance so he continued to put more and more groceries on them until the scales would hold no more. The grocer stood there in utter disgust.
Finally, he grabbed the piece of paper from the scales and looked at it with greater amazement.It was not a grocery list, it was a prayer, which said:"Dear Lord, you know my needs and I am leaving this in your hands."
The grocer gave her the groceries that he had gathered and stood in stunned silence.Louise thanked him and left the store.The other customer handed a fifty-dollar bill to the grocer and said;"It was worth every penny of it . Only God Knows how much a prayer weighs.
trust God to heal the sick, provide food for the hungry, clothes and shelter for those that don't have as we do. Amen & Amen
O The Power Of Prayer!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
She softly explained that her husband was very ill and unable to work, they had seven children and they needed food.
John Longhouse, the grocer, scoffed at her and requested that she leave his store at once.
Visualizing the family needs, she said: "Please, sir! I will bring you the money just as soon as I can."
John told her he could not give her credit, since she did not have a charge account at his store.
Standing beside the counter was a customer who overheard the conversation between the two. The customer walked forward and told the grocer that he would stand good for whatever she needed for her family.
The grocer said in a very reluctant voice, "Do you have a grocery list?
"Louise replied, "Yes sir." "O.K" he said, "put your grocery list on the scales and whatever your grocery list weighs, I will give you that amount in groceries.
"Louise, hesitated a moment with a bowed head, then she reached into her purse and took out a piece of paper and scribbled something on it. She then laid the piece of paper on the scale carefully with her head still bowed.
The eyes of the grocer and the customer showed amazement when the scales went down and stayed down.
The grocer, staring at the scales, turned slowly to the customer and said begrudgingly, "I can't believe it."
The customer smiled and the grocer started putting the groceries on the other side of the scales. The scale did not balance so he continued to put more and more groceries on them until the scales would hold no more. The grocer stood there in utter disgust.
Finally, he grabbed the piece of paper from the scales and looked at it with greater amazement.It was not a grocery list, it was a prayer, which said:"Dear Lord, you know my needs and I am leaving this in your hands."
The grocer gave her the groceries that he had gathered and stood in stunned silence.Louise thanked him and left the store.The other customer handed a fifty-dollar bill to the grocer and said;"It was worth every penny of it . Only God Knows how much a prayer weighs.
trust God to heal the sick, provide food for the hungry, clothes and shelter for those that don't have as we do. Amen & Amen
O The Power Of Prayer!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
November 12, 2008
THE SCARS OF LIFE
Some years ago, on a hot summer day in south Florida, a little boy decided to go for a swim in the old swimming hole behind his house. In a hurry to dive into the cool water, he ran out the back door, leaving behind shoes, socks, and shirt as he went. He flew into the water, not realizing that as he swam toward the middle of the lake, an alligator was swimming toward the
shore.
His father, working in the yard, saw the two as they got closer and closer together. In utter fear, he ran toward the water, yelling to his son as loudly as he could.
Hearing his voice, the little boy became alarmed and made a U-turn to swim to his father. It was too late. Just as he reached his father, the alligator reached him.
From the dock, the father grabbed his little boy by the arms just as the alligator snatched his legs. That began an incredible tug-of-war between the two. The alligator was much stronger than the father, but the father was much too passionate to let go.
A farmer happened to drive by, heard his screams, raced from his truck, took aim and shot the alligator.
Remarkably, after weeks and weeks in the hospital, the little boy survived His legs were extremely scarred by the vicious attack of the animal. And, on his arms, were deep scratches where his father's fingernails dug into his flesh in his effort to hang on to the son he loved.
The newspaper reporter who interviewed the boy after the trauma, asked if he would show him his scars. The boy lifted his pant legs. And then, with obvious pride, he said to the reporter, "But look at my arms. I have great scars on my arms, too. I have them because my Dad wouldn't let go."
You and I can identify with that little boy. We have scars, too. No, not from an alligator, but the scars of a painful past. Some of those scars are unsightly and have caused us deep regret. But some wounds, my friend, are because God has refused to let you go. In the midst of your struggle, He's been there holding on to you.
The Scripture teaches that God loves you. You are a child of God. He wants to protect you and provide for you in every way. But sometimes we foolishly wade into dangerous situations, not knowing what lies ahead. The swimming hole of life is filled with peril - and we forget that the enemy is waiting to attack. That's when the tug-of-war begins - and if you have the scars of His love on your arms, be very, very grateful. He did not and will not ever let you go.
What good will it be for you to gain the world and loose your soul? Or what can you give in exchange for your soul? Matthew :16-26
shore.
His father, working in the yard, saw the two as they got closer and closer together. In utter fear, he ran toward the water, yelling to his son as loudly as he could.
Hearing his voice, the little boy became alarmed and made a U-turn to swim to his father. It was too late. Just as he reached his father, the alligator reached him.
From the dock, the father grabbed his little boy by the arms just as the alligator snatched his legs. That began an incredible tug-of-war between the two. The alligator was much stronger than the father, but the father was much too passionate to let go.
A farmer happened to drive by, heard his screams, raced from his truck, took aim and shot the alligator.
Remarkably, after weeks and weeks in the hospital, the little boy survived His legs were extremely scarred by the vicious attack of the animal. And, on his arms, were deep scratches where his father's fingernails dug into his flesh in his effort to hang on to the son he loved.
The newspaper reporter who interviewed the boy after the trauma, asked if he would show him his scars. The boy lifted his pant legs. And then, with obvious pride, he said to the reporter, "But look at my arms. I have great scars on my arms, too. I have them because my Dad wouldn't let go."
You and I can identify with that little boy. We have scars, too. No, not from an alligator, but the scars of a painful past. Some of those scars are unsightly and have caused us deep regret. But some wounds, my friend, are because God has refused to let you go. In the midst of your struggle, He's been there holding on to you.
The Scripture teaches that God loves you. You are a child of God. He wants to protect you and provide for you in every way. But sometimes we foolishly wade into dangerous situations, not knowing what lies ahead. The swimming hole of life is filled with peril - and we forget that the enemy is waiting to attack. That's when the tug-of-war begins - and if you have the scars of His love on your arms, be very, very grateful. He did not and will not ever let you go.
What good will it be for you to gain the world and loose your soul? Or what can you give in exchange for your soul? Matthew :16-26
November 3, 2008
The Visitor
You Took My Parking Space at ChurchThis should wake us up.
One day, a man went to visit a church. He got there early, parked his car and got out. Another car pulled up near him. 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 He 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?"
T he visitor replied, as his hat became a crown of thorns, and a tear fell from his eye, "I took your place."
This is powerful.
Maybe, just maybe, we can get the world to start thinking of who took our 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 him. 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 He 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?"
T he visitor replied, as his hat became a crown of thorns, and a tear fell from his eye, "I took your place."
This is powerful.
Maybe, just maybe, we can get the world to start thinking of who took our place.
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