Galatians 2:10: "They desired only that we should remember the poor , the very thing which I also was eager to do."

Acts 20:35: "And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'"

Christmas can be a terrible time of year if you miss the meaning. God sent His Son to be our Savior. He came to serve. He gave His life away. Many times, thought exhausted, He had compassion on the multitude, Mark 6:34: "And Jesus, when He came out, saw a great multitude and was moved with compassion for them, because they were like sheep not having a shepherd."

Many this Christmas are saying, "This is what I want for Christmas," or "I want this for Christmas." Perhaps we should think of others, Just as Jesus did. There are many sheep out there without a shepherd. Many poor, many homeless, without a shepherd. This year, do something for the poor. Perhaps you could give a donation to your local homeless shelter? Or perhaps your church could do something you could be a part of? Or perhaps you could remember someone that is struggling financially this year?

This Christmas, may you find to joy of knowing that, "'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'"

After what appeared to be a failed ministry, this is what the Lord shared with me...

Ezekiel 33:30-33

"As for you, son of man, the children of your people are talking about you beside the walls and in the doors of the houses; and they speak to one another, everyone saying to his brother, 'Please come and hear what the word is that comes from the LORD.'

So they come to you as people do, they sit before you as My people, and they hear your words, but they do not do them; for with their mouth they show much love, but their hearts pursue their own gain.

Indeed you are to them as a very lovely song of one who has a pleasant voice and can play well on an instrument; for they hear your words, but they do not do them.

And when this comes to pass — surely it will come — then they will know that a prophet has been among them."

What to do with worry...

1 Peter 5:7: "casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you."

The word here "casting" is not a throwing but a definite act of the will in committing to Him our worries. The word "care" is anxious care, perpetually worrying. Finally, the word "cares" means, "concerned with our welfare."

Sometimes we find ourselves worried sick about things we have no control over. So, we read this passage, go to God, and give it to Him, only to take it back right away, in a few minutes, hours, days, etc. But if we are going to be free from worry, we must cast our anxious care at His feet.

Many times we find ourselves saying, "God, don't you care?" Which is like saying to the sun, "Don't you shine?" We need to remind ourselves often that He cares for us.
Sometimes we don't see the sun, but it is still shining. He is always concerned with our welfare. That means that sometimes He desires for us that which we may not desire for ourselves.

I have found over the years that everything, without exception, that I worried about either did not happen, or was wonderfully worked out by God.

Whether we worry or not, God will work it out. How glorious to know freedom from worry. It only comes from casting our cares on Him, because, after all, He cares for us. We have His Word on it.

The Lord Stood with me...

2 Timothy 4:16-17: "At my first defense no one stood with me, but all forsook me. May it not be charged against them. But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me..."

Have you ever felt alone and abandoned by your friends? Have you ever been abandoned by your friends? Paul did. He tells us in 2 Timothy 4, that his real friends left to take care of other business, but his supposed friends left without a word. His "defense" is when he stood before Emperor Nero for the first time, a time when it would be nice to have friends stand with you.

Jesus knew what it was like to have His friends forsake Him as well (Matthew 26:56, Mark 14:50).

I also know what it is like to have your "friends" abandon you. It's painful; it hurts. We all have felt that pain.

What I appreciate about what Paul wrote to Timothy is his comment that, "...the Lord stood with me." What a great reminder. Several times the Lord promised Paul that He would be with him. Here we see that God keeps His promises.

Paul wrote in Hebrews Hebrews 13:5-6:

"Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.' So we may boldly say:'The LORD is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?'"

Now it is interesting that in verse 5 there is, in the Greek, a double negative and a triple negative, so that it literally reads, "I will never, never leave you, I will never, never, never forsake you. What a wonderful promise from our Faithful God.

Remember, the next time you feel alone and abandoned, the Lord is standing with you...

Jacob DeShazer

Jacob DeShazer was on KP duty in California when he first heard the news of the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. Furious at what the Japanese had done, he resolved to retaliate personally. And in April 1942, he got his chance—as a B-25 bombardier when Doolittle’s Raiders attacked Tokyo.

During that fateful run, DeShazer’s plane ran out of fuel, and the crew bailed out over enemy territory. DeShazer was captured and spent the next forty months as a POW—including thirty-four months in solitary confinement. Three of his buddies were executed, and another died of slow starvation.

With plenty of time to think, Jake wondered: What makes people hate each other? And he also wondered: Doesn’t the Bible say something about loving our enemies?

He asked his jailers for a Bible and eventually got one. He read it with fascination, re-reading some parts six or more times. Then, ten days into his study, he asked Christ to forgive his sins.

He remembers, "suddenly...when I looked at the enemy officers and guards..., I realized that…if Christ is not in a heart, it is natural to be cruel...[M]y bitter hatred...changed to loving pity." Remembering Christ’s words from the cross— "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do"—he asked God to forgive those who tortured him, as well.

Fourteen months later, in August 1945, paratroopers liberated DeShazer from his prison cell. After the war, a chaplain on General MacArthur’s staff wanted something to help heal the animosity between the United States and Japan. He approached Don Falkenberg of Bible Literature International, who had read DeShazer’s testimony shortly after his release. And soon the story was being circulated as a booklet called, "I Was a Prisoner of Japan."

But here’s where the story gets interesting. Japanese Navy pilot Mitsuo Fuchida was Chief Commander of the historic December 7 raid on Pearl Harbor. He had advised against attacking the American base, but when given orders to proceed, Fuchida led the assault.

Eventually Fuchida logged more than ten thousand combat hours. But his closest brush with death was on the ground in Japan. He was in Hiroshima the day before the atom bomb was dropped. His life was spared because orders had come to go to Tokyo.

When the war ended, Captain Fuchida returned to his family farm near Osaka. Later, stepping off a train in Tokyo, he was given a copy of Jacob DeShazer’s booklet. Intrigued, he began reading the Bible. And despite his Shinto heritage, he accepted Christ as his Savior.

How marvelous are God’s ways? An American airman is taken prisoner, is converted, and his testimony leads his captors’ ace pilot to Christ. Over a thirty-year span, Captain Fuchida and Sergeant DeShazer traveled together throughout Japan. Together and separately, they saw tens of thousands of Japanese converted.

Learning to love our enemies is so important, something every Christian must strive for. But when we’re fighting deadly enemies, as our nation is today at war, doing so is a miracle—a miracle of restoration and healing that can come only through faith in Christ.

So You would Hope...

"Hope is a good thing; perhaps the best of things." Andy Dufrane, The Shawshank Redemption

Okie Preacher-

I can’t begin to tell you all how wonderful Rachel (my daughter)is doing. In a day where people being “touched” by the Lord during church is considered suspect, Rachel has indeed felt the hand of God. She is still struggling; but now with hope. I see the love of God in her eyes; she no longer has the look of desperation; I personally believe that God is on the way to healing her, but that is just a father’s hope.

Rachel Elisabeth-

thank you all for praying. my deepest desire is that he would be glorified in my life.

thank you all for your prayers. i am sorry for my long absence. i can’t explain it, other than to say the sicker i am the less i want/can say. and when i do have something to say, it might not always be helpful in that state, so i try not to say it.

as my dad already told you, i have seen a huge change, and it is all so obviously the work of the Lord. i know that he wants to do more with and in me and i am praying now to find all of that and be faithful to do my part in what he has for me.

love to all of you. may God encourage you all today and may you feel his love poured out on you. and if you don’t, may the knowledge of His love comfort you, even if you can’t feel it.

The duty of the true Christian is clear and plain. Whatever others do, he must give all diligence to make his own calling and election sure. While others are occupied in national conflicts and political speculations, he must steadily seek first the kingdom of God. In so doing, he shall feel his feet upon a rock when the foundations of the earth are out of course, and the kingdoms of this earth are going to ruin. He shall be like Noah, safe within the ark.

J.C. Ryle

Gayle Erwin on Forgiving

Jesus changed "eye for eye" to "forgive." Until then, humanity left all the forgiving to God. A simple study of the nature of God proves that he forgave all manner of sin. (Exodus 34:6) Now, with Jesus moving the Law to a spiritual plane, those who follow God must also forgive. Jesus relayed to us that masterpiece of communication with God we call "The Lord's Prayer." The centerpiece of the prayer is " forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us." Only that portion does Jesus choose to elaborate. Jesus informs us that if we do not forgive those who sin against us, neither will the Father forgive our sins. This is an awesome and scary statement. Forgiveness so anchors the nature of God that if we expect to walk with him, we must, at minimum, practice the trait that is at the core. No longer an option, now a requirement, forgiveness soars to the highest level of Christian living. Its effects are too broad to ignore.

http://servant.org/p_forgiv.htm

A Manger Without a Baby, By Lilly Green

I posted this last year at Christmas, but am doing it again because it is a wonderful testimony:

The following is the testimony of a very dear lady who, her and her husband, endured what all parents fear - the death of child in the womb. Their courage, faith, and witness is a testimony of those who turn to Jesus in time of sorrow instead of turning away from Him. Never once did there faith fail. Faith in a heavenly Father who gave a Son, so all could live.

Here are Lilly's own words:

"I equipped the big walk-in closet in the living room of our tiny duplex with a green second-hand crib and stocked the built-in drawers with soft little layette items. Long, wispy, white curtains tied back with yellow ribbon made an inviting entrance to a close room. Everyday, my tummy grew larger. Everyday, I fingered and rearranged clothes, blankets, and toys. I felt happy and excited, despite the christening I gave many toilets and gutters. Even with the little white pills, I threw up several times a day for nine months.

The baby squirmed and punched, kicked, and danced. I massaged hands and feet that fluidly traveled across my abdomen, pressing tight under ribs, giving me indigestion. The mountain of head and back rose, fell, and shifted. I had always wanted to be a mother, and now I was.

November’s sun began dipping to the south. The air held a slight chill, even for California. I counted the days—expectation high. With my friend’s stethoscope, I listened to the music—the strong, steady rhythm of life. But two weeks overdue, the rhythm stopped.

Kelly and I met in mid-August 1973. We worked with an over-zealous ministry that concentrated so much on Christ’s soon return that we made many decisions abruptly and unwisely. One of those was to marry quickly with little preparation or counsel. I guess we feared the Lord might come back before we had a chance to have sex. The night Kelly introduced me to his parents for the first time, we calmly announced our engagement. For all they knew, I could have been an ax murderer. Actually, for all I knew, Kelly could have been an ax murderer. After we left, his folks “discussed” our decision long into the night and woke with hangovers in the morning. But they bravely came along side, and we did marry. In this time of “Maranatha madness,” we were encouraged by our pastor not to have children, but to totally commit to the “work of the Lord.” We married in October, and by February, I was violently throwing up—a sure sign I was to be a mother. We figured my pregnancy just had be a miraculous work of God. Of course, as our friend Jo put it, “Those who use faith as birth control are called parents!” And so we were to be.

By the time I was six months pregnant, we moved from the ministry’s communal quarters to a small duplex down the street. For the first time, Kelly and I lived alone. It was a precious and necessary time to actually get to know one another after several months of marriage.

Then the baby died. November was a blur of death, tears, comfort, cremation, and far flung ashes. Thanksgiving came and went. It was hard to feel thankful when my arms ached to hold my little one. As cheery Christmas songs began to filter through radio speakers and shopping mall sound systems, my ache grew to intense pain. One part of my heart leaned in to the Savior, understanding that He too felt pain and loss. I wanted to trust that I was safe in His love and care. Another part of my heart felt cold and brittle, betrayed by life and Lord. A battle raged. Tears seemed never-ending, dreams dashed. Questions went unanswered. Joyful Mary knelt by her beautiful baby Jesus in nativity scenes all over town, but my manger was empty.

Years have added layers of depth and understanding to my loss, but even today there is a raw place—a place of longing for our baby girl Noelle. With a new Christmas season right around the corner, I have been reflecting once again on the incarnation. What does Christ’s birth really mean to me? My thoughts, as they often do at this time of year, are interwoven with thoughts of the death of our first child. Noelle was named for Christmas—a reminder of the miraculous event when God came to earth as a baby. It has crossed my mind, “What would our lives be like if Mary’s manger had been empty. What if Jesus had never come?” My sense of loss is great, but the devastating loss of Christ as God’s gift to the world would be unfathomable. No high priest to intercede for me, no forgiveness, no fellowship, no whispers of comfort in the night, no eternal promise of heaven.

After the funeral home cremated Noelle’s remains, Kelly and I drove to a secluded wooded area near his grandfather’s cabin to spread the ashes. The tiny white box fit in the breast pocket of Kelly’s plaid shirt. He held my hand tightly as he led the way uphill, brushing by scratchy shrubs and tree branches. Weak in body and spirit, I struggled to fix my steps on the narrow rugged path. Tears fell and feet fell. When finally we reached the top, we prayed. We held one another and the remains of a life so little known, then threw her ashes to the wind to become a part of the trees and bushes in that special place.

Christ carries my death next to his heart. He came to set me free from the spiritual consequences of my sin. I am free, but the way is often rugged; and through my tears, I don’t always see too clearly. I have no idea what’s up ahead. But He is in the lead. He holds my hand, and all I need do is stick to the path and match Him step for step.

I met that tearful Christmas many years ago with empty arms, but because of the babe in Mary’s manger, because her manger was not empty, I continue to have hope."

Luke 17:17: "So Jesus answered and said, 'Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine?'"

In this story, Jesus heals ten lepers, but only one returns to thank Him. This passage shows us that He misses our thankfulness; He has done so much for us and so often we remain un-thankful.

Today we celebrate Thanksgiving here in America. Yet for the believer, giving of thanks should be everyday, and even several times a day.

Thank you Father, for sending Your Son. Thank you Jesus for saving me.

Chuck Swindol on Suffering

* Nothing touches me that has not passed through the hands of my heavenly Father. Nothing. Whatever occurs, God has sovereignly surveyed and approved. We may not know why, but we do know our pain is no accident to Him who guides our lives.
* Everything I endure is designed to prepare me for serving others more effectively. Everything. Since my Heavenly Father is committed to shaping me into the image of His Son, He knows the ultimate value of this painful experience. It is being used to empty our hands of our own resources, our own sufficiency, and turn us back to Him---the faithful Provider. And God knows what will get through to us.

Things may not be logical or fair, but when God is directing the events of our lives, they are right.

Be united with other Christians. A wall with loose bricks is not good. The bricks must be cemented together.

Corrie Ten Boom

A Picture of the Modern Evangelical Movement?

DARK HELMET
What am I looking at? When does this happen in the movie?
COL SANDERS
Now. You’re looking at now, sir. Everything that happens now, is happening now.
DARK HELMET
What happened to then?
COL SANDERS
We passed then?
DARK HELMET
When?
COL SANDERS
Just now. We’re at now, now.
DARK HELMET
Go back to then.
COL SANDERS
When?
DARK HELMET
Now.
COL SANDERS
Now?
DARK HELMET
Now.
COL SANDERS
I can’t.
DARK HELMET
Why?
COL SANDERS
We missed it.
DARK HELMET
When?
COL SANDERS
Just now.
DARK HELMET
When will then be now?
COL SANDERS
Soon.

Faith, John Charles Ryle

Faith is that poor trembling woman who came behind Jesus in the press and touched His garment. (Mark 5:27) Assurance is Stephen standing calmly in the midst of his murderers, and saying, “I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.” (Acts 7:5-6)

Faith is the penitent thief, crying, “Lord, remember me.” (Luke 23:42) Assurance is Job, sitting in the dust, covered with sores, and saying, “I know that my Redeemer liveth.” (Job 19:25) “Though He slay me, yet I will trust in Him.” (Job 13:15)

Faith is Peter’s drowning cry as he began to sink, “Lord, save me.” (Matthew 14:30) Assurance is that same Peter declaring before the Council in after-times, “This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” (Acts 4:11-12)

Faith is the anxious, trembling voice, “Lord, I believe: help Thou mine unbelief.” (Mark 9:24) Assurance is the confident challenge, “Who shall lay anything to the charge of God’s elect? Who is he that condemeth?” (Romans 8:33-34)

Faith is Saul praying in the house of Judas at Damascus, sorrowful, blind, and alone. (Acts 9:11) Assurance is Paul, the aged prisoner, looking calmly into the grave, and saying, “I know whom I have believed. There is a crown laid up for me.” (2 Timothy 1:12, 4:8)

One day a group of scientists got together and decided that man had come a long way and no longer needed God. So they picked one scientist to go and tell Him that they were done with Him.

The scientist walked up to God and said, "God, we've decided that we no longer need you; We're to the point that we can clone people and do many miraculous things, so why don't you just go on and get lost."

God listened very patiently and kindly to the man. After the scientist was done talking, God said, "Very well, how about this? Let's say we have a man-making contest." To which the scientist replied, "Okay, great!"

But, God added, "now, we're going to do this just like I did back in the old days with Adam."

The scientist said, "Sure, no problem" and bent down and grabbed himself a handful of dirt.

God looked at him and said, "No, no, no. You go get your own dirt."

When James Calvert went out as a missionary to the cannibals of the Fiji Islands, the caption of the ship sought to turn him back. "You will lose your life and the lives of those with you if you go among such savages," he cried. Calvert only replied, "We died before we came here." David Augsburger

It is easy to sing when we can read the notes by daylight; but he is skillful who sings when there is not a ray of light to read by-who sings from his heart.

Charles Spurgeon

Why am I afraid to tell you who I really am? Because I am afraid that you will think less of me.

A real Christian is an odd number anyway. He feels supreme love for One whom he has never seen, talks familiarly every day to Someone he cannot see, expects to go to heaven on the virtue of Another, empties himself in order to be full, admits he is wrong so he can be declared right, goes down in order to get up, is strongest when he is weakest, richest when he is poorest, and happiest when he feels worst. He dies so he can live, forsakes in order to have, gives away so he can keep, sees the invisible, hears the inaudible, and knows that which passes knowledge.

A. W. Tozer

Were you there when they crucified my Lord ?
Were you there when they crucified my Lord ?
Oh, sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble
Were you there when they crucified my Lord ?

Were you there when they nailed him to the tree ?
Were you there when they nailed him to the tree ?
Oh, sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble
Were you there when they nailed him to the tree ?

Were you there when they pierced him in the side ?
Were you there when they pierced him in the side ?
Oh, sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble
Were you there when they pierced him in the side ?

Were you there when they laid him in the tomb ?
Were you there when they laid him in the tomb ?
Oh, sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble
Were you there when they laid him in the tomb ?

From Rachel Elisabeth @ http://notesfromthewell.wordpress.com/

typing this up as i listen to the thunder crashing out the Lord’s glory outside. i drove home from a closing shift watching the lightning all over the sky declare God’s power. and now i should be in bed sleeping, not typing. but i have to get this out while it’s fresh in my mind. i have to have it written down in a place where i can come back to it.

today, for the third week in a row, we visited frontline fellowship for sunday service. and boy, did the Lord visit me. worship was incredibly powerful. i wasn’t just drawn into God’s presence–i was slammed into it. as i prayed during the entire worship portion, it seemed that every prayer was met with an answer in the music before the words even left my lips.

one song in particular just crushed me, in the best way, like you would crush herbs to bring out their best. it was as if the writer had been watching my life for the last few years. it spoke about wondering if your life can even change, if things can even get better. that’s been the dirge of my heart that i’ve been fighting for quite some time. and the same song ended with the words “you make me new; you are making me new.”

as i sang those words and mulled over their truth, even when they don’t always feel true, even when i don’t remember them, these verses burned on my heart with an intensity i may never have felt before:

“Behold, the former things have come to pass, and new things I now declare; before they spring forth I tell you of them.” Isaiah 42:9

“Do not remember the former things, Nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness And rivers in the desert.” Isaiah 43:18-19

as i pondered their meaning–what does God want to say to me with these verses now?–the Holy Spirit made it crystal clear. first, i am convinced that God is telling me that He is going to move to seperate me and my family from the hurts, miseries, afflictions and trials of the recent past. He has a new beginning for us, and while i am not sure when it will come to fruition, i know it starts today.

second, He is telling me this, before it happens (isaiah 42:9), so that i will hope. if these verses don’t make it crystal clear that he wants me to have hope, i don’t know what would. now is the time for hope. and it is springing up it my heart like a tender new plant. i can’t believe i am even saying it! i’ve written before of my struggles with hope, and i honestly despaired of ever having it again. but here i am–hoping.

i know that this hope comes from God. it is definitely not from me. and i am so, so thankful for it.

"Great weapon, this thing called prayer. Perhaps it is not too late to use it." Gayle Erwin

"Prayer is not so much an act as it is an attitude—an attitude of dependency, dependency upon God." Arthur W. Pink

"Prayer requires more of the heart than of the tongue." Adam Clarke

"We don't always know how we should pray. As we size up a situation, we may judge it one way and start praying that way, but it may be just the opposite of what God wants to do." Chuck Smith

"Prayer is talking with God. God knows your heart and is not so concerned with your words as He is with the attitude of your heart." Josh McDowell

"Do you know, brothers, what great things are to be had for the asking? Have you ever thought of it? Does it not stimulate you to pray fervently? All heaven lies before the grasp of the asking man; all the promises of God are rich and inexhaustible, and their fulfillment is to be had by prayer." Charles Spurgeon

From Rachel Elisabeth

i apologize in advance if this offends anyone. it's what i believe, so, i tend to think about it and talk about it. feel free to disagree, but please don't be ugly in your disagreement.

i thought about something on the way home from work: assuming that christianity isn't the only way, how do you know which religions (for lack of a be...tter term) lead to God?

i mean, they can't all lead to God, can they?

what about the religion of the gentiles that worshiped molech? molech demanded that his servant sacrifice their infants to him. is that really a way to God? is this even remotely consistent with what you imagine God to be?

what about hindu worshipers in india that believe they have to perform brutal physical acts in order to worship their gods? like having heavy burdens literally hooked into the skin of their backs and dragging them to a temple, as a part of worship?

what about christian science, which teaches that medical care is wrong, and that one should just pray and have enough faith, resulting in children not getting the medical care they need, people suffering pain, disease, deformity and even death unnecessarily? is that from God? does that lead to God?

if you answered "no" for any of these religions, why? what do you base your assessment on? you can't base it on the bible, because if you do, you have to deal with Jesus saying he is the only way and then you're right back to only one way.

so you base it on your opinion, and what feels right to you? well, molech felt right to a lot of people and they ended up with dead kids. how we feel doesn't really go that far.

The true prophet of God is never concerned about offending men; his only concern is offending God.

Quotes for Today

"We should not ask, "What is wrong with the world?" for that diagnosis has already been given. Rather, we should ask, "What has happened to the salt and light?"" John Stott


"The greatest cause of atheism in the world Is Christians who go to church on Sunday and then deny it with their lifestyle." DC Talk

"Has life become so filled with efforts to cover every financial contingency, to realize one's full earthly potential, and finally to retire comfortably, that without realizing it we are finding our hope in this world rather than in God?" Dave Hunt

"There are two great days in a person's life - the day we are born and the day we discover why." William Barclay

"“Don’t rock the boat!” is the unofficial motto of many ministries that have long since lost both their compass and their rudder and are gradually sinking in a sea of complacent tranquility." Warren Wiersbe

Psalm 51:1: "Have mercy upon me, O God."

When Dr. Carey was suffering from a dangerous illness, the inquiry was made, "If this sickness should prove fatal, what passage would you select as the text for your funeral sermon?" He replied, "Oh, I feel that such a poor sinful creature is unworthy to have anything said about him; but if a funeral sermon must be preached, let it be from the words, 'Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Thy loving-kindness; according unto the multitude of Thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.'" In the same spirit of humility he directed in his will that the following inscription and nothing more should be cut on his gravestone:-

WILLIAM CAREY, BORN AUGUST 17th, 1761:

DIED - -

"A wretched, poor, and helpless worm On Thy kind arms I fall."

Only on the footing of free grace can the most experienced and most honoured of the saints approach their God. The best of men are conscious above all others that they are men at the best. Empty boats float high, but heavily laden vessels are low in the water; mere professors can boast, but true children of God cry for mercy upon their unprofitableness. We have need that the Lord should have mercy upon our good works, our prayers, our preachings, our alms-givings, and our holiest things. The blood was not only sprinkled upon the doorposts of Israel's dwelling houses, but upon the sanctuary, the mercy-seat, and the altar, because as sin intrudes into our holiest things, the blood of Jesus is needed to purify them from defilement. If mercy be needed to be exercised towards our duties, what shall be said of our sins? How sweet the remembrance that inexhaustible mercy is waiting to be gracious to us, to restore our backslidings, and make our broken bones rejoice!

Charles Spurgeon

2 Corinthians 1:8-10

For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our trouble which came to us in Asia: that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life.

Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead,

who delivered us from so great a death, and does deliver us; in whom we trust that He will still deliver us.

Hebrews 10:31: "It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God."

I don't like to talk about Hell. The thought of someone spending eternity there saddens my heart.

I read a blog today about a man who held his grandfathers hand as he lay dying. Several times over the years he tried to share the Gospel with his grandfather, but he refused. Now all he could do was watch him die.

It was a stark contrast to my life. I had the privilege of leading my grandfather and grandmother, as well as my mother in law to Christ. My father in law was saved shortly before his death. I miss them. But my heart is comforted knowing that I shall see them again.

Even if you have been rejected before, please gently share Jesus with your loved ones. The difference between Heaven and Hell is an eternity.

1 Thessalonians 5:25: "Brethren, pray for us."

In closing his letter to those at Thessalonica, Paul asks for prayer for himself and those ministering with him.

How often do you pray for your Pastor? If I could be so bold as to speak for your Pastor, I would say that he would like you to pray for him everyday; and even as often as you think of him.You cannot begin to imagine the spiritual battles he faces. The enemy of our faith seeks to destroy him daily.

Pray for your Pastor and his family. Add him to your prayer list and pray for him daily. Let him know that you are praying for him and his family, for it will be a great comfort to him.

From A. W. Tozer:

If Christianity is to receive a rejuvenation, it must be by other means than any now being used. If the Church in the second half of this century is to recover from the injuries she suffered in the first half, there must appear a new type of leader. The proper, ruler-of-the-synagogue type will never do. …Neither will the priestly type of man who carries out his duties, takes his pay and asks no questions, nor the smooth-talking pastoral type who knows how to make the Christian religion acceptable to everyone. All these have been tried and found wanting.

Another kind of religious leader must arise among us. He must be of the old prophet type, a man who has seen visions of God and has heard a voice from the Throne. When he comes (and I pray God there will be not one but many), he will stand in flat contradiction to everything our smirking, smooth civilization holds dear. He will contradict, denounce and protest in the name of God and will earn the hatred and opposition of a large segment of Christendom. Such a man is likely to be lean, rugged, blunt-spoken and a little bit angry with the world. He will love Christ and the souls of men to the point of willingness to die for the glory of the One and the salvation of the other. But he will fear nothing that breathes with mortal breath.

“…and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of Man will be accomplished.” Luke 18:31

God called Jesus Christ to what seemed absolute disaster. His life was an absolute failure from every standpoint except God’s. But what seemed to be failure from man’s standpoint was a triumph from God’s standpoint, because God’s purpose is never the same as man’s purpose.

My Utmost for His Highest, Oswald Chambers

The reason why men do not look to the Church today is that she has destroyed her own influence by compromise.

G. Campbell Morgan

Has life become so filled with efforts to cover every financial contingency, to realize one's full earthly potential, and finally to retire comfortably, that without realizing it we are finding our hope in this world rather than in God?

Dave Hunt

Much of what passes for Christianity is the brief bright effort of the severed branch to bring forth its fruit in its season. But the deep laws of life are against it. Preoccupation with appearances and a corresponding neglect of the out-of-sight root of the true spiritual life are prophetic signs which go unheeded. Immediate “results” are all that matter, quick proofs of present success without a thought of next week or next year. Religious pragmatism is running wild among the orthodox. Truth is whatever works. If it gets results it is good. There is but one test for the religious leader: success. Everything is forgiven him except failure.

A. W. Tozer

Oden Fong on Prop 8

I borrowed this from my friend Bill Walden over at http://www.pastorbillwalden.com/ who (no doubt) borrowed it from Oden Fong:

"Maybe we should render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and to God the things which are Gods. Marriage between a man and a woman is God’s proclamation. God doesn’t recognize marriage outside of what He had decreed, just as Caesar doesn’t recognize God. The carnal mind cannot discern spiritual things.

If Caesar decides to have same-sex marriages, we may grieve but have no say in the matter. Our votes do not count when you have people in power who say that the proposition you voted for was illegal to begin with.

They have already decided that homosexuality is something people are born to be and therefore it is normal. If you feel something strongly with great conviction, it’s normal! Even if the biological plumbing doesn’t fit.

These same minds believe that we are a cosmic accident; from the Big Bang to many smaller bangs. Our existence is purely accidental and there is no Designer.

I predict that same-sex marriages will become commonplace in the world’s civilizations because man has fallen so far from God that morality will become more and more perverse until morality no longer exists for the majority of humanity.

It’s in the prophecies. Perhaps, we should, rather than trying to fight what is already going to happen (politically), we should fight to rise above the darkness ourselves and stay close to the Lord.

The church is filled with carnality. Why should anyone listen to the Body of Christ if the Body is carnal? Most secular people believe that they are at least as moral as the Christian they know.

Jesus and the apostles, including Paul did not fight directly against secular perversion, but proclaimed the kingdom of God in contrast. They did not try to overthrow the idol worshipping culture with it’s temple prostitutes. They extended God’s pardon of salvation through Jesus Christ to all who would accept it.

Behold Noah and his family, how they escaped while the rest of the world was washed away. Judgment is in the hands of the Almighty! Those who scoff at God will find themselves at the wrong end of His judgment. It’s so sad. It’s heartbreaking that mankind has chosen (once again) this path leading to his own destruction."

Isaiah 55:6-7

"Seek the LORD while He may be found,
Call upon Him while He is near.
Let the wicked forsake his way,
And the unrighteous man his thoughts;
Let him return to the LORD,
And He will have mercy on him;
And to our God,
For He will abundantly pardon."

It is hard to believe that there will ever be a time when one will seek the Lord and yet not find Him. But that time is coming. There is coming a time of trouble upon this world that it has never experienced nor ever will again. A time where God will once again focus His attention exclusively upon Israel. During that time men will seek the Lord but not find Him.

However, the prophet here encourages us to seek the Lord while He may be found. You may not know Him, or you may of drifted away from Him. You may of done something so evil that you feel He would never forgive you. But Isaiah tells us that "He will abundantly pardon."

He desires to hear from you. He desires to forgive you. He wants to abundantly pardon you. Its up to you.

Isaiah 40:28-31

"Have you not known?
Have you not heard?
The everlasting God, the LORD,
The Creator of the ends of the earth,
Neither faints nor is weary.
His understanding is unsearchable.

He gives power to the weak,
And to those who have no might He increases strength.

Even the youths shall faint and be weary,
And the young men shall utterly fall,

But those who wait on the LORD
Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint."

This is from my friend, Jon, over at laboringinthelord.com

Despite its foundational Christian heritage, America is rapidly degenerating into a godless society. The church in America, although highly visible and active, appears powerless to redirect the rushing secular currents. Mired in a moral and spiritual crisis, America’s only hope is a national revival, like God has graciously bestowed in the past. — Erwin Lutzer

Mike MacIntosh on True Friendships

"Again, departing from the region of Tyre and Sidon, He came through the midst of the region of Decapolis to the Sea of Galilee. Then they brought to Him one who was deaf and had an impediment in his speech, and they begged Him to put His hand on him." Mark 7:31-32

What is true friendship? Consider the deaf man in this passage from Mark. Surely he was frustrated, unable to communicate clearly with others. Surely he wanted to be healed. But it was his good friends who brought him to Jesus. It was "they" who begged Jesus to heal Him. Now that's true friendship.

Friendships aren't about getting together to vent or to gossip and complain about how rotten your life is. Friendships are about building strong relationships that are rooted in faith. You see, friends bring people to Jesus. They bring people to the place where Jesus can be seen and heard.

So it may be that you need the right friendships in your life -- friendships that build you up, and strengthen and encourage you in your walk with the Lord. Real friends don't take you away from the Lord; they bring you closer to Him. Maybe the Lord is telling you to be a friend to those who desperately need Jesus in their lives. Maybe the Lord is prompting you to build relationships with those who you know do not know the Lord, and He wants to use you to "carry them" to Him. We don't need Bible thumpers; we need friendships.

The Problem with Christianity

"The problem with Christianity isn't Christ. The problem with Christianity is Christians." Author Unknown

Mike MacIntosh on Godliness

It's such a sad commentary that people say with their lips they love the Lord, but are so far away from Him. The Bible tells us one of the signs of the end of the world is that people will have a form of godliness, but will deny its power (2 Timothy 3:5). There are people who sure look godly, but they are deceiving themselves and others. Godliness isn't about words, it's about the Lord Jesus Christ living in you and working through you.

You see, the power of godliness should change your language, your attitude, and your outlook on life. It should change how you handle money and how you interact with people. It should cause you to wake up in the morning and say, "Good morning Father, what do you have for me today?" Godliness is a result of a relationship with God. And when godliness is absent from your life, you are just giving lip service -- you are doing your own thing throughout the day. God doesn't need lip service. He wants a relationship with you.

It always amazes me that God wants me. And He wants you. He wants you to spend forever with Him. I mean, He has the angels and He has the creative power to do whatever He wants at any time. And yet, He chooses to love us and to be patient with us. He is just waiting for you to come home and be with Him because He loves you. He is madly in love with you. He is not a religious guy up there saying, "Now if you can keep all the traditions, I might let you into my club." No, He is saying, "I'm your Father. You wouldn't be alive if it weren't for Me creating you. I love you and while it may be painful for a few years down there on that planet, eventually you're going to see the big picture, you're going to spend forever with Me and, you know, you'll never want anything. Trust Me that I am always allowing things to come into your life that will only strengthen you and better you, because I love you."

When we think about how much God loves us and accepts us, then living a life of love and service for Him comes into perspective. Why would we ever just want to give lip service to the One who gave us a new life and a promise of spending eternity together with Him? Let's be a people of God who really love, serve, and worship Him.

Proverbs 30:8-9:

"...Give me neither poverty nor riches —
Feed me with the food allotted to me;
Lest I be full and deny You,
And say, "Who is the LORD?"
Or lest I be poor and steal,
And profane the name of my God."

We live in a day and age where everybody wants to be rich. Everybody thinks that they will win the lottery. Of course, the odds of winning the lottery are the same whether you play or not. I know a man who came into millions of dollars. He claimed to be a Christian (and I am not judging that); however, his real god was money. He sold out a friend to get his money and interestingly enough, it turned out that he got far less than he thought he would. (God has a way of dealing with false gods). He left people who were not believers saying, "He is the biggest hypocrite I have ever seen."

The problem with making an idol out of money (or anything else) is described by the Psalmist, Psalms 115:8: "Those who make them are like them; So is everyone who trusts in them."

Be careful what you strive for; you just might get it.

Proverbs 18:21

"Death and life are in the power of the tongue,
And those who love it will eat its fruit."

There is a heresy that teaches that words are "containers of power;" power to heal, to bring prosperity, wealth, blessing untold. This is exactly what Occultism has taught for centuries.

The truth is that words do have power, not to bring wealth and healing. That power belongs to God alone. Words have the power to encourage, or discourage; to build up or to tear down.

I have known men and women, scared for life, because of what a father or mother told them. Children are desperate to seek your approval. To berate them or humiliate them can have a lasting effect.

Jesus had some interesting things to say about words and behavior:

Matthew 18:6: "Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea."

There are some who love the tongue. They love to build up others, to be an encouragement, like Barnabas in the Book of Acts. And there are others, who like to tear others down with their words. Both these type of people will eat the fruit of their tongues.

Which fruit would you rather eat?

Proverbs 14:15:

"The simple believes every word,
But the prudent considers well his steps."

Why do you believe what you believe? Is it because someone told you it is right? Or because you searched it out for yourself? When I first became a Christian I left the church I was attending and began to attend another one. The leader was very charismatic; he had presence and seemed to be very zealous for the Lord. Yet after about two years I knew something was wrong, but I just couldn't put my finger on it. I met the woman who would become (and still is, to my great surprise) my wife. We left, disillusioned, discouraged, and defeated.

I began to study the Bible diligently, something I had forsaken while "working" with this group. I soon realized that I had been deceived and that the man was not who he presented himself to be. I had believed certain things because I was told that they were right, yet had not bothered to check them out for myself. I had allowed myself to be deceived because I believed every word I was told.

It was then and there the I developed the conviction that no one would ever deceive me by twisting the Scripture again. Be prudent and consider well every step you take. Do you believe what you believe because someone told you it was right? Or have you taken the time to search it out for yourself? The difference could be life and death.

Psalms 147:11:

"The LORD takes pleasure in those who fear Him,
In those who hope in His mercy."

Again this fear is not a terror but a reverence. The Lord takes pleasure in those who reverence Him, who bow before Him in worship.

Only the guilty seek mercy. I am guilty of sinning against God. So I hope in His mercy. Justice is what the guilty one deserves; mercy is getting what you do not deserve, forgiveness. This is only possible through Jesus who took our sins and died in our place. Through Jesus God can be both just and gracious.

What are you hoping in? I'm hoping in His mercy.

Psalms 142:3:

"When my spirit was overwhelmed within me,
Then You knew my path.
In the way in which I walk."

If we would admit it, often times we are overwhelmed. Life is hard. Life is difficult. So many things are happening in the world that are truly alarming. Often times in our lives we are personally overwhelmed. The loss of a loved one; the loss of a child; the loss of a job. Things seem to be moving towards chaos, towards loss of control.

Then we realize that God is in control. He knows the way in which we walk. It's dark, its unfamiliar, its scary. But He knows. If you are walking in fellowship with Him, do you really think He is going to lead you down the path of destruction? And if you are not walking in fellowship with Him, why not turn right now and acknowledge Him? He can change the path you are on.

When I don't know what is going on, and my spirit is overwhelmed, He knows the way in which I walk. Trusting Him in those times brings peace even in the most difficult of times.

He never stops thinking about you...

Psalms 139:17-18:

"How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God!
How great is the sum of them!
If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand;
When I awake, I am still with You."

How often the enemy of our faith seeks to convince us that God doesn't care about us. When we go through trials we sometimes wonder, where is God? Does He care? But the Psalmist tells us that God is always thinking about us, out welfare, and our eternal good. Ant that the thoughts he thinks towards us cannot be numbered.

Remember, He is there! He is thinking about you! He has an eternal plan! And He is making it come to pass in His time!

Psalms 130:3-4

"If You, LORD, should mark iniquities,
O Lord, who could stand?
But there is forgiveness with You,
That You may be feared."

If God were to hold us all accountable for our sins, when we stand before Him in judgment, none could offer a defense. All are guilty as charged. What a scary thought!

The Good News is that, through Jesus we can have forgiveness of sins! This means that we will never stand before God in judgment because Jesus stood in judgment for us by dying for our sins on the cross!

It is interesting that the word in verse 4 is translated, "to revere." I stand in awe of God who died for someone like me. It's been 37 years since I became a Christian and I still stand in awe at the marvelous Grace of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, who died for me. For me. Wow.

The True Source of Help

Psalms 121:1-2:

"I will lift up my eyes to the hills —
From whence comes my help?
My help comes from the LORD,
Who made heaven and earth."

When I take my eyes off of the Lord, its easy to lose perspective. I am overwhelmed so easily. Things seem so difficult and impossible; and for me they are! However, when I put my eyes back on Jesus, and His power, things gain their proper perspective.

Jesus can take it; He can deal with it, no matter what it is. I'm so glad!

Longing to know The Word

Psalms 119:125:

"I am Your servant;
Give me understanding,
That I may know Your testimonies".

A few years age I had the privilege of knowing a man who was a former professor at LeTourneau University. We were discussing the Book of Daniel. As we spoke, he broke down and wept. He said, "I just want to know the Word more." I was humbled. Here sat this 84 year old man whose longing to know the Word, and through it to know Jesus, in a deeper, fuller way made him weep. Have you ever prayed the prayer of Psalms 119:125? I want to every day. Understanding to know the Word. May we all have the desire to seek to understand the Word even to the point of tears in our longing.

True Judgments and Tender Mercies

Psalms 119:75-77

"I know, O LORD, that Your judgments are right,
And that in faithfulness You have afflicted me.

Let, I pray, Your merciful kindness be for my comfort,
According to Your word to Your servant.
Let Your tender mercies come to me, that I may live;
For Your law is my delight."

This verse, along with many others, makes me wonder why so many people say that they don't like the God of the Old Testament. You see, the God of the Old is the God of the new.

What can we give to Him who has everything?

Psalms 116:12-13:

"What shall I render to the LORD
For all His benefits toward me?
I will take up the cup of salvation,
And call upon the name of the LORD."

The one thing that we can give God is...ourselves, our lives. To take the cup of salvation that He offers us through Jesus Christ, Who took our punishment on the Cross and now offers to us the Cup of Salvation.

To reject this gift, is to reject life. To accept this gift, is to experience forgiveness of sins, joy unspeakable, and life everlasting!

Will you also go away?

John 6:68-69: "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."

Comfort from the Word

"In the multitude of my anxieties within me, Your comforts delight my soul." Psalm94:19

What do people see when they look at you?

"People seem to think that the masses are outside the Christian church because our evangelistic methods are not what they ought to be. That is not the answer. People are outside the church because looking at us they say, "What is the point of being Christians? - look at them!" They are judging Christ by you and me. And you cannot stop them and you cannot blame them."

Martyn Lloyd-Jones

From Mrs. Okie Preacher

This weekend & every chance you get please thank our men & women in uniform for their service & sacrifice for our freedom. If you know a veteran please thank them. We enjoy the fruits of freedom & liberty because of what our military has given to us! Please tell them you are praying for them & their families.

I would add that we make a special effort to stop and pray for those who have lost loved ones during past wars or the current ones. God bless them.

Chuck Swindoll on Tipping

Proverbs 22:9

I feel like starting with the words the nurse says as she approaches your bed with one hand behind her back: "This won't take long, but it may sting a little."

Are you aware of what waiters and waitresses say about the Christians they serve? Do you have any idea how much they dread waiting on our tables in restaurants after church on Sundays? Or any other day when we go in groups with big Bibles under our arms? We gobble up the chow, asking for this favor and that, seldom pausing long enough to smile or say, "Thank you." That's bad enough, but then we leave a tip that is more of an insult than a generous expression of gratitude.

Just last week a waiter informed me that the place where he works has the toughest time getting a full crew to wait tables on Sunday. "We'd all rather work late Friday and Saturday nights week after week than work Sunday afternoons," he said.

When I asked why, he told me.

"Because Christians are usually loud, they often lack good table manners, and they are stingy with the tips."

The waiter who spoke to me is a Christian. He's on our side. And he's embarrassed. Says he has a tough time talking to the crew about Christ after the place closes at night. They give him this cynical "You gotta be kidding!" response that comes after six or eight of Christ's followers walk away, leaving a tract and a dollar bill. Or maybe just a tract. Sometimes, neither.

If you're among the thoughtful, the gracious, the kind who leave a full 15 percent or more, keep it up. May your tribe increase. But if you're the type who falls into the tightfisted and less than thoughtful category, how about thinking of your witness as something more than a Bible in your pocket and words out of your mouth? Sometimes it's what comes out of your pocket after something has gone into your mouth . . . and I'm not referring to a tract. Listen: "It is possible to give away and become richer! It is also possible to hold on too tightly and lose everything. Yes, the liberal man shall be rich! By watering others, he waters himself" (Prov. 11:24-25, TLB).

C'mon, Christian, loosen up. If you can afford to eat out, you can also handle a healthy tip. Maybe all you needed was a shot in the arm.

There's no doubt about it. Actions often speak much louder than words. What are your actions saying?

Just had to post this by Spurgeon

Hebrews 12:11: "Afterward..."

How happy are tried Christians, afterwards. No calm more deep than that which succeeds a storm. Who has not rejoiced in clear shinings after rain? Victorious banquets are for well-exercised soldiers. After killing the lion we eat the honey; after climbing the Hill Difficulty, we sit down in the arbour to rest; after traversing the Valley of Humiliation, after fighting with Apollyon, the shining one appears, with the healing branch from the tree of life. Our sorrows, like the passing keels of the vessels upon the sea, leave a silver line of holy light behind them "afterwards." It is peace, sweet, deep peace, which follows the horrible turmoil which once reigned in our tormented, guilty souls. See, then, the happy estate of a Christian! He has his best things last, and he therefore in this world receives his worst things first. But even his worst things are "afterward" good things, harsh ploughings yielding joyful harvests. Even now he grows rich by his losses, he rises by his falls, he lives by dying, and becomes full by being emptied; if, then, his grievous afflictions yield him so much peaceable fruit in this life, what shall be the full vintage of joy "afterwards" in heaven? If his dark nights are as bright as the world's days, what shall his days be? If even his starlight is more splendid than the sun, what must his sunlight be? If he can sing in a dungeon, how sweetly will he sing in heaven! If he can praise the Lord in the fires, how will he extol Him before the eternal throne! If evil be good to him now, what will the overflowing goodness of God be to him then? Oh, blessed "afterward!" Who would not be a Christian? Who would not bear the present cross for the crown which cometh afterwards? But herein is work for patience, for the rest is not for to-day, nor the triumph for the present, but "afterward." Wait, O soul, and let patience have her perfect work."

The Time is Now

1 Peter 1:3-5: "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time."

The Trial of Faith

1 Peter 1:6-7: "In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ."

“Extraordinary afflictions are not always the punishment of extraordinary sins, but sometimes the trial of extraordinary graces. Sanctified afflictions are spiritual promotions.” (Matthew Henry)

“Even in the wildest storms the sky is not all dark; and so in the darkest dealings of God with His children, there are always some bright tokens for good.” (Robert Murray M'Cheyne)

“Every wise workman takes his tools away from the work from time to time that they may be ground and sharpened; so does the only-wise Jehovah take his ministers oftentimes away into darkness and loneliness and trouble, that he may sharpen and prepare them for harder work in his service.” (Robert Murray M'Cheyne)

(If through faith you have placed your eternal destiny in the loving hands of Jesus Christ, you can be sure that God is at work, shaping the events and circumstances of your life into a beautiful mosaic that will reveal His Son to the men and women around you. His hand is on you, as it has been since before you were born.” (Chuck Smith)

Prayer for a Friend

Please pray for my friend today as he speaks at a memorial service. I cannot share the details, but ask that you would pray.

Prayer

God does say He will graciously entertain our prayers. He says that if we exercise faith, and if our request is in accordance with His will, He will hear us. - Walter Martin

A man is what he is on his knees before God, and nothing more. - Robert Murray M'Cheyne

Pray for great things, expect great things, work for great things, but above all – pray. - R. A. Torrey

Prayer is talking with God. God knows your heart and is not so concerned with your words as He is with the attitude of your heart. - Josh McDowell

The prayer power has never been tried to its full capacity. If we want to see mighty wonders of divine power and grace wrought in the place of weakness, failure and disappointment, let us answer God’s standing challenge, “Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things which thou knowest not!” - Hudson Taylor

We don't always know how we should pray. As we size up a situation, we may judge it one way and start praying that way, but it may be just the opposite of what God wants to do. - Chuck Smith

My hobby

I restore antique license plates (for cars). I love doing it. I get to take a rusted, bent piece of metal, weld up the holes, straighten it out with a hammer, dip it in an acidic fluid overnight, sandblast it, prime and sand it - all that before painting it to look so beautiful.

Come to think of it, it sounds like what the Lord desires to do with me. But to tell you the truth, I want to look beautiful (in His eyes) without all that comes before. But you see, without all that the beauty would never come forth. So I wonder what the Master will do with me today? Meantime, I'm gonna work on license plates.

Food for thought...

An interesting letter in the Australian Shooter Magazine:


"If you consider that there has been an average of 160,000 troops in the Iraq Theater of operations during the past 22 months, and a total of 2112 deaths, that gives a firearm death rate of 60 per 100,000 soldiers."

"The firearm death rate in Washington, D.C. Is 80.6 per 100,000 for the same period."

"That means you are about 25 percent more likely to be shot and killed in the US capital, which has some of the strictest gun control laws in the US, than you are in Iraq."

Conclusion: The US should pull out of Washington

Giving Thanks

1 Thessalonians 5:18: "in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."

Continuing in Sin

Surely that man must be in an unhealthy state of soul who can think of all that Jesus suffered, and yet cling to those sins for which that suffering was undergone. It was sin that wove the crown of thorns; it was sin that pierced our Lord’s hands, and feet, and side; it was sin that brought Him to Gethsemane and Calvary, to the cross, and to the grave. Cold must our hearts be if we do not hate sin and labor to get rid of it, though we may have to cut off the right hand and pluck out the right eye in doing it.

J. C. Ryle

Great Quote

Moses spent 40 years thinking he was somebody; 40 years learning he was nobody; and 40 years discovering what God can do with a nobody.

D. L. Moody

The Resurrection of Jesus Christ

Luke 24:1-8

Now on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they, and certain other women with them, came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared.

2 But they found the stone rolled away from the tomb.

3 Then they went in and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.

4 And it happened, as they were greatly perplexed about this, that behold, two men stood by them in shining garments.

5 Then, as they were afraid and bowed their faces to the earth, they said to them, "Why do you seek the living among the dead?

6 He is not here, but is risen ! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee,

7 saying, 'The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.'"

8 And they remembered His words.

What would Jesus do?

Now I have been a Christian for a few years and I have read the Bible through a few times, and have been through the New Testament a few more times and have taught through the Gospel of John and have pastored Bible believing churches a couple of times.

Could someone please tell me when Jesus was on earth, where He held up a sign saying, "God hates Fags?"

Or where He celebrated the death of Jewish (and Roman for that matter) solders?

Or where He picketed the funeral of a solder who gave his life for his country?

I believe that homosexuality is sinful behavior, for sure, because the Bible tells me so (Old and New Testament).

However, I submit to you that those hold up those signs, and picket those funerals are not Christian.

And I would like to apologize to the homosexual community as well as to the families of those who have been so mistreated by those who call themselves "Christian."

I respect the right of those who disagree with me as well as the rights of those who do such despicable things. It is their right, but it doesn't make it right.

If you want to reach the homosexual community, why don't you reach out in love to them?

Oh, and another word about holding up signs. Were are your signs condemning adultery? Or pornography? Or divorce? Or hatred? Perhaps it is because you don't want to condemn yourselves in the process?

What it means to be an Evangelical Christian

Lets first start by what it dosen't mean:

1. That you hate homosexuals or lesbians.
2. That you are legialistic and judgmental.
3. That you can justify murder in the Name of Jesus.
4. That you agree with everyone all the time just to keep from offending anyone.

To me, what it means to be an Evangelical Christian is:

1. To love homosexuals or lesbians and yet agree to disagree agreeably with them.
2. You agree that the Spirit of Law is better than the Letter of the Law.
3. To NEVER attempt to justify murder in the Name of Jesus or in anyother name.
4. You occasionally disagree with others without being judgmental.

Evangelical Christian's have often earned the labels the world has given them. It is time we learned to love others as Jesus loves them. He dealt with sin in such a way as to draw other to Him, not to drive them away.

A right to disagree...

I am not political and I hardly ever comment on the goings on in government, but what is happening lately is scaring me; and I don’t get scared easily. So I offer the following thoughts:

If you want to take over the government you need the following:

1. Control of the Media
2. Control of the Legislature
3. Control of the Courts
4. The loyalty of the Military

This is what Hitler and the Nazis did in Germany

The Liberal Democrats already have 3 of the 4.

Currently our fine men and women in the Military have distain for the Liberals and are well aware that they (the Liberals) in actuality hate them.

FBI: If you are reading this (and you probably are) what you are reading is my personal opinion. I love my country, but am becoming increasingly fearful of my government.

What do I want? I want my country to return to "the land of the free, the home of the brave, with liberty and justice for all." I want free speech to remain free and I want "... I want to see “political correctness" cease. In the words of that great American Patriot, Patrick Henry, “Let us trust God, and our better judgment to set us right hereafter. United we stand, divided we fall. Let us not split into factions which must destroy that union upon which our existence hangs.”

A Democracy is always temporary in nature:

I stole this from my friends at Defending. Contending:

About the time our original thirteen states adopted their new constitution in 1787, Alexander Tyler, a Scottish history professor at the University of Edinburgh, had this to say about the fall of the Athenian Republic some 2,000 years earlier:

‘A democracy is always temporary in nature; it simply cannot exist as a permanent form of government’

‘A democracy will continue to exist up until the time that voters discover they can vote themselves generous gifts from the public treasury’

‘From that moment on, the majority always vote for the candidates who promise the most benefits from the public treasury, with the result that every democracy will finally collapse due to loose fiscal policy, which is always followed by a dictatorship’

‘The average age of the world’s greatest civilizations from the beginning of history, has been about 200 years’

‘During those 200 years, those nations always progressed through the following sequence:

1. From bondage to spiritual faith;

2. From spiritual faith to great courage;

3. From courage to liberty;

4. From liberty to abundance;

5. From abundance to complacency;

6. From complacency to apathy;

7. From apathy to dependence;

8. From dependence back into bondage’

And finally, I wanted to leave you with a quote that’s been attributed to Winston Churchill:

The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter.

Arguing

When you argue with a fool, you soon have two fools arguing.

Famine

Amos 8:11-12

"Behold, the days are coming," says the Lord GOD,
"That I will send a famine on the land,
Not a famine of bread,
Nor a thirst for water,
But of hearing the words of the LORD.
They shall wander from sea to sea,
And from north to east;
They shall run to and fro, seeking the word of the LORD,
But shall not find it. (NKJV)

The Prayer of Hannah

1 Samuel 2:1-10

"My heart rejoices in the LORD;My horn is exalted in the LORD.I smile at my enemies,Because I rejoice in Your salvation.

2 "No one is holy like the LORD,For there is none besides You,Nor is there any rock like our God.

3 "Talk no more so very proudly;Let no arrogance come from your mouth,For the LORD is the God of knowledge;And by Him actions are weighed.

4 "The bows of the mighty men are broken,And those who stumbled are girded with strength.

5 Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread,And the hungry have ceased to hunger.Even the barren has borne seven,And she who has many children has become feeble.

6 "The LORD kills and makes alive;He brings down to the grave and brings up.

7 The LORD makes poor and makes rich;He brings low and lifts up.

8 He raises the poor from the dust And lifts the beggar from the ash heap,To set them among princes And make them inherit the throne of glory. "For the pillars of the earth are the LORD's,And He has set the world upon them.

9 He will guard the feet of His saints,But the wicked shall be silent in darkness.
"For by strength no man shall prevail.

10 The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken in pieces;From heaven He will thunder against them.The LORD will judge the ends of the earth. "He will give strength to His king,And exalt the horn of His anointed." (NKJV)

Quotes

Despite its foundational Christian heritage, America is rapidly degenerating into a godless society. The church in America, although highly visible and active, appears powerless to redirect the rushing secular currents. Mired in a moral and spiritual crisis, America’s only hope is a national revival, like God has graciously bestowed in the past.

Erwin Lutzer

Much of what passes for New Testament Christianity is little more than objective truth sweetened with song and made palatable by religious entertainment.

A. W. Tozer

No one is more miserable than the Christian who for a time hedges in his obedience. He does not love sin enough to enjoy its pleasures, and does not love Christ enough to relish holiness. He perceives that his rebellion is iniquitous, but obedience seems distasteful. He does not feel at home any longer in the world, but his memory of his past associations and the tantalizing lyrics of his old music prevent him from singing with the saints. He is a man most to be pitied; and he cannot forever remain ambivalent.

D.A. Carson

Gotta Serve Somebody, Bob Dylan

You may be an ambassador to England or France,
You may like to gamble, you might like to dance,
You may be the heavyweight champion of the world,
You may be a socialite with a long string of pearls

But you’re gonna have to serve somebody, yes indeed
You’re gonna have to serve somebody,
Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord
But you’re gonna have to serve somebody.

You might be a rock ’n’ roll addict prancing on the stage,
You might have drugs at your command, women in a cage,
You may be a businessman or some high-degree thief,
They may call you Doctor or they may call you Chief

But you’re gonna have to serve somebody, yes indeed
You’re gonna have to serve somebody,
Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord
But you’re gonna have to serve somebody.

You may be a state trooper, you might be a young Turk,
You may be the head of some big TV network,
You may be rich or poor, you may be blind or lame,
You may be living in another country under another name

But you’re gonna have to serve somebody, yes indeed
You’re gonna have to serve somebody,
Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord
But you’re gonna have to serve somebody.

You may be a construction worker working on a home,
You may be living in a mansion or you might live in a dome,
You might own guns and you might even own tanks,
You might be somebody’s landlord, you might even own banks

But you’re gonna have to serve somebody, yes indeed
You’re gonna have to serve somebody,
Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord
But you’re gonna have to serve somebody.

You may be a preacher with your spiritual pride,
You may be a city councilman taking bribes on the side,
You may be workin’ in a barbershop, you may know how to cut hair,
You may be somebody’s mistress, may be somebody’s heir

But you’re gonna have to serve somebody, yes indeed
You’re gonna have to serve somebody,
Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord
But you’re gonna have to serve somebody.

Might like to wear cotton, might like to wear silk,
Might like to drink whiskey, might like to drink milk,
You might like to eat caviar, you might like to eat bread,
You may be sleeping on the floor, sleeping in a king-sized bed

But you’re gonna have to serve somebody, yes indeed
You’re gonna have to serve somebody,
Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord
But you’re gonna have to serve somebody.

You may call me Terry, you may call me Timmy,
You may call me Bobby, you may call me Zimmy,
You may call me R.J., you may call me Ray,
You may call me anything but no matter what you say

You’re gonna have to serve somebody, yes indeed
You’re gonna have to serve somebody.
Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord
But you’re gonna have to serve somebody.

Wisdom from Mike MacIntosh

Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me."
Matthew 16:24

I like the cartoon strip where Charlie Brown is doing woodwork in a shop when Lucy comes by and asks, "How's the birdhouse coming, Charlie Brown?" "Well," he sighs, "I'm a lousy carpenter, I can't nail straight, I can't saw straight, and I always split the wood. I'm nervous, I lack confidence, I'm stupid, I have poor taste, and absolutely no sense of design. So, all things considered… it's coming along okay."

You know, we're all a little like Charlie Brown. We fiddle with life, but at the end of the day, we see our frailties; we have insecurities. And marketers today know it. Entire industries thrive on exploiting our insecurities. Self-help authors promise to help you become the "champion within you." Skin products are promised to make you look and feel "younger," and exercise products will make you more "attractive." Everyone seems to be after that priceless gem of "self-esteem." But Jesus says that "if anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself." It's not self-esteem that the Lord requires -- it's self-denial.

The apostle Paul was quick to admit that when it came to self-denial, he was the worst. "If anyone thinks he may have confidence in the flesh," he wrote, "I more so" (Philippians 3:4). That's coming from a man who was stoned, imprisoned and persecuted for his unyielding faith in Christ. No doubt, self-denial does not come naturally. As humans, we tend to value "self" more than anything -- otherwise, self-denial would be easy! But how can we follow Christ if our eyes are fixed on ourselves? How can we be obedient to His will if we put value in our own?

You see, our insecurities and our frailties are not caused by a lack of self-esteem. We esteem ourselves naturally. And the longer you look at yourself, the more insecure you will become. The higher the pedestal you build for yourself, the less stable your footing will become, and the further you will fall. No, our frailties are caused by our lack of self-denial to the One by whom all things were created, and in whom is all power, wisdom, and strength! (Revelation 5:12) Jesus is able to do "exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think," according to His "power that works in us" (Ephesians 3:20) -- but we must give Him full control. We must deny ourselves.

Today, don't fall for the myth that says you need more "self-esteem." Esteem the Lord in your life, and He will "supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:19).

Living what we believe

Until we live what we believe, we will be ineffective. The problem is that we are living what we believe, and that is why we are ineffective.

Quotes by Jim Elliot

"Ah, tolerant generation, who pays the prophets and fondles them who are sent unto you...woe. Cursed be your Judas embrace. Damned be your friendliness...it lays shattering condemnation on your prophets...Damned be this cool tepidity...Father, make of me a crisis man. Bring those I contact to decision. Make me a fork [in the road], that men must turn one way or another on facing Christ in me."

"I may no longer depend on pleasant impulses to bring me before the Lord. I must rather respond to principles I know to be right, whether I feel them to be enjoyable or not."

"God always gives His best to those who leave the choice with him."

"How long shall we trust in man’s programming to accomplish the work of His Spirit in men's souls?"

And of course, the one for which he is well known:

"He is not a fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose."

Eternity

“I believe the promises of God enough to stake an eternity on them.” G. Campbell Morgan

What are you staking your eternity on?

Humor

It is interesting how we use humor to deal with that which is most painful. Yet, that is what wew do. Rachel and I will often joke about being “nuts.” I think it is because if we cannot laugh, then we will spend most of our time crying.

Truth is, life is painful. We live in a fallen world, seperated from our Maker because we chose to sin against Him. We were warned of the consequences, but as is always the case, we disobeyed. It’s like the sign on the park bench that says, “Wet paint;” we just have to reach out and touch it just to see if it really is wet. What do we think, that the owner of the bench is secretly trying to keep us from enjoying sitting on his bench? Who does he think he is anyway?

It really is an old story. Back in the beginning, in the Garden, God told man he could eat from any tree in the Garden except the one called, “The knowledge of Good and Evil.” So the woman was deceived and the man? He chose to deliberately disobey God. Who did He think He was anyway to try and keep us from enjoying eating from His forbidden tree? Was He trying to keep us from something enjoyable? Who did He think He was anyway? So, now we live in a world of our own making and when things go bad guess who we blame?

Yet something wonderful happened. The one who made us came and lived among us. He told us of His great love for us, then demonstrated it by taking our punishment for disobeying Him. Then He rose from the dead and returned to Heaven. Instead of condemning us to an everlastting punishment, He extends to us forgiveness to us and invites us to live with Him simply by believing and accepting what He did for us. That’s all, just by believing.

Jesus makes life worth enduring. Most of us are broken somehow. Most of us have some kind of pain. Almost all of those who post comments here at this site have been hurt, beating, aboused, abandoned, used, and bullied by some one at one time or another.

The abundant life Jesus promised comes from believing Him. Sometimes we are delivered out of the trials; sometimes we are delivered through the trials. Jesus never promised a pain free life; but He did promise to be with us always. And that’s good enough…

Words of Wisdom from Mike MacIntosh

Now when [Jesus] got into a boat, His disciples followed Him. And suddenly a great tempest arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered with the waves. But He was asleep. Then His disciples came to Him and awoke Him, saying, "Lord, save us! We are perishing!" But He said to them, "Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?" Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.
Matthew 8:23-26

I love music. Back in the early 1970's, I helped my pastor, Chuck Smith, start an outreach called Maranatha! Music. Contemporary Christian music didn't exist, and we were able to help get it started. It was an exciting time of ministry. I'll never forget that Monday afternoon, though, when Chuck sat down with me in my office and told me that he thought it was time for me to leave.

What? Leave? Sure, I'd asked to leave a few times before, but he'd never actually agreed! I only made $75 a week; I had no savings account. Christmas was coming, and I had a wife and three kids at the time. I bawled like a baby. I felt like such a failure, like there was so much more I could have done in the three years I'd been involved. But Chuck said lovingly, "Mike, you've done a good job. We'll give you a month's salary so you can get prepared to go to San Diego."

It's hard to move. It's hard to change. But had my pastor not taken the step to clip the umbilical cord for me, I would have missed out on all that the Lord has done here in San Diego. The Lord needed to shake things up in my life so that many others would be saved.

We all experience storms in our lives. We see here in Matthew 8 that the disciples literally feared for their lives when "suddenly a great tempest arose" and threatened their boat. That word, "tempest," literally means, "a shaking, a commotion, or an earthquake." And notice it hit "suddenly." The disciples were caught off-guard, and reacted with swift panic, crying, "Lord, save us! We are perishing!" But what was a surprise to the disciples was no surprise to Jesus. Not only did He know the storm would hit before they ever stepped foot in the boat, but He also had the power to calm it.

You see, God uses storms in our lives to shake us. We like to be in control, but storms remind us to "let go and let God." He wants to stretch our faith, to get us outside our comfort zone, and to demonstrate His power in our lives. Sometimes we can see the storm coming, and sometimes we can't. But we must always remember that Jesus is in control, not us. Storms do not surprise or intimidate Him.

Today, Jesus has the power to calm every storm in your life. In those moments when you feel overwhelmed by the waves crashing around you, and the winds blowing against you, trust Him to bring a great calm.

Update on Floyd

Floyd recovering so well, the doctors said that he could come home. While he will need some speech therapy, he is expected to make a full recovery. Thanks for praying!

Prayer Update

My friend Floyd, appears to be slowly regaining his ability to talk. Thank you all for praying.

Prayer Request

My very good friend, Floyd, has had a stroke that has left him unable to speak. He is a committed Christian. Please pray that he will regain the ability to speak and that this will cause no lasting damage.

The Defeat of the United States of Rome

The following is taken from an excellent blog (that I don't always agree with, but I always respect) http://defendingcontending.com/


Martin Llyoyd-Jones (1899-1981) offers a sobering warning from the grave:

If the West goes down and is defeated, it will be for one reason only: internal rot . . . If we continue to spend our lives in jollification, doing less and less work, demanding more and more money, more and more pleasure and so-called happiness, more and more indulgence of the lusts of the flesh, with a refusal to accept our responsibilities, there is but one inevitable result—complete and abject failure. Why did the Goths and Vandals and other barbarians conquer the ancient Roman Empire? Was it by superior military power? Of course not! Historians know that there is only one answer: the fall of Rome came because of the spirit of indulgence that had invaded the Roman world—the games, the pleasures, the baths. The moral rot that had entered into the heart of the Roman Empire was the cause of Rome’s “decline and fall.” It was not superior power from the outside, but internal rot that was Rome’s ruination. And the really alarming fact today is that we are witnessing a similar declension in this and most other Western countries. This slackness, this indiscipline, the whole outlook and spirit is characteristic of a period of decadence. The pleasure mania, the sports mania, the drink and drug mania have gripped the masses.