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.'"
Friday, December 24, 2010
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
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."
"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."
Monday, December 20, 2010
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 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.
Saturday, December 11, 2010
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...
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...
Sunday, December 5, 2010
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.
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.
Saturday, December 4, 2010
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.
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
J.C. Ryle
Thursday, December 2, 2010
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
http://servant.org/p_forgiv.htm
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