I’ve read it’s not what happens to you, but how you react. Someone down on their luck might sing the old “Hee-Haw” (1969-1992) Buck Owens and Roy Clark song.
Gloom, despair, and agony on me
Deep, dark depression, excessive misery
If it weren’t for bad luck, I’d have no luck at all
Gloom, despair, and agony on me
The persecutions of the Apostle Paul offered plenty of reasons to sing the bad luck song. Keeping his heart on things above, he counted it a privilege to suffer for Christ. His song was somewhat different.
We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed. II Corinthians 4:8,9
Friday, January 27, 2012
Gale spent hours copying old VHS tapes to DVDs. We discovered they only played on our machine. Then he read all the instructions and performed a finalizing technique as directed. That corrected the problem.
Many people work hard at living a good life, doing the right thing. They are nice people. At the end of life they may be disappointed to find their good works won’t get them to heaven. Instructions for eternal life in heaven are in the Bible. Follow them.
For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. John 3:16,17
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. Ephesians 2:8,9
Many people work hard at living a good life, doing the right thing. They are nice people. At the end of life they may be disappointed to find their good works won’t get them to heaven. Instructions for eternal life in heaven are in the Bible. Follow them.
For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. John 3:16,17
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. Ephesians 2:8,9
Thursday, January 26, 2012
In the parable of the sower, Jesus is the sower. The seed is the word of God. The SOIL represents four type of hearers.
WAYSIDE: This is where people traveled, hardening the ground. A hard heart doesn’t receive the word. It just stays on top, and Satan comes in and sweeps it away. They heard the gospel, said no, became callous, and hard- hearted.
STONY GROUND: These people make a profession of faith on an impulse and it’s not true. It’s an emotional experience. There was never true repentance. Without root, they can’t live the Christian life.
THORNS: These people don’t get the truth. False doctrine sucks it out. They are not fruitful. Truth can’t be mixed with thorns. Only the truth can set people free.
GOOD GROUND: Yields fruit at 30, 60, and sometimes 100 percent. When we teach our children the word, we are developing good ground.
Jesus has never and will never force anybody to take the seed. We present the seed. Some will receive it. Some will not.
WAYSIDE: This is where people traveled, hardening the ground. A hard heart doesn’t receive the word. It just stays on top, and Satan comes in and sweeps it away. They heard the gospel, said no, became callous, and hard- hearted.
STONY GROUND: These people make a profession of faith on an impulse and it’s not true. It’s an emotional experience. There was never true repentance. Without root, they can’t live the Christian life.
THORNS: These people don’t get the truth. False doctrine sucks it out. They are not fruitful. Truth can’t be mixed with thorns. Only the truth can set people free.
GOOD GROUND: Yields fruit at 30, 60, and sometimes 100 percent. When we teach our children the word, we are developing good ground.
Jesus has never and will never force anybody to take the seed. We present the seed. Some will receive it. Some will not.
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
While walking on the water, the Apostle Peter became afraid and started to sink. "Lord save me," he cried.
Do you lose faith? Like Peter, we are quick to forget. We've seen God do miraculous things. He has stumped doctors.
Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Proverbs 3:5,6
Doubt comes when we can''t figure things out. Quit trying. Give it to Jesus.
Do you lose faith? Like Peter, we are quick to forget. We've seen God do miraculous things. He has stumped doctors.
Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Proverbs 3:5,6
Doubt comes when we can''t figure things out. Quit trying. Give it to Jesus.
Sunday, January 22, 2012
The 1980’s FAME TV show was about the students and faculty of the New York City High School for The Performing Arts. Their theme song proclaimed that if you make it big your name will live forever.
It only takes a few generations to forget fame. Actors, musicians, poets and authors die. Their work lives on as long as their printed work is read. In the Bible the book of I Peter 1:24-25 is at least 2000 years old and explains fame quite well.
For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: But the word of the Lord endureth forever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.
It only takes a few generations to forget fame. Actors, musicians, poets and authors die. Their work lives on as long as their printed work is read. In the Bible the book of I Peter 1:24-25 is at least 2000 years old and explains fame quite well.
For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: But the word of the Lord endureth forever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.
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