...the great leader, lawgiver, and administrator of God's people. Now God appoints him to lead these contankerous and stubborn people. A past of splendor and a future of anxiety and strife surely occupies his mind. But God gives him assurance.
Joshua 1:5 There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.
We, too, look back with joy or sorrow or failure or triump, humble that God brought us through. But the future is something else. We don't know what's around the corner. Yet, Jesus says, "I was," and with equal authority, "I will be." The great I AM covers our past, present, and future.
Many things about tomorrow, I don't seem to understand, but I know who hold tomorrow, and I know who holds my hand. (Ira Stanphill).
Saturday, May 5, 2012
Friday, May 4, 2012
Jesus knew that many of the four thousand gentiles
...who followed Him to the desert had been away from home three days. He knew their provisions had run out and they would faint if he sent them home. Calling his disciples together, Jesus discussed the situation and asked how many loaves of bread they had.
Now, these guys had seen the sick healed, the dead come alive, and storms calm. How quickly they forgot the last multitude- feeding miracle. They doubted. Jesus blessed the food, and the disciples passed it around as they sat on the ground. The bread and fish just kept coming and the people just kept eating until they were full.
What a miracle! Any time God uses something we give Him, he gives back exceedingly, abundantly, above all that we ask or think. Our God has more love, mercy, blessings, and grace than you will ever need, and He knows when you’re about to faint. He wants you to be his eyes, feet, and mouth. He wants your talents, time, and heart.
This miracle isn’t just about feeding four thousand people with a small amount of bread and fish. He taught the disciples a lesson in faith.
Now, these guys had seen the sick healed, the dead come alive, and storms calm. How quickly they forgot the last multitude- feeding miracle. They doubted. Jesus blessed the food, and the disciples passed it around as they sat on the ground. The bread and fish just kept coming and the people just kept eating until they were full.
What a miracle! Any time God uses something we give Him, he gives back exceedingly, abundantly, above all that we ask or think. Our God has more love, mercy, blessings, and grace than you will ever need, and He knows when you’re about to faint. He wants you to be his eyes, feet, and mouth. He wants your talents, time, and heart.
This miracle isn’t just about feeding four thousand people with a small amount of bread and fish. He taught the disciples a lesson in faith.
About 100 high school students waled out of a
national journalism conference this week when an anti-bullying speaker started cursing and attacking the Bible. As these brave young people left the auditorium filled with about 1,000 people, the speaker called them "pansy ****".
That speaker, Jan Savage, is founder of an anti-bullying campaign that reportedly reaches more than 40 million viewers. At this conference he bullied the Christians in the audiance and no one tried to stop him..
The Word of God has been attacked since Satan deceived Eve in the Garden of Eden. All the Bibles and burnt churches, and all the missionaries, prophets, and Christians murdered for God's work could not destroy His Word.
Matthew 24:35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
Man has watered it down, changed it, and abused it, but it still stands.
That speaker, Jan Savage, is founder of an anti-bullying campaign that reportedly reaches more than 40 million viewers. At this conference he bullied the Christians in the audiance and no one tried to stop him..
The Word of God has been attacked since Satan deceived Eve in the Garden of Eden. All the Bibles and burnt churches, and all the missionaries, prophets, and Christians murdered for God's work could not destroy His Word.
Matthew 24:35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
Man has watered it down, changed it, and abused it, but it still stands.
Thursday, May 3, 2012
We don't need a stack of self-help books to survive
...the perils of life.
Luke 12:31 But rather seek ye the kingdom of God and all these things shall be added unto you.
Consider the lilies and how God takes care of them. We are worth much more. Our heavenly Father knows that we have needs. We should seek the kingdom of God in all situations, every circumstance, and each difficult challange, no matter how adverse. My sister Ruthie and I used to sing the following song.
Someone to Care by Rose Maddox
When the world seems cold and your friends seem few
There is someone who cares for you
When you've tears in your eyes, your heart bleeds inside,
There is someone who cares for you
Someone to care, someone to share
All your troubles like no other can do
He'll come down from the sky and brush the tears from your eyes
You're his child, and He cares for you
When your disappointments come and you feel so blue
There is someone who cares for you
When you need a friend, a friend till the end
There is someone who's a friend to you
Luke 12:31 But rather seek ye the kingdom of God and all these things shall be added unto you.
Consider the lilies and how God takes care of them. We are worth much more. Our heavenly Father knows that we have needs. We should seek the kingdom of God in all situations, every circumstance, and each difficult challange, no matter how adverse. My sister Ruthie and I used to sing the following song.
Someone to Care by Rose Maddox
When the world seems cold and your friends seem few
There is someone who cares for you
When you've tears in your eyes, your heart bleeds inside,
There is someone who cares for you
Someone to care, someone to share
All your troubles like no other can do
He'll come down from the sky and brush the tears from your eyes
You're his child, and He cares for you
When your disappointments come and you feel so blue
There is someone who cares for you
When you need a friend, a friend till the end
There is someone who's a friend to you
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
To all you pushy -- in your face -- my way only --
...bossy people (you know who you are, I hope); LISTEN UP. Jesus has something to say about humility.
Matthew 23:12 And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.
Colossians 3:12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
James 4:6 But He giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
James 4:10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord and he shall lift you up.
Proverbs 18:12 Before distruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honor is humility.
Jesus is our ultimate example of humility.
Philippians 2:8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
Matthew 23:12 And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.
Colossians 3:12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
James 4:6 But He giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
James 4:10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord and he shall lift you up.
Proverbs 18:12 Before distruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honor is humility.
Jesus is our ultimate example of humility.
Philippians 2:8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Three times Jesus told Peter to kill and eat
...the unclean animals in his vision. Peter said, ‘Not so, Lord’ three times. Peter, Peter, Peter; you foot-in-the-mouth disciple, don’t contradict your Lord and Master. Actually, this wasn’t about food, it was about taking the gospel to the gentiles – those unclean outcasts to Jews. I’m glad he obeyed.
When Jesus told Nicodemus that he must be born again, he had to think about it. ‘Not so, Lord’.
When King Agrippa heard the gospel, he said, “Almost thou persuades me to be a Christian. Not so, Lord.”
The world says God is a God of love and will judge them by their good works, and they feel good about that. But they must be born again.
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death but the give of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
It’s not works but grace and God’s great mercy that will get you to heaven. The best you will ever get paid for sin is death. The sin that keeps you from heaven is unbelief.
Don’t say ‘Not so Lord’. Accept Jesus in your heart. It’s the most important decision you’ll ever make.
When Jesus told Nicodemus that he must be born again, he had to think about it. ‘Not so, Lord’.
When King Agrippa heard the gospel, he said, “Almost thou persuades me to be a Christian. Not so, Lord.”
The world says God is a God of love and will judge them by their good works, and they feel good about that. But they must be born again.
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death but the give of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
It’s not works but grace and God’s great mercy that will get you to heaven. The best you will ever get paid for sin is death. The sin that keeps you from heaven is unbelief.
Don’t say ‘Not so Lord’. Accept Jesus in your heart. It’s the most important decision you’ll ever make.
Monday, April 30, 2012
People have different perspectives. Our assessments aren't always true.
...We must be willing to look at things from God’s perspective.
When Jesus met a Samaritan woman at a well, He tells her that He’s the long-awaited Messiah she has mentioned. The lady leaves her water pot, goes to the city, and tells her friends about the One who has just changed her life.
Jesus’ perspective: Witness – save all who come unto him.
Returning from buying food, the disciples marveled that Jesus was even talking to this woman. Jews didn’t mix with Samaritans.
The disciples’ perspective: Prejudice
But Christ changes their perspective. He tells them about a ripe harvest of lost souls and commissions them to go into the entire world and preach the gospel.
John 4:35 …. Lift up your eyes and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.
What is your perspective? Do you see souls dying, facing eternity without Jesus? People need the Lord. Tell them about Him and what He’s done for you.
When Jesus met a Samaritan woman at a well, He tells her that He’s the long-awaited Messiah she has mentioned. The lady leaves her water pot, goes to the city, and tells her friends about the One who has just changed her life.
Jesus’ perspective: Witness – save all who come unto him.
Returning from buying food, the disciples marveled that Jesus was even talking to this woman. Jews didn’t mix with Samaritans.
The disciples’ perspective: Prejudice
But Christ changes their perspective. He tells them about a ripe harvest of lost souls and commissions them to go into the entire world and preach the gospel.
John 4:35 …. Lift up your eyes and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.
What is your perspective? Do you see souls dying, facing eternity without Jesus? People need the Lord. Tell them about Him and what He’s done for you.
Sunday, April 29, 2012
The University of Arkansas Cancer Research Center
...at Little Rock changed their name to UAMS Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute. At least I didn’t notice it last year.
Reconstruction had fancied up the place with larger waiting rooms and hallways. It was the dull, green, patterned carpet that drew me into 1997 and chemotherapy treatments. Puffy-faced patients – some young and some old – waited with me in that crowded room, all of us bent on beating death. At times I’ve wondered how many lived and how many died. Only by the grace of God I’m still here.
Someday I’ll stop making that seven hour trip for my annual check-up, but since Dr. Laura Hutchins is so informative and caring, I’d rather not. While she's checking me, we enjoy talking about our same-aged children, like catching up since last year. We always laugh. I’ve gotten close to my oncologist over the years. That alone is worth the drive. That and the field-fresh strawberries we bring back.
Reconstruction had fancied up the place with larger waiting rooms and hallways. It was the dull, green, patterned carpet that drew me into 1997 and chemotherapy treatments. Puffy-faced patients – some young and some old – waited with me in that crowded room, all of us bent on beating death. At times I’ve wondered how many lived and how many died. Only by the grace of God I’m still here.
Someday I’ll stop making that seven hour trip for my annual check-up, but since Dr. Laura Hutchins is so informative and caring, I’d rather not. While she's checking me, we enjoy talking about our same-aged children, like catching up since last year. We always laugh. I’ve gotten close to my oncologist over the years. That alone is worth the drive. That and the field-fresh strawberries we bring back.
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