SOMETIMES THE SCRIPTURE IS SIMPLY DIFFICULT…


Spiritual Blog - Wise As Serpents

Matthew 10:16-20 – “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.  17 But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils and scourge you in their synagogues.  18 You will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles.  19 But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak; 20 for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.”  NKJV

 

There are a number of passages in the Bible that are problematic to my human thinking, reason, and understanding and this has long been one that I have wrestled with.  First, I hate snakes.  I know that many of them are harmless and even beneficial but I hate snakes and even when I go to the Book of Genesis connecting “wisdom” to serpents is problematic for me.  I readily recognize the cunning, craftiness, deceit and stealth of the serpent in the Garden and snakes in general.  I have no problem understanding the “harmless as doves” characterization but the imagery of being a snake-dove is not easy to wrap my head around.  Maybe it has never caused you consternation but it has me.

It has helped me to begin at the beginning of the passage and understand that the LORD has and is sending us out as sheep in the midst of wolves.  We are being sent into an environment that hates godliness and sheep are among the most docile and defenseless creatures in existence.  We are His sheep and that paints a somewhat different picture in my mind.  He is the LORD mighty in battle and we are His sheep, therefore, we are not defenseless in reality but in appearance.  He is our sword, shield, and buckler.  Yes, we are sent into a cruel world that hates him and, therefore, hates us but we have weapons the world knows nothing of.

In that light, we are to go forth “harmless as doves” or “walking in purity and innocence” in our dealings with those inside and outside the faith.  However we are to be WISE or perceptive in understanding our times, surroundings, associations and exercise discernment in our dealings with others.  The serpent is always depicted as cunning and crafty and if we walk in that wisdom we will discern the cunning of those whom we deal.  We walk in purity of heart and an awareness of the spirits and intents of those with whom we have dealings.

Then there is the warning to “beware of men”.  People can be predators like wolves and if we use the cunning and wisdom of the serpent we will avoid needless danger and associations.  I never want to be overly skeptical and lacking trust but I also do not want to be so easily deceived that I fall prey to every evil scheme and tactic that comes my way.  So, we as sheep appear docile and easy targets but if we walk in the wisdom of the serpent and maintain our purity of heart and innocence we have a power over any assault of the devil that the world cannot anticipate or counter.

Next, He tells us that if we are brought before the world or the church’s court with charges leveled against us we can walk into that moment in complete confidence knowing that the Father will give us what to speak and, in fact, it will not be us but God that speaks.  Remember, the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds.

May the Lord be with you as you embark on the journey this day affords and walk in His blessings!

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ASKING GOD FOR FORGIVENESS???


Spiritual Blog - Forgiveness

1 John 1:8-10 – “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.”  NKJV

 

Recently I heard a politician say they did not remember whether or not they asked God for forgiveness.  To be fair, I have heard people in Churches say the same thing.  Is that a problem biblically?  On the surface, it would seem so but let me pose several questions in response to anyone saying, “I don’t remember asking God for forgiveness.”

  • Do you believe you have anything to ask forgiveness for?

That would be a far more telling question than “Do you remember asking.”  If the response is NO then this passage directly addresses it and reveals a deep problem.  The Bible tells us plainly that “ALL have sinned and come short of the glory of God…” [Romans 3:23].  Jesus made it even more powerful in Luke 13:3 saying, “No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”  Romans 10:10 offers hope, “For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.”

If I do not believe I have need of forgiveness I am hopelessly lost.

  • Do you believe your good deeds outweigh your transgressions and thereby affords you justification without repentance?

Some truly believe that because they are “good people” and do not do gross wickedness they are OKAY without the need of repentance.  They, like the Pharisee in Luke 18:11 as he compared himself to other people and cited his commendable traits and actions as justification without humility and repentance.

Jesus said, “I am the WAY, the TRUTH, and the LIFE: no man comes unto the Father, but by Me.”  In John 10:9 our Lord declared, “I AM THE DOOR, if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.”  Then our LORD declared in John 3:7, “Marvel not that I said unto you, You must be born again.”  And the apostle Paul informed us by the Spirit of God in 2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”

I find it difficult to fathom anyone having that experience and not knowing it or remembering it.  You may disagree and I know believers, who I believe are genuine in their Christian experience, who say, “I don’t remember not being a Christian.”  They were converted at an early age but most if not all of them remember the experience of salvation.  I do not make my experience a rule for everyone but I clearly remember the moment I asked for forgiveness and received the newness of life in my heart and was “born again”.  My life dramatically changed and people who knew me, without me telling them, knew it as well.  But, I was an adult when converted not a child.

If you do not remember asking God for forgiveness now would be a wonderful time to do so.  If you know and believe that ALL HAVE SINNED and come short of the glory of God then there is hope for your eternal soul.  If you do not feel that you have anything to repent of or feel that your personal goodness is enough, even if you asked forgiveness it would be meaningless for there would be no genuine repentance.  Today is the accepted time and there is no promise of tomorrow, therefore, I urge you to call on God seeking His mercy, forgiveness, pardon, and redemption.

            God bless you as you go through this day!

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FOOLISHNESS DISQUISED AS WISDOM…


Spiritual Blog - Whose Wife

Luke 20:27-40 – “Then some of the Sadducees, who deny that there is a resurrection, came to Him and asked Him, 28 saying: “Teacher, Moses wrote to us that if a man’s brother dies, having a wife, and he dies without children, his brother should take his wife and raise up offspring for his brother. 29 Now there were seven brothers. And the first took a wife, and died without children. 30 And the second took her as wife, and he died childless. 31 Then the third took her, and in like manner the seven also; and they left no children, and died. 32 Last of all the woman died also. 33 Therefore, in the resurrection, whose wife does she become? For all seven had her as wife.”

 34 Jesus answered and said to them, “The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage.  35 But those who are counted worthy to attain that age, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage; 36 nor can they die anymore, for they are equal to the angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection.  37 But even Moses showed in the burning bush passage that the dead are raised, when he called the Lord ‘the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’  38 For He is not the God of the dead but of the living, for all live to Him.”

 39 Then some of the scribes answered and said, “Teacher, You have spoken well.” 40 But after that they dared not question Him anymore.”  NKJV

 

How many times have you heard or even participated in foolish speculative questions about matters spiritual?  I have been in college classrooms and Church Bible Studies when people would embark on the quest of foolishness attempting to appear “deep thinkers”.  Sometimes, I am able to remain silent and listen and at other times, I am unable to listen to the “vain jangling” and follow the path of the Lord Jesus in dealing with such foolishness.

Consider the question, which on the surface might seem a reasonable question were it not designed to trip Jesus up and somehow expose Him as a fraud by the religious sectarians of His day.  I have no doubt this is a question they asked among themselves regularly to help cement their conviction and beliefs.  They were a group within Judaism that could be called conservative in their approach to Scripture and believed in the literal interpretation of the written law and were completely unbendable and they were in constant conflict with the Pharisees who expanded beyond the written law and adopted oral interpretation.  They also denied the doctrine of the resurrection and, therefore, the heart of their question.

Rejecting the possibility of resurrection they posed this question, logical to the human mind and challenged Jesus.  Jesus took first the natural aspect and addressed the fact that humans marry as a norm.  He then moved to the supernatural or spiritual and addressed something that is powerful and worthy of careful note.  He said that those who die and experience the resurrection, “neither marry nor are given in marriage and cannot die anymore.”  Jesus focused on the truth that God is the God of the living and that IN HIM all are ALIVE.

I am convinced that heaven will be wonderful and while we will know as we are known there will not be the conflict of having had multiple spouses or where we will live or what our roles will be.  I do not take this particular question as the whole of the message but use it, as an illustration, to show how we can allow foolish questions to dominate our thinking and miss the truth and power of God through His word.  We have a mission to “go into all the world” beginning with our Jerusalem and then branch out as the opportunity presents itself.  Our message is HOPE and LIFE not “what will it be like there and what will we do if…”  Reject things that do not edify and embrace that which develops the soul.

            God bless you as you journey through this day in Christ!

 

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THE ROCK UPON WHICH THE CHURCH STANDS…


UPON THIS ROCK

Matthew 16:15-19 – “He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”  16 Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 

17 Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.  18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.  19 And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”  NKJV

  

Upon this rock?  What rock should be the logical question?  The name Jesus used to identify Cephas (stone) was Peter (rock) is important but if we make Peter the foundation of the church what shall we do with Jesus?   The name Peter or Petros literally means a stone or fragment of a rock and without question, it is used in describing Peter metaphorically as one who has strength and stability.  Yet, when Jesus said, “… and on this rock” he used the word (Petra) which could be described as a Gibraltar type rock or mass which is unmovable and gives the image of impenetrability.

If we go back to the question of Jesus for the disciples about whom the people believed Him to be and the response of Peter we understand the rock that Jesus is building His church on.  Peter said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.”  You are Messiah.  You are the One who is to come.  You are the Everlasting Lord.  You are Him!  Therefore, without question, the ROCK upon which the Church of Jesus is being established is the TRUTH of CHRIST, the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.  The one who is the WAY, TRUTH, and LIFE.  The one who is the DOOR and only access to the Father.  UPON THAT ROCK stands the Church of Jesus Christ, the Glorious Church He was and is building.

This ROCK is unique for it is not immobile but able to assault the very gates of hell for Jesus declares, “the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”  Greater is He that is in us than he that is in the world.  Jesus conquered hell and the grave and is now ascended on high making intercession for us.  He has promised to never leave us nor forsake us and is with us to the end of the age.  In His Father’s house are many mansions and He has gone to make a place for us and will come again to receive us unto Himself and we will ever be with the LORD.  The ROCK upon which I stand is Jesus Christ.  I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed to Him against that day.

            God bless you as your rest on and in the ROCK.  Walk in peace, power, and love!

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LIP SERVICE CHRISTIANITY…


Spiritual Blog - Lip Service

Matthew 15:1-11 – “Then the scribes and Pharisees who were from Jerusalem came to Jesus, saying, 2 ‘Why do Your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread.’ 

3 He answered and said to them, “Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition?  4 For God commanded, saying, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.’  5 But you say, ‘Whoever says to his father or mother, “Whatever profit you might have received from me is a gift to God” —   6 then he need not honor his father or mother.’ Thus you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition.  7 Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying: 

8 “These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. 9 And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'” 

10 When He had called the multitude to Himself, He said to them, “Hear and understand:  11 Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.”  NKJV

 

There is far more in these verses than we could possibly deal with in a short devotional but let’s skim across the surface and hopefully address a central message in them.  The Pharisees were offended that the disciples of Jesus did not follow, to the letter, their traditions with ceremonial washing before eating.  This was one of a number of things they held against Jesus’ disciples, but this item was at the forefront of their attention.  So, in an attempt to catch Jesus off guard and either get him to acknowledge error or call into question His message.

Jesus turned the tables repeatedly and posed a counter question to them, not about failing to keep man-made traditions but the very law of God.  Then He quoted Isaiah regarding Lip Service versus True Service and Commitment to God and His word.  Then He made a simple but powerful statement that highly offended the Pharisees.  He said, “Hear and understand: Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.”

Sadly, I’ve had some try to make this something it is not.  Jesus was, in my understanding and in harmony with the Greek, addressing the heart.  Remember what He said in Luke 6:45, “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good, and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil.  For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.”  Clearly, He is talking about the words formed from the attitudes and thoughts of the heart.  He is addressing the condition of the soul and stressing the truth of God versus man-made traditions.

The Pharisees were notorious for following the Law and the fences that had been erected to keep one from getting close enough to the commandment to break it religiously and to the letter.  They were self-righteous and kept their lists comparing themselves with others and thought in keeping the man-made traditions they had begun to teach as commandments from God they would somehow gain special favor with God.  Lip service has never and will never impress our LORD.  The more I read the Gospels the more I realize how Jesus baited the Pharisees and took pleasure in exposing their hypocrisy so that people could break free of the rigid legislation of the man-made traditions being taught as doctrines of God.

Jesus came to set us free and bring us into the Kingdom so that we could walk in the Abundant Life He gives.  In verse 19 what I have said concerning the heart is verified and that is always the focus of the Holy Spirit.  So, let’s stop straining at gnats and swallowing camels and placing on people or ourselves burdens too heavy to carry.  He said, “Come unto me, take my yoke upon you, learn of me… I will give you rest.”

            God bless you as you go through this wonderful day!

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LIFE OF SACRIFICE


Scan_Pic0001

Proverbs 31:10 – “Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.”
KJV

Today is the one (1) year anniversary of our mother’s promotion to her eternal reward.  My tribute to her today is in the form of a poem I wrote for her 93rd birthday.  She lived 2 years and 5 months more beyond that milestone and departed this life at 95 years young.  She is missed more than words can describe and now I pay tribute to her in verse entitled, “LIFE OF SACRIFICE”:

 

 

Mother, daughter, sister, wife

Ninety-Three Years of sacrifice.

Meager beginnings, humble abode

The life she lived often a difficult road.

Loving parents, husband, siblings, family, and friends

Many have gone to where time never ends.

Incredibly intelligent with ability to excel

In any profession, she would have done well.

Yet her choice was to be mother and wife

Working hard, living a simple life.

To her, it was not a step-down

Instead, she saw it as a glorious crown.

Her children, family, and friends have long been aware

How much she loves and how much she does care.

Her example has many inspired

Laboring in love often incredibly tired.

Elva Beaird, Kellum by birth

Exhibits joy, caring, love, and mirth.

Mother, we treasure your love and honor your sacrifice

Though we didn’t always take it we respected your advice.

We know your love is unconditional and true

And we now express ours to you.

On this birthday your friends, family and children three

Wish you Happy Birthday number ninety-three!

This birthday wish and prayer we express

That each day be filled with sunshine and free of stress

May God’s Love cover you like a glove

And always be confident of our undying love.

May God always keep you strong

And your life here on earth provide all for which you long.

  © Roy Beaird – 2012

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IF THEN… What is the IF and the THEN???


Spiritual Blog - IF

Colossians 3:1-11 – “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. 

5 Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, 7 in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them. 

8 But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, 10 and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, 11 where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.”  NKJV

 

The “IF” is if you are raised with Christ in Salvation and set free from the bondage of sin having been transferred from the kingdom of darkness to the Kingdom of Light in Jesus.  The “THEN” is if the first part is true then here are some things you are to do and chargeable in.

  • SET YOUR MIND on Heavenly (Spiritual) things not Earthly (Carnal) things.

This is based on the fact and reality that you have died to that life and now your life is hidden with Christ in God.  You are a new creation.  You are a new person.  You are not the same as you were before.  Therefore, if in your spirit you are new then take steps to TRANSFORM your mind.

  • PUT TO DEATH your flesh.

Put to death fornication, uncleanness, passion (inordinate affections), evil desire, and covetousness which is a form of idolatry.  This is not just something God is going to deliver you from and take from you but something you will cooperate with the Spirit of God and put them to death.  You make choices every day and you must RESIST the devil for him to flee.  These things bring the wrath of God and they are traits of your former condition in your lost state.  Now you are IN CHRIST so put to death the flesh.

  • PUT OFF these character traits.

Anger (uncontrolled rage), wrath (which produces murder), malice, blasphemy, filthy language.  When I hear people profess to be Christians and exhibit those traits it concerns me for I know how the world views that profession of faith and hypocrite is too tame a word for what they think.

  • DO NOT LIE.

Do not lie to one another and do not lie to yourself.  You have received Christ as you savior and the Old Man is now dead allowing the New Man to rise from the ashes of life.  Put off the deeds of the old and take on the garments of the new in salvation.  Allow the Holy Spirit to renew your minds so that you can truly manifest Jesus to the world.

IF we are IN CHRIST we should and will THEN set our minds on the spiritual not the carnal, put off the character traits and acts that are unbecoming to our position and condition in Christ and resist the devil speaking the truth in righteousness.  We are members of The Body of Christ and IF that is true THEN let our walk match our profession and thereby become epistles known and read of men.

            God bless you as you go through this beautiful day!

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MARK MISSERS??? That Would Be Everyone…


Spiritual Blog - Mark Missers

Romans 3:21-26 – “But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22 even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, 26 to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.”  NKJV

  

Sin is rightly described as “missing the mark” and when Paul says, “…all have sinned…” and reveals that we have all “fallen short” of the Glory of God he is identifying a valuable truth and reveals the clear need of EVERYONE for a Savior.  No one has, can, or will earn their salvation.  We are all MARK MISSERS and sadly many are missing the mark because they are aiming at the wrong target.  Humans have a tendency to “justify” or “compare” and that always leads to problems, especially with regard to Salvation and our relationship with God.

I heard a nationally known minister who is the senior pastor in a Mega-Church declare that there are many ways to God.  Really?  If I believe the Bible, and I do, the Bible declares that there is ONLY ONE WAY to the Father and that is through Jesus Christ.  (John 14:6).  Jesus declared that He WAS/IS, the Way, the Truth, and the Life and the ONLY door through which one can enter to attain or receive salvation.  The matter is not up for discussion if we believe the Bible.  It is clear and there is no ambiguity in the words of our LORD.

I have heard people argue that those living in lifestyles the Bible declares as abominations to God and thereby MARK MISSERS are the way they are because God made them that way.  Really?  If that is true, and it is not, then God is the most sadistic tyrant ever because He has declared those lifestyles ABOMINABLE and yet the people are as they are because He made them that way.  How can that be?  I readily acknowledge that there are many factors and contributors to human behavior but at the heart is CHOICE.  Adam and Eve did not have to “partake of the forbidden fruit” but they opted to believe THE LIE of the serpent rather than obey the Commandment of God.  The result was birthed out of their CHOICE not because God made them eat the fruit.

I have heard people argue, “…the devil made me do it.”  Really?  I would contend that he tempted you, deceived you, pressured you, and encouraged you but he DID NOT MAKE YOU DO IT.  You made that choice UNLESS you are demon possessed and completely under the control of the demonic spirits and power.  I do not believe you want to testify or claim that condition so please do not argue that you could not help yourself.  God has promised in 1 Corinthians 10:13, “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.”  Therefore, we have the ability to choose obedience or disobedience, flesh or spirit, unrighteousness or righteousness.  The problem is we are MARK MISSERS!

The good news is that “…if we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”  (1 John 1:9).  It is “by grace that we are saved through faith, and not of ourselves, it is the gift of God…” (Ephesians 2:8)  We have the most beautiful declaration in John 3:16-17 – “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.  17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.”  NKJV

Yes, we are MARK MISSERS but He corrects our aim through His shed blood and grace enabling us to move from darkness to light and from unrighteousness to righteousness.  Thank God we are saved and are being saved by His Love, Mercy, Blood, and Grace.

God bless you as you embark on this daily journey.

 

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HOW TO HAVE PEACE IN ALL THINGS…..


Spiritual Blog - Peace

Philippians 4:6-7 – “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”  NASU

 

Each of us has experienced a time or times when we were troubled in spirit and anxious or worried about something.  I find it most comforting and challenging that the Bible teaches that we can have “peace” in all things, all the time, in all circumstances.  That does not mean it is necessarily easy but possible and a promise from the Lord.  There is a “key” to this level of living that cannot be practiced on an intermittent basis but must become a lifestyle if we are to walk on this plane continually.

Here Paul gives us some keys to “Peace”

  1. Be ANXIOUS for Nothing. (Don’t fret, don’t worry, don’t fear, don’t become overcome, or overrun by what is happening around you.)  That is a TALL ORDER but then he tells us how to accomplish this.
  2. IN EVERYTHING by “Prayer” and “Supplication” with “Thanksgiving” let your requests be made known to God.Here Paul gives us some keys to “Peace”:
  • Prayer – – Communication with God. (Talking to Him. Telling Him how you feel, what you are thinking, and acknowledging His person, power, and presence)
  • Supplication – – Here is the petition part of prayer. This is where you are presenting your needs, desires, and requests before the throne in light of WHO HE IS.
  • Thanksgiving – – Without a grateful heart little is accomplished in the Kingdom. Without a grateful heart we will forget TO WHOM we owe all that we are, have, and will be.  We forget that WITHOUT HIM we can do nothing.  We forget that our HUMAN FRAILTY will never overcome the CIRCUMSTANCES of life and the EVIL POWERS that come against us.  We will never learn to live in a STATE OF CONTENTMENT.

It is in this condition that Paul tells us that the PEACE OF GOD that is beyond human ability to comprehend or understand floods our hearts, guards our hearts, and covers our minds so that every thought is brought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.  It is here that we walk FREE OF WORRY and LIVE IN A CONTINUAL STATE OF PEACE.  Understand I did not say in a state of total absence of problems!  We are secure in our relationship, or position, or potential, our promise, and our place in Him.  We then can say with Paul, “To die is gain but to live profitable for you.”  We walk in total confidence in Him IN EVERYTHING!  This is where the LOVE OF GOD that banishes all fear fills our hearts and lives and we become so AT ONE with Jesus that when people see us, hear us, and encounter us they encounter Him.  We are then “ruled by peace” and it is a peace that the world did not give and the world cannot steal.

May God bless you as you continue your week in Him!  Blessings in the Lord of Lord and King of Kings!

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LAUGH, CRY, and LOVE, BUT ABOVE ALL LIVE…


Spiritual Blog - Jar

 

Mark 8:34-38 – “When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.  35 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it.  36 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?  37 Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?  38 For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.” NKJV 

The Mayonnaise Jar & Two Beers…

I have seen, read, and heard this in numerous places and have no idea who to give credit to for the original story but it fits today.  I find application for it in my daily life and in helping to shape my world view and views politically as well.  My spiritual views are impacted by the message but my faith is founded on the Word of God and the clear teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit as revealed in the writings of the 40 authors of the 66 Books Canonized in our Holy Bible.

When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar and the 2 Beers.  A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him.  When the class began, he wordlessly picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls.

He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was. Continuing his teaching session the professor picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar.  He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.  Clearly on a mission with a message, the professor picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else.  He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous ‘YES.’

Then to the complete surprise of the class the professor produced two bottles of beer from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed.  “Now,” said the professor as the laughter subsided, “I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life.”

WHAT ARE THE LESSONS TO BE LEARNED:

  1. THE GOLF BALLS are the important things—your family, your children, your health, your friends and your favorite passions—and if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full.
  1. THE PEBBLES are the other things that matter such as your job, your house, and your car.
  1. THE SAND is everything else—the small stuff.‘If you put the sand into the jar first,’ he continued, ‘there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff you will never have room for the things that are important to you. Therefore, it is imperative that you…
  • Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness.
    Spend time with your children.
  • Spend time with your parents.
  • Visit with grandparents.
  • Take your spouse out to dinner.
  • Play another 18 holes of golf.
  • There will always be time to clean the house, fix the disposal or deal with things from your job.

The Ultimate Lesson is “Take care of the golf balls first” – – the things that really matter.  Set your priorities.  Make your priorities things that are lasting and can bring you joy and happiness lastingly.  Prioritize, Prioritize, Prioritize.  Live do not exist.  Be do not just Do!  You Must Remember – – “Everything Else is Just Sand.”

It was at the point one of the students raised her hand and inquired what the beer represented.  The professor smiled and said, “I’m glad you asked.”  The beer just shows you that no matter how full your life may seem, there’s always room for a couple of beers with a friend.

{Disclaimer – – I’m not advocating drinking but the point is clear and a couple of beers could be a cup of coffee, a glass of tea, lemonade or anything.  Take time to enjoy life!  Stop and smell the roses along life’s pathway!} 

Life is more than food, and the body more than clothing.  (Luke 12:23).  If you are too busy to enjoy the people and events of life you are too busy with busyness to hear God and likely too busy to LIVE.  You are existing, achieving, and gaining things which will perish rather than building memories and treasures in the things that matter.  You may be leaving an inheritance of things but you are not leaving a legacy of love and life.

So, please begin today making the MOST IMPORTANT the MOST IMPORTANT in your life.  There is time to do what is nearest and dearest to your heart.  Your management of time is up to you and if you desire God will help you “redeem the time” so that first things are first and your investment in lives will pay far greater dividends than your amassing earthly treasure.

God bless you as you go through this wonderful day in Him!

 

 

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